CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXX, Issue 20165, 20 July 1935, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

ITEMS FROM THE CITY CHRISTCHURCH, July 19. Welcome Windfall: Officials of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society have received a welcome windfall from the society in the form of a bonus on their earnings for the year ended March 31 last. The bonus is equivalent to the sum they would have received during the year by the restoration of the 10 per cent, reduction made in their salaries.. The decision granting the bonus was made by the society at its last monthly meeting, when it gave further consideration to the recommendation of the Finance Committee that restoration should be made to those officials in Its employ who had their earnings reduced. The society also decided to make an Increase in the salary of Its ranger, Mr J. Digby. Pay Increased: Advice has been received by the Waimakariri River Trust that the Unemployment Board has granted considerable increases in the pay of relief workers in the employ of the Trust. The increases will become operative on Monday, when, it is understood, the trust intends, to employ a greater number of men on relief work than it has at present. A bonus of 12s monthly will be paid to the men in the Trust’s employ, and all men taking up this class of work will receive more than the maximum wage paid to workers in the city under the No. 5 scheme.

“Deliberate Theft”: “This is a deliberate double theft,” said Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court this morning, denying counsel’s plea for leniency in the case of William Thompson, a labourer, aged 59, who was charged with the theft of two bicycles, one valued at £l4, the property of Leslie Rupert Croft, and the other valued at £7, the property of Stanley Gordon Kennedy. He admitted both thefts, and was sentenced to three months’ gaol. Senior-Sergeant Calwell told how both cycles taken from the Riccarton Racecourse some time ago, and subsequently altered and sold. In the case of Croft’s machine, £5 restitution would be necessary to put it into its original condition. The machine was a specially built racing model. It had been sold for £3. Mr Quigley, for Thompson, said that while serving with the British forces in Afghanistan, he had suffered from sunstroke, and this had affected him in after-life and might be responsible for his lapse.

False Alarm of Fire: Lionel Beaumont McGoverne, described as an air pilot, aged 33, was fined £5 and costs for giving a false alarm of Are, and was convicted and discharged for drunkenness when he came before Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court this morning. He pleaded guilty to both charges. Senior-Sergeant Calwell said that McGoverne and another man had been seen in a drunken condition in Hereford Street. A constable saw McGoverne deliberately break a firealarm, his story being that he thought a constable would come if he broke the alarm. The other man,’ he alleged, had assaulted him.

“There was nothing in that, however.” continued the Senior-Sergeant. “It appears to have been a drunken escapade, but the Fire Brigade turned out.”

Trolley Buses Examined: An investigation of the Christchurch tramway system, with special reference to trolley buses, has been made by the chairman of the newly-elected Auckland Transport Board (Mr H. G. R. Mason, M.P.), and the board’s engineer (Mr F. E. de Guerrier). Messrs Mason and de Guerrier arrived in Christchurch yesterday morning and left on their return to the north this evening. Discussing his visit, Mr Mason said that he and Mr de Guerrier were particularly interested in considering whether trolley buses would be suitable for use in the Auckland transport area. From what he had seen he was very favourably impressed with the trolley buses, and did not want people to think that the Auckland Transport Board was going to decide suddenly to use a fleet of the buses. He emphasised that close examination was needed as to whether they would prove suitable for local conditions.

School Staff Changes: Various changes in school staffs were considered at this morning’s meeting of the Canterbury Education Board. The following appointments were confirmed: Aratika, Miss J. C. Smith; Beckenham, Mr I. M. Willoughby; Dunsandel, Mr S. E. Fee; Fairlie D.H.S., Mr B. F. Hayman; Fendalton, Miss J. Byers; Hawarden D.H.S., Mr W. Parsonage; Kaikoura D.H.S., Miss A. W. Poynton; Lagmhor, Mr T. L. Barnes; Methven D.H.S., Miss S. C. Ferrier; Otaio, Mr I. C. Millar; Rangiora, Miss V. G. Barclay; Rapahoe, Mr R. S. Gore; Rapaki, Mr E. Mulcock; Rokeby, Mr A. T. Ziegler; Runanga, Mr W. J. Edwards; Timaru South, Mr G. Macdonald; Totara Valley, Mr A. A. Sutherland; Waituna Creek, Miss D. G. Lindsay.

