General News.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20624, 13 August 1932, Page 14

General News.

To doal with consumers who tire lax in paying their accounts, the lleathcote Cioquty Council is contemplating the purchase of some pre-paymeut electricity meters.

There were 14 tenderers for the work of building a Presbyterian Church at iCillinchy, the highest being £5lB and the lowest £435. The tender of Mr C. L. August, of Papanui, nt £435 has been accepted.

The fact that the name plate fop Alacrnillan avenue had been off the pole and had been lying on the reserve for the last two years was brought to the notice of the Heatheote County Council last night jn a letter from Mr A. C. Wells. .The Council is taking action to restore the name-plate.

."We have seen some wonderful scenery in other parts of the world, but nothing has surpassed the 100mile trip from Christchurch to Greymouth. It delighted us. and we would have been very sorry had we missed jt": Mr R. F. Anderton, financial manager of the English Rugby League team, when speaking at the civic reception yesterday. At the moment there is no shortage of house surgeons at the Christchurch Hospital. The chairman of the North Canterbury Hospital Board (Mr H J. Otley) said last night that although sometimes in the past the Board had had difficulty in securing a full staff, at present the position was satisfactory, Commenting on the Wellington scheme by which sixth-year students are employed at the hospital. Mr Otley said, the difficulty in Christchurch was that they bad no accommodation for these students. Speaking at yesterday afternoon's meeting of the Chamber of Commerce Boys' Unemployment Committee, Mr A. J. McßJldowney, general secretary of the Christchurch Y.*M.C.A., said that, in connexion with the work being done for unemployed boys by the Y.M.C.A., it was intended to give a series of career talks. The Sydney Y-M.C.A. had started such a series of talks last year, and the Christchurch YMC A. believed that with the co-oneration of the Chamber of Commerce Committee and the employers of Chri«tclmreh a similar sories could be given here. The Sumner Borough Council has apppinted the Mayor (Mr W. H. Nicholson), and Cr. H. W. Harris, and Mr J. F. Mensies (Town Clerk) to represent it at the conference called by the Ohristqhurch Unemployment Committee to consider the suitability of the Sumner causeway as an unemployment relief work, which is to be held on Tuesday evening- The Tramway Board has appointed its chairman (Mr E. IT, Andrews), Mrs % R. McOombs, and Mocsrs H. Pearcp and W. Williamson as its John W. Beanland and J. McOombs will represent the Christchurch City Counejl,

From Sir Henry Wigram for the Mayor's Coal and Blanket Fund a second contribution of £lO has been received. Other contributions consist of a quantity of clothing sent in by the Congregational Federation of Women, and eleven bed covers from the Trinity Ladies' Guild.

A man charged in the Magistrate's Court at Upper Hutt with keeping an unregistered clog was told by the Magistrate that he must register tho animal. "A rabbit dog costs only 2s 6d, and T suppose I can manage thav," he replied. Asked by the Magistrate how much it cost to register a rabbit dog. the borough inspector said, "Two and six, your Worship; but this is a Pom." "Well, he's a good little rabhiter," maintained the- defendant.

While disapproving of the proposal that local bodies should bo required to contribute a fixed quote towards the support of a free ambulance, the HeathI'otf County Council decided last night to give its usual support to tho St. Jolm .Ambulance Association. Cr. A. G. Wt.'linme expressed the opinion that the North Canterbury Hospital Board was the only body properly qualified to provide a freo ambulance service.

"This movement has our hearty support," wrote a Christchurch firm in a letter read at yesterday's meeting of the Chamber of Commerce Boys' Unemployment Committee, referring to the campaign for placing 500 boys in employment, "and we wish you and your committee every success in the excellent work you aro doing. To show our appreciation in a practical manner we have decided to re-engage two juniors, whoso services wore dispensed with some time back.''

Tho consignment of butter by rail in preference to boat at the conclusion of the company's present contract with the Northern Steamship Company in twe years' time is favoured by the shareholders of the Rangitaiki Plains Dairy Company by a majority of over two to one. A postal vote was taken a mono: shareholders in accordance with the promise given the Railways Board during the recent visit of members to I lie district Last season the Rangitjiiki Company had nn output <>f 2983 tons of buttc-r, an increaso of 469 tons r>n tho make of the previous season.

