General News

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21118, 20 March 1934, Page 8

General News

♦_ —- Primitive Transport Bicycles, motor-cars, and even formed roads were a novelty to a Maori youth, aged 18, who came to Lyttelton from the Chatham Islands vesterdav morning. Having seen 'nothing "else, he expected that in New Zealand, as at the Chatham*, everybody went about on horseback, or transported their on wheeled sledges over rough tracks. Once there was a motor-car at the Chatham?, but as there were no formed roads, its movements were confined to the beach.

"Golden Chance" Art Union Owing to the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall not being available, the drawing of the "Golden Chance" Art Union will take place at the conference hall. Dominion Farmers' Institute. Wellington, at !> a.m. to-moirow. Change of Venue Structural alterations to the Supreme Court chamber will bo commenced to-day. and while they are in progress trie court will sit in the old Provincial Council Chamber, where the Arbitration Court has been sitting for the last lortr.ight. Steam Engines and Railways Only for the action of the British railway companies about 100 years ago, it is possible that there would be no railwavs in New Zealand today, Mr F. ' W. J. Belton told a me'eting of the Canterbury Advertising Club yesterday. At that time, lie said, there were steam-engined conveyances running to time-table between London and Birmingham at 20 miles an hour. Th- railways had become very powerful organisations and. realising the danger to themselves, they used their political miluence to have an act passed, known as the Red Flag Act. which prohibited any self-propelled road vehicle from travelling at more than five miles an hour and which provided that they must be preceded by a man carrying a red flag. But for this act steam driven road vehicles, would probably have been developed to such an extent that railways in New Zealand would never have been known. Overseas Shipping The Pore Christchurch League, at an executive meeting held yesterday afternoon, decided to support the representations of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce regarding overseas shipping to Lyttelton. It was agreed that every endeavour should be made to make Lyttelton the first port of call and the port of departure for a percentage of overseas ships, and Messrs J. Longton, R. B. Cotton, T. If. Harker. S. W. Richardson, H. M. Hall, and Dr. J. W. Crawshaw were appointed a sub-committee to ro-operate with the Chamber of Commerce. ."Maintenance of Scenic Road On the suggestion of Mr F. W. Freeman, the general council of the Canterbury Automobile Association decided at a meeting last evening to write to the Public Works Department, asking that steps be taken to ensure adequate maintenance of the end portion of the Summit road, near Ge'obie's Pass. The road was described by Mr Freeman as one of the finest scenic assets in the province, and he deplored the present rough condition of its surface. It was essential that it be made safe and passable for motorists, he said.

Preparing for Easter Weddings Alterations at the eastern end of the ground floor of the Government Departmental Buildings in Worcester street have been in hand lotseveral days, the object being to provide more accommodation for the Pensions Department. This is being effected by taking some of the space previouslv used bv the officers under the Registrar of Births, Marriages, and Deaths. What was formerly the registrar's public ollice has been absorbed by the Pensions Department, and it is hoped to have the new public ollice of the registrar ready to-day. It is important that it should be ready soon as the registrar's busy tune with Faster marriages is approaching. Addimjton Post Office Clock The Addington Post Ollice clock stopped very frequently and needed attention. Mr K. Parlane said at the annual meeting of the Addington Burgesses' Association last evening. The clock had been an expensive one and was regarded as one of the best m Christchurch when it was installed a few years ago. He did not know who was responsible loins control. U was agreed that Mr Parlane should endeavour to discover the controlling body so that the clock could be repaired. Protection of .Motor-ears The general council of the Canterbury Automobile Association decided at a meeting last evening to write to the Christchurch City Council asking if authority had been given to any persons to protect motor-cars left m the ci'v at nigh'. ;ml to clue-go lor tiie service. A member of tin." council. Mr G. S. Noitjs. -aid that when he parked his car in a city street on a lecent evening he leturued to find a ".-ticker" on it. and a man asked him for (id as a charge !o- pv,,ti ctiug it Th,e ir.an said that no was author;.-., d o; the Christehurch City Council to do so. There was a danger m allowing such a pracive. Air Morris added, for in the ca.-e ot a motorist retusmg to pav fo>- niotection. there might cc.-i'y be unpleasantness. I'ish at the C'halhams Fish abound at the Chatham Islands, but their abundance does not mean large returns to the fishermen. A recent visitor remarked yesterday that the men received ',d per lb for groper and : ;d per lb for blue cod. They led a hard life, for although snow was practically unknown at the Chathams there were long spells of cold and windy weather.

Boys for .Mercantile Marine The appointment of at leas! oiv' New Zealand bov on the articles of every British vessel trading to New Zealand was favoured by the Birkenhead (Auckland) Borough Council recently. It was considered by Mr J. Macdonaid that there was a lack ot openings tor sealarmg larc-ers in the Dominion, and be moved that a letter be written to the Minister lor Marine asking that an endeavour oe made to have at least one New Zealand boy on the articles ot every British vessel trading to the Dominion. Members said that the proposal was good, and unanimously supported the motion.