THE MODERN CITY

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19319, 25 May 1928, Page 24

THE MODERN CITY

rpHERE are B till alive many who can recall the city as it.appeared sixty years ago, and who, though they have seen it gradually grow and expand, cannot- repress feelings of astonishment, mingled with civic pride, when they compare the modern municipality with the city of 1868 and earlier. The public men of Christchurch and of Canterbury always have been animated by high ideals. No doubt it was the desire that the city, though hardly out of its swaddling clothes, should have the best system of municipal government available that led those entrusted with the care of the city's affairs in 1867 to petition for its incorporation under the Municipal Corporations Act of .that year. Similarly, through the intervening years, there has been a desire to keep Christchurch well abreast of the times, and the efforts of its public men have been directed continuously to the attainment of that end. Those who look on the city today and realise what difficulties have been faced and overcome will acknowledge that the city's public men have not altogether failedl Figures have been given showing how the area of the city has increased, practically, tenfold, and how the popu- * lation lias multiplied over twelve timeß. Noteworthy as these figures are, they are not more remarkable than the manner .in -which the municipality, marching with the times, has provided almost all the services that are demanded by those who reside in modern Cities.' Some indication .of the wide activities of the City Council arid of the work it does is given in the following articles. tHE. FINANCIAL SIDE. » J•■ BIG YEARLY TURNOVER. The magnitude of the City Council's financial operations is an indication of the. .importance to which the city has risen.in comparison with the very modesty revenue and expenditure -of sixty years ago. Those operations also ierve as an index to the multiplicity and complexity of the activities of the

Wide Municipal Activity CHANGES IN SIXTY YEARS

, modern municipality which has embarked on undertakings that the City Fathers sixty years ago would have considered too hazardous or too great an interference with the liberty of the subject as expressed in private enterprise. Municipal Debt. The whole debt of the city at the end of the year 1926-27 is as set out below: — Loans authorised .. .. J>?f*'sfs Debt outstanding .. • • 1,162,469 Accrued Sinking Funds in Commissioner's Lands . . . . 310,659 Estimated Sinking Funds accrued ,_.-, on Government loans .. 17,461 To meet interest charges there was found £52,496 in addition to £1394 paid out of loan. The amount paid into sinking funds was £77,228. Valuation. £ The capital value ot the city on April Ist, 1927, was .. 22,193,390 The unimproved value on the same date was .. .. 8,867,919 Value of improvements on same date was .. •- 13,325,476 The valuation of property exempt from rating amounted to:— £ Capital value .. .. 2,256,196 Unimproved value .. .. 1,047,265 These exemptions equal a losb of £14,727 in General Eate. The Bates. For the financial year 1927-28 the rates struck were:— General: 3§d in the £ on unimproved value. Christchurch Domain rate: 81/1250 d in the £ on unimproved value. Hospital and Charitable Institutions: 162/025 d in the £ on capital value. Christchurch Drainage rate (all on capital value): —Sewerage area, |d in the £; Eural Christchurch, 3/16 din the £; Eural Heathcote, 7/64 in the £ ; Eural Avon, 11/32 d in the &•, Eural Spreydon, 3/64 din . the £; Eural Woolston (including'Eadley), 3/64 d in the £; Eural Eiccarton, Jd in the. £. Fire rate: . 12,441/125,000 d in £ on value on buiidings. Street Lighting rate': 1329/5000 d in the :.&'■ unimproved value. "': Special, annual - recurring rates (all on the unimproved .value): £16,000 .'Municipal Buildings, Manchester street, loan;';. whoiiV city (except Spreydon, Woolston,-Papanui,-and East.Lihwood)': 411/12,500 din the £; sanitary conveniences,. loan of £ißs2 (wholb city With" -same exceptions "as ' 'abovie), i93/25,00pd in the £. Uniform "annual fee for "'each, pan,' whole city, 39s 6d. '

Concert Hall loan rate: 333/2500 d in I the £ on unimproved value (whole city, except Papanui and East Linwood). , Wates rates (ordinary supply): whole city, except Spreydon, Woolston, St. Martins, Opawa, Papa i, and East Linwood, £1 6s per centum on annual rateable value. Antecedent liability: 36/125 d in the £ on unimproved value. Whole city except Papanui and East Linwood. Waimakariri Eiver Trust rate: Is 6d in the £ on capital value (Class A). Other rates are levied over special rating areas. The average rates in the £, unimproved value, amounted to Bd. The average rate 3 per head of population (including other local bodies' rates collected by the City Council) amounted to £3 12s 4d. Bates Levied. Exclusive of rates for annual charges on loans, the Council levied, or collected (in some cases), for other local authorities, the following rates:— ; ■ 1926-27 1925-26 £ £ General .. .. 125,272 124,939 Street Lighting .. 9,801 9.-8 Fire Prevention .. 6,017 6,d5d Water .. •- 13,686 12,710 Sanitation •• ",182 9,020 Hospital and Charitable Institutions .. 20,636 19,933 Domains .. .. 2.388 2,384 Drainage Board Sewage 33,391 27,590 Rural .. .. 1.353 4,339 Waimakariri River Trust .. .. '5,238 14,696 The increases in 1926-27 over 192526 were: General rate, £333; sheet lighting, £572; water, £976; sanitation, £2162; hospital and charitable institutions, £702; domains, £3; Drainage Board, sewage, £5803; Waimakariri Eiver Trust, £541; total increases, £11,096. The decreases were: Fire prevention, £335; Drainage Board, Eural, £531. The net increase in 1926-27 was £10,229. The total laxation levied, including license fees, amounted to £325,424, of which £110,223 was collected on behalf of other local authorities. Where the Money Comes From. The sources of the City Council's revenue are disclosed in the following, table: — 1. Ordinary Revenue — £ (a) From GovernmentFees and fines .. .. 1,067 Subsidy on rates 450 1,517. (W From Taxation —Rates— General .. • • 124,431 Hospital and charitable aid On capital vadlue .. 20,533 Other special or separate 50,196 On annual value .. 13,667 On capital value .. 10,950 . On. vale o£ buildings .. 6,005 Penalty on overdue rates 874 227,659 Abattoir fees .. .. 8,604 Licenses under the Licensing Act .. .. .. 2,221 All other licenses and petmils .. .. 21,257 Share ol heavy traffic fees 6,493 38,575(c) From other sources— Rents ..' . -. 2,888 Sales of material, land, stock, etc. .. .. 69,563 Electricar works .. 178,680 Other sources .. ... .21,427 . 272,559 .Total ordinary revenne ~ '540,312

