LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3565, 27 September 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Ashburton County is fairly free from infect.ious difieases cases at present. No notifications of fresh cases have been received by the Hospital Board for t'ke past 10 days.

Motor cycling in England is being: "Laid hit" by the limitation of potrol. | In some instances only six gallons of fuol is being allowed to motor cyclists for threw months. This moans only two quarts of petrol a week. There is a great outcry in England owing to the extraordinary manner in which petrol allowances aorp beijig apportioned io motor cyclists, i

A message from Napier says that Thomas Brown, a • fisherman, was-fined' £5, or ono month's imprisonment, for selling cargo from the Tongariro picked up on the high seas.

An Order-in-Council gazetted yesterday prohibits the importation of goods manufactured or produced in, or exported from, enemy territory, which includes all territory in the military occupation of the oncmy.

A Southland publican will shortly bo charged under the War Regulations Act with having permitted treating on his licensed premises, Jind two customers will also be required to answer charges under the same Act.

Paulette Vordoot, one of the celebrated dancers of the Brussels Opera, committed suicide a few weeks ago. It is said that German rule'in Brussels affected her mind. She loft a letter addressed to the. police, in which she stated she would rather die than submit to Gorman rule.

His Excellency the Governor has furnished the following information with respect to the work of the New Zealand hospital .ships:—The Mnheno has carried, up to September 17, 1916,, in her two commissions, .15,631 men; the Marama, 10,157, or porhaps^rather more, to August 15. Total, 25,788.

The Jewish New Year, 5677, commences to-night. A notahlo.fpatu.ro this year is the great number of' Jewish men who are celebrating the New Year at the front, and arrangements luive been made wherever possible- to grant leave to Jewish men to enable them to attend the numerous services that have boen provided for them in the various theatres'of the war.

A "Guardian" reporter was informed to-day that the demand for fishing licenses in Ashburton for tho coming season is particularly good, and that several j now anglers are included in ;: the number. The Ashburton, Raknia, and^ Rangitata rivers are reported to be. well, stocked with fish, and uro now clear. If tho weather keeps fine ..until the end of the week there, is every probability of some good catches'being reported on the opening day of the season.

In the Baptist Church last evening the Rev. H. B. Hughes, M.A., 8.D., delivered a highly interesting lecture on his experiences while journeying by the All-Bed Route to Canada, where he spent some time, chiefly in Toronto, at the McMaster University^ The lecture comprised graphic descriptions of Fiji, Honolulu, and cities of Canada and the States. New York and Chicago were treated with special vividness, and the lecture as a whole doserves to be classed as one of the most interesting that has been delivered locally without the assistance of slides. In the course of the evening the attendance, over which tho Rev. Frank Oldrieve presided, was given an opportunity of contributing to a. collection for the new Baptist Church in Timaru. Mr H. Sogars. sang. ••• ■ ; • • ■:■ l\ ■'■'■

"The fanner of New Zealand thinks ho knows how to farm, but he doesn't. He is merely a poacher on tho preserves of the elements." Thus did Mr '.E. Clifton, New Zealand Commissioner at the Panama Exposition, express himself to a representative of.the Waikato "Times" when discussing comparative methods of agriculture", in this country and America. Mr Clifton added that while the New Zealand farmer was jever grumbling at the climato. it -was, nevertheless, :' New Zealand's greatest asset, and the chief of nil its possessions. On this fact tho New Zealand farmer had great causo to congratulate."himself. "Our farmers," he said, ".are^ but employing the climate, and in collusion with tlie real estate agent are prosecuting a very successful' campaign. ' The one "fact that will-ensure the prosperity of the farmer, however,, despite these nuK'hihafcions, -is that New Zealand lies uuder beneficent skies. The New Zealand farmer does not know how to farm; he is merely a poacher on tho fertility of the skies."

