CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19961, 20 November 1934, Page 4

CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

ITEMS FROM THE CITY CHRISTCHURCH, November 19. Personal: Mr A. R. Jordan. District Public Trustee, Christchurch, who has been absent from his duties during the last fortnight on annual leave, resumed duty to-day. Flying-Officer Malcolm F. Calder, r.f Christchurch, who has been stationed for three years with No. 70 (Bomber Transport) Squadron, Royal Air Force, Hinairii, Iraq, has been posted to England and left Iraq on November 1. Heavier Bookings: Judging by the present volume of inquiries, there will be a good deal more internal travel in New Zealand this Christmas than there was at the holiday period last year. Tourist and travel agencies, even at this comparatively early stage are considerably busier with bookings than at the corresponding period in recent seasons. The demand from Christchurch people covers a wide range of resorts. A good many of the projected holiday trips are to the North Island, and some of those booked are extensive ones. Thieving on Beaches: When her clothing was stolen from the beach at New Brighton while she was bathing, a young woman visitor had to borrow a pair of beach pyjamas and a coat to go home in. Three pairs of stockings belonging to other members of the party were also stolen. This is not the first instance of the stealing of clothing from the beaches this season, and bathers are warned to be careful. A few days ago a young woman had a towel and a pair of shoes stolen, and it is reported that : there have been other cases of thefts ! of a like nature. Synthetic Wool: Considerable interest has been aroused among men in the wool industry who have inspected samples of synthetic wool and material made partly from it and partly from real wool that reached Christchurch last week from Germany. The samples have been brought by a representative of a German wool-buying house. The raw synthetic wool is very much like ordinary scoured wool in appearance, though it seems to have a more silky sheen. The material in which it is used contains from 30 to 50 pe: cent, of ordinary wool. Experts say that the synthetic wool is apparently of excellent quality, but ) they believe that time only can prove its worth. j The opinion was expressed, however, i that it would be an eye-opener to | farmers who had not attached much I importance to the possibilities of synj thetic wool. j Revaluation of City: j The next work of the town valuers l will be the revaluation of the city of Christchurch, says a statement made to-day by the Valuer-General, Mr W. Stewart. The preliminary work—the preparation of plans and field books—will be started very. soon. At present the valuers are working in the Heathcote County. Visit of Flyers: M. C. McGregor and H. C. Walker and J. D. Hewett and C. E. Kay, the New Zealand competitors in the air race from Mildenhall to Melbourne, will visit Christchurch with their Miles Hawk and D. H. Dragon machines on December 1 and 2, according to advice received to-day by the secretary to the Canterbury Aero Club (Mr P. R. Climie). The Aero Club will probably arrange a flying display as a welcome to the pilots at the aerodrome.

Fireblight Inspection: A strict look-out is still being kept for outbreaks of fireblight in Christchurch, and traces of it are continually coming under the notice of the Agriculture Department’s inspectors, of whom there are 14. The position was described to-day by Mr B. G. Goodwin, the department’s orchard instructor, as no better and no worse. Pro-perty-owners have responded promptly in most cases to the request that infected trees and branches should be destroyed, though there is a tendency on the part of some to treat branches inadequately. Mr Goodwin explained that they should be severed at least 18in or two feet from the site of the infection. The disease has found its way into commercial orchards, but the owners are waging a continual war against it and it is under good control. Use of Municipal Car: It was stated by the Mayor (Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.) to-day that Councillor G. T. Thurston had explained to him that some people had an idea that he had ordered the car that conveyed him to Timaru recently. “Although there is a good deal of confusion regarding the whole matter ” the Mavor added, “it is quite certain that Councillor Thurston personally did not order the car or give instructions for it to be ordered.” When asked if the Audit Inspector had completed his inquiries into the matter, the Mayor said he had not yet seen the inspector, but he hoped that the question would be dealt with finally by to-morrow at latest. Section 105 of the Municipal Corporations Act provides as follows: “The council may hire or may acquire and maintain motor-cars or other means of conveyance for the use in the performance by the Mayor and councillors oi their official duties.” Gift to Museum: Musical circles in Christchurch will no doubt be interested in a letter which has been sent to the Canterbury museum by Mrs J. Joll, of Auckland whose father, Mr M’Cardell, was one of the founders of musical societies in Lyttelton and Christchurch The letter was sent by Novellos of London to Mr M’Cardell, and is dated May 16, 1853, and it announced despatch of the first consignment of music ever sent to New Zealand. Mrs Joll has also forwarded to the museum authorities a photo of Mr Crosby Ward, taken at Lyttelton in 1857 or 1858. It is stated to be the first of that type of photograph printed in Canterbury. Prior to that all photos were produced in the very old style on glass. “Another Chance”: Mary M’Kegney (216 convictions, not out—as the senior-sergeant expressed it) stood in the dock at the Police Court this morning and pleaded with Mr H. A. Young, S.M., for “another chance.” Familiar phrases were heard from the dock as soon as the accused entered. “I only came out on Saturday. ... I only had a few drinks. God knows it was only weakness. . . They won’t leave me alone. . . . I’m too old to work. They don’t want me at the gaol. I’m sixty-three years of age. . . God knows its been convictions since I was a girl of nineteen. . . Just give me this chance, your Worship. I’ll never ask you again. If I come here again I’ll give up trying. . . Mr Fox said he’d speak for me ” “Mary says you said you would speak for her,” said the Magistrate to SeniorSergeant Fox. “I haven’t had a chance yet,” said the senior-sergeant. The defendant had asked him to speak for her, he said, amid a Are of

further pleas from the dock, but in her own eloquent plea she had left nothing unsaid. However, the police had no objection to her getting another chance. “The senior-sergeant has said you are all right,” said Mr Young. “On previous occasions we have sent you to gaol after a spree in order that you would be fixed up to enjoy the next one. This time you’ll be convicted and discharged.” Rubber Factory?: Woolston is one of three places mentioned as possible sites for the establishment of the proposed tyre factory by the Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Co. of N.Z. Ltd. The other two are Timaru and Lower Hutt. It is quite likely that the Canterbury Progress League will take active steps to try and persuade the promoters to have the factory erected in Christchurch. Members of the executive of the League seen to-day were unanimous in their view that having regard to the special requirements of a rubber factory, Christchurch offered the most attractive facilities. Pressure will most likely be brought to bear by other interests also. Mr H. F. Toogood, consulting engineer, who is inspecting sites on behalf of the company, is said to be very favourably . impressed with Woolston. The issue at present would appear to lie between Woolston and the Lower Hutt, as the firm itself has been inclined toward a site in Wellington. One of the main requirements of a tyre factory is an adequate supply of water for cooling purposes. The factory would require anything from 250,000 to 500,000 gallons of water a day, and with its artesian bores Christchurch is well equipped to cater for this important need. Cheap ground rents and low freight and handling charges are two other essential considerations, both of which can be met in Christchurch. The factory would employ from 250 to 300 hands, and its annual output, it was learned to-day, would be about 1000 tons of tyres—which, converted into tyres on the basis of 251 b to each tyre, represents a production of nearly 100,000 tyres.