General News

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21226, 26 July 1934, Page 10

General News

+ i "A Narrow Escape" j It is on record that Christchurch j narrowly escaped being a completely j Scottish city. In the very earliest j daj's of settlement on the Canter- , bury Piains a surveyor named Tuck- i ett made his way from Nelson to j Canterbury in search of a suitable j site for a Scottish colony. There | seemed to him to be possibilities j in the land on which Christchurch j now stands, but he became bogged j or lost in the swampy marshes oe- , tween Lyttelton and the farm es- j tablished at Riccarton by the Deans | brothers. This experience led him to abandon Canterbury and make for Otago. There he chose the site for Dunedin. Mr G. H. Ho'ford related the story when speaking to young farmers who are attending the educational course in the city. "That is why Dunedin is Scottish and not Christchurch," he said. Pinus Insignis for Planting "People often run down the pinus insignis as a tree for planting, but I am sure it will come into its own," said Mr W. P. Spencer, a member of the Sclwyn Plantation Board, at. a luncheon to Mr W. Stewart yesterday in honour of his appointment as Valuer-General. "I am hopeful, too, that the pulp industry will be introduced to New Zealand before many years." he added. A Russian Farewell The reserved farewell of Englishmen apparently has no appeal for Mr Leff Pouishnoll", the Russian pianist, whose cordiality of manner has charmed many New Zealanclers during his tour of the Dominion. I When Mr Pouishnoff said farewell to Mr Maurice Ralph at the Christchurch Railway Station last evening, before leaving for the north, he chose the traditional manner of his people, and placing his hands on Mr Ralph's shoulder lightly blew a kiss on each cheek. A small party of friends watched the departure of Mr Pouishnoff. Mr Horace Stevens (the singer who has accompanied him on his tour), and the impresario, Mr Hugo Larsen. Mr Ralph was the advance manager lor the tour of New Zealand. Addington Market Prices in most sections of stock were well maintained at yesterday's Addington market. Ewes continue to meet with a very keen demand, and the highest price of the season for Addington was recorded yesterday. The figure was 38s for a farmer's line of two-tooths. The soundmouthed sheep of the flock sold at up to 27s 3d. These prices are an indication of the strong enquiry for breeding sheep generally. Both the fat sheep and fat cattle sections drew entries from Southland. The fat sheep sale, because of a much larger entry than usual, was slow over the earlier stages, but firmed as the sale progressed, and in the '•losing singes there was a very keen demand at slightly better rates than ruled the preceding week. The { quality of the fat cattle entry was j better than it has been for some j time, but under the influence of a j heavier penning than the retaU I trade requires for the week, there was an easing of from 15s to 20s a head. A few specially prime heavy cattle realised the best prices since last winter. Fat pigs sold well, but of the other subsidiary sections dairy cattle were in very poor request. At this season of the year, as a rule, cows coming to profit are in very firm demand. The "double" market, on account of the National holiday the following week, will be held on August fJ. Psychology of Laughter Professor J. Shelley, of Canterbury College, when speaking to i young farmers at the Young Men's ! Christian Association yesterday morning, described one of his early experiments in psychology. While in Manchester he went to a musichall, to an afternoon performance. There was a sparse audience and foi" some reason the finest points of the comedians and the appeals ol other artists failed to rouse anv mirth. In the evening Professor, Shelley attended the same performance. There was a large audience. which, with Prole,- sor Shelley, laughed !o ,lly at the very jokes which had fallen so flat in the af'ernoon. Laughter depended on Ihe gregarious instinct, said the speaker, who quoted the observation of Mr G. B. Shaw that a crowd could easily be made to laugh bv raying the one word, "sausages,'' to it. To say such a thing to an individual would certainly mi cause laughter. Collect ions for Ambulances A complaint that collectors for the St. John Ambulance Association called too frequently was made at a meeting of the Waimairi County Council last night. Cr. W. G. Chap"man said that his neighbours had told him that two collectors had called on them twice within a fortnight. A donation had been made to the first caller, but the second refused to be convinced that money had been given until a receipt had been produced. Cr, Chapman was certain that both had been collecting on behalf of the association. "It is not good enough," he said, "rind something should be clone about it." It was agreed that the .councTs representative to the association be asked to bring the matter up when opportunity ofTered. Seismograph for GreymouUi A Milne-,Jagger seismograph has l een installed in th Public Works f\')icc. Greymouth, by the Government Meteorologist, Dr. Adams, and is in charge of the public works draughtsmen. It is not particularly sensitive, but will record any disturbances with a greater movement than two on the Rossi-Forcl scale. Flood Damage at Little River The damage caused by the floods at Little River is being repaired as fast as the weather will allow, according to a report presented by the engineer, Mr W. R. Leeder, to a meeting of the Wairewa Countv Council. The report said that Gap road and Robertson's road had been repaired sufficiently to enable vehicles to get through with care and on Te Oka road a good horse track had been cleared. A further report said the settlers were to be consulted about the diversion of the stream through Price's Valley, and the laying of the road through the bush.