General News.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18549, 26 November 1925, Page 8

General News.

The wind hud a southerly tendency yosterdiiy, but the day wis fine until about 10.15 p.in., when a south-westerly squall brought rain. The Harbourmaster at Lyttelton (Captain T. M. Hunter') has received advice that the arrival of H.M.S. Dunedin at Lyttelton has been postponed until Saturday. Alexander .Siowart, single, 30. was burned to death in a lnit at M'inton yesterday morning. Stewart, a sawmill hand, occupied the hut with his brother, who escaped. Fanners and other employers of labour on the Peninsula arc complaining that it is practically impossible to get any odd jobs done, such as grubbing, fencing, etc. The fanners state they are forced to leave many urgentworks, as they cannot get the labour required for the jobs.

The maximum load at the Lake Coloridge power station during the week ended the 22nd inst. was 11.4.30 k.w.i which was recorded between 11.30 a.m. and noon on the 17th inst. (previous week. 11.570 k.w.). At tho Addington sub-station 9360 k.w. was registered on tho 16th between 8.30 a.m. and 0 a.m. (previous week 9685 k.w). The lake level was at 1670.22 ft (previous week, 1670.35 ft). and the average inflow from the Harper River was 15 eusecs. the same as the previous SreeE.

A section of the North Auckland railway, from Huarau to Portland, a distanccl of 31 miles, will be formally taken over (by the llailway Department next Sunday. Through 1 trains have been running dn the section for about two years, but the Railway Department was not prepared to control it definitely until it had been placed in ' iirst-class order by the Public Works Department. Tho country through whi-ch the section is laid is of a particularly treacherous nature, 'and is subject to '•creeps'' or subsidences.—Auckland Correspondent. A proposal to send the Auckland Artillerv Band to Dunedin to compete at the inhibition contest in February, formed tho subject of a deputation which waited on the Mayor (Mr Geo. Baildon). A request was mado that a public meeting should be called for the purpose of raising tho necessary funds. It was stated that the cost of sending a full band of 30 players would be between £SOO and £6OO. An assurance was given that the Bands' Association would assist in the movement. The Mayor promised to .convene a public meeting on December 2nd. ' A sharp rebuke was administered to a police constable by Mr ■Wyvern Wilson, S.M., at Hamilton. The low tone' in which the officer was reading a statement made to him by the defendant in a. case prompted his Worship frequently to tell the constable to speak up, and at last in exasperation the Magistrate tolil The Clerk of the Court to take the statement and read it. "You know," said his Worship, addressing the constable, "that regulations state that unless a constable can speak up and give evidence clearly he shall not be deemed an efficient member of tho police force." ■ When the dam at Arapuni is completed it will form a lake about .18 miles long and about five and a half square miles in area. One of the engineers on the contract expressed the opinion that the new stretch of water woujd make the finest place for rowing races in New Zealand. Hq stated that one stretch of the lake would be four miles long and about 30 chains wide. The rate of flow of the water would be almost negligible, and the banks would form a fine natural viewpoint for hundreds of spectators. The land would rise in a gentle slope away from the banks.

About a year ago a Waihi lady lost a sum oi money, approximately £SO. The police were informed, and after cardful and complete investigation concluded that the money had been mislaid. The lady in*the case was far from satisfied at this deduction. S'x months later the family moved to Thames, and after a further six months had passed the lady, one day while making scones, went to a half-empty flour bag, which had previously escaped her notice. From the scoop out rolled the package containing the lost money. The lauy then remembered having placed the money in the flour for safe keeping. "There "seems to be an unfortunate impression that is is 'infra dig' for a plumber to carry his own tools," said Sir Justice Frazer in the Arbitration Court in Wellington, "and that he has a boy to carry the tools." "That is a wrong impression altogether," returned Mr H. Thompson, representing the Plumbers' and Gasfitters' Union. Mr Justice Frazer: "I suppose a boy really does mean a saving of time. Somebody has to keep the. little fire going, assist with ladders, and pass things along." "They do not keep boys just to give assistance," said Mr Thompson, "because in that case the boys would never learn the trade." Mr Justice Frazer: "There always seems to be a boy where there is a plumber." In the rules of cricket it is not laid down that "over the fence is out." The Management Committee of the Wellington Cricket Association, however, holds that while "over the fence" may mean "out." so far as a window pane is concerned, the batsman who sends a ball out of the playing area has to pay for any damage that may occur. Already this season damage has been done by big-hittilig batsmen, several windows in the vicinity of local playing areas having been broken. The hit in most cases" realises six runs to the batsman, but if the ruling of the Cricket Association is to be applied the honour and glory of a""sixer'r r ' will be costly. The bowler who tempts the batsmen to "open his shoulders," is not asked to carry any of the financial burden.

