GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16158, 12 March 1918, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

The auction announcements of Jones, McCrostie and Co., 11. S. McKenzie and Co H. B. Sorenscn. Claridge and Smith, W. E. Simes and Co., and Laurie and Dalton, will be found on page 0 of this issue. The First Canterbury .Military Service Board sits at Kangiora cu Llii-rs-day, ami in Christchurch on Friday. The Canterbury College term com " nunces on Thursday. Professors and leci urers will be in attendance on Thursday and Friday from 9.30. a.m. to 12.30 p.m., and from o p.m. to 0 p.m., to arrange courses for students- lectures will begin on Saturday. The Hon. G. W. Russell (Minister of Internal Affairs) informed an Auckland Navv League deputation that no pioposed to give the Auckland branch not only the power to collect funds, but to distribute them to assist men of the Navy in many parts of the worm, tie suggested that as far as possible the Internal Affairs Department should be used in distributing the funds.

The Prime Minister has received the following cablo massage from the J. rime Minister' of Canada, acknowledging New Zealand's gift of £10,(-00 for the relief of the sufferers in the Halifax disaster: —"Government of Canada deeply grateful for very substantial gift made by Government of New Zealand tor relief of Halifax. This splendid expression of sympathy will be warmly appreciated by the poople both of Halifax and of vhe whole Dominion."

The control of the Opawa Swimmuig Bath has been occupying the attention of the Heathcote County Council of late, but the matter was finally settled at last night's meeting of the Council It was then decided that the controlling body should in futuro consist of tho chairman of the Council, >vixo should act as chairman and convener, the chairman of the Valley School Committee, tho membor of the Council for tho Hillsborough two members each from tho Op-awa Swimming Club and tho Opawa School Committee, and Mr T. A. Bray. Cr. Loasby presented to the City Council last evening a petition signed by dairymen in Cnristcliurch, asking the Council' not to put into operation the block system of milk delivery. «. r. Loasby said there were 66 signatures on the petition, and in addition there were 39 milkmen who had signed and sent in a separate letter to tho Council. Altogether there were 105 signatures of out of 130 he believed who were licensed by tho Council. Fivo were those of suppliers, leaving 100 milkmen opposed to the block system. The petition and letter wero referred to the Abattoir Committee.

Excellent attendances were recorded at till© Art Society's annual exhibition in the Art Gallery yesterday, and much interest was shown in the works displayed. It is gratifying to note that the sales so far this year are better than they wore for tho corresponding period last year. Tho exhibition will be open as usual to-day and this evening. This afternoon her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool will attend the exhibition on the invitation of the Red Cross Society, the lady members of which have arranged an attractive musical programme, which will be contributed to by Madame Gower-Burns, assisted by Mesdames Guthrie, Russell, and Hutton and pupils. Afternoon and evening tea will be available, the proceeds going to tho Red Cross. In the evening Mr F. C. Raphael's Concert Party will provide the programme.

A deputation consisting of Messrs J. Longton (president or tho Beckenham Residents' Association), , McAlister, Bullen, and Carlyle, was introduced to Sir Joseph "Ward yesterday afternoon, and asked for the erection of a slot telephone at the corner of Norwood street and Malcolm avenue. In support of their request members of the deputation stated that in two years the attendance at the Beckenham school had increased from 150 to 300, that a large proportion of the residents were Second Division reservists, and that there was great need for a public telephone. It was further pointed out that at present the district was not connected with the city fire alarm system. Sir Joseph Ward, in n sympathetic reply, said that as thero was a wife already available, it was probable that the., slot telephone would bo erected in the immediate future. It was reported to the City Council last evening that the practice upon the Eart of the Council in tho past had een to make a schedule of the probable requirements for the year and invito tenders for the supply of same. The City Surveyor and the City Electrical Engineer were of opinion that yearly contracts were not advisable owing to the state of the markets and the difficulty of purchasing supplies, and they suggested that a member of the staff should be appointed to do tho purchasing of such materials as could not bo done by tender from time to time. The Electricity Committee stated that it had deferred consideration of tho matter until tho Works Committee had had an opportunity of expressing its opinion on the matter. The Works Committee recommended that the practice of calling for tenders be discontinued, and that tenders be invited from time to time for any large quantities of goods or material inquired and quotations obtainod for smaller quantities. The committee was of opinion that a number of lines of which large quantities are required could be imported advantageously by the Council. The recommendations were adopted.

