ASHBURTON.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18233, 18 November 1924, Page 4

ASHBURTON.

general.

After being closed for about ten davs on account of the prevalence of measles, the East Ashburton School reopened yesterday morning. I'ishing at the mouth of tho Rartgitata over tho -week-end. wag considerably marred by a sudden fresh in tlio river as a result of nor'-west weather conditions in tho back country. A few small fish v. ere caught on Saturday, and Mr H. A. Humphrey secured a 611b trout, Practicallv no results were obtained at tho Ashburton river mouth, but somo local youths obtained a few small fish in the vicinity of the traffic bridge. , , At the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, before Mr J. E. Christian, J.P.. James Oliver Scott appeared on remand on charges of assault, damage, and keeping liquor for sale -within a no-license district. On the application of the police defendant was further remanded to appear nest Friday. Bail was renewed, self in £IOO and one surety of £ 100.

Power Board. The monthly meeting of the Ashburton Power' Board was held yesterday. Present: Messrs J. Cow (chairman), A. McFarlane, 11. Bundle, H. Morris, A. J. Magson, W. G. Gallagher. A. Horsey, S. Smith, W. T. Lill, and tho consulting engineer, Mr • J. B. Templin. The financial statement showed that loans raised totalled £.113,500, of which £43,800 remained unissued. The roveuuo for October had been £l-40 7s od, including lighting £699 17s Sd, heating £29 19s Id, power £-199 18$ 4d, sundrieß £l9 l"s 4d. A letter from Mr Francis Clark, asking for an extension of time in connexion with his contract for house wiring at Lauriston and Lvndhurst was referred to the Vt orks Committeo with power to act. It wns decided to support the Canterbury Progress Loaguo in protesting against tho pooling of intcrost charges throughout the Dominion on tho capital cost of the numerous hydro-cloctric power schomos. A letter was read from the secretary, Mr J. W. Timlin, resigning his position on tho Board's staff. Tho resignation was accepted. It was decidod to send a letter of thanks to tho Canterbury Progross Lcaguo for tho interost it had. taken in and the support is promised to give to the North Branch scheme.

Mr J. B. . Teaplin, tlie consulting onginoer, iii his report, stated that tlio Board should give serious consideration to the question of pushing . electric cookers. In order to push clectrio cooking it would be nccfissary to give frequent demonstrations so as to educate people to its advantages. Mr H. G. Kemp, Kesident Engineer, reported that the poles on the Longbeach and Wheatstono linos had all been erected by the first pole gang. A number of tho poles on the Lermhor line had been erected, and tha first pole gang was now employed _ in erecting the poles for tho extensions and reconstruction in tho AUcnton district. The Chertsey and Biver road (Bakaia) lines had been wired, and the gang was now completing the Holmslea line. The Hinds and tho Windermere lines had been completed. The Sherwood line had also been completed, and two small branches in "Winchmore, Thompson's road and the Blacksmith's shop lines, wefe now being completed. During the past month supplies of cement had been given to Eiffclton, Lynnford, Hinds, Biver road (Rakaia), and to the Holmslea extension at Methven.

Mr Kemp further reported that he had met the special committee appointed by the Canterbury Progress League to consider the development of the North Ashburton River hydroelectric power scheme. The Progress Loague Committee, after a very full and careful investigation, had decided to recommend the executive of the League to take up the question with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Works. The League was of opinion that the Ashburton Power Board had made out a strong case for consideration, and that it had demonstrated that the development of the Bcheme would be in the interest of the Ashburton district as a whole, and that it would save the Ashburton Power Board £IOOO a year. Mr E. E. Akers, the inspector, reported that during October 86 new applications had been made for current, and 84 new consumers had been connected up. It was reported that Mr A. R. Brunsden, the running engineer, had resigned, and that Mr A. T. Saunders, of Christchurch, had been appointed to the position. It was decided to write to the Minister of Finance asking for authority to raise future loans at per cent,, as the Board found it could not at present raise money at 5-1 per cent. Tho Board went into committee, and on resuming the chairman teported that arrangements had been made to combine m the ordinary line system provision for a supply from tho North Branch if that system is ultimately obtained. Mr W. G. Gallagher was appointed a member of the Works and ±'inanco Committee. Mail Notices. Mails close to-day: i'or .Northern Ports, at 5.15 p.m.; late fco letters, 5.d0 p.m.; guard'a van, 0 p.m. train. Tho Christmas despatch of mails fox Great Britain, Ireland, and North America will close at Ashburton on November 22nd, at 6.15 p.m. Duo in London on Peocmber 24th. Mail? for United Kingdom and Continent of Europe, Central America, British, French end Dutch Guiana, Venezuela, Republic of Columbia, and Ecuador, via Panama (specially uddrogood correspondence only: parcels at noon), will cJosc at Ashburton on November 28th, at ,2.15 p.m. Mails for Australian States, Soutli Africa, and the East, per Mahcno, from Auckland, clcsc at Ashburton on Wednesday, November 10th, at 2.15 p.m.