General News.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20881, 14 June 1933, Page 8

General News.

City Power Failure. The failure of a transformer in a sub-station about 5.30 last evening caused the city block between Gloucester and Hereford streets west of the square to be plunged into darkness. Among the buildings affected was the Post Office, where work in the mail-room was held up until power was restored some three-quarters of an hour later. Calls to Fire Brigade. The number of calls received by the Central Fire Brigade from May 3 to June 8 was 34, stated Superintendent C. C. Warner in his report to the Christchurch Fire Board last night. Of these 15 were false alarms, seven being malicious. Actual fires in or on property in the city numbered 13. There were also two rubbish fires and one chimney fire. Three of the calls were from the suburbs. The estimated loss by fire during thjs period was £llOB, the insurances"amounted to £29,390, the estimated value of the properties affected being £39,478. Wheat Payments Delayed. At a recent meeting of the Southland Farmers' Union it was decided [to request the Wheat Purchase Board to make earlier payments for wheat consigned by Southland farmers. A reply has now been received from the manager of the joard to the effect that certain brokers misunderstood their instructions regarding payments and paid the proceeds of sales into the Public Account instead of to the Wheat Purchase Board. Arrangements were being made for the transfer of the money to the board, and until that was done payment to growers could not be made. Winter Bathing. While the Mayor of Lyttelton (Mr W. T. Lester) and councillors were inspecting Corsair Bay yesterday afternoon they were astonished to see a woman clad in bathing costume emerge from one of the dressing sheds and enter the water. The sun had gone from that side of the bay at the time, and already the evening's frost was beginning to make itself felt, so that the spectators did an involuntary shiver as the bather dived under and commenced swimming about. After 10 or 15 minutes she left the water, but entered again at the request of a photographer. The bather was a Lyttelton resident, Mrs E. M. Scollar, of Voelas road, and she bathes regularly three or four times a week. If anything, she stated, she prefers bathing in the winter to the summer, as she is sure of having the beach to herself. Mrs Scollar was formerly well known to passengers in the little steamer Wakatu, of which she was stewardess for many years.

Tramway Board Election,

In order to ensure the correctness of the rolls to be used at the election of members to the Christchurch Tramway Board on November 30, the general manager, Mr Frank Thompson, in his capacity as secretary to the board, has sent out to those whose names appear on the rolls used at the previous election a postcard on which is printed the following:—"Tramway Board Election, November 30, 1933. This card is being sent out with the object of correcting the tramway electoral roll, which has to show correct addresses as well as correct names. If the person to whom this is addressed has not changed the place of residence shown on this card, the name will be retained on the roll. Frank Thompson, secretary." On the side of the card bearing the name and address appears the following: "Memo for Postman. If the addressee does not reside at above address, please do not deliver to any other address, but return card immediately to tramway office, so that the tramway roll may be corrected."

Broadcast from Lincoln College? Following a suggestion made at yesterday's meeting of the Board of Governors of Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln, it is possible that the college may establish a transmitting broadcasting station. In the meantime the chairman of the board, Dr. H. G. Denham, will consult with some members of the college staff. The assistant lecturer in chemistry, Mr E. W. Hullett, has stated that he is willing to organise the establishment of a transmitting station and he asked permission of the board to continue with that work. The director, Professor R. E. Alexander, explained during the discussion that , with a transmitting station members of the college staff would be able to give lectures of interest to farmers at specified times each week. The meeting decided that full information should be obtained of the possibilities of the suggestion made and the question will be discussed again next month. Signs of Brighter Outlook.

The success met with already in the matter of applications for space for the Winter Show is considered by the organiser, Mr E. H. Marriner, as an indication of an optimistic feeling amongst business men and of a general improvement in business. He told a representative of "The Press" yesterday that already, in a comparatively brief period, he had booked more space than ever he had done before in the history of the show. To date 7000 square feet, out of an available 11,000 square feet, had been taken. The plans of the space had not yet been published, but it was expected that copies would be available at the end of the present week. It was the intention of the executive to provide a number of new attractions for this year's show, such as mannequin parades, tug-of-war, boxing, and other events. "The outlook for the Winter Show, 1933," Mr Marriner added, "is brighter from the point of view of applications for space than it has been for many years."

Special attention is called to the advertisement of James Shoe Store, on Page 2of this issue. Real reptile shoes in numerous varieties to suit all frocks and give lasting wear, are displayed at exceptionally low prices during sale. Note address: 148 Armagh street. Mr A. W. Martin, the well-known Rupture Specialist from Dunedin, is now on his twenty-eighth annual visit to the centres of New Zealand. He is now in Chrijtchurch and may be consulted free at the Central Hotel : corner of Lichfield and Colombo streets until Saturday next, June 17. A "free booklet will be posted to sufferers on application. Hours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

All potato growers should inspect P. | and D. Duncan's New Digger, which is | a most efficient machine,' selling at a I price within the reach of all growers, j As simple to use as a single furrow [plough, as efficient, as the most complicated digger. Jun« ift. 1933, Dear Sirs, Your new Dirvr is a splendid machine au'i k; cLftjing the potatoes as good as any of the expensive machines. At such a price no small or large grower should be without one. I am much more than satisfied with the Machine, its work, and its price.—Yours faithfully. Alexander Hazlett and Elder (Marshland road). Price £l2 10s. P. and D. Duncan, Limited. 196 Tuam street, Christchurch, I and at Ashburton. —6