LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 378, 27 April 1915, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Christchurch Shorthand Writers' Associu.ti.ou has voted £•'! 3/- to the Belgium- Relief Fund. Au" Auckland telegram states .that John-Weston was to-day lined £IOO and costs for bookmaking in a hotel. Mr Holland's committee will meet this evening at the Manchester Street rooms to complete arrangements for tomorrow's poll. The Public Works Department has accepted the tender of Thomas Ballinger and Co., Wellington, of £7954: 2/3, for heating and ventilating the Parliament Buildings.—Press Association.

The Chatham Islands have not so far been included in any hospital district, but it has now been decided by the Government that they shall be included in the North Canterbury district. At 9 a.m. yesterday the police were informed that a boy named William McDonald, four years of age, was missing from his home in Linwood. The littlewanderer was afterwards found at Woolston.

Henry Bundle, a seaman, came before the Magistrate at Wellington today on a warrant issued five years ago, charging him with deserting from the steamer Buapehu. "This is a case where the statutory limitation comes in," said Mr Cruickshanks; "Bundle will be discharged." —Press Association wire.

It was stated in the report presented by the committee to the annual meeting of the Christchurch Shorthand Writers' Association that 41 Pitman's speed certificates had been gained during the year for speeds ranging from 80 to 140 words per minute. The balance-sheet showed a credit of £9 12/3. Officers wero elected as follow: President, Mr'H. Holland; vice-presidents, Messrs W. E. "Best, Chas. Bean, and H. W. L. Digby; secretary and treasurer, Mr N./Goldsbury; committee, Misses M. D. Digby, E. Carter, G. D. Digby, Z. Maddren,. and Mr Tutill; hon auditor, Mr Oscar Anderson.

A field day, iiiuler the auspices of the Canterbury Egg Circle Association, waß hold at the competition at Papaimi to-day, when poultry farmers and others interested spout ati hour viewing the contesting birds. Short addresses were delivered by Covernment poultry experts. Dr Thacker grew emphatic for a monient during his address in the Choral Hall last evening on the subject of a municipal' market, and inadvertently said what, he didn't mean. "If proper facilities were given," he declared, "Christchure.h would have a municipal market equal to nothing in the world." "No, what J moan," he added hastily when the general laughter told hi in of his error, "is there would not be a better one anywhere." It was announced at the annual meeting of the North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board to-day that the board had the Chatham Islands included among the districts on which it imposed levies. It was explained by the chairman that there was no hospital authority at the Chatham*, and they wero therefore attached to the Canterbury district. The board had to give medical treatment to residents from the Chatham Islands who came here. Mr Hall: "Have we got any say in the matter?" The chairman: "I do not think so. I't is gazetted." The rateable value of the islands, \he added, was about £05,000.

Speaking of the annual meeting of the Auckland Rugby Union the president, Mr A. 10. Devore, said he was in Sydney when the war broke out. He then read that the Rugby football season had come to a premature end in New Zealand because of the number of footballers who had volunteered for active service. lie, with other New Zealanders in Sydney, was proud of the example shown by the footballers of the Dominion. Of course the Australian footballers also volunteered, but the New Zealand players "got in first." Sport had been one of the safe-guards of the nation. Players of games kepi in the best physical condition and were used to obedience and discipline. .Battalions of footballers and sportsmen had been raised in .Muglaud—a ma'tor of

which they should lie proud—and they formed'part of'one of the best armies the nation ever had. In regard to club football, he recommended the players to keep the game going with all the enthusiasm they possessed. The reports of annual meetings suggested that the flubs were enthusiastic, and he hopod the season would be as successful as they anticipated.