LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 228, 9 July 1941, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Eiffolton platoon of the Home Guard continues to meet in the local school on alternate Thursday evenings, when lectures on field tactics and exercises- are given. Lectures on ambulance and first-aid work will be commenced shortly.

No one was injured and little damage was done when two cars collided at the corner of Peter and Cass Streets early this afternoon. A small car driven by Mrs C. Hanson, of Tailored Street, overturned. The other ear was driven by Mr Percy Miller, of Eton Street.

Like other organisations the Ashburton Silver Band is suffering because of the military obligations ol its members. it is expected that three players may be called into camp very short - ly anif although those disruptions are serious, as the conductor (Mr E. IE Hopwood) said this morning, sacrifices have to he made.

The second session of the physical training class for footballers in Ashburton was held last- evening, under the supervision of Mr A. Calder (Physical Welfare Officer for the Area). Nearly 20 players were present and all greatly enjoyed and were much impressed with the training.

The profit and loss account and tl]C balance sheet of the Reserve Bank for the year ended on March 31 last are published in the latest issue of the New Zealand Gazette. The profit- for the year is shown as £351,906. During the twelve months a payment was made of £361,363 to the Government, this amount being tire surplus realised in the previous year.

Fourteen Territorials from the Ashburton County left .yesterday afternoon for Burnham Camp to start three months’ intensive training. Altogether approximately 600 men from different parts of the South Island commenced training there yesterday. The men are drafted into the artillery, army service corps, engineers, signals and infantry.

A Merseyside correspondent, writing to a friend in Dunedin, describes a present-day hotel breakfast. The meal consisted of a small portion of porridge, milk, a minute ic-presentation of bacon, two small pieces of toast for each person, and two small pats oi blitter for the party of four. All jam, treacle, and marmalade is rationed—• fib a person a, month. Tomatoes are bringing 7s a lb, lettuce 7s Gd a dozen at Covent Garden.

He was a small boy but very determined. Even though it was nearly closing time in -one of the busy offices in Invercargill he refused to he deterred. He handed some cards to one of the men with the remark, “These are foi Miss of the Women’s Artillery.” “You mean of the Women’s Auxiliary, don’t ycu,” said the man. “No, 1 don’t,” replied the small but determined boy taking back the cards, “they are for Miss of the' Women’s Artillery and if she isn’t there I’ll just keep them till I find her.”

British permanence is aptly illustrated by an advertisement in an English trade journal received in Auckland. A photograph of Canterbury Cathedral has pride of place, and beneath it is a brief history, as follows: “About the year 400', earliest building on the site; 950, reconstructed; 1011, destroyed by Danes; 1023, restored; 1067, destroyed by fire; 107077, rebuilt; 1107-30, enlarged; 1174. choir destroyed by fire; 1184, restored ; 1376, new nave; 1538, Beckett’s shrine destroyed; 1910, damaged by bombs.” Below is the simple statement: “There’ll always be an England.”

Tiie women of New Zealand, who are working in such a praiseworthy and wholehearted manner making clothes, etc., for the people of Britain, will naturally welcome the appreciation of their work, which is conveyed in a letter received by a Dunedin firm whose principals have their headquarters in London. Says'the letter: “My wife is busy with her work at the depot for clothing people whose places have been destroyed by bombing. At this depot the great joy is to receive clothes and other things from New Zealand. Whoever is responsible for the despatch to this country of the articles of clothing has a very good knowledge of what is (required, and according to my wife the quality is outstanding.”

A shipment of goods ruined by water recently arrived at Stratford. From the invoices which, accompanied the goods, it seems they were shipped on a vessel which was reported to have been bombed and set on fire off the English coast. The goods presumably were in. a hold which was filled with water either from bomb damage or in the course of extinguishing the lire. The importer, a, Stratford jeweller, duly received hist goods, 14rdny striking clocks. He found their exterior appearance had not suffered severely, hut their mechanism was completely ruined by rust. The jeweller was able to collect insurance on them andj after negotiating with the Customs Department, obtained a refund of duty, but to do that lie had to destroy the clocks. The question of losing exchange did not trouble him, because the-'goods were insured at their sterling value.

Nibbling the grasses of the lowlands and highlands of Central Otago, tliehumble rabbit has not the faintest idea of what Fate lias in store for him (says the “Otago Daily Times”). Nor have human beings for that matter. The rabbit, however, has greatness thrust upon him, and he would much prefer to live his own life, far from fear of the ferret, the stoat, the weasel, the trapper, the poisoner, the man with a .'22 rifle, or the blood-lusting dog or skin-lusting small boy. But as Shakespeare has written, “There is a divinity which shapes our ends, rough hew them how we will,” and thus it is that the rabbit's life —or after life —is over the hills and far away. So it may he recorded that a, selection of British furs, of the value of £IOO,OOO, lias recently been sent to Canada. The collection comprised 2000 coats, made of a variety of skins. Before they wore sent away a pro-view was given in London, and here is what the “Overseas Daily Mail” has to say about it: “Another coat attracting groat- interest was a full length model made of New Zealand labbil and dressed and dyed to look like musquash.”

A representative of Messrs .1. It. Procter, Limited, Christchurch, is at present in Ashburton, and may ho consulted on all defects of eyesight at the Somerset Hotel to-morrow and Friday. —(Advt.)