GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17990, 6 February 1924, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS.

The auction announcement;; of Tonka, Norton and Co., Ltd., Hannan and Stevens, Ltd., and Joseph Hamlet and Co. appear on Page 15 of this issue. The band contest funds benefited to the extent of £l4 Is 6d by -the concert given by the Tramway Band on Sunday evening.

The establishments of the Christchurch retail watchmakers and jewellers will be closed all day on Saturday, on account of the trade/s annual picnic

"In other words, it means that when you buy a motor vehicle you buy a road, too. I think the toll-gates are the fairest system,' but I don't think New Zealand will ever have the tollgates," said the Hon. J. G. Coates, when addressing the executive of the' New Zealand Farmers' Union.

That the time may be much nearer than most people believe for the electrification of our railways was the opinion expressed by the Hon. J. G. Coates Minister of Railways and Public "Works' to a deputation of "Waitakere and Swansou residents who waited upon him. recently.

It is stated that a broadcasting firm in New Zealand has been supplying totalisator dividends by wireless. °

It was reported at the meeting of the Management Committee of the Rugbv Union last evening that the sum of £67 8s had been paid to each of the following institutions, the proceeds of Charity Day on July 14th, 1933.—5t. Saviour's Orphanage, Salvation Army, Catholic Orphanage, Presbyterian Orphanage, and Methodist Orphanage.

The case in which R. D. Martin, formerly secretary of the Office and Shop Assistants', the Bakers' and Pastrycooks', and other Unions, has been charged with six charges of theft and five of making false declarations will be heard in the Magistrate's Court at 9.30 o'clock this morning. •

An Auckland PreES Association telegram states.—ln the Magistrate's Court "William "Bradley, aged 53, who was remanded on charges of forgery was stated by the police to be the cleverl est forger of cheques in the Dominion. He had eluded arrest for four years. It was alleged that in the North Island he passed no fewer than ninetv valueless cheques. Accused was committed for sentence at Gisborne two weeks ago on similar charges. °

The following incident happened on a bowling green in Christchurch last week. Two skips were about to play. One of them stood with both feet behind tho mat, and, stepping forward delivered with one foot' on the mat! The other skip shrieked, "I challenge that bowl." "On what grounds?" said a bystander. "On the ground that the bowler delivered the bowl with both feet in tho air."

The Prisons Board, presided over by Sir Bobert Stout, commenced it 3 annual sittings in the Canterbury district in the Supremo Court yesterday. Mr C. E. Matthews, Under-Secretary of Justice, Dr. F. S. Hay, Inspector-General of Mental Hospitals, and Mr C. B. Jordan, formerly Under-Secretary of Justice, who are members of tho Board, arrived with Sir Eobert Stout yesterday morning. Sir Georgo Fenwick, another member of the Board, has left New Zealand on a visit to England, and Mr Edwin Hall, the Auckland representative, was also unable to attend the first meeting.

"With regard to the slot telephones at Now Brighton, the District Post and Telegraph Engineer stated yesterday that tho instruments had been removed only for repairs, and had been replaced almost immediately. There was no intention of tho Department cutting out the New Brighton telephones, but owing to the recent thefts of the boxes containing the money, adjustments and repairs had to bo made. To do these it was necessary to bring the machines into tho town repair shop, and the residents of, and visitors to, the seaside borough now havo every slot telephone available again.

The birth-rate, as far as the urban districts of tho Dominion are concerned, continues to fall, and in now 1G per cent, below what it was in 1920. Tho death-rate, 9.57 per 1000 of population, is slightly higher than the two previous years,'but lower than the average of the five years subscqnent to tho influenza epidemic. The infantile mortality of the urban districts is 7 per cent, above 1922, which was the lowest recorded in six years. It must be remembered, however, that the urban districts, in the aggregate, havo a somewhat lower birth-rate, and higher rates of deaths and of infantile mortality than tho Dominion as a whole. It is interesting to note that the birth-rata in New Zealand is lower than Australia.

A curious fishing experience fell to the lot of an Auckland angler at Lake Taupo the other day. After he had struck a trout, it ran out with more than ordinary strength and speed, until only a few feet of his 140 ft line remained on the reel. From its pace and pull he judged that he had hooked at least a 30-pounder. By a strategem he checked its run and, after a prolonged struggle, managed to haul it -within gaffing range. Meanwhile fellow-fishers gathered round, expecting to gee something rare in piscatorial sizo and "weight. As a matter of fact, though a fine fish, it scaled only about 121b. The explanation of its unusual strain on the gear was that it had been hooked in the flesh behind the ventral fin, and so had froo headway in its flight, instead of the usual amount of restraint from the rod. The supposition is that in rising to the bait it had over-run the fly and been hooked in its swirl over the end of the tackle.

A prosecution brought by the inspector of factories, Mr F. Wilson, against F. Devenport, manager of Law's, boot importers, of Karangahape road, Auckland, for the sale of footwear not in compliance with the Government requirements, was heard last week before Mr J. W. Poynton, S.M. The inspector stated that in consequence of suspicions regarding the quality of a lino of ladies' shoes, he had purchased a pair for 12s Gd. Externally the shoes, which were of English manufacture, appeared to be good value, but the insole was made of cardboard. Defendant produced evidence to the effect that the shoes had been represented to him as being solid leather throughout. He had purchased the line from sample, but ho had not been aware that they were not up to the sample quality until the inspector had dissected a shoo. Mr Poynton said it appeared that defendant was not intentionally misrepresenting the inferior shoes he had received. A fine of £2 was imposed, and defendant was ordered to pay the costs of the prosecution.

