NEWS IN BRIEF.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 568, 4 December 1915, Page 15

NEWS IN BRIEF.

A most important cablegram from Bexley Heath, United Kingdom, ad.dressed "Marshall, Maranui Lodge, Bear Biccarton, Christehurch,'.' awaits delivery at the Chief Telegraph Office. The Telegraph Office reports that, at 9 a.m. to-day, the Wainiakariri North, Ba'ngitata, and Waitaki Elvers • were clear; the Waimakariri South, discoloured f the Opihi, dirty; and the Eakaia, fishable. . The quarterly summoned meeting of the Christehurch Branch of Amalgamated' Carpenters and Joiners will be held on Monday evening next at the Trades Hall. After the election of officers the question' of conscription will be considered. The Christehurch Technical College day. school closes on Wednesday, December 15, when the prize certificates will be: awarded. The function will be held inj the College Hall at 2.30, and it is * hoped that as many members of the board as can make it convenient to be present will attend. . Some time ago Messrs Webley, Son, anjd Gofton announced their intention of presenting a gramophone for the use; of, the returned wounded soldiers at the hospital. The Mayor stated to-day that lie had been informed that the gramophone had arrived. The donors are also giving six records and 1000 needles,-and the Mayor will be pleased to receive other records for the machine. The records must have a 10 or 12-inch diameter. The following pupils of Miss Digby's Commercial School have,been successful; in obtaining Pitman's Shorthand Theory Certificates as the result; of an examination held last August, the first thrpe being placed in order of merit:—Miss Kathleen Biss 1, Miss Ivy Edwards 2, "Miss Mary Collins 3, Misses Grace v Bowman, Edith Childs, Bita Doherty, Vera Morgan, Buby Milburn, Flora McLean, Doreen Pengelly, Violet - Scott, Sybil Thompson, Nellie Wilkinson, and ■ Messrs William Dixon and Harry 'Miller. , tThere are now about 2000 miles of ■water races in Ashburton County, serving an area of 580,000 acres, and the supply of water by the races is Well maintained. The county chairman remarked a day or two ago that the settlers on dry land are now in a much better position in respect to their water supply than" the owners of wet or damp - land, who for some time past were in want pf water for stock and household purposes, owing to springs having dried A meeting of the committee appointed for obtaining the services of a' fire brigade ;in the Fendalton Biding was held in : Mjr Alpers 's ' office yesterday. The report of Superintendent Warner on the fire brigade most,. suitable for the district had only just been received from the Waimairi County Council, and the committee therefore had been unable to call-a meeting at an earlier date. It was finally decided that the Waimairi County Council be asked to request its engineer to -define an area for a fire district and 'supply a valuation of the defined' area. It was also decided, to obtain information as to the cost of the -volunteer fire- brigades as used in other centres. * -