General News.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20448, 19 January 1932, Page 6

General News.

The Christchurch City Council's allocation for relief work for the unemployed for the week to end on January 23rd is £I3OO, as compared with £1420 for the previous week.

Given suitable weather to-day, it Is intended to put the seal coat on the upper portion of Dyer's Pass road from Westenra terrace past the Takahe, and thence by the lower road back to Westenra terrace. The first coat was put on a month or two ago.

A start was made yesterday by the Heathcote County Council to pay out the 12$ per cent, rebate on rates out of the Government subsidy. The rebate was paid to those ratepayers who already had paid their rates, and also to those paying them now. Between £IOO and £l5O was paid out in rebate during the day. The fact that tho re bate is obtainable has had an appreciable effect in inciting ratepayers to pay their rates.

The question of proposed irrigation works in the Oxford and adjoining districts was mentioned by Mr F. W. J. Belton at yesterday's meeting of tho Christchurch Unemployment Committee. He asked if there was any information as to the progress made _in the matter, and expressed the opinion that it was the type of work on which the Unemployment Board should concentrate if there were any possibilities of a profitable return. The hon. secretary of the committee (Mr J. F. Eames) said that tho committee was in communication with the Unemployment Board on the subject at present.

During the past few months a number of residents in Trent street, Oamaru, have had much prized cats and dogs poisonea". An unavailing endeavour was made by the police to trace the layer of the poisoned bait, and now that a resident of that locality has had the mortification to lose a much valued fox terrier through poison it is hoped that enquiries, which are being instituted by the police, will result in the discovery and conviction of the miscreant (says the "North Otago Times"). The laying of poison within the precincts of a town is a most dangerous practice, and might easily result in the death of young children.

Six tenders were received yesterday by 'lie Chrißtchurch Drainage Board for the sewerage work to be done in the Cashmere riding of the Heathcote County. The tenders were considered at a joint meeting of the Board's Tenders Committee and representatives of the Heathcote County Council, and one was accepted, but no information was available for publication aa to the name of the successful tenderer or the amount of the tender.

The report of the Department of Agriculture on the land raised by the earthquake in the inner harbour at Napier Ptates that the reclaimed land appears to be of good farming quality. Some of it has more salt, but the drainage scheme suggested is calculated to dispose of that. It is recommended that parts bo put down m clover grasses. The total area available is about 3000 acres. —Press Association.

A Hauraki Plains farmer one day recently, just as he was completing his milking, noticed some stock straying on the road near his gate. Having had trouble with such animals at an earlier date, when they had come to conclusions with some of his fences, tho farmer had no reason to feel particularly benevolent towards them. Accordingly he ranr? up the ranger and they were lodged in the pound. That night, when the farmer assembled his herd at Jus shed, for some unaccountable reason there were three short. Suddenly it dawned upon him. The animals languishing in the pound mit?ht bo his own, having escaped through an open gate after beinP milked. He investigated this deduction/ found it correct, and wn«i obliged to b»il thf three cows out and rush them home to be milked.

A start has been made with the work of renovating the front elevation of the South British Insurance Company's building in Hereford street.

Art amateur ascent of Mt. Cook was made on December 31st by Messrs C Hilgendorf, D. Young, and G- W. Kerr. The time from tho Haasfc Ridge Hut and back was 16£ hours, the conditions being good except for wind on the summit rocks. This is the first ascent of Mt. Cook for the present season.

"Ploaso accept my resignation from tho Association. When the slump fizzles out I will join again." This was tho text of a resignation received from a member at last week's meeting of the Masterton A. and P. Association. "Cross him out; ho will never ba able to join again," observed a member, amid laughter. The resignation, however, with several others, was held over in the meantime. Infectious and other notifiable diseases reported in the Canterbury Health District for the week ended noon yesterday showed njj increase of four as compared with tho previous week. The totai was 19, as follows: —Canterbury: Scarlet fever 4, diphtheria 4, enteric fever 7, tuberculosis 2, pneumonic influenza 1, eclampsia 1. No cases or deaths were reported from the AVcst Coast district. One death from tuberculosis was T-oportod in the Canterbury district. Passengers who left Masterton lor Wellington on tho 8.45 a.m. Sunday special train finished tho journey in motor buses well behind schedule. At Kaitoke tho engine was uncoupled and ran backwards toward a water tank, but in some way became derailed. Strenuous efforts wero made to put the engine back on tho rails, but they failed. Petone was communicated with, and two buses left there to bring eighty passengers to tho city. The engine was not replaced on the rails until 1.10 p.m.—Press Association. Tho lack of facilities for loading motor-cars at the Christchurch railway station was emphasisad at last night's meeting of the Council of the Cantorbury Automobile Association by Mr G. W, Tench, who stated that the present method of loading often resulted in thoir being damagod. It was decided that tho secretary (Mr J. S. Hawkcs) and Mr Tench should wait on tho railway officials in regard to tho mattor, asking that a loading bank be constructed. "Is there any truth in tho newspaper report that there will bo free drinks at the National Flower Show, and if so, are they guaranteed nonalcoholic," asked Mr E. E. Wiltshire at last night's meeting of the General Committee of Horticulture Week. It was explained that in connexion with the Christchurch Tomnto and Stone Fruitgrowers' Association's exhibit, it was proposod to give away samples ot tomato beverage. ' 'Some difficulty was being experienced in getting a sum. cient supply of bottles.

