LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 21, 4 November 1938, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Sustenance payments will be made next waak to 74 men on the Ashburton unemployment [register. The number this week was 71.

' A dead albatross was picked up by workmen engaged in fascining work between the Point and the Surf Club pavilion at Manawatu Heads. The bird had a wing span of 10 feet.

Fifty-eight drivers’ licences were issued by the County Council in the last month. Ten werte issued at Methven and 15 at Rakaia, making a, total of 83 for the month and a total <jt 3700 for the licensing year.

Travellers by Air Travel (N.Z.) Ltd. aeroplanes on the West Coast have been amused to see a ppt lamb, a dog, and a tame deer run across the landing field at the Haast to meet incoming machines. The machines land within about 50 yards of the homestead of Mr J. Cron, who owns the animals. The deer was caught by Mr Cron in the Landsborough Valley when on a deer-stalking expedition, and it was taken from the valley to the Haast by aeroplane.

Said to lie the last of liar tribe, a pigmy woman from Africa, Übangi, who has been touring New Zealand with a side show company, was yesterday admitted to the Ashburton Public Hospital, 'where she has been operated on. She'was stated this morning to be in a satisfactory condition. Übangi was to liavie made appearances at the Ashburton Show yesterday, but was taken ill at. the hotel where she had been staying for two or three days.

Comment that it was absolutely absurd and preposterous to claim £4OO general damages for injury, pain, and suffering from a broken collairbone and cracked shoulder blade in a motor accident was made by his Honor Sir John Reed during the hearing of a case in the Supreme Court at Palmerston North. “If this claim is taken as a guide,” said his Honor, “then we will be faced with, claims for many thousands for the loss of a leg or an arm.”

Third prize in the junior section of the recent Palmer Prize Navy League essay competition went to Betty N. H. Maxwell, Lagoon Valley, Hawea Flat, Central Otago. At a meeting of the Wellington branch of the Navy League, it was reported that the girl, who was aged 10 years, had submitted a really creditable essay, the merit of her performance being enhanced by the fact that she did not attend school but was a pupil of the 'Government Correspondence School. The league decided to send a. letter of congratulation.

The Ashburton Silver Band will give its third concert -broadcast from 3YA next Monday night, playing eight items between 8 o’clock and 9 o’clock., The items ane: “B.R. anu C.F. ’ March (Old Hume); “Gems of Harmony” (Various); “Queen of Rubies” Valse (Bourne); “Ohu Chin Chinee,” xylophone solo (soloist: Trevor Brown) (G reen); ‘ ‘ Plain-a n-Gwarry ’ ’ Hymn (Parker)- “Silver Threads Among the Gold,” Horn soloist, A. J. D. Miller (Allison); “Sparks” xylophone solo (soloist: Trevor Brown) (Alford); “The Colonel’s Parade.” March, (Ord llume).

Concern at the possibility of a considerable increase in. hospital rates as a result of the operation of the Social Security Act is felt by local bodies in Southland, At a conference yesterday the following resolution was carried: “That this meeting is satisfied that there is every indication of a very considerable increase in hospital expenditure as a result, of the operation of the Social Security Act, and that the Government, he asked to indicate its proposed proportion.” Six representatives of local bodies were deputed to forward to ratepayers particulars of the estimated amounts required to avoid increased rating.

The opinion that pig rooting had, improved the property 100 per cent, was expressed by a witness in the Dargaville Magistrate’s Court during the hearing o'f a claim between, two farmers on the grounds of alleged damage to pastures caused by the rooting of pigs. The Magistrate (Mr G. N. Morris) remarked that he had beard claims during the past 10 years but had never heard it said that pig rooting improved a property, particularly to the extent of ICO per cent, as claimed by the witness. He added that if such were the position a larmier should pay for having pigs rooting in his property.

When he arrived in the United States in the Queen Mary on his return to New Zealand, Mr H. S. Adams, of Dunedin, was rather amused at a typical “scare” started by American newspapers. The huge liner carried a record number of 2112 passengers across the Atlantic, the European crisis, which was at its height at the time, causing large numbers of people to hurry away from Europe. No sooner had the liner berthed than the passengers were told that there had been a terribly anxious time for all on board because of threatened submarine attacks. It- was the first toe passengers knew of any possible disaster, amd the stories in the press caused considerable amusement. Another report that he believed was true was that the Queen Mary would have gone straight to Montreal, instead of New York, had war been declared between Britain and Germany. There the huge liner would have remained throughout the war.

