General News

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20986, 14 October 1933, Page 12

General News

Little Work on Waterfront. There has been a remarkable slackness on the waterfront at Lyttelton during the last two weeks, particularly this week when there have been only a few coastal vessels in port and very little cargo to handle. The pay-out yesterday was one of the smallest for years. Many men drew no wages at all, while others drew only a few shillings, the highest pay being about £2. There will be little improvement for the next 10 clays. Improvement of Lilies. Since its inception considerable progress has been made by the Lily Circle of the Canterbury Horticultural Society in the cultivation of lily blooms. At a meeting last evening several copies of a book published by the United States Department of Agriculture on the cultivation of lilies were received by the circle, in response to an order, and every one has been sold to members. The book describes in full with valuable illustrations every detail of the production of lilies and with the additional knowledge they will gain from it members of the circle hope to go several steps further in the improvement of the present standard of lilies in New Zealand. Enthusiastic Photographers. There were several boys with cameras—one of them with a motion-picture camera—on the Boys' High School ground at Riccarton yesterday when the annual sports were held. The most enthusiastic, however, were two who arranged to be flown over the ground in one of the Canterbury Aero Club's machines in the afternoon. Unfortunately when they arrived at the aerodrome they found that the gusty north-west wind was too strong for the flight to be made. The aerial view of the sports was lost, but a considerable amount of pocket money was saved. A Vanishing Official. "The man with the megaphone" has always been one of the most hard-worked officials at school sports meetings, but this year at two of the meetings he had the easiest task he could wish for as "the man at the microphone." Progress and the increase in efficiency which it is ever bringing has had its effect on school sports meetings and this year elaborate loud-speaking systems were heard on two sports grounds. Old boys who we're champions several decades ago must have recalled when thev visited their old schools yesterday that there was a time when even *««f»aphones were unheard of, and all the announcing of results was done on blackboards. They still claim, however, that sports meetings were organised quite as efficiently many years ago as they are now.

Width of Streets. While speaking to members of the North Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute last night, Mr A. H. Bridge, city land surveyor, stated that the Public Works Act provided that the width of streets must be 66 feet. It had been proved that for streets carrying only domestic traffic—tradesmen's vans and such vehicles —4O to 50 feet was sufficient. In Christchurch there were 80 miles of streets less than 66 feet in width, and to widen even one-third of them would cost about £93,600. Beauty of the Azaleas. The most striking and beautiful of early flowering shrubs is the azalea, a shrub that grows particularly well in Christchurch, and makes many charming and arresting pictures. The azaleas will be in the height of their glory next week, and there are many beautiful specimens in the city parks, on the lawn of the old provincial buildings, the Botanic Gardens, and in the Millbrook reserve at the end of Carlton Mill road, where a large group is brilliantly reflected in the Avon. The autumn colour of the Millbrook azaleas is almost as beautiful as a spring display, and from these many I thousands of seedling plants are being raised for the future adornIment of the city.

Rabbits at Shows. "I am surprised at the Government allowing rabbits near a show. If you had had as much trouble with rabbits as I have had during the last two years you would not have anything to do with them," said Mr J. E. P. Cameron at a meeting of the committee of the Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association yesterday, when the report of the finance committee, which recommended that he be put in charge of the rabbit section at the forthcoming show, was read. "I decline to take charge of them," he adde amidst laughter. Mr Cameron remained adamant in his refusal to take charge of the rabbit section, and it was left to the committee to find a substitute for him. Dog: Poisoner Still Active. The poisoning of dogs in and around Christchurch continues, and although owners of dogs have shown much increased vigilance, there have been a few more victims Poison baits have been discovered in front gardens, however. The kennel club, which had previously offered a reward of £lO for information leading to the discovery of the person or persons laying the poison, has increased the offer to £ls.