General News.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19719, 9 September 1929, Page 8

General News.

A break in the existing automatic telephone service occurred last evening, but was repaired within a few minutes, the fault being only a minor one. The Gazette publishes a special order made by the Amuri County Council declaring that Californian thistle shall be deemed not to be a noxious weed within the county of Amuri.

Jarues Williams, who was employed on roading relief work at the second Greta cutting, Cheviot, dropped dead while at his work on Wednesday last. Deceased, who was 65 years of age, was a married man with a wife and family residing in Christchurch. "That would please the Government at Home," remarked a delegate at last week's conference of fruit-growers in. Wellington when it was suggested that cases of fruit exported to Great Britain should bo stamped with red labels.

"It has been discovered that pears and Delicious apples carry on the boats at the same temperature, and in future the fact will be made full use of," said Mr F. W. Cone, at the meeting of the Canterbury Fruitgrowers' Association on Saturday evening.

More than 80 teachers attended the refresher course in agricultural subjects which was held at the Normal School on Friday and Saturday last. The course was arranged and conducted by Mr J. Brown, Chief Agricultural Instructor for Canterbury, other lecturers being Messrs G. Ridley and W. Johnston.

There were five degrees of frost registered on Saturday at the Meteorological Observatory in the Botanical Gardens. This figure, howevc -, testifies to the fact that the rrghts are becoming definitely warmer. The night temperatures for last week were:—Tuesday, 22.4 degrees; Wednesday, 23.1 degrees; Thursday, 23.7 degrees; Friday, 27.0 degrees. The new vicarage at St. James's Church, Riccarton, is to be an eightroomed, two-storey bungalow situated in the church grounds. At present the plaster work is drying, and the carpen ters are waiting to put the finishing touches on the building. According to the Rev. R. de Lambert, the vicarage should be ready for occupation in about a month's time.

"The Salvation Army is solid for the new regime and the new General} and New Zealand is ready to welcome him with open arms when he comes out here next February," said Staff-Captain H. Parsons on Saturday. Mr Parsons is from the international headquarters in London, and is making a short visit to Christchurch. Yesterday afternoon he spoke at the Citadel on migration and on the "Army in Other Lands," and he leaves New Zealand for England on September 14th.

"I am not at all sure that there would not be some legal liability on the Council in the event of an accident caused by a collision with one of these domes," said Mr J. Guiniven at a meeting of the Takapuna Borough Council last week when a letter was received from the Auckland Automobile Association advising that it had been decided white lines were preferable to domes for the purpose of traffic direction. The Council approved Mr Guiniven's recommendation that lines should be substituted wherever possible.

The recent opossum season was not a very profitable one for trappers in Taranaki. Cold and wet weather made conditions very unpleasant, and a number of trappers on the Egmont Park and adjoining reserves are stated to have given up in despair. Trapping was carried on this year over a wider area than usual. It is anticipated t-liat, though the individual returns will show a decline, the total will be not far below the average, and it may be higher. It was stated at the meeting of the Canterbury Fruitgrowers' Association on Saturday evening that the Association had received no official word about the excursion of fruitgrowers proposed by Otago to Hawke's Bay and Nelson. In discussing the proposed tour, it was stated that the dates arranged in October would not suit Canterbury orchardists, as it was in the middle of the pink spraying season. However, it was decided that all possible should be done to entertain the visitors during their stay in Christchurch.

An interesting story is told in connexion with the Bay of Plenty Cooperative Dairy Company's annual meeting. A certain supplier had received prior to the annual meeting a balance-sheet which aroused his ■suspicions. Carrying the document in his pocket, he drew it out before his fellowsuppliers one morning at milk delivery. "Look at this," he said, "I knew darned well there was something wrong. This balance shows the company has nearly £.4000 less of an overdraft than it had last year. I want to know what has become of that money. I bet my hat the chairman and secretary have got away with it somehow!''

"I confess that I was somewhat depressed, but not discouraged, to find on lay arrival that town-planning was not the healthy infant I had been led to suppose I was to adopt," declared the Director of Town Planning (Mr J. W. Mawson) in an address at the New Zealand Club luncheon in Wellington last week. "As a matter of fact, it was suffering from rickets, due, I think, to lack of nourishment. Its parents, whoever they may have been—there seems to be some doubt about it—appear to have formed the opinion that having launched the child on an unsympathetic world their responsibilities were at an end, and left it to fend for itself. How ever, careful nursing and plenty of fresh air and sunshine have wrought wonders, and already he is a vigorous and healthy child. His pants are a little too short, I admit, and this pre vents him from getting about- as rapidlv as he might otherwise do, but with the new suit of clothes which the Government has promised him I think that this disability will be removed." Sunshine Header Harvesters.—This season we are introducing a Harvester equipped with its own Engine; it can be drawn with a four or five horse team or light tractor This means the Harvester is now available for any farmer and the saving of two-thirds of your present harvesting costs are now possible for all. Over a thousand acres of peas and wheat were handled with our Harvester last season and the machine was definitely established as the most modern improvement offered the New Zealand farmer. Andrews and Beaven. Ltd., opp. Railway Station, Moorhouso avenue, Christchuroh. —3

The public are warned against Taxis who are imitating the lamp signs and bands of the Gold Band Taxis. Always look for the name on the lamp in front. 'Phones 9257 and 9413., —6

Do you get peckish about 10.30 a.m.? Well, pop into the Tudor or Cooke's Tea Roomp, High street, and have a 6d morning tea. Large variety. —6

"The potato planter has given us every satisfaction- The planting is 100 per cent, efficient. l'Tanting can be done at any depth, and the ridging device make? a finisher! job One man and two horses can plant three acres per day. -S and J Prosser. Leeston No vem' ei 6th, 1928." The machines sold last year gave th? users every satis faction. Order early: the planting season \Vill jsoon be here. P. and D. Duncan, Ltd'., 196 Tuam street, and Ashburton- —(>