LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 133, 17 March 1948, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Potted Plants

Four potted plants of various coloured foliage are to be seen at the Ashburton Public Library. These interesting specimens are named Coleus, and were grown in the Domain glasshouse.

Oil FueP Licensing Branch The Ashburton oil fuel office shift continue to experience a busy period with applications still coining steadily to hand. These are being handled with a minimum of delay, and it is hoped that the work of the branch will return to normal by Ihe end of this week.

Any Virgin Forest Left? There are not many people in Now Zealand to-day who have seen a large area of native bush in its virgin state', says a contributor to “Forest and Bird.” This is because introduced animals, axe and fire, and the activities of man such as road-making have greatly affected the natural growth and regeneration of the native forest.

Bellbirds Chase Owl

At a private bird sanctuary in South Canterbury, a German owl was hunted and harried by a number of bellbirds, states a contributor to “Fofest and Bird.” Bellbirds were so numerous here that one would he awakened in the morning by their melodious song of remarkable flute-like notes.

Parcels Arrive in England

The Director-General, Post and Telegraph Department, advises that the vessel Mahana, from Lyttelton, conveying 3225 parcels of an aggregate weight of 30,1201b5, arrived in the United Kingdom on March 10. The consignment represented postings over the period December 15-January 4 in respect of tlie South Island, except the Nelson district.

Women’s Welcome Club Members of the St. Andrew’s Women’s Welcome Club held a very successful social afternoon yesterday to welcome new members of the congregation. The Rev. J. S. Murray extended a welcome on behalf of the church and the social committee. Items were given by Mesdames R. Jordan, W. G. Todd, W. Newlands, and Mr N. Harwood.

Platoon in Attack

Senior cadets of the Ashburton High School, under the instruction cf Sergeant R. McD. Cairns, of the Army Department, demonstrated a platoon in attack to the junior cadets yesterday. The demonstration took place on the Ashburton Defence Rifle Club’s range, and live ammunition was used. A two- inch mortar, with high explosive and smoke bombs, sten-guns. bren-guns and rifles were used.

Community Centre Plans So that the public may gain some idea of what is being planned for community centres in other districts, the Ashburton Community Centre Committee has arranged a display of plans of three proposed community centres in the Hutt Valley. These are being shown in the window of business premises in East Street, and the display, which includes coloured aerial views of Ashburton, is attracting considerable attention.

Decision Reserved

Decision was reserved on an application by John Leslie Bennett (Mr R. Kennedy) to sell a house at 120 Havelock Street for £2500 to the Commercial Bank of Australia (Mr A. C. Robinson) at a sitting of Hie Canterbury Rural Land Sales Committee at Ashburton this morning. For the vendor Mr W. L. Bramley valued the property at £2280 and Mr W. H. Amos at £1772, and for the purchaser Mr R. L. Stephenson’s valuation was £IBOO. Mr B. C. Wilson, for the Crown, valued the property at £I6BO.

Cornet Player Mi- J. L. Hay, Christchurch, speaking at the meeting called by the Canterbury immigration Society in Ashburton last night.said that he had had an early association with i\sh burton. His home had been in Central Otago, but he had been offered a job in Ashburton in 1907. The offer came mainly because lie was a cornet player and on arrival he found himself a member of the County Brass Band. It was ilie first time lie had been away from home and he well remembered the kindliness shown to him by the Ashburton people.