General News.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19813, 28 December 1929, Page 12

General News.

The Tees* acknowledges Christmas greetings from the Hon. Mr Sidey, and from the Officers and Brothers of the Canterbury Lodge of the Ancient Order of Druids. For the benefit of motorists desirous of proceeding to the West Coast, via the main road over Porter's Pass and Arthur's Pass, it was stated yesterday that the Waimakariri was normal at ■Bealey, and consequently fordable. .The weather was showery. It having been rumoured that the road from Christchurch to Kaikoura was impassable at Okarahia, the secretary of the Canterbury Automobile Association (Mr J. S. Blawkes) made enquiries into the matter yesterday and was informed that cars were able to get through. Terrified by the thunderstorm on Sundav last, a female grey kangaroo at the Auckland Zoological Park dashed itself against a timber prop and broke its neck. The animal was a fine specimen. It is proposed to place the carcase of the kangaroo in the museirm. A telegram was received yesterday by the secretary of the Canterbury Automobile Association (Mr J. S. Hawkes) from Mr Walter Thomson, of Christchurch, who is at present in the Picton district on holiday, stating that the Picton-Grove two-way road was passable for motorcars, a number of which were doing the trip daily. The following telegram ha 3 been received by Mr H. Holland, M.P., from the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward):—'! note that j'ou are in agreement with representations contained in the resolution embodied in your letter of December 23rd regarding the development of Arthur's Pass National Park. I shall be glad to arrange for the matter to receive eireful consideration." About 40 bad street corners at New Plymouth have been surveyed and set back during the fast few months, besides those rounded and set back under the subdivision regulations. This improvement to the town is the result of a campaign bv members of the Borough Council and the borough officers, who have personally canvassed the owners of properties and pointed out the advantage in the interest of public safety. The corners rounded have so far been mainly in the eastern.end of the town. The corners in the brick area are set back an area of 10 links and others 20 links, the maximum being an area of 30 links. At noon yesterday the air temperature rose to the highest yet recorded this summer, 80deg. The previous highest this summer were: 7Sdeg on December 4th, and 77deg on November 20th. On February 24th last summer 84deg was recorded. Yesterday a strong north-west wind accompanied" the high temperature and a rapidly falling barometer. At 1.25 p.m. the pressure ceased to fall and a temporary southwest burst of wind and of rain set in, totalling six points. By 5 p.m. the sky had cleared and a lieht easterly wind prevailed. In Riccarton a fine young lime tree in Straven road was snapped off at shoulder height by the nor'-westpr and some fences levelled. The present is the most popular time of the vear so far as camping out of doors is concerned and the various sites provided by motor organisations and local bodies for the u=e of the public are Trell patronised. The secretary of the Canterbury Automobile Association stated yesterday that the camping area at the Addington Show at present in great demand, no fewer than twenty parties from different parts of the Dominion being quartered there. A* thev are occupying cubicles they have not been affected by the recent wet weather, which unfortunately has been the experience of many people in the country who have taken tents with tbea.

Considerable damage among flocks in the Gisborne district was caused by a pair of sporting dogs last week. Before the raiders could be shot, they had visited several properties and killed at least ten sheep. A boy eventually shot them and the collars have been taken with a view to tracing the owners. "1 am firmly of the opinion that cars should be allowed to be parked anywhere except m the main street," said Mr F. H. Blundell at a meeting of the Taranaki Automobile Association last week. ''The whole question of parking is a nightmare, and is becoming worse and worse every day." said Mr F. Amoore. a member of the New Plymouth Borough Council. An aerial flight of about 60 miles is recorded in Wellington as the achievement of a toy balloon. A number of the balloons were released by a Wellington business firm, with sixpences and other coins attached, the idea being to get the youth of the community interested in following up the balloons ns an advertising device. Many of the balloons came down and were picked up in the city, but one at least had an adventurous journey, passing over the harbour and the Rirnut-aka Ranges to the Wairarapa. wheie it was picked up by a little girl in a paddock near Carterton.

There was a diversion in the Wellington fruit and produce markets last week. Prospective buyers were busily bidding for some lots of fruit when a Chinese, not satisfied with his position at the rear of the gathering, attempted to force his way to the front* His actions were strongly resented by a European, with the result that blows were freely exchanged. It was soon seen that both men were really in earnest, and, much to the delight of followers of the fistic art present, a ring was formed, and it was a fight to the finish. A witness stated that the white man had the better of the combat.

