LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 31, 16 November 1939, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A small child, Gloria Rankin, infant daughter of Mr \V. E. Rankin, of Fendarves, fell in the Borough School ground and broke a collarbone.

The Ashburton Silver Band has received scores of the “New Zealand Centennial March,” which was composed and arranged by Air A. H. Pettitt, of Dunedin. It is likely that the band will play the march at a public performance in the near future.

Planted in a heavy soil by a Palmerton North amateur gardener about seven months ago,, two short rows of broad bean seeds have produced a -remarkable crop, the largest pod of which measures over 16in. in length. The plants are nearly sft. in height and are so heavily laden that they have to be tied to individual stakes with strong cord.

The Taradale Town Board last week agreed to -a- suggestion :by the Taradale and District Returned Soldiers’ Association to approach the Hawke’s Bay County Council with a view to having Pnketapu road renamed Drummond road in memory of Pilot Officer John Drummond, who was the first Hawike’s Bay man to be killed in action in the present war.

“They ,are much more intelligent than many Europeans know,’’ said Mr Justice Blair in the Supreme Court in Gisborno last week, when discounting a suggestion made by Mr A. A. Whitehead that Maoris did not have the competence in business matters enjoyed by Europeans. The question occurred when Mr Whitehead said that many Maoris did not understand anything ’about securities.

“There can be no doubt that these signs are definitely dangerous,” said Mr F. E. It. Booth at a meeting'of the General Committee of the Automobile Association {(Southland) when the placing of advertising signs along the- centre of the bonnets of motor cars was being discussed. The subject was raised by My J. ID 1 . Campbell, who said that those persons who were arranging for the signs to be placed on the bonnets held that the authorities had no objection. He thought, however, that the signs affected visibility and he suggested that a letter be written to the Transport Department. It was stated that the question was one that concerned the whole of the Dominion and it was decided to write to the South Island Motor Union asking it to take the matter up with thei TransPort Department and to point out the dungeir of visibility being affected.

Assistance and encouragement to those employers who arei subsidising the military may of employees serving with the military forces have been given in an amendment to the Land and Income Tax Act which was passed by Parliament last session. Operating with respect to the> tax for the year of assessment commencing on April 1, IP4O, section 4 specifies that in, calculating the assessable income of any employer, the commissioner of taxes may allow as a, deduction any sums paid by an employer by way of wages salary or allowance in respect of any period after an employee has been called up for naval, military or air service, whether within New Zealand or elsewhere. No deduction, however, will be allowed under this section in excess of the rates payable to the employee at the time when he was called up, or in excess of £4 a week, whichever is the lesser.

“The Red Cross Society may be likened to an unarmed 1 army, trained for practical service in any part of the world, irrespective of nationality or colour,” said Miss E. M. King, vicepresident of the Hawke’s Bay centre of the Red Cross Society, at- Havelock North last week, when a new subbranch was formed. She explained that the society aimed to be fully equipped at a moment’s call.

Arrangements are being made for the shifting of the Automobile Association.’s: hut from, its present site to the new ground in the Ashburton Domain. The foundations aire being prepared at the new site and it is expected that the building will be moved early next week. The curator at the Domain (Mr D. H. Leigh) said to-day that the ground would be ready for use in three weeks’ time at the latest.

Fifty goldfish were liberated in the lake in the Ashburton Domain to-day. The fish, which are: in excellent condition, were donated by Mr B. Flynn,, of Spjringbuni, and were transported to Ashburton by the Acclimatisation Society. Despite the extent of the water in which they have been freed the goldfish were visible in several parts of the lake to-day, their colours showing them up clearly, even when there was a ripple on the water.

“If our women, would get out in the garden and hoe kumeras the way their Maori sisters do we would hear less of nerves and nerve strain,” said Dr. H. Douglas, patron of the Hamilton Horticultural ' Society, in opening the society’s rose show last week. “In these days of stress it is a merciful escape to get into the garden, and I am quite sure if wo gave more time to our gardens we would lead a much happier life.”

