LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 46, 3 December 1938, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

About. 100 children from the Lnunston School and their parents held their annual outing at Caroline ‘Bay, Timaru, yesterday. Although a gusty northwest wind was blowing, all enjoyed themselves.

Having received many requests for a further presentation of the tableau entitled “The Master,” the Ashburton Salvation Army has decided to stage the play again to-morrow evening. It was first presented a fortnight ago, when the hall was filled to capacity. ,

An increase in the railway fares from December 11 has led to unprecedented rush for bookings at t'he tourist office at Dunedin this morning. Persons who nro not travelling till the end of January were buyers of their tickets, says a‘ Press Association telegram.

Because of the position in view of the probable inclusion of Allenton in the Borough before many months are out, the Ashburton County Council yesterday decided to make a grant of £25 to'the Allenton Fire Brigade in place of the £SO asked for. The grant is 'or the purchase of equipment and uniforms.

The Ashburton Silver Band travelled to Met liven to-dav, and in conjunction with the Methven Pipe Band presented a concert in the Town Hall. The baud .will visit Timaru to-morrow and with the Timaru Municipal Baud give an open-air concert at Caroline Bay. The Ashburton Band will also present a quick-step display.

“He was engaged in mowing kumeras?” interjected Mr Justice Blair incredulously in the Napier Supreme Court, when his counsel was referring to a phase of his Maori client’s farming activities. “No, your Honor, moulding them,” was the reply. “1 thought I was sufficient of a farmer to know that one doesn’t mow potatoes.” remarked the judge.

Much experience in the transportation of sick and injured persons is gained by members of the Christchurch Division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, and only recently a patient was taken from Ashburton to Christchurch by the ambulance method. Mr W. Osman, who was a member of the Ashburton Ambulance Division for 24 years, now belongs to the Christchurch No. 3 Division, and accompanied the ambulance on its trip to Ashburton. 'Many hours of practise aite put in by members each week in becoming expert in transportation methods.

Arriving at a magnificent hotel in Marseilles, said Major Sydney Wren, M.C., addressing the Wellington Beturned Soldiers Association he 'was amazed at the palatial nature of the furnishings, particularly in the bathroom. Travel stained, he turned on the tap over the bath and went away to unpack. Returning after awhile, lie was amazed to find no water in the bath. He sent for the manager, who, on arrival, apologised, and said, ‘"lt is very ;regrettable.” What is regrettable?” “That we have no water.” The Ashburton County Council yesterday decided to have a survey made of the storm-flooded area, in the southern portions, of the County. The decision followed a resolution carried at the meeting of settlers at Eiffelton on Wednesday evening. The position iu regard to the flooding was explained to the Council by Mr W. G. Gallagher, who said that one of the chief causes of the trouble was the continued rising of the bed of the Hinds River. Mr J.'C-arr said that the Council cleaned out some of the drains in that locality about seven years ago but nothing bad been done since, which showed a certain amount of carelessmess on the part of some of the settlers. He thought that unless the people were prepared to go on with the drainage work, the cost of the survey should lie a charge on the Riding, and not on the whole County. Mr S. P. Taylor said that the control of the flood wate'- was equal to the control of th 4 rivers in_ importance.

An Opotiki poultry farmer who has been troubled with a plague of rats in his sheds organised a bunt recently. Men and dogs stood bv while a concrete floor in a sbed was torn up, all exits having been blocked with fine mesh netting and corrugated iron. A startling number of rats was revealed, and when the hunt ended it was found that 242 had been killed.

The claim made by a Mataura breeder of budgerigars that his bird, n laying 10 eggs fop a sitting, had established a record, is disputed by a Taradale resident, who reports that last season one of bis birds laid 14 eggs and settled down to hatch them. However, the breeder considered such a numbei too much lor one bird to hatch and reduced the number to eight, all of which were successfully hatched.

Smiling reference to the fact that .Scotland sometimes loses its identity in the name England was made by the Minister of Health and -Education (the Hon. P. Fraser), when speaking at a Scots concert held in the Wellington Town Hall. “The society might well point out that there is such a place as Scotland,” he said, “ and that it is not really described by the name England. if might be suggested that the term Britain could more reasonably be applied or, as an alternative to Britain, the whole country could just be calico Scotland.” (Laughter.)