A man from the country called at the recruiting office in the Invercargill Drill Hall recently (says tho "Southlaud News"). He was a big,.strong, young fellow, and would have looked well at the end of a rifle. "Well," said the recruiting sergeant, " what can Ido for you r 1" "I just came iv to see how I stand," came the reply. " You see, with this conscription coming in 1 didn't know whether I had to enlist or not. My fathor is getting pretty old now, and there is only myself left on the farm. Of courso, he can't do the work, and I don't like to leave him on his own." The sergeant was sympathetic. "Well, will I put you down for the Reinforcements ?" (naming a draft about threo months ahead); "No," said the countryman; " just ,leave it open, will you, and I'll think it over." "Right," said the sergeant; "good-bye." At the-door of tho office the farmer was accosted by another young fellow from his district coming in to enlist. Greetings wore exchanged, and tho following conversation ensued: "And how is the farm and all the boys ?" asked the' stranger. "Oh, all right." "I see you've''enlarged your farm," continued No. 1. "Yes; we have bought so-and-so's, adjoining our own." And so on, while the sergeant listened, wondering._ Presently No. 1 ejuno into tho office, and the first question he asked-was, "Did that fellow I met going out sign on?" "No," said the sergeant, "he said he would think it over." "Well," replied tho visitor, "it's about, time he did, for he's got fivo brothers out there, and none "of them have enlisted. " But," argued the sergeant, "he told me that he and his father were the only ones there." " Father bo d—," said No. 1 emphatically; "his father has boon dead 10 years. He is an absolute shirker, and came in because he thought he couldn't get out of it." Needless to say, his ease will receive nttention.

Importation of Motor Cars. To "those >v/!io have never mado'usn of a ■ motor tvuvtho largo number of cars being 'imported into this country will probably appear as shew extravagance!. There is one car, however, which on it*; performance, has proved itself to be most economical. The reason why so many owners speak so highly in praise, of the Canadiari Ford Gar is because they find that it is wonderfully econo-mical-in operation Its powerful engine and strong and light construction enable it to negotiate -all kinds of roads with a minimum of exertion hence the low upkeep. The guarantee* giren.with the new Ford is the most valuable of any because Ford agents e^wsys carry a comprehensive su^f>J,7 ®f spßfe. parts m stock, ensuring prompt ropfacasnents wlum. nocessafv. © 41 \

A private telegram wafe received in .Ashburtoa this aftenioon stating thftfc the steamer AVillocbra, with wounded soldiers, was not expected' to arrive in Port Chalmers -until about 7 o'clock this evening.

A Wellington Prevj Association telegram states that Arbitration Court's award m Xhu .slaughtermen's dispute embodies the existing agreement in all particulars, with tho addition of 2s bd per 100 war bonus- Tho award operates for two years from Monday.

Reports received from ::Xi. oentr&s by tho Labour Department indicate (says tho "Dominion") that there ia little or no unemployment anywhere in the country. " Kven in tho cities the men who apply to the Government Labour Bureaux are readily placed. In AVellington la.;t week work was,found tor 24 men of lln> 28 who applied.

Lord 'Derby !i:"..s decided to :soli his Buimnigh e.-'t»vo> near Ormakirk, on a 999 yea'rx' Jen.se at poppei"corn ront (says" a Lcndon paper of August 13). He has been compelled to sell .to complete tho paymiyit of his death duties as suceoswjr'to the l^ftrby estates, for 'which the Government was pressing. Tenants, and cottagers have tho first option of purchase.

According to a new''am?al, who was conversing at Napier with a Hawke s Bay "Tribune" reporter/ England, when tho war concludes, will bo able to turn out '.machinery, at less; than half the pi'ioo that it was previous to tho war. Motor engines will be:soldat ridiculous pricea. he said. England has boen revolutionised, and has loarnt, as tho Americans did-long ago, the value of labour-savimj machinery.

■Regarding mint export, the Minister of Agriculture, tho Hon. W. D fe. MacDonal'l .stated, on Tuesday at Hamilton that if nothing unforeseen arose the present .supplies in store would bo shipped bci'oro tho season opens. Half would bo -hipped almost immediately, and the balance before tho/end of v year. TW latest returns of meat^m stores wort.:—North Island. i»0»oB4 carcases of mutton and lamb 0 W,462 quarters of beef; South Island, 396.08J carcases of mutton and lamb, and 84j523 quarters of bflef.

