NEWS IN BRIEF.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 273, 22 December 1914, Page 10

NEWS IN BRIEF.

The Lyttelton Harbour Board is calling for tenders for ironbark timber and piles. The following additional donations towards the Huntly Kelief Fund have been received:—Weeks Ltd. £1 5/-, L.M.C. 7/6. The long-desired daily mail service between Christchurch and Greymouth is being given a trial, up to the end of January. January instalments of old age, widows, and military pensions will be available from to-morrow (Wednesday) until the end of January. The seei'etary of the Ilospital and Charitable Aid Board, desires to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of £1 1/- from Messrs A. J. White and Co., towards the Christmas fund. The drawing for the Domain Rose Carnival Art Union will take place on Thursday, the 31st, and blocks of ticket books should be sent at once to Mr C. W. Ilervey (secretary). A gala day is being held at Little River on Boxing Day, the proceeds of which are to be devoted exclusively to the Belgium Fund. The 'cause is a good one and, given fine weather, there should be a large attendance at Little River on that day. A man' named Harry Bobbins, a wheelwright, residing at Gloucester Street, Linwood, was admitted to the hospital at 7.40 a.m. to-day, suffering from injuries to his head, received through a fall from a motor cycle in Tuam Street. The following additional subscriptions towards the Patriotic Fund have been received : —City Council waterworks employees (15th contribution) 12/-, proceeds of concert at Bolleson £."'>, per the Teachers ' Institute (Miss Pavitt) IS/-, Mr T. Douds £4. There- was a strong muster of members of the newly-formed unit at Lyttelton last night, and drill under the instruction of Sergeant-Major Tonights was indulged in for about an hour and a-half. The next parade will be held on Monday, December 28. The hard-working and musical body, the Christchurch Cathedral Bellringers' Society, has appointed Mr George Clayton master of the society. Mr Clayton has had considerable experience in England, and has been associated with the Cathedral Society for some time. The Methodist Choir Union gave "The Messiah'' in the Durham Street Methodist Church last evening. The performance was in every way acceptable, and was heartily appreciated. Mr Ernest Firth was conductor, and Mr H.-T. Whittingliarn was organist. A report was received from the Reserves Committee at the meeting of the City Council last evening, that the ground allotted in the Linwood Cemetery to the Anglican Church is nearly occupied, two new blocks have been allotted to the west of-the Roman Catholic portioiv The ground will be consecrated -by Bishop Julius.

Christmas greetings telgrams are now being accepted at a uniform charge of 6d, provided the address and signature do not together ' contain more than eleven words, any excess to be charged id per word; but no variation in the text will be permitted. The public are advised to lodge such telegrams on the 23rd instant at the latest, to ensure delivery on Christmas Eve.

The secretary of the Chamber of Commerce has received advice from the General Post Office, Wellington, that authority lias now been given for the use" of further cable codes, viz.: Meyer's Atlantic Cotton Code, 39t.1i edition; Bentley's Complete Phrase Code (except the separate mining and oil supple-

ments); and Broomliall's Imperial Combination Code (except the special rubber edition). A few weeks ago the.employees of the Kaiapoi Woollen Company's Christchurch Factory decided to take up weekly, voluntary contributions,towards the relief of the poor of Great Britain and Belgium. This desire to assist in the alleviation distress caused by war has resulted in a total of £SO being handed to Mr F. If. Pyne, the treasurer of the Food for Britain and Belgium Fund. Five pounds was also collected and donated to the Huntly Mine Disaster Fund. ' A deputation of Sumner residents waited on the Tramway Board yesterday, and asked that the board should give the committee of the Sumner-Red-cliffs Red Cross Fete, to be held on January 23, more than the usual 60 per cent, of the tram receipts usually given for the committees of New Brighton and Sumner galas. It was proposed that the board should take only one ordinary Saturday's receipts, plus the extra expenses. On the motion of the Hon. J. Barr, seconded by Mr Pearce, the standing orders were suspended so as to allow the 40 per cent, of receipts usually retained to be handed over to the committee. MOTOR CYCLES. We have just landed a shipment of King Dick and Singer Motor Cycles, finished in dove grey, with several improvements. There is no need to dwell on the quality of these Motors, as recent results can prove; winning every sid? car trial except one takes a lot of beating. These victories speak for themselves. Sole Agents: JONES BROS., LTD., 122 Manchester . Jtreot. Inspection invited. Catalogue free. Note. —We have a few good Secondhand Motors for sale, cheap. 243

All the rivers of tlio district were reported as either discoloured or dirty, with the exception of the Opihi, which was fishable.

