General News

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21384, 29 January 1935, Page 10

General News

Early Berries A few small lots of loganberries and mulberries have already appeared on the Christchurch market, the hot, dry spell of weather naving brought these fruits in earlier than is usual. Blackberries are also expected to be well forward this season. Most of the blackberries sold in Christchurch come from Cameron's, near Greymouth, and from Ngahere, on the Stillwater-Reefton line, where pickers manage to turn the West Coast's major curse into a profitable product. Loganberries and mulberries are grown locally, though some consignments of the latter are forwarded from Kaiapoi. Relief' Worker's Windfall A slight knowledge of trees, coupled with the ability to grasp at opportunity meant a little windfall to a Christchurch relief worker recently. Happening to be one of a number of men engaged to cut down a huge macrocarpa windbreak, he discovered that no one wanted the seeds. He obtained permission to remove them, and then carefully bagged them and took them away. His industry and resource were well rewarded, for the macrocarpa trees were more than 50 years old, the ideal age for the germination of the seeds; and the cheque for £lO which he received on selling the seeds in the proper quarter has convinced him of the truth of the old saying that it pays to keep one's eyes open. Twenty Thousand Members The membership of the Returned Soldiers' Associations throughout New Zealand stood at 20,147 on December 31, 1934, according to a report submitted by the secretary (Mr E. F. Willcox) at a meeting of the executive of the Christchurch association last evening. The figures for the main centres were:-—Auck-land, 2654; Dunedin, 2237; Christchurch, 2157: Wellington, 1119; Invercargill, 951. The North Island, with 57 associations, had 12,139 members, and the South Island, with 19 associations, had C 204 members. Marshlands or Marshland Residents of Marshland have taken exception to the spelling of the name of their district in the time-table of the Christchurch Tramway Board, and on the designation sign of the board's trolleybuses; in both cases it appears as Marshlands. Mr Frank Thompson, general manager of the tramways, told a reporter that on some maps of the city and surrounding districts the name appeared with a final "s," but on consulting a map issued by the Lands and Survey Department it had been found that the spelling was Marshland. The time-table would be corrected, and as opportunity presented itself the designation signs would be altered.

Virtue in Simplicity The simple explanation is often the most adequate. This is exemplified in a story told yesterday by Mr L. H. G. Greenwood, formerly of Christchurch, who has been for 25 years a lecturer at Cambridge University. Not long ago, said Mr Greenwood, a Royal Commission had been set up in England to investigate the conditions under which appointments were made to the Civil Services Many representatives of big business firms which were already taking university graduates into employment had been questioned as to why they preferred university men. Most of them had spoken at some length of "power of adaptability," "flexibility," and other abstract qualities; but a director of the Burma Oil Company had made the simple and logical statement: "Well, we prefer Cambridge graduates because they sell more oil."

Official City Newspaper

"The Press" has been appointed the ofiicial newspaper for the City of Christchureh for the year 1935. The following resolution was passed at last night's meeting of the City Council:—"That 'The Press' be and is hereby appointed the newspaper in which are to be inserted ofiicial notices published by the council during the year 1935." Effects of Drought The continued dry weather has been giving concern to the reserves committee of the Christchureh City Council. In its report to the council last evening the committee stated that watering and irrigating methods were being continued where possible, but that the present water supply in most parks and reserves was inadequate for such exceptionally hot and dry weather as the city had been experiencing. Should the present weather continue it would be necessary to water many of the street trees and shrubs which had been planted out this year. This would be rather expensive, but it was the only way of saving the plants. Since the last report an additional 17,850 plants had been sent from the nurseries for planting in the various parks and reserves, this making a total of 55,670 annual and bedding plants grown and dispatched from the nursery during the season. Photographs Presented Two new photographs will shortly be hung in the executive room of the Returned Soldiers' Association. One is a photograph of the Duke of Gloucester, which the executive of the association received last evening, with a message of appreciation from the Duke of the reception he was given by returned soldiers. The second is a photograph of Genera) Sir Alexander Godley, ■ received from the general, also with a letter of appreciation. MicMleton Pit Fires An assertion that the fires in the Middleton rubbish pit had been started deliberately was made by the Mayor of Riccarton (Mr H. S. S. Kyle) in a report to a meeting of the borough council last evening. Mr Kyle said that just before the fires two men had been seen in the pit and there was no doubt that they had set the fires going maliciously. A conference would probably be held between the Riccarton Borough Council and the Waimairi County Council to see what was to be done about the pit. Rumours are being circulated that the Gold Band Taxis must charge the new Council fares, but such is not the case as we are still running our private Hire cars at half the price of others. Example. Council fares for 5 passengers is Is per mile, and extra for luggage, but our fare is only 6d per mile and no charge for luggage Phone 33-477. —1 McCormick-Deering have the widest range of tractors ever submitted by any manufacturer. There is a model suitable for every sized farm, and for all soil and crop conditions, at prices ranging from £lB5 upwards. Tractor farming is cheaper, quicker. and better, drudgery is eliminated, and the work is done on time. The International Harvester Company of New Zealand, Limited, Christchureh. —2