General News.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19624, 21 May 1929, Page 8

General News.

We have received the following further subscriptions to the Kennedy Fund: A. R. Fleming, £5; r-.M.. ss; Thankful, ss; H.H.C., £1; Sympathy, £l. When the footpaths in the portion of Colombo street recently reconstructed are being laid with concrete slabs new kerbing will be- put in. Twenty officers attended the refresher course for infantry officers at Springfield, which has just concluded. The chief work was the visualisation of the action of a battalion on attack. With the coming of winter the weekend passenger traffic to Lyttelton has shown a decrease, and it will not be until next summer that the effect of the electrification of the line will be properly gauged The plans and specifications for the alterations at the Municipal Abattoirs will be completed in six or eight weeks, and tenders for the work will be called. It was in_ July last that steps were taken to raise the loan (just authorised) of £34,000, for the work. Up to noon yesterday, 3158 cars and other motor vehicles and 300 motorcycles had been re-registered at the City Post Office. The clerks were busier yesterday than on any other day since the issue of the new number-plates was commenced The Hudson brougham motor-car which was reported stolen from outside the Dominion Motor Company's garage on Sunday was found abandoned in Armagh street yesterday morning. It was discovered that six gallons of petrol had been used from the car, which was undamaged.

Coal traffic from the West Coast is still very heavy, the tonnage brought by rail from the West Coast yesterday being 2500 It is anticipated that the week's total will be at least 12 000 tons. The eleven vessels at Lyttelton yesterday necessitated the nse of 630 waggons.

Owing to the heavy deficiency on the Avonside bus service in the last financial year (ended March 31st), the Tramway Board decided yesterday to invite tenders for the enrrving-on of the service by private with the object of seeing what saving, if any,_ can be made.

A claim for damage to a bicycle has been refused by the Tramway Board. The cyclist rode from his gateway on to the tram track because, he said, of the bad condition of the rest of the road, and failed to notice an approaching tram, which could not be pulled up in time to avoid throwing the cyclist off hia machine, and damaging : t.

Arrangements are being made to have the casket containing the ashes of the lcte Professor A. W. Bick rton deposited behind a brass tablet in the wall if Canterbury College Hall. What inscription the tablet shall bear haa not yet been decided. A formal ceremony of a semi-private nature will be arranged .when the casket is deposited.

Yesterday morning there were 8.7 degrees of frost in Christehurch, the highest recorded this winter. On Saturday morning there were 6.9 degrees, and on Friday 7.8 degrees. On Sunday, however, there was scarcely one degree. The rainfall so far this year is 9.6 in, nearly double the fall for the corresponding period last year, when only s.lin had been recorded. That of 300 estates offered to the Government for settlement purposes only six had been accepted up to the present was stated by the Minister for industries and Commerce, Hon. Mr Cobbe. at the annual luncheon of the Auckland Manufacturers' Association. "Some of the prices asked have been absurd," said the Minister. 'These people would be wise to offer their land at reasonable rates and thus 'get in while the going is good.' "

Infectious and other notifiable diseases reported in the Canterbury and West Coast Heaith Districts during the week ended noon yesterday totalleu 54, as follows: —Canterbury: Scarlet fever, 31; diphtheria, 1; tuberculosis, 4; pneumonia. 1: pneumonic influenza, 1; puerperal sepsis, 2: erysipelas, 1. West Coast- Scarlet fever, 4; diph theria, 9. Deaths: Canterbury—enteric fever, 1; tuberculosis, 2; pneumonia, 1. West Coast: Tuberculosis, 1. Scarlet fever cases reported during the week ended noon yesterday totalled 31; of these eight were in the metropolitan area, and of these four were in the City. On the West Coast there were four case For the 48 hours ended noon yesterday five cases were reported in the Canterbury health district—2 in the metropolitan area \i in St. Albans and 1 in Lyttelton borough); 2 in Ashburton borough, 1 in Ashburton county. One case on the West Coast was reported from Greymouth borough. The annual report of the Superintendent. Mr J. Creeke, of the Wellington Fire Brigade, was considered by the Wellington Fire Board at its last meeting. Mr M. Marks suggested that the report should include a paragraph to the effect that in the opinion of the Board the time had arrived when the building by-laws of the city should be brought more into accord with those in force in other large cities, and that it was the intention of the Board to bring before the next Fire Brigades' Conference the necessitv for asking the Government, when next amending the Fire Brigades Act, to make some provision for compulsory fire-alarm systems in all business premises in citv aieas. The fire in the Fruit Markets, he held would never have assumed the proportions it did if such an alarm had been installed. In New South Wales and Victoria no new buildings could be erected until the chief of the Fire Brigade had certified that the arransements provided for were for fire-fighting purposes. The Doints he had indicated were the lessons to be learnt from the Fruit Markets fire *nd he thought they should be tinted The suggestion ivaa approved, and the report adopted.

