LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 111, 23 February 1950, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Compost and Fertility The annual report of the New Zealand Humic Compost Society records marked progress, particularly in the direction of interesting local bodies in its claims and plans. It is able to list an impressive number of city and borough councils who have commenced experiments or have undertaken to do so. The claim made by the society is a large one, but may well be true, namely, that upon the return to the soil of organic wastes lies, in the last analysis, the only hope for man’s survival.

Yachtman’s Voyage . • Bound for Sydney, New Guinea, and Indonesia, Mr Alfred Peterson, the lone American yachtsman, sailed from Auckland yesterday in the doubleended ketch, Stornoway. Mr Peterson arrived at Auckland three months ago from Rarotonga on a round-the-world voyage. After visiting Indonesia, he may return to New York, via the Mediterranean. At sea the Stornoway sails herself with the wind forward or abaft the beam and the owner sails her in other winds, generally only when entering or leaving port. He averages six hours sleep in 24, although it is. always broken. —P.A.

Recipe for Health A recent article in an English daily discusses doctors and patients and the doctors’ rivals in the home medicine cupboard, osteopaths and naturecure practitioners. It ends with the prescription of a cowman:: “Tell doctors from me, inoculationHs a very good thing for people, and tattoo marks, tell him, with proper Indian ink. I’ve' got two oh my arm and that keeps diseases away from my body, tell him. And when you have tattoo marks you don’t want to bother about the right arm, you want them both on the left arm because it’s near the heart.”

Behaviour at Ardmore Good

The behaviour of Empire Games competitors was exemplary, and there were no unpleasant incidents, said Mr T. Wilson, principal of the Ardmore Co-Educational Training College, who acted as camp manager, yesterday, says a Press Association message. The housing of men and women athletes under the same roof was in the nature of an experiment. It had nothing but beneficial and pleasing results. “It was impressive to see in the lounges, dining-room, and social hall men and women of many nationalities mixing freely without reserve and .in good fellowship,” said Mr Wilson. “It was an interestihg experience for the staff and students to mix freely with people of 12 different countries. That widening of experience will be most valuable to the future teachers.”