CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20107, 14 May 1935, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

ITEMS FROM THE CITY CHRISTCHURCH, May 13. Personal: Mr H. W. Thompson was to-day admitted as a barrister anud solicitor of the Supreme Court by his Honour Mr Justice Johnston, on the motion of Mr H. Edgar. Mr A. D. Lewis, director of irrigation in South Africa, is paying a holiday visit to New Zealand and is at present in Christchurch. Mr Lewis, who is accompanied by Mrs Lewis, attended the Centenary Congress in Melbourne and inspected irrigation works in Victoria and New South Wales. He will leave New Zealand on May 28 after a month’s stay in the Dominion. Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., who will leave shortly to take up his appointment in Wellington, was the guest at a farewell gathering arranged by members of the Cashmere Hills Recreation Club, of which he is president of the bowling section. The chairman’ of the gathering was Mr H. A. Young, S.M., who presented Mr Mosley with a case of pipes, and referred to his keen interest in the club and to the respect in which he was held by all members.

Infectious Diseases: Only 10 cases of infectious diseases were reported in Canterbury for the week ended at noon to-day. There were none from the West Coast, and no deaths resulted from infectious diseases.

The cases notified in Canterbury were: Scarlet fever, three; diphtheria, one; erysipelas, two; tuberculosis, two; ophthalmia neonatorum, two.

Refresher Course: A special refresher course for pilots wishing to secure licenses as aero club instructors is now being held at Wigram Aerodrome, under the supervision of officers of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Those attending are Messrs G. M. and E. B. Firth (Auckland), J. J. Busch (Canterbury), S. J. Blackmore (Hamilton), G. R. White (Hawke’s Bay), and D. Campbell (Dunedin). The course -will last for three weeks, at the end of which candidates will be examined. Postmen’s Drive: About 2000 parcels were received by the Metropolitan Relief Association on Saturday as the result of the annual drive of the Christchurch postmen, said Mr A. B. Macintosh, honorary director to the association, to-day. This did not quite come up to the amount collected last year, but the quality of the clothes and household goods given for distribution among distressed families was very high. Altogether 8000 circulars were sent out, and the whole of the Christchurch postal area was covered. In many cases gifts of money were made. The drive was considered another great success. It began from the central relief depot at 1.30, about 60 postmen and almost as many vans and trucks, lent by city firms, starting off together. The drivers, like the postyears, was deeply deplored and sincere sympathy was extended to the relatives. In conclusion thanks were expressed to the donors of special prizes and trophies and all who had assisted to carry out the show successfully, and it was hoped that the incoming officers and committee would receive the same valuable support. The report and balance sheet were adopted. Election of Officers. The election of officers resulted: President, Mr F. Brown; vice-presi-dent, Mr J. Mcßae; hon. treasurer, Mr D. Lamach; committee, Messrs D. Macdonald, A. W. Barnett, A. M. Bruce, H. E. Brown, C. C. Douglas, E. C. d’Auvergne, J. Dempsey, J. C. Faulkner, J. T. Hay, T. Hamilton, J. C. Hay, E. B. Harrison, J. I. Hayman, E. G. Hay, H J. C. Harper, J. H. Milne, M. Mcßae, N. A. Rattray, R. Sinclair, E. Stokes, D. M. Gardiner, T. B. W. Hamilton, H. B. L. Johnstone, A. Medlicott; auditor, Mr R. F. Algie.

On the motion of Messrs A. W. Barnett and H. J. C. Harper it was unanimously resolved to place on record appreciation of the valuable and efficient work accomplished by Mr Macdonald during his term as president, and it was also resolved to record appreciation of the services of the retiring committee members, Messrs E. C. Studholme, J. K. Blair, J. H. W. Hodgen and M. L. Elliot. The Hon. J. Bitchener said that it had given him great pleasure to accept the invitation to attend the meeting and to endorse the motions just passed particularly in regard to Mr Studholme," whom he had always regarded as a gentleman and as “one of the best.” There was no name more honoured or more widely known than that of Studholme, and he hoped that some younger member of the family would carry on the good work for the Association. He wished Mr Studholme good health and happiness. In acknowledging the remarks Mr Studholme said that his family had been connected with the Association since its inception, and he was sorry to make the break, particularly as one of the members of his family had always been on the committee. Mr Macdonald moved a vote of thanks to Mr J. H. Mitchell, .their senior living past president, for his presence at the meeting and Mr Mitchell spoke briefly in reply. It was decided to support the lifting of the embargo on the importation of English live stock, but to oppose any shortening of the quarantine period. Mr Harper moved “That this Association write to the Minister of Agriculture pointing out the increase of the rabbit pest in this district and praying that the Department in South Canterbry is given further assistance or that a stock inspector be appointed to the Waimate district.” Mr J. Mcßae seconded the motion which was carried. The following new members were elected: Messrs John Mitchell jnr., Studholme Junction, W. D. Borrie, Waihao Downs and Sims, Cooper Ltd. (per Mr D. Borrie). GOLF The following is the draw for the second bogey round and Mary Fitch Cup to be played by members of the Waimate Ladies’ Golf Club to-day: Miss H. Cameron and Miss Stevens, Mrs Grant and Mrs Fraser, Miss Jones and Miss Godfrey, Miss Brownlie and Miss Judge, Mrs Healey and Mrs Chisholm, Mrs Carleton and Miss Fitch, Mrs P. Grant and Miss Hay, Miss O. Cameron and Miss Cochrane, Miss E. Jones and Mrs Ward. Procters, the Premier Opticians. Christchurch, will be making the next professional visit to Waimate, on Saturday, 29th June, and may be consulted on all defects of eyesight at the Royal Hotel on that date

