LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 90, 26 January 1943, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Four women in Auckland have applied for jury service, the f- rst Jy e -' Zealand, but they cannot be called in the coming session because the ji y list has closed.-—P-A.

Last Friday was the busiest dav the office staff of the Ashburton County Council has experienced for some time,, the amount being taken m rates totalling £2BOO. To date the amount paid in is £15,895 7s.

Advices have been received that the war insurance rate for New Zealand coastal vessels has been reduced to 15 shillings per cent, (says a Press Association message from -Wellington).

Soil survey maps of the Ashburton County, showing the roads and the names of the property-owners in the different areas, have been meeting with a very steady demand, said the County Clerk (Mr G. Kelly) this morning Inquiries came from other parts of rsew Zealand (including the North Island) as well as from the Ashburton County.

"Our present facilities for showing pictures do not meet the requirements of the town,” said Mr A. A. McDonald, at the meeting of the Borough Council last evening, moving that the Building Controller be informed of the urgency for the provision of more picture theatre accommodation in Ashburton. ilie motion was carried unanimously.

A sharp rise is apparent in the moisture content of wheat samples tested since the rain on Sunday by the Wheat Research Institute’s officer (Mr I. D. Sanders)'. Of 13 samples tested since the week-end, three have a moisture content of over 20 per cent., the highest being 21.4. Most of the samples returned about 18 per cent., which is still well above the maximum content of 15.5 per cent, for milling purposes.'

Primary and secondary school children alike are making the most of that last week of freedom of the school holidays so treasured by children, particularly when the weather is as fine and warm as it is now. Next Tuesday they will go back to school, while for those who left school at the euu of last year another link with their erstwhile school-fellows will be sev-> bred.

“In my opinion it is high time the shrouds were removed from the street lights,” said Mr J. Thompson at the Borough Council meeting last evening. “Steps have been taken in this direction all over the rest of the country but, as usual, Ashburton is outstanding.” It was agreed to ask the Power Board to expedite the removal of the black-out shades. It was also agreed to refer to the light committee, with power to act, a suggestion to move the lights in Walnut Avenue to the opposite side and to instal an extra light.