CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19867, 2 August 1934, Page 4

CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

ITEMS FROM THE CITY CHRISTCHURCH, August 1. Personal: Mr G. C. Godfrey, Commissioner of Unemployment, arrived from Wellington this morning. Messrs H. Burson and D. I. Macdonald left for Wellington last evening to attend a sitting of a Conciliation Council to consider the Dominion wiekerworkers’ dispute. Mr Rex Harrison will leave for Wellington on Saturday to fill several musical engagements. On August 11 he will sing at the Wellington Harmonic Society’s concert, and on August 13 and 17 he will broadcast from 2YA. Mr P. W. Thompson, who has been custodian at the Government Buildings in Christchurch for three and a half years, and who left last evening to be custodian in the Customs Buildings in Wellington, was the recipient of a travelling bag from the heads of departments and staff of the Government Buildings yesterday afternoon. The presentation was made by Mr A. H. Parfitt, Registrar of Pensions. Resigned in Body: “If the committee persists in its attitude, the board will either give the householders an oportunity of forming another committee, or will appoint commissioners to administer the affairs of the school itself,” said the secretary of the Canterbury Education Board (Mr C. R. Kirk) this morning when asked what action the board proposed to take concerning the resignation of the Akaroa District High School Committee. The committee has resigned in a body as a protest against the Education Board’s attitude in “repeatedly refusing to erect a shelter for the school children,” and also because of the Education Department’s “persistent refusals to encourage the attendance of pupils at the secondary department.” Riccarton Mulder: The reward of £3OO offered for information that will lead to the arrest of the murderer of Mr Donald Fraser at the Racecourse Hotel on November 17, 1033, has so far failed as an inducement of information helpful to the police, although a number of people have offered suggestions. Fifty-Nine Years Ago: It is 69 years to-day since the sailing ship Star of China arrived at Lyttelton from Plymouth with 250 passengers. She left Plymouth on April 12, 1875, and Mr W. Hodge, of Barbadoes Street, Christchurch, recalled to-day that she made a pleasant passage. The only other survivors of the company that Mr Hodge could count were Messrs William Muschamp, Joseph Trudgeon, of Sumner, P. Suthridge, of Oamaru, and his sister, Mrs Ellen Seamore, of Oxford. If there were others, he thought it might be possible for a reunion to be arranged next year to celebrate the 60th anniversary of their arrival in New Zealand.

Waitaki Wins Debate; The annual debate between the Waitaki and Christchurch Boys’ High Schools was held last night at the Little Theatre, Canterbury College, Waitaki winning after an interesting

oentest by 350 points to 344 b. The subject of the debate was “That Britain would be wise to restore to Germany the former colonies of that country,” Waitaki taking the affirmative. Mr G. J. Lancaster, headmaster of the Christchurch Boys' High School, presided. He welcomed the visitors and introduced the speakers. Waitaki was represented by Mr L. W. Woods (leader), J. K. Milner, B. A. M’Dowell and A. G. Paterson; and Christchurch by P. C. Curd (leader), A. B. Allen, P. D. O’Plynn and E. K. Macleod. The leader of the Waitaki team was awarded the highest marks among the eight speakers. Main Body Men: Arrangements for a church parade, t- be held on Sunday, August 12, were made at a well-attended meeting of main body soldiers of the First Canterbury Infantry Battalion, who left New Zealand by the Athenic and Tahiti. Mr J. W. Crampton was in the chair. A letter was received from the official secretary of the Governor-General stating that his Excellency would be pleased to attend the church service. Lieutenant-Colonel S. D. Mason, offi-cer-commanding the First Battalion, Canterbury Regiment, wrote granting permission for the regimental band to help at the parade and church service. The meeting expressed the hope that all main body soldiers of the old regiment who had not yet received notices for .the reunion dinner on August 11, would get in touch with the joint secretaries, Messrs H. Perryman and G. Burgess, as soon as possible. Reserve Bank Notes: Prom to-day, the bank notes at present in use in New Zealand will be withdrawn from circulation, and the new Reserve Bank notes will be issued to replace them. All branches of the trading banks are holding stocks of the new' note issue, ready for use today and from to-day onward. In bank vaults in Christchurch, for example, there are thick bundles of £5, £l, and 10/- notes,- crisply new, and wearing a freshness which they will soon begin to lose in their travels from pocket to pocket, from till to till, from safe to safe. Army Examinations: Members of the permanent forces stationed at the King Edward barracks have been busily engaged for some time in coaching many candidates for promotion examinations in the Territorial Force. In Canterbury this year four captains are sitting for promotion to the rank of major, 12 lieutenants are sitting for promotion to captaincy and 15 non-commissioned officers for first appointment to commission. The practical sections of these examinations x. -11 be held this month, for the captains on August 20 when the examining board will be composed of Colonel S. C. P. Nicholls, D. 5.0., and Major P. H. Bell, D.S.O. Lieutenants sitting for promotion to captaincy will sit the practical examination on August * 12, the examining board comprising Major W. I. K. Jennings, D. 5.0., Captain W. Murphy, M.C., and Captain J. I. Brook, and non-commissioned officers will be examined on the practical part of their course at Addington Show grounds on August 21 by Major W. I. K. Jennings, D. 5.0., Captain K. J. Walker, Captain J. I. Brooke and Lieutenant P. L. Davis. The written examinations will be held in the King Edward Barracks on August 22 and 23. Swept Through the Dominion: The opinion that the measles epidemic has just about spent itself, al-