men, were giving their services free, and valuable assistance was forthcoming from a party of nearly 40 Boy Scouts. Revaluation Started: In accordance with the undertaking given by the Government early this year, a revaluation of the city of Christchurch has been started. It has been under way for three weeks, and in view of the magnitude of the task involved, it will be nearly two years before the new valuations, on which the rates are based, will become operative. The paramount question so far as the ratepayers are concerned is whether thefe will be any reduction in the unimproved value of their properties. As a result of the last valuation in 1929. the unimproved value of Christchurch rose from £8,947,163 to £12.138.482, but in county valuations made during the last year or so there have been a decrease. Warning to Motorists That it is illegal to advertise for and carry passengers to fill up a private car was brought home to a motorist by Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court to-day. Mr R. Twyneham. who prosecuted for the Christchurch City Council, said that just before Christmas defendant went to Nelson on a business trip. He advertised for three passengers to fill up his car, and took a woman and her two children, who paid for the trip. He was liable to a fine of £IOO for using a vehicle for passenger transport that did not carry a certificate of fitness, and for conducting a service not licensed under the Transport Act, 1931. The Magistrate remarked that, taking newspaper advertisements as an indication, this was quite a common practice. It was common in the North Island, said the city traffic inspector (Mr H. Macintosh), but there were not many cases in Christchurch. Defendant was convicted and ’discharged on the first charge, and fined £8 and costs on the second. Bridge at the Bealey Tenders are to be called for the construction of the new bridge over the Waimakariri River at the Bealey. A start will be made with the job as soon as possible, and, according to the contract is to be finished within nine months. The building of the bridge will be one of the most important jobs carried out on the Canterbury-West Coast highway for some years. The bridge will comprise 20 spans of 44ft each, and will be constructed of reinforced concrete piers and superstructure. Fatality on Road Found lying unconscious on the Main South Road near Rolleston on the evening of May 4, Francis Edwards Patterson Wilson, a cycle mechanic, aged 39, who had been working in the relief camp at Burnham, and who was taken to the Christchurch Public Hospital suffering from severe head injuries, died last evening.

So far the police have been unable to discover how Wilson came to be injured, but it is thought that he was knocked down by a motor-vehicle, the driver of which did not stop. Wilson has no relatives in New Zealand.

Changes Not Expected Any possibility that there will be changes in the constitution of the City Council as a result of the official count of votes is now discounted by officials. The count will not be finished till about midday to-morrow, but it has gone far enough to show that there are not so many nor such serious errors as was the case with the preliminary count for the Mayoralty. The Mayor and councillors will be sworn in at a special preliminary meeting‘of the council on Wednesday evening. At this meeting the Mayor asks the councillors to make and sign the declaration of office, swearing to work for the good government of the city.

Work To Continue: With reference to a report from Ashburton received on Saturday that the Government intended to suspend irrigation experimental work on the special farm at Seafield, Mr J. Connolly, M.P., telegraphed the Actingpv.ne Minister (the Hon. E. A. Ransom) . Mr Connolly received a reply this morning stating that the rumours were incorrect. The Minister said that control of irrigation at Seafield was being undertaken by the Lands Department and that the operations would be continued and records kept. Relief of Distress: “I think we have enough money in hand to last till about June 1 or 2 next. After that we will have to go to the public and ask for further money for the coming winter,” said I.:? George Harper at a meeting of the Citizens’ Unemployment Committee this morning in presenting the weekly report of the Christchurch Metropolitan Relief Association. Mr Harper said that during the past fortnight a total of 1283 rations had been issued to families. The total number of registrations was 1629. Sustenance had been issued in 291 cases, 124 indigent people had been assisted and 868 relief workers had received rations including a supply of coal. Registrations renewed numbered 214 and 33 applications for registration had been declined.

Maui Pomare Arrives: The Maui Pomare arrived at Lyttelton this morning with her cargo of fruit in good order. On the trip to Apia exceptionally bad weather was experienced with a strong north-west wind and torrential rain. On the return trip, head winds and a heavy sea were encountered. The vessel brought almost a full cargo of bananas, which are in excellent condition. Canterbury College: The five members of the Canterbury University College Council who were due to retire this year, have been reelected unopposed. They are Colonel G. J. Smith (elected by Parliamentary electors), Messrs A. E. Flower and j. H. E. Schroder (elected by the Court of Convocation), Mr C. T. Aschman (teachers’ representative) and Mr W. P. Spencer (elected by school committees) . As no new appointment of the Governor-General’s representative had been received when nominations closed at noon to-day, Mr A. O. Wilkinson will continue in office, but his reappointment will be subject to confirmation later. Building Subsidy: Work valued at £285,901 is to be put in hand in Christchurch under the No. 12 building subsidy scheme, according to a report submitted to a meeting this morning of the Citizens’ Unemployment Committee. The report stated that 517 applications for the subsidy had been received to the value of £362,347. Of this number 426 applications had been approved, the work to cost £285,901. The subsidy on this amount aggregated £23,352. Twenty-four applications had been declined. Under scheme 81, which provides for alterations, additions and painting of houses, 70 applications, valued at £4BOO, had been received. Twenty-nine applications had been approved and the cost of the work involved was £1992. The value of the subsidy was £220. Seven applications had been declined.