2. Receipts not revenue—(a) From loans .. .. 147,047 (c) Reimbursements oi Amounts paid ... .. 21,027 (d) Other receipts .. .. 9,735 Total Receipts not Revenue .. 177,789 Total receipts under headings 1 and 2 .. .. .. 718,101 Temporary loans raised ~ 110,994 Deposits on contracts, etc. .. 3,348 Rates collected for other local bodies .. . . . . 74,181 Cash in hand or at bank at beginning of year .. .. 150,958 Total .. .. £1,057,584 Where the Money Goes. Items in the expenditure were:— Honoraria and salaries ' .. 14,367 Hospital subsidy .. .. 20,365 Public Works, etc. .. . . 918,564 Parks and Eeserves. The municipal reserves, mostly situated outside the city, have a total area of 6360 acres. Of this area 3200 acres are leased for farming purposes. Included in the reserves are the banks of the river Avon, 10 acres 3 roods 39 poles, and the city -squares:—Cranmer, 4 acres 1 rood 24 poles; Latimer, 4 acres; Victoria, 3 acres 3 roods 21 poles. The area of freehold land owned by the municipality is 199 acres. The parks controlled by the City Council and their areas are as follows: A. R. P Barrington Park .. .. 13 2 21,7 Bcckenham Park .. .. 11 1 24 Elmwood Park .. .. 14 2 35' Jerrold street Recreation Reserve . . .. 5 0 0 Linwood Park .. .. 21 22 Malvern street .. .. 6 7 31 Milton street. Smart's Pond 6 1 84 Opawa Park .. .. 7 2 11.8 Richmond Domain .. 7 0 0 St. Albans Park 15 0 39.5 Spreydon Domain .. 17 2 0 Sydenham Park .. .. 14 0 1 Victoria Park, Cashmere Hills .. .'. 188 3 11 Woolston Park .. .. 10 0 24.2 Total .. .. 348 1 18.8 Parks controlled by separate boards are:— A. R. P. Hagley Park and Botanical Gardens .. .. 497 3 11 Riccarton Bush .. .. 15 2 30 Privately owned parks are:— English Park .. .. 6 0 0 Lancaster (Victory) Park .. 13 O 0 Monica Park .. '.. 33 0 0 Wilding Park .. 10 2 0 Following is a statement of expenditure and receipts in connexion with the city's parks and reserves.— JE Expenditure on Parks and Reserves 11,668 Riccarton Bush .. .. 125 Beckenham Park .. .. 108 Richmond Park ... .. 49 Cashmere .Hills. Domain .. 203 Spreydon Domain .. .. 493 Christchurch Domain Board (paid out of special rate) .. , .. 2,401 Sydenham channelling and asphalting properties .. '.. 80 Total .. .. • • 15,130 Eeceipts were as follows: Sale of trees, firewood, etc. .. -235 Use of parks and rotundas .. 246 Rents .. .. . .. : 720 Rents (Sydenham channelling and asphalting loan properties) '.;'.. 985 Other rents .. .. .. 26 Domain Board's rent collected .. 2,398 Beckenham Park (including £IOO grant from City Council) *.. 144 Cashmere Hills Domain (including'' £57 grant from Oity'Conncil) .. 199 Spreydon Domain. .. .. 487 Richmond Park .. .. 205 Total .. .. .. 5649

Children's Playgrounds. A comparatively recent development connected with the city's, parks is the provision of children's playgrounds. With the steady growth of population the need for more parks, or playgrounds, especially in the thickly populated districts, is being emphasised. The equipment and utilisation of vacant spaces as occasion permits has become a settled policy, and already three playgrounds for children have been established and equipped in the city. A small reserve on the corner of Queen and Wordsworth streets, Sydenham, another in Phillip street, Phillipstown, and a portion of St. Albans Park have been devoted to such a purpose, and a similar playground is to be installed at Barrington Park. . HOUSING SCHEME. During the past five years a municipal housing scheme has been in operation, whereunder advances are made to enable workers to purchase sections and erect buildings thereon. To March 31st, 1927, the number of dwellings erected under the schemo was 79, the advances made in respect of these totalling £60,544. Under the scheme, the maximum amount granted, is £750, the repayment of the loan being by fortnightly instalments of interest and principal amounting to £7 4s 6d per annum for each £IOO, and extending over a period ■of 30 years. Tho rate of interest is £6 per cent. The deposit must be not less than £SO unless otherwise arranged. Instalments become payable as from the date of confirmation of the grant. Sections costing approximately £l3O must be selected by the applicant, and be within the City boundary. Moreover, tho sections must meet with the approval of the Building Inspector. An applicant being the owner of a clear title section on which he desires to build, is also eligible for consideration under the scheme. Plans of proposed dwellings have to be submitted to the Housing Committee for approval or as an alternative the applicant may decide on the design selected by the Council, which may be inspected at tho Town Clerk's office. No deposit is required in eases of applicants owning a freehold section or where a payment of £SO or more has been made in respect of the purchase of a section privately. The payments, including redemption of loans, amount to £1 0s lid per w- ek on the maximum advance of £750. When the council first initiated the scheme, it purchased the sections, and tho houses were ltuilt according to standard plans, but the present system has been found more attractive. Criticism, that the small stake an owner would possess in his property at the outset would lead to irresponsibility in repayments has proved unjustified, and a pleasing feature is the pride demonstrated .by owners in their properties by the care they lavish. on gardens.

THE ABATTOIR. The Christchurch City Council was in the forefront among municipalities in the Dominion when on August 17th, 1903, it opened an abattoir at Sockburn, thus giving practical recognition to the principle that it is a paramount, duty of a municipality to ensure that stock killed for consumption is free from disease, and that dangers of contamination of the carcases, so far as possible, are avoided. The abattoir has extended in size, and it has become a huge business. The enlargement of the premises and other improvements have been met by the raising of loan moneys, the total capital expenditure being £32,000. It is a tribute to the management that the enterprise has become selfsupporting. Under a progressive system of carrying out the most efficient methods for the benefit of the consumer, a remodelling and enlargement was considered necessary, and a loan proposal was submitted- to tho ratepayers in order that such work might be undertaken. It was rejected, the ratepayers seemingly failing to grasp the fact that it was unlikely that any such loan and interest would bo a charge on rates. ■ Before the loan proposal was made, however, a conference was held between tho Abattoir Committee and the representatives of the Master Butchers' Association for the purpose of hearing objections to the erection of a cool chamber at the abattoir. As an outcome it was decided to circularise all master butchers giving the estimated annual cost to them of the cool chamber, and asking if they still objected to its erection, and in the event of it being erected, would they use the cooler. Subsequently the Abattoir Committee reported to the council that on account of the small response to this circular, it did not feel justified in going on with the proposed chilling room, and it recommended the council to take the necessary steps to raise a loan of £12,000 for improvements and extensions to the abattoirs, excluding the cooler. On October 22nd, 1925, the proposal was submitted /to a poll of the ratepayers for authority to raise this loan, but the proposal was rejected. Later the Couneil obtained legislative authority to raise the loan without a poll. The requirements of Christchurch in the way of meat are shown in the following. table of stock slaughtered at the'abattoir:— Year ended Year ended Mar. 31st, Mar. 31st, 1927. :1926.Cattle .. 17,294 18,592 Sheep .. 101,232 92,911 Lambs .... 25,707 .„ 17,464 Pigs ' .. 13,311 14,073 Calves .. 10,941 11,036

