CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 October 1928, Page 12

CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

SCARLET FEVER REVIVES

(Special to "Star.”)

CHRISTCHURCH, October 8.

After a decided drop in the number of cases of scarlet fever reported during the past few weeks, the number reported at the Health Department for the week ended at noon to-day brought the total up with a bump. For the week ended at noon last Monday only 31 cases were reported, but today’s report disclosed the fact that there have been 61 cases during the past week. There are at present 173 cases in Bottle Lake Hospital. Two cases of scarlet fever were reported from the West Coast. There was one death in Canterbury.

CYCLIST LOSES WAGERS. According to N. C. Bourn, of Christchurch, if Dick Turpin had started his famous ride to York on a bicycle, one bright spot in history would never have been. Bourn, a novice to cycling, starting off the 43 minute mark in the Timaru to Christchurch race, rode to win three wagers that he would reach Geraldine in two hours and a half, that he would reach Ashburton, and that he would reach Christchurch before 8 p.m. He covered the, first ; 16 miles in 47 minutes, and passed- through Geraldine (26 miles out) . with. an hour to-spare, but then he fell' by the wayside. He had a bad spill. After battling on till Hinds was reached at 2.20 p.m., he completed the journey in a motor car. Medical attention, including some stitches in his leg, was necessary when he arrived back in Christchurch.

BURGLARS BAFFLED.

One of the most systematic and complete overhauls of business premises in Christchurch by thieves was carried out last night at the offices and depot of the Dunlop Rubber Company (N.Z.) Ltd., at the corner of Madras and Lichfield Streets. Very little cash was taken, but some of the stock is apparently missing. It was a paltry reward for what must have been a long period of earnest ransacking.

A carrier employed by the firm arrived on the pemises at 6 a.m. to-day, and discovered that the lock had been wrenched off the tool box of his van. This circumstance led him to investigate, and he got into touch at once with his principals. There must have been several persons concerned in the work. On the eastern side of the three-storey building there is a Secluded well, fenced with corrugated iron. The thieves procured a long ladder, which they placed in the well, easily reached from the church lawn next door. They then broke a window on the first floor and clambered in. The ladder was hidden from the street. Once inside, the thieves made their way to the ground floor, seeking tools for their operations. By breaking into the loading place, they secured strong tools in the shape of tyre levers and a lengthy poke. They were careful to se that every door snibbed from the inside. Drawers were searched and their contents scattered about. A roller-top desk was badly damaged in the opening process. A few pence in a box kept by the typistes for tea money fell an easy prey. In another instance, however, a desk was left untouched, although the keys were lying quite handy. There was a sum of nearly £5 in the desk, and it is still there. A courageous attempt was made to drill the big safe, which bears evidence of laborious work. The cover of a typewriter was used to deaden the sound of drilling. The thieves were unable to penetrate the steel locks. The burst off cupboards, drawers, and doors, and the stock of tubes was interfered with. A small suit case was taken from one room. To leave the building, the thieves burst the lock off the well door and made their way out over the corrugated iron fence into the church grounds.

THE HUNTER CASE.

The evening newspapers contain lengtihy references to the resignation of Mr G. R. Hunter from the City Council. The “Sun” asks who has been supplying coal to the Christchurch Municipal Abattoir since January, 1928? In its “private” inquiry into the events leading up to the resignation of G. R. Hunter from the City Council, the Works Committee of the Council, which, as the Mayor of Christchurch (Rev. J. K. Archer) has said, intends to “pursue every possible line of investigation,” will undoubtedly consider the question of abattoir coal supplies. The Committee will find in the month of September, for instance, that the coal consigned from Greymouth to the Abattoir’ at Sockburn was as follows : —September 3 (wagon L 13943) by Hunter and party; September 17 (wagon L 6862) by Baddeley and party; September 20 (wagon L 8273) by Spencer and party. Since it is stated that Spencer is the secretary of Hunter and party, and the output of Baddeley and party’s mine is controlled by Hunter and party, the necessity for the Committee’s inquiry

becomes apparent. On Wednesday, September 26, Hunter resigned from the City Council on the grounds of business extensions and failing health. Complaints from the Audit Department were the reasons given, for his resignation in statements by Hunter himself and by the Mayor. The re was some discussion at the Council meeting on the following Monday, but CT M. E. Lyons’ motion that an open committee should be set up to investigate the events leading up to Hunter’s resignation was defeated on a party vote. It was ultimately decided that the Works’ Committee should conduct its own inquiry. In a, subsequent statement, the Mayor made it clear that while this Committee would pursue every possible line of investigation, the. nature and scope of the inquiry was entirely its own' affair. It would bring down a report only if it thought fit.

’ Then. Hunter, who has been visiting ! the Nortih Island, informed the Wel- • lington representative of the ‘‘Sun” that he intended to appear before the Works Committee and state all the facts covering his alleged trading with the Council. The Works Committee meets on Wednesday next, when it may be presumed that Hunter will be in attendance. In its endeavour to pur-

sue every line of investigation, the Works Committee will then be expected to inquire not only into the supplies of coal for the Abattoirs, but also whv Hunter neglected to state all the facts covering his alleged trading with the Council in tlhe first place ; whether the “professional advice” which prompted Hunter to continue indirect trading with the Council was (a) authoritative legal advice, (b) legal advice at all ?

In the statement by A. .Summerfield,

head clerk in the' City Engineer’s omce, which was placed before the Council, it was set out that the supply o! Point Elizabeth coal for road rollers was “reported by the engine driver to be satisfactory.” Why did another Council engine-driver think it most unsatisfactory ? Were the City Council’s carts engaged in removing spoil from the Point Elizabeth Coal Company’s siding at Waltham ? If so, who paid for the labour to load these carts ?