Gratification at the increasing interest in native bird life that is being taken by Dunedin residents, many of whom have been feeding the birds during the winter months, is -expressed in the annual report of the Dunedin Naturalists’ Field Club. This practice, however, makes it in some ways more difficult to note it the native birds are on the increase around the outlying parts of the city, the r-e----poit continues. During the past year, in one suburban garden only three tin's were noted atone time, while six to eight were recorded, in the previous two years. On the other hand, tin's have been reported from localities where they previously had not been g(V?n by residents, so it is believed they are not decreasing, but merely covering a wider feeding area. Bellbirds seem to be slightly on the increase, and the native pigeon is occasionally seen, but tits and iautails seem less numerous. Of the introduced birds, the blackbird., the redpoll, the greenfinch and the goldfinch l:ave hewn noted in increasing numbers. On one occasion blackbirds wwre seen mobbing and driving away a tui. The grey owl has been heard more frequently this year.

Thoro was a oloan bill of health iii Ashburton Borough and Ashburton County this week

N'e.v Zealanders should have no difficulty in pronouncing correctly the name of the United States destroyer Maury, which arrived from American Samoa on Monday on an informal visit. According, to members of the ship’s ..company, the name is pronounced exactly the same as “Maori.” The destroyer is named after a famous figure.;,in United States naval history, Commander Matthew Fontaine Maury.

A notice on Armistice Day observances appeared in the Gazette last night. Citizens and traffic-control authorities are earnestly requested to observe the practice adopted in New Zealand on former similar occasions of a two minutes’ silence at 11 a.m., and the suspension of all vehicular traffic during that period. Where a service is held, it is suggested that it be at the local cenotaph or war memorial, as the case may be.

A suggestion that roadside telephones on rural roads should be installed for the use of Automobile Association patrols and other motorists in cases of emergency was received at the annual meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Automobile Association from the Road Safety Council, and after discussion it- was decided that a reply should lie sent the council expressing the association’s opinion that it deemed ’phone boxes on rural roads as unnecessary.

According to a, statement by Mr H. W. Bullock, a vice-president, of tne Automobile: Association (Auckland), during an address at the annual meeting of the Hamilton branch last nvfcek, the association has erected 23,000 signs in the Auckland province, 2200 being put up this year. “ When you rtealise that, these signs cost approximately £1 each, our work in this direction represents a considerable outlay, and it is the duty of every member to see that they are not 'interfered with, added Mr Bullock.

A gam net in full flight era sheet against the windscreen of a St. John ambulance, that was waiting at the Devonport vehicular ferry wharf, Auckland, shattered the glass, and fell stunned on to the footboard of the cab. A piece of glass about, an inch square went .into the compartment where the patient lay, and fjoll on his bed, and several pieces were deposited in the lap of the driver, Mr iH. Thornton. The gannet Avas placed on a Harbour Board launch, hut on the way across the haubour it yecoA'cred sufficiently to scramble over the side and make its escape.

Photographs of 36 former Ashburton. County Chairmen have been placed on the walls of the hew Council Chamber. In the old building the photographs, each, ni its oivn frame, hung at varying heights on the Avails, and the frames Avere different in shape, size and colour. They have been remounted in groups of three (there is one of four) and have been sorted according to style. They run round the Council room in an even line, and beneath each is a neat brass plate bearing tne name of chairman and the years in which, he held office.

The fortnightly meeting, of the Wakanui Good Templars ivas held in the hall. The C.T. (Bro. H. Begg) presided over a good attendance. Arrangements were made for the annual church parade. Harmony Avas a mock mayoral election. Brothers E. and J. West, A. Frampton, C. Wilson and J. Sinclair were the candidates. Sister Begg Avas voted to the chair and introduced the speakers. After each candidate had spoken, a. ballot, Avas taken and Bro. Esmond W/est was the successful candidate. At the next meeting a mock mayoral banquet will be held. Supper Avas served.

Realistic broadcasts of the war in the vicinity of Hankow, relayed to Tokio, were heard by a New Plymouth radio enthusiast one night last week about 10.20. On a wave length of 26 metres he picked up what he (described as “an awful din,” in which the whistling sounds of shells were followed by crashes. At times the ’noise almost drowned tine remarks in the Japanese language by the commentator, who became very excited. Another listener also heard broadcasts the following morning shortly after 8 o’clock oti the same wave length which he believed were coming from the war ■zone.

Writing in the Weston-Super-Mare Deanery Magazine, the Rural Dean (the Rev. A. 0. Schofield) says: “More than 50 years ago, after several centuries of service, oup ancient church clock stopped. The professional clockdoctors operated without success. The vicar’s young curate then tried his hand. He took the clock home, boiled it in the copper, dried and oiled it, and his drastic treatment proved a lasting success. Hearing the story, I remarked (before learning his name) tiiat a young man of such resourcefulness and courage was assuredly destined for big things. He died a month ago—Dr. Churchili Julius, retired Archbishop of New Zealand.”