LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20001, 17 July 1920, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Public; Works Department notifies that owing lo repair work at Kahutara Bluff,'the Kaikonra-Parnassns read may bo closed at any time without, notice after July 19. The road will bo kept open for traffic between the hours of 8 and 9 a.m. and 4 and 5 p.m., and vehicles are advised to pass at this time. Lectures in practical journalism will bo given at Canterbury College during the term which opens to-day. It is intended to arrange the times to suit students not regularly in attendance at the college, and intending students will meet the lecturer at the college at 4 p.m. on Monday to fix the hours. The Akaroa correspondent of the “Star” states that the recent* spell of warm weather has brought spring perceptibly near, and already the beautiful flowers of the kowhai are showing in several sheltered valleys and a very early willow in Takamatua has been in bud for some time. In tho gardens spring bulbs arc bursting into flower. In places round the river bank in Christchurch many willows aro showing signs of the new leaf. According to the superintendent of paiQis and gardens (Mr W. Wickens), the change is taking place exceptionally early this year. The mildness of the winter months is set down as the cause. Usually the new leaf does not appear until the second week in August. In gardening circles an early and abundant flowering for bulbs of the narcissus family is predicted. “Christchurch has a vast reserve for timber-planting purposes right at her front door,” said a city man interested in forestry yesterday. “The sandhills along the beach at North New Brighton could grow enougli trees to keep the city going for two hundred years.” Reports from other sources confirm this statement. In the City Council’s reserve at Bottle Lake the young trees recently planted are making wonderful progress, and there is every prospect of a successful “ strike.” The trees are pinus radiata (insignis), a species which is held in special favour because of its fast growth. Before the war a Government expert said that an acre of sandy soil at New Brighton could bo made without trouble to grow timber worth £7OO. A meeting of delegates of local bodies of the Ashburton County, in connection with the Ashburton war memorial, was hold in the Ashburton Borough Council Chambers yesterday afternoon, the Mayor (Mr R. Galbraith) presiding. The chairman read a letter from the Deputy-Mayor (Mr F. Ferrimaii) expressing the opinion that a sum of £31,000 should bo raised, and stating that both he and Mrs Ferriman would contribute £IOOO. The money should come from private individuals and not from local bodies. It was decided that the form of memorial should he a piece of statuary, that designs ho procured and that subscriptions bo invited. Tt was also decided to erect the memorial in Baring Square, opposite the County Council Chambers. Stammering defects were referred to by'the Director of the Sumner School for the Deaf (Mr J. E. Stevens) in a lecture last evening. “ Stammering,” he said, “is terrible and painful. AVhcn I hear it made fun of on the stage I feel sick at heart. Stammering arises from no defect whatever in the vocal organisms. Generally it is caused by fear in the first place, or by shock, or by imitation, lb is just as difficult to cure when it arises from imitation as when it arises from fright. It is a peculiar thing that you never know when it is cured. The best way is to help the child to gain self-confidence, treat him gently and encourage him to read aloud.” Asked if he believed that stammering could he caused by forcing left-handed children to write with the right hand, Mr Stevens replied: “No, I do not. It is more likely that the child is made to stammer through fright.” It was announced last evening that the Education Department has decided to endeavour to give all teachers throughout Now Zealand some knowledge of the treatment of speech defects. Mr J. E. Stevens, Director of the Sumner School for the Deaf, said that his school was now open to any children who were suffering from faults of speech. There would be no charge for -day pupils under any circumstances. It was hoped to open special classes for teachers in Christchurch, Auckland and Dunedin, as well as in Wanganui, Invercargill and Timaru. A class had already been started in Wellington, and it was meeting with general success. Mr Stevens mentioned that a boy had recently been admitted to tho Sumner School from a country district. Ho was not a stammerer but ho suffered from extremely defective speech. It was almost impossible to understand what he said. Aftereight weeks’ treatment, interrupted by the influenza epidemic, the boy had been able to return to his home properly cured. Hundreds of Christchurch citizens have been cured by Dr Fellow’s Pile Cones when every other known remedy has failed.-Price 3s 6d box, from chemists, or direct. Leash,y and Co., chemists (opp. Ballantyne’s). X There is a distinctive quality in our wedding groups and portraits that makes them worthy as a record of the happiest time of your life. Steffano Webb, Petersen’s Buildings, 252, High Street. ’Phone 1989. 1 We have tho confidence of the publicin our Dispensing. This is duo to the fact that our Drugs aro fresh and pure. ■ Our system of checking by competent Dispensers obviates all chance of error. Prices moderate. Hot Water Bags at greatly reduced prices. Creosote Cough Cure, best for coughs and raids, Is Ud. E. Cameron Smith, Chemist (opp “Bun”), 96, Worcester Street. 1 The latest Safety Razor and the best is the Swift, manufactured in England. Sold in three grades at 12s 6d, 15s and 20s by Hastie, Bull and Pickering, 118, Cashel Street. 1 Ladies know tliem to have no equal. Martin’s Apiol and Steel Pills. Sold by all Chemists and Stores throughout Australasia. X