NEWS IN BRIEF.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1308, 23 April 1918, Page 2

NEWS IN BRIEF.

A new stormwater drain 5s to be constructed .by the Ohihste.hureh City Council In Bealey Avenue, between" Fitzgerald and Barbadoes Streets. The first five of the 10 new trailers on order by the Tramways Board will 'be delivered In about a week's time. Air brakes will then be fitted by the board's staff, who will lie required to I work overtime in order to get the trailers Into traffic as early as possible. The Works and Traffic Committee of the Tramways Board reported yesterday that during March 15 accidents had occurred, seven being collisions with vehicles, two collisions witli pedestrians, and six from alighting from moving cars. On Thursday last an unusually daring attempt to board a fastmoving car was made at Tennyson Street. The man retained his grip, but was dragged along the ground before the car was stopped. The polico have been asked to prosecute. In asking the Christchureh City Council, last evening, for a continuance of its annual grant to the college, the director of the Christchureh Technical College stated that during 1916 tho total increase in tho number of students at that institution was only 24, but last year tho increase was no less than 87. This year, it seemed likely that tho college would far surpass previous records. Already, in tho Technical High School, the enrolment had reached 531, whereas in 1917 tho total number enrolled for the whole vcar was only 46.1.

Something like £ISOO is the sum that the Christchureh City Council hopes to realise from a deal in old drain pipes. It was reported to the council last evening by the Abattoir and Reserves Committee that the abattoir drain pipes, which had beeu lifted, burned out, and dipped, were now as good as new. There are about S5 tons of these pipes, and it was reported that they are worth at present about £lB per ton. As they are only three-inch pipes, they are too small for water-supply purposes, and so the council has decided to sell them. A letter from the Workers' Educational Association, making application for continuance of the annual grant from the council, which hitherto has been £SO, was before the Christchureh City Council last evening. Cr A. M. Loasby moved that the £SO be granted, but Cr J. A. Fleshcr sought to have the matter referred to the Finance Committee. However, a suggestion by Cr D. G. Sullivan, that the matter should be referred to the Finance Committee with an instruction that £SO should be placed on the estimates, and that the committee should consider the question of increasing the grant, was ac.opted by a majority of the council.

The Works and Sanitary Committee reported to the Christchurch City Council last evening that on both sides of the railway line in Colombo Street, between Carlyle Street and Moorhouse Avenue, the sub-stratum is composed of clay and soft ground, and is badly drained. The only way to make a sound road, said the committee, was to take out the ground for a depth of at least two feet, and fill the excavation with clinker or slag and provide the necessary drainage. The committee recommended that the work bo carried out. However, Cr E. Peek urged that the road should be laid down" in concrete. After some discussion the clause was referred back to the committee for further consideration. For years past the dangerous nature of the corners of Rhodes Street, a narrow thoroughfare from Carlton Street to Rossall Street, in which the tram line leaves little spare space for the passage of vehicles, has been a source of concern to motorists and others. However, the corner of Rhodes and Rossall Streets is now to be improved. It was reported I to the Christchurch City Council last | evening that Mr A. E. G. Rhodes had! offered to give sufficient land at that! corner to make the width of the road between the northern tram rail and the' fence 11 feet, on condition that he is put to no expense as regards survey, transfer, or fencing. The strip of land in epiestion is about six-tenths of a perch in area. This widening of the road would' obviate the danger of collision between vehicles and tram cars. The council accepted Mr Rhodes's offer with thanks. Latest Model 5 h.p. Indian Gear Box, 3-spced, fitted witli speedometer, £OS. Reading Standard 7 h.p. 3-specd Gear Box, £SO. 7-9 h.p. Big X 3-specd Gear Box, late Model, £SO. All taken in as part payment on the famous HarleyDavidson. JONES BROS., LTD.. Clock Tower, 122 Manchester Street.