CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19515, 14 June 1933, Page 11

CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

IN AND ABOUT THE CITY. CHRISTCHURCH, June 13. Personal: The Mayor (Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.) left for Wellington last evening. Mr P. R. Climie left for Wellington last evening to attend a meeting of the Unemployment Board. He will be absent from Christchurch for several days. A tribute to the work of the late Sir Thomas Sidey, who had done so much for sports bodies in New Zealand, was paid at the meeting of the Christchurch Bowling Centre last night. Mr H. Fleck, immediate past president of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ Association, will be nominated by the executive for the position of district vice-president of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association. Frost Delays Training: With the most severe frost of the season to date, there was a long delay at Riccarton this morning before any fast work could be attempted. The No. 7 grass was available for galloping. Restoring 10 per cent Cut: The Dominion Conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, which will be held in Wellington next week, is to be asked by the executive of the Christchurch Association to make the strongest possible representations to the Minister of Employment to have the 10 per cent cut in relief workers’ time restored so far as returned soldiers are concerned. Bananas from Islands: The Government motor ship Maui Pomare arrived at Lyttelton yesterday afternoon after a rough weather passage from Apia and Niue Island. The vessel loaded 6600 cases of bananas at Apia and 2000 at Niue. Of her cargo, which is reported to have arrived in excellent condition, she will discharge 4000 cases of Samoan bananas and 1700 cases from Niue Island at Lyttelton and the balance will be discharged at Wellington. The Maui Pomare commenced discharging this morning and sailed for Wellington this afternoon. S.P.C.A. Short of Funds: At the committee meeting of the Canterbury Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the secretary reported that after payment of current accounts the debit balance was £199/12/2. The chairman said that the society seemed to be getting deeper into debt every month owing to certain investments not fulfilling expectations. The c. cutive would be meeting later in the month to consider the position. The secretary, Mr G. T. Bullock, had suggested if things did not get better that the society should realise on some of its assets. The financial statement was adopted, and the accounts were passed for payment. City Retail Prices: The supply of fish on the Christchurch market to-day was a little better than last week, but the range of fish was not great. The price of eggs showed another drop, first grade selling at 1/6 a dozen. Prices were:— Fish—Groper 9d, ling sd, red cod 4d, soles 7d, flounders (white) 7d. Meat—Legs of mutton 4d to 6d, forequarters 2id to 3d, middle loin chops 5d to 6d, rib chops 3d to 4d, cutlets 9d, flaps Id; sirloin of beef 6d to 7d, rump steak 9d, fillet steak 9d, topside steak sd, gravy beef 3d to 4d, stewing steak 4d, pork 6d to 9d, spring lamb 5d to Bd. Butter —Factory-made first grade 1/01 a lb, other grades lOld and llld, separator 9!d. Cheese—Mild Bd, medium lOd, tasty 1/6. Honey—ln bulk 6d a lb, cartons 8d and 1/3, block honey 7d. Eggs—First grade 1/6 a dozen, second grade 1/4.

Opening of Tasman Chalet: Nearly 60 Christchurch people already have booked to attend the official opening of the Tasman Chalet, and the number of further inquiries makes it seem probable that the party will eventually total about 100, it was learned to-day from the Mount Cook Tourist Co. The party will leave Christchurch for the Hermitage on Friday, June 23, returning on the following Monday. The opening of the chalet—the enlarged Ball Hut in a new guise—will take place in the course of the week-end. The Minister of Tourist and Health Resorts (the Hon. A. Hamilton) will probably attend. There will be a full programme of winter sports events. After the opening of the chalet, In order, will come the Hermitage winter sports championship meeting, on July 24, 25, and 26; the Aorangi ski championship meeting, on August 23. 24, and 25; and the New Zealand ski championship, on August 29. 30, and 31.

Patriotic Chinese: Chinese of Christchurch were vague in their replies when they were asked yesterday whether their community here had helped to subscribe the £6OOO to £7OOO which, apparently, has been raised by Chinese in New Zealand to help China in her war against Japan. One of the Christchurch Chinese approached first said “Yes” when the question was asked, then said “No.” Others contented themselves with saying, simply, that they didn’t know.

However, there is evidence that Wellington Chinese have been generous subscribers to the fund. The estimate of the total, £6OOO to £7OOO, is made by a prominent Auckland Chinese.

It has been stated by the office of the Chinese Consulate, in Wellington, that if the figures are correct, probably half of the total has come from Wellington. None of the money has been remitted to China through the office of the consul.

What are Minor Cases?: “Two items in to-day’s news (says "The Star” editorially to-night), “read in relation to one another, emphasise the need for public vigilance in regard to the administration of justice. They are firstly, the objection of the Automobile Association to automatic prosecutions for a speed of forty miles an hour on concrete roads and, secondly, the claim that Justices of the Peace should sit on the Bench to deal with “by-law. traffic and minor breaches ” Every motorist knows that it requires e nscious effort to keep a modem car below forty miles an hour on an open, modern road, and if there are to be

prosecutions for breaches of restrictive regulations in this matter, they should be dealt with only by highly experienced magistrates and not by men who, if the experience of past years is any guide, were conservative and prejudiced.”

Trials of River Steamer: After loading about 80 tons of general cr to, including wheat and potatoes, for Wellington, the coastal steamer Foxton pulled out from the wharf at Kaiapoi at 6.40 p.m. yesterday, but did not go over the bar. Instead she anchored off Kairaki all day to-day, and Captain A. G. Baggett hopes to leave Kail ,ki to-morrow morning on a high tide for Lyttelton, where he will finish loading for Wel-

lington. It was too rough this morning for the pilot to sountf the bar, but soundings were to be taken at low tide. Commenting on the circumstances that caused the mishap to the Foxton, Mr J. H. Blackwell, of Kaiapoi, who is interested in the development of the shipping facilities, told a reporter to-day that he did not think the occurrence would prejudice the attempt that was being made to open the port again. “All the boats in former years had to negotiate the bar, and the staamer Kairaki years ago had a similar experience, being stuck for a day inside the river-entrance,’' he said. Blankets of Fog: Clouds of fog obscured the city last evening from 8 o’clock to midnight, thick, fleecy blankets of fog that sometimes billowed "long streets and between buildings, but more often lay over everything in a dense white pall, through which it was impossible to see more than a few yards at a time. Reminiscent of a London “peasouper,” it was the worst fog Christchurch has coughed and wheezed in for many years. Traffic frequently had to come to a standstill, and, after the theatres closed, trams and motor-cars could move only at a snail’s pace. To find 1 direction at a corner was baffling and there was always the risk of a collision. It was a night of perilous adventure. Thick as the fog was in the city area, it was thicker in such a locality as Harper Avenue, on the north-west side of -lagley Park, running from the Carlton Bridge to the Fendalton Road bridge. St. Albans was said to be the worst of the suburbs, and several taximen were temporarily marooned there after depositing fares. It was futile to try to read the names of streets, even when they were well lighted. It was a case of take a road and hope for the best. In the city, the scene was eerie. Buildings were unrecognisable bulks, and the Cathedral brooded shapelessly, its spire piercing the clouds. A driver who made a trip over to Lyttelton last evening stated that the fog was thick all along the flat to Sumner. From Evans Pass the view was wonderful, with the moon shining down on the thick blanket of fog, which stretched as far as the eye could see. Tram motormen and conductors made the best of a bad job, and it is a tribute to their skill that no accidents occurred, while delays were minimised. There were incidents, of course. One tramcar going to Addington had to make four stops within a comparatively short distance before the conductor could recognise the stopping place his passengers wanted, Selwyn Street.