General News.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20772, 4 February 1933, Page 14

General News.

—*— Shipping news appears this morning on page 11. Reports received by the secretary of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation indicate that the Waimakariri, Hurunui, Rakaia, and Rangitata rivers are all unflshablo, the two last-men-tioned being in high flood.

Eighth round matches in the Canterbury Cricket Association's championship will bo commenced to-day, as follows; West Christehurch v. 'Sydenham, Hngley No. 1; llicearton v. Lnhoastcr Park, Haglcy No. 2; Old Collegians r. Old Boys, "itugbv Park; East Christehurch v. St. Albans, Lancaster Park.

Two calls to the Christehurch Eire Brigade within five minutes of each other were made- last night, the first call being at 9.23 o'clock, from the automatic alarm at the corner of Rugby and Rcpton streets, and the second from the corner of Bealey avenue and Durham street. Both calls wero false alarms.

Dr. Bradshaw will hold a trial of boys.' voices at the Cathedral on Monday next at 10 a.m. to select boys to fill vacant choristerships. Choristers receive free education at the Grammar School so long as they remain in the choir, and are entitled to a further period of one or more years, subject to the continued approval of the Chapter. They receive also a musical training which should bo valuable in after life.

Tho practice of sonic cyclists in riding; along the path set aside for pedestrinns in Hagley Pnrk between the Riccarton Hotel corner and Armagh street was referred to at tho meeting of the Christehurch Domain Board yesterday afternoon by tho chairman, Mr H. Kitson, who stated that /the names of a number of offenders had been taken. "It will be aa well for them to take this as a warning," he said. "If they do not do so, prosecutions will follow."

Asked yesterday when it was proposed to put in band the reconstruction of that part, of Manchester street from the intersection of Lichfield street northward, Cr. John W. BeanInnd. chairman of the City Council's Works Committee, told 'a reporter that nothing'would bo done till after the close of l»Ite financial year. Ho was' obtaining a report from the City Treasurer relative to the position of the funds available for the Works Committee, which would be submitted to next week's meeting of the committee.

An endeavour is being made to arrange for the official opening of tho jNairview street and Smart's bridges to take pine© on Monday, February ]3 Ir the Mayor (Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.) is m town on that date, tho ceremonies will take place in the morning. Both bridges are over tho Hcathcote river, and give access from l w y to tlie Cashmere riding of the HeatJieole county. Smart's bridge was recently completed; the Fairview. fitreet bridge was finrshed somo months ago.

Jhe question of the continuation of the Gisborne-Napier railway construction work was reopened at the annual meeting of the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce last week, and it was resolved that renewed representations bo made to the Government to complete the line as an unemplovmnt relief work. Replying to a letter-from the Chamber condemning the placing of men on non-productive and unremunerativo work, and suggesting that work should be continued on the ISast Coast railway for the absorption of the unemployed, the Commissioner of Unemployment stated that as the Government had decided not to proceed with the railway, the Unemployment Board was powerless in the ma'ttor. In view of the opinion expressed by the Chamber, however, the Commissioner suggested that it should forX J lini a list of ,ocal works wllich u? khambor considered would be suitable- for execution by relief labour; to such a list the Board would very gladly give consideration. It was de%A *? mvitc tl,e deputy-chairman or the Unemployment Board. Mr J. S. .lessep, and tha Wair*ja Chamber of Commerce to discuss the matter with the Gisborne Chamber.

An interesting discovery mas made during the course of excavation work on a section in Duncan street, Foxton. Workmen came across .two old Maori implements one a stone adze of unusual shape, the other a peculiar crescent-shaped hooked stone implement, probably used for sharpening stones. Both, implements were found oji the Lady's Mile side of a hill near Mr M. E/Pereau's house. The site tvas the location of an old stockade erected in the early days for the protection of tiie white population of J'oxton. The stockade, however, was never used.

The Auckland Acclimatisation Society had a little more success with its last effort to bring Indian chukhor to the Dominion ifor breeding purposes. In May Jasfc year a consignment of 300 was shipped, but owing to excessive heat and disease among the birds only 23 reached Auckland ■alive. Tho mortality among the chukhor which arrived at Christmas was also disappointingly high, 70 of thu consignment of 120 surviving; the journol. They were taken to Motuihi and then to the Society's game farm.

"The recent criticism and wholesale condemnation of local body members by the Director of Town Planning (Mr .1. W. Mawson) is in my opinion entirely unwarranted, and is a slight on those old members who are gone and cannot reply for themselves," said Mr J. Moore, jim., chairman of the Ashburton County Council, yesterday. He added: "I feel that the services of local body members in the past have been very efficient, and although no doubt some mistakes were made, their work Bpcakn for them. Mr Mawson, as a Government servant, should bear in mind the many and rcpoatcd mistakes of Government institutions before uttering such wild and uncalled-for statements."