As part of the arrangements for the Transport Department’s Boad Safety Campaign Week, long banner bearing safety first slogans have been stretched across East Street, at the Havelock Street and the Tanered Stheot crossings. The banners bear the legend “Walk sensibly—drive safely!” The procession organised as part of the Campaign will visit Ashburton next Monday, arriving from Christchurch at 9.30 a.m., arid leaving an hour later for tHo south. A lecture on safety first will be given to school children in East Sir cot before the procession leaves.

While not stating the actual figures, in the absence of the statistics dealing with the position, a dairy faetbry executive recently informed a Manawatu Standard reporter that, on the total arrival* last year of dairy produce in the United Kingdom and taking them as a basis for tnis year’s return, the Government was now standing to lose about £7OOO a day over the whole year with the price for butter remaining at 104 s a cwt, or 20s a cat below the guaranteed price. The holdings of .stocks in London amounted to over 25,000 tons, as against about 96C0 tons last year, and so the outlook for a rise, with heavier New Zealand shipments coming on the market, did not look promising for the Dairy Account.

Two liours after it was scheduled to leave for Timaru-, the Ashburton East School picnic train left the station this morning, the delay having been caused by the blocking of the line at Timaru preventing the running to Ashburton of the special train which was to have brought the picnic carriages. The train used by the Templeton School pieknickers arrived about 10.20 o’clock, the ten carriages of that train, with seven that were already at Ashburton, were used to take the people to the seaside. The children, no less than, the adults, had a. tedious wait for nearly three liours in the vicinity of the railway station. The train was packed when it left, the accommodation being far short of the requirements, and many children were sitting on one another’s knees.

“Would you agree that the cornel’ ot the stretch of road in question is one that sometimes could be out with safety?” was the query put by Mr H. D. Richmond in his cross-examination of a witness in a motor accident compensation case in the Auckland Supreme Court, arising from a collision of cars at Hadfield’s Beach, Orewa. “No, Ido not,” replied the witness. “I never regard any corner as being safe to cut.” “What!” said Mr Richmond. “Do you mean to tell the Court that as a motorist you would not cut any corner?” “Yes, I do,” was the vehement reply. “I never cut a corner.” Mr Richmond’s reply was to the effect that the witness was entitled to be regarded as a model to all drivers of motor vehicles, but the witness persisted that lie made his policy his inflexible rule when driving. The jury regarded the witness with added interest, and his Honour Mr Justice Fair smiled his approval of such a stickler for one of the primary rides of the road.

Plunket Nurses in Ashburton made 159 calls at homes during the last month, SI of this calls being made in the country districts, while the visits paid to the. Society’s offices were 592 in the Borough and 251 in the country. These statistics were reported to the monthly meeting of the Plunket Society yesterday, when the president •(Mjvs F. W. Seldon) presided over a very good attendance. The car, it was stated, had travelled 105 miles in the Borough and 591 miles in the country, a total mileage of 696. The nurses reported that the measies epidemic seemed to be on the wane, especially in the town'. The Principal of the Ashburton Technical High School (Mr W. Crawford) wrote expressing appreciation of the instruction that had been given recently to senior domestic class students by Nurse Poff. A resume of the proceedings of the recent conference at Wellington was given by Mrs Seldon, who represented the branch. She stated that arrangements were well in hand for the Plunket Society’s creche which would be established at the Centennial Inhibition.

“I think people travelling to America, and England should see London before, they visit New York if they want to avoid a feeling of disappointment at the first glimpse of the heart of the Empire,” said Mrs Richard Hudson at the Travel Club at Dunedin. “New York was one of the cleanest cities I saw,” she said. “Its streets are washed down every night, and the beautifully modern buildings simply glisten in the sun with a clear bright cleanliness, so different from the drabness and dirtiness which is so obvious at one’s first glimpse of London.” Mrs Hudson said that when she first arrived in London she was struck by the grey murkiness of its streets and great buildings. The feeling persisted for two or three days, and then London captured her. After first impressions had Aided theye ’was no comparison between London and New York. One simply loved London, whereas she was simply amazed at New York. London with its traditions, its history, its quiet dignity, and its atmosphere of age was really indescribable., hut it gripped the imagination in a wav that New sork never could, and one wondered nitorwards how any thought of a comparison could ever arise.