CHRISTCHURCH NOTES.

Grey River Argus, 3 April 1922, Page 8

CHRISTCHURCH NOTES.

PERSONAL. Mr I). McLeod of Cobden who has been consulting an <ye specialist here will enter Lewisham Private Hospital for treatment next weew. Among several Coasters at present holidaying in Christchurch, is Mr EAshton, who is combining business w>th poets to bp in harness again before to purchase a hotel business and *xpjects to Ira in harness again before long. Captain Owen P. McGuigan, whe severed his connection with the Defence Department this week, was entertained by the staff at Burnham on Wodneday evening and presented with a gold medal and a. travelling bag. both of wliit'h were suitably in scrihed 31 r Storey, who made the presentation, expressed the regret of all at the Captain’s retirement., and extended him the heartiest good wishes for his future. UNEMPLOYMENT. The Unemployment Relief Committee, which did such excellent work in alleviating much of the distress oc'vi.sl.med l»y unemployment in the city, went out of office last week During its existence the Committee succeeded in collecting quite a tidy sum of money, which it expended judiciously in providing suitable employment for many who were faced with a trying time. The affairs of the Committee were conducted with a minimum of expense, and no effort was spared to find ' niployment for those who were really desirous of obtaining -work. It i* hoped that the tide has taken a. turn and that the Committee will not b< tailed upon this coming winter. Trades people are all of the opinion that the out It,-k is brighter than nicy pveted it to be, and the most trying time has passed. A PLEA FOR THE BOOKS. What looks like the final effort to r< instate the Books is being made at the | resent time. In certain business places in the City, petition forms are. to be found on the counter and signatures solicited from, eustoinrrs. Hie prayer of the petition is simply for tin- legalising of the Bookmaker. There has not been any marked desire manifested by the public to accept the invitation to sign. Many have managed to get along without the Bookmaker for so long that they do ii< t anticipate any great difficulty in (xi'i'ng without him in the future 4 . Then again times are n<»t what they used to lie, and some appreciate the absence of an irresistable means of getting rid of their spare cash. The man who is in the know sufficiently- to allow of him having a bet. even in these days of rigid prohibition, is not, too keen on interceding on behalf of a fraternity whose lat<<t conditions of transactions ha-e made the possibility of having a little flutter very remote indeed. TRAFFIC CONTROL. Tht' problem of traffic control has worried the City authorities to no lit. th extent. A new arrival could not help but notice the deplorable lack of control over all street traffic. For sixteen hours a day. the narrow stretch between the tram tracks at the S iiith rn entrance to the Square was patrolled by a. keeper of law and onb r, with what object not even the oldest resident nor the policeman himself (ould tell. The paths follow* 1 by pedestrians at crossings have Iren fined on each side with a row of light coloured bricks, and signs have been placed oi> adjacent- posts instructing the public to cross the street between the lines mentioned. Unfortunately the signs have been laced tnp wrong way, and one has crossed the street Ik*fore he is aware of tin' purpose of the defining lines Arrangements have been made with the Polico Department when by the services of a constable are provided to control the traffic during the business hours in accordance with the system, if.i vogue- in la.rgcr centres. Standing on his “Island" at the junction of 11 igh and Colombo streets the officer not only performs sp.-enaht service for foot" passengers but provides an unprecedented attraction for quite' a large number of Christchurch peep'o who stand and ma.rvel at his wonderful power of being able to hold up tramcars, motors, norsedrawn vehicles. perambulators. wheelbarrows etc; with a wave of the hand. It is impossible to say whether the onlookers were filled with fear or amazement—a study of the faces could not be mad*' because in almost « very case the face was all mouth.