LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 115, 28 February 1950, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Abattoir Returns Animals slaughtered for human consumption at the borough abattoir during last month were: Cattle 148, sheep 908, lambs 48, pigs 54. Licences Granted Licences granted at last night’s meeting of the Ashburton Borough Council comprised: Ladies’ hairdressing, Mrs L. Cliff; milk vendor, Mr L. Kerr; eating house, and lodging house, Mr C. L. Hanson. Swimming Carnival The Allenton Swimming Club hopes to get off its annual carnival to-mor-row evening, after two postponements. Excellent entries, including some from outside, and a. varied and interesting programme promise a fine evening’s sport. Closed Days Granted i “Closed days” at the Ashburton Domain were granted, at last evening’s meeting of the Ashburton Borough Council, to the Harmonica Band for Saturday, April 8, for the purpose of holding the N.Z. Harmonica Band Contest; and to the Ashburton Marching Association for Saturday, March 18.

Case Adjourned . In the report of yesterday’s court proceedings, it was stated that Ina Evelyn Hopwood was fined £1 and 12s costs ,for failure to clear the frontage of a property at Winslow. This was incorrect, as the case hinged on the securing of a contractor to do the work, and eventually proceedings were adjourned.

Weather Figures Compared According to the climatological table in the February “Gazette” Ashburton registered a maximum temperature of 84.8 for January; the highest for the month was 92.2 at Gisborne. Ashburton rainfall was 2.68 inches (86.51 at Milford Sound), and the hours of bright sunshine 203.1 (316.4 at Golden Downs, Nelson).

Licensing Trust

Mr E. Barnett, of Masterton, has today been conferring with the Ashburton ' Licensing Trust, at the Trust’s invitation. Mr Barnett was the first manager of the Invercargill Trust and also of the Masterton Trust and is putting his experience of the inauguration of licensing in those towns at Ashburton’s disposal.

World Day of Prayer , The Women’s World Day of Prayer, observed on Friday last at Ashburton in the Salvation Army Hall, was attended by C 5 women representing the Ashburton churches. A number from each 9ongregation took part in intercession, and the address “Faith in Our Time,” was given by Mr J. Beck, in the unavoidable absence of Mrs Beck who had been asked to speak.

Poppy Day and Anzac Day Permission was granted by the Ashburton borough Council last evening, on the application of the Ashburton Returned Services’ Association, for the holding of the following functions: Street appeal on Poppy Day, April 21, service at the Ashburton ceinetery, and parade on the site between the Borough Council Chambers and the Courthouse, with authority to take up a collection —on Anzac Day, April 25.

Officer for Training Mr Clive Luscombe was last evening farewelled at a pleasant gathering in the Ashburton Salvation Army Hall. Mr Luscombe is to enter the Salvation Army Training College in Wellington. Good wishes were expressed on behalf of the local corps by Captain Thomas, Sergeant-Major A. Allan, Bandmaster G. E. Argyle, and Brother H. Kirkman. The guest was presented with a Bible of his' own choice.

Institution of Engineers

The Ashburton Borough Engineer (Mr G. A. MacFarlane) reported to last night’s meeting of the council that he had attended a meeting at Wellington of the N.Z. Institution of Engineers and that among the papers presented had been two of special interest to the council—one on vegetable growth control, and the other on road design to carry the increased loads which it is expected will in. the near future be authorised.

Dearer Oysters Invercargill retail fish merchants were informed last evening that the price of oysters had been raised from 27s 6d a sack to 33s a sack. This advice received from the New Zealand Oyster Distributing Company, Ltd., was unexpected. The merchants discussed the question and agreed that the increase would have to be passed on to the consumer. They decided also to raise the 1 prices of blue cod and groper, which, had remained steady for a numbqr of years.—P.A.

Rates Collected The Town Clerk (Mr R. C. Major) reported N to last night’s meeting of the Ashburton Borough Council that ' of total rates struck, £31,103 8s Bd, the sum of £30,766 4s 5d had been received, arrears thus amounting to £337 ;4s 3d, only 1.09 of the total amount receivable. This amount, continued the report, was spread as follows: The original Borough £lsl 9s 7d, Netherby £l2 19s 3d, Hampstead £l2O 13s 7d, and Allenton £sl 11s lOd. Threat From River Formal approval of the Ashburton Borough Council to the South Canterbury Catchment Board’s proposal to make a 550 feet wide channel from the mouth of the Ashburton River to a point about seven miles up was sought ( at last night’s meeting. A rising riverbed, in the opinion of the board, was threatening the efficiency of the borough’s sewerage system and jeopardising The protective works higher up the river, and the prime cause was the growth of willows lower down the bed. The matter was referred to the finance committee for a report. Fires Attended Reporting to the Ashburton Borough Council last evening the Ashburton Volunteer Fire Brigade made the following return regarding fires (the figures relate to the year, February 1, 1949 to January 31, 1950, and those for the preceding similar period are given in parentheses). Fires in business premises 6 (3), in dwellings 4 (3), in outbuildings 1 (2); fences, grass and rubbish 20 (13), motor vehicles 0 (1). There were no. false alarms in either year. Total calls, including those in assistance of the County Council’s fire-fighting fprce, were 70, as compared with 55.