General News.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18969, 6 April 1927, Page 10

General News.

I » ~ ' Owing to the aporoaching Eas--1 ter holidays, the first meeting ■ of the recently-elected General , Committee of the Canterbury A. and P. Association will be held on 1 the 27th inst., instead of the 13th, the : regular date. Several thefts of bicycles are reported to have occurred at the Boys' High School during the past two or three weeks, and a number of those attending the school have suffered the loss of their machines. So tar, efforts "to trace the offenders have proved unsuccessful. Unions affiliated with the Alliance of Labour and others not at present attached to that organisation, will meet in an open conference commencing in Wellington on Monday. Matters to be discussed include the Arbitration Court, organisation 1 of labour, unemployment, and immigration. The supplementary roll in connexion with the Alunicipal elections this month is now being printed, and will be issued next week. It contains 11,416 names, making the total on the roll 46,342. In 1925 there were 31,652 names on the main roll and 6553 on the supplementary, a total of 38,205. Thus the increase in two years has been no less than 8137. Asked yesterday whether the special express services recently inaugurated by the Railway Department had been a success, Mr R. S. Kent, Divisional Superintendent, said the result had not yet been summed up from the financial returns. The prospects on the Christ-church-Ashburton service were encouraging, and the "Parnassus express was doing well. There was no intention at present to reduce the special express services, and for the winter time-table only some of the express trains to the south would be cancelled. Speeds would not be reduced. ''l have come to the conclusion that in regard to hydro-electrical progress this Dominion has the benefit of a far greater rural distribution of power than any other country I visited," said Mr F. AY. F.urkert, Engineer-in-Chief of the Public AA 7 orks Department, in an interview in Wellington yesterday. Mr Furkert, who has returned from an extended tour in America and Europe, paid particular attention on his travels to hydro-electric works, especially in America, where in some States the conditions approximate to those in New Zealand sufficiently closely to make comparisons possible.—Press Service. There are various kinds of bands amongst the New Zealand schools, the fife and brass instruments being the most popular, although with the slight disadvantage that the instruments take some skill in playing. At one of the Wanganui schools a mouth organ band I is to be inaugurated, an enterprising | firm having presented sufficient of those tuneful instruments to launch the proposal. It is claimed that excellent martial effects can be obtained by mouth organs played in the mass, the music being even superior to that produced by blowing at a comb wrapped in tissue paper. Mr Percy Grainger, the Australian composer-pianist, has given some attention to the development of the mouth organ as an instrument capable of really musical expression. Discussing "The Prospects of Literature in New Zealand" in a Workers' Education Association lecture at Auckland, Mr J. W. Shaw referred to the lack of imagination among pioneers, and said that their time was so full thoy had no time for it; the lack of a strong national spirit also accounted for the absence of a distinctive litera•ture. It was not so in Australia. A strongly marked Australian literature had appeared. As to the needs of New Zealand, Mr Shaw said that a school of writers who would interpret the country would give the Dominion its rightful place in world literature. The time for imitation had passed? Poetry was certainly being written in New Zealand, but it was ignored by most people. New Zealand had a number, of clever writers, and if given encouragement a school of writers would undoubtedly arise. The view that the recent massacre of six native policemen at Guadalcanar Island, in the Solomons Group, is not a very serious occurrence, expressed by Dr. Northcote Deck, of the South Seas Evangelic.il Mission, was supported by the Rev. C. L. Mountfort, of the Melanesian Mission, in a statement made at Auckland. Mr Mountfort said that although the isiand had earned a somewhat evil reputation, the people there were quite safe in their homes. The policemen had evidently offended the natives in some way, and the tribe had taken vengeance without thought of the consequences. Although he did not doubt that there had been a massacre, he said it should be understood that the native word for "kill" was the same as for "hit," and, because of this, confusion often arose. The Commissioner or the island would be forced to take action, and natives who actually had a hand in the massacre would probably be executed. Now-that the colder months are about to assert themselves, the golfer v will come into his own. All enthusiasts should see Mason, Struthers' new stocks of Golf Clui.fi and up-to-date material from the world's best makers. Our range of Clubs includes: Forgan's, Spalding's, Cann and Taylor's, Gibson's, Cochran's, etc. Full stocks of the best balls, bags, tees, cleaners, enamel, etc. Mason, Struthers and Co., Ltd. —6 We learn that Radio Concerts are within the reach of all who would listen in by using a Crystal Set and a J.I.S. 2-Stage Amplifier. Those interested should call at Carey's Buildings, 734 Colombo street, where J. I. Smail, the Radio Engineer, will be pleased to demonstrate. 6 « Couldn't you get into the Show grounds for the Grand Military Pageant and Searchlight Tattoo? Hard luck. But there's a Special Performance To-night for your benefit. Can you come early? Then you'll be sure of a place. g As the children's . birthday party draws near, the prudent hostess looks to r new ways of entertaining her young guests. There are presents to be bought, games to be arranged, and. of course, there must bt ice-cream! without which no party is complete. Looke s, the largest manufacturers of quality ice-cream, are ready to supply your needs for parties, picnics, and functions of all kind. Write W R. 8610 aDd S ° n ' High street * or 'P^one —6 North Canterbury farmers are invited to inspect the latest MassevHarris Stiff Tine Cultivator, on view J- Johnston and Son, Rangiora. f .U. Box 1. 'Phone 4. 2 Why waste £4O to £6O buying a trnmpcry imported tractor plough when you can get your Reifl «« , Gra y - or p - an d D. Duncan ntted with an improved Murray lift for £24 14s, railage paid making the best tractor plough yet seen, good for fifty years' service, giving you the thorough tillage you have had in the past, and for which all the wearing parts are cheap and easy to proeuref p. and D. Duncan, Ltd., 196 Tuam street, Christehurch. 6 Those who haven't seen the Military Pageant and Taitoo should reach the Show Grounds early to-night for the extra performance. There's sure to be a crowd,