MUNICIPAL BATHS. Both as a big factor in promoting the health of the public, and as a substantial means whereby swimming has become an almost general art among the younger portion of the population, the Municipal Tepid Baths have moro than justified their creation. Constant improvements have brought the baths to a standard which, it is admitted by most people, is not excelled in Australasia. The swimming pool is 100 feet by 36 feet, has a capacity of 125,000 gallons, and is lined with white glazed tiles with green lines running the whole length. The water in the pool is changed daily, and is maintained at a temperature of 80 degrees. Baskets of ferns hang over the pool. The ferns flourish in the warm and moist atmosphere, and in their drooping luxurianco they impart a suggestion of charm. Apparently the first consideration is not large profits, but the making of the bath available to the largest possible number of people. That appears to explain the policy of accommodating school squads at certain hours of the day, a procedure which is considered loses the bath hundreds of pounds a year. From the aspect of health, such action is justified, while the great purpose the bath serves in providing the means whereby children are taught to swim cannot be better realised. Where every post is not made a financial winning post, it is inevitable that there should be setbacks on the financial side, and the baths have not been a profit-earning proposition. Earnings at the baths are governed to a great extent by the weather, and the financial year of 1925-2(3 —which is the last 12 months period for which the accounts are available—was marked by an unseasonable summer and an infantile paralysis epidemic at the commencement of the period. A loss was made on the year's operations of £269 18s 2d, but a satisfactory feature was a substantial saving in upkeep. The following figures covering six years show the position: — Year. Eevenue. Upkeep. £sd £ s d 1920-21 .. 2,071 14 2 2,500 14 11 1921-22 .. 2,438 15 10 2,519 6 8 1922-23 .. 2,310 11 8 2,471 19 6' 1923-24 .. 2,483 18 3 2,616 5 0 1924-25 .. 2,072 4 2 2,807 11 7> 1925-26 .. 2,087 19 11 2,357 18 1 1926-27 .. 2,219 1 6 2,427 19 8 Besides the swimming pool, there are private baths which are well patronised. The heating system is unusual. The destructor nearby assists to maintain heat by means of Btcam pipes, but between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. water in a supply tank is heated by an electric heater of 1200k.w. capacity, which was installed permanently in 1923. ) What has proved a very popular carnival is the B» 'hs Committee's annual swimming meeting for school children. Members of the committee and other staunch supporters J subscribe the money for the prizes, which are competed for with enthusiasm. > '

IMPROVING THE AT^ Ringed by shapely tree. J A smooth l awnS) the windin* flows through ChrlrtehnJ h!W* source of the City's charm El? aesthetic aspect. P OI mB J*J*» however, little was done tTJr* this great asset, but the of the riverside is now b«wT< organised, instead of piecemeaL!E? tion. ic"Pfc The past two or three been a period of steady progrttjjfi direction, there having be en Jg|?* tion between the City Q»Jjߣ Christchureh Dtainago Christchurch Beautifying A*W*J£ and the Eiver Improvement Oo^^ 1 A goal has been set, and make the riverside illustrate. Mui ant of the seasons by meatti 4f-ffi shrubs, and flowers. Indeed '4mS the river is a place of beauty etjjl? which points the season. DalfeSyi? other flowers riot on the buMm! the burgeoning trees in sprinftffljgL* time offers cool, leafy ' workers, whilo bathed in Sttflfil!' the open spaces tho flowerlfilflf splashed with vivid, arre'ittUMf With autumn, there is 8 htJHa rods and -yellows in the leawgn: trees and with tho flowers, aifl|& ter with tho' denuded branc&SiK! trees etched against the «Wmgff a severe beauty all its ownVngSr Tho work that has been *HJ£uiL shows tho value of co-operafljPtfjE has been a general deaniajJ'MdEl unsightly spots have beenV.lms|fi An illustration is tho clearinaHKHU the old shed and cottage aHswS|! sito near Barbadoes cairn now commemorated 'tls|&i*' settlers of 1843. The Millbrook reserve, more's road and Rossall BtreeiLJaj&| improved a great deal, and?i|||m|' beauty spot to which of peoplo make beautifying work hag been emwiw on the nreaß adjoining the Bmw| Court and the Provincial \'M§| Chambers, where shrubs and oraum trees have been planted!/ '.,{*4§& There is another side to tnr>N§| fication of the river lankjl, tions have been closely cotoeewajljl' the movement which relievedtunl tress among the families 'ofjjiugk of citizens, who at times offitlug § of trade are out of employttmSj jL work done in improving banks, the 'council has asaJtW! | fun.ds raised, by the ment Committee. • ft While the bulk of toeip|| 11 has been done on the Avotf s|d j if Heathcote river received «(bnp M> tion, and 1 it is 'possible sent scheme in hand by|tt»jDria| ■ Board in clearing *miggffi|fi s[Pi bed of the Avon by mwnf.oEl fjmw I sweeper pump is compuEjOK ss!§■ tion will be directed to "(Slew mssm the Heathcote. A big flcation is present in the HeatM^p c