The following resignations were received: Beckenham, Mr T. L. Barnes; Blackball, Mrs J. I. Askenbeck; Fairlie D.H.S., Mr C. D. Gilling; Grange Road, Miss K. I. Park; Jack’s Mill, Miss E. D. Smith; Linwood North, Miss R. Le Compte; Morven, Miss C. N. McGradie; Normal, Mr B. F. Hayman; Pukekura’, Miss J. C. Smith; Ruru, Miss N. b! Lewis; Shirley Intermediate, Mr W. Parsonage; Somerfield, Miss S. c. Ferrier; Vtew Hill, Miss E. C. Cottrell; Waimalri, Wtiss J. Byers; Waimataitai, Miss I. H. Cowie; Wataroa, Miss J. L. Memmott; Woodend, Mr P. Heath., Distress Among Children: Since the Children’s Relief Committee has distributed clothing and boots to needy school children, there has been a noticeable increase in the average attendance at the primary schools. “If anyone wants evidence that the work Is within the province of the Board, there it is,” said Mr C. S. Thompson, the chairman, at this morning’s meeting of the Canterbury Education Board. Mr Thompson, who is also chairman of the Children’s Relief Committee, stated in a report to the Board that the distress among school children was grave; and that while efforts to relieve the position had met with a most generous response, such measures at the best were only palliative, and the Government alone was in a' position to take action that would have a permanently beneficial effect. “Information collected from headmasters,” said Mr Thompson, “shows that in 38 schools there are 2000 children whose parents are on relief. Footwear has been provided to the number of 1619 pairs, while 815 children have been provided with clothing—in many cases with a complete outfit. The sum of £ll6O has been contributed to date, and clothing valued at £3OO has been donated. “The spirit of charity is very much alive. Further, there have been

ing instances of unselfishness and fairness among the parents of the children receiving relief. In some cases donations have been returned because the father obtained work in the meantime, and wanted even more necessitous cases to benefit first.”

Damaged Aeroplane: A special meeting of the general committee of the Canterbury Aero Club was held this evening to consider the position arising from the damage done to one of the club’s aeroplanes in the smash at Ohoka last Friday. The Moth aeroplane, which was piloted by Mr A. C. Baines, with Mr J. J. Busch as instructor, crashed into a field while the pilot was practising a forced landing, and was considerably damaged. It is understood that repairs will be possible, but that they will be extensive, and may amount practically to rebuilding the machine. In the meantime, the club is carrying on with a shortage of machines. On Sunday afternoon, the Aero Club will hold its field day which was postponed last on account of the funeral of Nurse Maude. Parachute descents will be made by Mr Bernard Skinner, and, if the weather permits, three of his pupils will make their first jumps.

Caught In the Act: A sneak thief was caught in the act of rifling the pockets of a number of footballers who were practising for the Town v. Country match at North Hagley Park last evening. The Canterbury Rugby Union’s caretaker, Mr W. Harman, who discovered the man, grappled with him, and after a struggle overpowered him. Mr Harman called in one of the players, and asked him to guard the man while he went for the police. When he returned with two detectives some minutes later, both thief and guardian had disappeared. So far, he has not yet been traced by the police. The thief was a young man. When caught he had in his possession a number of articles belonging to the players, and these were handed over to the police. Apparently the player in whose charge Mr Harman left the thief was of a kindly disposition, and probably thought that the best way out of the situation would be to deliver a homily and then let the man go. The immediate vicinity was searched, but there was no sign of the thief or of the player who volunteered to guard him.