General News.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18569, 19 December 1925, Page 16

General News.

. In this issue will be found particulars of alterations in the train services in connexion with Christmas and New Year holidays. The alterations extend from December 21st to 31st, and alterations from and including Januarj Ist. will be adrcrtised later.

The inspectors, both in the borough of "Wanganui and adjoining counties, are very active now that wool is being carted into store, in order to see that carriers do not exceed the weight limit/ for which their vehicles arc registered On© carrier recently adopted a novel wav of getting over tho difficulty. Ho took a very large load to a point near the city boundary. There he was met by two smaller vehicles, and tho load was broken up.

At tho monthly meeting of the Heathcote County Council, held last evening, a letter was received from the North Canterbury Hospital Board, asking that a parking place for motor-cars be set aside near the foot'of the banatorium road. Hills road had been blocked and accidents had been narrowly averted through people leaving their cars there. ~ The matter was held over to enable tho Council to find tho best place. As a rosult of tho recent appeal for bocks for the children's department ot the Public Library, it will bo possible to place at least 3000 additional volumes on tho shelves. They will be purchased after the holidays. Tho appeal resulted in the raising of £330 lis, £i() less than the sum aimed at. It was, originally intended to provide AIUO specially bound books. Donations ot moro than 1600 books suitable for children were received. A further effort is to bo made to bring tho amount ot cash in hand up to £4OO. An unpleasant experience befell a motoring party in tho North Island. "While .travelling from "Wanganui to Palmcrston North their car becamo troublesome near Turakina, and when they were attempting to start it again it burst into flames. Somo of the occupants had a difficult timejn getting clear, and had the mortification of seeing the car burnedTo a skeleton before their eyes. There was quite a "holdup" of other cars on the road during the hour when the flames occupied in their work of destruction.

The By-laws Committee of the City Council met tho bus proprietors in conferance and discussed tho now regulations for the control of bus traffic. The bus proprietors were represented t.y Messrs W. Bussell, W. Sanders, V. Stockings, and R. Munly. After explaining that tho power had now been taken out of their hands, the members of the committee undertook tn do -what was possible to get tho proprietors out of their difficulties and to endeavour to have a voice in the framing of the regulations which are to be brought ink) effect after the New Year. Yesterday saw tho inauguration ot tho tramway excursions to iSumner, North Beach, and New Brighton Fndav's traffic is never very heavy, and this fact, cembined with the unpropitious •weather yesterday morning, was probably responsible for the poor patronage. Tramway officials stated that a slight increase in the number of passengers on the Sumner line was noticeable.

It is not often that a train is pulled up niter having gone onlv a few yards on its journey. This happened to the "West Coast train yesterday morning. It had just got a move on at the Christchurch station, when it suddenly stopped.' Some defect in the coupling of the guard's Tan was responsible, and occasioned a delay of five or six minntes.

According to reports received, savs tho "Rotorua Chronicle." peoplo who think of walking on tho "Waikaremoana track are warned to be careful and to keep a wary look out for wild bulls, which arc plentiful in £hat district and truculent. The Maoris havo counted no fewer than 14 in the neighbourhood within the last fortnight. Some of tho people who had intended to visit South "Westl.ind and tho Glaciers have cancelled the trip, in view? of the interruption of the West Coast railway service. For tho convenience, of tourists, arrangements have been made for tho service cars to pick up passengers on the express at Arthur's Pass. They may thus make the journey to Hokitika by road. "There is not much, blackberry in South Taranaki, but the Cal'fornian thistle is appearing there," said Mr W Maloney at a meeting of the North Taranaki Provincial Executivo of the Farmers' Union. "I havo just returned from a visit as far south as Invercargill," he continued, "and I was surprised to find what a great hold this thistle had in parts of the South Island. Farmers have tried to fight it, but unsuccessfully, and now they are letting it grow. One redeeming feature is that the thistles in tho centre of a clump dio off as tho outsido ones spread further afield."

3>r. E. Teichelmann, of Hokitika, left for Wellington last evening. lie will endeavour to induce the Marine Department to allow a number of Canterbury business peoplo and agriculturalists to accompany the s'.s. Tutauekai on her next southern trip, to enable them to visit tho West Coast Sounds and Jackson Bay. Kepresentations are being made to the Government to obtain a grant for the construction of a road from Jackson .Bay to Okura, and if 3>r. Teichelmann is successful in his mission, it is hoped that information may bo collected! with which to support the request. Tho party will be formed from members of tho Canterbury Progress League. Considerable interest was manifested; by tho people waiting on the platform yesterday mornina when tho Limited Express from Wellington was pulling in to the station. On the cow-catcher of tho engine was a dead pukeko. The bird was not there when tho express left Frankton, and it was thought that the engine must have picked it up when crossing the Whangamomona swamp area, in the vicinity of Ohinewai and Mercer. So great was_the wind pressure against the bars of the cow-catcher that the pukeko's back was completely broken, its hoad being between one set of bars and its lees arid tail through others.—Auckland) Correspondent. To Farmers of North Canterbury. We have just landed Sutton's Celebrated Farm and Garden Seeds. J. Johnston and Son, Merchants, Rangiora. Established 1863. P.O. Box 1; 'Phone 4. —2

J. M. Heywood and Co., Ltd., are general carriers, they will movo your luggage, furniture, or anything that you require moving. Why not give your next job to them? —6

Electric ranges, grillers, irons, and other household electrical appliances will receive expert adjustment and repairs by Wooffs and Salvcsen, Electrical Repair Engineers, 609 Colombo street, or ring 'Phone 4628 for prompt attention. —6

Before ordering elsewhere be sure vou sec our Tractor Tandem Disc Harrow fitted to pack up for transport, our improved Brooker pattern rear drum Grass Seed Stripper, and our folding rear hitch Hay Sweep. Each the very best there is. P. and D. Duncan, Ltd., 196 Tuam street, Christchurch. D 2969

Secure the best Grass Stripper, immediate delivery when required. Grass Strippers, British Mowers, and Hay Kakcs, from Kcid and Gray's agent, Mr Harry Anderson, 193 Cashcl street, Christchurch, and Reid and Gray, Ltd., Burnett street, Ashburton. Implements sold on cash or terms. Get

catalogues. —1 Holland's Patent Harrow—Tho very latest development in cultivation which must materially assist to .more profitable farming: Will effectually pulverise twitch lea, loosen sod-bound 1 pasture, or thoroughly weed and aerate lucerne, beside doing ordinary cultivation. Last but not least, its price is surprisingly low. Booth, Macdonald, and Co.. Ltd. 9273

A musical treat above tho ordinary will be given by tho Combined Bands of Christchurch tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon in the Hospital Grounds. Tho Bands include Derry's, Woolston, Canterbury Regimental, and [Municipal. This Concert is given under tho auspices of the Rotary Club for the laudable purpose of raising funds to frighten Xmas for the children in the Hcipital and Orphanages. Silver coin collection; concert starts .'} p.m.; entranco main gate in Antigua, street.

For show cards and commercial art consult Claude Dunford, room 12, Carey's Buildings. Expert and reliable workmanship guaranteed. Tho price is right—try us. —6