General News.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19460, 6 November 1928, Page 10

General News.

At noon yesterday the Christmas parcel mail for England closed, the mail being due Home on December 15th. The quantity of matter posted was well up to the average of past years. The Wigram Aerodrome is a busy place at present, all the machines to be used during the forthcoming refresher course being tuned up in readiness for flying. It is probable that the course will commence in about a fortnight. A full-dress church parade of all Territorial units and the 4th (Cadet) Battalion Canterbury Regiment will be held on .Armistice Day, Sunday, November 11th, at 10.45 a.m. Units will be formed up on the Hagley Park football grounds. Yesterday was the warmest day Christchurch has experienced for four weeks, the shade temperature being 78.3. The mean temperature for the past week was 52.9, which is three degrees below the average at this time of the year. "Auckland is a big city—go out and get work and help to pay your debts," said the Official Assignee at Auckland, Mr G. N. Morris, to a bankrupt machinery dealer. Bankrupt replied that work was not easy to obtain at present. "I know, but to the one who really seeks work it is to be found," replied Mr Morris.

Owing to the site of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society's fish hatcheries being required shortly for the new home for Hospital nurses it will be necessary for the Society to acquire another site. A committee has been set up to make a report on the matter, but up to the present has not done so.

Since last August the levej of Lake Coleridge has risen over four feet, from 1661.2 ft to 1665.85 ft. This increase in the water in the lake has been accomplished in much less time than on any previous occasion, and the hydro-electricity branch .of the Public Works Department is highly gratified. The recent rain caused the fishing streams to become so muddy last week that practically no angling could be done, but the water was much clearer during the week-end, with the result that some good bags were obtained. One sportsman got 13 trout from the Selwyn on Saturday nigbt and a number of other good bags were obtained. Yesterday being Guy Fawkes Day it was observed in the usual manner by hundreds of small boys, who made early calls on householders begging "a penny for the Guy." The boys did not restrict their activities to calling on houses, some of them pressing their attentions on racegoers boarding trams in the Square, from whom they appeared to reap a good harvest of coppers. Infectious and other notifiable diseases reported in the Canterbury and West Coast health districts during the week ended noon yesterday totalled 66. as follows:—Canterbury: Scarlet fever, 47 (33 in the metropolitan area); tuberculosis, 5; pneumonia. 9; erysipelas 2; hydatids, 1. West Coast: Scarlet fever, 2. There were three deaths, all in the Canterbury district: Scarlet fever, 1; pneumonia.. 2. A fortune of £453,750 was left by Mr Allan Hughes, of Allerford. Somerset, and of Cavendish square, W., chairman of the General Steam Navigation Company, Ltd., the New Zealand Shipping Company, and the Falmouth Docks Company, and also a director of the Manchester Ship Canal and of the Union Steam Ship Companv of New Zealand. His bequests included an annuity of £250 to Matthew Ravell, "in recognition of his faithful service."

The installation of a 12 inch rising main to the service reservoir at Cashmere, at an estimated cost of £2651, has been authorised by the City Council, and the City Engineer will put the work in hand as soon as possible. The sum of £8335 has been voted for the installation of a 10 inch feeder main at Woolston. and £3OOO for the erection of a suction pump and pump house to the motor and pump at Woolston. Bores are to be sunk in May's road at an estimated cost of £1275The number of side shows that will be seen on the Metropolitan Show Grounds on Thursday and Friday will be greater in number than at any previous show,. no fewer than 140 side showmen having taken up space. There will be an almost entire absence of freak animals, an eight-legged horse being the only side show of that class. The marquee in which the Richmond Creche and Kindergarten Association will look after children left in the charge of its experienced' members, will be situated near the Produce Shed. "Dressed up in his best clothes to do a burglary?" queried Mr Mackay who was defending a man in the Auckland Supreme Court against a charge of attempted breaking and entering. "They are often the ones you would least suspect," answered the constable who was giving evidence. Mr Justice Blair interposed with the enquiry: "How are burglars usually dressed Mr Mackay"'' "Well, Sir, one would not expect a man going to take away. furniture to put on his best clothes to do it," replied Mr Mackay. The discussion closed with the observation from Mr Hubble. prosecuting for the Crown, that "Genius always moves with sudden impulses."

Yesterday morning's Limited express from Wellington was three-quarters of an hour late in arriving at Auckland. The delay was caused through engine trouble. When the express was passing through rtriaka, south of Taumarunui, early yesterday morning, the main driving rod carried away and brought the train to a standstill. Before the journey could be continued the engine crew had to disconnect tl 3 rod, which is a particularly heavy piece of machinery. The job took about 40 minutes to accomplish, and the engine pulled the train slowly to Taumarunni on one cylinder. At the latter place the engines were changed.as usual, and the' journey was resumed at the usual speed without further delay.—Press Service. Progressive farmers should make a point of seeing the Booth-Dunn grass harrow at the Show. It is the latest and best means of pasture rejuvenation, approved "on sight" by practical farmers. It automatically clears itself of the accumulations which clog the points of other harrows, each tooth or tine works independently, and the teeth or tines may be cheaply and easily renewed! Illustrated oamphlet. post free. Booth, Macdonald, nnd Co., Ltd. ' _6