LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 131, 16 March 1936, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

“I would like to see a little increase in March and we will then finish up the year nicely,” said Mr E. F. lcoll (chairman) when referring to the financial statements before the Ashburton Electric Power Board this morning.

A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that the re-heanng of the inquiry into the recent mishap to the Rangitira will be opened in the Supreme Court on April 1. The C lie Justice (Sir Michael M.vers) will preside, and associated with him as assessors will be Captains Worrall and Raven. Mr P. B. Cooke, K.C., and Mr E. K. Kirkcaldie will appear for Captain Cameron, and it is believed the Solicitor-General (Mr Cornish) and Mr N. A. Foden will appear for the Marine Department.

A heartening sign of the times is that many more boys from the secondary schools are finding jobs than was the case at this time last year (says the Wellington “Evening Post ). A year ago boys were staying on at school for the sole reason that there seemed to be no work to which they l could go; qualitatively speaking, today there are more jobs offering than there are suitable boys to fill. it would appear that many avenues or employment are now beginning to be open for bovs who have had a good secondary education and who possess ability.

An innovation which is expected to lead to developments in the method of growing oats was inspected recently by many; farmers from Norfolk and Lincolnshire at Docking, Norfolk (says the “Banffshire Journal” (Scotland). One hundred and fifty acres of a new skinless oat have been put down by Messrs Parker and Proctor. A similar oat has never before been grown in the British Isles. The new oat is the result of 19 years’ research work, fn an account of the proceedings it is stated that only 15 lb of seed is required an acre compared with the ordinary seeding of 1681 b. The crop has not yet been threshed, but from the appearance a good yield is expected. •On medium soils it has been found possible to get a yield of 4,500 lb an acre, equal to 13=) quarters. Because the oat is 'huskless, this yeilcl is expected to be equal in value to 20 quarters of ordinary oats.

A busy period is being experienced by the officials of the Ashburton railway station in handling the extra railway traffic, due to large consignments of sheep to ewe fairs, and to the haulage of grain. Two extra trains, north and south, are being run daily to cope with the traffic.

A motor horse-float, containing six trotters for the races at Timaru on Saturday, broke down at Ashburton and, when officials of the Railway ‘Department were approached they provided horse boxes which were attached to the special passenger train from Christchurch. The horses arrived at Washdyke in time to fulfil their engagements.

At a meeting of supporters of the Labour Party, held at Leestcn, Mr Bryant (chairman of the Ashburton branch) presided. An address on matters of interest to the Party was given by Mr H, E. Herring, M.P. Mr Rudd (secretary of the organisation in MidCanterbury)' gave a report on the financial result of 'the election campaign, and this was considered satisfactory. It was decided, to form a branch of "the New Zealand Labour Party at Leeston.

All manner of articles were left behind by visitors to a floral fete at Auckland last Saturday. All through the afternoon the announcer was broadcasting for suclr-and-such an article had been found; and they ranged from a child to a lost hat—and hats were easy to lose, so strong was the wind. But the point is that many articles have still to be claimed. For example, there is a gold watch without an owner; and that is far from being the only valuable. “In fact,” said one of the officials, “the only thing that was not left behind was the baby.”

A (Press Association telegram from Wellington states that the Government has decided to close to the public the old Dominion Museum at the rear of Parliament buildings so that the packing of exhibits for transfer to the new building at Mount Cock can be completed. The Hon, W. E. Parry said that the work of transferring the exhibits would start next month., the new building being due to be banded by the contractors to the board of Trustees on April 1. The museum nas been open continuously for more than 70 years. The building is one of Wellington’s landmarks.

New Zealand, in the opinion of Mr H. H. IDilley (leader of the South African farmers’ party), has suffered irreparable loss in the burning down of much of the bush. The New Zealand bush, he said at Wellington, was very beautiful, and was particularly appreciated by the South African visitors because there was so little forested area in the Union. Only the eastern section was timbered, the central and western parts of South Africa being mainly grasslands, tall plateaux with prairie-like tops. Mr Dilley said that his first farm was sixty miles from the nearest town, and it was necessary to cross a 4000 ft range to get to it.

The Government Statistician reports that the value represented by building permits issued in the larger towns of the Dominion during January was £407,961, an increase of 15.2 per cent over the December, 1935, total. Both December and January: are normally relatively slack months in respect ot building activity owing to the intervention of the holiday period. Despite this seasonal influence, the January, lJob, total is greater than that for any single month during the years 1931 and 1932 ; and is higher than the monthly average for the years 1933, 1934,. and 1935. Permits issued for the erection of new dwellings were 291 in number, as compared with 261 in December.

