LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3564, 26 September 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Town Clerk reported to the Borough Council meeting last evening that a setting of black swan's eggs bad been procured from the Christchurch Acclimatisation Society, and that they would arrive to-day and be placed under the black swan now sitting in the Domain.

During his address at tho High School yesterday afternoon, Mr T. Bullock said he would like to see the Government purchase the High School and convert it into the Borough School. He considered it would be an excellent locality for the primary school, and would meet the requirements of the town when the population area had extended out in that direction. A new High School could then bo erected on the reserve in Jones's Road.

In St. Stephen's Schoolroom last evening the Rev. - Bfoomo'-Smith, representing "the Church Missionary Society, delivered an interesting lecture on his experiences as a missionary in the Congo, where he spent 23 years. The lecture was illustrated by lantern slides. The Rev. -H. N. Wright " presided over a good attendance, and in the course of the evening a collection for missionary objects was taken up.

In a letter from Chicago, Mr T. B. Hughes, of Auckland, writing to his father, has something interesting • to state regarding the heat wave. Ho writes: "Yesterday was over 100 in the street, and 97 on the top ,of a high skyscraper.' The heat at night has been very trying. Even at midnight the mercury stands at 80. Bare aims, bare legs, and bare - chest are the order. There have been several dozen deaths on account of bho heat. The first fewweeks we found very trying, but fruit diet, minimum clothing, and acclimatisation enable us to feel more comfortable. I never wear a collar, seldom a hat, never coat or waistcoat; Men walk about in light pants, shoes, white or very thin shirt with sleeves rolled upy'anyhow' to keep comfortable. Even in church it, is quite proper to doff one's coat and sit in shirtsleeves. Fans are everywhere softly flapping, used by men' as well as women. >ou have no. idea, of the intensity of the heat."

Mr Redmond recently received a long letter from Mr Lloyd Georgo, reviewing the work of the Ministry of Munitions in Ireland since the establishment of the Ministry in Dublin in the middle of August, 1915. ■-Contracts have been placed m 14 cities and towns in'the south and west alone, with about 45 private firms, apart from railway companies,' for 1,500,000 ;shells, fuses, and components, and considerably: ovor 1,000,000 ammunition boxes. The total expenditure involved up. to- date,' including national factory buildings and machinery, exceeds £800,000. "It is of interest to note," writes the Minister, " that from the first national factory an output was sustained during the recent disturbance, thanks to the loyalty and the devotion of the employees, who, at considerable- personal risk, carried on when practically every other business was at a standstill." Mr Lloyd George adds that the 'total value of the'direct War Office contracts' placed in Ireland from the outbreak of war to May, 1916, including the value of materials, supplied, amounts to £4..350,6fiG. He expressed the hone that industrial Ireland would profit from the stimulus thus given. ".

No one will gainsay the ingenuity of the American in inventing time and labour-saving devices. The latest illustration of, this is a novel means of sowing seeds. Mating drills and sowing seed by hand in the usual manner are not only tedious and back-breaking operations, but they are wasteful, because far more seeds than are necessary are pJantod, involving thinning out afc a later date, when the seedlings have attained a certain growth. In the latest American idea the seed is sold already spaced'and imbedded in a tap<">. This tape is composed of a special fertilising material, which, decomposing and associating with; the soil immediately contiguous to the seed, assists its germination and growth. The tape is sold in coils up to 40 or 50 feet long, but it can, of course, be cat to the length required. All that ia necessary to do is to plant the tape in accordance with the directions given: Sowing in this manner can be carried-out rapidly and with the minimum of physical ■ exertion. Provided that each seed is fertile, and that the ravages of birds and other pests are ovorcome, the seedlings will appear in due course a regular distance apart. Not only is thinning out avoided, but economical use of seed is assured, no more being sown than is actually required.

The, Following interesting comp;vr:«oii of war. prices in Britain, Genrany, and Austria is contained in a letter received in' Wanganui (says the "Herald") from an English 'business firm:-—''Wo in Britain are now feeling very.severely the; effect of the war on the cost of living, and •■'those, of us whose wages-or incomes havo,.,:been .-.adversely affected by tho wa.r are feeling the pinch. Meat is part.icula.rsy dear, and supplies aro far below the normal.- Prime joints of beef cost Is (3d x>er lb, as against a former lOd or lid; beef, steak costs. 2s to 2s 6d. .Vegetables show even a greater advance. The average normal pripe, for potatoes to" the housewife was 71b for 3d, she is now paying 2d per lb, whilst new .potatoes. command 3^d. Eggs are scarce, and easily fetch 2;] d ami fid each. Poultry is quite doublo tho normal price, and fish two or-three tildes. BreJid, which in. Birmingham reached ,9'd a. quartern loaf in the spring, has receded to &d, .which is still high in comparison with tho normal figure of 6d.. Taken all round, tho household provisions bill is 75 per cent, dearer Things are still worse in Germany. A little while ago the "Times" gave the following items of prices ruling in Berlin in April last, with a comparison with prices in July, 191.4: —Rycr bread, per 4tb $\<\, as j against 6d; wheat bread, per 41b Is Id, as against 10d : eggs, 2s 9d per dozen, as against lOd: beef, 2s 6d per lb; a* against Od; mutton, 2s 9d per .lb, as against lid; bacon Is 3d per lb, as against 9d; rice, Is 3d per lb, 'as against 3d. And on tho same authority wo quote still more serious prices iii Vienna, as follow:—Beef, 3s 2d per lb, as against lOd; bacon, 2s 7d per lb, as against 9d; butter, 3a 6d perjb, as against Is 4d; margarine, 2s 7d per lb, as against 9d; rye broad, lid per lb, as against Gd; rise; Is 7d per lb, as against 3d.

r At the Tinwald saleyards to-day the National Mortgage and' Agency Company, Ltd., offered, on behalf of Mr J. R. Brown, manager of the firm's Christchurch branch, a mare and foal, which were sold for £7. The proceeds will bo handed to the Cafe Chantant fund. .

