NEWS IN BRIEF.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1293, 5 April 1918, Page 3

NEWS IN BRIEF.

All the rivers of Canterbury were reported clear this morning. The Returned Soldiers' Association has decided that the Anzac Day ceremony be the same as last year. A wreath will be placed at the Cathedral in commemoration of the landing on Gallipoli on April 25, 1915. The first lecture of this year's session of the Workers' Educational Association will be delivered in the Trades Hall to-morrow evening. The lecturer will be Dr H. T. J. Thacker, M.P., hiSj subject being "Massage." i A Press Association message from! Wellington states that the National Efficiency Board yesterday met representatives* of the dairy produce, sawmilling, and allied industries, and discussed the question of conserving white pine timber for tho dairy industry. A committee was set up to go into the matter in more detail, and the board will report to the Government in due course. The Hon. W. H. Hcrries, Minister of Railways, was asked yesterday whether in view of the congestion of race traffic on the tramways consequent on the non-running of race trains, there was any chance of the service being reinstated. Mr Hemes's reply was brief aiid pointed. "Not the slightest," he said, "and in view of Lloyd George's recent statement on man-power the railway staff is likely to be still further depleted.'' Some remarkable records have been established recently by Dunlop tyres. On Thursday the head office of the Dunlop Rubber Company of Australasia cabled to the Christehureh manager that out of ten : i competitors in the great Mortlakc 200-miles motor cycle race at the Victorian Motor Cycle Club's speed carnival, eight used Dunlops, and C. Arnold, the winner, used Dunlops on his Indian. Another striking testimony to the durability of Dunlop cycle tyres has been brought under our notice. A cycle shod with Dunlop tyres was purchased by a Victorian shearer early in 1910, and, despite that heavy loads had been carried over thousands of miles of the roughest of roads and bush tracks, the same tyres have been in use up to March of this year. Nearly eight years of continual hard riding on one set of covers is a remarkable record of durability. During this period 14,970 miles were recorded by the cyclometer, and only two punctures were sustained, both in the back wheel. As a tyre record this takes some beating. These two incidents go to prove that, whether under racing conditions or under the trying test of backblocks riding, the Dunlop is dependable always, and unexcelled. " .9

The Post Office advises that amongst the articles prohibited to be imported into the United Kingdom are tea and butter. In yesterday afternoon's sitting of the Second Canterbury Military Service Board, an appeal by the International Harvester Company, Ltd., on behalf of John Edwin Coomer, a milking machine expert, stationed in New Plymouth, was dismissed for lack of appearance. At the end of the sitting, however, Mr F. W. Jones, manager of the appellant company, appeared and explained his absence earlier. The appeal was then reinstated, and time to July 1 was granted to the reservist. A concert was given in the Town; Hall, Sumner, la?i; evening by the Suniner-Redcliffs Concert Party, in aid • of the Red Cross Funds. There was a very large attendance, and every item was enjoyed. Songs were contributed by Mesdames March and Cother, and Messrs March, Peek, and Gibbs, the Sumner Pierrots and the Eedcliff Girls. Misses Adams and Barr also danced some fancy dances. The second port of the programme consisted of Irish scenes, in which appropriate songs, duets, and dances were included. The returns of the tramway traffic, during the Easter holidays show an increase of £l4l as compared with the previous year, despite the unfavourable weather which discouraged traffic to the seaside. The increase in takings is most probably duo to a greater use of the Biecarton line this year. The tramway receipts, as compared with the corresponding period lasty ear are as follow, the figures for 1917 being given in parentheses:— Thursday, £43-4 (£460); Good Friday, £209 (£546); Saturday, £760 (£717); Sundav, £332 (£397); Monday, £1455 (£1236); Tuesday, £9BB (£0S1). For some time past the State Coal Office has restricted the sale of coal to one bag, but now the sale has been suspended altogether on account of the unsatisfactory supply. Private coal yards have very low stocks, and some have no coal at all. The association will probably meet in a few days' time to consider a proposal to raise the price. The Coal Trade Committee which was set up in an advisory capacity in connection with an even distribution of coal is understood to have met on Wednesday, but its report will go direct to the Minister concerned. The position in Christchurch is far from satisfactory, and it is probable that citizens will have to make larger use of wood and coke than hitherto.