LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 253, 6 August 1937, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The value to Ashburton County ot the tree planting that has been done in the. past is shown in the fact that in July the council received £133 9s 2d from firewood and £236 10s 5d from royalties on timber. Nelson continues to uphold its reputation for sunshine. In the month of July 180 hours 10 minutes of sunshine were experienced, giving an average of five hours 49 minutes of clear sunshine a day. Several cases of infectious diseases have been reported in the Ashburton County during the month, including two pneumonic influenza from Alienton, one diphtheria from Racecourse Road, and one scarlet fever from Barrhill. A dairy produce prices order was published with the “Gazette” last night, enabling the Government to continue the payment of the present prices for butter and' cheese as from August 1 until such time as the Guaranteed Prices Committee’s report is received by the Government and the new prices are fixed. With the opening up of the construction of the new bridges at Rakaia, a settlement of considerable proportions is springing up in the vicinity, and the Ashburton County Council to-day decided to investigate the sanitary arrangements at the camp. Already the trees that have been removed from behind the Domain Oval have caused the scene to present a marked change in appearance. When all the trees are taken down there will be quite a change in the appearance of the locality. -The spectacle of felling and blasting "the trees has never-failing interest for many people, and there is usually a’ small knot of onlookers in the locality to observe these operations. The pressure being brought to bear in regard to the clearing of gorse and broom on the sides of the roads in Ashburton County has brought satisfactory results «in many parts of the district. Reference to-the good clearances that had been made in many instances was made by members, and it was pointed out that where deep grubbing had been carried out it was essential that the plants should be removed and burnt. Superstition and ignorance are the bane of China, stated Dr. A. Taylor during his address at St. Andrew’s Church, Hamilton, recently. With a civilisation antedating that of Europe, it nevertheless is sunk deeply in the throes of superstition, and all untoward circumstances and events are laid to the charge of evil spirits and ignorance was supreme in many areas. Schools had been established for centuries, hut these did not touch the masses, and upwards of 75 per cent, of the people could neither read nor write. There had been a great awakening in this regard in recent years, due largely to the operatons of mission schools, and the Chinese authorities were being aroused to the necessity for educating the people as a whole. The slaughter of girls as infants was still largely practised. It is an economic problem with Chinese, who regard the birth of a daughter as a domestic disgrace.

Rates received by the Ashburton County Council in July were as follow: Current £1951 12s 7d, arrears £99 lo.s Id. Sustenance payments will be made next week to 308 men on the Ashburton unemployment register. This week there were 367, and last week 3/8. The number of men employed at the various mills and on wood cording work in the Ashburton County Council plantations is as follows: —Sawmills, 47 ; woodcutting, 28; Council employees cutting staues and reserves maintenance 6; Total 81. “What surprised us when we were in Queensland/’ said Mr 11. A. Wright, M.P., when he and Mrs Wright returned to New Zealand by the W anganella on Tuesday, “was that strawberries could be bought in all fruit shops in July. They were reasonable in price and of good quality. Saying that it would probably show some light on the farm labour question, Mr J. Carr to-day asked at the meeting of the County Council for a return of men engaged by the council. He said that men were still leaving farms to go on public works. Survey work on the fairway of the Ashburton River, where the willows are to be cleared under the Government’s new scheme, will be started on Monday by Mr T. G. Beck (of the Public Works Department), who made the original survey of the river. Preliminary work in regard to the clearing will be started on Monday morning. To study farming conditions in Australia while enjoying a holiday in New South Wales and Queensland, a party of 42 farmers left Wellington by the Wanganella last night, and 14 will sail from Auckland by the Awatea to join them in Sydney (says a Press Association telegram). The main body