General News.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18898, 13 January 1927, Page 8

General News.

While Uh- City's solicitors have been enjoying Hie Christmas and New Year holidays, cases have been accumulating, and with the termination of the lawyears' vacation at the end of this week, the Courts will become busy again. There have been about seventy or eighty cases set. down for Monday. On Saturday there will be a sitting of the Juvenile. Court.

A report from Hi'' Lake Coleridge hydro-electricity station, for llio week ending Monday last, states that the lake level was ITtJO.o-ft, and the average flow- from the Harper river 133 cusecs. The maximum load carried at the powerhouse was 13,070 k.w. at 11.30 a.iu, last Thursday, and at the sub-station, li),"iJti k.w. All equipment is in good order.

A new Hoys' Club for social and educational purposes is to be established in Cliristcluin-li. It will be known as the Meccano Club, and will Nu- afiiliated with the Meccano Guild. It. is proposed to hold lantern lectures, competitions, summer rambles, and athletics. The club will be under the patronage of the Mayur, Mr J. K. Archer.

I,n-t night twenty members of tho Cbristeburch Notary Club motored out Id Kairaki beach, where the annual Y.M.C.A. Boys' Camp is pitched. There are at present -16 boys ,a camp, 2-5 of whom worn conveyed there hy members of the club. The members inspected tho camp and afterwards proceeded to the dining-hall, where a small concert party, organised by Mrs Osmond .Smith, entertained for an hour.

fu the first mouth of each year all borough and county councils, by the Shops and Offices Act. are required to decide the day for the weekly halfholiday for the year. This month most of the local borough and county councils will hold meetings for the purpose, but there are two at least who intend to let tho matter go by default. In the case of defaulting counties or boroughs: tho Minister has power to order tho continuance of the day observed the previous year.

A young lady walking along High street yesterday morning was thrown into a state of alarm by the sight oil smoke flouting up from a well-laden basket which she was carrying. An investigation showed that her towel and bathing costupie were smouldering, and considerable damage was being done to a lunch packet. A smoker's carelessness iii throwing down a burning match, which landed in the basket, was said to be tho cause of tlie small conflagration. Mew Zealand is said by a world authority on lichens—Mr G. E. du Rietz, of Upsala University, .Sweden—to be particularly rich iu this little known group of plants. As an instance of its richness, Mr du Rietz discovered between 200 and 000 species (many quite now) iu the bush at Day's Bay and York Bay, Wellington. Mr du Rietz, who has come to New Zealand for the special purposes of studying and collecting the lichens of this country, is now in the South Island. He expects to return to Wellington in April, and will spend some further time in the North Island before proceeding to Australia.

A labour-saving device which is claimed to be new so far as New Zealand is concerned is being employed iu connexion with the Christchureh Drainage Board's sewerage extension scheme. It is an automatic trench digger which is at present in operation in Ayr street, and it is considered that its use will save the ratepayers a good deal of money, as well as time in waiting for the completed service. The machine excavates half a yard of earth with each scoop and performs three scoops a minute. It is estimated to save 25 per cent, of the contract total. Another is operating in Matai street, digging a pit for the installation of a pumping station.

The delegatus to the Bilkers' and Pastrycooks' conference ou Monday evening were thrown into uproarious laughter by a solemn announcement of the secretary at the conclusion of the address. In announcing the annual dinner, the secretary said: "On your notices it slates: 'Wives included.' This should be, 'Wives excluded.' " The general laughter which followed this dramatic announcement was just dying down, when a small voice from within the crowd of delegates asked feebly: "How are we to get out?" A little later delegates were being invited to a motor trip, when it was stated that the excursion was being conducted on the "one man, one wife" system.

Can a "non-poisoiuus" weed-killer kill stock as well as weeds? The death of over fifty sheep and cattle in a certain district caused the Victorian Department of Agriculture to suspect a weed-killing spray. Two sacks of plants which had been poisoned by the weedkiller were forwarded to the stock branch for investigation. The director of veterinary research at Olenlioici (Dr 1!. 11. Seddon) reported that an attempt had been made to get a sheep to take the weeds after they had been chaffed, but it had refused. A yearling calf had then been fed on the plant, but in three days it ate only about three-quarters of a pound. This, howover, has been sufficient to cause death, the animal showing lesions ot acute hamiorrhagic gastro-ententis. Dr. Seddon added that as he understood the basis of the weed-killer was arsenic he had forwarded tho stomach of the calf to the chemists' branch of tho Department, for analysis. Don't hesitate a moment when considering moving your furniture. J. M. Hoy wood and Co., Ltd., are the people to do it for you. —6

No parly is complete without a generous supply of Cooke's Quality Ice Cream. Cooke's pure ieo cream is supplied in any quantity for datices, picnics, bazaars, fetes, garden parties, sports meetings, and school treats, etc Ring 'phone 8610 or write your instructions and Cooke's will do the resti Now large, up-to-date tea'rooms are in course of preparation at the old address, W. R. Cooke and Son. 218 High street, Christchureh. 6