General News.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19137, 21 October 1927, Page 10

General News.

Traffic in Papanui road is now running along the eastern side, the work on the tram track on that portion having been completed. The workmen are now engaged on the western track. "The sports at English Park will still go on," said Mr W. J. Walter, president of the North Canterbury Centre of tho New Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union, yesterday. Twenty riders had already signified their intention of competing, and entries were still coming in.

A service car running between Christchurch and Nelson ran over the side of the approach to a bridge about sis miles on the south side of Kaikoura on Wednesday. A tyre flattened, and the car ran over tho embankment, but through a skilful piece of driving the driver kept the car on its wheels without tho car suffering any damage. Tho three women passengers were not even unseated, and the car was soon able to continue its journey. <

To-day is the one hundred and twenty-second anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar and the death of Lord Nelson. Wreaths and other floral emblems in memory of Nelson, of the British, French, and Spanish sailors who fell at Trafalgar, and of officers and men who have fallen in more recent years in defence of the Empire, will be placed on tho west front of the Anglican Cathedral. Nelson's famous signal at Trafalgar will be flown overhead, and the flags of Great Britain, New Zealand, Australia, India, South Africa, and Canada will be displayed along the railings. Citizens are invited to display flags. A mild protest was raised at the meeting of. the Auckland Education Board against what a member called the shelving of the Board's legitimate business in order to listen to addresses from teachers returned from abroad. "They are mostly young people," he said, "at least they look young in their short skirts, and they have the temerity to criticise the Board and the Department." Other members, however, said that they listened to these addresses with profit, one saying that New Zealand was not, as some thought, the hub of the universe, and had much to learn from outside sources. "When I returned from my little trip abroad I came back with a store of knowledge which I thought might be of use to my country: if I had been listened to, the country would have been saved at least a million pounds." "Life in New Zealand" is the title this year of the Christmas Number of the "Weekly Press," which will be on sale ' everywhere next Tuesday morning. The'publication is just what its title implies—a pictorial representation of the many activities of the people who live in New Zealand. There are views of life in the cities, with fine pictures of buildings and beauty spots, views of life in the country, views of New Zealanders making holiday; in fact, the purpose of the Christmas Number is to convey to people at a distance an accurate description of their friends in the Dominion. The coloured supplement, a particularly fine piece of work, depicts a typical harvest scene in Canterbury. The Christmas annual this year is really different from its predecessors so far as the selection of pictures is concerned, and in its technical excellence it is at least equal to the best of former years*

Twenty-four unemployed applied for work yesterday at the Labour Department's bureau, fourteen of the number being married. Two were placed in private work. Workmen are making preparations for the commencement of the construction of the cross-drive near the intakes at Lake Coleridge to join the old and new tunnels. Mr J. McNair. District Railway Engineer, said yesterday that the groyne system had not been a success in protecting the Midland line. During floods in the Bealey river they frequently collapsed through undermining, and the current had at times carried away rocks up to two tons in weight tipped into it. Parallel facings of big rocks were now favoured for protecting the track. A meeting of the Highways Committee of the Canterbury Progress League was held on 'Wednesday for the purpose of formulating suggestions for submission to Canterbury local bodies in regard to a roads policy for the province. A further meeting will be held in duo course, when it is the intention of the committee to submit a report to a conference of local bodies.

A letter was received yesterday by the secretary of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society from the Marine Department asking whether it was its intention to appear before the Local Bills Committee in opposition to tho Waimairi Countv Council's Drainage Bill. Mr C. \V. Hervey (secretary) replied asking for advice as to when the committee was prepared to receive evidence.

The Government steamer Tutanckai returned to Wellington on Wednesday after a tour of the lighthouses, buoys, and beacons around the coast of the North Island. The trip lasted five weeks but Captain J. Bollons reported that it was uneventful throughout. A search was made lasting one day for the missing launch Speedwell, and those on board kept a look-out but no sign of the launch was seen.— Press Service.

