General News

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21376, 19 January 1935, Page 14

General News

The Fishing Rivers Reports have been received by the secretary of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society on the condition of the fishing rivers:—Rakaia and Hurunui, clear and fishable; Rangitata, rising; Ashley, river very low, and in parts drying up; Waimakariri, clear at present, with slight rise expected. College Roof Damaged Considerable damage was done to the flat roof of the Christchurch Teachers' Training College by candidates awaiting a recent medical examination there, according to a report received at a meeting of the Canterbury Education ißoard yesterday. The buildings committee stated that a special report on the damage had been made by the foreman of works, and it had been resolved that it be repaired and that suitable steps be taken to prevent a recurrence of this trouble. Eclipse of the Moon There will be a total eclipse of the moon, partially visible in Christchurch, early to-morrow morning. The moon will enter the penumbra at 0.39 a.rh. and the umbra at 1.53 a.m. Totality will begin at 3.3 (a.m. and end at 4.31 a.m. The moon will leave the umbra at 5.41 a.m. and the penumbra at 6.55 a.m.; but as the sun rises at 5.4 a.m.,: the closing phases of the eclipse will be lost here. " Shake-D6wn.s " for Sailors The action of the Christchurch Young Men's Christian Association in providing "shake-downs" for men of H.M.A.S. Australia who miss the last train to Lyttelton has met with such approval from the sailors that for last night and to-night it has been necessary to obtain more mattresses. Since Thursday week, when accommodation was first provided, there have been, on an average, more than 50 sailors availing themselves of the privilege. When the facilities were made available it was intended that they should be used only bv those sailors who missed the last train, but men have be«n coming to the association's building as early as 11 p.m. to objtain a "shake-down." They have not been refused, and the men generally have expressed their deep appreciation of the association's hospitably to the secretary, Mr A. J. McEldowney. A City Garden Plot A city garden plot which is seen by all too few people is that on the triangle at the intersection of Barbadoes street and River road. Rhododendrons have been planted thickly along the old brick wall of the cemetery, and in front of these there are set, in the grass, eight beds of glowing antirrhinums, a single colour to each bed. For the last week the massed blooms, flamecolour, coral pink, rose-red, and lemon yellow have presented a gorgeous sight, especially when viewed from the river-bank setting of grassy slopes and grave, old Lombardy poplars. ; Buried Treasure "Numbers of amusing and some pathetic letters were received by those of us who made the Galiipoii pilgrimage last year," Mrs E. L. Jones, an English visitor to Christchurch, told a reporter of "The Press" yesterday. "Most of the communications were to Ihe effect that their writers had buried { sovereigns and other valuables durI ing the Galiipoii campaign, and had I been unable to reclaim them, owing ito the speed with which the evacuation was carried out. Some: of the letters wore accompanied by ela-borately-drawn plans, showing the approximate location of the buried treasure. The quaintest loiter of all came from a "Tommy" who. having by some means possessed himself of a kog of rum, had carefully buried it. He had been wounded in a trench raid immediately afterwards, and had been taken to Alexandria. Apparently he is still regretting the loss of his rum, for he 1 requested that one of the pilgrims should dig it up and take it back to England for him. A Lost Dor One owner, or at, least former owner, of a valuable sheep dog in Christchuroh is feeling particularly annoyed about the .loss of his dog. | The animal disappeared, several, weeks ago rfnd it was confidently hoped that, if would, return as it had on a previous occasion, when JI, had been stolen. The dog did not return, but last Saturday a paragraph appeared in "The Press" slating that (he City Council authorities had taken charge of.a valuable unregistered sheep dog which they were loath to destroy, but would give to anyone willing to pay the registration fee and the cost of its keep for a fortnight. The worried owner went to the yards and learned that |this dog, whose description tallied 'with that of the missing animal, had been given to a farmer. The owner is unable to ascertain who the farmer is, and at the present moment he is clinging to the hope that the farmer may reappear, and the dog with him. Latest in Total isators Negotiations for the purchase of the latest totalisator equipment have been in progress between the Canterbury Jockey Club and the Australian agents for the machine for some months past, and at the invitation of the club, Mr L. Raymond, manager and secretary of Automatic Totalisators Ltd., Sydney, made a special visit to Christchurch and yesterday had a long conference with the committee of the club. At the conclusion it was announced that the committee had decided to enter into a contract with the Sydney company to purchase a complete totalisator equipment. This comprises a win and a place machine with electrically controlled dividend indicators on the barometer system, at present manually controlled at Trentham. It was expected that the new installation will be completed in time for use at the Grand National meeting in August next. At the last Christchurch Agricultural Show the Duncan Patent Grassland and Lucerne Harrow received the Award of Merit, and Mr Oscar Miles, of Hawarden, considers it the best implement of any sort he has had on his farm, and on November sth, 1934, he wrote: "I have pleasure and abundant confidence in recommending the Hamilton Harrow. Having used this harrow for grubbing lucerne loosening the crops up in the spring, finishing off before drilling, and breaking the land prior to deep ploughing, I feel it is my duty to pass on to other farmers my experience of this useful implement." P. and D. Duncan, Limited, 196 Tuam street, Christchurch, and at Ashburton. —2