CHRISTCHURCH NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18537, 7 April 1930, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH NEWS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) IN AND ABOUT THE CITY. CHRISTCHURCH, April 6. A Little Rain. A welcome change in the weather occurred on Saturday night, when light rain fell. The dry conditions during the past few weeks have had a serious effect on pastures, rain being urgently needed. To-day was dull, with light drizzling rain. Alliance Turned Down. Christchurch Labour men are not giving support to the request of the Alliance of Labour that the Committee which is investigating the Workers’ Compensation Act should be boycotted. A member of the Committee is Mr K. T. Armstrong, M.P., who says the Minister of Labour (Hon W. A. Veitch) adopted the usual procedure in such a matter, and it seemed strange that, seeing that it had been known for three or four months past that a Committee was to be set up, no representations had been made to the Minister by the Alliance until the appointment had been made. Mr Armstrong would give no indication as to how the Parliamentary Labour Party viewed the matter. It is understood that Mr Arthur Cook, president of the Alliance, and Mr J. W. Roberts, secretary, will arrive in Christchurch on Tuesday to address meetings of workers’ representatives, with the idea of stiffening up the boycott. Business Man Missing. A well-known resident of St. Albans, Mr Len Pegler, has been missing for three days. He is well known in the hardware trade, being shop manager for E. Reese, Ltd. His health has been unsatisfactory owing to nervous trouble. Parrot Scare. The parrot disease scare has reached Christchurch. Dr. Telford, Medical Officer of Health, has been informed that during February last twenty-two parrots were sold from the premises of a cabinet-maker in Colombo Street. Some of the parrots were suffering from a malady, but none of them can be located. Dr. Telford is asking that any person who bought any parrots during February should communicate with him. The dealer describes the birds as fat and healthy looking, although a few had colds. He does not think that any of the birds imported from Nicaragua brought the disease to the Dominion. Stalemate Likely The municipal situation in Christchurch is becoming complicated as a result of the decision of the Labour Party on the Christchurch City Council to surrender its chairmanships of committees. In Citizens’ Association circles, there is a definite feeling that the chairmanships should not be accepted by Citizens’ representatives, except in the case of the Works Committee, at present presided over by Councillor F. R. Cooke. On the other hand, it seems almost certain that Labour will refuse to carry on the chairmanships, so that there is a condition of stalemate. Uncertainty is added to the situation by the fact that some of the Citizens’ Association representatives may be away from Christchurch during the next three or four weeks, and that Councillor Elizabeth McCombs is in Lewisham Hospital. Trouble in Harbour. As a result of the unusually strong south-east range in Lyttelton Harbour since Friday afternoon, several vessels mored at the wharves in port snapped their lines. All were made secure again before serious damage had been done. It is lucky that there have not been more ships in harbour, or there would probably have been considerable trouble. Such peculiar ranges, or swells, are not unusual, particularly at this time of year, but the present is spoken of as the heaviest experienced in the inner harbour for many years. After 6 p.m. on Friday the crane ship Rapaki, which was berthed at the west side of No. 2 wharf, began to pound heavily against the fenders and five springs had to be put on to keep her secure. When she lurched against the wharf she shook it from end to end, while the overhead veranda swayed to and fro. About midnight the steamer Waikouaiti carried away some of her moorings lines, and so ominous was the situation that the captain took the vessel out into the stream, where she remained at anchor until 6 a.m. After being berthed at the end of Gladstone Pier she carried away two more of her mooring lines and fresh ones had to be substituted Shortly before 11 a.m. to-day, she carried away one of her heavy mooring springs. She put out into the stream again because the men could not work her. She will tie up to the wharf again on Monday to complete loading.

The hulk Frank Guy first snapped hei stern lines and later tore awav her bow samson post, after 4 a.m The dredge Tewhata also broke some of her mooring lines.

The small steamer Orewa tugged heavily on her moorings and her skipper stood by the vessel all night Luckily the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company’s liner Corinthic, which had been berthed at No. 7 wharf, got away at 3.50 p.m. yesterday for Wellington.

Rakaia Bridge. An inspection of the combined railway and traffic bridge over the Rakaia River is being made, with a view to considering tne value which has been placed upon It by the Railway Department. It Is possible that it will be purchased by the authorities concerned for use as a vehicular traffic bridge solely, in which case a new bridge would be built for the railway. The structure is not considered sufficiently strong to serve as a railway bridge* and it is considered that the most economical thing to do would be to buy the bridge and wear it out by road traffic The purchase would be arranged between the local bodies concerned and the Main Highways Board At present the local bodies pay only about £6OO a year for the use of this bridge and of this sum they recover £4OO from the Mam Highways Board. It is considered that this sum is not nearly as mnch as the local authorities should