General News.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18894, 8 January 1927, Page 14

General News.

To-day is the anniversary of the evacuation of Gallipoli in 1910. ' It is anticipated that the new tram track in Barb&does street will be readv for use within a week. On its completion a new loop will be laid down at Edgeware road.

A party of fishermen, while fishinc off Grosse's Island, near Stoke, Nelson" last week, landed a female shark oft 6in long, which contained no fev,-er than 44 young sharks. Several experienced fishermen present said thev had never heard of a shark having so'manv young.

Anglers have not been having verv good sport on the Sehvyn of late, but at the mouth, where the river joins the lake, the fishing is reported to be good. One angler recontlv obtains! three trout—l4l. 14. nn-J 1115 in weight, and many others have .secured bags including four and five pounders. The Canterbury Automobile Association advised yesterday morninn- that the Wai.au bridge at 'Parnassu.s"would be closed from 3. p.m. until 3 a.m on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays Thursdays, and Fridays, commencing on Monday next. The.bridge would be open as usual from 3. a.m. ~ till 3 i), m . each day.

Messrs Ager, Westerholm, and Ager, registered architects and structural engineers, of Christchurch, have just received advice that they are the successful competitors in the recent competition for a grandstand to be erected by the Napier City Council on the McLean Park, for the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union. It will be built of reinforced concrete and steel. The design is unique. The structure will afford a full view of the football field

Indications that the river Avon is reassuming its place in popular favour for pleasure boating are given by the numbers to be seen in boats and canoes' The pleasure boat sheds near the Montreal street bridge have resumed operations, and with the sheds at the Hospital bridge, are doing good business. An unusual sight ■in recent timos is the appearance of pleasure boats as far down stream as the Bridge of Remembrance.

Mr C. W. Hervey, secretary of the Waimakariri River Trust, who has been appointed returning officer in connexion with the forthcoming election of Commissioners, has arranged ; for a meeting of Deputy-Returning Officers on Monday next, the 10th instant, at 7.30 pJn., for the purpose of'explaining to those who will be acting at the various booths the amendments that have recently been given effect to in connexion with the Local Elections and Polls Act.

The telegram as a form of Christmas greeting seems to be hardly as popular as it was. Figures supplied b" tho Post and Telegraph Department show that the number of telegrams forwarded throughout New Zealand from December 21st to 24th (inclusive) was 137,991, as against 142,373 for the previous year. Received messages also showed a decrease, the number being 170,605. as against 176,640 in 1925. Transmitted messages, however, showed an increase /rom 258,349 to 265,600. Mail matter continues to increase in quantity every year, and the number of parcels handled at Wellington this Christmas reached the huge total of 86,401. The number in " 1925 was 75,852.

[ Music in the primary schools of N«iw | Zealand is gradually being put on a | souna basis by Mr E. D. Tayler, the director of music in schools. A collection of genuine Maori airs has beeu arranged by Mr Alfred Hill, formerly of Wellington, and now on the Sydney Conservatorium staff; and Mr Taylor intends to introduce these into the Dominion schools during the present year. The songs include "Poi Paritireti - ' (gliding poi song), "He Waiata Aroha" (a love song), "Nonsense Song,'' , "Two Poi Sonas.". "Poi Waka"' (canoe song), "Titi Torea" (stick-throwing. song),! and "The Locust Song." All are claimed to be genujne Maori melodies, to which only a set musical form has been liven hv Mr Hill. Another, and nerhaps the hest-known and most popular, is "PnIcare Kare," which has splendid rhythm and a catchy melody. In view of tho possibility of further reclamation work in Lyttelton harbour, interest attaches to' some information given by . the "Dominion" regarding the sea wall at Thorndon, Wellington, the contract for which has been completed. Tho first contract was for a concrete wall 3429 feet in length and the Contract price was £181,794; a second contract for nn extra 450 feet (making a total of 3879 feet) was let, hut the price: is not given. The area that will be reclaimed is 68 acres, and the wall will provide a base nearly three-quarters of a mile lonrr for berths for ocean-going steamers, with an average depth of 36 to 40 feet. At the Kaiwarra end, the depth of water is 53 feet, the total height of the wall at this point heinw 61 feet. The reclamation is being done conjointlv by the Harbour Board und the Railway Department; practically one-fourth of the total area is dry land' at present; and the reclamation is expected to b° completed by the end of next year. The success of children's birthday parties is assured by having a generous supply of Cooke's famous quality Icecream. Nothing else keeps the youngsters so happy and contented; Any quantity of Cooke's pure Ice-cream can be delivered right to your door or elsewhere' for picnics, parties, dances, etc., by writing instructions to W. R. Cooke and .Son,. High street, or ringing 'phone 8610. Cooke's will do the rest. —6 Oliver Tractor Disc Harrows, 7ft, 28 blade, for Fordaon. Other sizes stocked. Prices from £37 10s. E. W. Dann, Distributing Agent for T. and S. Morrin and Fenwick, Ltd. —6

Johnston's N.C. Motor Co., Ltd., Central Garage, Rangiora. Complete plant and staff for repairs in motor-care and tractors. Tyres, Petrol and all accessories in stock. Garage-'Phono 87:— G. Ecroyd, Travelling rep.; W. C. Wilson, Travelling rep.; A. Prestney, Manager; P/ivate 'Phone

J. M. Heywood and Co., Ltd., are genera] carriers; they will move your luggage, furniture, or anything that you require moving. Why not give your next job to them? —6

White Clover and Grass Seed Crops promise extraordinarily well. There will be a lot of money made this year for those who have seed to sell. Make sure of getting all your seed by ordering a Holland's Patent Stripper—easily the best grass seed stripper of all, and the only one which will strip white clover! Even if the white clover is long enough to mow and cart in the ordinary way, there will probably be enough seed (that would otherwise be wasted) left in the paddock to pay for the stripper. That, at least, has'been the experience of others, so why not you? Only, order early! Booth. Macdonald. and Co.. Ltd. —0521

For stripping grass seed , from pasture laud our Strippers are the most durable and effective. Made in two styles, old pattern front drum and our new pattern Brooker rear drum, both £35. less 5 per cent., railage paid P and D. Duncan, Ltd.. Tup.m street'. Christchurch, —0