LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16327, 17 January 1921, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The proposal that Allenton should amalgamate with the Ashburton Borough was discussed at a meeting of Allenton ratepayers on Friday evening. Mr It. Houston presiding. After a full and free discussion a motion was carried that tho present was not an opportune time for Allenton to join the borough. In his interview with the Heathccte County Council on Friday night, Mr H. G. Ell pointed out that the council was the only body that had power to impose tolls, and that there was nothing to prevent it handing over the money so collected to the Summit Road Association. Representatives from tlie Ashburton A. and P. Association to the wheat conference to be held at Christchurch on Wednesday were appointed , at a meeting on ” Saturday as follow: Messrs H. F. Nicoll. J. Grigg and J. Farrell. At a meeting of the Farmers’ Union, Mr F. Frampton was appointed to represent the Ashburton branch. Mr W. T. Lill, of the Wheat Control Committee, and Mr G. W. Leadley, Dominion president of the Farmers’ Union, will also be present at tlie conference from Ashburton. A case is reported to have occurred in which the firm concerned (says the “ Hawke’s Bay Tribune ; if they were not guilty of profiteering, seem to have been flirting dangerously with that gentle but most unpopular art. x\ man purchased a hat, for which he naid 555, and, on examining it in detail when he brought it home, he discovered, in the interior, the price marked 2tis in plain figures, inside the leather protection He took the chapeau back to the stoop, charged tho firm with profiteering, and pointed out the old price of 26:5. The proprietary expressed tlieir profound regret, saying that a. mistake bad ocen made, and handed the purchaser a refund of 19s. A deputation from Brunnerton on Friday waited on the Prime Minister at Wellington and complained that the town was likely to suffer severely as the result of tlie Railway Department’s decision that the railway and traffic bridge across tlie river should be closed. The bridge was recently condemned as unsafe, and closed to all but pedestrian traffic. The deputation emphasised the importance of tho bridge to the commercial life of the town and suggested that the Government should, either replace the structure or make it fit for further use. Mr Massey replied that the decision of the Government would depend upon a report from the Chief Engineer of Railways, who would bo instructed to make investigations. The programme and book of words for the Christchurch Competitions Society’s festival, to be held during April are being circulated. In addition to the usual features, added attractions of special interest will include an open vocal championship for male and female voices. A feature will be made of a male quartet competition, the prizes lor which have been donated by the Qhristchurch Male Voice Choir. ” The prize-list is altogether attractive, and includes a very large number of special prizes for individual events and for scholarships. Tlie prize money amounts to £350. Entries will close with the managing secretary, Air T. F. Hall. 07, Lichfield Street, on February 7. The judges this year are Air W. Asprey, Sydney (vocal and instrumental), and Mr Claude Hall, Melbourne (elocution). The supplies of old season’s wheat available in New Zealand at the present time were stated on Saturday by Mr W. T. Lill, a member of the Wheat Control Committee, to lie sufficient for domestic needs until the first week in March. After that date the millers would come to the new season’s wheat and they had asked the Government to import a shipment or two of old wheat from Australia for mixing purposes. Two widows sent out to New Zealand by their relatives applied at Wellington, states a Press Association telegram, to have their children committed »to a receiving home, pleading destitution. Both explained that in the hard struggle for existence they were unable to support the children. The Magistrate made an order for committal, but in view of future possibilities stated that strict inquiry would be made into the circumstances" of all cases. At the last meeting of the Ellesmere., County Council', Mr W. O. Rennie asked if there was anything the council could do to hasten the erection of the proposed maternity hospital in the district. That a local hospital was needed was becoming more evident every day. The chairman replied that matters were temporarily hung up pending the receipt of a reply from the Minister of Health to representations made to him by Mr Free and himself on the occasion of a visit to Wellington some time ago. Before a local hospital would be provided the district had to raise a substantial proportion of the money. If this money were raised' by public subscription it would carry a Government subsidy, but if they raised tho amount required by rating or l'oan there would he no subsidy forthcoming. The view taken by ihe council was that the Government should pay subsidy cn any money raised in the district, whether by rating, loan, or public subscription. It was decided to further communicate with tlie Hon G. J. Parr, Minister of Health. A town hall, to seat about 200 people, is being built at Pigeon Bay. It is about half a mile from the w’harf, and is close to the main road. The roof and walls are complete, but the flooring is not in yet, and a good’ deal of other work , has to be done before the opening ceremony, in April. The springs used in the Alexandra Hall, destroyed by the Canterbury Hall' fire, will ~be used for the floor of the Pigeon Bay hall, in which it- is expected inanv dances will be held. Members of the Mayor’s picnic party on Saturday complimented residents of the bay on their enterprise, and said that in this respect the bay was in advance of Christchurch. Mr A. Goodwin, one of the promoters of the hall, said that residents had promised £4OO a year for five j’ears to meet the cost of the building, about £2OOO. Some had paid their five years’ contributions at once, and Mr Hay generously had given the land. Nobody outside the district had been asked for a contribution, but several persons had sent sums from abroad. The building is equipped with a platform, ante-rooms, and dressingrooms, and tho Mayor of Christchurch has provided for it a New Zealand ensign, which was flown for the first time on the occasion of his picnic. We produce portraiture that pleases because of ite naturalness. Our prices are moderate, too. Steffano Webb, 252, High Street. ’Phone 1989. 1 Nothing is more convenient to one who travels even a little than a firstclass suit-case. Hastie, Bull and Pickering, 113, Cashel Street, have just what you need, including the small, handv week-end cases, at from 21s to 30s. ‘ ... 1 When you go for a dip in the briny you should secure one of the new rubber bathing caps being sold at from 2s 6d to 10s 6d by E. Cameron Smith, Royal Exchange Buildings, 96. Worcester" Street. These caps, which are of the very latest design, reach Christchurch from America in small parcels through the post in order to avoid perishing, and a parcel of the very latest creations has just arrived. 1