General News.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19975, 9 July 1930, Page 10

General News.

Financial and Commercial news appears this morning on Page 14. A start has been made at the new site of the Jubilee Clock Tower, the triangle near the intersection of Victoria and Montreal atresia, with the work in preparation for' the re-ereo tion of the tower there, Advice that the Mason River at Waiau is ogain fordable has been re* ceived by the secretary of the Canterbury Automobile Association (Mr J. 8. _ Hawlces). Over the week-end 253 points of rain were recorded. Gratification was expressed at last night's meeting of the Fire Board, that only one malicious falso alarm had been given during the past four weeks, "It is a record," remarked one member, "Some people seem to look on the Government n« fair game," said Mr E. D Moslej, S.M , when sentencing a man for theft from the Addington Workshops, at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, "And some quite reputable members of the , community seem to look on it in the fcamc wav, not, of course, In the matter of petty theft, but with reference to such things :m making statements for tho purpose of income tax and so on." Yesterday morning's frost of 18.4 degrees was the most severe in Christchurch since June 22nd, when the heaviest in nine years was recorded. Singularly onough, it was felt on the Cashmere Hills at its greatest severity.. On Monday evening tho temperature fell to 26.7 degrees, remaining at that level for six hours. The frost was accompanied by a fog, particularly thick in Sydenham and about the river in all parts of the City.

Seeking some explanation for the .freakishnoss of the pohutukawas at Day's Bay which flower at midwinter, a gentleman who spends most of his Hfo among the trees and shrubs stated that these winter-flowering pohutukawas were from stock brought to New Zealand from the TCermadec Islands (reports the "Dominion"), In his opinion they were of the pohutukawa family, but were a different species from the New Zealand Christmas tree. A clause in Superintendent C, C. Warner's report to last night's meeting of the Fire Board detailed the action token by the Brigade in respect of the fatal accident at tho Sockburn railway crossing on June 16th. He ad "ed 'I consider it my duty to place on record tho good work done by the Brigade, also by Mr W. Bowman, who operated the acetone plant, and by Mr Vogel, saddler, both of Sockburn, all of whom worked assiduously through such a trying ordeal, and in the cause of humanity," Diligent enquiries are being made by the detective force into the disappearance of notes amounting to between £6OO and £7OO from the Wellington Oity Treasury last Friday. It is gathered that in accordance with custom the pay-roll had bean made up in A special box, ready for the money to be taken round tho various jobs in the pay car. This box was rifled, tho notes being taken and the silver left, this apparently being too bulky for the limited time in which the thief had to eommit the theft.

Public schools in the Canterbury Education District will be closed all day-to-morrow out of respect to the memory of Sir Joseph Ward. Some of the trees growing about tho City refuse to abide by the official calendar, and are already showing signs that point to an early change of the seasons. The loaders are the two sycamores in front of the Canterbury Public Library, which are making every effort to break through the dormant winter period. An examination of tho buds shows they are swelling rapidlj, and it looks as though they will beat the willows which are not due to put on their green coats for another three or four weeks.

A radical change is probable in the type of play that will bo produced in future by students of the Auckland University College, according to a recommendation adopted at a meeting of tho Students' Association executive Estates the Auckland "Star"). The ♦'wiring 1 ' of public theatres for the screening of talking films has rendered the production of "flesh and blood'' musical comedies impractical, and the students are now considering the prospect oi' presenting a non-mnsical play with topical reference, produced on « less elnborate scale generally. The net profits from the recent extravaganza have reported to have reached n total of £316.

Htonojr production has mode great strides in the Auckland district since the annual Dominion conference of the Honev Producers' Association was held in Auckland, eight rears ago (says the Auckland "Star"). About 100 delegates will meet in conference there on July 15th and succeeding days. During the Interval Auckland has become oas ly the strongest branch of th© Association in New Zealand. Mr P A. Hillary, of Tuakau, the Dominion vicepresident, for instance, has 400 or 600 hives under his care, and his output has been soven or eight tons in one season If Mr It, Gibb, of Southland (president) is unable to attend th» conference. Mr Hillary will preside

Unaware that the excursion tram last Sunday went no further than Arthur's Pass, a party of eight schoolgirls from Christchurch walked over ln« Pass to Otira, expecting to catch the train there for their return. When they found that the train left Arthur's Pass, it was too late to walk back and they had to stay all night at Otira in shelter found by the local constable. The girls returned to Christchurch on Monday afternoon by a goods train. Commenting on the mishap, an official of the Railway De> parfcment said yesterday that they were issued with tickets only to Arthur's Pass and should have known that thf train loft that station, and not Otira.

