LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 181, 15 May 1941, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At the weekly luncheon meeting of the Ashburton Rotary Club to-day the chief speaker Avas Mr I>. H. Leigh (Curator of the Ashburton Domain), whoso subject, “Mountain Flora of New Zealand”, Avas illustrated with lantern slides.

War conditions have caused the flock oavo competition in Mid-Canterbury to be abandoned this year. Petrol restrictions and the fact that farmers are fully occupied in maintaining and increasing production helped to bring about the decision to proceed no further with the competition.

In addition to the ringing of the bolls at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, the Ashburton Fire Brigade Station and at the old Allenton Fire Station to warn residents of the Borough that an emergency lias arisen, factory Avhistles will lie sounded, nccording to a decision of thp Contra! Executive of the Ashburton Emergency Precautions Scheme last evening.

The mission at the Baptist Church was ' continued yesterday when a women’s meeting attended by about 30 persons Avas held in the afternoon. The Rev. Erie Batts led the singing and the Rev. Russell Grave gave the address. The hall was crowded to capacity last evening Avhcn Mr Batts addressed a mission meeting.

A report on the proceedings at the recent annual conference in Wellington was presented by the delegate (Mr C. A. Walker) at the monthly meeting of the Ashburton branch of the Labour Party. The report AA-;as a comprehensive one, occupying nearly two hours, and Air Walker was thanked for his reA'iew.

There, was a good attendance of members and friends at an open evening, the first of the season, held 1 last evening by the St. Stephen’s Girls’ Club. The evening was occupied witli games, dancing and competitions and items Avere given by Alisses B. Opie and F. Collins. Aliss I. Nicholas played for the dancing.

An oft-quoted lino, “The boy is father to the man,” can be avcll applied to a lad at Cape RunaAvay. “A young boy of about 9 or 10, armed Avith pearifle, put a squad of 20 men through a full course of rifle drill,” writes Air H. Le Bas (physical Avelfare officer of the Department of Internal Affairs for the Poverty Bay district). “Where he had learned it all nobody knew, but he was wonderful .’‘lt Avas at this place also Avher.e the children joined in the class, and the Avomen wanted to, particularly Avith the games.”

Air D. H. Leigh (Curator of the Ashburton Domain) continued his series of lectures to the Ashburton Workers’ Educational Association last eA'ening, his subject being “Soil Formation and Treatment.” The president (Mr G. B. Brown) presided and there was a good attendance. The lecturer demonstrated the formation, of soils through the ages and Avent on to speak of the proper cultivation of different soils and the retention, of fertility. He stressed the point that humus was the principal medium for the production of plant life.

Inquiries haA'e been, made in Wellington Avhether A. H. Carman, Avho was nominated as an independent candidate for the Wellington City Council at the forthcoming elections, and who last week Avas sentenced in the Supremo Court to a term of imprisonment for an offence under the Public Safety Emergency Regulations is com - petent to continue ihis candidature (says a Press Association telegram). The city solicitor has ruled that Carman’s name must go forward to the electors, nor may Carman himself noAv retire from the election.

The Hon. W. Nash announced yesterday that an agreement had been reached between the Queensland and Ngav Zealand Governments for the Dominion’s supply of sugar for the current years (says a Press Association message). The agreement meant that the arrangements which had been in force since New Zealand entered the Empire purchasing scheme early last year would be continued. The shipping tonnage required to convoy sugar from Queensland to Ncav Zealand would be made available by the Commonwealth authorities.

“We ha\'e a gun so near to Us that when it is fired it turns over the pages of my bock,” Avrites Air J. V. Gibson, a former Palmerston North resident who is noAv residing in England 1 and doing pharmaceutical work in different London and district dispensaries. “Once Avlien ‘Jerry’ came oA-er and dropped a high-explosive bomb near ns the book jumped up and closed. I don’t blame it—l got a scare,” adds Mr Gibson.

Protection of the. pukeko is urged by the Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand. The society points out that some years ago the '.Department of Internal Affairs conducted a stomach survey of the pukeko in various parts of New Zealand, and it was found that the bird’s diet was not one to cause Avorry to farmers or sportsmen. The contents of the stomachs were usually macerated vegetation and seeds of grass and weeds.. It was found that pukeko taken in cropping areas in Otago had not eaten grain.

The numbers of 19*10-41 Health stamps sold were 284,756 and 359,972 for the two A'alues respectively. The first total represents that number of halfpennies for health camps and the second total that number of pennies. Those halfpennies and pennies represent sums of £593 4s lOd and £1499 17s 8d respectively, or a combined total of £2093 2s Gd. The increase in postal rates necessitated by the Avar undoubtedly had an adverse effect on the sale of Health stamps and foAVier Averc sold than in some previous years.