GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17107, 31 March 1921, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

Yesterday's rivet - report was as follows :—Waimakariri (both branches), clear (clear, light nor'-west wind): Rakaia, dirty (fine); Opihi, clear (fine): Waitaki) fishable (dull).

Three first offenders for drunkenness were each fined ss, in defaillt 24 hours imprisonment;.by Mr V. G.. Day, S.M-i at the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning.

Ab a meeting (held at Woolston last night, the matter of extending h Welcome to the Wdolston Brass Band "to mark its success at the Nelson contest was referred to tt public meeting to be held next week.

The St. John's Troop of Boy Scouts held a very successful camp in the New Brighton domain, under Scoutmaster Hunnibfelij during the Eaßter holidays. Much first-class bitdge. work was gone into, and altogether the boys spent il vety useful time.

The mail aeroplane left Elockburn yesterday at 8;5 a.m. .TimarU being reached at 9.45 a.m. The return joitrlley was made iil i hour'2s miniites, the machine leavitig Timaru at noon iind reaching Christchurch at 1_.25 P' m - Two passengers—Mrs and Miss Collett —mnfl* the flight from Timaru. The y>« ibilitv was very good and the excellent for flying. ■

Sprevdon ceases to-day to exist as a borough, and td-morrow will become part Of Greater Christchiireh. During its career as a borough it has had five Majors—Messrs J. DoiVn, It. Whiting, Gahagan, W. H. Winsor. and A. Manhire—and at the Bocial held last evening the Mayor of Christchufcli suggested that it would be a gobd idea to name the first five new streets formj ed in Spreyddii under the City Council after the five Mayors who had worked so hard for the bofough.

A good story comes from the NorUh about a pushing land agent who had ft prospective buyer of some gum land And attired the latter that the ltlrla had a carrying capacity of two eiieep td the acre. The farhier Was not satisfied With the agent's assurance, ahd said he would like to see the place. After iiiepection, the agent asked him if he >vas not now satisfied that the land was as good as he described it. "Well," lie said, "I've heafd what you have said, and I've seen the land, bllt before I decide I would like to tear the evidence of the two sheep." "We have now in NeW Zealand a Parliament of really earnest men,'.' said Mr E. J. Howard, M.P., at the social held at Spreydon last,night to celebrate the entering of Spreydon into the city. "The spirit in Parliament to-day is so good that, while we may differ, therS is not a snob in the House. Though we may differ on the floor of the HoiiSe! those differences are not Carried into the lobby. Much as I may differ in opinion from the rest of the House, I can safely say that the men in Parliament now are absolutely clean men. We have as cleart a Parliament as can be found in any part of, the world to-day."

About 18 months ago a number of unsigned' £1 notes on the National Bank of New Zealand were stolen .in Wellington. On Tuesday it was discovered that some were peiiig passed into the totalisator at. Riccarton, the notes bearing forced signatures. .The assistance of the local detective force va'j procured, and it was found that at least 21 of tho spiirious notes had been operated on. The detectives, as well as several constables iil plain clothes, were on the alert at the Addington trotting grounds yesterday, but no attempt was made to pass any of the notes. Two persons who presented what appeared, to be doubtful pound notes were detained ahd questioned by totalisator officials (but they were found to have ho connexion with the fraud.

