CHRISTCHURCH NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18201, 28 February 1929, Page 8

CHRISTCHURCH NEWS.

(From Our Jwn furrcipondebt.) CHRISTCHURCH, .February 27. A VALUABLE PICTURE. It is repoi ted that the painting, “Belshazzar’s Feast,” by the Italian artist. Yecchio, which lias been exhibited bv a firm in Christchurch, has been purchased by a local doctor lor IoUO guineas. The pun-hat*-r intends to send it to Loudon, u»r bate THE MAYOR S FLING. The Mayor (Rev. o. lx. Aicner) had a hi.ig at the newspapers in Ins address lo the Rotary con.vivace to-day. Alo a**< .arid that everybody knew that the Press 1 1 ad become tommvrcialisted. A friend ot his from E .giand had told Inin that there was not in the whole oi London a single newspaper that took up h position oi national leadership, or jljul con.d be regarded as authoritative. ‘‘The Times' used to hold that pos.tion, bur it had been commercialised, ami tliough it was thought to bo recovering its position, it had not fully done so; yet there were three or tour newspapers in the province that were national in their outlook. His miormun« hud named them hut lie would not. There was not one in London. I lie Press there was thoroughly commercialized, and partly dentprahsed. “11 that is true,’’ said Mr Archer, “it’s a very serious thing, ar*i shows that we must look elsewhere ior our leadership.”

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS. Questions of the starting of fires alongside railway lines, and of the sounding of whistles at railway’ crossings, were discussed rft the meeting of the North Canterbury Executive of the Farmers’ Union today. Mr H. G. Parish said that lie had interivewed the chief locomotive engineer, who' had said that the spark arresters on railway engines prevented any fires from being started by the Railways. Sometimes fire 3 were caused by cigarette butts being thrown out of carriage windows. “The Department would not recognise that fires could be started from Railway engines, as spark arresters were used. However, it is very satisfactory to know that no fires have occurred recently. I am still on the lookout for them, and I urge farmers to report outbreaks to the Railway authorities immediately they occur.”

Mr R. G. Bishop said that thf? Government had agreed to use Newcastle coal, instead of the New Zealand product on the railways during dry seaeons. The Australian coal was not so liable to cause flying sparks, and to the use of this he attributed the lesser number of fires recently. Referring to railway crossings, Mr Parish said that the chief locomotive engineer had stated that it was a rule that whistles should be blown at crossings. but that if the crossing were obviously clear the rule might not always be obeyed by engine drivers. LICENSING ELECTIONS. The licensing elections failed to provide any sensations in the city and adjoining districts. There were only sufficient nominations to fill the available seats. The one exception was Htrunui, where there was one extra candidate, thus necessitating an election. As Hurunui is pronouncedly “wet.” there is no vital principle involved. MEN FROM THE DIOMEDE. The ship’s company from the warship Diomede paraded through the city streets this morning, and were the observed of all observers. The parade halted and saluted at the Bridge ot Remembrance, the to the glorious dead, in the Great War. SAVING IN COSTS. A statement that three farmers in the Ashburton County had saved over £3OO each on their harvesting costs, through the use of the header machine, instead of the reaper and binder, was made by Mr H. E. West, chemist in charge of the Christchurch laboratory, under the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, at the* meeting ot tlie North Canterbury Executive of the Farmers’ Union to-day. Mr West said that, for the working of the header, the wheat would have to be lelt in the ear for eight or nine days after it was ready for the binder. If Canterbury farmers could take the risk of doing this, they would reduce their harvesting costs accordingly. To an Ashburton County farmer who used a l t-ader, from Is 8d a bushei to 3d a bushel, stooking and threshing costs, would be avoided.

The danger of leaving ripe wheat in. ear, in view of the strong winds of Canterbury was pointed out to members of the Executive, who heard Mr West’s address. - It- was stated that weather conditions in Canada and Australia, where headers were used extensively, were probably much better from the point of view of leaving ripo wheat, in the ear. “f don’t urge you "to adopt the header machine,” said Mr West. “I have onlv pointed out its advantages, other things being equal.”