MID-CANTERBURY

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22016, 13 February 1937, Page 8

MID-CANTERBURY

PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT ARRIVAL IN ASHBURTON i NEXT SATURDAY WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY HON. H. T. ARMSTRONG The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M J Savage), accompanied by the Minister for Labour (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong), will pay his first official visit to Ashburton next Saturday, according to. advice received by the Mayor (Mr W. H. Woods). The Ministerial party will arrive by car from Timaru about 10.30 on Saturday morning, and will be accorded a civic reception at the borough council chambers. A luncheon will be held later, when representatives of local bodies will be afforded an opportunity of meeting the Ministers. The Prime Minister and Mr Armstrong will leave for Christchurch in the afternoon. IRRIGATION AT SEAFIELD FARM INSPECTED BY MR H. E. HERRING, M.P. RETENTION AS STATE AREA' TO BE URGED An inspection of the irrigation farm at Seafield was made yesterday, by Mr H. E. Herring. M.P., who was shown over the property by Mr J. C. C. McLachlan. Crown lands ranger, and Mr E. C. D. Withell. farm rrianager. He was greatly interested in what he was shown and in view of the importance of irrigation he intends to press for the retention of the place as a State farm, and its rehabilitation, as a demonstration area. Mr Herrtng expressed the opinion that a great amount of developmental work had already been done, but that, in his opinion it would be a mistake not to take full advantage of it. He said that the distance from Winchmore was not a serious drawback. "Sceptics doubting the value of irrigation should go to the farm at Seafield and see the stands of red clover and lucerne that have come on so well after treatment," said Mr Herring. "Generally there is clear evidence of careful husbandry and progress has already been made but much requires to be done. 1 intend taking up the matter with the Ministers for Agriculture and Lands inviting their sunport in a programme of improvement."

MOTORING OFFENCES I .CASES BEFORE ASHBUUTON COUKT The sequel to recent motor collisions at Ashburton was heard in the Ashburton Magistrate's Court yesterday, ' when several of the drivers faced ; charges Mr H. Morgan, S.M., was on the bench. Sergeant J. Crowley conducted the cases for the police. " A plea of not guilty was made by Garfield A. A. Holmes (Mr L. A. Charles), to charges of driving negligently and with failing to give way to traffic on his right. After hearing evidence, the magi_Irate said he had not been impressed by the defendant's explanation of what happened. Defendant was both negligent and had failed to ve way. He imposed a fine of £2 10s with an order for costs on the first charge, and convicted defendant on the other charge William Alexander Anderson (Mr R. Kennedy) was charged with negligently driving a inotor-cycle and with not exercising the necessary care. A plea of not guilty was entered. The magistrate, in giving his verdict, said that it appeared that the motor-car was the cause of the collision, but he was sati- ied that the defendant ran into the car. Anderson was fined 30s, and ordered to pay costs for driving without exercising the . necessary care. The other charge was withdrawn. The drivers of both cars involved in a collisio at the corner of Grey and East streets appeared on charges of negligent driving. They were Alfred Bray (Mr W. H. Woods) and Frederick Thomas Shannon (Mr Charles). In giving his verdict in Bray's case, the magistrate said he was quite sa :• fled on the evidence that the defendant was negligent. Bray had approached the cornr- at too fast a speed, and the brakes were inefficient. The defendant was fined £4, and ordered to pay costs. The case against Shannon was adjourned to February 26. , Arising out of a collision at the intersection of Allen's and Middle roads on December 21, Richard Henry Hooper (Mr L. A. Charles) pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to gfve way to traffic on his right. A fine of £3, with an order for costs, w; imposed. A charge of failing to 'return his registration certificate to the Electrical Wiremen's Registration Board was preferred against Maurice C. McTigue, who did not appear. The defendant was ordered to pay '•osts. Maurice Brown, who did not appear, was fined 10s and ordered to pay costs for obtaining liquor during the c - rency of a prohibition order. A fine of 7s 6d. with an order for costs, was imposed on Clarence John Gunning for riding a bicycle without a light. Arising out- of a fatal accident at Winslow last year, W. T. Lowe, of Hinds (Mr Alan Brown), ent red a civil claim .of £l5O damages to his car against De Lacy Cameron. Mr Brown said that £IOO, which included expenses, had been into court. The magistrate gave judgment for this amount. T. Henderson was ordered to pay £7 3s to • Cordery. Wells and Company (Mr R. KennedyLby March 12, in default seven days' imprisonment. For being £ 12 15s in arrears in maintenance payments, Ronald Jackson was sentenced to one month|s imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended so long as 10s a week was paid off the arrears, and the current order was kept up. Judgment for plaintiff by default was given in the case of W. R. John v. 'H. Catherwood for £3 2s.