General News.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18631, 4 March 1926, Page 8

General News.

Oysters made their first appearance for this season on tho Christcliurch market yesterday.

The Hon. D. Buddo has received the following telegram from the Prime Ministfii;: —"In reply to your telegram regarding Waimakariri ilood roliof, loans to sufferers from .the flood to .purchase store lambs will bo considered 011 recoipt of applications from the respective aettiers." © The annual disposal of articles collected by tho police aud unclaimed by their rightful owners, was held yesterday.?,; Bicycles, new, okl, and antiquated, brought sums varying from £3 103 to half-a-crown, and'guns, which were the next most plentiful article brought anything from £2 odd to three shillings. A few "mystery" parcels were produced, and delapidated coatß, hats, gloves and other apparel all found buyers. If Australia had in New Zealand a resident commissioner alio might gain for herself some of tho big engineering and developmental contracts which aria going to England. The opinion was expressed by Mr John Fuller, director of Fullers' Theatres, Ltd., on his return to Sydney 'from his recent visit to tho Dominion. Tho Exhibition,' Mr FnlleY said, was big and influential. Tho Australian court was advertising Australia well, and Mr SmallJiorn was doing excellent work in it. Mr Fuller . suggosted -that Sydney would profit greatly if sho liekl.au exhibition Jiko this when the Harlwiir Bridge was o'poned in 1930.

Tho maximum load at the Lake Coleridge power-house during the week ended February 28th, showed a slight deciea.so ;rs compared with tho previous week. It was 13,270 k.w. (between 8 and 8.30 p.m. on February 26th), as compared with 13,520 k.w. the previous week. _ At tho Addington sub-station the position was reversed, the maximum recorded being 10,445 Iv.w. (between 7.30 and 8 p.m. on February 26t11), as compared with 9980 k.w. the previous week. The lake level last week was at ■1070.65 ft; the previous week it was at inro.-l.7ft. The a vera go inflow from the Harper river was "71 cusees, as com; pared with 296 cusees the previous Meek.

Speaking on the subject, "Education nnd Life,".2l a meeting at the Wellington Town Hall, Professor T. A. Hunter said that whether we liked it, or not, New Zealand was becoming very rapidly Americanised. Ho referred to tho cheap novel, the picture theatre, and the methods of business, and remarked that wo were coming more and moro within the sway of those "Sspee'is of American foreca that did not aid us to develop tho better side of our civilisation. Quoting an American authority, and alluding to tho glorification of mere material success, it seemed that if thai view increased its domination over ihe philosophy of life, which after all would manifest itself iti every phase and educational system, then a nation was undoubtedly on the downgrade. Applications for the positions of town clerk and city engineer of Wellington have closed. lii tho absence of the flavor (Mr C. J. B. Norwood) no information was aade available for publication as to tile names or even the number of tho applicants, although it is understood they are fairly numer 6us.

All the envelopes have been placed in a box, which is not to be opened until ithe -Mayor' returns nt the end of the week. In the ease of applications from New Zealand and Australia,' the receiving officer, was the acting-town clerk, but any applications from Canada' or the United Kingdom were to be forwarded to Messrs Priest. Cardew, anil Co., the council's agents in London. As it will be six or seven weeks before these applications (if any) reach Jfew Zealand, it mav probablv be the end of nest month'before the City Council makes it,s choice. If, on the other hand, the London agents report by cable that rone of the applications received by them are considered suitable, the council may come to a decision next week.

The Wnimakanri lJiver Trust lias arranged for a deputation of members to ■wait upon the Prime Minister on Saturday morning at 9.15. The request to be made to Mr Coatos is that he will make available?. Government subsidy towards the cost of tho big works for the permanent control of tho river, which tho Board proposes to carry out if tho loan is authorised by the ratepayers. The Railway Department has arranged a train service between Christcliureh and Burnham on Sunday, March 7th, tor the convenience of residents desirous of visiting the military camp. A train will leave Christcliureh at. 1.40 p.m., and return from Burnhanf at 5 p.m. Tickets at holiday excursion fares will bo issued from Christcliureh and Addington. "The rond is to be mad© for the public, to use, not the public made to uso the road in the way the-authori-ties think fit," Col. Symonds said in tho course of his address last night on "Modern Roads" in -eulogising the English method of rounding off corners. He spoko strongly against centre obstructions—such as "silent policemen"—and said he was glad that Christc'hurch had not followed tho extraordinarily stupid idea of erecting such obstructions. "If you have to educate your drivers to behave themselves," he said, "give them white lines' in the centre of the street, and line them £5 if they put a wheel over the 1 white line. Nothing should be put in the way of traffic that is going to hurt it. In' England centre road obstructions arc absolutely forbidden."

Local authorities in New Zealand go the wrong way about taking road traffic statistics, according to remarks made by Col. Symonds in an address 'on "Roads" last night. He showed on the screen a traffic graph of Bristol and vicinity, the information respecting the different main roads setting \ out tho tons of traffic' carried by them in 2-i hours. Not the number of vehicles, Col. Symonds said, but the weight of tho traffic was the important factor. Thus, one road marked as carrying 2600 tons in 24 hours was used almost exclusively by 10 ton lorries, or by 260 vehicles. Another road carrying about tho same was used by two or threo times the number of lighter vehicles. According to the New Zealand method the second road would be considered as carry-, ing tho heajvier amount of traffic, whereas the surface of tho first road suffered to a far greater extent, from the traffic of the fewer but heavier class of vehicle that used it. Tho old' Maori tradition that a shark entering tho- waters of tho Waifcemata Harbour has a curse pronounced 011 it which renders it innocuous to human beings may be truo (says tho Auckland "Star"), but it is scarcely likely that the two or three bathers who wero swimming about off the Devonport Esplanade when the alarm of "Shark!" was raised, felt disposed to trust teo implicitly in this picturesque, tradition. On the contrary, they hastened incontinently ashore, where their relief may. bo better imagined than described when they were told by the man who first saw the unwelcome visitor that he was just shading a leisurely courso botweon them and tho shoro when the alarm was given. This gentleman, a nearby resident, was strolling along the Esplanade when his attention was attracted by a suspicious movement in tho water, and closer investigation showed the sinister fin of ,a shark 011 the prowl. Ho immediately,raised the alarm, and although there was a little scepticism at first, those around wero speedily convinced of the seriousness : of tho position, and tho few swimmers in. the water hurriedly swam ashore. Tho shark was not seen again, and tho old -Nativo tradition, which is said to have eighty years or more successful application to tho harbour with only one incident to the contrary, was again vindicated. » Don't hesitate a moment wlien coiv eidering moving your furniture. J. M. Heywood and Co., Ltd., are the people to do it for you. —%

HOLLAND'S PATENT CLAW HARROW.

A public demonstration of above will be given at 10 a.m. on Friday (to-mor-row), March sth, on tho farm of W. Redman, Esq., Amberley, by whoso courtesy, all interested are cordially invited. The patentee will be in attendance to afford fullest particulars. A w&rtli-wliile demonstration assured. BOOTH, MACDONALD AND 00., LTD., CHRISTCHURCH. Sole Licensoes, Manufactures and Distributors. —6