CITY HALL. STILL LACKING. NEGOTIATIONS FOR PROVINCIAL COUNCIL CHAMBER. < ChiistcLurch still lacks a City, or ( Town Hall, and tho opinion is held by *any that it is likely to continue doing *lthont it for some years to come. At »ny rate since the City Council acquired «s new offices in Manchester street and ."ince tho Muaicipal Concert Hall hay toea complet-; 1 and opened there has 2 een or no talk .regarding the nefor a Town nail, the Citation for the handing over by the , Government of th. Provincial Council Camber for the purpose of a Town Hall Jiaabcen revival '-'th some possibility ' ,f the application being successful. As early as 1853 the necessity • for a, •efficiently large building for public Meetings became evident, and in November of that year it was reported to »Hri« e that 578 shares had been aPt'tt k • ont of the 700 necessary before *** t ing ,vould be begun. The ad'W ge <? the site chosen (with three , °", S es ) was emphasised, and it is J*, y to-day from the de«"Phon that it was "to face on to tai if? Street ' on to Cathedral square, fHii corncr doWII Sumner road -Kb£! v eet) to the south-east. This Hot??/ aowevcr > h ung fire, and it was Sallf p ber lst > ~ 1557 > that a Towu jj,„ Chri-stchurch was ouencd, and «on a different site fro- that origin- * ta.W* 3 The building was erected ■■-Shane ° f the sitc ,HW occu l' , l cd h >' -<Cotoe'l P ? ne " sessioi i of the Provincial *-lrailt T i the r T] y sixties i + was re'*WS*t ' but was so badl v dam**ST.« j e earth q«ake of 1869 'that it v '«taS emned as U!lsaf e- In 1573 the •WW it " ei t of tllo Tow " Hall Company . Edward Strange for Ccif' b i ua : y IGth ' i9M - the c«j--to^mutep l P v! a rc P° rt of » s P eeial ,fta t 3 hl(, li recommended: "That WeenV- i' • °-" for d terrace lying be- % LinS °/ la Btreet and Colombo street ,W!m if ln the site for a Town '" « Twtnt Ue i )ro P°sed site was that part 3 uare on which th e band .'ilso , S - at P res ent. The report and tVLI j. 7 or competitive designs,fcS i- •! , cost of the buiWmg •y^ x r£*T£ of the Great War in the ,;*olv4 * t0 the reject being lamest"?,, of thc Bame year the Gov- \ CoajA 1 * aa approached by the City , a ~ ed *° P resent « with * Jfito fo- ac » a n 1 , Council Chamber site, as. ' !*<>«■ Sir - 9? "1 Hall - The Hon. Mr '" ■■-'■/

meet the City's request. They were that if the City provided one acre and a half (the area on which the Provincial Council stands) within the same distance from the Government Departmental Buildings, and a certain sum of money, the Government. would be prepared to advise Parliament to make an exchange. As. recently as August, 1925, Mr A. McKellar, who was then a member of the City Council, proposed to reopen negotiations with the Government, but his motion on the subject was negativod by 9 votes to 6. Within the In-rt month or so the question has been taken up again with the Government. In March, 1920, the question of a site for the Town Hall came before the City Council, and it was decided to take steps to acquire a site 1 ided by Cambridge terrace, Colombo, Kilmore, and'. iVictoria streets, "for municipal p; loses, including a Town Hall." This proposal, like its predecessor, came to nothing. RIVERSIDE BOULEVARD. The scheme for a riverside boulevard on both banks of the Avon, proposed originally by Mr E. B.' Owen, has been adopted as the City's memorial of its Diamond Jubliee. Mr Owen's idea is that in the area three or four miles from the centre of the City there is much low-lying and cheap land which should be acquired. Debris now in the river, as well as spoil to be taken in widening _ operations, should be pumped on to this land. Large areas could be thus reclaimed. He would like to see a chain of parks, a wide boulevard and motor drive on each bank, which would be planted in ornamental trees and shrubs. The banks could be broken, perhaps more especially along a suggested regatta course at Bur wood, by balustrade water bastions which would abut slightly into tho stream. BAND CONCERTS. Steps have been taken by the committee to have a new band rotunda built in Victoria Square, and the plans have been prepared by the City Engineer's Department. It is intended to shift the old rotunda to Opawa park. In the past year '4O band concerts were given. Brass bands receive £6. 6s a performance, and pipe bands £4 10s. Tho feV for pipe bands. was' raised 12 months ago from £3 10s, a certain number of players being needed in order to obtain a higher figure. The concerts were held in the following places: — Victoria Square, Sydenham, St. Albans, Woolstou, Linwood, Jerrold street, Spreydon.

FIRE PREVENTION OPERATIONS OF BOARD. TFp to the date of the passing of the legislation whereunder fire districts and Fire Boards were established, the matter of providing for fire prev ntion and extinction ■"- concern of the municipality. Nowadays it is the concern of the Christc*- '> Fire Board, on which there are representatives of the City Council in addition to representatives of the fire insurance companies, and of the Governm t. The Superintends of the Brigade is Mr G. C. Warner, and the Deputy-Super-intendent, Mr C. J. Blake. The additional staff comprises 2 foremen, 4 station officers, 1 motor mechanic, and 27' firemen. Auxi" rips: 6 firemen, 9 theatre firemen. The Br-"- de has now a thoroughly up-to-date and efficient plant. There is a complete installation of street'fire alr-ms throughout the fire district, comprising 159 call points, which are connected with headquarters and district sub-stations. In ddition, 42 public and private buildii 3 are connected with the fire stations by means of automatic fire alarms rnd Grinnell sprinkler systems. The fact that a Fair portion of the City area is not reticulated under a high-pressure water supply has been a handicap suff ed by the Brigade. The 'joard, which made representations to the Christchurch City Council on the question, hailed with satisfaction the resolution of the Council ' proceed with the installation of the high-pressure simply in 'Wmjston. St. Martins, and Papanui. The reticulation of these restricts has been completed, or is on the eve of completion. The river Avon is a valuable asset for fire suppression p rposes, and there are underground tank* in places available for the Brigade. Cre*-'-": add th contribution of water on occasions, the manner in which the Brigade taps various sources of supply very quickly -* fires pointing to' a systematic mapping out of resources for all eventualities. OFFENSIVE TRADES. The question of limiting offensive trades within certain areas, which is an important aspect in any town planning scheme, was considered at a conference of the By-laws, Works and Sanitary Committee, which was attended by the Medical Officer of Health for the district. The Medical Officer urged that the time had arrived for the setting aside of a special area in which certain trades, classified under the Health Act, should be confined. As an outcome of the discussion, a conference of all members of local bodies was held in March, 1926", the Council also approving of the principle that an obnoxious or offensive trades area should bo defined.

