ASHBURTON.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 736, 20 June 1916, Page 10

ASHBURTON.

NOTES AND NEWS.

From Our Special Correspondent

During the meeting of the Ashburton Borough Council last, night G'r Buchanan made an explanation in regard to his proposed heavy tariff on meat being sold in the auction. The councillor said he had proposed the idea with a view to safeguarding the public health, but since then he had found that the rooms were run under the supervision of the Health Department, and that the premises ha<l been subject to all the preparations necessary before selling meat. He had made the statement previously with no party feeling, but because he considered it was his duty as a councillor.

At the same meeting a deputation from the Borough School Committee waited on the council with a view to exchanging the present site for one in the Domain on the West Belt. Mr W. (i. Hillier said the present site was insanitary and dangerous, as the motor traffic was excessive on Tancred Street. There were three children coming from the northern end of the town compared with one from the other end. The Rev. Geo. Miller said that, it would be a pity to build a new school on an old site. Medical men had condemned the present site. With Mr Friedlandcr's gift the district should have a fretter school and a better site. The Rev. G. Frost pointed out that the authorities themselves regarded the present site as unsuitable. The Mayor said that the council would consider the matter seriously. Personally he was against touching any domain land for any purpose other than recreation. Cr Ferriman suggested that a conference of the Upper Ashburton Road Board, County Council, and Tinwald anil Hampstead Town Board should be called, and the deputation's put before them as bodies representing most of the householders concerned. This was agreed to.

The annual meeting of the Ashburton Branch of the Health of Women and Children Society was held on Monday afternoon. Mrs J. B. Christian, president, read the annual report, which stated that during the year about 1000 calls to homes had been made, while 9;;;; calls had beeu made at the rooms by mothers. The society, after being without a nurse for months, secured the services of Nurse Hancock, who did good work. Two hundred babies had passed through her hands, and many cases had called for skilful treatment. Over 2;;00 garments had been sent to the war orphans, whiJe another case of goods was to be sent to Lady Jellicoe in the course of a few days. Special thanks were due to the Loweeliffe ladies, the Girls' Friendly Society, the Presbyterian Girls' Guild, the Girls' Guild," and the High School girls, under Miss Kershaw, all of whom had done much wort. Mrs West had donated £SO to the fund in addition to working assiduously. The Borough Council and the County Council had each donated £2O and £lO respectively. The society regretted the loss of Mesdames Burgin, Bllioti Bell, and Brown. The balancesheet showed that the receipts were £265 18/-, and the credit balance was £l6O. The following were elected: —■ President, Mrs J. B. Christian; vicepresident, Mesdames W. Nosworthy, Taylor, K. Galbraith. and Muller; adviser, Dr Muller; solicitor, Mr G. H. Buchanan; committee, Mesdames Buchanan, Barker, Grigg, Oldrieve. M. D. Brown, Hunter, Miller, Taylor, • right, Frost, Espagne, and Miss Davis; auditor, Mr F. W. Watt. The monthly skin sales were attended by a full bench of buyers from Timaru and Christehureh, and exccileut prices were received, some skins going to as high as 18/3. The following is a brief summary of prices realised:—Crossbred

skins, 3/7, 10/9, 18/.'!; pelts, 3d, 3/6; lambs', 191b, BSd per lb; lambs', killed, 0/3, 3/7, 2/4; crossbred D.D., 4/4; hogget, killed, 5/6, 7/-.