A • subsidy of £ for £ up to £2CO has been promised by the Prime Minister to the Rev. Jasper Calder. of Auckland, on the proceeds of a concert to be given by a pirty from HlliS. Diomede in aid of the "'Down and Outs' Doss House."— Press Service. Hydro-electric power from Arapum is exp cted to be received in Auckland on Monday, May 27th. The initial supply will be 15,000 k.w. irom the first turbine, which is nor.- ready to operate. The supply will be forthcoming .:u-t in time to meet the heavy winter load, which annually gives the Auckland Power Board no" little concern. This winter the Board will be relieved of anxiety on that score.— Press Service. The last rose of summer does not standing blooming alone in the Botani ■ Gardens this season, for it has ninnv companiona as yet untouched by win". ter's severity. The ur nsv.aV.y miM season so far experienced has not affected roses a great deal and a choi e bunch may still be gathered in most of the rose-gardens in the City. But a f>w more frosts such as those experienced during the- past few days, will take their toll and the bushes will be stripped hare. Dahlias and other less hardy plants have already been " bitten. " The Tramway Board decided yesterday, on the recommendation of the Works and Traffic Committee, that the Colombo street track between Armagh street and Bealey avenue be renewed next summer in concrete and 1121b rails, the cost of which will be £13.330. Of this amount the original cost of the line, £4400, will be withdrawn from the depreciation fund, with the consent of the commissioners, and the balance, £S93O, being the increase in cost, owing to the rise in the price of materials and labour and the better class of construction, will be raised by special order loan. •'Practically a whole riding is now exempt from rates." stated the chairman of the Hutt County Council (Mr D. R. Hoggard) at the last meeting of the Council, when it was reported by the ~lerk that 4049 acres of land at Mangaroa had been sold for water supply purposes. As a result this area was now exempt from rates. There was in the riding a good stretch of road to be maintained, with scarcely any rateable land left to pav the maintenance. Mr Hoggard stated that the question of the exemption of lands taken by proclamation would shortly be put before the Minister

Thriving under the semi-tropical conditions in the Winter Garden, a Phoenix palm, only a few years old, has thrnst its head to the roof, and may break through the glass in its quest for sunliccht unless its branches be trained sideways. Tt will have tn be taken out soon in any case, as it has outcTown its hebitat. Its most flourishing neighbour is an Abvssim'an banana palm with leaves some twelve feet long and two feet brn*d. Tt ha« nn''*<* enod fruit. Hard bv is nn india-rubber tree similar to "*Vrh bare sn much commercial vnlir l 'Hiere is also a smaller snecimen if the sneoies in; the "■prr'pn. ficus reliiiosa. so snored to Buddhists. "Informants who do not care to give their names are not worth bothering about." said Air C. M. Gordon at the last meeting t>f the Auckland Acclimatisation Society, when the question of poaching was;discussed. "There is not one report that comes to me that is not fully investigated." he added. Recently a meirber of the council stated that there wis far too much poaching in the Aucklind district, and that he knew of a ciise within eight miles of the city whe-e a man went out every moonlight nijrht and came back with a duck. Referring to this. Mr H. C. Savajre sairl stirb a statement should never have bpen made, as it miebt be taken as a reflection unnn the society 'Hie oartiVuls r rns» had been f'dly in vesti<rnted. End there seemed no r*">sthat such a thin"- occurred He believed that manv «imilar reports were toss exaggerations.

At the weekly luncheon of the Rotary Club at New Plymouth last week,*Rotarian C. H. Weston gave an interesting t ilk about early land transactions in Taranaki.- when blocks of land were ccquired from the Maoris for Pakeha settlement. Trouble arose at an early stage, said Mr Weston, through Te Whero Whero, a Waikato chief, who. claiming rights of conquest, sold his interests in Taranaki for £l4O, and subsequently the original Tarannki ovners demanded payment The first land acquired was the Fitzroy Block, of 3500 acres, for which the r.'rice was 40 red blankets. 80 white blankets, 40 pieces of print, 36 skirts, 400 yards calico, 20 frocks, 11 hats, 3001b soap. 9 double-barrelled guns, 2501b tobacco, 54 flasks of powder, 4 jackets. 17 j women's dresses, 6 boxes of matches,' 6 garments, 1 linen garment, 6 shawls, 3 combs, 3 rakes. 3 pairs of trousers. 6 iron pots. 12 calves, and £/>0 in cash The land included the presentsite of New Plymouth and the boundaries were pointed out by Mr Donald Mac Lean Mr T S Porsaith. the Rev J. Whiteley. and Mr Octaviug Carrington. The purchases of the Bell, Grey, and Tataraimaka blocks followed, at increasing prices, and then the wars of the '6Cs put a stop to settlement, and it was not until about 1872 that ourchases were resumed. During the '7o's large areas were acquired. t>talling 370,340 acres.

The wise woman who attends sales in town to-day wil 1 «ompare prices before she buys. And in the acid test of comparison, Armstrong's famous low prices defy competition! Every department offers you new goods at Drirea such as only Armstrong" could give. Our great Oddment and Sample Sale has a welcome for you to-day—no hustling, no disappointments; bnt a courteous efficient staff to handle a large crowd, and plenty of bargains for all. Armstrongs, High street, and Victoria square. —6

Do you get hungry about 10.30 a.m. ? Well pop into Cooke's and have a od morning tea- large variety. Cooke's Tudor and High street tea rooms. —6 Gout successfully treated. M. Houston (Qualified by exam., London). Foot and Hand Specialist. Cathedral Chambers (over Beresford). 'Phone 86781>. —1

The Booth Mae-Dunn Grass Harrow is selling freely, because it "does the job." For scarifying old pastures before Top Dressing—and yon must scarify to get best results—it is a proven success—all over New Zealand! Some special features are: (1) Ability to automatically keep points free from grass accumulations—which, in other implements, means stopping every f ew chnins, to clear; (2) the tines are replaceable, but being specially hardened thev last indefinitely; thus, wit'- occasional renewal of teeth, the implement is practically everlasting: (3) easy to transport; packed sledgewise in 3 minutes. Illustrated pamphlet by return post. Booth, Macdonald and Co., Ltd. 06