General News.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20104, 6 December 1930, Page 16

General News.

Ihe concrete floor for the basement of the new Art Gallery has been, poured, and the boxing for the walls has reached a height, in parts, of nearly ten feet. The executive of the Canterbury branch of the United Party met at the office of Mr C. S. McCully last evening, to interview Mr J. A. Shand, the general secretary of the organisation, who is on his way back to Wellington from Dunedin. According to "National Education," the official journal of the New Zealand Educational Institute, the secretary of the Institute (Mr H. A. Parkinson) has been officially assured that there will be no reduction in teachers' salaries as a result of the present financial stringency.—PuKsa Service. A well-attended and representative meeting of the Cambridge branch of the Farmers' Union on Thursday carried a resolution by a fair majority: "That this meeting of the New Zealand Farmers' Union and others considers that the time is opportune for the union to take an active part in Dominion politics."—Press Association. A connecting-rod on Mr Oscar Garden's machine,. Kia Ora, broke just as he ascended on Thursday from the Taieri Aerodrome, releasing the oil supply. The machine barely cleared a fence, and at 200 ft flattened out. Mr Garden banked sharply, making a skilful landing. The mishap delayed his flight to Invercargill for two hours, and he eventually took off in an Otago Aero Club Moth.—Press Associativa,

Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, president of the Canterbury Horticultural Society, will open the Society's rose show at tho Art Gallery at 2.30 p.m. to-day.

At last night's meeting of the Technical College Board of Governors Mr G. 11 Franklin gave notice of his intention to move at tho next meeting: •'That the question of commencing the building of the Old Boys' Memorial Hall be considered, and that a statement of all moneys available for same bo presented."

It is freely stated on the "Wellington waterfront that, as a further measure of economy in the Defence Department the steamer Janie Seddon is to bo laid up indefinitely. Apart from certain harbour defence works taking little time, tho chief employment of the ,1 nnie Seddon has been as a tender for tho port health authorities and Customs officials. —Press Association.

During tho period from April Ist to November 30th, the Heathcote County Council issued building permits for construction totalling £.33,807 in value, as compared with £50,631 in the corresponding period of 1929. In tho former total the ridings are represented as follows: —Avon £4287, Bromley £BBO, Hillsborough £7295, Heathcoto Valley £4558, Cashmero £13,013, Mount Pleasant £3774.

"The last time I was before the Court for a traffic offence was for driving a horso at more than a walking paco round a corner," explained a defondant in the Traffic Court yesterday. "That was 52 years ago," lie said. "A pretty good record," commented Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., imposing a fine of 10s and costs on a charge of negligently driving a motor-car, in that ho did not signal when drawing out from a kerb.

The December examinations in theory of the Trinity Collego of Music, London, will be held at the Normal School this morning. Tho local secretary (Mr J. Cross) reports a total of 139 entries, made up as follows:—Preparatory grade 34, junior 20, advanced junior 5, intermediate 27, advanced intermediate 5, senior 8, higher local 3, diploma (A.T.C.L. and L.T.C.L.) 30, A.Mus. T.C.L. J.

On behalf of the Canterbury Education Board orders were issued yesterday against tho removal from tho site of any of tho timber or other materials obtained in the demolition of the two old buildings purchased for removal by the Organised Unemployed and Relief Workers' Committee. The hitch is due to a failure by the latter organisation to make a payment due. It is possiblo that tho Board will take over the removal of the buildings itself. Six men wore employed on behalf of tho committee in wrecking the old structures yesterday.

Dr. D. 10. Hansen, Principal of tho Teclmical College, reported to last night's meeting of tho Board of Governors that he had looked into tho matter of leave of absence granted to teachers of tho college staff. He found that last year in a staff of 38 full-time teachers, two had more or less lengthy sick leave, for which they received partial salary allowance, an<l threo ha<i special leave for study, or travel, entirely at their own expense. As the relieving teachers in four of the cases ouoted received distinctly lower salaries than tho regular teaeheis did, the net result was certainly no financial loss to tho Education Department.

