General News.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20773, 6 February 1933, Page 8

General News.

A notice in the current Gazctto announces the extension of tlio time for holding the general election of members of tho Kaikoura. River lioard from January 10 until Thursday, February

Several tenders were received oil Saturday by tho Ohristchurch • City Council for tho Timaru stone to bo used in kerbing tho enlarged and improved Godley statue block in Cathedral square. A tendor will be accepted almost immediately, and the work put in hand.

It is estimated that 10,000 persons visited the Floral l'ageant which was held for three days last wook in King Edward Barracks. The show was considered by many horticulturists to bo the finest the Canterbury Horticultural Society lias staged.

The current issuo of tho Gazette announces that tlio Government has set apart as provisional State forests two areas of land in tho Westland Land District. One, at Kopara, is 335 acres in extent, and t.ho other, in Toarolia Survey District, is IGO acres.

The railway metals and sleepers from Parnassus, provided by the Public Works Department for use on the Sumner causeway relief work, have arrived, and some will be used at tho City end of the causeway. In order to expedite the work, it is hoped to obtain, the use of an additional locomotive from the Tramway Board.

Unknown persons have forwarded the following amounts to tho Government as conscience money:—£l 7s, to the Mines Department; 6s Gd, Is, and £1 10s, to tho Railway Department; 7s Bd, to tho Customs Department; and two amounts of £lO each, to the Land and Income Tax Department.

The Gazette notifies the issue of the warrant authorising the Christchurch City Council to reconstruct diecarton avenue and apportioning the cost : and varying a warrant vesting the control of North Park road, Riecarton avenue, Deans avenue, 'ind Moorhouse avenue, in the Christchureh City Council, and apportioning the cost of maintenance.

One of tho bowlers who represented Timaru in n week-end match with Canterbury at Christchureh was T. FairhaJl, former welter-weight champion of New Zealand and Australia, who has retired from the ring. Fair hall, who is employed at a Timaru brewery. 1.9 a promising colt at the West End Club, and although he agrees that the technique ot' bowls and boxing differs considerably, lte is just as enthusiastic about his new pastime as he ever wns about boxing.

Several letters containing expressions of appreciation of the Christchurch City Council's recently issued Year Book have been received by the Town Clerk (Mr J. S. Neville), including one from the Prime Minister, Mr Forbes. The Government Statistician (Mr J. W. Butcher), in acknowledging a copy, wrote that he wished to compliment the municipality on the excellence of the publication; and several prominent citizens, in their acknowledgments, refer to the completeness and interesting character of the information contained in the Year Book.

Passengers who travelled "between Blenheim and Nelson during the floods last Wednesday report that water was everywhere in the Pelorua district. In some cases settlers had their cows on tho verandahs of their homes and quite a number "had taken the pigs inside tho house for safety. In spite of the very trying conditions Messrs Newman Bros, maintained their mail and passenger service between Nelson and Blenheim and vice versa; while their Christchurch car also got through via Tophouse. It needod a good deal of organisation on the part of Newman Bros, to maintain the service, and although running very late each way mails and passengers were safely delivered.

While digging in his garden last week a resident of Wynyard street, in the centre of Auckland, nnearthed a large skull, and immediately reported the find to the police. Investigations revealed that the skull, which appears to be many years old, formerly was the property of the late Dr. E. W. Sharman, and that it was placed iu the rubbish tip shortly after the death of the doctor.

The highest award of the Royal Life Saving Society, a diploma which necessitates a practical and theoretical examination in all phases of swimming and life saving, has been won by Mr S. S. Bolland, a member of the Talcapuna Surf Life Saving Club. He is believed to be the only surf club member in New Zealand to have gained this distinction.

A curious sight, on the Hauraki Plains is the thick covering of white thistle down on the telephone and electric power wires, where they have been blown by the wind. The Scotch thistle this year has been most prolific and some farmers have had to cut tho plants down. The thistle is not looked upon with great disfavour, however, as when it dies down its Jong tap-root rots and allows the soil to he aerated and drained.

Two daughters of a Mawke's Hay sportsman and pastoralist 'recently displayed astonishing powers of endurance by completing a rido of <jo miles. Hiding a horse each and leading the remaining lour of the team, the girls started Irom their home near Porangahau and rode GO miles to a sports meeting at Jilsthorpe. Next day they competed with more than usual success at an annual sports gathering, winning many of the prizes. On the following day they began their return journey.