The alterations of the Hcathcoto bridge, in Colombo street, were again brought under the notice of the Heathcote County Council last evening by a passage in tho report of the Finance and By-laws Committee. Tho report stated that the cost of the proposed still further alterations was estimated not to exceed £100, and as by reports, tho Sprcvdon Borough Council declined to increase its former contribution, the amount would be divided equally between the Tramway Board and the Heatkcotc Council and the City Council. It was decidcd to tuggest to tho City Council that it fall another conference, and invito the Mayor of Spreydon and tho two Cashmere members of the Heathcote Council, as it was understood that the Mayor of Spreydon had some further proposition to make. Later in the evening another letter was received regarding the original alterations, stating that the total cost to date—and the work was now practically completed —amounted to £439 17s 9d, of which the Hcathcotc Council's share was £121 12s 7d. It was decided to forward £106 10s. tho amount originally estimated as tiio Council's share, anil .to ask for an explanation as to the extra charge.

We have received £1 from C.M.F. for our Red Cross Fund. All the Canterbury rivers were reported clear yesterday. The City Council last evening refused an application from a local picture theatre for a permit to screen pictures on Good Friday. \ twonty-year-old recruit-, Stanley Blakewny, .140 Yaldhurst road, I'ppc? Riccarton, orcliardist, enlisted in Christchurch yesterday for activo service. During February 16 permits were issued for"thc erection of buildings in the i'ilv representing a value of £5510. There were six iK-rmits for the Central Ward, representing £3210; four for St. \lhms representing £1100; and six for Sydenham, representing £1200. A sign of the times cropped up at the meeting of the Waimairi County Council last 7 night. The Council wanted a ra lifer to collect dog taxes, and among the"~applicanv; w&; a young woman, at least it is presumed that she is a young I woman, as she signed herself "Miss. Cr. EH. at last night's meeting of the City Council, was proceeding to protest against the proposed leasing of public reserves at New Brighton and I Sumner, when the Mayor (Mr 11. Holland) interposed by stating that this was not the City Council's business. Cr. EH maintained that the Council liail a perfect right to discuss the matter, but wasi ruled out of order by the Mayor. The City Council last evening received a petition certified to have been signed by a majority of tho pork butchers 'of Christchurch, asking permission to close their shops from March 31st next, at 6.30 p.m., on three nights of the week, at 10.30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and a half-holi-day from 1 p.m. The Mayor (Mr 11. Holland) thought tho hours unduly long. However, all the Council could do was to certify that the petitioners comprised a majority of the pork butchers in the city.

•'Our financial position is better now that it has ever been before," declared Mr G. lv. Burton at last night's meeting of tho Heathcote County Council. *'our County Fund is now in debit only £38. Moreover, we have given various small loans for household electric lighting, etc., so that the fund is really "in credit. Previously wo havo been as much as £2000 in debit, so that I think the Council has every reason to congratulate itself." Otner members of the Council received tho financial statement with manifest appreciation. The Mayor (Mr H. Holland) informed tho City Council last evening that a deputation from the Arthur's Pass Tunnel League proposed to wait upon the Minister of Public Works (.Sir William Fraser) during, his visit to Christchurch, which would be about March 26th. His Worship said he had just received a telegram from the Minister stating that he hoped to £<dvise him by the 13th of the date ot his visit. The Council received a letter from the Board of Governors of Canterbury College, enclosing a resolution urging the speeding up of the completion of the Arthur's Pass tunnel, and upon the motion of the Mayor it was decided to endorse the resolution and forward it on to tho Minister.

