GENERAL NEWS ITEMS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11028, 17 March 1914, Page 2

GENERAL NEWS ITEMS.

-The ambulance collection in Timaru on Saturday amounted to £230, states a Press Association telegram.

It lias been decided by the City Council that the red reflector required to be placed at the rear of niotor-cycles and side-cars shall be not less than an inch and a half in diameter.

An attempt has been made to bring back to the bush reserves 011 the Summit Road some of the bird life that once made New Zealand so enjoyable. Recently Mr H. G. Ell, M.P., received some wekas from Mr F. Paton, of ''Farleigh," Cust. and liberated them in Kennedy's Bush. Efforts are being made to secure some of the small owls, natives of the dominion, and the officers of the Summit Road. Association will welcome gifts of native bird 3 for liberation in tne bush.

At the meeting of the Woolston Borough Council last evening, the Mayor, Mr Ji J. Graham, made. reference to the commission that had been appointed to apportion the rating among local bodies for the upkeep of the Christchurch Domain. ' Mr Graham stated that Woolston ought not to be called upon to contribute towards the cost, as it had its own domain to support, And in addition there was a number of Government non-ratepaying institutions in the borough whicn considerably affected their finances. It was decided that the Mayor arid the towi; clerk should be appointed to draiv up a statement embodying reasons why Woolston should not be called on to contribute.

Under the existing time table on the Christchurch-Lyttelton railway lino there is no train to the port between 4.30 p.m. and 5.30 p.m., ai\d to Lyttelton residents having business _to transact in Christchurch and leaving at five o'clock, the present service causes a long wait in the city. To overcome the difficulty it was suggested years ago that a train should leave Christchurch about 5.15 p.m., but the proposal failed to find favour with the Railway Department. The matter cropped up at the meeting of the Lyttelton Borough Council last night, when Councillor Pago said that as a new Government was now in power he thought 110 harm could be done in agitating for improvement in the service. After discussion it was decided to write to the Railway authorities on the subject. The United Pigeon Fanciers' Club met at the rooms on Thursday evening. Mr A. Smith, president, was in the chair, arid there was a large attendance. The business of the evening was taken up with a club shew of 1 Long-faced Tumblers, and there was a fair entry. The prizes were awarded as follows:—Clean-legged Yellow, T. H. Jones 1 and 2, Macquarie and Smith 3; Clean-legged Red. Macquarie and Smith 1, T. H. Jones 2 and 3; Cleanlegged Black, Macquarie and Smith 1, T. H. Jones 2, H. Wiltshire 3; Muffed Black, H. Wiltshire 1, 2 and 3: Muffed Blue or Silver, T. H. Jones 1, 2 and 3; Muffed, any other colour, H. Wiltshire 1 and. 2, T. H. Jones 3. The club's specials for Clean-legged and Muffedlegged were awarded to Messrs Macquarie and Smith and T. H. Jones respectively. A voto of thanks was accorded to the judges, Messrs W, H. Dncombe and A. Gapes. It was decided to arrange to continue the club's shows at the next meeting. In yesterday's issue of the "Star," the general manager of the tramways challenged a. statement by Mill. Hunter that new arrivals were placed on the tramway works in preference to local men. Mr Hunter stated yesterday that he was not in error, and, in support of the statement, he said that about May last year appeals were made against two appointments of the character complained of, in the car, equipment department. He repeatedly heard complaints that new arrivals wer.3 appointed, while the applications of local men, although made for a considerable time, were consistently held. over. He did not blame immigrants from the OH Country securing jobs on the tramways it they could do so, but he

thought, that the Government and the Government's agents at c iomo misled

men there, as they were not told that if they came here they would enter into competition with local men on a labour market already overstocked. If they knew the real position, probably they would not come to New Zealand.

Oil' the suggestion of Mr F. J. Pago, the Lyttelton Borough Council at its meeting last night decided to take steps to erect signboards near the railway , station showing the direction to the Sumner Road , and to the Public Library. The Wools ton Borough Council decided last evening, on the recommendation of the Finance Committee, to forward a remit to the Municipal Conference asking for the introduction of legislation permitting local bodies to grant a discount on promptly paid' rates.

_ A Press Association telegram from .Kotorua states that a foreigner, \rho arrived in the dominion only at New Year, and who pleaded ignorance of the law, "was convicted and discharged for having supplied a Maori with liquor off licensed premises. The Maori, who persuaded him to purchase the liquor, was fined £25.

The_ municipal quarry was mentioned last night in the City Council, when a member asked whether the Works Committee was going to do something or simply leave the matter for electioneering assaults on the Council. The chairman of the committee; Councillor H. J. Otley, said that the Council could, not develop the quarry profitably in view of the present low price of _ metal and' the thirty-five miles of rail to the quarry. The Council, if .it wanted a quarry, should look out for one nearer home. / .

At about a quarter to eight last night an old man named William Irving, residing at 1016, Colombo Street, was driving a van loaded with furniture along Colombo Street North between Dean Street and Holly Road, St Albans, when he slipped off his seat and fell underneath the van. The ambulance was immediately summoned and he was removed to the Hospital, where it was found that lie had received injuries to his ribs, though not of a serious nature.