At its next meeting on August 22nd the Christchurch City Council will have before it the confirmation of the resolu tion levying the rates for 1932-33. Tho uito demands are being prepared by the Rate Collector's staff, and it is intendc' 1 to post them on August 2f)th. Consequent on other loca' bodies, whoso rates are collected by the City Council, having increased their levies, some ratepayers when they receive their rate demands will find that the total has been increased despite the reduction made by the City Council of 10 per cent, in the general rate.

The display of notices to tho effect that tea-cup reading is for fun und merriment and that no attempt is made to tell fortunes or the future is not sufficient to protect tearoom proprietors from acts that are subsequently performed by tea-cup. readers, according to a decision of Mr E. Page. S.M., delivered nt Wol'ineton yesterday. He fined (lie proprietor of the I.vric Tearooms and convicted nnd discharged Kathleen Buchanan, calling herself M»dame Oueen. The nropriator of the Ouick Stenin Tearooms was fined £3 on one oliarg© and ovdpred to nav cost* on another. Alice B'-siln. otherwise Madame Glyn. was convicted and discharged.—Press Association.

The organ recital being given by tho Wellington city organist, Mr Bernard Page, at midday yesterday, ended after about a quarter of an hour, Mr Page being unablo to continue, lie said, owing to the cold. Ho explained later that it was not th c physical discomfort that caused him to stop but tho impossibility of continuing to play with his fingers paralysed by the coid. The temperature yesterday in the organ loft was 52deg., but there was a terrible draught round the organ seat, and under such conditions his hands became paralysed by the cold. Mr Page rocalled that on one occasion some vonrs ngo, soon nftor his arrival in Wellington ho was forced to abandon a recital for tho same reason, tho weather on that occasion being the same as toctny, a cold southerly blowing.—Press Association.

It is expected that Parliament will meet either on Thursday, September Mnti, or Ihnrsday, September 29th. At present Parliament stands formally prorogued until August 25th. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. Gf. W Forbes) states that Cabinet has gjveii some consideration to the probable elate for the opening of the session, but that no decision has yet been reached To some extent, said Mr Forbes, the question was governed by the date of return from the Ottawa Conference of tr Rt i- Btnn - J - G - Coatea and the Hon. W Downie Stewart. Reports h-om Ottawa seemed to indicate thai the conference would end in conn* time nnd that heincr so it m>br be nosßiMo for <hn defeat tea to reach New lonhn'l before the session started

Reference to a proposal by the South Oanterbury Farmers' Union to conduct an extensive poisoning campaign against birds was made t>y the secret tary (Captain E, V. Sanderson) at a meeting of the New Zealand Native Bird Protection Society held in Wellington this week. Captain Sanderson said that the proposal was contrary to the objects of the society. The chairman (Mr R. A. Anderson, of Invercargill) said that the campaign would bo directed mainly against sparrows. Ono could not blame the farmer for wanting to get rid of the sparrows it he had sown his wheat and the birds were around in thousands. Captain Sanderson said that there were other ways besides poisoning. "I am afraid we can't do anything in the matter if the farmer wants to protect his wheat," said the chairman. "I don't think they will hurt the birds we are looking after." Mr A. C. Aston suggested nets as a means of getting rm of sparrows..

Owing to the heavy bookings between Christchurch and Dimedin in com nexion wjth the schoo) vacation, the Railway Department is providing extra express trains on Saturday next, leaving Christchurch for Dunedin at 9.10 a.m., and Dunedin for Christchurch at 8.40 a.in.

The third edition of Dr. G. H. Scholefield's standard book of reference "Who's Who in New Zealand," is now available. It contains the authentic bio<iraphie« of nonrlv three thousand nrominent New Zealcmlers and much valuable personal and official, information. th.r>rou~Hv uMi-date.

Koqnd the Bays in a Gold Band Taxi will only cost you 15b for ■ a party of five, this is half the price of others and a beautiful trio to takr ypur frien-ls during National Weefc, hut he sure you 'phone for a Gold Band Taxi, which is everybody's favourite. Thank you —3

Johnston's N.C. Motor Co.. Ltd. Rangiora. representatives; W. C. Wilson and H. Clark, manager, \. O Prestney. authorised Ford dealers 'Phones 87 and 88. i

By the demolition of the old (shoeing lorge opposite the Wellington Hotel in Tuarn street, P. and p. Duncan, Limited, are enabled to offer their farmer friends free ear garaging during working hours. P. and D. Duncan. Limited, 196 Tnarn street, CJiristchurcb, and at Ashburton. —6