GENERAL NEWS.

The auction announcemonts of McKenzio and Co. and - Barman and Stevens will bo found on page 11 of

this issue. The Abattoirs and Reserves Committee, in its roport to the City Council last night, stated that he services of Mr Small, a water diviner, had been accepted, with the object of obtaining a water supply for Victoria Park. The adjourned public meeting to decide on a form of memorial to the soldiers who went from Papanui and Harewood on active service will be hold in St. Paul's schoolroom to-mor-row night. During question time at the City Council's meeting last night, Cr. Herbert asked what was being done in connexion with the erection of a convenience at the Linwocd which had been decided upon some eight months ago. Cr. Herbert was assured by Cr. Harper, chairman of the Abattoirs and Reserves Committee, that a report of what was being done would be forthcoming at the next meeting of the Council. It was stated by the Abattoirs and Reserves Committee, in its report ■ to the City Council last night, that a conference had been held between representatives of the Abattoirs Committee and the Canterbury Freezing Works and Related Trades' Union, as to the rates of pay and hours of work for slaughtermen, etc., but as no agreement could be arrived at the committee had suggested that the matter be referred to the Conciliation Committee to deal with, and this course had been agreed to.

"A question which must be dealt with as soon as the perice celebrations are over is that of housing," remarked the Mayor at the meeting of the Christchurch City Council last night. A total of 57 cases of infectious diseases were reported in the CanterburyWest Coast Health EHstrict for the week ended noon yesterday, as follows: Grey: Diphtheria 1. North Canterbury: Scarlet fever 3, diphtheria 10, | tuberculosis 7, pneumonia 6, hydatids 1, influenza 10 measles 1. Ashburton: Tuberculosis 2. South Canterbury: Scarlet fever 7. diphtheria 8. pneumonia 1. "How long will you beP" asked the Mayor at the City Council meeting last night wheu Cr. Lang.ey rose withl a bunch of papers to add his quota to the discussion on the municipal coal and firewood deals. "About twenty minutes," with some pride and little per- : spicacity. The Council decided to near a deputation which was waiting, and reprieved itself for about forty minutes in enquiring into the need for a bridge somewhere over the Salwyn river, before returning to coal and Cr. Langlev's dissertations. In justice to tho latter it should bo said that he must have spent considerable time in preparing his "address." . The numerous names by which High street is known as it winds its way through Christchurch and its suburbs were remarked on by Cr. Hunter at •last night's meeting of the City Council. Cr. Hunter said that the street was called High street. Lower High street. Ferry road, Ashbourne place, Regent street, and so on, which was most inconvenient for doctors, ambulances, etc., particularly in urgent cases. Cr. Hunter moved, and it was carried, that it be a recommendation to the Finance and By-laws Committee that the street be known by one name only, and that the numbering should be continuous. The state of the roads in' Christchurch was touched upon by Cr. Fiesher at last n'ght's meeting of tho City Council, the speaker stating that the roads were in very bad condition, and were full of "pot-holes." Other speakers spoke in similar terms, Cr. Herbert expressing the opinion that the Council was out-oWate in the method of doing its work on the sides of its roads, and that until some better methcd were found, the Council would always nave trouble with its roads. Cr. McKellar considered that, on the average, Chrstchurch had the best roads in the Dominion. No motion, however, was 'brought before the meeting and the matter lapsed. "That tho ByJJaws and Finance Committee be authorised to purchase reflectors, if it thinks fit. and to re-sell) them," ran a motion proposed by Cr. Agar at last night's meeting of the City Council. Cr. Agar, who was referring to the red reflectors on the back of bicycles, said that he had been told that in certain quarters so less than 2s 6d was being asked for those articles. If that were so, it was pure exploitation. They could, as a matter of fact, be bought in quantities for Bjd and should) be retailed at the most for Is 3d. He thought that the Council, in order to Erevent the object of its by-law from eing defeated, should be in a position to say to the retailers, "If you won't sell them at a reasonable price, we will." The motion was carried. Interesting details are available with reference to the operation of Clause do of the Expeditionary Force Act popularly known as the "family shirker" clause (says a Press Association message from Wellington). "When it was announced that the clause was to come into operation the Defence Department was flooded with the names of alleged "family shirkers." Investigation showed that more than eighty per cent, of the allegations were without foundation. The number called up under the section was 2876,- and of these 1347 were drawn in the ordinary ballots before the cases were dealt with. Of the remaining 1529 those ncfciallv taken into camp totalled 800, and of those 689 embarked. 63 were not traced, and 104 volunteered before the Clause 85 notices were served. Reporting to last night's meeting of the City Council, the Bf-lawa and Finance Committee stated that it had received letters from a number of business people in Colombo street who had suspended electric signs under verandahs without obtaining permission from the Council, asking that the signs be allowed to remain and stating that as the signs were attached to suspended verandahs, the provision that they be not less than 9 feet 6 inches above the level of the footpath and kerb could not be complied with, as the verandahs were only about that height above the footpath. The committee decided to refer the matter to the Council for instructions. It was decided to amend . the by-law to allow of such lights as those referred to. which were not a danger to the public. A letter from the Retail Watchmakers' and Jewellers' Association was received by the City Council at its meeting last night, forwarding a requisition with reference to the closing hours of retail watchmakers' and jewellers' shops in the city of Christchurch and asking the Council to certify that it contained the signatures of a majority of the occupiers of such shops. The Association desired the ; closing time on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays to be 6 p.m., and 9 p.m. on Fridays with the exception of the Friday before Christmas Day and New Year's Dav. when it should be 11 p.m. A letter from > the Labour Department certified that i the requisition contained the signatures ; of a majority of the occupiers of such , shops, and the Council consequently agreed to grant the Association the neressary certificate to enable its re--1 quisition to be forwarded to the Min- ; ister. In the illustrations appearing in this ' week's "Weekly Press" great interest will attach to those of Egypt and . Palestine (including a gathering of Turkish prisoners captured by ther Anzac Mounted Division and MajorGeneral Chaytor taking the salute at a parade in the arrival in Wellington of war brides and babies, tho mail motor-cars organised by tho Canterburv Progress League about to start on their work of assisting the Post and Railway Departments, the Wellington Racing Club's Winter Meeting, the Santa Rosa Farm at Halswell. and tho funeral in England of Nurse Edith Cavell. Also very interesting at the # present moment "of the preparations being made to celobrnte Peace are the pictures of arches that were constructed fifty years aso to commemorato the visit to New Zealnnd of the Duke of Edinburgh. Tn the "Referee" among its pages of attractive matter are engravings of the recent football match between Christ's OolWe and the Christchurch Boys' High School. The members of the Epidemic Commission, which was appointed by the New Zealand Government to enquire into the circumstances of the outbreak ' of influenza in Samoa last year, had the exciting experience of being shipwrecked at Savaai on June 12th. The members of tho Commission, a num- •: ber of native chiefß, and an interpreter, ■ l were making the journey from Apia to • J Savaai in the Government launch Ta- ■ huta. On approaching the village , and port of Safotulafai, where the sifcj tings of the Commission were held, the I vessel struck a rock inside the reef. The launch sustained such serious damage that she began to fill rapidly. She drifted.in towards shore, and the members of the Commission and others on board were preparing for the possible necessity of swimming ashore when their plight was noticed from the village. A boat was put off, and the shipwrecked party was rescued just after the vessel had grounded. Everybody on board escaped in dry clothes with their luggage intact. Some provisions on the launch were spoilt, but a quantity of tinned goods was sound.

