MID-CANTERBURY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20108, 15 May 1935, Page 4

MID-CANTERBURY

LOCAL AND DISTRICT NEWS

ASHBURTON, May 14. Personal: At the meeting of the Ashburton Borough Council last evening members congratulated the Mayor f Mr W. H. Woods) on the award to him of the King’s Silver Jubilee Medal. Mr L. A. Charles has been reappointed synodsman for the parish of Ashburton for a period of four years. Mr J. Cook, formerly a member of the Diocesan Synod for Ashburton, declined nomination when, the services of a curate being dispensed with, the representation of the parish was reduced. Mr E. H. Orr was last evening appointed Deputy-Mayor of Ashburton. Mr Orr has been a member of the Council for six years, and has been a prominent member of the finance committee for that period.

Mayoral Robes: “it is a regrettable fact that, in a Borough of this size, we have no chain or robes of office,” said the Ashburton Borough Returning Officer (Mr W. Patterson), when installing the Mayor at the Council Chambers. “Councillor Jones referred to the question some time ago, and I stated that the Council had no authority to purchase such insignia of office. I am hoping that some day a citizen who is sufficiently interested will present the necessary regalia to the Council.”

Rugby Trial Teams: G. King (South Canterbury), who was selected as half-back in the combined Ashburton-South Canterbury Rugby football team to meet a Canterbury team in Ashburton to-morrow is not available owing to injury’, and will be replaced in the team by T. Cates (Ashburton). S. Burrows (Ashburton), who was selected ds an emergency, is not available, having been Injured in the Town v. Country match last Monday.

Three Degrees of Frost: After a frost of three degrees intensity this morning, conditions were dull and cold to-day, the sky being overcast from early morning. One point of rain fell last evening.

Seventh Win: Reference to the seventh successful win by B. Squadron (C.Y.C.) in the Gallipoli Cup contests was made at the meeting of the Ashburton Borough Council last evening, when it was decided to send to Major Nicoll a letter expressing the Council’s gratification at the work of his squadron. Members of the Council spoke in laudatory terms of the efficiency of the unit. It was left to the Mayor and the Town Clerk to draw up the letter.

“Gross Injustice”: Dissatisfaction with the Canterbury Rugby Union’s action in appointing a Christchurch referee (Mr G. McLachlan) for the All Black trial match. Canterbury v. Ashburton-South Canterbury. at Ashburton to-morrow was expressed at a meeting of the Ashburton Rugby Union, and an Ashburton referee was appointed subject to the approval of the Canterbury Union. On behalf of the Ashburton Referees Association Mr J. MacMillan (president) protested against a Christchurch referee being appointed. He said that local referees, who were just as capable as outside referees, were slighted and some of them had threatened to resign. Mr H. Porter, the Ashburton Union’s delegate to the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union, explained that having secured the trial game at Ashburton, he considered he had gained his point and he did not press for an Ashburton referee for the match. He had no intention of slighting Ashburton referees. The president maintained that this was a gross injustice to the local referees, although perhaps inadvertent. The referees were justified In their complaint. At this stage the meeting went into committee and later reported that a protest was bein:: made to the Canterbury Union. Subject to the approval of the Canterbury Rugby Union it was decided to appoint Mr C. W. Wellman to referee the match. It was stated to-day that at last week’s meeting of the Canterbury Rugby Union's Management Committee Mr E. V. Phillips reported that the delegates from the three unions concerned who had arranged to hold a trial game at Ashburton had drawn from a hat to decide which union should supply the referee. By that means the choice had fallen to the Canterbury Union, and the Competitions Committe had then appointed Mr C. McLachlan.

Seafield Irrigation: In regard to the experimental irrigation work at the Seafield farm, the Acting-Prime Minister (the Hon. E. A. Ransom) states that the control of the work would be taken over completely by the Lands Department, and the water now available would be used under ordinary farming conditions.

The results of the experiments already carried out would be put to practical use under the usual conditions of working the land, he added. Careful records would be kept of all the work and all experimentation. Additional money would not be spent on work of a purely experimental nature, but experiments would be carried on on a working basis, fitting in with the general running of the farm at Seafield and utilising the knowledge already gained from former experiments. Mr Ransom made it clear that the department definitely intended to go on with practical experiments to prove the value of irrigation.