General News.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18906, 22 January 1927, Page 14

General News.

The Auction announcements of L. P. Devlin, Tonks, Norton, and Co., Ltd., N.Z. Farmers' Co-op., Association, Ltd., National Mortgage and Agency Co., Ltd., Lohrey and Co., Ltd., and H. B. Sorensen, appear on issue.

It was decided at yesterday s meetin* of the Canterbury Education Board that tram fares incurred in connexion with manual classes be refunded in trie case of orphan children attending the Waimairi School.

At its meeting yesterday, the Canterbury Education Board received an interim report from the sub-committee deputed to make a selection of a lecturer in English at the Normal School. It was decided to make a final selection when the Principal had interviewed several more candidates.

Some of the Remuera's cargo has now been taken from the D. railway goods shed, and. the space thus made available has been utilised for other goods. The Department anticipates a rush of business in the next couple of months, and is anxious to avoid any congestion.

Regarding the Bible in Schools movement, the Canterbury Education Board decided yesterday that the Ministers request that accredited representatives of the League should be enabled to or* tain parents' addresses from school registers should be agreed to,_ provided that the teachers were not inconvenienced.

During December, twenty-six new consumers of electric power were connected in the Waimairi County. The foreman of the Waimairi County Council, at a meeting of the Council last night, reported that the drain in Turner's road, which had been damaged by the recent flood, was being attended to. For nine years, a girl pupil of the Hornby School, Ina McDonald, has walked to school and'back to her home daily without a break, the distance bein' 2 three miles. In appreciation of the remarkably regular attendance ot this pupil the Canterbury Education Board decided yesterday to send her a framed certificate.

For six months, the school teachers residence at Belfield was used as .a school, and recently a fire occurred in the house, th© teacher losing some personal property. At yesterday's meeting of the Canterbury Education Board a letter was received from the Department declining to consider an application for compensation.

For the first time in the history of Christchurch, an eight-oared best-and-best boat will be rowed down the Avon this afternoon. At the conclusion of the Christchurch inter-club rowing competitions, the eight-oared boat, manned by the senior four from the Avon Rowing Club and rowers from the Canterbury and Union Clubs, will be rowed down the river.

A report by Mr W. H. Winsor on the fire which destroyed the wooden portion of the Spreydon School on January 6th, and presented to Jesterday's meeting of the Canterbury Education Board, stated that the committee had lost a considerable amount of fuel, and the headmaster had lost some text books, also a sum of money. It was'decided to apply to the Department for compensation. "We have been accused of setting up too many Royal Commissions," observed the Acting-Prime Minister (the Hon. W. Downie Stewart) with a smile, when a deputation from Labour bodies in Wellington urged the appointment of a.Commission to enquire into the workings of the timber industry in New Zealand. "Not abiding by the findings of Commissions has been your trouble," remarked Mr Nash, a member of-the deputation.

A mishap which had painful, although not serious, results for two members of a climbing party occurred on Mount Egmont. After reaching the summit the climbers started the descent by glissading on hard snow. Owing to the loss of an ice axe by on© of the members, they were unable to cheek their progress, with the result that Mr C Kidson, of New Plymouth, sustained bruises and abrasions. Miss E. King, a visitor from Christchurch, was also slightly hurt. It was reported at yesterday's meeting of the Canterbury Education Board that the Tai Tapu School Committee had written enquiring as to what progress had been made in the matter of the purchase of a new school site for a new school. It was decided to remind Sir R.' Heaton Rhodes of his promise to consult with the office regarding a new site, and to inform .the committee that there was very little prospect of obtaining a new school for some years to^come.

" 'Green Star,' please!" He had entered a tobacconist's shop in a Taranaki town and the assistant emerged from the saloon. He put.down a florin. The assistant handed him the change, but no "Green Star." "I said 'Green Star,' " the customer explained. "I know, but-you've got it," answered the assistant, who from the reflected glasses in the saloon had seen the customer help himself to a packet from the box on the counter. The customer said nothing, but walked out quietly. A trip round the Hawke's Bay district at present makes it clear that as a result of the lon 2 spell of wet weather many fine crops of hay have been practically ruined. On the other hand, the rain has resulted in phenomenal growth of crops, so that there is no danger of any scarcity of feed during nest winter. It cannot be said, savs a Napier paper, that from a farmer's point of view the weather has been ideal, but on the whole the outlook for the future is very satisfactory for the farmer.