Mr S. S. Dean, chairman of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union, has received the following cablegram from the secretary of the .New South Wales Rugby Union: "Dick McGregor died on Saturday; Buried to-day; your union represented." Dick McGregor, about 20 jears ago, was one of the best-known Rugby players in the Dominion. A miner at? the" Thames, he soon.won a place in the Thames representative fifteen, which at that time was a superior combination to tho Auckland team. He l.ater played for Auckland, and represented New Zealand in 1903 and 1904. He was a versatile player, who was equally at home at full-back, centre-threc-quarter, or, five-eighths. Ho filled tho last-named position on his appearances for New Zealand. Unfortunately, Mr McGregor developed miners' phthisis, and upon bemg pensioned off took up his residence in Sydney, where he succumbed to the malady on Saturday.

Mrs'Afla Baylis, the vietim of the Richmond affray, was reported to be progressing favourably last night. Messrs C. V. Harvey. P. Peagrani. John Forde. and W. Marquet have been appointed patrolmen bv the Otv Council to exercise control and supervision over the Waltham-Opawa park. A London cable message states that the Navy League's Trafalgar Day wreath, which was delayed in transit by the shipping strike, has arrived front Wellington, and will be exhibited for four days on the Trafalgar monument. J. 11. Williamson, aged 21 years, of 3S Midlletou road, collided with a cart when he was riding ltits motor-cycle along Hiocarton road at 10.40 p.m. yesterday. lie was admitted to the Christehurch Hospital with injuries to his shoulders. "Ashburton Bay. Canterbury Court. Righteousness and peace kissed each other on Ashburton station this morning.—William Machin." The telegram was received by "The Press'' yesterday afternoon. No doubt it meant that Mr Machin had had a few gentle words with .some of the angry men of Ashburton oil their grievance about, the treatment of Ashburton in the Canterbury Court at the Dunedin Exhibition, and that Mr Machin's soft answers had turned away wrath. In other words, explanations and discussions had smoothed over all asperities, and Ashburton no longer cherilhc 1 a grievance. Two new Bristol aeroplanes arrived at the Migrans 'drome early this week. Although .-imilar to other 'planes already in the hangar, the new arrivals are more up-to-date in certain details, being Jit-ted with wireless, and being suitable for night flying. Yesterday morning an aeroplane was aloft at, an early hour, and a number of people who heard the noise of the engine thought that the annual refresher course had commenced. In this they were wrong, as Mie pilots will not go into camp until Pehruary. There is a probability that a further trip v'ill be made to Dunedin by r-ome of the '"planes in the near future.

The aipusenient of visitors to the Wellington Zoo at Newtown Park was caterai ior on Sunday atternoon in quite an unexpected way. During the week the collection was added to by the arrival of a pair of spider monkeys, and a pair of Capuchin monkeys, both from Nicaragua, in South America. The spider monkeys are not very large in the body, but what they .laclv in that respect is made up for bv their extraordinarily long arms and legs, which, with a long prehensile tail, gives them a "spiderish" appearance as they perform their acrobatic tricks. These monkeys, almost black in colour, are full of "pep," and the liveliness of their antics attracted crowds round the cage throughout the afternoon. The Capuchin pair are quite a distinctive breed. Tliev are black monkeys, with whitish head and shoulders, and for tho manner of their colouring and the sedateness of their habits they have been named after the famous monks of Capuchin. Something for toilet use, is over acceptable by womenfolk. For Christmas Gifts, new stocks of the latest Perfumes, Bath Salts. Cremes, Powders, Toilet Brushware, Manicure sets, etc., are now shown in great variety at McArthurs, Ltd., Chemists, "McArthurV Corner," Colombo street. —6

"Reid and Gray" Farm Implements and spare parts obtainable from Mr Harry Anderson, Engineer, 193 Cashel street, Christchurch, and Reid and Gray, Ltd., Burnett street, Ashfcurton. Enquiries invited. —1

Don't hesitate a moment waen considering moving your furniture. J. M. Heywood and Co., Ltd., are the people to do it for you. —<s