A letter was received by the City Council last evening from the secretary of the Canterbury Society of Arts, stating that there appeared to be a possibility that the Council would be willing to continuo its grant of £50 per annum for tho purchase of New Zealand pictures. Tho Council of the Society would esteem it a favour if they were advised of the position at an early date, and should the grant not be forthcoming for this year they trusted the amount would be put on the estimates for next year. Aftor considerable discussion the matter was referred to the Finance Committee, an amendment, "That the sum of £50 be granted; to be expended in the purchase of pictures on the same conditions as last year," being lost. Preparations are now being made by the staff of the Botanic Gardens for attending to the hedges all round the Parks. Cutting will be proceeded with almost immediately, and later the hedges will bo renewed in all tho spots where they have thinned or died. Tho paths in the North Park also are to be renewed before the winter. In tho Gardens themselves work on the extension of the lake by the Tea House has pone on apace, and immediately the work is finished the rockery round the new portion will be planted with koromiko. Of considerable interest to visitors just now is a banana palm bearing a heavy bunch of green fruit, which is at the far end of the conservatory. Here, too, there are at the present time one or two pretty orchids out.

With regard to the Avonside electric lighting scheme the Heathcote County Council, at its meeting last night was informed by the Works and Electricity Committee that tho Public Works Department had written stating that an arrangement had already been made with tho Cliristchurch Council whereby it was permitted to run bare high-ten-sion wires along the Wainoni road, between certain points, on the understanding that tho opposite sido cf the road would bo available for tho r.urposes of tho Post a*d Telegrauh "Department, which might require to erect telephone circuits along the road at any time. Tho letter pointed out that the Council had promised, in August last, to replace the bare street lighting wires along this road, and this had not yet been done. The license* could only bo issued (after the bare wires had been removed) with tho addition of a clause* placing ujpon tiio Council an obligation to substitute 30ft poles for tho 26ft poles on that portion of tho Wainoni road referred to when required by tho Department. Permission could not bo granted to use bare wires on that portion of Wainoni read referred to. The question of using bare high tension wires across reserve 212 was receiving further consilnration. The Council decided that tho necessary work be carried out ati soon as nossible.

Want a Truss? Let Loasby Ft you. Large assortment just landed. Why suffer? Come and "ask Loasby about it." Advice and medicine, Jls 6d; children, 2b. 1 When you send a soldier a "Steffano Webb" portrait you are sure to please him, for it will be the best you can obtain. 252 High street. Tel. 1959. 1 Eye Strain. —Persistent headachcs are in most cases the result of muscular eye strain. Have your eyesight scientifically tested by Walter J. Watson, D.8.0.A., London, of Watson's ''Jewellers" Limited. Glasses are only recommended when. absolutely necessary, and are prepared in neat and becoming rimless designs. (J You ran depond upon everything being done promptly and well if you only hand your shipping documents to J. .M. Heywood and Co., Ltd, They are recognised as experts at this work. Telephones 250, 1241, and 2174. (j Tho delight of thrifty wives! "Golden Rule" soap, "Golden Rulo" candles, •'No Rubbing" laundry help. 'Phone your orders —Wardell Bros, and Co. 2 The ''Sturgis'' Collapsiblo Push-car embodies all the latest features in baby carriages. Faces mother or father. Grey, Tan, or Black colours. Prices from £5 15s. Try "I>raytons," 765 Colombo street. G

STUDEBAKER 4-CYLINDEE, 5-SEATER 1916-17 MODEL. PRICE £025 NET CASH. We have for sale tstudebaker 5seater 1916-17 Model. Has full road equipment, including Auster Rear Windshield, 5 New Detachable Rims and Tvro-.>, Speedometer and Clock. Price £325 net cash. Inspect immediately at Adams, Ltd., i'l'J Tuam street. 18