CHRISTCHURCH NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 12 January 1927, Page 6

CHRISTCHURCH NEWS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.), CHRISTCHURCH, January HUNEMPLOYMENT POSITION. The number of unemployed registered at the Christchurch ollice of the Labour ’.Department is now 181, a total of 141 registrations ))eiug received during the past. week. The situation just now is an extraordinary one, but there ifs no doubt that tho position has been made the more acute by the lateness of the harvest. The dull weather at Christmas time kept the oat and wheat crops from ripening and it has not been until the last week or so that the grain has progrbssed. In most cases the oats have been reaped, bub the stooking is being done by tho yearly lann hands. Tho reaping of wheat and stacking of oars will not be put m hand until probably another fortnight. From 'the Peninsula come reports that tho grass seed crops have scarcely passed their flowering stage, thus making t,lie cocksfoot season late. Also many men have given up ordinary farm work in anticipation of the harvest cheque, hut the work is not available yet; consequently there is an over supply _ of harvesters at the present time and jobs are eagerly rushed. An advertisement yesterday for a man for harvesting brought over a. dozen appl.(cations the same afternoon, and according to the advertisement, men are still applying.

LUCKY FISHERMAN. To-day a nineteen pound schnapper was landed from the New Brighton pier. The excitement was intense tor ai while. Only the other day a seven pounder had been landed and the lucky fisherman this afternoon wondered whether he was going to establish. a new record. Sure enough lie did. Nineteen pounds of toothsome silvery schnapper was soon manoeuvred on to tho pier and the waiting and watching ono gave a whoop of delight. Schnapper is rarely caught'at New Brighton; therefore the catch has an added interest. 'CHRISTCHURCH MOTORISTS. Christchurch motorists, becauso of the flatness of tho city, have been iln ihe habit of neglecting their hand brakes. However, with the “angle” parking by-law, motorists have found it necessary to have their hand brakes attended to, and the city garages are busy making adjustments. When cars are parked on the they slope down from the crown of the road, and without a good hand brake they run down to the gutter. CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. The first meeting of the new board of Governors of Canterbury Agricultural College Was held to-day, and the first business taken was that of the elcct.mi of a chairman. Two candidates were proposed for riio position, and on a vote being taken Dr Cha.s Chilton, (Rector of Canterbury College) was elected. ARTHUR’S PASS. There is a boom in the popularity of Arthur’s Pass and all accommodation is well filled. In its new policy of looking for business, the railway Department lias not overlooked the possibility con'liected with the possession of railway cottages at the muntain resort. Three of these were not required by railway workers in the holiday period, and so' the Department has broken all traditions bv letting them to ordinary tenants. They are at present booked well ahead.'ln tile past three days the Department has had three applications for permission to build cottages on railway land. '