NEWS IN BRIEF.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 699, 8 May 1916, Page 5

NEWS IN BRIEF.

The Christchureh Citizens' Defence Corps' Band has raised between £4OO and £450 for the Canterbury Patriotic Fund, by means of concerts. In speaking at a concert held by the band on Saturday evening the Mayor of Christchurch, who is chairman of the Patriotic Fund, expressed his thanks to the band. The Christchureh Printers' Machinists' Union held a successful smoke social on Saturday evening, a large number of members being present. During the evening a presentation was made to the retiring president (Mr F. Cartwright) in recognition of his valuable services to the union during the past year. A varied programme of vocal ami instrumental music was gone through. Something in the nature of a record for speedy recruiting is vouched for from Kaiapoi. On the day the Kith Reinforcement draft left, Or Crawshaw, meeting a likely-looking specimen of manhood, persuaded him that the call of his country should be obeyed. An adjournment was then made behind an adjacent hedge, the necessary examination was completed and the recruit departed to hurriedly collect a few personal belongings before leaving by the train. There was a large gathering at a concert held by the Citizens' Defence Corps' band in Cathedral Square on Saturday evening. It was the first of a series in aid of the Lady Liverpool Fund. An appeal for help for the fund was made by the Mayor of Christchureh, who pointed out that the Christchureh branch of the fund forwarded 4000 parcels every month to the men at the front. Amongst the contributors to the concert programme were. Miss Marsh and Messrs Gilmour, Coalhurst, and R. M. Speirs. A very fine specimen of Reeves's pheasant has been presented to the Museum by Mr S. Spedding, of Opawa. The bird is found in Northern China, and is notable for its fine plumage ami very long tail. The latter sometimes reaches from five to six feet in length. The bird presented by Mr Spedding is of the male variety, and is a representative specimen, though not completely developed. The curator has also received a collection of zoological specimens found on Mount Egmont, which were presented by Mr W. W. Smith, of New Plymouth. The heavy rain that fell yesterday caused the postponement of the massed bands' benefit in the Domain Gardens, arranged by the Christchureh Bands' Committee on behalf of Bandsman Sullivan, who has been incapacitated. A concert was given in the Colosseum in the evening. There was a fair attendance, and a vocal and orchestral entertainment was given. The Lyttelton Marine, Tramways, and Woolston Bands, and the Working Men's Club Orchestra contributed items. Mr S. Creagh played a cornet solo, anil vocal items were contributed by Mrs VV. Pearce, Alessrs M. Gillmore and T. Charters, and the Cathedral Choir Quartet, Messrs Vincent, Millar, Lake, and Cookson. The new wing of St. Saviour's Home at Richmond, which will be ready for occupation within a mouth, was inspected by Bishop dulius and several members of the Anglican General Synod on Saturday afternoon. The new wing is constructed of brick, a covercd-in way giving, access to the old building? It contains two large dormitories opening out to a glass-covered, spacious verandah. These rooms will accommodate about SO children. The inside walls arc of plaster, timber corner arches adding to the attractiveness of the larger rooms. Judging by the happy, smiling faces of the children on Saturday there is ample evidence of the earnest and thorough work of the house staff. As has been the case for quite a number of the past week-ends, rain set iu from the sou'west, and effectually spoilt Sunday's weather. Saturday afternoon was very dull and cold, threatening to intercept sports fixtures, but although a little rain fell it held off until close upon midday yesterday, when it set in in earnest and continued into the evening. Later the clouds lifted, and by 11 p.m. the sky was once more vlear. To the farming community the drenching rain will be welcome, as farmers in some parts state that it is almost impossible for the country to have too much rain this coming winter. The rain registered at the Christchureh Observatory for the last 24 hours up to 9..'!0 this morning was 0.240, and that registered on the Ist of the mouth was 0.370, on the 3rd 0.225, this being for the previous 24 hours in each case. For last month the total rainfall was 1.072. This morning was cold and frosty, but the day was bright and warm. Opportunity was taken on Saturday afternoon by a number of those attending the General Synod, including the Bishop of Nelson, to motor out to Ohoka anil inspect the Maori Girls' College, an Anglican institution which has for ■■ its main object the training of Maori girls in housewifery, dairying, dressmaking, and other occupations. The present building, which is an old one, was formerly Te Waipounamu College.; Seven years ago the Rev. C. A. Fraer! conceived the idea of establishing the | school, which has for its object the raising of the standard of living among the Maoris when the girls return to the! pas. 'The visitors expressed themselves 1 as being much impressed with everything they saw —except the building it- : self, which is rather the worse for wear. A proposal for a new college had been! under consideration before the war, but as the money required would have had to lie raised'by voluntary subscriptions, the idea had perforce to be abandoned until better conditions existed. Practical patriotism demands that, as far as possible, the Empire's money, should be spent within the Empire.; Therefore, if you want a motor, buy; a British Westinghouse. Turnbull and 1 Jones, Ltd., agents. 74.'!

The annual conference of members of the- New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers will be held in ("hristehurch on Wednesday, Thursday. Friday, and Saturday of this week. The conference will take place at Canterbury College. The applications at the Labour Department this week for employment totalled 2:>, including 11 married and nine single labourers, one married clerk and two married carpenters. Of this number, two were placed in Government employment and rive in private work. The monthly meeting of the Lincoln Band of Hope", held in the Druids' Hall, was presided over by Mrs McFarlane. The following items were given, several being encored: —Songs, Misses McCaffrey, Mcintosh (2), and Mr Mcintosh: piano solos, Misses Tuller and Mcintosh; piano duet, Misses Taylor; recitations, Misses M. Hill, K. Petrie, McCaffery, and Leslie Bush. An interesting address was given by Mr Morgan, ofTai Tapu. A sudden failure of the electric light supply occurred about 7.LH) last evening. At the evensong service at the Cathedral the cessation of the current caused the chancel and organ lights to go out suddenly, while the electric motor of the organ also ceased working. A small portable organ was procured, and the service continued. At a number of hotels it was found necessary to have recourse to the handy candle. After a lapse of about a quarter of an hour the power returned. A short circuit on one of the "feeders" at the Armagh Street electric power station had occurred, and although some time elapsed before the discovery of the fault, the .position was saved by the transmission of power through another "feeder."