General News.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19690, 6 August 1929, Page 8

General News.

The cost to the City Council of opnosing: the motion .for an injunction in connexion with the building of conveniences in Cathedral square was £559 7s Id. The City Council has granted the Free Kindergarten Association permission to take up a collection in the streets of the City on Septeml)er lith next. Daffodil Dav. and to place taHes in the streets and tent-stalls in Victoria square The receipts at the Municipal Baths for the month of July amounted to £79 9s 4d, a decrease of £2O as compared with the same month of the previous year. This decrease was no doubt due to the very bad weather experienced during the month. So far 100,000 trout ova have been liberated from the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society's hatchery. Of these 40,000 hare been placed in the Heathcote river, and over a million are to be liberated in the various streams from the Rakaia to the Clarence. The Municipal Electricity Department has advised the City Council tliat it will be necessary to close the destructor for a week, commencing on the 3rd instant. Arrangements have accordingly been made to dispose of refuse at the masticator and Smart's pit. A railway detonator placed on the tram-lines near the intersection of Cashel and Tanered streets on Saturday evening caused a loud explosion, and alarmed nearbv residents. The niotorman of the Brighton tram, however, regnrded it of such little consequence that he did not stop to investigate. During th« week ended noon yesterday 20 cases of scarlet fever were reported in the Canterbury and West Coast Health Districts. Of the total in the Canterbury district ve were in the metropolian area and of these three were in the City. For the 48 hours ended noon yesterday, five cases were reported Two were in the metropolitan area (one each Soreydon and Halswell county). The others were one each Amuri county, Rangiora borough, and Timaru borough. Infectious and other notifiable diseases reported in the Canterbury and West Coast health districts durinjz the week ended noon yesterday totalled 4G. Canterbury: Scarlet fever. 19, diphtheria, 4 ; tuberculosis, 4, pneumonia. 8; pneumonic influenza, 2, erysipelas. 1; cerebro spinal meningitis, 1; lethargic encephalitis, 1. West Coast: Scarlet fever, 1; diphtheria, 4; puerperal sepsis. 1. There were five deaths in the Canterbury district; 2 from tuberculosis and 3 from pneumonia.

Last week was a cold hut fine one and was a welcome break in the spell of wet weather experienced during the past months. Sunshine recorded at the Christchurch Magnetic Observatory was abnormally high for this time ol the year, the total being 44.6 hours The heavy frosts were responsible for a considerable lowering of the mean temperature (39.6 decrees), which is very low in comparison with the August average of 44.3 degrees. The rainfall, whirh was limited to Monday, was only 60 points. During the week-end an attempt was made to enter a fruit and confectionery shop at the corner of Rolleston and Worcester streets. Miss Trijrgs the occupant of the shop, with her sister left the premises late on Saturday night, ana the fact that i* had received the attentions of burglars was discovered on Sunday morning. A iemmv had evidently been used on the front door, the implement having splintered the wood near the lock, which, however, withstood the attack. For some unknown reason, the letterbox in the door also received some attention, its metal flap being found badlv buckled Those members of the Canterbury Repertory Theatre Society who either have not vet had a chance of acting or are too diffident as to their capabilities to apply for parts in plays being presented to the public, will have an early opportunity ol trying their histrionic abilities. Members who de sire to avail themselves of the opportunity will be asked to registei theii name's at the office of the secretary an I casts will be made up for a number of one-act plays, to be presented at Jellicoe Hall on nights reserved foi members of the Society. Any which are then judged suitable for public presentation will be repeated subse qufintlv as opportunity offers. The Canterbury Manufacturers' Association has endorsed the protest entered by the Trades and Labour Coun cil against the action of the Govern ment in ordering certain engineering supplies from England without giving New Zealand firms an opportunity to tender. The Association also is ask ing the Manufacturers' Association in Wellington to take the matter up with the Government at once if it is found that New Zealand firms were not given an opportunity to tender. The Otago Trades and Labour Council and the Otago Ironmasters' Association also have endorsed the protest.

The body which is to control the Arthur's Pass National Park, the boundaries of which have been Gazetted, will consist of representatives of Canterbury and Westland. The personnel of the Board is expected to be announced shortly. "I think they are all staying in protecting their homes against these firebugs," said a member at the annual meeting of the Opawa Burgesses' Association last evening, when, owing to the small attendance, it was decided to postpone the meeting for a fortnight. The depredations of Alsatian dogs, it is reported, have resulted in a sheepowner in the Styx district losing in one night about 19 ewes, valued about £35; another is said to have lost several sheep valued at £2 per head. A female Alsatian caught in the act of worrying a ewe was immediately shot. The following Press Association message was received last night from Westport:—Dr. Bossard wires from Palmerston North protesting against statements ascribed to him in connexion with the earthquake by unauthorised persons, and declares the same are fantastic. Expressing dissatisfaction with the l)ig increase in rates fixed by the Fleathcote County Council, a number of residents of the Avon riding have set afoot a movement to secede from the county and join Greater Christchurch. At the request of an Avon resident, Cr. D. G Sullivan. M.P., promised to bring the matter before the Finance Committee of the City Council It is proposed to call a meeting at an early date. Tn response to an invitation from the Drainage Board, the Riccarton Borough Council has agreed to meet the Board on August 12th to discuss the question of the reduction of commission paid on rates collected bv the Council, on the understanding that the proceedings are to take the form of a conference rather than of a deputation to the Board ''We don't want to go as a deputation," the DeputyMayor (Mr W Machin) said. "They could tell us to run away and olny while they discussed things behind closed doors."

The traffic through the Otira tunnel has been exceptionally busy recently, ns was shown by the figures published in The Pres- vesterday. and it was oxpccted that the present week would be even busier. the reason being that nvinr> to a slack period being experienced on the Coast so far as shipping is concerned the mines were concentrating on the fulfilment of Fast Const orders. Advice was received by the Railwav Department vstc-day. how ever, that a strike had occurred at the Onhcnn mine, which will have a considerable effect on the amount of coal cominq from the West Coast unless, of course, the trouble is settled within a day or two. An order has been placed for material to enable the present telenhone 'ine between Christchnrch «nd Greymouth to be dunlicated. There is at onW n single line in use for such a purpose, in consequence of which there is often a big rush between 9 n.m and and between 0 p.m and 10 n.m of people wiohin<* to pet into conversation with subscribers in one or the other district, sarilv OTnr When the extra Hue i«j •r>c+"l'ed it is honed t.hnt deI"JF *vil! Tip A< it wHT si^ne "onsidornble time vet hefnre the /new "oninment n-ips to hnnrl the present servW will have to suffice in the meantime.

"While being shown over the Harbour Board offces at Wellington, T was greatly impressed with two splendid hr<re scale coloured mans or plans of Wellington harbour, which are in the B°ard room." reported the chairman CMr H Holland. M.P.) »t yesterday's meeting of the Lvttelton Harbour Board. "One shows the whole harbour and the other the wharves nnd shipping area. The members and -ffcers of the WelJinorton Board find these inv'iJ"->ble in the conduct of and T would surest thft. wp should instruct our pu'Mnepr to hare similar »-.l<»n« prepared for our Rnnrd room. Whilst our barhour model useful, it does not nearly come up to large scale plans, on whicfi details may be pointed out to members '» The Board decided to carry Mr Holland's stifgestion into effect. Everybody is talking about the lovely, dainty, and comfortable new Taxis the New Firm is running, and oh. the fares, how cheap, so 'Phone 9257 or 9413 for a Gold Band Taxi. —3 Hot lunch on Saturdays! Yes, from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Tudor and Cooke's Luncheon Rooms, High street. 6