"There will probably be the same troubles over accommodation as last year," remarked Mr J. W. Roberts nt last evening's meeting of the Technical College Board of Governors, when commenting on tho principal's report that there had been an increase of <29 in enrolments at the college for thia year. Tho Board already had liabilities totalling £llOO, Mr Roberts said, and had had to provide accommodation that should have been provided by tho Government. It was quite clear, ho thought, that tho Board could not go on borrowing money for this purpose. The Board would have to consider whether it should not begin turning pupils away rather than have to borrow inonoy that should be provided by the Government.

The council of the Town Planning Institute of New Zealand has decided to award a prize for the best paper on any phase of town planning, or regional planning, delivered before the Institute, or any of its branches, in any financial vcar, starting with 1.932-33. Papers will bo eligible for adjudication without formal application by those who delivered them. The judging committco comprises Professor Cull, of Canterbury University College, Professor Knight, of Auckland University College, and the Director of Town Planning. Mr J. W. Mawson. Tho announcement of the award will be made at the annual mooting of the Institute in. October.

Speed is apparently the of every contract in Ceylon. A New Plymouth audience was recently told of tho speed, the dangerous spoed, at which the taxi cars travelled on the road between Colombo and Knndy, and the speed with which an inquest on a woman run down was disposed of. Speed in another direction was noticed by Father P. J. Minogue when ho visited Oolomlwj on'his way to Ireland. At 10 o'clock in the, morning tlto native latintlrymon earrie aboard the ship, be told the parishioners at liia welcome home recently. At 4 o'clock the same day they returned with the clothes, washed, dried, and ironed. But that was not nil. In the morning the tailors arrived on deck offering to make suits. Tho passengers were incredulous, but, sure enough, those who*© men mi foments worn taken had the finished articles delivered to them by 4 o'clock in the afternoon.

Tho capture of a swordfish near Suva, which was landed by members of tho crew of the Government ship Derek when trolling for fish, and the hooking of two swordfish on a trolling lino which had been thrown over the stern of a local cutter, has aroused considerable interest locally in the possibilities of big-frame fishing in Fiji waters (says the Suva correspondent of the "New Zealand Herald"). Jn each instance tho fish was hooked on an ordinary trolling line. On two occasions the line was by no means new and the fish eventually broke the lin<\ On the occasion last week when the swordfish was landed, the line wns a now one and it stood the strain; Up to the present there has been no genuine attempt by properly-cquinped fishermen to try out the potentialities of Fiji waters', although it is well known that swordfish exist in Fiji, this being confirmed by the various catches made from time to time in the more or less haphazard fashion described above. It has been suggested that the possibilities of this sport should be investigated, and that Government assistance should be given in this direction.

The very interesting collection of documents and rolics connected with the colours of the 58th Begimont, now placed in the Auckland War Memorial Museum for safe keeping, is being added to from time to time, and the latest additions are three medals and several photographs. The medals belonged to Ser-geant-Major P. Haslam, who settled in Auckland after his service with tho regiment was completed, and are a long service medal, the New Zealand war medal, and one for meritorious service. They were b the keeping of Mr F. P. Haslam, of ffirio street, Wellington, son of Sergeant-Major Haslam. Mr W. E. Haslam, of Auckland, eldest son of the sergeant-major, was in Wellington recently, when he explained the collection that "was being made .at the Auckland Museum, his brother handed him the three medals with the request that they would bo added to the rest of the relics. Mr W E. Haslam also visited the sito of Boulcott's Farm, Hutt, which was the scene of engagements during tho Maori troubles of the 'forties, and had photographs taken of the monument and its three tablets, one of which sets out the fact that the farm was held by a detachment of 50 men of the 58tb, the first of the regiment to come across to New Zealand from Sydney. the detachment was the garrison that defended the farm against an attack by hostile Maoris. Another tablet sets out the names of the men who were lulled. These photographs will be ad<W to the Museum collection. Motorists and cyclists travelling by trains can park their cms Is and cycles 3d at the Gold Band T;ixis garage opposite the station, and if. you run out of petrol at any time, phone for a Gold Rand Taxi to bring ynu a supply; wo are open continuously. Thank yoin The newlv-designed Duncan Drill fitted with the latest, in spring pressure and adjustable coulters, tfie wug ner in every tost at m* year's tmta held at the Lincoln Agricultural ColSee against all makes, both imported and loca 1 is on view at Duncan's new Showroom in Tuam street. Come and £s, lU fe rtrtrt, Chrirtchurcb. and at Ashburtou.