Dismounted troop-drill, visual braining and a black-board lecture on cavalry movements in the field constituted the training of the Hinds troop at a parade held at Hinds on Tuesday evening. The parade was in charge of Major G. Brown. The next parade of the Hinds-Ashburton troop and a parade of all N.0.0.’s will be held at the Drill Shed, Ashburton, on November 28. A squadron bivouac (dismounted) will be held at Ashburton on December 9 and 10, when it is expected a full muster will parade.

The Royal Horticultural \ Society’s bronze medal was presented for the first time to an exhibitor at the Napier Horticultural Society’s rose and sweet pea show, which was held last week. The presentation was made to Mr R. G. Wilson, the well-known flower exhibitor, for an outstanding collection of bearded irises. This award is never made unless a bloom or a- collection of blooms of exceptional quality is displayed. Every judge at the show was consulted, and it was a result of their deliberations that the presentation of the medal was made.

A dog gave the crowd a good laugh at the racesmt Avondale on Saturday. It was a plump black-and-white fox terrier, which ran on to the track while a race was in progress. The sight of the galloping horses apparently appealed to a -dayful spirit in the dog, which gave chase, almost from the standing point. Of course, it was quite unable to keep pace with the horses, •but it raced down the. straight far behind the field to the delight of the spectators. It soon gave up the running when the horses became lost to its sight as they ran out of the straight.

An investigation undertaken recently by officers of the Department of Agriculture, -to ascertain the total value of the produce of commercial gardens and orchards in New Zealand has thrown new light on the scope and variety of the industries concerned. It is estimated that the output of the Dominion’s orchards, gardens and small farms has a value not under £2,500,000, and probably considerably greater. Those engaged in the work include, besides Europeans, numerous Maoris and Chinese.

How/ the| purchase of coal from Australia for making gas in Wanganui is affected by the restrictions on permits to send money out -of the country was referred to in a report by the Gas Committee placed before a meeting of the City Council. The committee reported that the Cessnock Collieries, Ltd., New South Wales, had advised that; consequent on the Nlew Zealand Reserve Bank causing delay in remitting payments due by the council for thei cost of coal, the company was compelled to charge bank rate of interest one month after the first of the month following the date of shipment.

Commenting on the excellence,of the children’s section in the Napier Horticultural Society’s rose and sweet pea show which was, held last week, the judge of the miscellaneous classes (Mr C. W. Corner) said that if the trend towards a greater interest in flowers which was apparent in the young exhibitors was developed, Napier would certainly become outstanding throughout New Zealand l as a garden city. Mr Corner, who is superintendent of parks, gardens and reserves in Napier, has judged at flower shows in Great Britain and in many centres in New Zealand, and has a voluminous knowledge of horticultural matters.

The difference between the tone of business in Australia and that in New Zealand was commented on by Mr Peter Barr, who recently returned from the Commonwealth, at the annual meeting of shareholders of the Mosgiel Woollen Factory Company. “The question was raised,” Mr Barisaid, “what is the matter with New Zealand ? I think I spoke quite truthfully when I said that it was not the war. The war has, of course, affected both dominions, but over here our position has been brought afjont by spending morct money than wo had any right to spend.”

The fact that it is illegal does not prevent morbid-minded people from occasionally dynamiting hawks. The recent experience of a Waikato farmer should serve as a warning to anybody with similar ideas. He liberated a hawk with a stick of dynamite tied firmly to one of its legs. The added weight worried the bird, which flew straight to the nearest resting place. This-happened to be the roof of the farmer’s house. After it had been there a few seconds tlie plug exploded, lifting the roof half off the* house and scattering debris for yards around. Fortunately nobody- was injured l , ,as might have been the case, but the farmer was punished to the extent of nearly £IOO, for repairs.

Mr E. Oholerton, of Messrs J. R. Procter, Limited, Christchurch, is at present in Ashburton, and may be consulted on all defects of eyesight at Somerset Hotel to-morrow. —(Advt.)