Tho virtues of shallots and other members of the onion tribe were extolled by lils Excellency tho Governor-General, Lord Blcdisloe, when opening the flower show at Khandallah, Wellington. He humorously remarked that 110 vegetables were more productive of good health, however distasteful the aroma plight be to those in the vicinity of the cooking or eating of them; they were easy to grow, too. Tic added that it had been said that Tving Edward owed his remarkable health to tho fact that every night for HO years ho ate two raw onions before retiring.

Mr J*. Ji. Hannan, of (Jluistchurch, who was held up in Nelson by last week's flood, told a. reporter that it was an interesting sight to watch huge trees being carried by tho Maitai river through tho city. "In one instance," ho said, "a big poplar, at least 80 fcot long, in full leal', was borne along. As it approached a place where the river narrowed, I thought that its wild career would be arrested, but such was its impetus that it merely shed any branches that wouldn't pass the gap, and on it wont." The Maitai, Mr Ilarman added, was the repository for a tremendous number of large trees of all kinds during the Hood.

A strong rip which developed suddenly in the surf some 200 yards north of tlio North Boacli Surf Club's pavilion caused a woman to get into difficulties yesterday afternoon, fortunately sho was standing in fairly shallow water, and the resourceful act of some twenty bathers in tho vicinity in forming a chain resulted in »s>ei boing brought to safety without an y harm. Comment was made by an official of the surf club on the habit ot many persons bathing outside tho area patrolled by t!ho club members. Uo said that in the circumstances yesterday a team that Avas called out from tho club hnd to make an exhausting run across heavy sand to tho scene ot tho rescue, and bv the time tho men had arrived a difficult rescue would havo boon attended with considerable danger.

A second excursion to Milford Sound will bo made by the motor-ship AVanganella in April, as a result of the success of tho previous excursion, which followed the vessel's first "isit to Wellington last month. Leafing Sydney on Thursday, April 6, tho Wanganella ■will arrive in Wellington on Monday, April 10, and will sail the same day for Milford Sound. She will bo in tho Sound on Wednesday, but passengers will not be landed. The Wanganella will return to Wellington on Friday, April 14. and will sail thf same day for Sydney, where she is due the following Tuesday. Tho Wanganella will then continue to Melbourne tlie same - day, and as a result will bo a day late reaching Auckland the following week, arriving on Wednesday, Anril 25, and not on Tuesday, as is usual.

Many strange requests have been received by Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith from New Zealand inventors. Here is ono which came from a dairy farmer in the Wanganui district: —"Would you bo interested in an epoch-making invention, which would enable aoroplanes, after they had started, to travel any distance without using any more petrol? There would not bo any need to carry so much petrol. The idea is simple but effective. It would require very little alteration to the aeroplane, and would cost only a few poundß. I would be prepared to accept one-third of the profits. Tho balance would bo yours. You would have to get finance to arrange for patents, to fit up the aeroplane and prove it to the world. If this appeals to you, I would be pleased to enter into an agreement in writing and then divulge the whole idea." A postscript says: "As I am a dairy farmer, your appointment would have to avoid milking times."

A good story was told by Mr W. Bargi'ove, who lias been appointed manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Patea, at a valedictory social, when Mr A. C. Thompson was the guest ot honour (states the "News," New Plymouth). Mr Bargrove said that a native who had a £IOO deposit entered the bank after an absence of some months and asked to withdraw tho amount. The Maori after being furnished with a cheque book presented a cheque for the whole amount and stipulated that the payment bo in £1 notes. Hi is presented some difficulty, as the bank's business was small and a hundred £1 notes were not easily collected, but after some changing of notes of larger denominations "with local tradespeople the in singles was handed over. Tho Maori retired to a cubicle and after laboriously counting them through several times was satisfied that his £IOO was complete. He then returned to the teller and handed back the notes, lie said lie had just wanted to be certain that his account was O.K. 'He then departed, leaving; the startled teller with the hundred £1 notes that had been collected with so much trouble. ■

Tho Duncan Brooker pattern Stripper is undoubtedly the best and cheapest stripper for brown top and similar grass seeds. At the one time call and see the £3O Hay Baler, the Motor Hay Sweep, the Cheapest Heavy Hay Rake, and the Hornsby 1933 Mower. P. and D. Duncan, Limited, 196 Tuam street. Christchurch, and at Ashburton. —1