LOOKING BACK.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 187, 21 May 1938, Page 6

LOOKING BACK.

FIFTY YEARS SYNE. (From the “Guardian,” May 21, 1888). Local Option Poll—[Preceding his sermon at the Wesleyan Church yesterday morning, me Rev. J. N. Buttle urged all members of his congregation, who AA r ere ratepayers, to record their votes at the Local Option poll to be taken on AVednesdav next. Whatever were the defects of the present Licensing Act, it Avas a vast improvement on those which preceded it. It afforded them the right to say Avhether there should be any increase of licensed houses in their respective districts, and the people of the colony were agitating for an extension of the privilege, so that, by a poll periodically taken, they might deal in like manner with existing licences. If Parliament saAv that the privileges new possessed by the people Avere not tajjen advantage ot, it might point to such apathy as a reason for refusing further concessions. Mr Buttle said they knew liis opinions on the liquor traffic; he Avas not so conversant Avith the vieAvs of the Ashburton public. Let every man Avhc possessed the franchise go to the poll, and record his decision one Avrty or the other on the subject. ! TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO. (From the “Guardian,” May 21, 1913). Destruction By Birds Although small birds are reported to be unusually numerous .in practically every part of the County:, comparatively little of the County Council’s supply of poisoned AA-heat, Avhich is being distributed free as usual, has been called for by the farmers. Considering the enorr mous destruction small birds inflict on the grain crops, both in the early and mature stages, it amounts almost to criminal carelessness on the part of the farmers not to make some united effort to check the increase of these pests. The County Council is ,noiv paying 9d per dozen for the heads of smail. birds, but up to date comparatively feiv have been brought into the Council’s depot or to various Road Boards authorised to buy them. Now that the winter has fairly set in and natural feed is becoming scarce, a man with a trap, which can be purchased, at a moderate cost e should be in a position to make at least £3 per Aveek over a period of two months.

Telephone Installations—One of the staffs of the Telegraph Department is at present overhauling the telephones in Ashburton. It may be interesting to many to know that there are at present 239 instruments installed in the Borough and suburbs.