LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 122, 5 March 1942, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At the weekly luncheon meeting of the Ashburton Rotary Club to-day the chief speaker was Mr J. W. P. Dyer, whose subject was “A Trip Through Madagascar.”

That the steam fire engine of the Ashburton Fire Brigade had been repainted and put in order for use was reported at a meeting of the Ashburton Fire Brigade last evening

Instruction in the treatment of incendinry bombs was given by Firemen G. Hefford and P. Baker, of Ashburton, to the Fire Brigade at Fairton on Tuesday evening.

The Borough School Committee last evening carried a motion of thanks to Mr M. J. Leith, Mr S. W. Cower, other members of the school staff, and all who assisted the school in connection with the recent, flower show.

Owing to mistaken identity, it was stated in a news item yesterday that a Cross 7 wheat crop on the farm oi Mr W. G. Marshall had yielded well over 60 bushels to the acre. The crop, it is stated, belonged to Mr W. S. Marshall.

Two freak vegetables have been grown in an Ashburton garden. A potato about nine inches long was found to have a very large number of small potatoes attached closely to it. It seemed that all the potatoes on the plant had become attached to the main tuber. A cabbage, one of several unusually large ones, grew four perfectlyformed heads.

The Dominion executive of the New Zealand Returned Services* Association at a recent meeting resolved to send through the appropriate channel a suitably-worded message of appreciation to the Vatican for the broadcasting of the names of prisoners of war, particularly New Zealanders, giving untold relief to numerous anxious relatives.

Advice that Anzac ..Day will lie observed this year in the same manner as previously, unless untoward circumstances occur in the meanwhile, was received at a recent meeting of the Dominion executive committee of the New Zealand Returned Services 1 Association. The advisability of large congregations of people must, however, be considered when the time- comes.

The war has brought home to many people their deficiencies in their geography, but with the spread -of hostilities they are able to brush up on places they normally would never have worried about. All the same, there seems to be still some doubt as to the location of Ashburton, for a letter reached the “Guardian” office this morning bearing the legend, “ . . . Ashburton, Christchurch.” The letter came from Timaru.

An Ashburton resident has discovered that apparently horses have the homing instinct as acutely developed as the cats. He bought a hack last Saturday, and over the week-end it was liberated by a number of young men, and the owner naturally started to look in the direction of Hinds, where the animal had been bought. Yesterday, however, he was informed that the horse had made its way back to a farm near Alethven, where it was broken in five years ago.

“Industrial disputes, judged by the number of actual disputes during 1941, were more prevalent than in any year, at least since 1920,” reports the Government Statistician. “However if consideration is given to the numbers of firms affected, workers involved, working days lost, or estimated loss in wages, the 1941 figures, although high, are by no means a record.” Disputes in 1941 numbered 90, with 15,566 workers involved, 26,542 working days lost, and .£34,9*17 estimated loss in wages.”

The clerical group of tho Ashburton unit of the Women’s War Service Auxiliary is an organisation that has been doing very valuable work lately. There are 30 members, and in the last three weeks they have carried out work for Army Headquarters and the Ashburton E.P.S. Committee. This has included the cutting of nine stencils and the making, of 219 copies, while 76 copies of printed matter have been typed. Envelopes have been addressed, research work on addresses carried out, and correspondence taken over the telephone.

A recent inquiry by the Dominion executive of the Now Zealand Returned Services’ Association revealed that up to the present only 34 service men returned from the present war, including several voluntary patients, have been sent to mental hospitals (says a, Press Association telegram). This number of mentally sick out of jnore thafli 3000 returned sick and Wounded personnel is less than 1 per cent. Taken over the whole of the forces, the percentage is fractional and indeed far less than the normal civilian ratio in the male population.

Seventy-three vocalists, members of church choirs in Ashburton and others interested, last evening attended a rehearsal of the Hallelujah Chorus which they will sing as part or the patriotic rally to be held in the Ashburton Domain on Sunday, Alarcli 15. Air H. A. Humphreys was conductor, and Aliss OLvvn Watts was at the piano. The rehearsal was a great success, and it was stated that there will be a choir of fully 100 voices at the rally. It was agreed that another meeting of the choir should be held next. Thursday evening, when the Salvation Army Band will accompany the singing, as on the day of the rally.

As a result of the decision of the officials of the Welcome Club to permit men to invite visiting relatives to the club rooms, last Sunday had been one of the busiest days the club has experienced. it was (reported. at a meeting of the committee of the Ashburton Women’s War Service Auxiliary, over which Mrs J. Connor presided. It was stated that the Chief Warden had spoken ip the highest terms of the work of the Cycling and Signalling Group members who assisted during the recent black-out trial. The Plunket Aids on duty at the emergency posts had obtained all their requirements for an emergency, and their equipment was packed and ready for duty at any moment Already 100 balls of twine bad been used in the making of camouflage nets, it was reported. About 70 nets bad been started, and 21 had been completed so far. Future nets would measure 64 inches square.