CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19516, 15 June 1933, Page 13

CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

IN AND ABOUT THE CUT. CHRISTCHURCH, June 14. Personal: Mr Angus Gaffney has returned *o Jhristchurch from Sydney. Messrs J. McCombs and H. Holland, members of Parliament, arrived ui Christchurch from the North Island to-day. Mr M. F. Barnett, who is at present n a visit to Sydney, intends to return o Christchurch at the end of this nonth. Mr Walter H. Johnson, of London, a iirector of a Humber group of com>anies, who arrived in the Dominion on June 6, is staying at the United .Service Hotel. Mr A. K. Graham, a member of the London Board of Directors of Dalgety aid Company, who is visiting New Zealand, has arrived in Christchurch, and is staying at the United Service Hotel. Congratulations: Congratulations on the honour reoently conferred on him by the King were extended to Sir Hugh Acland oy his Honour Mr Justice Frazer in the Arbitration Court to-day. Sir Hugh was present to give evidence in connection with a compensation case involving an important medical point. His Honour said that although the members of the Court were laymen, they had exceptional opportunities of forming an opinion of the skill of the medical evidence before them, and Sir Hugh had always impressed with his 'earning, skill and fairness. Sir Hugh thanked the Court for its congratulations. A delightful dinner was held at the New City Hotel, when Lady Acland was honoured by her friends and congratulated on the honour recently conferred upon her husband, Sir Hugh Acland, by his Majesty the King. After dinner the party spent the evening at a picture theatre. The party was arranged by Mrs James Maling and Miss Monica Cox. Visiting Mayoress: Mrs T. C. Hislop, the Mayoress of Wellington, is visiting Christchurch at present, and this morning she visited the cookery and sewing centre for unemployed girls in the Majestic Theatre Building and also the depot for unemployed girls in Colombo Street. She showed great interest in the work being done at these centres. Broadcast Request Refused: An application from the Ashburton Rugby Union that the Ashburton v. Canterbury match for the Ranfurly Shield on Wednesday, August 2, should be broadcast, has been refused by the Canterbury Union. The matter was discussed in committee last evening, and on resuming in open meeting the chairman (Mr A. E. M'Phail) said that the request could not be granted. Medal for Horticulture: The Banksian Medal of the Royal Horticultural Society was presented to Mr C. H. Moir at the meeting of the Canterbury Horticultural Society. The medal is given pediodically for outstanding performances at shows held by associated societies. In presenting the medal Mr O. W. B. Anderson, president of the Canterbury Society, said that it was hard to win and required a high standard of perfection in the flowers and also their showing. Mr Moir’s exhibition of gladioli, which won the most points at the show, certainly deserved the medal.

No Soup Kitchens: A suggestion that soup kitchens be established in Christchurch met with an unfriendly reception at the meeting of the Metropolitan Relief Association. The disposal of forty gallons of hot soup which had been offered by a city butchery was being debated, when Mr J. W. Crampton suggested that a central soup kitchen might be established. There was general dissent. “You can say what you like,” said Mr Crampton, “but they will come.” This remark was greeted with cries of “No, no.”

lire Brigade Calls: At a meeting of the Christchurch Fire Board, the superintendent (Mr C. C. Warner) reported that since May 3 a total of thirty-four calls had been received. Of these, thirteen were for actual fires in or on property in the city, two were rubbish fires, one a chimney fire, eight were false alarms from various causes, seven were malicious false alarms, and three were for calls to Upper Riccarton, Lower Riccarton and Fendalton. The estimated loss by fire during the period was £llOB, the insurances on buildings and contents were £29,390, and the estimated value of property actually affected was £39,478.

Religion in Schools: Good progress has been made in introducing the Nelson system of religious education into Christchurch schools, according to figures quoted at a meeting of the Christchurch Presbytery this morning by the Rev. Alan C. Watson. Reporting for the Youth Committee, Mr Watson said that out of 32 ministers and home missionaries in thb Christchurch. Presbytery district, 25 were conducting weekly classes in schools. Ten out of the 25 took two classes weekly, and two ministers held more than two classes.

Vagaries of the Weather: Apparently the weather in Christchurch is trying hard to make up its mind whether it will be really nasty, with all the cold touches of June, or easy-going. During the past 36 hours or so, the city has had plenty of changes. For example, yesterday there was a hard frost, with the usual sunny day following. Despite the sun, the temperature all day was very low, the maximum for the 24 hours ended 9 o'clock this morning being 47.4 degrees only and the minimum 31.4. The sun was not very warm, either, for the maximum temperature in his light was 84 degrees only. Last evening was variable, but, after a little cloudiness, a frost of 6.9 degrees this morning resulted, while the air temperature, thanks to plenty of cloud, was nearly as warm as the maximum for the previous day.

Traps for Unregistered Motorists: Twenty local bodies in the No. 14 Highway District co-operated to-day in a comprehensive traffic raid with the object of catching motorists who were not in possession of driving licenses for the present year. A veritable net was spread around the city, and no motorists who passed the points where the inspectors were waiting in ambush were allowed io proceed without being interrogated. Those who were able to produce licenses were given small blue stickers to place on the windscreens of their cars, and motorists who had obtained renewals of their licenses but did not have them in their possession at the time were given twenty-four hours in which to show them at the traffic office where they were issued. The others, who were taking the risk of driving without licenses will probably be called upon to explain the circumstances to a Magistrate. The inspectors were no respectors • f persons; everyone coming within the net was held up, including two of the city Magistrates. Up to ten o’clock one inspector had caught six motorists who were driving without licenses, and half an hour later nine who did not have their licenses in their possession at the time they were stopped had roduced them at the Traffic Departnent of the City Council.