MUNICIPAL WORKS. MANY EXTENSIONS. FEATS OF MODERN ENGINEERING. SOME FACTS AND FIGURES. To keep pace with the progress of the City, the Council offices and staff have grown to what is to-day a big organisation indeed. New departments have been created, and the functions of the older ones widened. Modern road and street construction and maintenance, electric licht and power, high-pressure water, and drainage schemes have all brought with them problems of organisation which have had to be faced by the City Engineer's department and the Works Committees of the different City Councils, The Works Committee carries all works authorised by other committees with the exception of the Electricity Committee. In 1925, when the present City Engineer (Mr A. It. Galbraith) took charge a reorganisation took place. The professional and technical staffs were represented by four officials and the clerical staff by two. It was considered by him to be quite impossible for the department to function satisfactorily with this staffing, especially as the work was increasing enormously. Under the reorganisation there were additions to the professional, technical, and clerical staffs, while the outdoors staff was also reorganised under the assistant engineer, the last a new appointment designed to give the City Engineer more freedom for general direction and control. The reorganisation also extended to-changes of system and methods. Although under the new scheme there is an increase in the cost of administration, there are also corresponding gairi3, quite apart from the argument that might be used regarding a saving through added efficiency. Also, the offices of the Council are now housed in a spacious and well designed modern building. Although progress in modern road construction has not been nearly so great a? in some of the other municipalities in New Zealand, Christchurch has to-day business concerns controlling municipal activities comparable with any in size and efficiency. Forty Tears Ago. Some forty years ago, New Brighton was a sand waste, and sections in the main streets there were then sel'ing at £lO each. About that time

also, the only building on the Cashmere Hills was the Convalescent Home. Redclifis was all waste land and Clifton's first house is only some twenty-five years old. What is now North Linwood, North Richmond, Avonside, and Spreydon was all farm land. Approximately twenty years ago St. Albans, north of Edgeware road and the block east of Papanui road from Innes to May's road, was subdivided in'u building blocks, and Riccarton and Fendalton from sparsely built residential districts have become* populous suburbs. Only nine years ago. Christchurch comprised within its area Linwood. St. Albans, and Sydenham only; now it includes Beckenham Fisherton, North Linwood, North Richmond, Dallington, Opawa, St Martins, Bromley, Papanui. Spreydon, and Woolston. In seventeen years in the City area some five thousand six hundred dwel lings and about eight hundred and eighty buildings have been built which is quite equivalent to a town in itself, and since 1904 over a period of twenty-three years, the popu'ation s grown from 48.789 to 119.399, an increase of no less than 70.610. a very significant total, and with this has increased proportionately the mileage ot rarriaeeways and. footways as well as the other City services of the Citv Engineer's Department, as set forth in the various sections of this report, vet at the time of the present City Engineer taking over office, the staff was numerically the same as it was some ten vears ago. Administration Cost. The City Engineer's Department is generally looked upon as the great spending department of the but the revenue return in 1927-2* was £16,104 Bs, and in 1926-27, £18,526 Is lid. Against this' the administration of the department was £4879 and £3308 respectively in these two vears, and the expenditure £171,786 and £150,045. The administration cost per cent, since 1920-21 is £1 16s 4d, £2 0s 4d, £1 16s 4d. £1 18s Id. £1 19s 4d, £2 4s Id, and £2 16s 9d. Building Figures. The building permits for 1927 show an increase of nearly 100 over those of 1926, but those of 1927-28 show a decrease of over 100 over those of 1927. Detailed comparisons are: — 1927-28. 1926-27. Ward. Value. No. Value. No. Central— Inner Area 140,736 79 -131,684 63 Outer Area 44,638 130 103,135 130 St. Albans .. 145,567 334 259,078 401 Sydenham . . 61,048 198 81,932 213 Linwood .. 88,901 187 131,878 252 Sprevdon .. 89,062 192 99,714 187 Woolston .. 46,158 97 38,770 78 Total .. 616,110 1217 846,1911324 The undermentioned state-icut gives the increase iii permits for the pastten years: Year. No. Value. £ 1918 231 146,930 1919 210 168.335 1920 517 460,118 1921 493 405.818 1922 6SI 475,987 1923 599 649,066 1924 1.217 521.605 1925 1.195 837. 100 1926 1.285 750,408 1927 1,32-1 816,461

M6talling the Streets. The Halswell Quarries were purchased by the City in 1925 for £31,893 45.. For the year 1926-27 the cost of running them was £10,064 4s 10d, a cost of 6s 4Jd per cubic yard. The output for the year was valued at £22,870 14s Id, of which metal to the value of £15,340 7s 5d was usee, on the roads and that to the value of £7530 6s sold privately. The number of miles of' streets metalled'for the last seven years is: 171 (1921), 193 (1922), 241 (1923), 241 (1924), 242 (1925), 243 (1926), and 246 (1927). The number of cubic yards of metal used in each of these vears was: 11,422. 23,584, 19,938, 25,420, 19,540, 19,903, and 24,0695. During the years 1920-27 tar to the value of £37,157 has been put on City roads. The estimates for Highways Construction totalled £1,083,264, an in- ' crease of £17,844 0s 7d over the preceding year. Eainfall. A study of the local rainfall is of extreme interest, as the problem of City drainage is vitally afFected by the intensity and duration thereof. The total rainfall for the past seven years with the number of wet days is:— Year. Rainfall. Wet Days. Ins. 1921-22 .. 21.949 128 1922-23 .. 23.034 124 1923-24 .. 27.287 130 1924-25 .. 25.004 128 1925-26 .. 35.512 151 1926-27 .. 20.737 140 Water Supply. The high pressure water supply of the City is taken from artesian wells sunk on three sites, the principal supply being derived from Cashmere and the other two nearby. The following figures give the total quantity of water pumped at all stations for the last eighteen years, ending March 31st, 1927: Year. Gallons. 1910 .. .. 104,724,600 1911 .. .. 240,247,500 1912 .. .. 341,670,000 1913 .. .. 456,309,000 1914 .. .. 530,470,000 1915 .. .. 598,771,500 1916 .. .. 600,629,000 1917 .. .. 618,350,600 1918 .. .. 591,010,000 1919 .. '.. 629,542,000 1920 .. .. 726,460,500 3921 .. .. 792,144,200 1922 .. .. 832,268,200 1923 .. .. 855,983,500 1924 .. .'. 926,661,700 1925 .. .. 901,933,000 1926 .. .. 981,777,300 1927 .. .. 1,049,866,700 For the years ending March 31st, 191S and 1925, there was a decrease in the quantity pumped; this was dne to the heavy rainfall in those years. The average quantity of water that could be pumped on a daily basis up to March 31st is as follows: — Cashmere, 3,500,000 gallons per 24 hours.

