GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17701, 1 March 1923, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

A Blenheim telegram states that a great fish, presumably & cowfish, was shot in the Wairau river, eight miles from the sea in fresh water. Apparently, it had followed a shoal of fish overt the bar. The monster was 10ft 6in long, the tail being 32in wide. Mr David Jones has received a letter from the Chief Postmaster, Christchurch, stating that, in response to his request, a post office letter box. has been erected at the corner of Claridge and Gardiner's road, Papanui; this will he a great convenience to the district. The statement in the Astronomical Notes for March, published in yesterday's issue, to the effect that the eclipse of the moon, which is to occur on March 3rd, will be visible in Christchurch, was incorrect, owing to a mistake in calculation. The eclipse will have ended before the moon rises in Christchureh on Saturday night. A party of soldiers from the Rannerdale Home, Sumner, were yesterday convoyed by cars lent by Messrs E. Costello «nd S. Gough to Lyttelton, where they were shown over the sloop Laburnum.- The Laburnum will be open to visitors from 1.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. to-day, and is to sail to-morrow for Oamaru. An almost unbroken record of dissipation was revealed at the Magistrate's Court yesterday when an applieaion for a prohibition order was being heard. Complainant, a short, stout woman, gave a few details of her husband's behaviour. "Ho has been drinking since Christmas and* has only been sober* for a week," she said. Defendant did not appear to deny the allegation and the order wag made without more ado. In view of Mr A. C. Maclaren's remarks that some of the members of the combined team which mot the Englishmen at Nelson ddi not know the blade of tho bat from the handle, one of the Nelson did not know the blade of Motueka on Saturday took no .chances, and he appeared at the Park "with a tag on his bat plainly indicating the difference. Fortified with this knowledge (says the "Mail"), the player batted to such good effect that he obtained top score in tho match! "The latest farm of blaclanail," was how the chainniui of the executive .of th© North Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union described an application for financial assistance which enme before that body from the Boy Scouts' .Association. The applies tiou stated that a subscription will parry with it a badge granting exemption from further appeals for the year and! from being asked to purchase tickets for Scouts' entertainments. A large smile went the routid of tho room, at thfe chairman's remark, but nevertheless a small donation was made. "Invites" was the word entered in a printer's order book produced in the Supreme Court at Auckland" on Saturday, the printer stating that it referred to an order for invitations. "It is a word that has been introduced into the language, and liaa evidontly. eome to stay,'' remarked Mr Quartley. "Tea, 'invites,' it is a horrible word,' observed Mr Justice Hosking. A little later the printer produced • his ledger, wherein there was an entry referring to "invitations." "Ah, I see you did not deface your ledger by writing 'invites,' said his Honour, with a smile.

A practice adopted by the Public Works Department two or three years ago is the holding of' an annual conference of its principal officers to discuss methods of working and administration and to keep their general Work in line. Advantage was taken of the presence of the district engineers in Auckland for the annual meeting of the Society of Civil Engineers to hold' this year's official gathering in Auckland, and it took place on Saturday. The Engineer-in-Chief, Mr P. AV. Furkert, presided, and about twenty officers were present. The > greater part of' a day was spent in comparing notes on various problems that had arisen in the course of the year, and making recommendations to head office for future guidance. An instance of what it terms an- anomaly, occurring under the operation of the Public Expenditure Adjustment Act is " quoted by the current issue of the "Bailway Officers' Advocate." The journal Says that both the Institute and the A.S.R:S., contain members whose daily rate of pay at December 31st, 1921, was &1 Os 6d, equivalent to £320 16s'6d per annum. The Act fixed the amount of the "cut"- at Is per day for those in receipt of pay equivalent to £320 per annum or under, and foif those in receipt of over £320, but under £SOO, at Is 4d per day. "Because this particular class were receiving the munificent sum of 10s 6d per annum in excess of £ 320, they were called upon to contribute to the 'cut' at, the higher rate —not for a period equal to the length of time they had been receiving' increased pay, but for" probably the rest of their term of service with the Department," the "Advocate" continues. '' This is the kind of anomaly the 'adjustment' committee should have /' adjusted,' surely!" Hundreds of gannets are being wantonly killed this .sumfoer by yacht parties in search of '' sport,'' according to the remarks of fishermen who frequent the waters of the Hauraki Gulf. Not content with merely destroying the beautiful birds by shot and powder, the "sportsmen" make occasional depredations on their native haunts and carry off or smash many of the eggs which are to be found lying about. If it vtiere only for their fine appearance the gannets deserve protection (says the Auckland "Star"), but the fishermen say that they perform a most necessary worlc by eating all v the dead and decaying fish that are east up on the beaches. Were it not for this fact the neighbourhood of such beaches would be almost disgusting, and the filth left about ■ would be a menace to public health. Thousands of gannets, with a spread of six feet when on the wing, make daily visits to the beaches along the Coromandel Peninsula for many miles from Gannet, Eock, and supplement their customary fare, consisting of live fish, by the dead ones fo'und along the shore line.