Preaching in St. Patrick's Cathedral at Auckland, the Rev. Father Valentine, administrator of the Eastern Pacific charge of the Roman Catholic missions, told an amusing story to illustrate the simplicity and ingenuity of the native mind. He had mentioned the Scriptural injunction that women should enter the House of God with their heads covered. Lo and behold, the next Sunday the first native woman to arrive was seen to be wearing a hat. Once inside she threw it out of the window, and tho next of the women waiting outside put it on before making her entrance. The process was repeated time after time, and Father "Valentine counted 40 women who had worn the same hat.

Mr P. Moss, of Portobello, Otago, owns a cutter nearly 100 years old, and he is wondering whether it is worth while repairing the venerable craft. It is the powder cutter Otago, which is used for carrying, explosives to various parts of the harbour. Its origin, beyond the fact that it was a ship's cutter, is unknown to the present owner. About 70 years ago it was the Customs launch, and sailed out to meet incoming ships. Afterwards it was owned by the Harbour Board and used for the lifting and laying of moorings for channel buoys Mr Matthew Dickson acquired it from the Harbour Board about 18 years ago and sold it to the present owner. The cutter was built of oak timber and fastened with copper nails. The nails now require to be renewed below the waterline, and it is doubtful whether the cost, of refastening all the bottom planks would be justified.

Last Monday brought great cheer to the homes of something like 150 families in the city, while it also brought unusual activity to a number of business men who were to be seen carrying in hampers of groceries, huge joints, and other Christmas cheer (says the "Dominion," Wellington). The occasion was the annual distribution of Christmas cheer to poor families of the city by members of the Wellington Rotary. Club. During the year the names of those in dire distress have been secured from social workers, ministers of religion, nurses, and others in touch with the sickness and sorrow of the city. The fines for various misdemeanours, augmented by considerable personal donations, built up a considerable fund, which, duly subsidised by the club itself, has been expended in this way. May we have the pleasure of showing you the "Bamlett" Britioh made range of mowers and rakes, recognised as the world's best? These machines are now available in single and two speed models, and we have one model with double drive, that is. a drive from each rear wheel for the severest cutting. Please note our prices are very competitive and immediate delivery can be given. Agents, Messrs Andrews and Beaven, Limited. Moorhouse averiue, Christchurch. —6 John Johnston, Ltd., merchants, established 1863. Direct importers of British and American hardware and machinery. 'Phone 4. P.O. Box 1, Rangiora. —1 Charming Bridal Studies. Delightful pictures with all the charm and sweetness that the occasion demands. A Steffano Webb Bridal Portrait is something to be treasured for a life-time. Studio, 252 High street. —6 Potato Growers.—We are agents for the new Aspinwall Potato Diggers and Planters. Oliver ploughs, Thomas twospeed mowers and rakes. Repair parts and service guaranteed. T. and S. Morrin and Fenwick, 377 Moorhouse avenue. 'Phone 35-320. —6 If you see a Gold Band Taxi returning to the Square or depot empty, stop it and get in, as it will only cost you 6d a head wherever yon are. Our prices are the cheapest, so why go elsewhere and pay more. Keep on 'Phoning 35-572 or 34-075 for a Gold Band Taxi. Thank You. —2 A good Hot Lunch at Cooke's or the Tudor Tea Rooms, High street, will set you up for a hard afternoon's Xmas Shopping. —6 If you want the best Tractor Plough in the world, there is only one place to get it, viz., P. and D. Duncan's Tuam street, Christchurch. A farmer purchasing one of these will not have to sell it for half-price in three, six, or twelve months, as has been done in many cases. The following fittings are to be found, in combination, only on our plough: Murray Lift; U. and S. skeiths and buckles; double steerage and rear lever; tailplates; oil-well wheels; best hammered scrap beams and legs throughout. Any size and weight to suit the roughest country that is ploughable. —6 Canterbury Farmers! Make 1930 your "Banner Year" in productivity and profit! Hundreds of pounds worth of grass seed go to waste every year through the imperfect means of collecting it hitherto available! With the patent Chain Drum Stripper all varieties of grass seed —including brown top —can be collected as completely and as surely as a reaper deals with grain crops, doubling—in some cases trebling —the seed value collected, making the Chain Drum Stripper a gilt-edged investment. But if you want to participate in this extra "unearned increment" this season, place your order for a Chain Drum Stripper Now! Booth, Macdonald and Co., Ltd. —6 For collecting White Clover too short to cut with a mower, or for going over clover paddocks already cut with a mower, and carted off, th? Chain Drum Stripper is a gilt-edged investment. In the former case it is the only means, and in the latter, the machine has been known to pay for itself in a single season, with the shaken seed thus collected, and whicl. otherwise would have been wasted. Let us send you Illustrated Pamphlet. Booth, Macdonald ,and Co., Ltd. 06