Opossums in considerable numbers have made the Wainui waterworks reservo—a fine area of native bush—their habitat, and are rapidly increasing in numbers owing to the wiholo watershed being made a sanctuary for bird and beast (says the "Dominion"). Mr R. Semple, who has been iri town for a holiday from his labours on the Oroiigorongo tunnel contract, states that tho opossums are so numerous and friendly that they scamper dv<?r the iron roof (if tihe men s hut at night so persistentiv that the men cannot- get to sleep. The other night one of tho workers becatno so exasperated by the violent acrobatics of some members ot the opoSsum tribe overhead that he sallied forth and tftiot one with a pea rifle. "The atiinuilj" sajs Mr Semple, "was as bi» as a dog, and had a fine coat of fur!'' "I think eight, at the outside, wellorganised hospital boards would efficiently carry out all the hospital work necessary in New Zealand," said Mr W. S. "Wharton, secretary of tile North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, when speaking at the Spreydon Borough Council's social last night. "No _ one can deny that some of tho I hospital districts now in New Zealand maintain nothing more than old men's homes, taking in people who need a minimum of medical attention, but who need merely the attention necessary to ! old age. If tlie bodies I speak of were ! linked Up, 1 thilik all the necessary j work would be done efficiently. At pre- I sent the smaller ' boards are almost \ wholly dependent on the big body that j controls the base hospital. They bleed : those hospitals for nurses, expenditure, and practically everything elsei"- J

The Tim am Borough Co'incil discussed at some length on Monday night the advisableness or otherwise of appointing a town manager, and a ftiotion affirming the principle was lost, Uhe voting being four for and six against. Mr James Brackenridge, the oldest bowler in New Zealand, pleaded guilty at a smoke concert at Palmerslon North, on Saturday night, to having played bowls for fi7" years. "No wonder you're so good at it," interjected an envious younger trundler annd laughter. The Tariff Commission opened its Dunedin sittings yesterday, and will probably be there till April 15th. About fortv witnesses, mostly representatives of Business firms, have Already announced that they wish to give evidence. It is difficult to say whether there is direct connexion between bowls and rifle shooting (states our Nelson correspondent), but J. W. Ching, ex-cham-pion rifle shot of New Zealand, has recently taken on bowls, and this week won the champion of champions tournament at Nelson.

"During the whole of my experience with the Christchurch City Council, 1 can safely say that I have never seen any suspicion of any such thing as 'graft,' " said the Town Clerk of Christchurch, Mr H. R. Smith, at the social gathering held last evening to signalise the joining up of Spreydon with .the city. "Mr Howard has stated to-nisht that the Parliament of New Zealand is clean I cah add to that, that in Christchurch we have an absolutely clean City Council."

"As a native of/ Christchurch, and one who has travelled a little bit in Australasia, I can safely say that Christchurch is as fine a citvand as clean a city as can be found in Australasia." said Cr. J. A. Flesher at the social evening held at Spreydon last evening to mark the passing of Spreydon as a borough and its advent as nal't of Greater Christchurch. "You wiir find no other city of a higher standard, and in joining Christchurch you are joining something worth while. It was threatened by the Miners' Federation last week that unless the mine-owners consented within seven days to the miners' demands, further action would be taken._ So far the Federation has not received any reply from the Mine-owners' Association.' A meeting of the executive of the latter body will be held in Wellington to-mor-row", when the matter will be discussed, Mr Wm. Reece, president of the Associatioh, who will leave Christchurch to-night to attend the conference, stated that a meeting could riot have been held earlier on account of the holidays. "This I consider is a very joyful occasion," said Cr. E. H. Andrews, a member of the Christchurch City Council, at tho social held last evening to mark the advent of the borough of Spreydon into the city. "This is really a wedding, and weddings are always cause for rejoicing." "That's right, said Cr. H T. Armstrong, "but divorces are now easy to obtain. ' We won't want a divorce," replied Cr. Andrews. "Christchurch," he continued, '"may perhaps be looked tipoii as a bigamist, so many wives is she now taking to herself, but if all the brides hre as attractive its Spreydon, then the niore marriages she celebrates the better. "I saw in the paper recently that it was alleged that tho Government only bought land from its friends," fertid Mr H. D. M. Haszard, retiring Commissioner of Crown Lttrtds, at yesterday's presentation. "I woiild emphatically state that in Canterbury the tGovernment in no way has tried to influence purchases by the Land Board." It was sometimes Said, also, that the Land Board had ptlrtsllftsed property at boom prices. That was not altogether correct, for over a period of two years 250 estates had been offered to the Board for purchase for soldier settlement, and all but 45 had been tiirn£d down. He had on the Board frith liiffl practical faimers, and tvas largely guided In the pufcliase of farrtis by. their opinions.

