LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12687, 8 July 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

In our report of the destruction by nre of the _ Riccarton . grandstand it was stated in yesterday's “ Star ”: “ Alternatively it has been suggested that the fire was caused by the fusing of electric wires in ,th© building, as in the case of th© Metropolitan Trotting Club’s stand, which was burned down two years ago last November. During last week workmen h- ere . engaged fitting two new electric points in the Governor’s room, and it is stated that the electric lines rfth along a passage directly under the stand and ended in the ceiling of the vice-regal room, just where the first blaze .was noticed.” We now learn that the foregoing is not correct. In the case of the fire in the Trotting Club’s stand the report sent in to the Underwriters’ Association was that under no circumstances could the fire ’ have been caused by the fusing of electric wires. We also are advised that our report was inaccurate in regard to men hj aving been engaged fitting new-electric points near the spot where the Riccarton fire was first noticed. In justice to those in charge of the wiring, we gladly make this correction.

The Wellington caterers have formed an association and decided to increase the price of meals by 25 per cent. — Press Association. Advice has been received that Mr and Mrs B. G. Booth are returning to the Dominion by the s.s. Briton, which is due to arrive at Wellington about July 31. Mr Booth has been in the Motor Patrol Service on the BrifVa coast for over two years.

It was reported to the City Council in regard to the proposed ' Elmwood Park, that the special roll required under the Local Bodies’ Loans Act, 1913, had been.pftppared. It was estimated that the council’s share of the cost of the land, the formation of Heaton Street, and providing access to the park from the north and also from Leinster Road, would he £SIOO, and the necessary steps were now- being taken to obtain the consent of the ratepayers of the special rating area to the raising of this amountThe City Council decided last night that in future it would not sit beyond 10-30 p.m. The decision was come to half-heartedly at a late hour, although both the Mayor and Councillor Agar pointed out that it might tie the hands of councillors very severely in some cases. It was agreed, how'ever, that the council could suspend the .operation of the motion at any time, and there was also a. tacit agreement that when the council adjourned'leaving its business unfinished it should resume on the following i Monday instead of adjourning for a fortnight. ' At the meeting of the City Council last evening a letter was received from Mi- ,W. H. Hargreaves stating that owing to continued illness he was compelled to tender his resignation as one of the Sinking Fund Commissioners. Mr Hargreaves his appreciation of the pleasant relations that had existed between his colleagues _ (Messrs H. J Besw-ick and H. R. Smith) and himself. It was resolved that a letter of appreciation should be sent to Mr Hargreaves and regret expressed that his health did not permit his continuing in office. The question of filling the vacancy was referred to th© Finance Committee to report. Last night the By-laws and Finance Committee reported to the City Council that its attention had been drawn to the number of electric signs which had hen suspended under verandahs of business premises in the city recently. In nearly ©very case the sign was erected without the permission of the council being first obtained, and several of the signs were not in accord•ance with the by-law r s- The chief inspector had been instructed to serve notices on the- offenders to make the necessary alterations to the signs ,so that they would comply with the bylaws.

At the meeting of the Lyttelton •Borough Council last night, a letter was read from the Repatriation Department drawing the attention of the Mayor to the fact that the day after the council advertised for six labourers. the Lyttelton Borough engineer was rung up and he informed the board that the positions had been filled..and that he did hot know that the Repatriation Board had men for employment. The letter further stated that the board felt that there was something wrong when a public body did not approach the Repatriation Board for any labour it required- The letter was “ received.” Some amusement was occasioned at last night’s meeting 0 f the Lyttelton Borough Council, when the question of the position of the telephone slot machine, came under discussion. It was stated that the Telegraph Department had intimated that if the machine did not pay in its present position it Would after terse m tern' aeatea hj to some more suitable place. At this point Councillor Morris r'ose and stated that he did not think the machine would.pay, for he knew,of one person who had made rise of the telephone and on ringing up he received a dividend of sixpence, and whilst speaking he received a second dividend. There was a roar of laughter as another councillor asked_ permission from the Mayor to retire in order that he might ring up. Further laughter was aroused when Councillor Morris stated that the person who had collected the shilling, had paid it into the Lvttelton Post Office, and that upon ringing up next day he had received no reply for his sixpence.

The By-laws and Finance Committee reported to the City Council last evening that the question of house numbering had been under consideration, and the committee recommended that a trial should be made of putting the house numbers on the face of the footpatn kerbmg, and suggested that every hlth house m Colombo Street North tram Bealey Avenue to Edgewar© Road and in Colombo Street South, from Brougham Street to the southern boundary, should be so numbered--1 he numbers would be let into the face of the kerb, and if it was found to be a success the committee would be prepared to make a further recommendation in the matter. Councillor Beanland hoped too much money was not going to he spent on this experiment, as it was not going to he a success. Councillor Flesher said, in view of the modern idea of townplanning there would be no fences, so where would they get their gat© posts to put the numbers on. The numbering on the kerbing could easily be kept clean. The clause was, after a little further discussion, adopted. Hundreds of Christchurch citizens have been cured by Dr Fellow’s Pile Cones, when every other known* remedy has failed. -Price 3 S 6d box, from chemists, or direct. Loaahy and Co. chemists (opp. Ballantyne’s). X ‘ Have those old-time portraits copied enlarged or reduced and finished by our permanent process. We specialise in this and can guarantee satisfaction. Steffano Webb, Petersen’s Buildines High Street. ’Phone 1989.

Ladies know them to have no equal. Martin’s Apiol and Steel Pills. Sold by all Chemists and Stores throughout Australasia. X