General News.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20334, 5 September 1931, Page 14

General News.

"Farm and Station" appears this morning on page 8.

The excavations in High stroet huvo revealed the tact that the water-supply pipes aro in such a worn condition that they will have to bo repaired, and for this purpose all approaches to the intersection wjtli Madras street and St. Asaph street will Bo closed from eight o'clock this morning. It is expected that the work of repairing the pipes will be finished within twenty-four hours.

Whilo driving a bull on to the property of a neighbour, Mr Roy H. James, of French Pass road, Cambridge, was charged by the animal and knocked down. Tlio bull liad commenced to gore its victim when the son of a neighbour drove him off with the aid of a batten Mr James had liia face gashed from the chin to the right eye, and had to be admitted to the Waikato Hospital. Ho is progressing satisfactorily.

The work of organising the Otago district by the Continuance Party has been discontinued as a result of the ment of . the licensing poll. Twenty men were engaged on the work, but each man received one week's exti'a wages. Approximately £2OOO had been spent by the party in Otago when the work was abandoned. The Eestoration Party in Invercargill had spent £SOO ou organising up to the time that the Government announced that the local poll would not be authorised.—Pbess Service.

Workmen were engaged yesterday to reopen the outlet of Lake Ellesmere, which was blocked by adverse seas and winds early in the week. If the cut is opened successfully and the fine weather continues long enough for a scour to develop, the banked-up shmglo will be forced away by the rush of water behind it, and the cut will naturally widen and deepen sufficiently to make an appreciable difference to the level of the lake. The reopening of the outlet is expected to take two days.

"There seems to be an undesirable loophole* in the new Unemployment Act," was the remark made by a Dunedin resident who has looked closely into the taxation methods adopted by the Government. "Women whose unearned income is under £250 a year are not required to pay anything by way of emergency unemployment tax. whereas women wno have to work hard for wages, in many cases much smaller than the sum at the disposal of those with private means, have to pay up and look cheerful."

The advantages of giving a rebate for prompt payment of rates were mentioned at the Papatoetoe Town Board meeting this week, when it was reported that £4300, representing 55 per cent, of the total rate revenue, had been collected up to August 31st. Tho chairman, Mr W. J. Nicholson, said the Board had estimated it would receive £4OOO by conceding a 5 per cent, rebate and this had taen exceeded. This had resulted in a reduction in the bank overdraft and a saving to the Board of a considerable sum in interest charges.

In dealing with a number of defaulters in maintenance who pleaded want of employment as an excuse m the Auckland Magistrate's Court, Mr P. K. Hunt, S.M., remarked that'the operation of the proposed, land develr opment scheme of the Unemployment Board would provide a solution of such cases. "I could send this class of person to break in the land for 9s a day for two years," the Magistrate said. "After hard work for that time they should be used to seeking employment."

A woman pupil had a rather alarming experience at the Rongotai Aerodrome yesterday morning. Sho had been up and was taxi-ing across the ground preparatory to taking off again when the engine choked and stopped. The instructor sent a man to her assistance, but in tho meantime sho had got out to turn the propeller over herself. Sho forgot, however, to close' the throttle and was knocked over. The aeroplane spad across tho § round for fifty yards and capsized, ut was not seriously damaged. Tho pupil was only injured slightly.—Press Association.

A somewhat unusual experiment took place last night at a public demonstration at Victoria College, Wellington, in connexion with tho Michael Faraday centenary. Two way telephonic communication with Australia was established through the courtesy of the Post and Telegraph and a large audience heard through a loud speaker both sides of a conversation between Mr A. Gibbs, Chief Teleg h Engineer, and Mr Wilson, Commonwealth radio engineer. On Mr Gibbs's invitation Mr Wilson addressed tho audience for some minutes on the centenary and developments of telephony. Mr Gibbs remarked at the end that it was probably the first time a New Zealand scientific audience had boon addressed by a Commonwealth engineer or anyone else for that. matter across the Tnsman Sea. All the conversation was clearly heard and the audience was considerably impressed.— Press Association.

