LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10297, 31 October 1911, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The sputlr branch of the Waimaka* riri and the Waitaki were dirty thu morning. Tbo remaining trout streams were fishi.|>ld. The New Brighton Marine Band will play a programme of music in the New Brighton rotunda to-morrow evening, commencing at eight o'clock. The radio station, Wellington, reports that the Moeraki, Atlienic and Turakina will probably be within wirfelesß range- this evening. A galaxy of vaudeville, talent glittered at the Opera House last evening before a large nudicncß. The occasion wa? the weekly change, 'of Fuller's "new star arbista." The new appearances included Emerald and Dupre, two American sketch comedians who revelled in "knockabout stunts." Much more aesthetic was the refined entertainment of Signor Martinengo/ who brought direct from the principal London halls % charming musical sceua, " The Unemployed Musician." Mr John PoroivaJ, tenor, and " the new national duo," acrobatiq specialists, also made first appearances. Supporting them were the "Tossing Testros" and many other old and gifted artists. The now programme wUJ be repeated this evening.

A meeting representative of the various churches will be held in Auckland shortly, under the presidency of Bishop Crossley, to consider the ques-' tion of the introduction of the New South Wales system of Bible-rteaohing into the State schools. The Bishop in formed the Synod-last week that,.he had been asked some tirn© ago tp side at the meeting but that he had declined to do so until he had met the Synod. He now be able, he said, to accede to the request, and the> meeting would be held in about ten days' time. The Synod resolved, ontho motion of Mr A. S. Holmes, to request the Sunday School Board to take steps to give effect to the resolution on the subject whi*h has been passed by the Synod. Alfred Nelson, Donald M'Pherson, Anton Olsen, John Hindle, William ' i-oung, Frederick L. Backhouse, Jamet Wright and Harry Douglas appeared before Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M.,ln the Magistrate's Court at Wellington on ) Saturday, charged with stealing 251b of . Havelock tobacco, valued at £7 10a, the property of the Union Steam Ship Company. In'asking for a remand until Wednesday, Chief-Detective Broberg said that the offence was alleged to have taken place on board the steamer Moana on Friday. While discharging operations were in progress, a box or tobacco was found to have been pillaged, and when detectives searched tho accused, who were all working in the hold in which the tobacco waa stored, they were found to have the tobacco in their possession. A remand was granted, bail being allowed each accused in the sum of £4o' and two sureties of £2O.

A resident in lias a number of peach trees which have been affected with a fungus disease.. A leaf was shown to a "Guardian" reporter, who submitted it to the curator aj> the Domain. Mr Readhead without hesitation pronounced the >as curl blight and stated that that peat had given orohardi&ts in Victoria much trouble at one time, more especially after a wet season. Curl blight cauaes the leaves to curl and discolours thqni. and also spoils the fruit. To prevent curl blight the curator said the.trees should have been sprayed with Bordeaux mixture in the winter and again with a lighter solution of the same preparation just' before budding, a method which has proved effective where tried. The disease-could yet he checked, but most of the damage had been done. Mr Readhead stated that he would willingly give anyone desiring the information the ingredients of the necessary mixture, but advised using carefully, as if the trees were sprayed with a strong solution at this stage, it would burn the leaves. The fruit on the affected trees is small and shrivelled up, and will in all probability not be worth picking. England is slow and Australia is slower in pushing their wares on the Chinese markets, according to Mr Yee Hing, lately manager of On Chong and Co., Chinese merchants, of George Street, Sydney. Mr Hing has been travelling for the past four years . hi China, says the "Sydney Morning Herald," and while in the land of his birth he took particular notice of what was going on in the commercial world. Mr Yee Hing waß much surprised to find in all the retail sliods m Hong Kong and Shanghai that nearly the whole of the imported goods were "made in Germany." English manufacturers are too independent, too cardless, too easy-going, and they won't put themselves about in any way to oblige customers. There's'the sample, and if the shopkeeper dou't care about patterns or designs they can leava them. Not so with the German manufacturer, or his representatives. " Germany will make anything to suit customers," save Mr Yee Hmg. "If the retail man does not fancy the pattern t , or design, the German manufacturer is only too willing to make according to the shopkeeper's order." English people should get the. trade, but they, won't bid for it, Mr Yee Hing continued. All the ports are treaty porta, and the English language is the prevailing foreign language in these ports. "English people are too lazy, and will not push trade."

