LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 33, 18 November 1939, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

On the grounds that the finance-,s of the county were in a sound position the Public Works Department has advised the Wanganui County Council that it will not grant it a subsidy for the restoration of damage done in the recent flood.

A large album depicting the flight of the Imperial Airways flying boat Centaur us was loaned to the Hawke’s Bay County Council by Union Airways for tho inspection of members at a recent meeting. The councillors took a keen interest in the series of photographs.

Teams from the Christchurch Girls’ High School and the Timaru Girls’ High School visited Ashburton to-day. ancl took pqrt in sports fixtures with girls of the Ashburton High School. The visitors comprised 20 girls from each school, and competitions in tennis, swimming and quoits were held.

Last season a' resident of Park road, Palmerston North, took three crops from a strawberry bed in. his garden, the last being in June. New, five months later, tliis prolific plant has produced, under outdoor conditions, another crop of excellent flavour and quality. The berries have, been making their appearance regularly each season even before the Auckland crops, many of which are forced, have been reaching the local market.

A suggestion had been made to change the time of „the broadcast of the weather forecasts for farmers from 3.30 to 4 p.m., stated a letter from the Dominion Executive of the Farmers’ Union, received by the Mid-Canterbury Provincial executive yesterday. The local executive’s views on the matter were asked. It was decided to advise that the present service of the Meteorological Department was satisfactory, but to suggest that all the reports should be broadcast from the various stations at the same time.

The- Fighter Cup, on which are inscribed the names of many famous test pilots, was recently Avon by a voung New Zealander, Pilot Officer. L. R. Jacobsen, of Wellington, at a Gloucester training camp. The contest, open to- all pilots, is held every six months, and includes tests in air shooting as Avell as flying ability. When he underAvent the test, Pilot Officer Jacpbsen had only been in England for a little over a year, and bad 146 hours’ dual and solo flying to his credit. The judges’ assessment of his performance was “above the average,” and he learned later that he narroAvly missed the assessment “exceptional.”

Forty-four delegates from all Women’s Institutes in the County attended a special meeting, held in Ashburton yesterday, for the purpose of considering the rules and regulations of the constitution. Mrs M. A. Constable 'presided, and Mrs F. Curtis, as representative of the Dominion Council, conducted the meeting. A neAV handbook Avill shortly be drawn up by the council, and at yesterday’s meeting suggestions wore made for the alteration of some of the regulations. The recommendations of the delegates Avill he placed before the council at a meeting in Wellington next week by Mrs Curtis. After the- meeting past members of the executive of the Federation Avere entertained to luncheon.

Fishermen in the. Whangarei Harbour report the presence of large mimbqrs of sharks. Until the present time few have been noticed this season, but with the coming of the warm weather the sharks have been following the smaller fish into the harbour.

The sportsmen’s annual service which was instituted some years ago by the then viciy* of iPetoncv, now the Bishop of AVaiapu, the Right Rev. G. Y. Gerard, for members of the various sports bodies and kindred organisations in the JHutt Valley, was held at Petone last Sunday.

Two entries from the Borough School and one from Allenton 'have been received this year by the Board of Governors of the Ashburton High School Board for John Bell Memorial Scholarships. The candidates must be prepared to take an agriculture course at the Higli School, the scholarships being tenable for two years. There were two entries last year.

In connection with the erection of a memorial meeting house, to Sir James Carroll at Wairoa, an elaboratelycarved flagpole has been sent by the Arawa people to the Ngati Kahungunu, who are erecting the meeting house. This emblem of the good feeling between the two tribes left Rotorua last week for Wairoa. All the. intricate work was .carried out at Qhinemutu by Wihau Tetrehihi, chief of . the Ngati Pukaki. ’. '

In various ways children of the Northland a*re taking a helpful interest in centenary movements. For example, the eight-year-old daughter of Mr H. T. Atkin,son, of Waimnte North, collected and planted about 600 acorns from New Zealand’s oldest oak tree, which has a romantic history. The little girl will sell the seedlings and give the money to the Northland centenary fund. No doubt many lolk in various parts of the .Dominion will be pleased to be purchasers of that huge oak tree’s “children.” , .

Parents of children attending primary schools in Wanganui ajre being circularised by the district medical officer of health (Dr. D. Cook), Palmerston North, advising that it is intended to take steps to inoculate children against diphtheria. It is pointed out in the circular that this disease can be prevented, and parents are being asked to consent to their children be>iug treated with that object in view.

The Director-General advises that authority is given for commercial firms and like organisations to use in their telegrams exchanged with the United Kingdom, as the first-word of the text, a group up to live figures to indicate reference to the number of the telegram and/or the number of the telegram under reply. This concession is granted on the understanding that the Censorship Authorities may enquire as to the actual meaning the groups in, eases where they deem it desirable.

In the opinion of experts it is not everyone who can be trusted to pick lemons off a tree. Giving evidence in the Supreme Court at Auckland a Tauranga orchardist, said that lemon-pick-ing was a skilled job, “The subsequent life of the lemon depends largely upon the care and attention of the lemonpicker in the ha vesting of the fruit,” he said. “ r |’he picker must , see that the lemons are cut short, he must, wear gloves, and be must have a good eye for the size of fruit to save waste of time in grading. He must take care in handling the fruit in and out of the bag. In climbing trees' life must be very careful hot to damage limbs or branches or twigs. All this is reflected .’n the keeping property of the fruit.”

The dangers associated with carrying dogs restrained by an unsuitable chain or leash on the running-boards of-motor-cars were emphasised by an unpleasant incident which occurred in Karamu Road, Hastings, on a recent morning. A small blaelt dog, which Avas fastened by a length of chain, Avas travelling on the running-board of a car, Avlien he fell off. The vehicle Avas moving at a good speed and the unfortunate animal, trying to regain his feet to run, was dragged along the roadAvay. Noticing the dog’s plight, another motorist folloAved the ear and succeeded in stopping it, but not until after the dog had been dragged nearly a-quarter of a mile. The. dog suffered only from abrasions. When he learned of Avhat had occurred, none Avas more anxious for his net’s Avelfare than the oAA’ner.

A piece of the rock on Avhich Edinburgh Castle is built Avill probably be incorporated in the observation lookout at Signal Hill as the. foundation stone of this Dunedin Centennial memorial, states the Dunedin “Star.” A letter lias been sent to the Lord Provost of Edinburgh by the Centennial Committee, notifying him of the proposal and enlisting his co-operation in having the stone transported to the Dominion. One Dunedin resident who left Edinburgh oveir 50 years ago Avas so enamoured of the idea, that he succinctly remarked: “If the stone does become a part of the memorial I will take a taxi to Signal Hill to have a look at it!” Incidentally, the Otago branch of the Institute of Architects expects to have the plans of the. lookout completed by the end of this month.