Mr H. G. Ell lias telegraphed to the Alinister for Internal Affairs (the Hon. P. A. do la Perrelle), asking that ilia closing dato of the Stage Coach Art Union may be extended until tho end of the year. By tho end of last weok, hr> explains, only £OO of tho £'4oo worth of tickets ivcro sold, but sinco hs lind induced several unemployed men to start selling on commission, tho sales had greatly improved. During this week they had sold £.15 worth of and were calling back for more. The Labour Department at-£nristchiirob had supported the for extension, since unemployment was ;»t tho moment very bad. Mr KU pointed out further that the total proceeds of the tickets would go in wages, since the building of tho coach employed men in a slack trade.

In respect of the alleged dumping on the Ohristchurch market <jf Australian cherries, Messrs J. McCombs, D. G. Sullivan, H. T. Armstrong, and E. J. Howard, Members of Parliament, sent the following telegram yesterday to the Acting-Prime Alinister, the Hon. E. A. llansom: —"Fruitgrowers, especially cherry growers, are being prejudicially affected by the dumping of Australian fruit on the local market. Local growers can supply at reasonable prices. Growers want immediate enquiries made regarding dumping duties; also whether regulations affecting importation of diseaseaffected fruit are being rigidly enforced. If local crops cannot be sold further unemployment will result. Producers seriously affected. Circumstances demand immediate action." From Sir Apirana Ngata, on behalf of the Acting-Prime Minister, Mr McCombs received a reply later to the eeffct that the mattsr was being referred to the Ministers for Customs and for Agriculture, and that a further reply would be sent as soon as possible. The Hon. L. M. Isitt, M.L.C., will be tlie principal speaker at the quarterly social gathering on Monday evening of the Canterbury Justices of the Peace Association, his subject being "Reminiscences." Weddings are specially catered for by the Gold Band Taxis. We have two classes of Bridal Cars from 7s 6d per hour, and every one of our brides have had good luck, so why pass us and risk bad luck. 'Phones 34-075 and 35-572. and book early. —4 This Xmas you know someone who would treasure a portrait of yourself. Make sure it is a really good one —in fact —the kind made by Steffano Webb. Book the appointment to-day, 'phone 35-457. Steffano Webb, Photographer, 252 High street (Petersen's Buildings). —6 Johnston's N.C. Motor Co., Ltd., authorised Ford dealers. Travelling representatives: W. C. Wilson and F. Meyer; manager, A. G. Prestney. Bangiora. 'Phones 87-SB. —2

Railway passengers will be pleased to know that they will be able to get a Gold Band Taxi at their Branch Garage, opposite the Station, as from November Ist, but m the meantime keep on 'phoning 34-075 or 35-572. Thank you. —7

When buying implements, it is well to remember that at Tuam street the best is always procurable in the following lines: —Ploughs, Cultivators, Grubbers. Hay Sweeps and Stackers, Land Rollers, Clod Crushers, Strippers—both front and rear drum type, Horse Rakes, Bamford's Mowers, Harrows of all sorts, including Grass Land Harrows, tripod, chain, tine and Drummond Harrows, Yokes, Whipp' e trees, Plough shares of every brand and type. Tractor lifts for 2 every plough, etc. P. and D. Duncan, Limited, 196 Tuam street, Christclmrch, and at Ashburton. —6

British Hay-Making Equipment of latest ideas, covering the whole job, fr- ■» cutting to stacking—or baling, as the case may be—available at competitive_ prices, for immediate delivery! Albion Mowers, single or double speed, Sweep Bakes, all varieties, Mast and Boom Stackers, also Swinging Stackers and Power-driven Stackers, Power Hay Balers, all our own make—Mower only excepted—constituting an All-British line standing for Service, Durability, Value, and Trade Tteciprocity! Pinna forget! Special Pamphlet Post Free. Booth, Macdonald and Ltd, —F