LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 17, 31 October 1938, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Several stones from historic cathedrals in Great Britain have been received in Auckland fo-r incorporation in the cathedral which is to he built in replacement ot' the present St. Mary’s Cathedral a£ Parnell. Stones have already been received from the Canterbury, Lichfield', and Durham Cathedrals.

Deep resentment has been expressed by Maoris, in the Waikato at what they consider is the desecration of the hulls of canoes being built for the centennial celebrations. During the preparation of a canoe no woman may approach!, but photographs have been circulated of white women sitting on the hull of one of the candes which had been left unguardied in the Taupo hush.

In order to acquaint old pupils of the Tinwald School with the arrangements for the forthcoming diamond jubilee, the committee organising the programme has prepared a circular which will be sent to 400 former pupils in various parts of New Zealand, giving information about the proposed celebrations. Tire jubilee will be held from March 18 to 20 next year, and already several promises of financial assistance have been received.

The large number of exhibits produced by the Grown have I icon a teatime of cases heard in the Supreme Court, Auckland, last week. On one day about 26 letters, documents ana bundles of papers were put in duiring the course of evidence in a false pretences case, /but the previous day, whjan a series of theft charges was being ’heard, over 50 exhibits consisting of letters, stamps, books and other articles were produced in Court.

The purchase of a further supply of uniforms and general equipment to a value of about £25 was decided on by the Executive of the Allenton Volunteer Fire Brigade at a. meeting on Saturday evening, when Mr E. C. Bathurst presidea. Captain J. Osborne reported on two fires recently attended by the Brigade, one outbreak being in a chimney and the other in a washhouse and outbuildings. It was agreed to hold a social evening on Thursday, November 10, when the Executive will be entertained by the Brigade.

The suggestion that first-aid should be made a compulsory subject in all schools for children of 11 years and upward was approved by tfie Birkenhead Borough Council, Auckland. It was pointed out that increasing roaa traffic and, the popularity of bathing on the beaches made the risk of street accidents or drowning greater. It was considered imperative, therefore, that knowledge of what to do should be possessed by those on the scene, pending arrival of the doctor.

Waikato pastimes are at present in a very backward condition as a result of the abnormally low rainfall and largo number of frosts experienced since the beginning of. spring, states a Hamilton exchange. All farmers are feeling, conctern about the size and quality o£ their bay and ensilage crops, the outlook far which is at present not bright. Orchards are also suffering from the effects of the dry spell. “I have not seen, the grass so short at this stage of the season for many years,” said Mr T. E. Rodda (manager of the Ruakura farm) last week.

Heavy mortality among cats was caused during the winter months as the result of the worst epidemic of influenza to affect animals in Auckland for many years, states the “New Zealand Herald.” The fact that females suffered most from the epidemic lias; (resulted in, an unusual shortage of kittens at present. The Auckland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has a list of about 60 persons who have applied for kittens in recent weeks, and the demand is said to be much in excess of the number of kittens available.

An interesting trip to Petrified Gully was made by 18 members of the Ashburton Tramping Club yesterday. Ideal weather favoured the trampers, who 'went /by ’bus as far as Bushside. From here they tramped some distance across rolling fields, stopping at the Staveley Bridge to boil the billy. The party continued toward the Mount Somers township, and branched off into Petrified Gully, where swamp and thick manuka scrub made the going difficult. The trampers passed through the limestone eaves and after another stretch of open walking, met the ’bus on the road.

Some comment upon the value of forensic eloquence in the cause of justice was made by the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) in the Wellington Supreme Court" during the hearing of a motor collision ease in which Mr G. G. G. Watson and, Mr 0. C. Mazengarb appeared as opposing leading counsel. “Each of the learned counsel in this c-ase has commented upon the eloquence displayed iby the other,” said his Honor, addressing the jury. “Let us consider that the honours have been evenly divided. 1 should be sorry to' think ‘that justice, depended upon the superior rhetoric of one counsel over another.”

“The initiative and resource of the business man is essential to our progress as a nation, and nothing should be done to limit his influence for good.” stated My M. G, C. McCaul in his presidential address to the annual meeting of the Town Planning Institute of New Zealand held at Wellington. “The number of men of special ability in any country is not great. We can prosper only by giving them scope. It is not possible for any central executive, however able, to compensate for the loss of the energy and enthusiasm of the industrialist, great and small, il' their operations ai'e unduly hampered.”