St. Albans 792,000 gallons per 18 hours (approx.}. Sydenham 666,500 gallons per 15J hours. . Total 4,958,500 gallons. In an emergency an extra 2,000,000 gallons could be pumped in the 24 hours at Cashmere. Summary,of all stations for year ending March 31st, 1927: Total quantity of water pumped— Gallons pumped ... 1,049,886,700 1926 ..."• ... 981,777,300 Increase on last year ... 68,089,400 Average consumption per 24 hours .. ... 2,876,000 Highest consumption per 24 hours ... ... 4,186,000 Averages cost per million ' gallons ... ... £5 13s Old Average cost per thousand gallons ... 1.37 d M.E.D. The year 1926-27 was marked by the completion of the. long-awaited extensions to the Lake Coleridge power house, and consequently ranked as one of importance in the electrical history of the City. The capital expenditure during the year amounted to £36,763, the whole of which was, as incurred, provided for from available funds, which were-

lllllllllllllllllllNllllllllllllllllllllillllllllll' .subsequently reimbursed from loan. The largest items imder this expenditure have been as follows: £13.000 for extensions to aerial distribution system £5400 for underground distribution (including special cable conduit). £4BOO for buildings. £3OOO odd to each cf the. three items, sub-station plant, transformers, and meters. The raising of loan money has been retarded, and consequently the value of carrying out capital work from available funds, which can be replaced by loan money when raised,' has been well demonstrated. Satisfactory results attended tho year's operations. The cost of current increased from £51,129 to £64,509. Working exoenses from £34.780 to £40,825, and capital charges from £48,760 to £52,847. Offsetting these- increases, the revenue increased from £165,708 to £182,180. The maximum load increased from 7760 k.w. to 8078 k.w. The number of consumers increased from 24,564 to 26.438. The increase in the number of ranges and wate*- heaters was a marked feature. The numbers at March 31st, 1927, were 1181 and 1473 1 respectively.

PUBLIC UTILITIES. AN IMPORTANT COMMITTEE. About two years ago, an important step was taken when, on the suggestion of the City Engineer (Mr A. R> Galbraith), it was decided to set tip a Public Utilities Committee. This .is composed of representatives of local bodies, Government Departments, and other bodies having the right, to trench the highways. the committee systematises the work of drawing up • programme intended to eliminate Jhe wasteful cutting up of roads. As far as is possible, the work that each.boa? desires to do in a certain - street is done simultaneously. As a'result, thn Council is often saved the cost of'successively preparing the road surface, or defers such work until the t)ther bodies have done the trenching they require to do. The committee, consequently, discharges very valuable services. It is noteworthy that the necessity for such a committee was recognised l many years ago The late Mr TT E. Taylor, in his,address to the municipal electors in 1911, had the following:— "Until the people of New Zealand have legislative power to establish Metropolitan Boards of Works, the expenditure of the city upon street construction and other similar works should be safeguarded by a Consultative Committee, consisting of a representative from the Drainage Board, the Tramway Board, the Gas Company, and the Works Department of the Council. Tho plans of these various bodies affecting street formation, or the breaking up of roads for any purpose, should then be compared, and much of the damage done to tho'construction work in our streets now carried out by the Council could be averted. It has been no uncommon' thing in the past for large suras to ba expended by the Council in putting a street in good order, and in a few weeks afterwards to see the work all spoilt by the Tramway, or Drainage Board, or by tho Gas Company, The day is probably not far distant when the tramway and drainaeo Bvstems will be under tho control of the City Council, and the waste resulting from overlapping in work will bo avoided^' BULK PETROL STORAGE? One of the new problems that illustrates the changing conditins' with which the Council has to deal concerns tho bulk supply, and distribution of petrol. A strong line was taken when permits were refused for additional petrol pumps on footpath kerbs at a time when the whole scheme of distribution by certain big suppliers had been radically altered. It is very probable that the few kerbside pumps now in existence ultimately will soon disappear.

MUNICIPAL ELECTRICITY. Att IMPORTAiW DEPARTMENT. The City of Ghfistctiirch was one of the" flfsi in the Dominion to embark on ft municipal scheme of electric power ■upply, tliid it was due largely to the advocacy of the public men and citizens of Christehurch that' the Government', in 1910," decided to develop the.Lake Coleridge source of supply. Early Schemes. The earliest practical proposal for the tot-'Usation of hydro-electric power in Canterbury, wrote the late L. Birks in lis pamphlet on,"The Development of pydro-eleetfic Power in Canterbury," Consisted 61 a report prepared by Mr A. Dudley Dobson for the Christehurch City Council, dated October, 1899. Two schemes were outlined. The most feasible proposed to take water from, the Waimakafriri five* just above the' Gorge bridge bjf means of a short tunnel through the roek spur forming the sonthifn promontory of the Gorge, enlarging a previously existing water tunnel Then the water was to be-ear.. Tied ifl an open face five miles and three-quarters in.length; at the end of which a fall of 90 feet was available baek to the rivef-bedj the river falling here about 25 feet to the mile. The mininitim flow of''the river is; about £OOO ctisecs, and utilising only one-half " of this, the power available is 5000 iiloWattl .."... fhis wag ample for all purely muni- ' iipal requirements (at that time), and under the enthusiastic advocacy of the Sate Mr T. E. Taylor and a committee of the business men of the C}ty, the proposal took definite shape. The transmission distance from the power-house to the main sub-station on the western outskirts of the City was about 30 miles, and. the transmission pressure yrovii have been 'abotit 80,000 volts. The whole scheme would thUS have been comparable with thitt now supplying the city of Dufcediri from the Walpori Palls (inaugurated ill 1007) j both in its engineering and electrical features, and in the difficulties involved in maintaining the service, and was a thoroughly feasible and useful proposal Jfcr the then municipal requirements.

