General News

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21972, 22 December 1936, Page 10

General News

Vehicle-Actuated Traffic Control Tenders will be called immediately for the supply and installation at the Bank of New Zealand intersection of a vehicle-actuated traffic system. This was reported at a meeting last night of the Christchurch City Council by the traffic committee. It was stated that the City Engineer (Mr A. R. Galbraith), the City Electrical Engineer (Mr J. C. Forsyth), and the Chief Traffic Inspector (Mr J. Bruorton) had prepared a complete specification. This had been submitted to the Tramway Board for consideration and tenders would be called immediately. Collection of Refuse "If an epidemic is let loose on this city, the members round this table will have to bear the brunt," stated Cr. F. D. Sargent, at the meeting of the Christchurch City Council last evening, when claiming that the council did not provide an adequate service for the collection of refuse. He said that rats and mice were on the increase in the city because of the inability of the public to dispose of refuse. "The council is doing its duty in the matter," declared the Mayor (Mr J. W. Beanland), Cr. Sargent expressing his disagreement with the statement. Street Trading "My own opinion is that the streets should not be used for any commercial trading at all," declared Cr. E. H. Andrews at the meeting of the Christchurch City Council last evening when a recommendation by the by-laws and finance committee that newspaper vendors be allowed to sell only daily papers and official race books was before the council. Cr. R. M. Macfarlane and Cr. A. C. Sandston deprecated the granting of a monopoly to the newspapers for street sales, the former claiming that no opportunity had been given to vendors to protest against the proposed restriction. On Cr. Macfarlane's motion, consideration of the clause was held over to the next meeting of the council. Cemetery Fees Increased Increases in cemetery fees, amounting in nearly every case to 100 per cent., were approved by the Christchurch City Council last night, on the recommendation of the reserves committee. It was stated, however, that the new charges arc less than the similar Tees in the other main centres and that the increase was essential because revenue, based on piesent fees, will be insufficient to provide for the future maintenance of the cemeteries. The increases were approved by a majority of 14 to 3. Sale of Subdivisional Reserves Permission is to be sought from the Minister for Lands (the Hon. F. Langstonc) by the Christchurch City Council to sell several .) per cent, subdivisional reserves m North Linwood and apply the money towards the purchase ot a park in that locality. The council decided to take this action at its meeting last night after it had considered a report by the reserves committee, which said that there were seven of these subdivisional reserves in North Linwood, and the council was contemplating the purchase of a park in that district. It was not considered by the committee that these reserves would ever be used for council purposes, and it therefore recommended that the Minister for Lands be asked to sanction the sale of the reserves, the proceeds to be devoted towards the purchase of a park. Rost Gflioe at Belfast The lender of Mr C. S. Luncy, of Christchurch, has been accepted by the Public Works Department for the construction at Eelfast of a post office with residence attached. The new building will be at the intersection of the Main North road and York street, and the post office will have a frontage of 34ft and a depth of 30ft. The building will be of wood, of one storey. The post office will consist of a mail room, strong-room, and public space, and the dwelling will be of five rooms. Electrical Heating Plant Authority for the purchase of an electrical heating plant for use in the building to be constructed for the Municipal Electricity Department was given by the City Council at its meeting last night. The electricity committee reported that it proposed to have installed suitable radiators with water circulation for the heating of the building, and it considered that an electrical plant was preferable to a fuel plant. The latter would be cheaper in first cost and economical in operation, but it would not be smokeless. Because of the increasing importance of smoke prevention, the committee favoured an electrical plant. Installation of this plant would cost between £ISOO to £2OOO, and the portion of the plant which could be procured only overseas would cost about £BOO. The council empowered the committee to place an order in England for this portion. Niagara Brings Huge Mail One result of the American shipping strike which was apparent on the Niagara when she arrived at Auckland yesterday from Vancouver was the tremendous amount of mail—the largest loaded at Vancouver by a CanadianAustralasian Royal Mail steamer. At Vancouver 7864 bags were taken aboard, and 755 more bags were loaded at Victoria. For three days before the Niagara's departure from Vancouver there were unprecedented scenes at the ship's side. On each of the three days the train from San Francisco brought about 2000 bags. About half the mail was for Honolulu, 2841 bags were for New Zealand, and 1267 for Australia. At Suva the mail officials were surprised by the delivery of 625 bags.—Press Association. Holiday Provisions All retail establishments in Christchurch will be open for a late night's shopping on Thursday night until 10 o'clock. They will remain closed on Friday and Saturday, reopening on Monday. Exactly the same programme will be followed next week and after New Year's Day, except that the late night on Thursday will be till 9 o'clock. Householders will have to secure provisions, therefore,, lor three days, a natural problem when Christmas fails just before the week-end. Bakers have not obtained any concession from the Labour Department to their objection to the regulation for payment of "casuals" taken on for the Christmas baking. They are confident, however, that any difficulties so caused will not be passed on to the public. "The demand will be met," said Mr C. E. Boon, chairman of the executive of the Master Bakers' Association, yesterday. "The ordinary staffs will simply have to go on till the job is done." He said that the bakers had had no assistance from the Government in their effort to avoid paying "casuals" for a period beyond that actually worked. He added that the reaction would be against men who normally found work as extra hands. Visit by Fijian and Indian Scouts Made conspicuous by their khaki sulus, shirts, and bare feet, a party of six Fijian scouts arrived at Auckland yesterday by the Niagara to spend four weeks in the North Island. With them were six Indian scouts, also in Fiji, who, however, wore the usual scout uniform, with the exception that their trousers were of blue cloth. Representing six troops, the scouts are to spend their time in New Zealand by touring and meeting New Zealand scouts in the towns they visit. To-day they will go on to Matamata, for the primary purpose of the tour is to return a visit that was made to them during the winter by the Matamata boy scouts. —"The Press" Special Service. To Study Dairying Methods To make a study of New Zealand dairy manufacturing methods, Professor R. B. Stoltz, chairman of the Department of Dairy Technology at the Ohio State University, United States, arrived by the Niagara from Vancouver. Professor Stoltz, who is also secretary and treasurer of the American Dairy Science Association, said he was interested in New Zealand because he felt that it stood at the top in the making of butter and cheese, especially butter. He will make a Dominion tour. —Press Association,