"Yesl We have no bananas!" would not have been warbled by any wandering Spaniard had he beheld an unusual scene which occurred at the-intersection of Hereford and Colombo streets yesterday. While contentedly driving a waggon loaded with cases of dull green fruit along Hereford street into Colombo street, tho apparently passive driver, after safely negotiating the waving arms of a policeman, was rudely roused from his reverie by the startling crash of two wooden cases of dull green-skinned bananas, which were scattered far and wido on the wet asphalt street and" footpaths. Giggling typists and muffled stenographers; dashing office clerks and the ordinary passer-by, all halted and wondered, but when, with the alacrity that characterises the alarmed human being, the driver alighted, the throng quickly melted and left him, murmuring, to gather up the fallen fruit.

Some remarks on tlie construction of the new bridge over the Clarence river were made to the '' Marlborough Express '' by Mr "W. J. Girling, MJ?., after a tour of the district. Only one tender, he said, was received for the construction of the bridge, and -the price •was so prohibitive—running, as it did, into about £34,000 —that the Department decided to do the work itself. Mr Girling said that though it was only last November that the Department commenced ordering the hardwood required for the job from Australia, a great part of it had already come to hand, which was satisfactory, as often serious delay wag occasioned in obtaining such timber from Australia. He 6aid the new cylinders for the bridge would be made of reinforced concrete, and would be of such a .substantial nature, and bo deeply embedded, that there would be little fear of a recurrence of the disaster of May last. Mr Girling, however, expressed disapproval of the rate at which the work is goin"on, and said that it would probably be two years before the bridge was finished, '

The preliminary work in connexion with the duplication of the Lake Coleridge tunnel will commence as soon as the contractor, Mr J. Boban, arrives on the ground. The Public Works Department are sending several men out to the lake to-day.

At last night's meeting of the St. Albans Burgesses' Association. at which Mr H. Thomson presided, a letter was received from the Edgeware Bowling, Croquet and Tennis Club advising that the club had not the power to make a grant in connexion with the scheme now on foot to equip that part of St. Albans Park which has been set aside as a children's playground, but that it would strongly recommend to each section of the club to give the matter hearty support. Cheques total, ling £2 2s were received' from the Loyal Benevolent Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F. and the St. Albans School Committee for the support of the above mentioned scheme, and it was decided to"' write the bodies acknowledging the receipt of the amount.

It's all very well to say "Buck-np!" but there are times when neither the brain nor body will respond. A wonderful improvement can be quickly effected, though, by taking Me Arthur's Nerve Tonic and Blood Enricher. It is wonderful how this preparation restores your spirits and strength. Sold by all chemists and stores at 3s 6d and 6s Gd a bottle. McArthur's, Ltd., Chemists (opp. Ballantyne's). 6

Tho latest paper patterns aro arriving by every mail from Harmsworth'a sole representative for Fashions for All, which include Home, Fashions, Children 's Dress, etc. They are admitted the most accurate, reliable, easiest to follow paper patterns on sale in Canterbury to-day. A large and wellassorted stock can now be seen in Christehnrch at Armstrong's, drapers and clothiers, Colombo and High streets, ~the appointed and duly accepted representatives of "Fashions for All" paper patterns in Christchurch and districts.

"Vogue "Value.—lt is but feminine to wish to be exclusive, and usually the rich can only afford this distinction; but since Tho Vogue, of 268 High street (Gough's Buildings), have opened their New Salons, Models, both exclusive but yet inexpensive, may be found. Call early this week, if only to see their delightful collection. 2

J. Johnston and Son, Merchants, Rangiora, (Estd. 1863) Direct ters of English Electroplate, Cutlery and Case Goods. Inspection Invited. F.O. Box 1, 'phone 4. 11 Pilkington's motors ran twice daily between Cbristclrarch and Akaroa. —6 FOR SALE OR I/EASE.—That fine corner block having a frontage of 99 feet to Manchester street by 100 feet to Dundas street. Enquiries invited for the whole or part of this valuablo property. The vendors are also prepared to build on the vacant land to suit tenants. Mitchell and Aldridgo, Manchester street Christchurch. 14141 "Will it keop?" is the question in the thoughts of many housewives just now, referring to bottled fruit. There need be no doubt if Hastie, Bull, and Pickering's extra heavy rubber rings are used. Prove them now. C Put in green crops for winter on your stubbles. A good six-horse team with one of our short pattern 3-furrow riding ploughs can skim 6 to 7 acres a dfty, or, with our 10-20 disc cultivator 8 acres a. day. Immediato delivery. Any reasonable terms. P. and D. Duncan, Ltd., ox 124, Christchurch. 5 ADAMS, LTD. USED CAR BARGALNS. A "SPACE NEEDED" CLEARING SALE. In a fow days* time Messrs Adams, Ltd., will have to find room in their garage and showrooms for a very large shipment of new Studebaker motorcars. It, therefore becomes necessary to clear out all'used cars in the establishment, and with this end in view all used cars in stock are being offered at prices ■ a good 15 to 20 per cent, below their real market value. Her© as a few selections from the current list:—

£75 buys a Hupmobile (Model 20), 3-saater, with electric lights. £125 buys an "A.0." light car (English,) ;three-seater, complete with electric lights, five detachable wheels, etc. Nicely finished, with plated radiator. 'Will run about 35 miles to the gallon. £l5O buys a Dodge 5-seater ; newiyfinished, equipped with electric lights and 6tarter. Good car for commercial use or week-end trips. £3OO buys a new-looking Hupmobile 5-seater, with electric lights and starter. £450 buys a newly-finished Studebaker "Big Six" Sedan, a high-powered luxiirious car of the latest type, with electric lights, starter, etc., yet not at all expensive to run. Ring up 'phone 220 or. 2361 for a demonstration of any of these cars. Adams, Ltd. Showrooms: 152-154 High street; garage, 219 Tuam street.