General News

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22250, 15 November 1937, Page 8

General News

Sunday Funerals

A decision made in Christchurch that in future no funerals would be conducted within a 60-mile radius of Christchurch on Sundays, was made by Christchurch firms without the consent of funeral furnishers in Ashburton, it was stated by firms at Ashburton on Saturday. The latter said that funerals would be conducted on Sundays in Ashburton, as had always been the custom.

Wailiao River Drying Up

The Waihao river at Waimate is now very low and is drying up in places. This is causing the Waimate Acclimatisation Society, some concern and fish have been removed from pools to higher up the river. The Waitaki river is still in good condition for fishing and anglers are having fair success.

Yachts Capsize at Kairaki

The capsizing of two yachts in the strong north-easterly wind caused the abandonment of the Wainiakariri Sailing and Power Boat Club's first race for the Crozier Cup, which was to have been sailed at Kairaki yesterday. Mr D. Crozier's Vixen capsized at the start of the race, and Mr P. Vivian's Dolphin capsized soon afterwards. The occupants of both boats were rescued by the other yachts taking part in the race.

Public Library Busy

Carnival Week was very busy for the Canterbury Public Library, a total of almost 4000 books being taken out by subscribers for home reading. This number, which included 1000 books from the children's section, was about the usual weekly average, said the librarian, Mr E. J. Bell, but last week the library had been closed on Friday. Saturday morjning was particularly busy, some hundreds of people changing books in preparation for a quiet weekend.

Parties Fly tt Races

During the last week the Otago Aero Club's Waco cabin aeroplane on three occasions brought parties to Christchurch for the race meeting. They left the Taieri airport. Dunedin in the morning, and returned the same night, making what would normally be a threeday trip in the one day. The passengers speak in enthusiastic terms of the trip. Twice they saw the last race before they left the course, and on one day the final race was watched from the air.

Excursion Fares to North Beach

Cheap seaside tickets on the trams and buses travelling to North Beach will no longer be available on outward journeys between 10 a.m. and 12.10 p.m. on the days when races are held at the New Brighton racecourse, according to a decision made at a meeting of the Christchurch Tramway Board on Saturday morning. The report of the works and traffic committee, which was before the board, said that races were held at New Brighton on only four days during the year. On these days all the men on special trams and buses had to be paid at overtime rates.

Interference With Signposts

"There have been cases where signs have been deliberately turned round, thereby giving wrong direction indication," stated the report presented at the annual meeting of Franklin members of the Automobile Association (Auckland) held at Pukekohe. In other instances, it said, signs had been defaced and broken. It appealed to members to co-operate in the duty of bringing offenders to book.

Bremen's Cruisj Cancelled

Confirmation of the cabled report of the cancellation of the world cruise of the North German Lloyd liner Bremen was received recently by the line's Auckland agents, Messrs Henderson and Macfarlane, in a cable message from New York. Financial conditions in New York have been responsible for the announcement. The Canadian Pacific linei Empress of Britain, 42,348 tons, which will arrive at Auckland on April 12, on a world voyage, will now gam the port merchant tonnage record. No details of the proposed Auckland visit of the French liner He de France, 43,450 tons, have yet been received.

No Post Office Clock

No clock or clock tower will be provided for the new Hamilton Post Office by the Post and Telegraph Department, according to advice received by the Hamilton Borough Council from the Postmaster-General, the Hon. F. Jones, recently. Not only was it not the policy of the department to provide public clocks, stated the Minister, but further, after the Murchison and Napier earthquakes, the department had decided not to erect clock towers as these constituted a menace, in addition to wasting space and increasing maintenance costs.

Milliners from Australia

Because experienced milliners are hard to obtain in New Zealand, a Napier millinery manufacturer has decided to advertise in Australia for additional employees, this step being necessitated by the extension of his factory. "I shall advertise in Auckland and locally, of course," he said, "but it is difficult to get experienced milliners in the Dominion, where the labour available is confined almost solely to apprentices. I am looking for 20 apprentices and 15 experienced workers and I expect to have a staff of 75 working by Christmas." In answer to a question, the manufacturer said the additions were being brought about with the object of producing new types of millinery.

A Veteran Presbyterian Minister

"I would like you to know that this youthful man is 93 years of age," said the Moderator, the Rt. Rev. W. H. Howes, when the Rev. W. Hain went forward to address the Presbyterian Assembly at Auckland last wee!:. Speaking with a clear, vigorous voice, the veteran minister held the attention of the assembly for some minutes while he spoke upon the need for enlisting the young people of the Church in active evangelism, and recalled his own experience in this matter. Mr Hain was heartily applauded when he concluded his address.

City Manager Proposal

Executive members of the Wellington Ratepayers' Association expressed the opinion at a meeting of the association recently, that the ramifications of the city's administration had reached such magnitude that there was now need for a unified control of the various departments. They emphasised the desirability of the appointmtnt of a city manager with full powers to administer the policy formulated by the council from time to time. Under existing conditions there was a lack of co-ordinate control, which had resulted in much overlapping and uneconomic work being done, members said.

New Bridge at Wellington

To provide Wellington pedestrians with a means of crossing the many railway tracks between Thorndon quay and Waterloo quay a foot overbridge is being erected. When the lay-out of the railway yards for the new station was decided, it became necessary to close Davis street, which previously provided a right-of-way for both vehicles and pedestrians. This left' Waterloo and Aotea quays approachable only by Customhouse quay from the south and by the Hutt road ramp from the north. This will still be so for vehicular traffic, but the footbridge will give easier access for pedestrians. The bridge will be 255 feet long, spanning 21 tracks, and six feet wide. The approach from Thorndon quay will be by either a double ramp or steps, and from Waterloo quay, by a straight ramp and alternative steps. The bridge is expected to be ready early next year.

Game Birds

"I don't think the Acclimatisation Societies would ever suggest that the interests of the country should be sacrificed for our game birds," stated Dr. G. F. V. Anson, president of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society, at the monthly meeting of that body in Palmerston North, discussing the loss of pheasants through eating poison laid for rabbits. The societies, he stated, would be delighted to find some method of poisoning introduced that would not destroy birds, but they would not place the interests of game birds before the interests of the country.