NEWS IN BRIEF.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2142, 27 December 1920, Page 7

NEWS IN BRIEF.

The appeal of the Chrlstcbwh Royal " Musical Society for contributions on behalf of the children in district hospital* and other institutions, has met with entire success. Besides & great quantity of gifts and toys, about £IOOO waf j received. It is hoped to receive a subsidy from the Government of 24/- ia " the x £ on the cash collected. The society sent a special greeting in an envelope, together with a shilling, to every child in an institution. It also partly furnished the Christmas tree at the Christchurch Hospital. The bulk of thf money, however, will be spent on destitute patients. - Christmas Day was a pleasant one for most of the patients in the Christchurch Hospital. Carols were sung in the wards by parties of nurses, and everyj where decorations of flowers, coloured paper, and the like were to be found. The children's ward was'completely" transformed and contained a huge Christmas tree from which Father Christmas, helped by the matron (Mist Muir) unfastened toys which were distributed to all the little patients. A great, gaily decorated Christmas cak4 was cut up, and the children each re* ceived a. . piece. Many parents ana friends watched the ceremony, • , A commission has been appointed by the Governor-General to report upon th# petition asking for the severance of thf Mount Pleasant portion of the area com> prised in the Borough of Sumner, and for its Inclusion in the County of Hoathcote. Messrs 8. E. McCarthy, S.M.. H. D. M. Haszard (Commissioner of Crown Lands for Canterbury), aha D. H. Pullar, of the Government Land Valuation Department, are to sit on the commission, which is charged to report within jffO days from December 17, and is asked to recommend such alterations• of the boundaries of toe area described in the petiiton as are deemed necessary and advisable. The commission .win no\ sit until after the New Year holidays, .. The cuttlng-ont of the 10.& p.m. car from the North Beach-to-'Christchurch service on Christmas although advertised, was not known to a )args number of seaside visitors. As a resulfc quite a number of holiday-makers found themselves stranded. ' The telephones were kept busy requisitioning taii-cabS f rom the city, and one or two were tub* earthed at New Brighton. Several young men felt the financial strain thu| / incurred very heavily, and there waf much gnashing of teeth in consequence, One or two, more fortunate, secured beds at friends' hotises. while others, -whose exchequers were\ drained by the day's outing, walked their lady friends back to the city. On Christmas Day an organ reeital and sacred' concert was held in" , Sfc Paul's Church, Cashel Street. Therl was a very large audience. Following was the programme:—Organ overture. ''Festal Commemoration" (Baynor White) and."Meditation'» (Morrison). Mr Baynor White} song, "Lord God of Abraham." Mr A. E. Harre; violin. "Serenade" (Widor), Mr A. Wood> ward; solo, "Come Unto Him,". Miif Paterson; "Jubilate Deo" (Dr Silver), Mr Baynor Whites organ solo "Bach," Mr Baynor White; recitation, Bev. John Paterson; "Adoration" (Lornmens), Mr Baynor White; song, "They Shall Hunger No More," Mikl E. Parks; organ solo, "Old World Measure," Mr Baynos White; violin solo, "Broken Melody," Mr A. Woodward; "College March" (Hibberd)* ■• Mr Baynor White. jv

Containing many interesting picture? of champions, past and present, of visit- _ ing sportsmen to- New Zealand, aud of ■' interproyjncial matches, the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Annual for 3820, which has just been placed on the market, is a worthy little publication, which will be of value to those interested ifl the' game of lawn tennis..The annual contains, of course, the rules of the > game ox tennis; the constitution and rules, of the New Zealand association, with- its annual report and balance* sheet; and a short, but interesting "Who's Who" of the Dominion's fore- - most tennis playere. The tour of th« English players, Lowe and Beamish, is fully described. Interprovincjal matched and,championships are dealt with in a lucid manner, and there is an article of considerable interest at the present-.' time, giving the history of the Daylj" Cup, from its inception in 1900 to the present day. The book is neatly printed, and is of handy pocket size. No tenniienthusiast should be without this record., of the year's play. , , ,

A call was made on the rescue service ! of the New Brighton Surf Club "g|3 Christmas Day. After being handcuffed and manacled, Mr L. Levante, who if appearing- in a Christchnrch theatre this week, jumped from the pier into the sea. He successfully freed himself, but was ifnable to get ashore agains! 3 the current. The tide was high at th« j time, *nd the strong nor'-wester w*|;' driving the sea Deneath the pietf' Levante was dressed in an ordinary bathing suit. His hands -were then hand* . cuffed behind his back, and a chain ■ leading from the handcuffs was bolted * around his neck. Levabte 's legs wofro ' secured by leg-irons. . Standing erect, I he jumped into the sea from a height' of about 30 feet; but he juinpedon the northern instead of the southern side of the pier, with the result that he ml. swept in against the piles. The hand-! cuffs and irons were .examined by a committee and passed as secure before the man jumped. He was underneath for about 30 seconds, and then reappeared, quite free. He tied the manacles to 4 I rope, so,that they might be pulled ashore, and then commenced to swim for the beach. Hut the buffeting against the piles had so exhausted him that, although he was a powerful swimmer, he could not resist the swiftly-runping,. undertow. Fortunately, members of the> | Surf Club were close by, and several \ went in to the swimmer's aid, and brought him ashore. He had numerous cuts on the arms and legs, but was otherwise little the worse for his experience.

XMAS GIFTS FOB MOTORCYCLISTS. AT SPECIALLY REDUCED XMAS PRICES. ■ 28 x 3 Tyres—Usual Price .. .. SASpecial Xmas Price .. .. £4 Spotlights—Usual Price .. £2/15/Special Xmas Price .. £2/10/Mechanical Horns— Usual Prices .. .. 27/« ft 80/Special Xmas Prices 25/- & 27/ ft Bulb Horns— Usual Prices .... 17/6 & 22/6 Special Xmas Prices 15/6 & 20/Head Lamp and Generator—.. Usual Price .. ~- .. £4/10/Special Xmas Price .... £4/5/Lucas British Lamp— Usual Price. £4/15/Special Xmas Price .. £4/10/JUVENILE BICYCLES GREATLY REDUCED. Now is the time to buy a boys' or girls' bicycle cheap. During this month we are telling £lB/10/- juvenile bicycle* at £l7. • , JONES BROS;, r. 2D., Tfic Barley Corner. _ «lfi>