Saddlers' shops are not now so largo and attractive as they used to be, and of late it has come to be a belief that 1 the saddlers' trade is practically pushed out (says a Dunedin exchange): Enquiry shows that such is not tho case. A Dunedin tradesman acorns tho idea. "We have in this city ten places that I can think of, without rack;::<_? my brains, where real tradesmen i irry on and can turn out craftsmanship work. And I can assure you that in England the saddler still retains his position in the community. There are many persons there, and some here, who stick to the Clydcsdalo for work and the hack for pleasure and health, and when these feverish days are past there will probably bo an appreciable increase in the number of men, women, and childreh who realise that riding is better for the nerves and for health in general than motor driving."

The publication in a recent issue ot the Gazette of the detailed information regarding last year's rainfall bears out tho statement that exceptional conditions ruled in tho Lake Coleridge area. At the Harper River, the western end of the lake, the total rainfall ,was 29.02 inches, or 18 inches below normal; at Simois Creek, about halffray of the total length of the lake, there was a fall of 23.30 inches, or 15 inches below normal; at the Coleridge homestead, near the eastern end of the lake, the total fall was 23.95 inches, or 12 inches below normal. _ Even at Arthur's Pass the total rainfall wtls 48 inches below normal, 111.78 inches being recorded for the year. On the plains tho figures indicate that the year's rainfall was about Morntql. At Cpalgate the total was 30.09 inches, or inches below normal; at Darfield, 89,89 inches, or two inches above normal; and at Christchurch 23-0$ inches, i>r two inches below normal. As will bo recalled, the scarcity of rain in the Lake Coleridge watershed last year contributed largely to the power shortage experienced towards tho <mH of the year.

Threo of the five delegates who will represent the New Zealand group at the conference of the Institute of Pacific Eelations at Hangcliow next month left Wellington by the Ulimaroa yesterday. They were Messrs H. F. Von Haasfc (Wellington), J. E. Strachan (Rangiora), and E. G. Hampton (Christchurch). Mr Strachan will be chairman of the delegation, and Mr Hampton will be secretary. The other two New Zealand .delegates, Mr W. T. G. Airey and Miss Vera Hay, both of Auckland, will leave by the Aorangi on her next trip.—Presß Association.

The theft of several packets of gelignite from tho magazine at the Manukau County Council's quarry, near the Black Bridge, Mangere, was discovered this week. It is thought that the explosive was taken some time ago, as recently the benzine store at the quarry was broken into and four and a half cases of petrol were taken. Tho quarry has not been in use lately and consequently the magazine had not been inspected until Tuesday, when it was found that the lock liad been forced and the door levered open. Tho discovery of tho theft of the benzine was made tho following day, as the store is constantly in use, and it is thought that both places wore broken into the same evening.

The annual report of the Post and Telegraph Department states that competitive de.-ifjns have been invited for a now issuo of postage and revenue stamps for tho Dominion. The designs are to be representative of characteristic or notable New Zealand scenery or genre, or industrial, agricultural, or pastoral scenes; and the values will be in approximately 15 denominations, ranging from id to' 3s. A special Board, on which there will be representatives of art as well as of the Government Departments concerned, will bo set up to adjudicato on the nifrits of the designs submitted, and a prize of £25 will be paid for each design that is adopted for a stamp of the new series. The issue of a series of air-mail stamps oomprising the denominations 3d, 4d, and 7d has also been approved. The plates for the stamps are being manufactured in England.

During tho hearing of a petition for divorce in the Supreme Court yesterday, his Honour Mr Justice Adams, commenting on a letter sent by the petitioner to his wife, asking her to rectum to him, said that it was devoid of any terms of affection, in consequence of which his Honour thought that it was not in the least conciliatory and pointed out that it referred only to financial matters, and the state of the house and furniture. Counsel for tho petitioner stated that the couple had, since the letter was written, been left for hours together at a time at the house of a mutual friend, and had apparently got on well. "Did they coma out unscathed f" a«ked his Honour. "Yes,"' answered counsel. "Well," said his Honour, "I suppose, that would bo evidence of affection." At a later stago his Honour advised the petitioner to cultivate the art of graceful address.

