CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19509, 8 June 1933, Page 11

CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

IN AND ABOUT THE CITY. CHRISTCHURCH, June 7. Personal: Lieut.-Colonel s. D. Mason and Colonel L. M. Inglis of Timaru, are registered at Warner’s Hotel. Mr J. McCombs, M.P., was among the passengers from the north by today’s ferry steamer. Squadron Leader T. M. Wilkes, Director of Air Services, arrived m Christchurch to-day from Wellington. Mr W. T. Bottrell, president of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, left last evening on a holiday trip to Auckland. The Canterbury Rugby Union’s Management Committee directed, last evening, that a letter should be sent *o Sir Hugh Acland, congratulating him on the honour conferred upon him. It was pointed out that Sir Hugh is not only an honorary doctor to the union but takes a particularly keen interest in Rugby football. “More Than Gratified”: “I am more than gratified with the enthusiasm shown for the volunteer movement in the South Island. Officers and men are doing splendid work, and if progress in the North —which I have not inspected in detail yet—is as good, I shall be very pleased.” In these words, the Minister of Defence (the Hon. J. G. Cobbe) gave his impressions of his South Island tour on his arrival here from Timaru. Veteran Soldiers: Two veteran officers were at the saluting base at King Edward Barracks last evening with the Minister of Defence (the Hon. J. G. Cobbe). They were Colonel the Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes and Colonel the Hon. G. J. Smith. Sir Heaton is honorary Colonel of the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry, and Colonel Smith has a similar rank in the Canterbury Regiment. Both have been soldiers for over 30 years. Sir Heaton served in the South African and Great Wars, and Colonel Smith served in the Great War. Rugby Fears Taxes: “It would be disastrous to Rugby unions which are trying to provide enjoyment for young men and boys if they were held to be liable to taxation,” said Mr A. E. McPhail, president of the Canterbury Rugby Union, at the meeting of the Union’s Management Committee. “It would make a very serious difference to this union’s finances, especially if the union were taxed on What it has handed over to charities.” The meeting had before it a letter from the Commissioner of Taxes, who asked, as he has asked other incorporated societies, for a copy of the union's rules, showing its objects, and for its statements of accounts for the past four years. Hail Delays Speeches: There was an amusing aspect of the hail storm of yesterday afternoon. The cadets of the Christchurch Technical College unit were lined up eagerly awaiting the speeches of the General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Forces (Major-General W. L. H. Sin-clair-Burgess, C. 8., C.M.G., D. 5.0.) and the Minister of Defence (the Hon. J. G. Cobbe) when the hail started to drum on the iron roof of King Edward Baracks. It was hopeless for any man to attempt to speak against, it and for 10 minutes the boys had to wait for the speeches. Music in Churches: Criticism of the church leaders of to-day for their lack of vision regarding the value of music and singing in the spreading of the gospel was voiced by Mr V. C. Peters, A.R.C.M., L.R.A.M., in an address to the North Canterbury Methodist Sunday School Union on “The Musical Development of Our Young People.” Mr Peters said that much of the singing and musical work was sheer dross. He deplored the tendency of so many juvenile choir leaders to turn their choirs practically into a vaudeville show. To be natural was to be religious, therefore one must be natural in singing and music. Criticism of the community singing in Christchurch was made by Mr Peters, who remarked that people congregated to sing a lot of silly songs, but departed feeling wonderfully happy. Shorter Week Opposed: The Canterbury Builders’ Association has set its seal of approval on the Unemployment Board’s subsidy scheme, with the exception of the clause providing for a forty-hour week. Although a plea w T as made for unanimity, the casting vote of the chairman threw out a motion endorsing the scheme in every particular and urging members to advertise the advantages of it and promote its smooth working. Power Failure in City: With the storm at its worst there was a short electric power failure about 6.30 p.m. owing to a direct current surge. House lights flickered off for a second or two, but the tramway service was out of action for about three minutes. Radio station 3YA was off the air for a time, as the broadcast transmitter depends on the ordinary power from the city supply, but station officials said that the interruption was only of a few seconds’ duration and was so short that inquiries as to the cause of the trouble were unnecessary. Another result of the electrical storm was the stopping of the Post Office clock, but this was later restarted at the correct time. Ferry Steamer Delayed: After a rough passage, the ferry steamer Maori arrived at Lyttelton two hours and a half late this morning, berthing shortly after nine o'clock. Heavy seas were met with in Cook Strait, and during the early hours of the morning the south-w r est gale brought heavy showers of rain and hail. The weather in Wellington last evening was dull, but fairly fine. Shipping work was again delayed at Lyttelton to-day through heavy rains. There was a steady down pom* most if the morning. Several attempts were made to start loading by the Pakeha, but each time the work was delayed by the rain. The City of Tokio is being delayed by southerly weather, and is not expected to arrive at Lyttelton till late this afternoon. New Drama Society: Something entirely new in the w’ay of programme arrangement is promised when the debating branch of the Marist Brothers’ Association will present its first public entertainment. The occasion coincides with the inauguration of a Catholic Drama Society and the association has been given the generous support of prominent members of the musical and dramatic societies of the city, who will present the delightful comedy in one act, “Once a King Always a King.” The play is an outstanding work, new to Christchurch, from the pen of Wilbur Braun. The producer is Mr H. L. Shaw, who has had wide experience in stage and repertory work. Store of Wild Honey: A rich store of wild honey rewarded the treefellers who have just cut down the hollow willows on the bank of the River Avon in the Botanic Gardens near the bridge leading to the tennis courts of the United Club. Three aged willows were felled, and in each was a plentiful supply of