At the end of the mouth, Hawera will be rejoicing in the operation of its new automatic telephone exchange which has just been installed. The system is of entirely British manufacture, embodying all the latest improvements, and it is equipped for 800 exclusive subscribers. 10° four-partvHnea. and 50 ten-party rural lines. Similar installations are nnw proceeding _at Stratford. Dannevirke, and • Napier, and in a few months' time it is expected that these exchanges will also be cut' over to the automatic system of operation.

Alfred Clark, farmer, of Fernside, and Bernard Oakley Warrington, farmer, of Cheviot, have filed petitions in bankruptcy.

About 260 tons of tramway rails and a large number of hardwood poles for the Telegraph Department are among the cargo now being handled by the railways.

Heavy demands have been made lately on the Railway Department's rolling stock, and last Tuesday, when about 30,000 sheep were railed to AJdington, every deck waggon in running order was in use. This was the largest number of sheep the Department has had to deal witli this season.

Some time on Thursday night the Royal Arch petrol station, on the corner of Durham and Lichfield streets was broken into. When the proprietor returned to the station yesterday morning, he found that a key had been jammed into the lock of the front door, and another door, through which-en try was gained, was broken open. The only thing missing from the station is a fountain pen.

By means of a bequest, the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society presents Kaine Memorial prizes to school children in its district for essays on natural history subjects. This year the subject was "The Life History of the Eel Family." It was reported at yesterday's meeting of tho Canterbury Education Board that the following awards had been made:—Senior: B. Gresham 1, F. Turner 2. G. Parkyn 3. Junior: E. Lenihan 1, R. Willetts 2, J. R. McClure 3. At the present time there is a regular epidemic of house breaking in and about the City, and-lately there have been six or seven residences broken into while the occupants were away. Jewellery and small 6ums of money have been stolen. Entry to the buildings has been gained in all cases through windows, which have either been found open or forced. The burglaries are thought to have been the work of a gang of boys, as all the work has been carried out in a very amateur manner.

Anglers expect a good run of huinnat salmon in February and following months, as four years have elapsed sjnee the previous big catches, ami quinnat are at their best every fourth j;ear. Usually the quinnat begin to run early in the second week in Februarv. hut the fish have already been seen off the mouths of the Rakain and Waimakariri Rivers. A special license to take quinnat salmon is required .though some folk are under the impression tW they can use their +-ro«t licenses for this purpose. So far the North Canterhurv Acclimatisation Society has issued only tliree net licenses.

At Taipa, near Mangonui, every year about this time, thousands of mullet get ttranded on the mud banks, says the Whangarei "Daily News." They come rushing up the estuary, skimming, the water with a swishing sound_and making it a veritable silver sea. They seem frantic in their endeavour to escape some danger, and great numbers are so headlong in flight that they hurl themselves on the scarcely covered mud flats, and as the tide recedes they are left to perish in hundreds. Residents hold the opinion that, the mullet are chased bv the voracious kingfish, which in its turn, is being hunted by the predatory swordfish and shark. 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, ffigh. street, or ringing 'phone 8610. Cooke's will do the rest. ■ — Q

One of Armstrong's Sale attractions is due to late shipment of special dainty Handkerchiefs. We can sell vou exceptionally dainty Coloured Voile Handkerchiefs, 3 for Is 3d, and Coloured Lawn Handkerchiefs, with Embroidered Corners, boxed in halfdozens, 2s lid box. —6 Oliver Tractor Disc Harrows, 7ft, 28 blade, for Fordson. 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-cars and tractors. Tyres, Petrol and all accessories in stock. Garage 'Phone 87:— G. Ecroyd, Travelling rep.; W. C. Wilson, Travelling rep.; A. Prestney, Manager; Private 'Phone r " J. M. Heywood and.Co., Ltd., are general carriers; they will move your luggage, furniture, or anything that you require moving. Why not give your next job to them? • —6 . For stripping grass seed from pasture land 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., Tuam street. Christchurch. —6

Water in Petroi.—We beg to announce that having'been successful in securing the sole rights for New Zealand for Wilbur's patent process we can now guarantee all petrol sold by us to be absolutely free from water. Royal. Arch Petrol Service Station, corner Lichfield and Durham streets. —6