NEWS IN BRIEF.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1624, 29 April 1919, Page 4 (Supplement)

NEWS IN BRIEF.

It was mentioned at the Christchurch City Council's meeting last evening that one of the corporation's employees, now 70 years old, has been in the service for 1 45 years. j In an address at his farewell dinner I last evening, the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr H. Holland) remarked: "I am retiring voluntarily from the chair, but I do not know whether I would have done so if I had known as much as I know now." ' 'The members of a number of public bodies are paid for their services, but* city councillors aie not," said a candidate for municipal honours at St. Albans last night. "But you have a picnic once a year," retorted a member of the audience amid laughter. The Avonside Burgesses' Association has decided to support Mr J. J. Dougall's candidature for the mayoralty of Christehureh, and the candidature of Messrs B. Carter, D. G. Sullivan and IT. F. Herbert for election as the Linwood Ward representatives on the City Council. An enjoyable outing for the Mayor and city councillors of Christchurch -who are to be elected tomorrow, has been planned already. Cr H. G. Ell, M.P., stated at the retiring Mayor's dinner last evening that the new Mayor and councillors are to be invited to a luncheon at "The Sign of the Kiwi," the resthouse on the Summit Boad at Dyer's Pass. A special meeting of the Christchurch Presbytery was held yesterday afternoon to consider a call from St. David's, Colombo Street, Svdenham, to the Kev. J. D. Webster, of' Stirling, Otago. The Rev. R. M. Ryburn, who laid the call on the table, stated that the call had been almost unanimously signed, there being 136 on the roll, of whom 110 had signed the call. The call was sustained. When a letter was received yesterday afternoon by the Canterbury College Board of Governors from the Canterbury Progress League, asking that certain resolutions relating to improved railway accommodation at Lyttelton and Christchurch and the completion of the Otira tunnel be endorsed, Mr H. D. Acland (chairman of the board) said that he thought that such matters were outside the domain of the board's activities. It was decided to reply to that effect. "Cashel Street at the present time is a little too good a street," said Cr J. W. Beanland, chairman of the Works Committee, at the Christchurch City Council's meeting last evening, in referring to several accidents which have occurred in that thoroughfare lately. "The surface is so polished that several horses have come down. A fortnight ago I consulted the city surveyor, and some grit was put on the road. But I will consult the city surveyor again, and the council can rest assured that what can be done to make the road safer will be done." In connection with charges against the administration of the Patriotic Fund recently made by Mr K. S. Williams, a series of suggested resolutions having relation thereto was forwarded by Mr Williams in a communication received at last evening's meeting of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers' Association. Mr Williams explained :hat he was unable to be present, but asked that someone should move these suggested resolutions. Mr Williams's communication was received with hearty laughter, and it was unanimously decided to let the letter "lie upon the table." A lengthy report from the Dunedin Crown lands ranger on a proposal of the Otago Farmers' Union that opossums might be liberated in some of the forests of the great alpine range was carefully considered at a meeting of the Board of Agriculture in Wellington yesterday, says a Press Association message. It was finally agreed that this might prove a considerable source of revenue to the country, as black skins were said to be worth £1 each. If black or brown opossums were introduced every care should be taken to prevent their introduction into districts where they might become a menace to the fruit-growing industry. BIG REDUCTION IN TYRES. Our annual tyre sale has commenced. We are offering exceptional value. Khaki Covers, 6 months' guarantee 10/6 Good Quality Covers 8/6 Khaki Tubes, 6 months' guarantee 4/6 Good Quality Tubes 3/9 JONES BROS., LTD., KHAKI CYCLE DEPOT, Manchester and Lichfield Streets.

I The flat Lalfacre section lying im- : mediately to the right of the Cashmere : Hills terminus has been purchased for the purposes of the Port Hills-Akaron Summit Eoad. The Summit Eoad will start from the tram terminus, so that this section will really be in the nature of a "foundation stone." It was reported to the Canterbury College Board of Governors by the Registrar yesterday afternoon that the following members of the board will retire on June 30, viz., Messrs L. M. Isitt, M.P. (representing his Excellency the Governor-General), Mr J. J. Dougall (representing the members of Parliament), Messrs W. H. Montgomery and S. Hurst Seager (representing the graduates), and Mr H. D. Acland (representing the school committees). Nominations close on May 26 and the election will take place on June 2. The fact that in the appeal for funds towards the returned soldiers' club rooms the term "soldiers' rest house" was used by the Building Committee, was objected to by a member at last evening's annual meeting of the Returned Soldiers' Association. The president (Mr N. B. McCallum), in reply stated that the committee had found that a better response was made by the public to requests for aid for a "rest house" just at present than for a "club room." This brought forth cries of "No camouflage!" and "Stiek to the club room!"