About 100 meriibefs of the Canterbury .Justices of the lifted Associritibn attended a social fathering held last night in the Masonic Hall. Mr M. L. Reading gave an interesting address entitled "Presj .Delegates in Britain and France ifi War Time." The following prograhiine, afMriged ny MisS LucyCowan, was contributed: Sorig, "Beat Of a Passionate Heart, 1 ' Mr Frank Bown; sketch, "Before the Cottrt," Mrs Enid Fryesong, Mr 0. Bills; Story without words, Misses Nita Mafihire and Maris Ritchie; tniisibjll inonologUo, ''Victtiiy," Mf Bown; 'song, "Waiata Maori," Mr Bown; .musical sketch, "Singers and Talkers," Mfs Enid Frye j song, Mr 0. Bills. Mf A. In Sutton acted as ttt:c6m{mfiist. A hearty vote of thanks, on the motion, pf Mr W. H, Smith, frrts accorded, to Mr Redding and the miisical. performers for the pleasant entertainment provided.

Att impoverished condition of the blood, is generally responsible, for unexplainable headactie.s, lack bf energy, lassitude, etc. The tomedy is to strengthen ( youf blood with Ldasby's Nerve Tonic and Blood Enricher—it makes rich, red blood. 3s 6d and 6s fid d bottle, all chertjistS, of from Loasby And Co., Chemists (opp. Ballantyne'e). 0

The Prince of Digger® is doing a great work in helping potato growers through the present difficult seaSOfi. The Aspinwall potato digger cuts the cost of harvesting by twd-thirdS, and saves sufficient hard cash to pay for itself in digging 10 acres of potatoes. Tho Aspinwall will dig under any Condition of soil and it gets all the potatoes. Catalogues, prices, aiid terms from Ivofys, Ltd., 21 Manchester street. 6

When you tfufct voUr goods to tiS you are certain tLat they wil] be carefully handled. Shipping—movillg—storage; we do them all, and do them well. J ■ M: Hejrwood and Co., Ltd. H 4943 Theatres of the future will be featuring beautiful Wbfld-lifting pictures, owjng to the wonderful influence of the Thinker's Pictorial School Exercise Books and the. famous Biblical Golden Rule School Rulers how circulating amongst New Zealand children. H 5414-67&7

HIGH - POWERED, Hl&ti - SjPUED MOTOR-CYCLES FOR STRONG, fLtOKY RIDERS At HALF-

COST PRICE,

I The Excelsior motdf-cycle (7-6 h.p., twin-cylinder) is not the soft of mount we would recommend for nervous men, or weaklings. Running solo, if you give her her head, she will eat up eighty miles in an hour ou the road, and w'ith a side-chair she tart still do a ihilc a minute. It takes both l>luck and strength to control such tremendous power, and speed. The usual objectioa to Machines of such capacity, that they cost too much for petrol and tyres, does ijot, however, apply to the Excelsior. On a recent catetul test, withsside-catr t on a trip from Christciiiirch to Dunediri, the average patrol consumption wits 74.9 miles to the gallon, or under 2d per mile, while a set of good say, Fisk tyres—will run 5000 miles. A new Excelsior costs £145, but we have remaining in stock four perfectly up-to-date machines which have ssen some usage, Which we offer at £BO, £B3, £BS, and £BS respectively. These machines are perfectly sound, and if you waht a side-car to correspond we cart fit one, built on a genuine Excelsior chassis, and with local coach-built body, for £43 10s. Don't tarry too long in making up your mind, for these lour machines will be sold this week. Adams, Ltd. Motor-cycle Department, 152-154 High street. p