Lake Coleridge Scheme. In September, 1904, the then Bngineer 7 in-Chief of the Public Works Department, Mr P* S. Hay, published the results of his investigations of Lake Coleridge as a source of supply, and these were supported by Mr L. M. Hancoek, an American expert. The question of municipal versus State control had not then been decided. In September, 1909, Mr P. T. M. Kissel, then engineer to the Selwyn County Council, and now Government Chief Electrical Engineer, who had carried out the preliminary surveys, was • retained by the City Council to report on the suitability of Lake Coleridge for the council's supply. His report, supported by Mr F. W. Marchant, of Tiinaru, indicated that the scheme was quite practical and was reasonable in cost. The scheme ultimately was developed by the Government, and a continuous service was run from March Ist, 19io, starting with a total generating capacity of 4500 kilowatts. Municipal Supply. The City Council did not wait, or keep the citizens waiting till 1915 for supply from Lake Coleridge, and in August, 1903, public supply was begun from the generating plant fun in conjunction with the City destructor. The steam from the water-tube boiler of 1741 square feet heating sUrfaee, equal to about 170 horse-power capacity, was, prior to the installation of the electricity generators, allowed to blow off continuously. During the first term \as Mayor of Christehurch the Hon. Mr (now Sir Henry) Wigram, in 1902, it was decided to use this steam, that was going to waste, for the generation of electri' pOwer. A steam, piant was installed Consisting of two steam generators of IQO kilowatts each, with a large storage battery. The system was immediately successful, and .although supply was limited to the central portion of the City the demand rapidly overtook the generating capacity, and extensions had to be made in the second year > bringing the capacity up to 350 kilowatts. The third year it was increased to 550 kilowatts, and the fourth year to 950 kilowatts beyond which it was not extended; the following table, giving particulars of the first year and the last year of operation, is of interest: — 1904-3. 1914-15. Capital outlay .. £12,360 £134,068 Plant capacity .. 200k.w. 950k.w. Maximum load .. 98k.w. 970k.w. No. ConSutoers .. 60 1,623 Opits sold .. 39,432 1,375,738 Working cost per unit 2.89 d 2.52 d Total cost per' unit 4.70 d 3.52 d Charges: Light .. lod to 6d 6dto3Jd Power • • i& od t0 2 l d Average revenue per unit .. .. 4.17 d 4.06 d Some of the generating plant is still Used for the purpose of keeping down

the peak load and, generally, for standby purposes. . How the Load Grew. In 1910, under the Mayoralty of Mr T; E. Taylor, an understanding was arrived at between the Government and the City Council. This provided that the City should retain the reticulation and retail distribution of energy within the City area, the Government undertaking the development of the .water powerj and retailing current in bulk to the municipality. The Government fef tained the right to supply direct to the railways and tramways* and local authorities outside the City liraitß. ' When continuous supply from Lake Coleridge began in 1915 the City system was supplied at once by means of two rotary converters, giving a load of-1000 kilowatts, oh the water power plant from the first day of operation. J This rose quickly to 1300 kilowatts, and remained stationary there for the first year, the peak load "on Mareh 31st; 1916/ being only 1350 kilowatts, and the output for the year* 4,860,260 units. It required six months after the supplybegan to convince the large consumers that it would prove satisfactory, and after that it took several months to install the necessary motors and wiring. In April, 1916, the load began to go up rapidly, and by March, 1917, it reached the full capacity of the installed plant, 4500 kilowatts, the butput for the second year being 14,224,690 units, with a corresponding reduction in costs. Since then the demand has never slackened, and at times has exceeded the capacity of the plant at Lake Coleridge. Another Waimakariri Scheme. In 1902 Parliament passed the City of Christehurch Electric Power and Loan Empowering Act under which the City Council was given certain powers to.-develop a hydro-electric scheme oh the Waimakariri, and certain borrowing powers. In 1922 and 1923 the municipal] iy, with the intention of taking advantage of those powers, had a sur.vey "made, and estimates of a scheme drawn Up by Charles B. Hawley and Co., Inc., of Washington D.C. That firm's report, dated June 9th, 1923, proposed that the initial scheme should be at the Otarama site, near Woodstock, and their estimate of cost on the basis of a 15,000 kilowatt installation was (for construction) £838,600, or £56 per kilowatt. When a third unit was added, bringing the capacity up to 22,500 kilowatts, the "cost per kilowatt would be less than £4O. The scheme was not proceeded with, but the report proved of value in securing from the Government more favourable terms, when the contract between the Government and the municipality expired, than otherwise would have been "<-&e.

Development of the Department. The following table, giving results for three years, shows how rapidly the department is expanding :-r- . „ Operating and cost data (electrical supply only) for years ending March 1927 1926 1925 - Capital _ outlay 614,780 578,027 559,144 Operating Costs— , Working expenses (including renewals) .. ... 40,825 34,866 33,561 : Cost of current .'. .. 64,509 51,129 -29,599 Capita] ChargesInterest .. ... 23,428 , 21,356 21,681 , Depreciation .. ... 29,421 27j404 47,385.. Total costs .. ~ 158,183 134,755 132,226 Total revenue ~ .... 182,180 165,708 146,546 Balance (gross) ' .. .. 23,997 30,953 14,320 Maximum load k.w. ... .. 8,078 7,760 6,460 Units Purchased .. ..' 33,204,149 29,539,817 25,656,410 " Generated .. .. 2,240 5,870 3,720 " Sold- r . 29,119,422 25,588,802 22,511,181 " Street lighting .; 1,311,539 1,244,542 1,198,844 " Electric vehicles .. 398,654 372,088 381,254 " Baths heater ... • 1,216,864 1,505,170 1,681,790 " Local bodies .. .. 2,138,285 1,581,219 1,179,032 " Domestic .. ..... 9,215,724 7,021,544 5,331,134 " Commercial ... .. 5,000,053 4,548,712 4,031,846 " Power •.." .. 9,838,303 9>315,527 8,707,281 " Losses and unproductive . 4,086,967 3,956,885 3,148,949 " Loss per cenk .. .. 12.3 13.4 12.3 Yearly load factor per cent. ~ 46.8 43.4 45.5 dumber of consumers ~ 26,438 24,564 22,491 'Connected load k.w. .. 54,870 50,422 43)068 Demand factor .. .. 6.79 6.48 6.67 *lneludes Waiinairi figures. Working Cost— Per k;w, max. , .. .. £13.04 £ll,OB £9.77 Per unit sold ... .. .868 d .811 d .673 d Capital ChargesPer k.w. may £6.54 £6.28 £10.69 Per unit sold .. ... .435 d .456 d ,736 d Total Costs— Per k.w. max. .. .. £19.58 £17.36 £20.46 Per unit sold .. .. 1.303 d 1.267 d 1.409 d Eevenue— Per. k.w. max. .. .. ££2.45 £21.35 £22.64 Per unit sold ... .. 1.497 d 1.563 d 1.56 d Analysis of Eevenue Under Different Types of Service^1927 1926 1925 Total Total Total Eev. Eev. Eev. £ £ £ Domestic .. .. 71,964 62,873 51,296 Commercial .. .. 55,316 53,313 47,839 Power .. .. 38,824 35,753 34,547 Local Bodies 3,298 2,655 2,180 . Street lighting (current only) 4,481 4,252 4,095 Financial information relating to the department is summarised as follows: — £ Loans authorised .. .. .. .. ; .., 809,741 Loans raised • .. .. .. .. .. 477,605 Sinking funds (including special payment due in*l929) .. 193,732 Capital expenditure .. .. .. .. .. 614,780 Bevenue for year .. .. .. .. .. 182,180 Balance transferred to reserve after providing for working expenses, interest, depreciation, and sinking fund .. 34,498

