LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LVII, Issue 23, 27 March 1936, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Ellesmere Plunket Society has arranged to hold its annual meeting next Thursday afternoon. On Tuesday, April 21, Messrs Dalgety and Co., Ltd., will hold a clearing sale at Brookside on account of Mr S. R. Boag, whose lease is expiring. Full particulars will be adverI tised in the Guardian later. On Monday evening the annual meeting of the District High School Old Pupils' Association will be held at the School, Southbridge. Former pupils throughout the district are invited to attend. Indications of a recovery in industry were given by the principal of the Wellington Technical College, Mr iR. G. Ridling, in his report to the board of governors. Mr Ridling said that of the 24 pupils who had left between February 3 and 28, no fewer than 20 had been absorbed into industry. There was also an increased enrolment in the junior section of the trades courses, which showed that employers were once again apprenticing youths. The following paragraph appeared in a recent issue of a prominent (and Conservative) London newspaper:— "A message from Wellington states that eels in New Zealand grow to tremendous size. Fishermen declare that they have seen eels 'thick as barrels' and 20 feet long; in some regions the eels are so large and numerous that the people leave the river reaches severely alone at night, for the eels can inflict serious wounds. During the day the fishermen wear several pairs of socks, two or three jerseys and thick trousers so as to escape harm from bites." After the stock sale today, Messrs W. E. Simes and Co., auctioneers, of Christchurch, submitted for public auction, on behalf of the trustees in the estate of the late William McIlraith, the farm property at Lakeside of 150 acres. The property was first of all offered in one block. Bidding started at £30 per acre and advanced to £35, at which price it was passed in. One block of 100 acres was then offered. Bidding started at £28 and ceased at £29 10s, at which price it was passed in. Returning from Pago Pago and | Fiji on his way to China and other Eastern countries, Mr William Candler, a much-travelled business man in the Pacific Islands and the East, has, in the course of his business over the past 26 years, averaged 50,000 miles a year. "Few of the old identities are left in the Islands now, and I am about the last of the oldtime travellers," said Mr Candler to a reporter. The hopes raised at the beginning of the summer that the white butterfly had been successfully combated by the introduction of a parasite have been rather shaken in Franklin in the past few days. Over some months white butterflies were to be seen only occasionally, and the diminution in numbers since last season was very marked. The parasite was duly given credit for this. However, lately a rapid increase in the number of butterflies is unfortunately apparent and anxiety for swedes, cabbage and allied crops has been revived. The construction of a highway through Westland to mark the celebration of New Zealand's centenary in 1940 is suggested in a circular letter that has been sent to the [ Prime Minister and members of Parliament by Mr D. J. Evans, a proi minent citizen of Hokitika. Mr Evans claims that such a highway would be a worthy memorial. Much of the work could be finished before 1940. There is, he claims, ample scope for providing employment and for adding to the value of the Crown lands in j the area. The timber royalties, which in the main pass to the Crown, would give a huge cash return as development progressed. A gentleman in Arizona who has had visions of "raising kiwis" as egg-producers is likely to be disappointed, says the "Auckland Herald." His attention was lately attracted by a newspaper paragraph which stated: "The New Zealand! kiwi is no larger than a domestic hen, but it lays 14-ounce eggs, while a hen's eggs average only about 2\ ounces." .The Auckland Chamber of Commerce received a letter from him stating: "Enclosed clipping interests me very much, as I raise chickens. Please send me what information yoy may be able to obtain as to cost of roosters and hens and shipping cost pertaining to the kiwi fowl." The secretary of the chamber, Dr. E. P. Neale, has replied that as the kiwi is "absolutely protected" under the Animals Protection and Game Act, 1921-22, any person having one in his possession is liable to a fine of £25. Hence the information asked for i cannot be supplied.

The Leeston Oddfellows' Lodge has arranged to hold its annual ball on Thursday, April 23. Mr J. Boag, Brookside, invites tenders for cleaning about one mile of drains. Mr and Mrs G. E. Benny are to be entertained at a farewell social at Southbridge next Thursday evening. A movement is afoot to form a men's hockey club at Leeston, and a meeting of those interested is to be held next Thursday evening. The premises of Mr D. Mclntyre, hairdresser and tobacconist, at Southbridge, were broken into during Wednesday night and a quantity of tobacco and a sum of money were ' stolen. I Monday night's rainfall, as recorded by Mr A. J. Inwood's gauge, was 56 points. The total for this month is 5.80 inches, as against only 91 points up to March 27 of last year. The total rainfall for this year is now 19.21 inches, whereas up to the same date last year the figures were 4.21 inches. There was a frost of 3 degrees on Wednesday morning. Farmers are reminded of the important clearing sale to be held at Southbridge next Monday by the National Mortgage and Agency Co., Ltd., on behalf of Messrs Alexander Bros. The cattle and horses are of a particularly good class and all the implements are in first-class order. Weather and sea conditions during the last few days have been favourable for cutting the outlet from Lake Ellesmere to the sea, and there is now a strong stream of water running. The lake was 3ft. 6in. above zero when the cut was completed. As mentioned in the Guardian a week or two ago, large areas of land along the shores of the lake have been flooded, conditions from Greenpark onwards around the north shore being especially bad. If the channel can be kept open much relief will be given, not only to lake shore farmers but to those a considerable distance inland where the backing-up of the lake has prevented the efficient draining of the land.