LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 112, 24 February 1950, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dahlias at Library A fine display of dahlias, exhibited by members of the Ashburton Horticultural Society, may be seen at the Public Library. The collection includes giant and cactus dahlias.

New Zealand Rugby Union A financial statement submitted to to-day’s meeting of the New Zealand Union Council showed that the union has £8415 in ( cash and £10,530 in securities, says a’ Press Association message. As against this the union is committed to pay £10,988 covering the fares of the touring British team. It was decided that the annual meeting of the union be held in Wellington on April 27 and 28, and that the first business he the drawing up of the list of provincial fixtures.

Maoris to Hold Anniversary

The Maoris of the South Taranaki and Wanganui districts, descendants of Turi and immigrants of the Aotea canoe which arrived in New Zealand from Polynesia 600 years ago, are to celebrate the anniversary of the landing next November, says a Hawera Press Association message. This decision was made by tribal committees of the Ngarauru and Ngati Ruanui people. The celebration will probably be held at Patea, where the Aotea people built their first village.

Friendly Tennis Match

Members of the Ashburton Ladies’ Tennis Club entertained members of the United (Christchurch) Tennis Club at the Ashburton courts yesterday. Mrs W. G. Todd welcomed the visitors on behalf of the Ashburton team, and Mrs Andrews suitably replied. During the afternoon a sealed number of games for a trophy presented by an anonymous donor were played, the winner being Mrs Grimmer, of the visiting team. Afternoon tea was served.

R.S.A. Women’s Afternoon ' The first meeting for the year of the Women’s Section of the R.S.A. was held yesterday afternoon. Mrs R. W. Plunkett presided over a good attendance. A competition was won by Mrs E. Childs. A short programme, with Mrs J. Whyte and Mrs H. Chappell acting as accompanists, comprised vocal solos by Misses J. Shaw and M. Walsh and- Irish Jig and /Sailor’s Hornpipe by Patty Arnst. Community singing was enjoyed, led by Mrs Chappell. It was announced that the next meeting would include a bring and buy in aid of the R.S.A. piano fund.

Legacy for British Government A retired Auckland farmer left the residue of £7200 of his £BSOO estate to the British Government. After making a personal bequest of £IOOO and bequeathing £2OO to the Auckland branch of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. Association and £IOO to the Institute • for the Blind, Auckland, the farmer, William Holmes, then living at Wellesley House, Auckland, asked in a codicil to his will that the balance of the estate be paid to the Chancellor of the Exchequer Tor the general purposes of the British Government. Mr Holmes died last November.—P.A.

War Paintings Wanted by Auckland The Auckland City Council has applied to the Government for the collection of World War II paintings now scattered through New Zealand, says a Press Association message. “I am very surprised to learn that the National Art Gallery is unable to house these very valuable paintings,” said the Mayor of Auckland (Mr J. A. C. Allum) yesterday. “The proper place for them is the War Memorial 'Museum. We will see that they are properly looked after and given the widest exhibition.”

Street Appeals \ The Hawera Borough Council views with disfavour the collecting of money by street appeals. Applications to hold street days were recently granted the South Taranaki Returned Services’ Association and St. John Ambulance Association, but they are to he informed that they must find other means of finding money in the future. The Stratford Borough Council allocated these dates for street appeals: March, St, John Ambulance; April 21, R.S.A. (Poppy Day); June 24, Girl Guides, Boy Sqouts and Cubs; August, Stratford and District Community Centre; October, R.S.A. (Rose Day); November 17, Red Cross; December, hospital Christmas cheer. The council declined to grant street days to the Stratford Citizens’ Band, the Stratford School Committee and the Salvation Army.

Auckland Harbour Bridge The Prime Minister (Mr Holland) said last evening that he had recently proposed to the Mayor of Auckland that the Government and Auckland should marshal their joint resources to finance and build as quickly as possible the Auckland harbour bridge. The Government would stand behind as guarantor and provide any other necessary assistance. Vigorous action by Auckland local bodies, with the goodwill and support of the Government, should assist to push forward the bridge commencement date by some years. There was much, preliminary work to be done, and this could be put in hand while financial questions were considered. These were necessarily bound up to some extent with national finances. Mr Holland said he was informed that a representative conference of local bodies at Auckland appeared to have reacted favourably to this proposal.—P.A.