LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 68, 31 December 1945, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Sale of Health Stamps The sale of Health Stamps in Ashburton from October till the end of December this year is more than double that for the correspond ini' period last year. The figure is £’2ls, compared with £lO2 last year.

Dr. Barnardo’s Helpers’ League The box-opening of the Ashburton East School Dr. Barnardo’s Helpers’ League resulted in £lO 10s from the 74 boxes. The members were entertained to afternoon tea by the president (Sister Mildred) and the secretary (Mrs E. Thompson) at the end of the school year, when the boxes were redistributed.

Harmonica Dance

The Ashburton Imperial Harmonica Band’s dance was well patronised. Music was provided by Pat Taylor’s Merry Makers’ Band. Holders of lucky tickets were Mr Deuart and Miss Scott. Monte Carlos were won by Miss Nieh and Mr Soal and Miss Hickey and Mr Telford. Mr NV Reid was master of ceremonies.

“Just A Cocky” Attracted apparently by an article which recorded progress being made in preparation for the establishment of a branch of the Land and Income Tax Department at New Plymouth a man made his way to the scene of the work. Asked if anybody could > do something for him, the man replied, “No, I thought I’d just come and take a look at the place 1 work for.” “Oh,” was the response, “are you a. Government servant?” The man replied, “No, just a cocky.”

Frost At Rotorua

Rotorua experienced an extraordinary gradation of temperature last week. On Christmas Eve there was a maximum temperature of 85.8deg\, which dropped on Wednesday to 65.7 deg. On Thursday morning a frost of 6.7 deg. was registered, Rotorua seldom has frosts so late in the year, and the latest, which seriously affected the growth of vegetables, particularly pumpkins, peas, beans and tomatoes, was the most severe for at least 20 years. December of 1936 was an unusually cold month, in which nine frosts were recorded, the heaviest being of 6deg.

Municipal Abattoirs With the lifting of restrictions on the sale of pork during Christmas, there was an increase in the number of pigs killed at the Municipal Abattoirs this month. The figure was 38, against 78 in December, 1942, the last year before the restrictions were imposed. The least number of lambs for four years was killed for the month. The figures for this month, with those' for the corresponding period last year in parentheses are: —Cattle, 111 (96); calves, 1 (1); sheep, 721 (659); lambs, 337 (279); Digs, 38 (3). For the year 1429 cattle, 9975 sheep, 1285 lambs, 88 pigs and seven calves were killed.

Fishing Prospects With the sea calmer than for several days, prospects for fishing in the County during the New Year holidays are brighter. The Ashburton River is slightly discoloured. One or two salmon have been seen in the Ashburton, but so far anglers have not landed any. Anglers ’using the minnow and silvery tackle at the mouth of the Rangitata River on Friday evening met with some success. The river was in good condition during the week-end and with finer weather on Saturday many fishermen went out to try their luck. Fish taken were in excellent shape. Water in the' Hinds River is getting low, and conditions were too cold to suit fly enthusiasts.