A competition established among school children by the Whangaiei Horticultural Society for the collection ot white butterflies has resulted in veiy satisfactory numbers of these pests being destroyed. Two children have each handed in 7000, three others 5000 and numerous others between 1000 and 2000. The president, Mr C. V. Stringier stated yesterday that the donation of prizes for the children by business people and other residents had done much to encourage the children, and the society was sparing no pains in its effort to keep down the number of the butterflies.

Surplus goldfish from ponds in Pair merst.on North, disposed of by being put in streams, have made their way to Lake Horowhenua and there increased in thousands, according to a statement made by Captain M. Foster at a meeting' of the council of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society. He said tlio goldfish, which were Japanese carp, were displacing the trout. Some weighed three pounds. Captain Foster replied to a member who asked if they could he eaten that they tasted as much like cotton wool as anything could.

That the Eglington Valley road is flanked by some of the finest beech trees in New Zealand is the opinion of Dr. E. Teielielmann, of Hokitika, who has been an alpine climber in the Dominion for the past 30 years. Dr. Teielielmann, who recently paid a flying visit to the lakes and through to Homer tunnel, considers the Eglington remarkable for its scenic beauty, and states that especially where the road passes through the beech forest it is exceedingly interesting. When one looks down the Hbllyford, a different type of forest becomes evident. The forest on the east coast side is less varied, he thinks, in the nature of its trees than on the West Coast. _ _ Dr. Teielielmann said that the precipitous rock face of Mount Christina in the Upper Hollvford was a marvellous sight. “When the tunnel goes through this scenic route should prove a wonderful asset to the province in particular and to the Dominion as a whole,’’ he added.

Although Britain will not set the lead to the Empire by issuing stamps bearing King Edward’s portrait until the end of the year, two collectors have already placed an order with a Wellington dealer for a. copy of every stamp issued in the British Empire during his reign. Throughout the world there were many enthusiastic collectors of Georgian issues and philatelists say that there is no fear of any slump in this section consequent upon the death of the King. Many of the stamps were of exceptional beauty and had artistic as well as philatelic appeal. They point out that the issues made toward the end, of the reign should appreciate in value, since it is certain that they will only remain in use until it is possible to supersede them with the stamps of the new sovereign. The Georgian reign was productive of some great rarities, and as no stamp collector can tell what the new reign will bring forth, it seems that the enterprise of these two collectors may be well rewarded.

Considerable activity at rabbit shooting in and around Ashburton was reported yesterday. One party made a bag of 119 rabbits.

At the monthly meeting of the Ashburton Electric Power Board this morning, the chairman (Mr E. F. Nic-oll) stated that the Board’s system had suffered little damage during the recent storms. It was getting stronger all the time, lie said.

Members of the Canterbury University College cricket team passed through Ashburton on the south-bound express this morning on the way to play their annual match against Otago University at Dunedin.

Hundreds of young trout, between three and four inches in length, evidently from the overflow of the Ashburton River during the recent floods, have found their way down the various water channels. Yesterday many were found stranded in the water channels near and inside the Borough.

Milking machines have been inspected with interest by the South African members of the touring party of farmers at present in- New Zealand. Dr. A. Ernst, a member of the party, stated in Palmerston North that not so long ago he had taken a tour of the whole Union, and in it had seen only one set of milking machines. The explanation lay in the cheapness of native labour, as it did not pay under those circumstances to spend a considerable sum in installing the machines.'

The Ashburton Tramping Club’s first outing for the season was held, yesterday at Alford Forest, and was attended by 19 members. The party climbed Mt. Alford (3843 ft.) and descending on the far side to the Winterslow woolshed, returned by way of the pack track to the Winterslow Homestead. On the upper slopes of Mt. Alford white gentians aiid mountain daisies were flowering profusely. Weather conditions were ideal and, the* view from the summit was exceptionally clear.

Human nature is perverse; especially will it bo found so when it comes to dealing with children. This was demonstrated at the recent conference in Auckland of parks officials. “If you put flower beds near children’s parks, people will say to you, ‘But the children will run all over your beds,’ ” said Mr D. Tannoek, superintendent of reserves at llunedin. “But they won’t. If you put a fence up, they will climb over and trample on the beds, but if you just trust them they don’t do any damage.” Other delegates agreed that they had no trouble without fences. If a portion of a park was not meant for public use, flower beds were put in instead of fences and nobody trespassed.

The view that New Zealand might improve its beef animals for the purpose of the chilled beef trade was expressed . yesterday by Mr J. Marchbank, a Scottish member of the visiting primary producers’ party. The quality of sheep in New Zealand, Mr Marchbank considered, was very well adapted; to the joint purpose of woolproducing and the fat' lamb trade. The standard of dairy! cattle was also very high. In beef production, however, the New Zealand animal was not equal to the Scottish. The prospects in the chilled beef trade were very bright at the present time and ah immediate study should be made by New Zealand to ascertain the particular requirements of the British market.