A Press Association message states that the Emperor and Empress of Japan have given £3OOO to the funds of the Salvation Annv.

A petition in bankruptcy has been filed by Caleb Jesse Maslin, farmer, of Christchurch. The first meeting of creditors will be held on Monday, January 4> at 2.:i0 p.m. During the height of the flood at Grey mouth two householders had U> .swim the length of a street to procure a boat, with which to rescue a number of women and children who were cut off from their homes.

Owing to the abandonment, of the Sydney Bowling Carnival, the Dominion executive has decided to extend the time for closing entries for the January tournament at Auckland till Saturday next.—Press Association.

The police have been requested by the City Council to take action against cyclists who cycle in'Sydenham Park. It was stated at the council meeting last night that there were grounds for complaint about cycling through Latimer and Cranmer Squares. The Mayor became quite enthusiastic last night aßßut a ride on an electric motor lorry. "The hum of the motor," he "said, "sounded sweet to the ear of an engineer." Cr Williams capped this. 1 ' The hum of a petrol motor is not so sweet,'' he said. The Hospital funds have been assisted by a donation of £5 5/- from Chew Lee, a Chinese, who wrote to the Hospital authorities expressing appreciation oi. its work amongst "all who may require aid or assistance in their affliction." Chew Lee added his wishes that all would enjoy a Merry Christmas. It was explained at the meeting of the City Council last night that the shortage of insulators was causing some delay in the supply of electricity to houses which had already been wired. Cr Taylor said that experiments were being made with locally manufactured insulators. If these were successful, lie hoped that a new local industry would be established.

The American schooner William Bowden, which arrived at Bluff last week, holds the distinction of bringing tho first direct cargo of American timber to that port, which consists of 285,000 feet of Oregon pine and 72,000 feet Californian redwood, the whole of which is a direct importation to William Smith and Co., Ltd. Oregon is used largely for building purposes, and also for joinery, while the redwood is almost solely used for doors and saslies.

In wishiiig the City Fathers a ' * Merry Christmas and Happy New Year'' last evening, the Mayor expressed the hope that the war cloud now hanging over Europe would soon be dissipated.' "I hope," he said, "that the cowardly attack on the coast of Yorkshire will harden our people up, and tend to hasten the'day of settlement. When that day comes, the enemy who was guilty of such a cowardly attack will hare to pay dearly for it."

The gift of prophecy is strong within the member-elect for Hawke's Bay. Fifteen years ago Dr McNab was conversing with an InvercargiJl friend who was accompanied by two tiny sons. " I am glad to see you have a pair of such fine boys, " said this confirmed misogamist. " We shall be fighting Germany in about fifteen years' time, and these little fellows wyll be then old enough to take part on our side." Just fifteen years later one of the boys left with, the local section of the Expeditionary Force. At yesterday's meeting of the Chtistchurcii Tramway Board it was reported that after the Expeditionary Force had left Christchurc'li a decline in the re-

ceipts as compared with the previous .year was noticed. For ,28 days ending November 1 last, the receipts, excluding the new St. Martins line not in operation last year, were £9580. .for the corresponding period last year the receipts were £985!), a decrease on an average of nearly £lO per day, or on a percentage basis, nearly per cent. A close analysis of operating expenses over a 27-week period, compared with the same period in the previous year, shows a satisfactory decrease of .4ld per mile run, but owing to extensions and other causes there has been an increase in tlio number of miles run, increasing the expenses in aggregate by £846. Prior to the outbreak of war, there had been a satisfactory increase in receipts on the majority of the lines, which more than met the increaso in the expenditure mentioned. MOTOR CYCLES. Our efforts to clear sundry machines at reduced prices have resulted in the balance of is£ li.p. fixed and free engine machines being disposed of at quotations. There are still the following:— i oA h.p. 3-speed single £6O; 1 2$ do., £SO; 1 do., lady's, £4O; 1 3J h.p. twin, 2-speed, £6O. No other machine presents such remarkable value and permits of a year's riding, including depreciation on re-sale, on the difference in cost between these "Matchless" machines and any others. We have for the first time this year a complete "Matchless" side car outfit for delivery from stock. It is the last of a shipment of 18. It is fitted with English coach-built body of the highest quality that can be produced, and is the finest motor cycle outfit for sale in Christchurcli at the present time. The shipment arrived just in time for tho Show, and sales made before and during the Show reduced our stock to the one now offered. Motor cyclists who wish to enjoy the whole summer's riding on tho most perfect running, silent, and powerful machine that cau be bought for the money, should make immediate enquiries.—Matchless Motor Agency, N.Z., 92 Manchester Street, Christchurch. .36