The driver of a 5-seater Stridebaker car had a narrow escape whilst motoring on that portion of Evans's Pass known as the "Zigrag," on Sundav. When negotiating a corner ho lost control of the car, which capsized over a bank to the road below. The car was partially wrecked, but the' driver escaped injury.

The Abattoirs and Reserves Committee reported to the City Council last I evening that a report was being ob- i tained concerning congested areas in j the city which required open spaces and what sites were available in such areas that might be acquired for providing children's playgrounds, special attention being given to internal blocks now surrounded by houses and properties. You feel "Stop It" stopping it as soon as it trickles down your throat. "Stop It" oases a cough at once, immediately soothintr the air passages and taking'away that heavy, stuffy feeling. Ycur chemist and storekeeper sell it— Is 6d, s?s 6d, and 4s 6d a bottle. Loasby and Co., chemists (opp. Ballantvne's). 6 "White canvas toe-dancing shoes, all sizes, also Philips's military soles, men's and women's, just opened up ( at Hannah's, Cashel street. 6 t Soldier Portraits of the type you will like—full of manliness and character — made by Steffano Webb, photographer, Petersen's Buildings, High street. W8234 No me likes moving, but the wort can be made n uch lighter if competent men are employed. J. M. Heywood and Co., Ltd., have tbem, and three up-to-date pantechnicons. Telephones 250. 1241. and 2174. 6 Hot Water and lots of it at practically no Fuel Expense with our Magio Heater. W. B asset t and Co., 21 Manchester street. 1 The law of success is operating wonderfully in favour of "No Rubbing'" Laundry Help and "Golden Rule" Soap. N.Z. Farmers' Co-op. Association 012 FISK TYRES GIVE SATISFACTION IN NEW ZEALAND. There are over 5000 Fisk tyres on the road in New Zealand, and we have taken the trouble to investigate, through our branches, depots, and agencies the sort of service which these tyres nave given. The reports have been uniformly good, and we can therefore confidently' recommend the Fisk black tread nonskid tyre. Unusual fabric strength, unusually high rubber quality and quantity, and a special soft pad under the tread, are among leading Fisk features. 6 THE PRICES ARE RIGHT. Here are a few quotations which will . show the. range of prices for Fisk nonskid tyres: —30 x 3J, covers £6 3s; red tubes £1 2s 6d; grey tubes £1; 920 x 120, covers £13 18s; tubes £2 13s; 875 x 105, covers £10 12s 6d; tubes £2 9s 6d; 815 x 105, covers £9 19s; tubes £1 18s 6d; straight-side Fisk covers —34 x 4, £10 6s; 83 x 4},' £13 9s. Adams, Ltd., High street and Tuam street. Christchurch. 6