In a notice of motion for the next mooting of the Christchurch City Council, to be held on February Ist, Cr. A. E. Armstrong proposes a five-day week for Council employees. Tho text of the motion is: "Belioviiig that tho interests of the country demand the sharing of all available work among the greatest numbers, the Christchurch City Council inaugurates n five-day week to provide the greatest number of _ workers with permanent jobs. In this consolidating effort the employees be asked to accept a corresponding adjustment 'Of wages and salaries which will ensure the employment of GO additional workers at && a week.."

The North Canterbury Hospital Board has been advised by the secretary of the New Zealand Hospital Boards' Association of the postponement of the conference which was to have been held at Timaru in February. The letter, which was dated January 14th, added: "It is fully appreciated that there are other important matters [apart from finance and the relief of the unemployed] requiring discussion in conference, and it is suggested by tho executive that, if necessary, a conference could be held in the month of June in Wellington, limiting the number of delegates as far as possible in order to reduce tho cost to a minimum."

Mr H. Macintosh. Chief City Traffic Inspector, explained to the Magistrate's Court yesterday why the automatic traffic signals at the intersection of Colombo and Cashel streets bear lettored instructions in addition to the coloured lights. He said that the former wore for the benefit of colour-blind people. The point was raised when counsel suggested that the word "Caution" oil the yellow ground was believed by some people to entitle them to proceed. Mr Macintosh said that the matter had been given consideration by public bodies all over New Zealand, but it was agreed that the lettored instructions were necessary.

"I don't envy the traffic inspectors their jobs on the mats in tho centre of busy intersections. I have watched them many times and their occupation strikes me as being fairly hazardous," remarked Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., in the Magistral* 's Court yesterday in fining a lorry-driver for dangerous driving. In turning at the intersection of Colombo and Armagh streets tho rear wheel of the vehicle passed over the traffic inspector's mat and a bicycle that was projecting beyond the side of the lorry struck the inspector in the back. "Some motorists seem to take a malicious delight in driving as close to the inspectors as possible," commented Mr H. Macintosh, Chief Traffic inspector.

A public work towards the completion of which residents of the Chatham. Islands have been looking forward—the erection of a wharf at Waitangi—seems likely to be held up for some time. Mr J. Mc-Combs, M.P., has been advised by the Minister for Public Works (the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) that it is not intended to go on with the work at present. Before the Government consented to bear its portion of the cost, it asked the Chatham Islands County Council to raise its -proportion, and this the council did, borrowing £9400 about twelve months ago at 6 per cent. This sum has been earning 3J per cent, interest on fixed deposit, and the difference is being made up by the county council at a cost, approximately, of £2OO per annum. Mr McCombs told a reporter yesterday that it was his intention to suggest to the Minister that guaranteed bonds for the Government's share of the cost of the work should be issued in order to allow the erection of the wharf to be put in hand. Tenders closed for the work about two months ago.

Tram Passengers note : if you see a Gold Band Taxi returning with a notice. "Stop Me.'' J'Pay What You Like," stop it and ride into town at your own price. By patronising the Gold Band Taxis you are keeping tho fares down, and it will compel the Tramway Board to lower the Tram Fares. Thank you. —3

Artistic wedding portraits . . beautifully posed ... a Steffuno Webb speciality. Come in and inspect our work. Studio, 252 High street. —6

Taxi fares at your own price in any Gold Band Tasi returning to the Square or Dupot, with the" notice up reading, "Stop Me," "Pay What ¥ou Like," and you put it into the driver's money box, even if it is only one penny: so don't hesitate to stop a Gold Band Tasi. Thank you. —4