CHRISTCHURCH.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 310, 24 September 1908, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH.

■ September 23. The Domain Board has taken an unpopular step by- raising the rentals charged to the various' sports bodies for their grounds in the park. The Executive Conunitteo recommended the following increased rentals:— Football: 3 acres, 13 grounds at £3 each, £39;' recomraendcd rental £5 each, £65. Hockey: 2 acres, 17 grounds at £1 10s., £25 10s.; recommended rental, £3 each, £51. Cricket: 12 acres, United, £25; recommended rental, £40 j 8 acres, Christ's College, £20; recommended rental, £30. Polo: 20 acres, £9 10s.; recommended rental, £15. Bowling and tennis: 4 acres, 1 ground, £20; recommended rental, £20. Rounders: 1' ground, £1; recommended rental, £1. Golf: £9; recommended. rental, £15. Mr. Davcy, M.P., protested against raising the rates of rentals for sports clubs upon the laud of the people. They had penalised the hockey clubs by 100 per cent. Every encourage- 1 ment should be given to sports clubs to play oil the park. Adding this expense, say on the cricket club, it would discourage the voung men from goina in for sports. Tho board did not, be wouid point out, -sjjewi. °

single shilling on . these grounds, as .the cricket and hockey peoplo. kept their portions in order.. . The increases were,. however, agreed to.

Advances to Settlors. A rather serious position has arisen locally (says the "Timaru Herald") in conncctioa with the non-granting of loans from tho Advances to Settlers Department. Different South Canterbury settlers applied for loans and were granted thera by the Department three months ago, but the actual cash is still not forthcoming. This is causing serious inconvenience. The ■ settlers who were granted loans depended 011 getting tho cash ylien their applications ; were granted, and they entered into financial obligations accordingly. They wcro'to get money-from tho Government at 41 per. cent.,-and' had . they thought there would be any difficulty 111 getting it they could have made arrangements three months ago to get it privately at not more than 51 per cent., and they fear . that if they are now thrown on their, own ' resources through the Government ■ money' • not coming to hand they will be compelled to pay 6 per "cent, for it. Ever, since the ' granting of their applications' they have hid to pay for accommodation which would not ' have been required had the money been paid over when tho applications were granted. ,

Ship Canal. ' .An idea apparently exists in some'qua'r-' ters at Home that the ship' canal to' Christchurch is an accomplished fact. The London . buyer for a Christchurch firm having invited quotations from English manufacturers .for a certain lino of goods -'received- several replies including one from a firm which concluded as follows" The prices quoted aro 'quite • net. We have included freight' to tyttol- 1 . ton, which is tho nearest port to' which we . can get rates. It is only! one mile from " Christchurch, which is further up the river."