General News.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18904, 20 January 1927, Page 8

General News.

llr R. B, Hammond, Director of Town Planning, who is to visit Christehureh nest month, has telegraphed to this Beautifying Association that while here Jie will be glad, in response to the Association's invitation, to' give a lecture, under the auspices of the Association | on Town Planning. After a long period of uninterrupted service, there was a break-down at Lake Coleridge power station yesterday, and current was cut off from the City from j'J.4 o'clock until 12.13 p.m. It was stated by the authorities that the interruption was caused by generator trouble at the Lake.

While competing in the high dive at the swimming sports at Rangiora last evening, A. Benzie had the misfortune to break his nose by striking the bottom of the bath. He was attended by a doctor, and was able to return to his home.

Officers and n.c.o.'s at the Burnham military camp lire looking forward to Sunday next, "Visitors' Day," when a special train will be run from Christchurch, leaving at 1.40 p.m., arriving at Burnham at 2.25 p.m. On the return journey the train will leave at 5.30 p.m., and w'ill arrive at Christchurch at 6.5 p.m.

Another of the Avon willows has come to grief, a tree near the Carlton bvidue, on the Park terrace side of the river". One of the larger limbs has broken off, leaving an unsighti g;;sh. Rccentlv, another willow, some distance upstream from the Carlton bridge, suffered a somewhat similar mishap. The matter of holding a band contest in Christchurch in 1028 is to be discussed at a meeting to be held this afternoon. Temuka has been granted permission to hold a contest at the end of the present year and the beginning of next year, and the opinion is held bv some that it would be better not to"have a contest in Christchurch till 1930.

The report from the Lake Coleridge power station fo. the week ending Sunday last states that all plant is in good order. The lake level was 1670.42 feet, and the average flow from the Harper river 312.0 cusees. The maximum load carried at the power-houso was 14,340 k.w. at noon on Wednesday and Thursday, and at the sub-station 10.840 k.w. between 11 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. on Wednesday.

Street-widening operations have been started in Rossall street, between Offico road and Amman's road. I here are some fine trees on part of the area tp be included in the road, and it was hoped that it would be possible to save them in the same manner that the tine trees in Helmore's lane hare been saved. The requirements relating to power transmission lines, however, make it impossible for the Kossali street trees to be saved. What is claimed to be a record average weight for any large line of lambs killed in the Auckland province is reported from Wostfield freezing works, to which Mr G. L. Laird, of Waihou near Te Arolia, last week sent -58,4 lambs, all of which were straight 'off the ewes. The first batch of 2182 made an average weight of 38.71b, and it is' expected the remaining 400, which wi bo killod within the nest fortnight, Will alsp be up tP this average New Zealand is still looked upon as being tp the forefront among the countries p* the wor '* » s regards humanitarian and social legislation, and Americans' and visitors from abroad are ever eager to discuss the effect of our more advanced laws. Mr T. 0. Bishop, who returned to Wellington on Monday from a' Visit to San Francisco, stated he found that this spirit still piwai ed, and Americans greeted New Zealanders with the remark, "You come from New Zealand, is that not the country with the best laws in the world?" Mr J. W. McEwan (Mayor of Petone), who recently returned from-a tour abroad, was welcomed home by members of the Petone Borough Council pa Monday night. In reply, Mr Mc--Ewan gavo an interesting resume of municipal activities in the different pities he had visited. '' During my visit to the Homeland, which was made most enjoyable by the municipal authorities and private persons I got in touch with," said Mr McEwan, "I found that New ZJealanders were the curly-headed boys of the Empire family," There was pnce.a motorcar which had a collision (says the Zealand Times")» The result was that tho / bumpor was bent in, The car was filled with young people, who immediately got their brains to work to Sea how the bumper could be straightened out. "Necessity is the mother of invention, they said. So they invented. One end of a rope was tied round tho bumper, aud tho other end round an electric light pole. The car was then backed two or three times, and the bumper was straightened out.- The party then felt that they could proceed home with reasonably innocent faces.

Writing to the Auckland "Herald" regarding a paragraph relative to big families reared by our women, and stating that 30 is. New Zealand's record, Mr jas. B. Campbell says:—"About JB9Q-91 there appeared the following birth notice, which was so novel as to remain impressed on my memory: 'At New Brighton, the wife of James Knight, of a son—the 24th—all born in Canterbury; all doing well.' Mrs Knight was well known, especially to the old one-horse tram-drivers. The tramline went through her property, and .she gave them occasional reminders (practical ones) that she had not received sufficient compensation."

The need for the establishment of information bureaux on board transpacific steamers,for the benefit of visitors and tourists en route to New Zealand was commented on by Mr T. 0. Bishop, secretary of the New Zealand Employers' Federation, who returned to Wellington on Monday from the United States by the Tahiti. All the New Zealanders en board, he said, were being constantly asked by Americans to assist them in mapping out their New Zealand tour, and while all New Zealanders were only too pleased to give assistance, unfortunately none had railway timetables or other concise information. He found that Americans went from one to another of the New Zealanders on board, as though they did not feel quite sure of the information supplied to them. Mr Bishop pointed out that the Government had two officers of the Post and Telegraph Department on each ship, and he suggested that although these officials were very busy throughout the whole voyage, it might be possible to arrange for them to devote a little time on one or two evenings each week in supplying detailed information on the subject of New Zealand itineraries. The extra expense to the Tourist Department would be comparatively small, and he was convinced that such an arrangement would be of great benefit to the tourist.

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

Westward Ho. A wonderful holiday awaits the traveller in Westland. Train to Hokitika, and motor to all resorts. Answer the Call of the Coast. —ls