LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 105, 16 February 1950, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Borough Valuations The closing date for receipt of objections to valuations on the Ashburton Borough roll was yesterday. No objections were received.

Art Union Prizes

Two £5 prizes came to the Ashburton district in the “Sporting Luck” art union, drawn in Wellington yesterday. They were: 110136, R.H.C., Ashburton, and 183736, “Lucky Last,” Ashburton.

Remission of Death Duties The Minister of Stamp Duties (Mr C. M. Bowden) said at Wellington last evening that the Cabinet had decided to remit the death duty on the estates of victims of Ballantyne’s fire. —P.A.

Company Registration. This week’s issue of the Commercial Gazette contains the following company registration: Reddecliffe and Bradford Ltd. Private co., Feb. 2. Capital: £SOOO in £1 shares. Subscribers: Ashburton—A. K. Reddecliffe' £2500, A. H. Bradford £2500. Objects: Builders, contractors, and incidental.

Barracks Week for High School While the girls of the Ashburton High School this week are having outside activities, the annual barracks week as being held by the boys, who are receiving basic training at the Domain. Instruction is being given by school n.c.o.’s under the leadership of Major E. J. Wood, Captain K. Williamson and Becond-Lieutenant D. S. -Walker. Apart from the usual rifle exercises and marching, "the pupils are being instructed in the use of the Bren gun and two-inch mortar, and a period each day is devoted to physical education. The school squadron of the A.T.C., under the leadership of FlightLieutenant R. McGregor, is receiving aeronautical instruction. ‘

Horses May be Flown to America Five yearling racehorses bought by an American breeder at Trentham in January will probably be flown to California. Their buyer, Mr Geoi’ge Covert, who left Auckland by air dor the United States yesterday plans to return about October with a chartered cargo plane to fly the horses back. This would cost about £SOO a horse, but he thinks it would be worth it. He predicts that New Zealand will see many more American buyers at the next yearling sales. Prices are cheap compared with American prices, but the yearlings ai’e better. He thinks New Zealand’s, best horses would do well ip America, where the trend is toward distance races, but where horses with staying power are lacking. —P.A.

Operations on Blue Babies One hundred and forty-nine cases of congenital heart disease have been examined at the cardio-*surgical clinic at Green Lane Hospital, Auckland, since the clinic was opened 18 months ago, states a Press Association message. Thirty-eight of the cases were blue babies. Of 29 who were operated on, only one died, and the others are now apparently leading normal lives. A report on the work of the clinic was presented to the British Medical Association conference at Wellington by Mr Douglas Robb, the Auckland surgeon who went to America two years ago to study the blue baby technique developed there by Drs. Blalock and Taussig. He said that of the 149 cases examined, more than 100 had come from Auckland and its environs, 10 from Wellington, and only 13 from the whole of the South Island. It was suggested in discussion on the report that perhaps the clinic’s work was not sufficiently known.

Displays by Bands There was a fair attendance of the 'public in the Domain last evening to witness the quickstep display and hear the test selections by the Ashburton Silver Band before its departure for Christchurch. The band performed very creditably in the quickstep, while the selections revealed a good understanding of the music, which is a good test for the all-round ability of a band. It certainly has little appeal for the listening public. On the form shown last night. t,he band should acquit itself well at the contest. The Scottish Society’s Pipe Band very graciously assisted by staging a most attractive Drum-Major’s display. Before the concert in the rotunda concluded, the Deputy-Mayor (Mr A. A. McDonald), in the absence of the Mayor, congratulated the band on its performances, and wished it every success at the contest. The conductor, Mr R. Milligan, acknowledged the good wishes and thanked the public for their support.