LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 107, 18 February 1950, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Traffic in County ■j Considering the large amount of grain and lambs now being carried, the loading and speed of heavy ti’affic vehicles were quite good, said the senior traffic inspector in Ashburton (Mr J. A. Arthur) in his report for January received by the Ashburton County Council yesterday afternoon. Missed Out Again It was pointed out at yesterday’s meeting of the Mid-Canterbury, Federated Farmers that once again Ashburton had been missed out in the planning of an itinerary, this time in connection with the visit of a party of West Australian farmers. It was decided that the attention of the Tourist Department be drawn to Ashburton’s desire to be included in future itineraries. Honours to Ashburton Schools Reports presented to this week’s meeting of the Canterbury Education Board included that of the chief agricultural instructor in which it was announced that Fairton School had been awarded the McFarlane shield, and the inspection report on 31 schools, among which Ashburton East was listed, for “appreciation of the quality of the work revealed by its report.’’ <• Women’s Rest Room After hearing reports at yesterday afternoon’s meeting, no further action in connection with a women’s' rest room at Akhburton will be taken by the Ashburton County Council. Investigating the contributions of eight county councils to the capital or maintenance cost, the council discovered that only three contributed to the capital cost and only two to the maintenance of the rest rooms.

Mount Somers War Memorial . Extensions to the present hall were suggested as a memorial to residents of Mount Somers who died in the Second World War, said the county clerk (Mr C. Campbell) at a meeting of the Ashburton County Council yesterday. The approximate cost was about £2OOO, and the community aimed at raising £IOOO. The population of the area the hall would serve was about 1250. The council decided to recommend the proposal to the Department of Internal Affairs. Road Construction Plan

The Ashburton County Council will establish a fund for the construction and renewal of roads, and £2OOO a year will be paid into the fund, the first payment to be made during the 1950-51 year. This decision was based on a recommendation from the finance committee received at the council meeting yesterday. The money would have the advantage of being readily available, said Cr. J. Davidson. It would be in a state of fiu£ and could be drawn on for other purposes.

Licencing Committee Election As the hotels in Methven, Rakaia and Chertsey do not come under the jurisdiction of the recently formed Licensing Trust the election of an Ashburton Licensing Committee will still be necessary, that is if nominations for the committee exceed the nuniber of members required. Nominations will be received by the returning officer (Mr W. Haymes) up till noon; on February 28, and if necessary the election will take place on March 14. The present committee consists of Messrs E. C. Bathurst, E. Buchanan, F. Pritchard, G. H. Nicoll and W. H. Quan* tock.

Stock Grazing on Roads

Stock are not allowed to graze on roadsides, it was stated at a meeting of the Ashburton County Council yesterday. During the dry months, when there was a shortage of feed, it had been suggested that the council should not be unduly hard on persons who grazed stock on the roads, said the county clerk (Mr C. Campbell). The impression had got abroad that the grazing of stock on roads was now permitted, thereby placing stock rangers in a most invidious position, he added.

Empire Games Even the chance of seeing but a part of the Empire Games, principally the swimming, was a thrill, according to Miss Isobel Eaden, of Ashburton, who was fortunate enough to be there. Miss Eaden saw a little of the opening day athletics, but was unable to get into Eden Park. She was impressed' with all the swimming, with a particular word of praise for the New Zealanders Winifred Griffin, Buddy Lucas and J. Stewart. The diving was “marvellous,” as was the Auckland weather, “warmer than here even when it rained.” Neither Miss Eaden nor thousands of other enthusiasts were deterred by pouring rain from seeing the swimming events when the weather did break, in spite of the fact that all seating at the pool was without cover.

Miss R. Spragge, of Dromorne Linen Co., Ltd., Auckland, will be visiting the Ashburton District next week. Messages left at the Somerset Hotel, or a card posted to P.O. Box 859, Christchurch, for appointments (town or country) will receive her immediate attention. —(Advt.)