A Takapunu resident was alarm od In the early hours of Saturday morning by a loud report, apparently thai of an explosion in hi* dining-room (states the Auckland "Star"), He sat uo in bed and listened, when the bang was repeated A search of the house rerouted nothing that could have accounted for the noise, and it was evident bv the tranquil demeanour of the dog that there were no intruders about, so back went the householder to bod. During breakfast his wife had a sudden inspiration. "That noise was the piano," she declared; "two of the wires must have broken. An examination of the instrument proved that she was right. The piano nad been stored for a lonp time, and ovirlentlv the chance of temperature had caused contraction of the wires. Two of the keys were mute.

The wildest taleß were current in Jiunedin on Saturday concerning the misfortune attendant upon thoso enthusiasts who sot out from Dunedin by train for the Test match at Christchurch (reports the "Dunedin Star"), Every second person one met in the street would ask: "Did you know thai the second train to Christehurch on Friday night was stuck in the Mihiwaka tunnel for four hours, and did not reach Oamaru till 6 o'clock on Saturday morning P l ' And thus it went on. For tho benefit of those interested It may bo pointed out that the first special from nvorcargill reached Christehurch at 7.32, about fifteen minutes late The much-dis-cussed second train from Dunedin nr* rived at 9.8 a.m., and the third at 10.9 a.m. There was certainly a delay botw en Sawyers Bar and Seaclifl, and this was due to the greasy rails. But the rallwa.v> authorities state pmpbatjcolly that there W no troth in the assertion that the train was held op in the Mihiwaka tunnel.

"People do some funny things when there is a lire," remarked Mr J. It. Cameron, chairman of the Fire Board, when last night's meeting of the Board was discussing the question of greater prominence being given in the telephone directory to the Brigade's number. "And will continue to do so." lidded Mr E. H. Andrews. A letter from the District Telegraph Engineer set oat that the nog gestion to cut a strip out of the rign hand portion of the cover of the directory and thus disclose the Fire Brigade's number was considered impracticable. It was remarked that there were seven lire brigade stations listed in the body of the directory, and it was decided, in order to give prominence to the Board's headquarter# station, to have the entry printed in bloc' 1 : letters at an annual cost of £3. It was nentioned that none of the telephone directories in the other centres contained the page in yellow paper which appears in the Christ eh urch directory and gives prominence to the Fire Brigade numbers amongst others. In respect of the Fire Brigade the directory advises: "Give exact location of fire—speak calmly and distinctly.'' Railway passengers should make us® of our tree telephone, next to the ticket office when thev want a Gold Band or a Red Band Taxi, as it will pay you to do so: no extra charge for luggage —7 Johnston's N.O. Motor Co., Ltd., authorised Ford dealers. Travelling representatives: W. C. Wilson and F Meyer; manager, A. G.' Prestnoy. Rnngiora. 'Phones 87-88. —8

Try theae delicious specials at the Tudor. Boast fowl and pickled oork every Tuesday and Saturday at the Tudor Tearooms. High street. —»6

The cheapest taxi fares in Cbrißtehurch and the best taxis and the moat popular taxis are the Gold Bands and Red Bands; everybody is riding in them, only la for the first mile; iust think of it. and phone 34-076 or 85-672 Thanh you —0

"When ordering « grain and seed drill, be sure you get the best. drilling being the vital operation in planting any crop The Agriciilturul Pepnrtmont, after trying all other makes both local and importeU found our "Star" drill the onlv make competent to fulfil nil their requirement*. and to give the necessary accuracy in drilling test plats Dunns tVio Inst ten venrs the Department has purchased sin seven opulter drills from us foi that purpose- They know 'he bestf P and D Duncan Ltd. Tuam street. Christchurch _«

Read what a well-known North Canterbury farmer spontaneously writes:—"lt is with pleasure I record my entire satisfaction with the Boothmac-Dnnn Grass Barrow. I have put them to the severest test possible in nri old bide-bonnd pasture and find the harrows get down to it without n doubt and do not block up. The chain harrow behind is a good idoa." —G. M Dixon, ''Double Corner." Amberley The above harrow was nworded a silver medal by the Canterbury A. and P. Association, after trial, last year. Pamphlet, prices, etc., on request. Booth, Macdonald and Co.. Ltd.