The writer of open air notes in thai Timaru " Post" says that he had an opportunity last Sunday of strolling around the fish ponds and hatcheries in Christchurch, and went homo very dopressed in spirits on what he had seen, He expected to find pondp of running water j instead he saw ponds of almost stagnant water, the water of which was abominable. Many very fine trout were seen: and many .shocking specimens of fish life that should be at once netted from tho ponds and thrown into the Avon adjoining. Some of the trout were as black as ebony, others showed signs of gill and scale disease that threaten to spread among the healthy fish, and lead*to dire destruction. On. enquiring tho writer was told by a wellknown journalist that those who look after the gardens are dominated by tho most conservative of traditions. Tho sooner these old fogies get a modern move on tho better. The fish should have clear running water to sport in, a lot of the muck in the way of weeds and other watery growths should be removed, shingle introduced for the fish to clean themselves on, and the whole of the ponds made neat and wholesomelooking. As with the ponds so with tho bird houses, the lawns, pools, and holes in which the waterfowl sport. Some of the bird houses are so dilapidated as to resemble a slum henhouse, and fences and other surroundings ar» in tho last stages of senile decaa?. Not a label cr c:;planitory notice/& t?ca anywhere descriptive of tko <iiickti f geese, cockatoos, rabbits, etc, ar« in confinement, and sightseers find that all questions as to what so-and-so is, go unanswered. This, too, in a city like Christchurch, which in tho large area grouped as "The C aniens" possesses the most beautiful, health-giving show place in tho dominion. Tho neglect to bring some of the principal parts of this lovely garden up to modern standard is most surprising to the casual visitor.

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i The weather conditions in the doiklinion generally this morning were ifery pleusant, but a rain area was developing on the west coast of the jSpxith Island. It is understood that as soon as tho ,gas mains in Fitzgerald Avenue, near Cashel Street, have been repaired, tho I City Council will replant tho avenue i.where tho trees that were killed were I recently removed. I A Press Association message from iGisborno states that tho Harbour i Board is considering tho question of building a dock for tho convenience of |shipping and to avoid the necessity of lending the dredge to Auckland for jpvorhaul.

I The Tramway Board has commenced [making the balloon loop at New Brigh|ton at the present terminus of the line, eo that shunting operations will be (facilitated during the holiday seasons. jTho loop will go from tho main line iround. the back of the hotel, and will ioin the main line again along the Ssplanade from the Cafe.

A Dunedin Press Association telegram says that forty settlers of Ida iValley discussed for four hours tho Government proposal to irrigate Vincent 'oounty, The majority agreed to accept the scheme conditionally on the charge not exceeding 10s' an acre, the Govcrn'ment agreeing to forego the charge for jihe first year. It is understood that constructional work will now commence I immediately. I '* M.otor-oars do not do any harm to a road as long as they do not exceed twenty miles an hour." said; the city engineer at tho Page s Road Commission to-day. "Well, if the dust they throw lip is any sign of harm, they do a lot," answered Mr H. W. Bishop. " Do cars ever exceed twenty miles an liour in the city?" "Oh, yes," responded the city engineer, "on the 'straight nm in Park Terrace I have itimed cars xo do over thirty miles an hour."

I 'A Press Association message from [iNelson says that the delegates of tho (Fruitgrowers' Conference at Motueka arrived this morning. They were ac'KOTtled a civic welcome hy the Mayor. Whe districts represented are Auckland, jHarlborough, Canterbury, Manawatu, Hawks's Bay< Wanganui, Waitemata, .selson and various other places. The [delegates visited orchards en route and will Degin business this afternoon. The Hon R. M'Kenzie, Minister of Public iWorlra and member for Motueka, will Jft-ttentJ. 1 The final meeting of the Eotherham jjßand, of Hope for this session was held on Friday, when there was a large attendance, with Dr Todd, president, s in •the chair. Songs and recitations were jeiyen by Misses P. Popplewell, M. prliniop, Master J. Hare, Messrs Rogers pad Dunbar, the Waiau Gleu'Club and jthe R<xbh.erliam choir. Several visitors 'from Waiau gave a dialogue. Misses pcotfc and SheJton were the accompanists. The Bev "W. Watt and the Rev IW. ft. Campbell delivered! addresses prnd the ladies provided refreshments. yThe recent floods in the rivers have llitated considerably against success!ful trout fishing and anglers report poor sport generally. Week-end fisherjnen who have returned from the Waijnalcariri, however, report that matters have been decidedly different there and a number of good takfe? have been recorded. After the big flood last week and tihe consequent scouring of the river tHe fish took the bait eagerly, ha/ring' probably been made ravenous by tha buffeting and loss of food that they were subjected to by the floods.

| An Auckland Press Association tele(grain says that Sir John Findlay states (ihat the Cabinet has approved of the new scale of pay for the police, which provides an increase of the constables minimum pay to 8s a day, increments Sixpence a day every three years, with l maximum of 9s od reached by long

jjSM"Hoe, Constables will receive an adklitional sixpence after fourteen years *vnd a further sixpence after twenty years. The pay of officers and poii-comnuasioned offloers will be [considered later. Sir John Findlay is Tiotv considering a system of furnishing the officers of the foroe with ho uses, »t the present time renting others, and leaving the houses to be provkled by jthe State, He proposes to make the kjrateni uniform.