though, of course, there were still occasional cases of serious attacks, was expressed by Christchurch medical and health authorities. “Now it is appearing in only a few spots,” said one. “Before, its attentions were all-em-bracing.” “An epidemic such as this one, which has been sweeping right through the Dominion, just has to work itself out,” said this authority. It was agreed that the attack of measles which started operations in the north of Auckland at the beginning of last year and gradually travelled through both islands down to Bluff, has been one of the most extensive experienced in New Zealand for many years. This could be partly accounted for by the fact that it is seven or eight years since measles last held sway to any great extent in the Dominion, there being as the result a new generation of children that was not “salted” for measles. Light Frost: There was a frost of 3,1 degrees this morning, during a heavy fog which settled down over the city and suburbs from about 6 a.m. Yesterday morning was very hazy, with a keen east-north-est wind. At midday the sun broke through and the wind went round to the north-east. From 2 o’clock to 9 p.m. the temperature fell steadily. Then the air became warmer until midnight, and remained fairly steady until 8 o’clock. Thefts From Meters: Thefts of cash from slot gas meters goes on all the year round in Christchurch, increasing at times to peaks of activity. Just at present the Gas Company is enjoying a restful period. A report that there was an epidemic of gas meter pilferings in the Sprey-don-Addington district at present was denied to-day by officials of the company. One meter had been broken into during the past week-end, but, apart from that, little thieving was going on. Last Easter, it was pointed out. there were a number of similar thefts, and there was another cycle a few months before that . “We are expecting a fresh crop of thefts as soon as the summer starts and people start taking houses and batches at New Brighton,” said one official “This comes up every year, and we have to accept it.” He added that the depression had caused many people to instal slot meters instead of receiving bills, but this had not brought about any noticeable increase in the number of thefts. Delayed by Fog: The Inter-Island steamer Maori ran into a bank of fog about 4 o’clock this morning. About two hours later, when it became more dense, the vessel was slowed down. After 6.30 a.m. the fog began to lift, and the Maori reached Lyttelton at 7.25 a.m., this being about three-quarters of an hour behind her usual time. Statement Denied: A denial of the statement made by a deputation from the Addington Workshops to the Christchurch Returned Soldiers Association that in the Railway Department there existed a prejudice against returned soldiers was made in Wellington to-day by Mr E. Casey, acting-general manager, who said that the last thing the department would do would be to penalise returned soldiers. “This is the first I have heard of the allegation that these men were denied promotion because they were

returned soldiers," said Mr Casey. “The last thing in the mind of the department Is to penalise any man who is a returned soldier. “The policy in connection with appointments is that, other things being equal, returned men get preference. The question of promotion, of course, is governed entirely by regulation and is based on efficiency and service.” Anthrax Case: A case of a disease which is found very rarely in New Zealand, anthrax, was reported on Monday from South Canterbury. To-day, Dr. T. Fletcher Telford, Medical Officer of Health in Christchurch, outlined the causes and symptoms of this acute disease and pointed out that elaborate precautions existed to prevent its entering New Zealand. “Anthrax,” he said, is caused by the entering of the anthrax bacillus, generally through a wound, which sets up a systemic infection. The spores of the organism may also be inhaled and affect the lungs or intestines fatally. “The human being Is usually infected through the nature of his employment,” said Dr. Telford, “that is, through the handling of animals in the live state or of infected skins or wool of animals which are suffering from, or have died of this disease. “The infection may also be carried in the bones of infected animals. The disease is one derived from animals, such as cattle, sheep, goats, and those of the deer tribe generally. “When the infection is conveyed through a wound, a carbuncle appears, showing little beads of matter at the edge and beyond this a thick brawny swelling of the skin and underlying tissues, the glands also being involved The infection soon spreads to the general blood stream, and the patient becomes profoundly ill unless active measures are rapidly instituted.” The treatment consisted of local measures and injections of a special serum, as well as rest in bed and careful treatment with antiseptics. Several other doctors recalled an anthrax scare which occurred some years ago, when a few cases were traced to imported shaving brushes. In the Great War, a number of soldiers died through infection from brushes. Dr. Telford said that there were elaborate precautions to prevent infected articles coming into New Zealand. Ordinary precautions were to avoid handling hides, that might be infected, while there was dust about, and to use disinfectants.

BEAUTY SPECIALIST’S GREY HAIR SECRET Tells How to Make Simple Remedy to Darken Grey Hair at Home. Sister Hope, a popular beauty specialist of Sydney, recently gave out this advice about grey hair: “Anyone can easily prepare a simple mixture at home, at very little cost, to darken grey, streaked or faded hair and make it soft, lustrous and free of dandruff Mix the following yourself to save unnecessary expense: To a half-pint of water add 1 ounce of Bay Rum, a small box of Orlex Compound and 1 ounce of Glycerine. These can be obtained at any chemist’s. Apply to the hair a couple of times a week until the desire i shade results; Years of age should fall from the appearance of any grey haired person using this preparation. It does not discolour the scalp, is not sticky or greasy and does not rub off