AN EVENTFUL CAREER, BUSINESS ROMANCE. leading christchurch man's experiences! When approached by a reporter and asked to tell some of his experiences in his business career before , he achieved his present success, Mr Eugene Spitz, of Christchurch, was at first very reticent, but after being encouraged by the reporter he seemed to be greatly amused when he began to think back to the days when early one Monday morning he stepped out of the train at Paris, hot eighteen years of age, and with five francs in his pocket. A porter approached him at the station and wanted to show him to a hotel and help him to carry his small portmanteau, which contained his very slender sock of belongings. Mr Spitz informed the porter of his impecunious position, but the latter showed him to an inexpensive hotel, and, being vezy tired, he soon sought •his bed. , Later in the morning he paid three and a half francs for his room and a bowl of cafe au lait and a roll, and then started off to get work. He knew very little about Paris, but being ambitious he was determined to obtain employment in the most fashionable quarter, and towards midday found himself in the Rue de la Paix. Here he went up to a fashionable establishment. At first the uniformed porter would have stopped him, telling him that nobody was required, but finally, seeing that he was very keen, the porter admitted him, and he entered the establishment and was taken to the manager. Here luck was with him, as he was told that he could start worknext morning, and he left the establishment in a happy frame of mind. His next' thought was how' to get along with one and a half francs until tne end of the week, when he would get his wages. By this time, however, he had begun to think that he had some business acumen, and consoling himself with the thought that the hotelkeeper would wait for payment until the end of the week, he spent his remaining franc and a half on lunch. Next morning he started work, and at lunch time his fellow workers took him to the restaurant where they wont regularly. Here payment .was .made only at the end of each week, so his financial troubles were over. Great Strike in Paris. Mr Spitz went on working at this fashionable house for some considerable time, happy and giving satisfaction with the splendid class of work he was turning out, and getting occasional praise from the manager, until in February, in the winter of 1899, a great strike broke out, and about sixteen thousand dressmakers and ladies' tabors went out on a strike that lasted seven weeks —Mr Spitz with them. Every morning

they marched carrying their banners to the Bourse de Travail, which holds about five thousand people, and listened to all the great. Socialist orators, amongst these being such men as Jaurese, Sebastian Fort, and even on one occasion,-Madam Sarah Bernhardt (who at that time claimed to be a Sooialist) delivered speeches. In the afternoons most of the strikers filled in their time at 1 a certain cafe, playing cards and drinking light wine or. some other aperitiff. It happened at that time-that Mr Spitz had. saved a little money, and as he had always 1 een ambitious' to become a cutter and designer, he paid his fees at> a cutting Academy and spent hisafternoons during the strike attending' at the Academy and learning the art of cutting and designing. The employees lost the strike, and those, who were lucky enough to get back their old jobs, were v y please'' Mr Spitz was one of the lucky ones. Shortly afterwards when 1 < was going to his lunch one day the manager stopped him and told him to step into his office after lunch, as he had something to say to him; Here Mr Spitz smiled as he continued: I felt rather uneasy during lunch as to what would be the outcome of this interview as I thought that perhaps something had gonei wrong and I would "get the sack." However, my fears were groundless, as when I saw the manager he asked me if I could cut or fit a job. I replied that I had just recently got my diploma from the Academy, but I was not sure if I could. He then told me that one of the Firm's dtesigners was obliged to leave to join the army, and that he proposed to give me his position and he thought that I would be quite a success. Bemoval to London. It was not too easy at first, as in Paris one has not only to be able to cut or fit a garment, but also must have a creative mind to design and create models. However, I got encouragement from all sides, particularly from the manager, who must have seen more capabilities in me than I saw in myself. As time went on I made good progress there, and was getting on quite successfully when I got the offer of a position in London with one of the leading West End firms, and as I had always been rather keen to learn the English language andi to acquaint myself with London I accepted the offer. Of course, not knowing the English language it was awkward at first—even to-day when I recollect some episodes of my struggle with the language I cannot help smiling to myself. On one occasion I was fitting a dress for the Marchioness of Twisdale, and I wanted to explain to her that the dress would be very nice if it were altered on the shoulders; in. stead I said "Madame, the dress will be very nice when I alter it here in the upstairs." The Marchioness did not even smile, but when she had gone, one of the saleswomen explained the joke to me. Occasionally I had to" go out to fit dresseß for the Dowager Duchess of Marlborough, who lived at Deepdcan Castle, a half-hour's drive from Dorking, where her carriage would be waiting for me. Mi£3 Sullivan, the sister of Sir Arthur Sullivan, the great composer, used to stay with the Duchess quite often, and she waa usually pre-

sent when I was fitting. Duchess could speak S°£ d .:j;rasHHß she insisted English to her,: and wWi|fflß would be fitting Mid t . teli iPg«m her I would see in » { i«| front of me how #iss laughinu to herself at tl e .W.ya—twisting the words about in deavour to make myself is wonderfuL how a' * 6 tyW\*M3BHm ledge of a language gives one,«m»B to talk, becaufe he do« he is wrong), while the; DtteH|ih;W|H| stand there lddklhg t e f? k8 haughty, just, as if she tind§rltsfl *|||fi| word I said. '. • However, soon- afterwards tunate enough to meet a frS;SSfSMB man who was ah* Otis to If He made hie join W V?sJtf JffilßM we used to Bpetid m^y.| tt fflM together, with him JSB MM and me' teaching him MM still many P*;.*ftMH the time when I easiest way to learn irr W£JWSHB » French was.to leara the story Baba or The FortyV Thieves, .{9H there are conjugated. It was used to recite the whole sto>7 Attractions of New The climate of London JNtf/QSH me too well, and one very foggy winter I fi*v#me& ", I W* , attack of bronchitis whic'iffJW a weak throat which & «H mine my health. Just ft* o ** **&,.«■■ I was making some dresses Zealand ladies, and white *tQ,B9HI they told me about the ,™"2fIHH mate of New Zealand, and the ful life altogether, and rado always appeals to every |SffiH being, added to the fact W» H not fnjoying the best of healthirtjj time, naturally to live toj * blue sky and bright„■«**•/jjWBB leave behind the dull, London was a great draw. « *%ss&& take long for me to decide, tod » of months after having heard **g3BgM ing account of New Zealand 1 Jfifflßm myself on the sea on the way W my 7|^H X arriving in New Zealand the people very town that I visited I met qrfj $3/tM ber of people who wished mew >H|§§m in bush Win their me some time to decide. £2]gyp|M finally decided to open mresta in Christchurch, ami Jw* fijgUm many friends in both business ;tjß^M