LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20055, 18 September 1920, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Senior Rugby football match between Mansts and Canterbury, at Lancaster Park on September 22, in aid of tho Memorial Fund, was ' decided upon at a special meeting of the Management .Committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union last evening. Motions for the removal to the Pull Court of tho Crown's appeal in the cases in which judgment was given for tJio linns proceeded against by the 1 rice Investigation Tribunal in respect ol sales of alarm clocks were granted by Mr Justice Herdmari in the Supremo Court yesterday. The firms concerned are:-G. W. Drayton and Co.. Brown and Dureau, A. J. White and Co., Ltd., E. Kcece and Co., Ltd., Mason, Struthers and Co., Ltd., and Hastio, Bull and Pickering. A very busy time during August is reported by Mr E. J. Bell, librarian of the Canterbury Public (Library. The total number of books issued from the •1, "& L bra, "y was 1G > 357 > compared with 14,084 for August of last year. Iri the reference library 3784 works were consulted, this being about tho same number that was used during the same period last year. In the juvenile library 1820 volumes were taken out tor home reading. A large number of new books were added to the stock in all departments, 134 being placed in the circulating department, Eightysix new members were enrolled during the month. Tho method of disposal of pedigree stock raised on the Government farms is the subject of a letter from the Minister of Agriculture to the Auckland provincial secretary to tho Farmers' union. Recently the Waikato sub-pro-vincial executive of the union protested against tlio pedigree stock from lluakura being offered for auction in competition with that of private breeders, and suggested that the Govern-ment-raised stock should bo disposed of by ballot at a price sufficient to cover the cost of production. It was emphasised that this method would give farmers of small means the opportunity of acquiring tho best class of breeding stock. The Minister states that the method of balloting for t'he stock has been tnod by. the Department, anil has been found to be less satisfactory than offering the animals by auction. Love of literature few will deny to be a happy trait, but the covctousness which leads to theft of such works as 'Aristotle," by Grant, "Gesar's Commentaries " and " Ancient Mysteries," by Hone, will suVely find few admirers. Yet tho disappearance from the reference, section of th& Canterlnirv Public Library of t'hese and other books can scarcely he otherwiso accounted for than by theft, according to the librarian. The list of hooks which tho annual stocktaking in tho reference department showed to be missing, excluding thoso already mentioned, is as follows:—"Germany's Violation of the Laws of War"; "Elementary Anatomy,' by Barclay; " Practical Anatomy," by Heath; * Auto Starting, Lighting, etc.," by Page; "Practical Engineer's Pocket Book"; "Electric Lighting," by Maycock; "Electrical Engineering," by Shaw; "Consolations in Travel," byDavy. Tho tenth annual report of the Canterbury Head Centre of the Royal Life Saving Society, to be presented at«the annual meeting on Monday, shows that the past year has been a very successful one, in spite of the drawbacks attachable to a cold season and the prevalence, of influenza. During the season forty-one elementary and twelve proficiency certificates were awarded, besides six bronzo medallions. A number of competitions for various trophies were 'held successfully, most of the entrants qualifying in addition for their elementary or proficiency certificates. In this connection it is requested that award holders and others qualified will volunteer for work as instructors, as i insufficient helpers are coming forward. Splendid work has been done in patrolling the beaches by the seaside affiliated clubs, and many lives have been saved as a result, A high standard of proficiency has been set up in the various competitions, and it is announced that t'ho London Central Executive intends issuing a surf medallion for rescue work, particulars for the competition for which will be available shortly. The balance-sheet shows a credit of £SO 7s. Steady progress is recorded i n the annual report of the National Provident Fund. At the end of tho year contributors numbered 16,154, compared with 13,410 at the end of the previous year. The number of new entrants wa s the highest yet recorded. Applications from local authorities to become contributors on behalf of their staffs continue to bo received by the board in terms of tho 1914 Amendment Act. The following locUl authorities are now contributing to tho fund on behalf of their employees: Wellington City Council, Napier Harbour Board, Christchurch City Council, Ohristchurch Tramway Board, Dunedin City Council., Napier Borough Council, liivercargill Borough Council, Timaru Borough Council, Thames County Council, Lyttelton Harbour Board, New Plymouth Borough Council, Wanganui Borough Council, Masterton County Council, Upper Hutt Town Board, Bluff Harbour Board, Wallace County Council, Southland County Council. Interesting sidelights on social progress are afforded by the annual report of the Health Department. A birth-rate table included in the report shows that during the period 1900-17 there was little variation from year to year in the rate. I n 1918, however, a noticeable decline occurred in the number of births, followed in 1919 by a still further decline. Indeed, tho birth-rate for the year under review is the lowest which has been recorded since 1955, when compulsory registration of births first came into force. This downward movement was not unexpected, and is attributable to the adverse influences of tho war and the epidemic. The absence of men of marriageable ago with the Expeditionary Forces caused tho marriiigc-rates for 1917 and 1918 to fall to ammprecedently low level, while the influenza of November, 1918, claimed the nuv jonty of its victims from adults between tho ages of twenty and fortyfivo. -The rate of infantile mortality for 1919 was 45.26, tho lowest rate yet experienced in tho Dominion. "It is generally acknowledged (states the report) -that the infantile-mortality rate servos as an index of the combined social and sanitary progress of a community. Tho downward tendency shown in tho table is therefore a pleasing commentary upon tho efforts of various organisations, notably the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children, and upon Public Health administration in general. In considering this matter, however, it must bo remembered that New Zealand is particularly fortunato in having economic conditions under which poverty is rare, and which make, therefore, for tho preservation of- life at thi s tender age." Hundreds of Christchurch citizens I bave boon cured by Dr Fellows Pile I Cones when every other known remedy I has failed. Price 3s 6d box, from chemits, or direct. Loa3by and Co., chem- / ists (opp. Ballantyne's). X Thero is a distinctive quality in our wedding groups and portraits that makes them worthy as a record of the happiest time of your life. Steffnn:> Webb, Peterson's Buildings, 252, Hied Street. 'Phone 1989. 1 Secure a 'true Temper " Geneva" Cultivator _ for your garden. Equipment consists of hoe. plough and five adjustable Invincible cultivator teeth. Attachments are permanently fixed to the frame. Prico 40s. /it Hastio, Bull and Pickering's, 113, Cashel Street. 3 Ladies know them to have no equal. Martin's Apiol and Steel Pills. Sold by all ChemisU and Stores throughout Australasia.. • X