of , the party was entertained by the Tourist Department yesterday at a luncheon, at which representatives of the Department and of the Farmers’ Union were present. Two hundred and two drivers’ licences have been issued at the Ashburton County Council office during the month, while 34 have been issued at Metliven, and 14 at Rakaia. making a total for the month of 250, and a total of 3263 for the two months of the year 1937-1938. Sixty-four new drivers have been examined, and 53 licenses issued, while 11 were deferred, making a total of 134 new drivers for the two months. Some strange tricks were played by the strong southerly wind which arose in Ashburton before noon to-day. In some parts of the town pandemonium was caused by loose pieces of iron and tins being thrown about by force of the wind. One man found the bucket he had left outside many yards away from where he left it. Paper and leaves were thrown into the air in small clouds by the violent gusts. “A great deal of work is being undertaken by property owners in the re moval of gorse and broom from roadsides,” the engineer (Mr H. A. Vezey) reported at the meeting of the Ashburton County Council to-day. “In many cases use has been made of the gyrotiller which removes the roots very effectively. Unfortunately this machine leaves the roadsides in a very rough state and unfit even for the passage of stock. • It would seem therefore, that the work of the gyrotiller- is a primary operation only, and that a great deal of further work is required in burning, working, and levelling. ’ « A Press Association telegram from Oamaru states that in view of statements in northern newspapers, giving the impression that Oamaru is in the frigid zone, the Oamaru Borough Council, last evening decided to approach the Waitaki Council for co-op-eration in erecting on the main road near Oamaru, a cairn marking latitude 45 degrees, the middle of the temperate zone. It is pointed out that Oamaru is 5 degrees nearer the equator than is the southernmost England and is actually warmer than many North Island towns of higher altitude. “The greatest weakness of the scheme is the balloting for men. Wo should review the health of the men, many of whom are not fit to do hard work. Of about 400 men in Ashburton there must be 100 who are not really fit, and the attention of the Government should be drawn to this,” said Mr W. G. Gallagher at the meeting of the Ashburton County Council to-day. It was stated that men who were really unfit, and the medical history of those men was known, would not bo put into the ballot. Thirty-nine candidates will take part in the examinations to be held on Monday and Wednesday under the auspices of the Ashburton Sub-centre of the St. John Ambulance Association. A series of seven lectures, given by Dr. J. Connor, closed on Tuesday. Bandaging instruction for an hour was given prior to each lecture. The examiner will be Dr. G. I. Miller. A change in the examination method has been made this year. Hitherto there has been a written paper, oral work and practical, but this year there will not be any written paper. The oral examination has been made more comprehensive. Writing from Scotland, a New Zealand social worker interested in the provision made for the comfort of the poor, says that they have a class of peoplei at Home calleu “vagrants,” a class not generally known in New Zealand. She said she was delighted as well as inspired to see in the north of Scotland a hostel provided for the vagrant class. Provision was made in it for both males and females. The greatest luxury, which showed' the real trend of the times to do something for those on the very bottom of the ladder, was that a hot-water spray bath was provided, an innovation little dreamed of by the roving vagrant class a few years ago. The proposals of the conference of local body representatives on the question of lighting the Ashburton traffic bridge were adopted, but not unanimously, by the Ashburton County Council to-day, the allocation of cost being £35 County, £25 Borough and £2O Timvalu. The chairman (Mr F. Frampton) said the lighting would add to the importance of Ashburton as a Borough, though it was no good to the County. It would help the town and he supposed that helped the County. The Council’s representatives at the conference had held out against the County paying more than the Borough, but had not been able to carry their views, “so out of our generosity we decided to help the community,” he added. A member said that for £35 the council was having the whole of the bridge lighted, against half the lighting for £47 as in the past.