Regulations relating to the lengths of loads carriad on vehicles along the city streets are already embodiedin the city by-laws. Section 299 of By-law No. 1 reads: —'"No vehicle and no material article or thing of a greater length than 24ft shall be taken or earned in through or along any portion of Victoria street which lies between Kilmore street and Armagh street, or any portion of Colombo street which lies between Kiluiore street and St. Asaph. street, or any • portion of High street which lies between. Colombo street and St. Asaph' street, or any portion of Manchester street which lies between Armagh street and St. Asaph street, or in other streets or portions of streets which, may from time to time be indicated for the purpose of this section by resolution of the Council at any time between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. ■unless by the special consent in writing of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor or Town Clerk." The Mayor, who complained at the last meeting of the Council of the danger to other road users caused by the haulage of long loads through the city, has given notice of motion to amend the by-law restricting the width of loads so as to make it apply to the length of loads. The by-law above quoted prohibits transit through the central portion .if the city without special permission of loads exceeding 24ft in length and contains a power to extend the prohibition by resolution to other parts of the city. A reduction of the length permissible would require an. amendment of the by-law.

"Dunedin is positively the most progressive town in th& Dominion, sai the Hon. C. E. Statham at tho cmo reception tendered to him on Mondaj - He asked the citizens to remember that, although he was Speaker* he was still the member for Dunedin .Central, and still had the interests of his native town at heart. The Christchureh Ambulance Division met last evening. Superintendent E. Gray was in charge, and the evening was devoted to tfie Divisional Cup Competition. Good work was put in bj all squads the competition being exceptionally' lcoen. The final results were ns follows Sergeant Cicfnen s squad 69 points, Sergeant Middleton s «iuad 67 points, Corporal McSherry's squad 07 points, Corporal Sayer's squad 64 points. The Canterbury Carpenters' and Joiners' Industrial Union of Workers held a special summoned meeting m the Trades Hall last night, at which, a list of names of nominated persons for workers' representative on the Court of Arbitration was received from the Department of Labour. The vice-presi-dent, Mr R. G. Forbes, presided. A resolution was carried recommending Mr H. R. RuSbridge for the position of workers' representative, .and a further resolution was carried recommending Mr F. E." Pearl for the position of acting representative. Coras —little rebellions of the feet against past shoe indiscretions —-sometimes quiet —sometimes very active in disturbing one's peace of mind —but there's no. need to suffer—Loasby and Co.'s new extra strong Corn Cure will quickly and painlessly remove them. Is 6d"a bottle at Loasby's, Chemists, opposite Ballahtyne's. 6 Messrs W. Strange .and Co., Ltd., announce that their establishment will be closed all day 011 Saturday, March 3rd, for the employees' annual picnic. 6 School children: Kindly order "Thinker" Note Books and "Golden Rule" Eulerji with brass edge from Stationers early. 6 Customs clearing, General Carrying and Forwarding are undertaken by J. M. Hey wood and Co., Ltd. You cannot do better than to give them your business. Telephones 250, 259, 1241. H 5720-653--The elusive charm\of personality is* expressed in such subtle ways as in the fastidious choice of an exquisite perfume. We've just received a new shipment of perfumes and powders which now await your selection. These new perfumes surpass in fragrance any we've yet received from France. X>. Ferguson Glanville, Chemist, High street. G6154—9804 A SPORTSMAN'S CAR. ~ THE STUDEBAKER SPECIAL SIX "SPEEDSTER." Adams, Ltd., announce that they have now in their showrooms, ready for immediate delivery, a Studebaker "Special' Six" Car, of a type not usually imported to thia market. It is called the "Speedster Model," and it is all that the name implies. _ While the body gives comfortable seating accommodation to foui 1 persons, it is lighter and smaller than the standard touring body, and has „a streamline back. There is a 6-eylinder 50 h.p. engine under the bonnet, and the car can do something better than a mtle a minute on the road, and can climb most liills on top -gear. This car will appeal to men o£ a, sporting turn of mind, who aro not afraid to drive a high-powered cat with a capacity. for very s high speed; The equipment of this car is especially luxurious—finish, cream with gold lines; side wind screens, parking lights, etc. , The price is very low, £ 585.- A few months ago Special Six Studebakers less luxuriously equipped sold at £775. We have only one "Speedster" in stock, a sample car, and the opportunity of acquiring' a Studebaker Gar, of this'type" may not soon recur,' as the American and Canadian demand is simply enormous; Adams, Ltd. N.Z. Importers of Studebaker Motors. Showrooms, 152-154 High streert. ( 6