LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 49, 7 December 1940, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Timaru is a. popular spot for picnics from schools in Ashburton County. Hinds and Lauriston vvilL be' there on December 13, Ashburton, East, December 14; Lynnford, Willowby, Lowcliffe and Winslow, December 18.

An enormous cauliflower, weighing and of perfect shape and texture has been grown by a Morningside (Auckland) householder. It is about 2ft in diameter, and is the largest of a crop of exceptionally heavy cauliflowers from the same garden. Several of these have measured over 3ft in circumference.

Some 975 officers of the Bank ol New South Wales have been granted leave of absence for the duration ot the war according to information given by the president (Mr R. W. Gillespie) to the annual meeting of the bank in Sydney. Of these men, 267 are waiting to bo called up. Mr Gillespie paid a tribute to the spirit of devotion and patriotism of the bank s staff.

Eire broke out between the weatherboards and inside wall of a house at 108 Peter Street, occupied by Mrs Hanlon, last night. The Ashburton Volunteer Fire Brigade responded to a call at about 10 o’clock and with bucket pumps were soon able to extinguish the fire. Very little material damage was done to the house.

All members of the St. John Ambulance and Home Nursing Division who underwent the annual re-examination passed. They were: Mesdames McLean, 'Luscombe, Hosken, Clark and Totty, Misses M. Donaldson, E. Vesty, M. Whiting and E. Pritchard. Dr. J. Connor was the ‘examiner. Each one who passed is entitled to a further label and pendant of the Association.

Cedric Harrison Poole, a. farm labourer, of Seafield, was charged in the Ashburton Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon before Mr H. Morgan, S.M., that he was £4O in arrears in a maintenance order made at Timaru on January 20, 1932. He was remanded till next Friday to, enable, the necessary documents to be obtained from Timaru. Bail was on self and £25 and one surety of £25.

About SO members of B. Squadron, Canterbury Yeomanry Catalry (Ashburton Mounted Rifles) attended a bivouac which commenced, to-day and will be continued- to-morrow at the Ashburton Drill Hall. This will be the last parade of the unit as volunteers before going into camp at* Burnham for three months’ training in February. The squadron will then have been brought up to full war strength by the inclusion of balloted men.

An interesting plan of the proposed Dr. Miller Memorial Children’s Playground in the Ashburton 'Domain is on display at the Ashburton Public Lending Library. The plan, which has been drawn by the Curator of the Domain (Mr T). H. Leigh) shows a sandpit, a small slide, see-saws, a- whirling platform, circular travelling rings, chair swings, a paddling pool, and a combination gymnastic outfit. The area is set off by ornamental shrub-borders.

In view of /the overcrowded condition of the wards in the Wellington Hospital, and the fact that several wards are away from the main building, it is proposed to discontinue the carol pinging by nurses on Christmas Eve. [n the past, one or two church choirs have sung carols iround the wards, and no doubt this will he done again this year. It is also suggested that ,the paper decorations be discontinued, and that the nursing, staff confine the decorating to flowers, of which largo quantities are received during Christmas week.

The first anniversary of the River Plato battle, December 13, has been chosen as the date for the opening of the new memorial now being enacted on Achilles Point, Auckland harbour, to commemorate the part played by H.M.S. Achilles 'in the engagement with the German pocket-battleship Graf Spree. The memorial takes the form of a look-out on the headland at the eastern extremity of St. Heliers Bay. A ceremony is being arranged for the opening day, and the Mayor of Auckland, Sir Ernest Diavis, has invited Commodore W. E. Parry, 0.R., R.N., Chief of the Naval Staff, who commanded H.M.S. Achilles during the battle to be present.

Because of the heavy expenditure resulting from the war activities, the adoption of the recommendations of the Agricultural Lime Investigational Committee will be delayed, said the Hon. W. Lae Martin yesterday. He hoped to review the position in the near future. The committee’s report was tabled in the House this week. The Minister added that the principles contained in it were recognised as a sound method of distributing moneys

which were available as 'Government ' subsidies on the transport of lime, but the implementation of these recommendations would mean an increased financial liability and must be postponed.

Sister Begg presided over an excellent attendance of members at the fortnightly meeting of the Wakanui Good Templars Lodge held in the Wakanui Hall. It was reported that arrangements had been madia for the annual picnic on, Boxing iDlay. The temperance church .parades to the Methodist and IPi-csbyterian churches were stated to have been successful. As the meeting concluded the sessions till after the harvest vacation a Christmas party was provided by Sister Begg. It was complete with presents and bonbons and a cake. The Lodge Mayor presided over the party and at the conclusion of festivities proposed the health of Sister Begg, thanking her for her generosity. The singing of “Auld Lang Syne” brought a happy evening to a closi?.

When, there are shortages of certain goods in tliK drapery line, some Christchurch firms, so 1 it was alleged by an Ashburton retailer in conversation with a “Guardian” reporter to-day, send members of their staffs or other persons to Ashburton to pick the eyes out of the stocks in the shops hero and take the goods back to Christchurch for resale. Linen, in particular, had been treated in this manner, the retailer said. Persons who wene afterwards detected as agents of Christchurch shops had purchased small quantities of goods and sent them to the city shops. In one shop, it is stated, there was a small procession of agents, each buying one kind of article in small numbers and the ruse was not detected till a visitor who happened to know the agents informed the shopkeeper,

Ml* A. C. Vincent has been elected president and Mr F. W. Seldon vicepresident of the Ashburton Grain, Seed and Produce Merchants’ Association.

Mr M. M. Orton (ranger for the Ashburton Acclimatisation. Society) has been appointed an officer under the Fisheries Act- in respect of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society.

There were about 40 candidates for the December theory examination of the Trinity College of Music, which was held in the Ashburton Technical High School and at the Convent today. The examination papers are usually sent to London for marking, hut it is thought probable that they will be sent to Australia, this year. Results of the examination should be available about February.

For well over 50 years an Ashburton man has been celebrating his birthday on the wrong date. Family records, including entries in the Family Bible, give his birthday in the early part of December, and it was not till he was going into the question, of insurance on his life and a birth certificate was demanded that he made the discovery that he was born early in November. He and his friends wonder whether all the documents lie has signed with the December date have- to he corrected or whether he will have to adopt a kind of second personality from now on.'

A list of horses offered ffv-om the Ashburton County for the use of the C.Y.C. is to he compiled during the week-end while B. Squadron, is attending a bivouac. The inspection and valuation of the animals offered under the Government scheme is to commence next Thursday. Major Gordon Brown (commander of B. Squadron), Mr A. Douglas (Stock Inspector at Ashburton) and a- Government veterinarian will carry out this work, which will necessitate travelling throughout the County and probably, examining no fewer than 150 horses. The inspection is to ensure that the animals are in a healthy condition and able to stand up to service.