GENERAL NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10071, 6 February 1911, Page 1

GENERAL NEWS.

The Lytteiton Naval Cadets, encamped at Heathcote. were "At Home " yesterday afternoon. There was a large gathering of visitors, and the Lytteiton Marino Band provided music. Under Captain Oakes the lads have put in a lot of useful work., and the camp will be continued for a few days. The prizes awarded to students of the School of Art for last year's work will be distributed at the school this evening, and after the ceremony the annual exhibition of students' work will bo opened. The School of Art has issued its syllabus for 1911 in most attractive booklet "form. Details of the courses of study are given, and the booklet is nicely illustrated with photographs of the school buildings and some of the classes at work. Amended regulations under the Arbitration Act have been published, prescribing the fees to be paid to the cleric of tlie Court for certain forms of procedure. The fees are as follows: —Filing an industrial agreement, 6s; filing an application to a Conciliation Council, 6s; filing any other dorament, 8s; issuing a summons, 3s; issTiing a certified copy of a report or recommendation of the Council, or of an award or order of the* Court, Is. In the procedure for obtaining evidence from a distance, the fees are those prescribed Tjy the Magistrates Courts Act, A meeting of the Executive of the Ohristchurch Literary and Musical Competitions Society was held on Friday evening, Mr P. Hercus presiding. The chairmau stated, that the question of including competitions for Scouts had been referred to the Scouts' Council. A vote of thanks was passed to th© City Council for its donation of £6O. The Drosden Piano Company wrote, offering a silver challenge shield, to be awarded to the winners of the choir contest, and to be held for one year. The offer was accepted with thanks. It was resolved to call a meeting of the Ladies' Committee at an earlv ' date. Messrs F. C. B. Bishop, P. Hallenstein and G. R. Hart were appointed an advertising committee, and Mr H. Sweeney was appointed stage director. At the Magistrate's Court at Leeston on Friday, the Ellesmere Road Board (Mr Brown) proceeded against Isaac Mawson, A<ndrew Quigley, William Kendall, Joseph Lay, Joseph Mawson, G. Doak and Thomas 'Stephens for failing to comply with orders from the Board to remove from the Irwell Creek, running thrugh their -properties, all weeds, refuse, willows and obstructions of any kind which impeded or were calculated to impede the free flow of water in the water-course mentioned. The Board did not press for a fine, but asked the Magistrate to make an order against the defendants, compelling them to carry out the work within a stated period. The Magistrate (Mr H. W. BishopX ordered that the obstructions should, be cleared to the Board's satisfaction. The case would be adjourned for two months, and if, at the end of that period, the Boad Board's officer certified that the order had not been complied with, each defendant would bo fined £1 per day until the woz*k was finished.

The Post Office clock behaved in a very erratic manner again on Saturday night. It seems to delight in selecting Saturday night as a good time in which to indulge in its pranks, as it has played them to some purpose on three Saturday nights consecutively. Last Saturday night it began to deceive the public about 8.30, and was attended to by the contractors. At i 1.30 it evidently discovered a fresh source of amusement. It began to furiously ring out its chimes, and continued to do so, without ceasing, for several hours. The contractors state that they believe that the clock's very reprehensible behaviour is caused by some outside influence acting upon & small instrument called a relay, which is in the and which conducts the electrical wire to the internal works. They have diligently searched for the induction, but have not been able to trace it. There is a suspicion in their minds,, however, that it is brought about by the Tramway Board's electrical wires, which cross the wires that convey current to the clook. It was a relay that caused a good deal of the trouble in the clock in the Jubilee Tower, but that clock has displayed exemplary behaviour lately. The contractors say that they have "a "terribly heavy" contract in hand with the town clock, but that they are still determined to leave the system in a perfect condition.