ASHBURTON.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18309, 17 February 1925, Page 12

ASHBURTON.

GENERAL NEWS. : A ease of scarlet fever from Methven was notified to the County Health Inspector on Sunday. No further suspected cases of infantile paralysis have beeji reported in Ashburton since Saturday. While proceeding along Alford Forest road on his motor-cycle yesterday morning a middle-aged man named John Johanjen was thrown off his machine as a result of striking a motor-car.'"The car was proceeding out of a gateway when the mishap occurred. Johansen suffered a cut over the right eye and a severe shaking, necessitating his removal to the County Hospital. Exceptionally fine weather was experienced in Ashburton over the weekend, but yesterday broke with a clouded sky and a heavy shower of rain was experienced between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. The sun made its appearance about midday. Not since the season commenced has worse luck been experienced as regards trout fishing by fishermen who visited the mouth of the Rangitata River during the week-end. There were about 16 rods out, but it is stated that only one trout was landed. The calise is attributed to the fact that there is abundance of feed in the nature of shrimps just outside the mouth. A few fairsized quinnat salmon were seen during the week-end, but none was hooked.

Power Board. The monthly meeting of the Ashburton Power Board was held "yesterday. Present: Messrs J. Cow (chairman), A. McFarlane, J. C. N. Grigg, .E. F. Nicoll, H. Morris, W. G. Gallagher, A. Horsey, S. Smith, W. H. Woods, W. T. Lill and J. R. Templin .(consulting engineer). Leave of iibsence was granted to Messrs W. H. Bundle and A. J. Magson.

The chairman welcomed Mr Nicoll back to the Board after his six months' absence on- a trip to the Old Country. The several reports showed that the pole erection on the Waterton line had been completed. The wiring of the Springs and Riverside lines had been completed and the wires on- the Dorie line had been strung for several miles. During January supply had been given to Dorie, Seaview, Riverside, Wheats stone and Eiffelton. A total of 5f new applications for current had been received since January 12th, and 85 new consumers, connected.

The consulting engineer, in his report, stated , that it was advisable that the rate for domestic service current should be' considered-by the Board in view of the success, with which cooking ranges Were being . installed. The general power rates now in existence were entirely satisfactory, but ..the rates for domestic purposes should be carefully looked into,, as the present rates were in some respects too,high. He had con : siddrable information as to' the rates charged by other Power Boards, and there were some- points in respect to these rates which may not have been covered by' the \ Ashburton Board. He was.most: anxious to see how the Bates steel electric poles were turning out and if. they were up to expectations he wouldadvise the Board to make further purchases of • thid class of pole.

The engineer-secretary, Mr H. G. Kemp, in reporting- on the loan of £IOO,OOO, said , it; was authorised on December' 11th, 1924, and on February 12th was fully ' subscribed. The overdraft • at tlje Bank of New Zealand, which had reached about £38,000 towards the end of January, waij paid off on February 7th, and both the Ashburton and Christchurct loans were now in credit. ,

Great satisfaction was expressed by members at the success of the loan, the chairman remarking that at the end of March the Board would be in credit on theloan account at the bank by about £30,000. This money would not lie idle , long, as the. construction work of the Board • was proceeding at a rapid rate. •. '■

In reply ■to questions Mr Templin said that about, £ 20,000 would complete the whole of the work the Board had started out to accomplish and this sum was a long'way below his original estimate.

, Authority was given' the; Board to negotiate a .fhrther loan of £40,000 to complete- the ; balance ■■ of t!ie £IOO,OOO as soon as it became necessary. ■.

It was decided to support . the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board in 'the direction of having Eegslation 52 amended in reference to the height of low tension., service , lines ..on ,consumers' premises. The Finance and Works Committee reported- that. • the , resignations, of Miss. K. Macpherson (cashier) and Mr. E. E. .Akers (inspector) ;had been received •with much regret. Miss Macpherson liad resigned on account of ill-health and Mr Akers had -■ accepted, a verylucrative appointment in Christchurch. On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr Gallagher, the secretary was instructed to. convey to Miss* Macpherson the deep , sympathy of the Board on her continued, ill-health. 1 The chairman . moved, ■ and Mr Nicoll seconded, that the thanks-of the Board should be conveyed to Mr Alters for the interest he had, taken, in the Board during a very difficult'term. The motion carried. The Board Vent. into committee ta colisider further the - North Branch Scheme and. th.e indenting of electric cookers, and on resuming in open Board the chairman reported that it had been decided, to a' committee, consisting of himself and Mr Nicoll,. to-draw up a letter in respect to the development. of. tho North Branch electric power scheme and that copies be' forwarded" to - the Hon. Mr J. G. Coates, the Hon. W. Nosworthy and tho Hon. Sir Heaton Rhodes. It was further reported that it had been decided that the Board be empowered to purchase and indent up to 100 electric cooking ranges.

Sports Association. "A general meeting of the Ashburton Sports Associati.on was held; 1 " ■ night. Present: Messrs E. Partridge (chairman), W. B. Thomas, E. ,H. Biggar, D. McClymont, C. M. Pinfold, L. B. Clarke, and H. A. Humphreys. . The Ashburtoh County Hockey Association applied for the use of two grounds on the Domain terrace.

The chairman said the High School Club had been assessed at £1 for the use of one ground for practice matches. This entitled the club, - which was affiliated to the Hockey Association,-to representation on the Sports Ass'ociatin, which was an anomalous position. The control of the twoc grounds should be .vested in the. Hockey. Association. • The Association's application, for one ground was. gran ted, with the right to use both grounds for competition matches. The High. School ■ Club would still have the right ..to play practice matches on one ground. .The secretary 'submitted- a report on the work done since the annual meeting. The Domain Board. had-' not yet been approached with regard to the removal of the children's swings and chute from the oval to a more convenient site. -

The report. was • adopted. The revision and alteration of the Association's constitution to enable -the affilia-

(Continued/at foot of soft column.)

' " ■ , ' ~ tion of sports bodies other than those .occupying, the Domain waß left in. the hands of a sub-committee,. consisting of the chairman, Messrs Thomas, Biggar, and the secretary. Mall Notices. Mails,close at Afhburtoh to-day for northorn porta at 5.15 p.m.; late fee. letters, 5.40 p.m.; guard's van, G T>.m. Mails , for United Kingdom,. Central America, and Europe, via Panama (specially ' addressed : correspondence only),' per Botorua, from Wellington, close at Ashburton on Friday next.