LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 197, 3 June 1946, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Express Delayed An Hour The express from Invercargill was an hour late in arriving at Ashburton on Saturday evening, due to a delay south of Dunedin.

Tablet Dropped From Express Passengers by the express which, left Christchurch' at 11.2 last evening were surprised this morning when, after dashing through Dromore, the train came to a standstill and then reversed to the station just passed. The signal tablet had been dropped at Dromore and, after some searching there, it was found caught on the side of the tender.

“Everybody is Essential” “ft is astonishing how short the world is; everybody is essential,” remarked his Honour Mr Justice Blair in the Supreme Court, Wanganui, when an application for exemption from jury service was handed, in by a juror from his employers. “What happens if you get knocked down by a tram on your way to work?” he asked. “T am not prepared to excuse you.”

Footballer Injured When he collided with a player in a scramble for the ball during the match between Old Boys and Celtic at the Ashburton Domain on Saturday, J. Smith, of -Cambridge Street, Celtic forward, broke a bone in his leg. After treatment on the field by members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade he was removed to the Ashburton Public Hospital. His condition was reported to-day to be satisfactory.

Press in Majority *

The paucity of the attendances at farmers’ meetings has more than once been the subject of comment. An advertisement calling the anuual meeting of .the Gore branch of Federated Farmers for Friday night was productive of almost negative results, only two farmers responding. _ A humorous touch was given to the situation when three reporters appeared, the Press thus having a clear majority. After a wait of 20 minutes the attendance of farmers had not increased and one reporter had left. The other representatives of the Press then withdrew. The advertised subject for discussion was a new freezing licence.

Outbreaks of Fire in Ashburton Practically without causing any damage, a fire which broke out in the yard of Messrs Knox and McElhinney, Wills Street, was extinguished about 4 a.m. yesterday. The blaze started in a cover over a pile of coal, and was noticed by a policeman on his rounds. The Volunteer Brigade Avas summoned, and quickly dealt with the trouble. Another minor blaze, which went out without attention, occurred in a sunblind at the front of Mrs Johnson’s milk bar by the Commercial Hotel flats. Yesterday morning the blind 'was found to be considerably damaged by fire, probably caused by a cigarette butt or match tossed carelessly away.

Traced Through Publicity The case of a missing beneficiary Avho Avas traced because of the publicity given to Court proceedings Avas quoted by Mr Justice Blair in the Supreme Court, Wanganui, Avhen the trustees of an estate made an application for. an order authorising them to distribute the residue. It was stated that a beneficiary had been missing for nearly 20 years. His Honour recalled a similar case in New Plymouth. A youth ran aAvay and joined a circus, and was not heard of again. In later years he became entitled to a share in an estate and as he was still missing an application was made 'to the Court. Because of the publicity given to the case, this man ay as subsequently located bn ' Australia^