LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 71, 5 January 1950, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Notifiable Diseases Four cases of scarlet fever in Canterbury and two on the West Coast were notified to the Department of Health in the week ended January 2. No other notifiable diseases were reported from the district.

Hot Tips During Australia’s biggest racing season the following ‘•motto for the 4 week” appeared on the notice board of a Sydney Church. “Men who follow horses find that the horses they follow, follow other horses.”

Sir Harry Lauder’s Health ' “There is no improvement in Sir Harry’s health,” writes a niece of Sir Harry Lauder, Miss Greta Lauder, in a letter to a friend in Auckland. Sir Harry suffered an attack of thrombosis in August. Miss Lauder has travelled around the world with the famous comedian for the last 20 years and organised all his war-time work.

Power Supply Prospects A conference of power supply authorities is to be called for this month in Wellington to discuss the hydroelectric position. This statement was riiade in Auckland to-day by the Minister in charge of the Hydro-electric Department (the Hon. W. S. C.oosman). It is believed that after the conference the Minister will indicate the outlook for next winter.—P.A.

Water Consumption ' The consumption of water in the borough of Ashburton in 1949 totalled 175,070,000 gallons. This figure again marks an increase on those of previous years, the 1948 total having been 164,572,000. The population served is approximately 7500, so that the quantity per head last year was over 23,000 gallons.

Maternity Rush , Desperate appeals from expectant mothers have forced Sydney’s leading maternity hospital to limit the stay in hospital to 48 hours. The hospital has been crowded —beds in corridors, doctors and nurses working overtime. When the mothers return home after the second day a team of district nurses organised by the hospital will visit daily for 14 days.

Boys’ Brigade Campers Nine Ashburton boys returned yesterday from the Canterbury Battalion of the Boys’ Brigade camp at Waipara. Corporal J. Bruce was in charge of the party, all of whom looked fit and brown after their time spent under canvas. For some it has been a first camping experience, and for all, the days since Boxing Day have meant “an excellent time.”

Building Activity Permits for .buildings in Ashburton numbered 272 last year, the total value being £173,147. Of these 36 were for houses, valued at £69,597. The 1948 figures were greater—23o permits (£187,000), including 54 houses (£91,000). ( Tke permits for houses include both private and State building, the latter having been greater in volumq in 1948 than In 1949.

A Slight Mishap Holiday traffic has safely passed it.« peak, for happily no major accidents have marred the record in and near Ashburton. Even minor mishaps’have been few, but yesterday afternoon one occurred in East Street, near the Tancred Street corner. A car pulled out from the grass kerb, and another travelling north along East Street was caught by it. Two sets of mudguards were rather seriously damaged.

Sheep Killed in Truck Accident Twelve sheep were killed when a large truck on a straight road overturned near Pukekohe, Auckland, while taking 1(39 sheep owned by Mr D. Yates, of Karaka, to the Westfield freezing works. The truck, which was owned by a local carrier, was badly damaged. The remaining sheep were transferred to another truck before being taken to the works., Two men in the cab of the truck escaped with a severe shaking.—P.A.

Readers Increase Judging by the figures for 1949 the Public Library at Ashburton continues to fill a need in the community, and its facilities are increasingly appreciated. There are some 2300 persons on the lists of the adult department, and 1300 children take books from the juvenile library. Attendances at the children’s section tend to be evenly spread throughout the days of the week, while in the adult division the week-end rush is very marked, about 800 books going out. on Fridays compared with 300 to 350 on other days. Books from the Country Library Service continue to be in great demand.

Confirmed Hitch-Hiker , A distance of GOOO miles has been hitch-hiked by a young man from Napier, who passed through Ashburton this morning, en route from Invercargill to his home town. The outward journey took only three days, and on his present form the return should take the same time. Leaving the southern city at 8 o’clock yesterday morning his stages were Gore and Timaru. Last night was spent in the open. “It’s a great life,’’ he said, “but you have to be patient and have plenty of time, just in case you’re unlucky. I do not try to go far at night, because drivers are reluctant to pick up anyone and quite rightly so.’’ His previous journeys include a “short” trip of 400 miles from Napier to Whangarei, also to the West Coast, Nelson, 'Wanganui and Rotorua.