CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXL, Issue 20283, 5 December 1935, Page 4

CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

ITEMS FROM THE CITY CHRISTCHURCH, December 4. Personal: Messrs W. Goodfellow, A. R. Brett and E. Anderson, directors, and Mr F. A. Clarke, Auckland manager of New Zealand Newspapers, Ltd., arrived in Christchurch from the north this morning. Mr C. W. Hervey, president of the Canterbury , Employers’ Association, and Messrs A. E. Kincaid and J. Murphy, vice-presidents, are visiting Wellington to attend a conference of employers. A fourth delegate from the Canterbury Association, Mr G. M. Hall, will join them, in Wellington. Mr C. H. Clibborn, secretary to the Lyttelton Harbour Board, has returned to Christchurch after his visit to Australia, during which he negotiated with the shipping companies for the extension of tourist ci'uises to the South Island. Bookmaking Charge: J Seen by a detective taking bets at Riccarton on New Zealand Cup Day, Thomas Henry Gardner, unemployed, aged 34, appeared in the Magistrate's Court this morning, and was fined 20/and costs by Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M., for bookmaking. Chief-Detective Dunlop said that Detective McClung had seen Gardner taking bets in the paddock opposite the winning post, in full view of the stands. He had taken about half a dozen bets for 2/6 each, and, not doing very well, had gone home. The penalty, added the chief detective, would react on Gardner’s wife and family of nine. Gardner was on sustenance and only secured an odd day’s work from time to time. He was the third man to be apprehended under similar circumstances. “You had better leave this alone,” warned the Magistrate. “If you come up again, I am going to impose a fine which will mean the alternative.” Fishing in Prohibited Area: The poor local season for whitebait was blamed by two men who appeared in the Magistrate’s Court this morning on a charge of laying herring nets in Taranaki Creek, at Waikuku. They were Harry Lester Clarkson and H. G. Manning, both of Waikuku. It Was stated on their behalf that in a normal season they would take up to £SO worth of whitebait, but this year had been able to earn only £5. Mr M. J. Gresson, for the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, said that the men were simply fishing in a prohibited area It was not suggested that the men were poaching or trying to get trout. Mr H. P. Smith, for the men, said that they had not known that there was a limitation on netting in the creek. They declared that it was practically imposible to get trout anywhere. The men had been using a net in an endeavour to improve their meagre earnings. Each of the accused was fined 20/and costs. Summer Begins: To-day was not so hot. At least, it was only an average summer day, with a maximum temperature of 78.8 deg. to be exact, registered at 10.30 a.m. But no one can be blamed for thinking to-day was abnormally hot, as it is only the second day that really belongs

in the summer season. Yesterday reached 77.2 deg, so that whatever anyone may say to the contrary, summer only commenced yesterday. Optimistic Outlook: A note of optimism that is based not on surmise, but on actual results and definite indications, is struck by Mr R. S. Forsyth, C.M.G., manager in the United Kingdom for the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board, who arrived in Christchurch this morning, in the course of his first visit to the Dominion for nine years. “The stage is set for good prices for mutton and lamb during the coming season,” said Mr Forsyth, “provided there are no serious disturbances in Europe. Our meat is popular, it is well advertised and we are in the best possible position to benefit from an increase in the purchasing power of the British public.” In Mr Forsyth’s opinion New Zealand emerged well both from the Ottawa Conference and from the recent negotiations in London, as far as the meat question was concerned. The fear of a levy on mutton and lamb, which made up 70 per cent, of New Zealand exports, had been dispelled, and the market was assured till the end of 1936. “Our main obstacle is that we cannot get a long-term agreement,” said Mr Forsyth. “In shipping meat and marketing it in Great Britain shortterm agreements are a handicap. However, the treaty with the Argentine runs out in November of next year, and when that happens it may be that the way will be clear for a more satisfactory term/’ Scottish Home Rule: The Canterbury branch of the Scottish Home Rule Association has been reconstituted at the Scottish National Society. At a meeting of members of the association, a new set of rules and a constitution were drawn up. The main objects of the society are ; to support and further efforts to secure ! for Scotland the fullest powers of selfgovernment and to foster and encourage the study of Scottish life, literature, music and art and their origins. The Rev. T. W. Armour, who presided, explained that the association had for some time remained inactive, partly because Miss Jessie Mackay, inspirer of the movement in Canterbury, had been in indifferent health and partly because the secretary, Mr M. J. i Burns, had moved to the North Island. The following officers were elected to act in the meantime: —President, the Rev. T. W. Armour; general committee, Miss Jessie Mackay, Messrs A. MacQuarrie, C. S. Thomas, J. S. Kelly, J. Roberts and G. M. Telfer; secretary, Mr A. B. Mac Diarmid; treasurer, Mr Joseph Forbes. Boy Singer: An unusual honour was conferred upon Master Kenneth Mackwell, when I he was given an audition by the director of the Vienese Boys’ Choir, at present in the city. Master Mackwell sang before the director and Madame Marsi, and at the conclusion he received high praise for his singing. “He has an excellent voice of wonderful quality,” said Madame Marsi afterwards. “The tone is pleasing at all times, and his production and technique are astonishing. His is quite the best voice we have listened to in New Zealand.” Asked how long Master Mackwell might be expected to retain his gifts, Madame Marsi said that at least two more years could be looked forward to. After that, in all probability, he would lose his voice, and it would then be a matter for conjecture whether he

would be tenor, baritone or bass. It frequently happened that after a brilliant career as a singer a boy was unable to sing again once his voice changed. Kenneth Mackwell is well known in Christchurch, where he first attracted notice by his successes in the musical competitions.