LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3575, 9 October 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A large. number of local ■ angler^ spout the week-end at the.,- mouth ot the Ashburtcn River, but only-small bags were reported,, and; the; fish were also smail. In.; the 1 upper reaches, .ot, the river: the , spor^ appears to have b-een better, ' and some fair catches were made. . .

The Christchurch schools are entering enthusiastically in,to the scheme of collecting bottles in aid of the comforts for the men at the front. One small suburban school has already collected over 1000 bottles, and a country; school with only 73 pupils, who have just started'to collect, has already 16 cases .ready to be sent in to the depot.

The grass grub has played great havoc <with the pastures this wint«r. This grub (Odontria Zealandica) is indigenous to New Zealand. TK6 brow n beojtle will bo on the wing early next month, and farmers in affected areas would do an immense amount of good if they would all light gorse fires when they "hear the buzzing noise in the dusk of the evening. Simultaneous action is required in order to combat tho pest with success.

Persons passing along the main road through the Greenstrcet district will no doubt be impressed with the splendid growth of grain crops. The area under cultivation appears to be on a par with that of last year, although probably mdre attention has' boen given to growing oats. The early oat crops are exceptionally well advancod, while crops sown a fortnight ago are making 'vigorous 'growth. Near -Digby's Bridge, a crop of Cape barley can be seen shooting into«ear. Young lambs are plentiful in the district, and it is statedthat'the percentage in most cases is'well over 100.

At the Ashburton Court this morning, before Messrs G. W. Andrews and A. MeClnro, J.'s.P., Charles H. Lord was fined Is for failing to register the birth of a child within six months of tho date of birtli. In connection with the above case, the .defendant applied <o have the # child registered after a period, of six "months had elapsed, but found that ho could not do so unley ho hurl been convicted by the Court. Thf. Registration Act provides that, births can bo registered freo up to G2 days. After that period, and up to six months, a fee of 5s is charged. After six months the applicant has to appear before the Court before the Registrar can grant tho necessary certificate. Every few years Parliament grants what might Be termed nr " open period/ so that within a specified time parents who have neglected to register children can do so without paymeai of a fee and without having to appear before the Court.

Tlie postal authorities would lHce tho Christmas and -,Neiv Year Parcels for Soldiers sent away as soon as poswibip now. H. C. Percy is paekinsr (very securely) and a^di^ssinr all' dorr-rip-tinns of. parcels at "a very smnll charav. ■Please-brinj": the soldier's address with you to Percy's. C 22-2