General News.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18895, 10 January 1927, Page 8

General News.

I « Fifteen fresh applications for work were made at the Employment Bureau in the Government Buildings on Saturday. The number on the books is now 160. An outbreak or fire occurred in Anderson's Foundry, Lichfield street, City, about 1.20 p.m. on Saturday. It was, however, extinguished before any damage was done. It is stated by the Hospital authorities that the condition of the youth, Lance Eder, aaed 16 years, who was seriously hurt about the head at West F.vreton on Thursday night, 13 slightly improved, although still serious. On Saturday the Canterbury Sweet Pea. Carnation, and Rose Society's animal show, held in the Sydenham Football Hall, ended. Throughout the day many people attended to admire the flowers, as well as the cookery exhibitions. Considerable interest will attach to the next annual conference of the NewZealand Labour Party, which will open at Napier on April 18th. The special committee sot up at the Wanganui conference will present its report on the .system of land tenure, land settlement, etc. Worcester street west was the scene of onerations for two traffic inspectors 011 Saturday evening. They were noting the numbers of motor-cars which wore not parked parallel to the kerbing, contrary to the by-law which came into force on January Ist. Several hundreds of people were entertained by the Woolston Band, which played in Victoria square last evenine. Owing to tho indisposition of Mr~R. J. Estall, conductor, Mr A. Schnack, conductor of the Municipal Band, consented to wield the baton. A collection was taken up in aid of the Contest Fund. Two observation buses are still being run by the Tramway Board and tho patronage continues good. The cheap excursion fares by trams to the seaside are being availed of by a fair number of people, but the fares are so low that the margin of profit for the Board is very little. Residents and shopkeepers of the Heathcote County will consider the question of the weekly half-holiday at a meeting next Friday. The question has arisen owing to the action of the Arbitration Court in deciding that all grocers shall take Saturday as the weekly half-day. At the present time business people in the county observe Wednesday as the half-day of the week.

More revenue was received from the sale of tickets at the Railway Department's central booking office in the holiday period of 1925-26 than in that just concluded. Over the period from December loth to January oth, during which cheap fares were charged, the number of tickets sold and their value were as follows, the figures for 1925-26 being given in parentheses: —Ordinary tickets 933 (961), excursion 4615 (5885), total 5583 (6816); £7603 19s 8d (£11,610 6s 8d). Two important additions to the Wellington Zoo will arrive by the Suffolk from tho East on Friday, a young female elephant and a tigress. Tho elephant is a gift from the Madras Government, a healthy animal when shipped, and well used to handling. Tho tigress was purchased at Singapore by tho Wellington City Council to provide a mate for the tiger already at the Zoo. The elephant will be temporarily accommodated in the yard in front of the lions' cages. How football training may bo useful in tho more peaceful walks of life was illustrated on a provincial main highway (says the Napier "Telegraph."). A horse bolted near Give, just as a btiß from Hastings was coming into Napier. Tho driver of the bus, seeing the horse careering madly down the road, pulled up, and Mr A. E. Cooke, tho wellknown All Black, dismounted, and at great risk of personal injury flung himself in the approved Rugby fashion at tho bridle and succeeded in stopping tho runaway.

A total eclipse of the moon will take place on Juno loth next. As the shadow of the earth upon that section of the heavens, of which the moon will be the centre, is infinitely greater than the circle of observation offered by the moon against the sun, the eclipse in June will occupy some hours, as against minutes in th« case of the sun. Fortunately it will begin early in the evening, and will be ooservable all over the Southern Hemisphere. Wellington i« favourably placed for observation of the phenomenon, only a clear sky being necessary for a good view of it.

Tho Rev. F. E. Eawlc, chaplain at the Papama Gaol, acknowledges tho following Christmas gifts:—Messrs Fletcher Humphreys and Co., £1 Is; Ternpleton Branch of W.C.T.U., £1; Anonymous, 2s 6d; two Nurses and M.M., 7s 6d; "Hakatere," per the Bcv. P. Eevell, 10s; Mrs Eva L. Eutherford, £1; "Three," St. Albans, 10s; a goose from Stanley Harris, Esq., also many other gifts. The money was spent on cases of fruit and on plum puddings, all of which were greatly appreciated by the men on Christmas Day, and at the New Year.

In the United Slates, an Ice Chest is looked upon as a necessity. Our climate is just as hot, yet very few houses have this convenience which enables butter to be kept from becoming an oily mess, keeps milk cool and sweet, and provides a plentiful supply of ice-cold drinks. Call and inspect our stocks of ice chests from £5 10s upwards. Mason, Strutbers, and Co., Ltd. — 6

And now the time is ripe to go further ahead. An I.J.S. 2-stage Amplifier will give your. Crystal Set loud speaker strength. Call for demonstration at J. I. Smail, Radio Expert, Carey's Buildings, Colombo stm For stripping grass' seed, from pasture land our Strippers are the most durable and effective. Mado 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., Tuam street, Christchurch. —6