Treatment to induce a broken thigh bone to knit was described, by a doctor who gave, evidence in the Supreme Court at Wellington. The patient, who was plaintiff in a, claim for damages following a motor accident, bad, in addition to a broken lolt. thigh, a broken left arm, broken lower loft leg, a fracture in the lei t ankle and severe concussion. The accident seriously displaced the ends of the broken thigh bone, and difficulty was lound in bringing them into contact', by the usual methods so they 'would knit, until an operation was performed. In the operation the parts were brought together and fixed in position with a stainless stool plate and screws. A plaster of paris case was placed about tiie thigh and extending from shoulder to toes. Later the plaster of paris was removed and later still a second operation was performed for the removal of the screw's and the plate.

When two cars came into collision opposite the Post Office this morning, the rmming-bonjvd ol' one vehicle was splintered and the side panelling dented slightly. The other vehicle did not sustain any damage.

Members of the Allen ton Volunteer Fire Brigade and the Brigade Executive on Saturday evening combined in sending congratulations to the. Ashburton Brigade on its winning of the shield at the Canterbury provincial demonstrations at Geraldine.

A portion of the Wellington mail for Ashburton was overcarried on the express train on Saturday. The missing portion was placed, under a large section of mail for Oamarn and was not located till the Oamaru mail was moved. The Ashburton mail was sent back from Oamaru by the express train arriving at 6 o’clock.

Fishing in rivers in the Ashburton County during the week-end was only fair, and no exceptionally big hags were taken. A few fishermen had medium catches near the mouth of the Rangitata, but little success was reported from the other rivers. There was a good run of whitebait in the Rangitata on Saturday, and netters had a fair run of luck. Most whitebait fishermen suffered disappointment yesterday, however.

, A record haul of eels was caught in a lagoon on the property of My F. W. Croskie at. Menzies Ferry (Southland). An eel trap containing the carpasses of two rabbits* was submerged one afternoon, and when raised l the following morning was found to contain 212 eels. On Monday morning last 50 eels were caught and on Tuesday 20. Some were over five fleet and a-hnlf long and weighed up to •361 h. '

A record which must be unequalled in New Zealand is that which is held by Mr George Spriggens, of Wanganui, in connection with the operation of the totalisator at the Waverley Racing Club’s meeting. Mr Spriggens said at the last meeting that he had been concerned with the running of the totalisatoir at Waverley for 68 years, but hie would not care to hazard a guess as to how many “tote” tickets had been handled by his various staffs during this period.

The experience of a Dunedin motorist' illustrates the need for care in. tine disposal of cigarette ends. While his car was parked, in a street in the city someone threiv a “butt” from an upper storey window of a neighbouring building. The lighted cigayette came to rest on the roof of the car, through which a, hole was burned, and the motorist had to meet a substantial bill for repairs. The same thoughtless throwing down of cigarette ends was responsible ioi three calls which the' City Fire Brigade deceived last month.

Difficulties in the insurance of rental cars were mentioned in the Magistrate’s Court at Invercargill on Thursday by a witness who said that it was not his practice to' make claims an the company for small amounts. “If you makje too many claims on them they will cut you out,” he said, “so I prefer to wait till there is a, smash involving a sum like £IOO to make a claim. We are given to understand that if we don’t make too many claims for small things the companies will he willing to continue the risKs on rental cars. Generally we expect the client to pay for any damage that is done.’’

A continuous telegraph service from Mondays to Fridays inclusive will 100 conducted at Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington, and Auckland as from today. Making this announcement at the end of last week', the PostmasterGeneral (the Hon. F. Jones) said this additional service was being provided primarily for the deception" of cablegrams and for handling the correction of messages, but should the necessity arise for a- telegram to be dispatched overseas during the early hours of the morning this w r auld be accepted.. Arrangements for the acceptance of the message could be made by telephonic communication with the officer on duty at the telegraph office. Thie delivery of telegrams received overnight would commence at 8 a.m. as usual.