Preparation of the appeal of the Canterbury Society of Arts against the decision of the City Council to cancel the license of the Art Gallery for dances is handicapped by the absence of information about the procedure, this being the first appeal under the Act giving local authorities such powers. Right of appeal to the Supremo Court is provided, but the legislation conveys little information as to the course to be followed. The assistance of the Crown Law Office has been sought by the Society. The special telephone line which will bo used in the new scheme of tram control is being erected, and has been carried as far south as Tinwald, while another gang is working from the other end. The system will operate between Christchurch and Oamaru. Special measures are being taken to ensure that conversation will be heard with clarity on the line. At the district railway offices in Christchurch a special office is being fitted up for use under the scheme, which is to be brought into operation shortly.

A correspondent, who gives no name,i has written a sarcastic note to the Mavor (Mr J. K. Archer) about the condition of the streets. It is attached to a cablegram printed in Ihu Press on October 14th under the heading, "Amazing Ideas Unfoldted, and a reference to "cycles fitted with win<*s .... to enable cyclists to fly over° bad patches of road" is marked off in blue pencil. The note asks: What about buying a few of these cvcles for Slater. Warrington, and Sherborne streets, Fendalton road, and Edward avenue, and all streets out of the City?

A telegram from Nelson on October 12th reported Mr J. Pagan, president of the Nelson Provincial Farmers Union, as saying that ninety-seven soldier settlers had abandoned their farms in Waimea County since January last. This statement was subsequently referred to in the House of Representatives and characterised by the Minister for Lands as a gross exaggeration. Mr Pagan, who is in Wellington, said yesterday that the statement as printed was a gross exaggeration, but it was not what lie said. He stated that ninety-seven soldier settlers in Waimea had abandoned their farms up to January last.

Under the will of the late Miss Slater a legacy was left to cover the cost of a screen before the altar in the Cathedral. As this work has alreadv been done by Archbishop Julius and'there are no legal obstacles, the Cathedral authorities are utilising the money in the provision' of mosaic flooring in the choir. The concrete covering the floor at present has been chipped away in readiness for the mosaic, which will bo in white, with a blue border and green fleur do lys. The arms of the diocese and ships symbolical of the first four ships to arrive in Lyttelton, in colour, will be in the centre. As the mosaic, winch will be of English glass, will arrive hero assembled in readiness, the laying will not take long. Work may be commenced before Christmas. The whole of the exposed floor of the choir to the altar will be covered by the mosaic.

Californian thistle, it appears, lias its uses (says the "Levin Chronicle"). According to two of the speakers at a meeting of the Manawatu executive of the Farmers' Union in Levin, it is regarded as a stand-by by certain Hawke's Bay squatters, who have described it as a godsend for cattle in a dry summer. One station owner sowed) it on his property in tho days_ before it was classed as a noxious weed. Ihe chairman (Mr O. P. Lynch) said he had not known what Californian thistle was until some years ago, when he saw it blooming in a farm near Levin, and wondered what the farmer had been sowing with his rape. In course of time it appeared in patches on his own property, but he eradicated it by grubbing it out with a pointed stick It was when -this weed got into the wild country that it spread. Mr Lethbridge described! the mass of tins weed that sprang up on the Sommo battlefield, and stated that the ground had since been intensely and crops had been grown which were as good as anyone could wish for.

The addition of another storey to our Retail Premises has given us another 6000 square feet of floor space upstairs in which a showroom has now been laid out. You are invited to spend a pleasant half hour in inspecting the attractive display of goods. Mason, Struthers and Co., Ltd. —6

Booth-Mac Hay Sweeps and Stackers have the utility and efficiency of the best U.S.A. pattern, plus the durability of British manufacture—as made in our own factories —only the best material and workmanship being used therein: they cost no more than the imported, so why send your money to "Uncle Sam" when it can be spent to better advantage right here, and, in so doing, helping local industry alon"-. Booth, Macdohald and Co.. Ltd." ~ 6