LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3562, 23 September 1916, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At Wellington yesterday several city and suburban tradesmen were fined sums varying from 5s to £2 for using imperfect weights and measures.

At the choir practice at St. Stephen s Anglican Church last evening the Rev. H. N. Wright made feeling reference to the death of Mr William H Brooking, who had been a, member of the ohoir for. 28 years. The members of the ohoir decided to send a letter of condolence to Mrs Brooking.

Mr Walter Lilley, of Highbank, has disposed..of his fine property, known as " Greenfields,". . containing about 600 acres, the purchasing price being ,in the vicinity of £20,000. The new owner of this property'is Mr Timothy Twomey, late proprietor of the Methven Hotel, and the sale was effected by the Ashburtpn Farmers'*, Co-opera-tfve Association. '

The residents of Methven and Mount Hutt districts are taking great interest in the forthcoming Spring Flower Show, which is to be held on September 28. _ There are , many ardent horticulturists in the district, and as the season has been good a fin© display of spring flowers .is expected. Two special prizes are offered —a silver cup presented by Mr W. Morgan for 24 varieties of bulbs grown in the Mount Hutt district, and £2 2s for the best collection of 36 daffodils. This latter section-is open to all. At the meeting of the Timaru Harbour Board yesterday it was decided to lay up dredge 350 until the end of the year, as recent soundings have shown ihat there is no shoaling, and that there is 30 feet of water at low tide. The chairman (Mr F. J. Rolleston) said that since 1907 the Board [had spent £82,000 on dredging, exclusive of the capital cost of the dredge, which was £35,000. Since the construction of the eastern mole, and the recent addition to it of 450 feet, there had not been the same necessity for dredging, and a large amount would be saved in the future thereby.

In the Victorian Legislative Assembly the Minister of Railways moved that .it was desirable that the bulk handling of grain by means of the elevator. system should .be proceeded with. The motion, he said, authorised the Government to proceed with the systemi but a Bill would be introduced later this 1 session to create a commission.' which body would deal with specifications and tenders for the .work. A grain exchange, would be established where buyers and sellers could meet. The cost of a. 4,000,000----bushel installation was estimated at £1,479,839.

Mr A. Fitzgerald, of Ashburton, received by post this ,morning a sample of the latest; type of British gas helmet. " In 'appearance it is like a small sugar-bag, only the material is flannel, which is saturated with some chemical. Two rounds of glass are placed in the "bag" to enable the soldier to see. In order that the wearer may breathe, a tube is inserted which the soldier holds between his teeth as he would the stem of a pipe. He can then breathe out, but not in, the tube working on the principle of a bicycle valve. The helmet is placed over the head, and the skirt of the bag is tucked under the coat. The whole thing looks very crude, but evidently answers the purpose for which it was designed.