The Governniont Meteorologist's forecast to-day was as follows: —Tlie indications are for variable and strong breezes, but south-easterly moderate to strong prevailing after about 16 hours. Increasing haze and cloudiness for a change. Barometer ha 3 a falling tendency.

An Ashburfcon 'farmor stated to-day that recently ne had received a letter from a New Zealand soldier in \France. The letter stated ' that from what he could see.of France it was a wonderful country for growing Californian thistles. The writer added: "If Mr C. Branigiui, . Govornracnt Fields Inspector, was there, ho would bo able to get a regular harvest of prosecutions."

A Christchurch Press Association telegram states that the Conciliation Council, in connection with the farriers' award, agreed to an increase of a half-penny an hour for noqrmen. The agreement is the same as exists ; in Auckland, which was made in March. The Commissioner , suggested that, as tho Dunedin application will be heard soon, a Dominion award should be souglit.

At a euchre and dance evening given in Tinwald Hall oh Thursday in aid of the Red Cross funds an amount of £14 3s was realised; -A cako presented by Mrs Edge,brought £1 12a 6d, while a cushion square,, the gift of Mrs D. Teppetti '\ias -Isold for £1 Is. _ A gentleman's evening dress suit given by Mrs Wagner , was sold by auction for £5. "-■ ". ',"•■■'■■;;.■-■ ■. ■■

Farmers in the County are now engaged in ear-marking and tailing their lambs. An Ashburton farmer informed a "Guardian" reporter today that the percentage of lambs this season would be particularly good, as tho weather had been most favourable for lambing. Feed was now plentiful, and the lambs and ewes were in good condition.

An interesting point was raised by Mr B. ■B. Couston (engineer) at the Taieri County Council mooting on Friday (says tho "Otp.go Daily Times");, in connection with enrolment under the Act governing tho" New Zealand Expeditionary Reserve. He pointed out that he had seen to it that every eligible man employed by.tho council had applied for enrolment in the reserve. He did not know, however, whether the council was responsible in respect of men working, for it under contract. There was a possibility that the council might be .considered liable for the action of contractors who had not enrolled. Ho thought i there should be some means by which employers could ascertain whether the men they were going to employ were on the roll, the same as they could in connection "with the electoral roll. The chairman said they wore justified' in having; their position regarding;' contractors 'defined by the Defence Department. He suggested that a letter.be sent to the department soliciting the required information, and this was agreed to.

In the Now Zealand Expeditionary Force Orders, issued, by LieutenantGeneral Sir,A. J. Godley on July 17, it is announced that no soldier or the Now Zealand Expeditiqinary Force who has had a limb',, amputated is to be evacuated to New Zealand until he has «.beon supplied with an artificial limb, and is himself satisfied, that such limb is properly fitted and is able to use it. He will also be measured for a duplicate limb and supplied with this, if possible, before leaving England. If the duplicate, limb is not ready for issue before he leaves, it will be forwarded by the Deputy Director of Medical Services to New Zealand by tho earliest opportunity. The Deputy Director of Medical Services will in each case be responsible a-s, to the •pattern of artificial limbs to be supplied. Soldiers of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force who hare lost an eye will, before being evacuated to New Zealand, l>e -supplied with two artificial eves for each eye lost. The Deputy Director of Medical Services will make tho necessary arrangements for tho fitting and supply. A nominal roll will bo recorded monthly to Headquarters, Now Zealand, containing the names of all men supplied with artificial limbs and eyes.

The .first annual report .of-'.the Wellington Soldiers' 1 Club states that the work carried on has been one of. continual growth, and the club's activities have been manifold. It begin in a very modest way, the rooms in Sydney Street being open for only a few hours each evening. As its usefulness increased, the committee engaged the rooms for the whole of each week-day, and the club was then available for soldiers from 10 a.m. On Sundays the work used to begin at 4 in the after* noon, and gradually the club came to receive soldiers at 10 a.m., and on certain Sundays soldiers returning from leave by early boat and train have been welcomed, warmed ■, and fed as early as 7 a.m. From somewhat bare and sparsely-furnished rooms the club has advanced to thoroughly well-ap-pointed premises; The main hall now presents the appearance of a spacious and comfortable lounge, arid the. writ-

ing room is ' a cosy-little apartment, and both are rendered specially cheery in winter by blazing fires. An atmosphere of simple' homeliness pervades the rooms, and it is gratifying to tho officials' to see the soldiers using it as a familiar resting-place. The committee ' has been much cheered by expressions of appreciation from many sources. Letters have been received' from soldiers after leaving New 'Zealand, and tho ' walls of the club have often resounded to the ehoers of citizen soldiers on thf> eve of setting ont fo)----the war.' Victors, from all parts of the Dominion lia^o oxnreesed appreciation of tho sociiil work done.

Importation of Motor Cars.—To those who have never made, use of a motor car the large .number of cars being imported into this country will nrobabjy appear as sheer extravagance. There is one'car, .however, which on its performance, has proved itself to be most economical. The reason why so many owners speak so highly in praise of the Canadian Ford Car is because they find that it is wonderfully 'economical in operation Tt« powerful engine and strong' and light construction enable it to negotiate all kinds of roads with a minimum of exertion hence tie low upkeep. The guarantee given with the new Ford .is the most valuable of any because Ford agents always carry a comprehensive"supply of spare parts in. stock, ensuring prompt replacements when necessary. . 8 41