LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 6, 18 October 1943, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Inmates of the Tuardngi Home wefe entertained by the Salvation Army Band yesterday morning. A programme of sacred music and hymns was given under the conductorship of Bandmaster G. E. Argyle.

In an advertisement in this issue applications are invited for appointments as Patrolmen in the Detention Camps under th e control of the National Service Department, at a commencing salary of £303 per annum.

Suffering from a fractured left forearm received when he was cranking a lorry, William Aldridge Kirk, married, aged 38, of Eton Street, Ashburton, an employee of the Mid-Canter-bury Transport Company, was admitted to the Ashburton Public Hospital. His condition to-day was reported to be improving.

Forsaking the conventional environs of the Domain, half a dozen brown ducks have for the last fortnight been visiting Bast Street for an early morning forage. They have been seen by many people usually between the Post Office and the Railway Station. On Saturday thej had still not returned to the Domain by 9 a.m. and created a good deal of amusement by waddling in single file along the street with a fine disregard for traffic regulations.

Although the grafting of fruits and -vegetables to form an entirely new plant with the combined characteristics of each is now no longer a novelty, an Auckland gardener was recently very surprised tb discover on his tree a lemon shaped exactly like a pear. Larger than the ordinary healthy lemon, it showed, however, no other deceptive traits, but nevertheless could easily be mistaken for a pear if placed in a bowl of mixed fruit. All the other lemons on the tree were quite normal.

“It may not be generally realised that although the bee-keeping industry in New Zealand produces in normal season approximately 3000 tons of honey and many tons of beeswax annually, this production of important commodities is of lesser importance than is the work of bees in pollinating the many agricultural crops for the production of seeds and fruit of economic importance,” said the instructor in agriculture (Mr J. W. Connell) reporting to the Taranaki Education Board. “Bumble bees, while important for the pollination of red clover are not numerous enough to guarantee effective pollination on their own and cannot be depended upon. Farmers are consequently dependent mainly on honey bees to ensure profitable seed yields of clovers and clovers play a very important part in the husbandry of pastures. In recent years the importance of honey bees in providing for the pollination in orchards has attracted the attention of orchardists.”

j The Rakaia and Rangitata Rivers 'are reported to be clearing, which brightens the fishing prospects for Labour week-end. The Ashburton is still high and dirty.

Members of No. 24 Squadron of the Air Training Corps, with cadets from No. 15 Squadron, Tiinaru, attended a church par&de at the* nuprning service at St. Stephen’s Church'yesterday.

Over 50 couples attended the R.A.0.8. Lodge social held irt the Hampstead Memorial Hall on Saturday evening. Music was supplied by Mr Neville, with extras by Mr L. Chapman. Supper was provided by the ladies.

Both an appeal by the Napier Borough Council and one lodged by an Auckland canning firm for a canning licence to establish a factory in Napier have been dismissed* by Sir Francis Frazer, who heard the appeals at a sitting of the Industrial Efficiency Appeal Authority.

A busy week confronts the staff of the Ashburton Reclamation Depot if waste paper continues to come in as it did this morning. Of late Iveeks the supply has been poor owing to the wet Weather. Another 15 bales are ready for dispatch and will go this week. Next week’s operations should see the total reach 400.

“Put me down for a left foot, size 8,” remarked a member of the Auckland War Amputees’ Association when the secretary (Mr T. R. Davies) reported that he had received a communication from the naval dockyard that some odd boots and shoes were available if the association could find a use for them. “We can’t have too long a queue, gentlemen,” remarked the chairman (Mr Theo Brown) amid laughter, as various requests for footwear came from those present.. The offer, which was stated to be a very usefiil one, was received with thanks, and members of the association will be consulted regarding their needs.

“At the moment the training of men in the Government carpentry training centres is only being played with,” said Mr D. Forsyth during a discussion on housing tat the monthly meeting of the council of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce. Figures relating to the number of houses that would be necessary after the war varied from 40,000 to 70,000, he said, but even taking the lower figure, there was a big demand for houses. Mr Forsytli suggested that the chamber should watch the position, and if the number of trainees were not considerably increased, the matter should be pressed, otherwise some of the returning servicemen would obtain houses about 1999! Mr W. H. Naylor said that the present system was a most expensive way of training carpenters, and for that reason the builders thought it should be confined to soldiers. The question of the training of carpenters and housing generally was referred ,to the executive for consideration.