A failure in the gas supply occurred in Ashburton this morning. The gas went off for a few minutes owing to a temporary stoppage of power. Congratulations to residents of Mayfield on the very fine new Post Office that is almost completed were expressed by members of the Ashburton County Counci to-day. Encountering strong head winds, the Union Airways mail ’plane passed over the eastern part of . Ashburton this morning. One sudden strong gust of wind seemed to leave the aeroplane hanging almost motionless in the air. It was obvious to observers that the machine was making headway at much below its normal speed. The Minister for Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. 0. Sullivan) is to begin a tour of some of the wheatgrowing districts of the South Island on Monday, August 16. Hie Minister has been endeavouring for some time to fit in a visit to wlieatgiowers, as lie desires to see for himself the conditions obtaining in the wheatgrowing areas. His visit will extend over turee days. After visiting the Ashburton County Council reserves on the Mayfield-Valet-ta Hoad the inspector (Mr E. N. Johnson) reported to the Ashburton County Council at its meeting to-day that he found the trees were very close together. A great deal of natural afforestation had taken place. He recommended that this plantation reserve be inspected with a view to thinning. Instruction of a practical type is being given to the Radio Club which has been formed at the Ashburton High School by Mr D. A. Smith, and some very useful work is being carried out. Set-building in the true sense of tne word is proceeding at the present time, and several completed sets have been put into operation. They are all battery sets, of varying sizes, and even the cabinets have been constructed by the members. The club has a membership of about 30, and they are most enthusiastic in their work. The fortnightly meeting of the Haeremai Club was held on Wednesday evening, when an interesting debate took place against the members of the Catholic Club. The subject was, “That compulsory physical training would be advantageous to the community.” The affirmative was taken by Messrs V. J. Crequer, J. L. Connell and C. Bradley, and Messrs D. A. Bird, T. E. Staples, and L. J. Houston took the negative. The judge (Mr E. J. Wood) gave his decision with some helpful criticisms in favour of the Haeremai Club. Mr M. Hampton was in the chair. For Avant of some small protective measures, farm land valued at £35 an acre is being eaten away by the sea at Lowcliffe, and the Ashburton County Council to-day decided to draw the attention of the Lands Department to the erosion that is going on. Mr W. G. Gallagher stated that the Government owned a good deal of land in that quarter. There were plenty of willows nearby to supply stakes that could be driven to stop the erosion. This was a work that had been under way under the direction of the Coldstream Road Board till that body was abolished. The survey which has been carried out by the Public Works Department near the toivnship and school at Mangere Central indicates the possibility of a new military aerodrome for Auckland being established there. Residents on whose property the survey has been made have been notified that further investigations will be carried out soon. It is considered likely that an area of about 90 acres will be required. Mangere Central is beyond the range of attacking Avarships from either coast. “If the importation of Australian oranges is allowed Avithout stringent restrictions, the effect on the local market Avould be* disastrous, and large quantities of Nerv Zealand apples and pears Avould be unsaleable and would have to be destroyed.” This Avas the text of a resolution moved by Mr A. Tate (Wairarapa) and carried at the annual conference of the New Zealand FruitgroAvers’ Federation at Wellington yesterday. The conference decided to ask the Director of Internal Marketing to draAV the Government’s attention to the matter. An enjoyable dance organised by the Timvald Girls’ Friendly Society Avas held in the Parish Hall last eA-ening. There was a very large attendance, including visitors from Mayfield, Hinds arid WilloAvby. Dabourn’s orchestra supplied the music, and Mr A. Simpson Avas a capable M.C. A statute dance Avas Avon by Mr K. Hulme and Miss Colleen HeAvson, and a Monte Carlo by Mr T. Staples and Miss Ngaire Bell. Extras rvere played by Miss P. Clark and Mr J. Glenie. In conjunction Avith the dance, a 500 tournament Avas held in the vicarage, the Avinners being Mr A. Loach and Mr T. W. Gudsell. If it has any poiver in that direction at all, the Ashburton County Council intends to insist that, in future, irrigation channels in the County should be constructed inside the fence lines, instead of on the roads as in some cases at present. The council objects to large slices of its roadways being taken up by the channels. Members to-day stated that while they did not Avish to obstruct the Avork, they recognised that the roads Avould carry more and more traffic as time Avent on. It Avas decided to make further representations to the Public Works Department in regard .to the placing of •channels. The Government’s undertaking to assist fruitgrowers by making £40,000 available to subsidise wages and costs incurred in sales on the local market Avas discussed at the Fruitgrowers’ Federation conference yesterday 7 (says a Wellington Press Association telegram). It was decided to suggest to the Government that a flat rate a case be paid to groAvers, irrespective of the prices received; Hawke's Bay and other districts in a similar position to be paid on half of last year’s production. The conference also adopted a remit urging that a progress payment be made forthAvith from the £40,000 to enable groAvers to retain their staffs.