For the week to end on September 12th, the Christchurch City Council's grant' from tho Unemployment Board for relief works will bo £I7OO, as compared with £1960 for the present week, and other local bodies also have had their grants reduced pro rata. According to Cr. J. W. Bean&nd, chairman of the Works Committee of the Council, a number of additional single men have been employed in view of the higher allocation for the present week, but the reduced grant for next week will mean that practically all the single mon employed by tho Council on relief works will have to be put off, and that, probably, the married men working four days in the week will be reduced to threo, and those working three will be roduccd to two days. Cr. Beanland commented on the hardship imposed on tho relief workers and the inconvenience to the Works Department owing to the fluctuations in tho amount of the grant, and said that it would be preferable to have a definite weekly allocation, even if on a somewhat' lower scale, in order to ensure continuity of work for tho men.

An incident exemplifying the Biblical parable of the lost sheep is, reported from the King Country. The manager in chargo of a farm where there are nearly 2000 sheep found recenlty that a lamb had got down into a narrow tomo hole nearly 30ft deep, and had little prospect of being rescued alive. A young son of the manager who went to the mouth of the hole was touched by the pitiful cries of. the lamb, and begged his father to tie a long rope around his body and lower him down through the limestone. It was impossible for the lad with all his clothes on to squeeze through tho narrow entrance, but he pleaded so successfully with his father to let him go down, stripped of his clothing, that ,thi? course was deeided on. . There were many jagged edges tb be passed, and many painful bruises to be sustained before the boy reached tho lamb, but he firmly sfecured it to the rope and it was pulled to the top. The rope was then lowered again and lie was brought to the top himself. Tho- lamb is now a pet in the manager's home.

Here is the startling announcement. At the Winter Garden on September Btli, a ball will be held that will beat all otliers, by the staff of the Gold Band Taxis, so don't puss it. You will regret it it you do; buy a ticket from a driver, and 'Phone for a Gold Band Taxi to take you there. Thank you.

Perhaps it's the old people who want your photograph—perhaps it's a son or daughter who would like to see your portrait smiling encouragement—perhnps it's a friend who often thinks of you. Call at STEFFANO WEBB, 262 High street, and he'll make a portrait that you will be proud to send. Telephone : 35-467. —8

A startling announcement is made to-day in this papor regarding the Gold Band Taxi's ball, so don't fail to look for it, as .you will not regret it, but in the meantime keep on 'phoning 34-075 or 3,5-572 for a Gold Band Taxi, as they are the cheapest in New" Zealand. Lowest fare Is for .5 passengers and luggage. —1

John Johnston, Ltd., merchants', established 1563. Direct importers of British and American hardware and machinery. 'Phone 4. P.O. VJo* t.

Rnngiora. —1 One thousand Couples will be wanted. Watch this space this week. You will be greatly interested, but in the mean-, time keep on riding in Gold Band, Taxis. We are the cheapest, our lowest fare is Is for 5 passengers and luggage. Everybody's favourite. 'Phones 34-075 and 35*572. Thank you. , —3

P. and D. Duncan, Ltd. I lind your chilled cast iron shares equally as good as the imported—if not better. As for general wear they certainly stand up to tho work. I 'have not had any breakages with them.—Domett, June, 1931. !

We have been using your chilled cast iron shares for some years and. they have given us every satisfaction, especially in our stony land, the breakages being practically nil.—Coalgate, June, 1931. P. and I>. Duncan, Ltd,, . 396 Tuam street (Box 124) Christchurch, and $t Ashburton. ■ -_7

The most popular ball of the season will be that of the Gold Band Tusis, to, be held at the Winter Garden on September Bth, so don' 4. fail to be there. Buy a ticket from any driver; os single, 7s 6d double, cabaret supper, dress optional, and 'phone S4-075 or 35-572 for a Gold Band Taxi. Luwetrt fat* la, 'Utaak i*