Local and General

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LX, Issue 88, 7 November 1939, Page 3

Local and General

' Because of the holiday on Friday, the next issue of The Guardian will be published on Thursday afternoon The two rural mail contractors in the Ellesmere district will run about two hours earlier than usual next Friday. In the time-table for Day's bus service for the holiday fixtures of this week, special attention is directed to the fact that on Friday morning the bus will leave Southbridge at 8 o'clock, an hour earlier than the usual time. Four plays will be presented on the second night of St. John's Drama Festival at Leeston Town Hall next Tuesday evening and on account of the full programme a start will be made at 7.45 p.m. sharp. Reserves may now be made by ringing phone 24. The contractor, British Pavements Ltd., has now finished the paving of the main highway from Springston to the Southbridge town district boundary on the Milltowii side, and a first,class job has been made of it. Motorists in this county now possess an excellent dustless highway from Southbridge to Christchurch, which will be a great boon compared with the shingled roadway of the past.

Many farmers on the Rangitaiki Plains (East Coast, North Island) are experiencing severe losses by bloating among dairy herds. Losses have exceeded 10 per cent in some cases and one farmer with a herd of about 40 cows lost four in One week. Some farmers have been holding cows in bare paddocks and feeding them with cut and dried grasses. Sodium bicarbonate and vegetable turpentine are recommended as the most reliable remedies. Although some farmers use kerosene its effects are thought to be too severe. In spite of the losses production seems to be keeping up well, for many of the lost cows are the weaker and less efficient ones.

An estimate of revenue and expenditure for the remaining four months of this financial year for the Ellesmere County Council was given by the clerk-engineer at yesterday's meeting. Mr T. Moorhouse said that the total of revenue expected, on a conservative basis, was £5944, including £4230 current year's rates. Estimated fixed charges on the expenditure aide were £700, leaving £5244 for general work and administration. This sum would provide an average expenditure of £1100 per month and leave a surplus of £844. .

A report was given to members of the Ellesmere County Council yesterday by Cr. A. Anderson, who represented the Council on the local body deputation to the Minister of Public Works with regard to an irrigation water supply for the district between the Rakaia and Waimakariri rivers. The councils represented were, Selwyn, Springs, Malvern, and Ellesmere. The Minister almost as soon as the deputation entered the room readily agreed to have the preliminary survey and that it would be the next job undertaken after the two over the Rakaia were finished, and it was estimated that this would take sixteen months. Probably before then surveyors would be at work in the new area.

Highway Signs seem to exert an irrestible fascination on the minds of a certain type of irresponsible; thoughtless youths impelling them to use them as targets for all kinds of missiles. Complaints of defacing i"oad signs in this manner are unfortunately too common throughout New Zealand. Southbridge has not escaped, as the battered signs on the main road bear mute but eloquent witness. It was left to some of the young fellows of the district, however, to impart a touch of originality to the proceedings. One boundary sign disappeared altogether and was found later in a neighbouring hedge. From various signs it was suggestive that the persons responsible had been trying to emulate with a motor car, some of the characteristics of a bulldozer and had steadily pushed at the post with the car until it was loose enough to be pulled out of the ground and thrown into the hedge.

"Gorse is getting bad all over the district and we will have to do something about it," declared Cr. A. Anderson at the meeting of the Ellesmere County Council yesterday. The engineer was instructed to deal with the matter and to send out notices to ratepayers wherever he found the gorse was growing to such an extent as to warrant action.

For the purpose of arranging a send-off to Dr. and Mrs B. Volckman a well-attended meeting of county and town district residents was held at the council chambers at Leeston last night, Mr Bernard Brown presiding. Tuesday, November 21st was the date selected and the social will be held in the Leeston Town Hall. It is to consist of items, addresses, presentations and supper. Members of Anglican Church are to join in with the public send-off. A committee was set up to deal with subscriptions and lists will also be available at the Bank of New Zealand, Ellesmere Counjty Council office and at the Farmers' Co-op.