LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 18, 1 November 1940, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Ashburton County maintains its good record of freedom from infectious disease. The Sanitary Inspector (Mr J. G. Kirk) reported to the County Council to-day that there bad been no notifications of such diseases during the month.

The last case on the list of appeals cf Ashburton men drawn in the Territorial ballot and heard by the South Canterbury Man-Power Committee at the Ashburton Courthouse yesterday was that of Robert McKinnon, shearer* of Rakaia. The appeal was adjourned sine die.

After having held the position of caretaker and! doorkeeper at the Hinds IHall for the last 25 years, Mr J. Elms has decided to relinquish the positions and lie will be entertained at a social in his honour to be held at the hall to-morrow evening.

The Willowby Methodist Choir and Bible Class members held their annual picnic in a wooded part of the Hinds riverbed by permission of Mv J. H. Grigg. Despite the uncomfortable north-west wind a happy time was spent, games and bathing occupying most of the time between luncheon and tea.

Members of the Ashburton section of tbs Registered Nurses’ Association today held a street appeal in aid of funds for the New Zealand Army Nurses’ Patriotic Fund. A stall was conducted from a small vacant section ir. East Street, where members of the Association carried out the sale of goods and brisk business was being done this afternoon.

“The Ashburton County has always taken a lead in national affairs; and on this special occasion will not fail to respond to the appeal for funds for our fighting services, on whom we so much depend ” said the chairipan of the Ashburton County Council (Mr S. IP. Taylor) speaking of the County’s part in the present £1,000,000 patriotic appeal.

Portion of the southern side of Burnett street, from the Fire Station to Cass Street, has .been; asphalted in the last day or so and will be welcomed by members of the Brigade who in the past have had to carry out sundry wet practices at that point in muddy collodions. Grass was growing on the side of the street there and when tbs hydt ants were turned on during training the ground became unpleasantly sodden.

Mr E. C l . Bathurst was all but elected president of the Ashburton Chamber of Commerce last j evening. Mr Bathurst had been proposed and seconded for the office and tire eh airman (Mr A. A. McDonald) was putting the motion to the meeting when the prospective president, whose attention had been temporarily diverted,, stated in the nick of time that he was not prepared to accept nomination. It was a very .narrow escape 1

The end of the season of the Ashburton Little Theatre Society *vas celebrated with a social evening. Competitions were held and musical items were contributed by'Dr. N. E. H. Fulton, Messrs C. Robertson, It. Ede, and Misses J. Rattray and W. Ede. The secretary (Mr L. J. Sutton) said that the loss of the producers at the beginning of the year had been a, serial/, drawback to activities but it was hoped that a full programme could be continued ffext year.

“I sometimes doubt, if the majority, of the people of tine (Dominion realise that our nation is passing through a period of the greatest danger in its history, aifd that only by the united efforts of all can we hope to gather strength to withstand the many forces of evil, which assail us and enable us to hold on until victory has been attained ” stated the chairman, of the Ashburton County Council (Mr S. P. Taylor) speaking of patriotic efforts and Home Guard ttiqrk in a report today.

A collection of non-ferrous metals as part of the patriotic drive Was to have been carried out at an early date by the Ashburton Borough Council, making use of the rubbish collection; workmen on their house to house rounds. As the next two weeks will he broken by the holding of the Ashburton and Christchurch Shews, the Council has decided to postpone the collection, till the following week. Residents will be asked to cofiect as much copper, lead and brass scrap as they can find about their premises and place them on the sides of the streets when they put out their rubbish cans.

Tb? Sanitary Inspector (Mr J. G. Kirk) supplied to the Ashburton County Council to-day the analyst’s report on. a sample of water taken from one of the Council’s water races at Hinds during September. The report states: “On standing, the sample gave a large deposit of organic and siliceous materials. The sample was cloudy and discoloured in appearance. The water is of fair quality only. It appears necessary to consider the question of possible contamination by animals, etc.” Race water alone is not considered a suitable water supply for a dwelling, added Mr Kirk.

As a means of raising further sums of money toward the Ashburton Borough quota of £SOOO for the Million (Pound Appeal, the Ashburton (Patriotic Committee has arranged for a series of four community sings to be held, starting next Wednesday week. A hall has yet toi be! arranged for but the other preliminaries are Well in hand. Mr A. C. Wilson has consented to be leader for the singing and Mr Davis will ho thci pianist. It is proposed to appeal lor gifts of goods suitable for salo by auction, and Mr M. ,D. Chnnoen has agreed to take charge of the selling at intervals during the community sings.

Now rates of commission are being adopted for Post Office money orders issued and paid in New Zealand and the Cook Islands,’ according to an announcement bv the Postmaster-General (the. Hon. P. C. Webb) last night. The present rate of commission is Id for each £ or part of a £, with a minimum of 6d. The new rate will be 7d! for the first £lO, 3d for each additional £5 or part of £5. In comparison with the present charges the new rates reduce the commission on orders for large amounts and slightly increase it on tliose for small amounts. The change is intended to make the rates of commission more equitable throughout the whole range of orders from £1 to £4O.