Various improvements have been carried out to the drainage system at the Ashburton abattoirs. AD the solid matter is now being collected and removed with the offal,, so that only liquid • matter runs away from .the building, and this is irrigated over the adjoining land. The pit into which this drainage was conducted when, the abattoirs were opened has been filled up. Mr W. Hopkins, superintendent 'manager for the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company, yesterday inspected the abattoirs and the drainage scheme, and expressed himself as thoroughly satisfied - with the arrangements. The Agricultural Department's supervisor also recently made a tour of inspection and approved, of the. new arrangements.

• ilr 'John' Cblenuin, of New Zealand,re turnied 'to iSydriey- ■ : . a■' few' days'' ."-'ago ■f'roni an extensive /tour .through JvoW Caledonia. 'Describing his experiences to a '' Herald " reporter, Mr ■ Coleman said: "I wonder that New .Caledonia has' not caught on as a tourist resort. It has beautiful scenery, and its roads would make the mouths of every motorist in Sydney water with envy. Dust is unknown. One , day wo motored • well over 100 -miles in under five hours, and there was not enough dust raised to dim a pair of spectacles/ ■The roads sire we-1) made and maintained in an absolutely perfect condition. Doer is plentiful everywhere, and affords excellent sport; wild pigeons and ducks are abundant, and the sea-fishing close to the shore and the fresh water fishing are said to :be unrivalled!"

Figures relating to ,roarriage9 hovo a peculiar importance now that wo have to think of the hnman s losses through war (writes a Sydney correspondent). A survey of returns issued by the Commonwealth Burean of Statistics shows that during 1915 there were 45,22-1 marriages in Australia. The percentage of minors who were joined in wedlock was 11.27. Soven lads of 16 years were married to girls of 16, 18, aud 19 years. The youngest brida was only 13 years of age. She was a resident of Tasmania. Her husband was 22.. Looking at the other end of the scale, one notes that the oldest eotipk* married were two residents of South Australia, which State lias always enjoyed a reputation for cautiousness. The man waa 80 and the woman 75' years ■ old. Other oddities are tho marriage of a girl of 14 to a man 35 years old, and the union of a girl of 14 to a man of 52. Over 13,000 women were married in their twentyfirst, twenty-second, and twenty-third years, but among men tho twentyfourth and twenty-fifth yearn were most popular.

A case ol' considerable interest to patrons of the ioUlisator was heard at Tho Magistrate's Court, Featherson, -.the other day, before Mr L. G. Reid, .S.M., Y. J. France was charged for •that on-• .Tune I), at Moroa Racecourse, near Greytown, he did record on the totalisator certain moneys after tho tinio notified for tho .starting of tho race. ' Suj>emitcri.dent O'Donavan appeared to prosecute, and Mr Card for tho defendant, who pleaded guilty. The explanation advanced was that defend-' ant had received. .C2O to bo invested on 'tho totfvlLsa-tor, with the direction that it was' not to bo. rung-"on all at once. Ht> hud put on £10 boforo tho race started, but.owing; to the pressure or' work hiid omitted to put on the other £10. "When lie-rang on tho balance, he was ignorant of the fact that tho race '.'iud .started, nor did ho know tho position of tho horses. When two men who lad tickets on the winning horso cfuii.- along subsequently and 'protested, ho instantly ■ rectified the nn.-r.brrs on the iot.ilisator by putting up a nivi.;.. ;l,;i!. ilie £jq na a been withdraw^.. Supnr'n Undent. O'Domvv;i,n poinif:;; "ii-. :!i;i.! Ui;>. ofFeivvi 00.-n- < ed tho Viijv {•'• rh;* K-life!, ■ fra.7id>i inm:r- j in able in n-^yir^t to horsfyv.ciug-.' ■ JJq was s;\'..isiir:d, however, that on this occasion then- wa.n no fradulent intention in the mind of the defendant, who' was a man ol" wHI-esiablished rrood character, and well ■?.-:v>w'n not. to bo .associated with any nb.ie<-;tio.n;-ybl t> elemonts eorui'tti-.i with racing. H;ui the position been otherwise ho would h:s.vf pressed for iiu- highest, penalty. ETis Worship said that, taking all'tho cireumßtanees into consideration, he would impose only a light fine, £2 and costs.