blackish wild honey, and considerable colonies of bees.

Such a discovery in the warm weather would have given a zest to treefelling work with thousands of angry bees on the wing and the sting, but the bees were sluggish in the cold, and though they settled in numbers on one or two of the men they were easily dealt with. Treatment of Prisoners: Not sentiment but intelligent treatment of prisoners was requested by Mr R. M. Laing, one of a deputation from the Howard League for Penal Reform that waited on the Minister of Justice, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe. Mr Laing urged the extension of the probation system, the need for a parole board and the establishment of women police, scientific treatment of mental defectives and the English system at the Borstals.

Mr C. R. N. Mackie said that for 1931 the average daily population of the prisons in England was 11,346, and in New Zealand 1466. To put the figures on a comparative basis, there should have been 31.000 prisoners in England; or, if the New Zealand conditions equalled those of England, the average daily prison population in New Zealand should have been 536.

Replying, the Minister asked the members of the deputation to give reasons for the suggestion that the prison population in New Zealand was larger, in proportion, than it was in England.

In the Grip of Winter: Snow in the high country, nt Arthur’s Pass, at the summit of the

Akaroa Road —rain elsewhere in Canterbury, sometimes puctuated by lashing showers of sleet —a biting, wet wind raving from the south-west—on the Akaroa Road a big slip, blocking the road—thunder and lightning over Christchurch—these things are making winter live up to its name. Last evening, and at intervals through the night, Christchurch had its worst experience with the weather since the wet and windy and cold period began, about a fortnight ago. But the discomfort of Christchurch people was not the discomfort suffered by the relief workers who, hurriedly called together, toiled in the bluster i f Sunday night to clear the road to Akaroa. Yesterday, there were occasional glimpses of a promise of an improvement in the weather. Always, however, times of sunshine were interrupted by further rain, and the wind j maintained its strength. At about 4 p.m., the sky clouded over ominously, and the sleet showers became more frequent. By dark, there was no doubt of the type of night in store. Drumming sleet and driving rain were bad enough. But. when, between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m., the thunderstorm developed, people who were at home were very glad to be at home, and people who were out wished that they were not out.