CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXL, Issue 20282, 4 December 1935, Page 4

CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

ITEMS FROM THE CITY CHRISTCHURCH, December 3. Museum and Library: Proposals for the improvement of the Canterbury Museum and Canterbury Public Library were discussed at length by the Christchurch City Council. During the discussion a suggestion was made that the control of these institutions should be transferred from the Canterbury College Council and vested in the municipality, which, in exchange, should provide revenue for building extensions, internal improvements and also for maintenance. As an outcome of the deliberations it was decided that the City Council should approach the Canterbury College Council and arrange a conference between the two bodies to consider the future administration of the institutions. Street Appeals: Bearing 1022 signatures, a petition protesting against street collections and appeals was presented to the Christchurch City Council. It was referred to the By-laws Committee for a report. The petition deplored the fact that although the members of the council pledged themselves to endeavour to reduce taxation, they encouraged the exploitation of the already overtaxed citizen in the form of queen carnivals and appeals for funds. The petition reminded the council that Government taxes were levied for the maintenance of essential institutions, and it was the duty of the council not to allow the responsibility for the maintenance of these institutions to be forced on to the citizens. An emphatic request was made that the council should limit street collections to four a year, and that the issue of badges in acknowledgement 1 of contributions be prohibited. “Street collections,” stated the petition, “are supposed to be in the form of voluntary contribution. We realise, however, that the issue of badges is a positive threat to the public. We also request that no street appeal be permitted on the workers’ pay day—Friday.” Arbitration Court: The Arbitration Court has a sitting in Dunedin to-morrow, but only one member, Mr A. L. Monteith (employees’ assessor) passed through Christchurch this morning, together with the registrar, Mr J. A. Gilmour. His Honour, Mr Justice Page, caught a chill on the journey from Auckland to Napier, and the employers’ assessor, Mr W. Cecil Prime remained in Napier also, on account of the death of his father. The Court, however, will endeavour to maintain its schedule. The Christchurch sitting is set down for December 6. Theft Charges: Charged with breaking and entering by day the dwelling house of Mary Blyth, Fendalton Road, on November 28, and committing theft, Albert Harris, a labourer, aged 34, and Leslie Richmond Henderson, a blacksmith, aged 29, appeared before Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court this morning. They were remanded till December 10. James Walter Prime, a stableman, aged 32, was remanded for sentence till Friday for the Probation Officer to make inquiries. Prime pleaded guilty to a charge pf stealing £25 from Ethel Lucy Hockin on November 12. Chief-Detective Dunlop said that the money had been stolen by Prime while Mrs Hockin, a widow, was away from her home. 4 Hermann Henry Thiele, a clerk, aged 25, was further remanded till December 10 on a charge of stealing £lB from the New Zealand Government on November 18, 1934. Bail was renewed at £2OO, with two sureties of £IOO each. Assistance to Pilots: Members of the Canterbury Aero Club made a presentation last evening to Flight-Lieutenant H. B. Burrell, of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, in appreciation of the valuable help he had given to pilots of the club. Mr R. Taylor, in asking FlightLieutenant Burrell to accept a handsome clock, spoke in glowing terms of the way in which he had increased the efficiency of the pilots and of the sound knowledge he had brought to bear in his judging of the monthly competitions. In reply, Flight-Lieutenant Burrell said that among such a fine body of men his work had been greatly simplified. Mr Clive Crozier, the president of the club, in proposing the toast of “The Air Force,” said that in thanking the force for the generous help given to club members he was voicing the appreciation of every member. Young pilots, especially, had derived great benefit. Mr N. H. Barlow proposed the toast of the De Havilland Company. He traced its growth from pre-war years until the present time, and made special mention of the popularity of the company’s products in time of war as well as peace. Mr Scott-King, the DeHavilland expert at Wigram, replied. To Abolish Poverty: The campaign to obtain signatures to the petition to his Majesty the King to set up a Commission to investigate ways and means to abolish poverty within the Empire has had a ready response from the citizens of Christchurch, and already over five thousand signatures have been received. A large number of petition forms are still in circulation. Wellington headquarters of the league have requested the despatch of all completed forms to enable checking and counting to proceed, and reports to hand indicate that New Zealand will be substantially represented in the Empire-wide petition. Divorce Cases: Two decrees absolute in divorce were granted by Mr Justice Northcroft in the Supreme Court this morning. A decree absolute was made in the petition of William Thomas Stevens, bootmaker (Mr Quigley) against Catherin Stevens (Mr Archer), with custody of a child to the respondent. A similar decree was granted in the petition of Beatrice Harriet Cordy (Mr Young, instructed by Mr L. G. Cameron, of Timaru) against Bernard Frederick Cordy, a shepherd. An order was made for the permanent custody of a child to the petitioner and maintenance by consent in the terms of the motion. Funeral of Priest: Priests from every Roman Catholic diocese in New Zealand attended the funeral of the Rev. Father Thomas Walter Price to-day. The funeral was preceded by Solemn Pontificial Requiem Mass at the Cathedral. The building was packed for the service, the great attendance testifying to the affection and respect in which Father Price was held throughout the diocese. Priests, laity and children from the Catholic schools attended the service in large numbers. The Mass was said by Bishop Brodie and the assistant priest was the Very Rev. Father J. J. Cooney. The deacon was the Very Rev. Dr J. Kennedy and the sub-deacon was the Rev. Father C. O’Connor, S.M. In the course of his address, Bishop

Brodie said that for the last three days, when Father Price had been lying in state in the Cathedral, Catholic people from all over Cantebury had come to pay their last respects to him. Bishop Brodie spoke of Father Price’s great work as a priest. He had been a priest for forty years, thirty-seven of which he had spent in Canterbury. During his years as Administrator of the Cathedral he had been a source of inspiration to Bishop Grimes in his great task of building and paying for the Cathedral. As parish priest at Methven, nothing had seemed too much for Father Price to do. He had consecrated himself to the people in his priestly duties. Bishop Brodie expressed the thanks of the Catholic people for the presence at the service, as representing the city, of the Deputy-Mayor (Mr J. W. Beanland) and the acting-town clerk (Mr J. F. Eames).