General News.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19173, 2 December 1927, Page 8

General News.

Of the 107 deaths recorded in the Christchurch metropolitan area last month, 80 were those of people 40 years and over; of these 20 were in the seventies, and 12 in the eighties-

The concrete surface of the Selwyn traffic bridge is being "cured" at present and about a week hence the bitumen joints will be poured in. On the 16th the bridge will be ready for traffic. J. Amer, an employee of the Public Works Department, lost the thumb and two first fingers of his right hand yesterday, when a blasting charge lie was preparing on the Waiau-Parnassus road prematurely exploded. Reginald Nelson (Sisters of N.D. des Mission), violin, passed the examination, lower division, of the Associated Board of the R.A.M. and R.C.M. His name was inadvertently omitted from the list published yesterday.

Regarding the improvement of Upper Dyer's Pass road, it is hoped that the plans will be ready and will have been approved by the Public Works Department to permit the Heathcote County Council to put the work in hand early next January. There are at present 240 men engaged on unemployment relief works in Canterbury. The works are the road to give access to the Lake Sumner runs, Parnassus-Waiau road, Conway to Claverley road, Hermitago (Mount Cook) to Ball Hut, and the road to give access to the Double Hill runs (Rakaia Gorge). As a part of the routine of the Department of Industries and Commerce, Mr D. Colquhoun, officer in charge at Christchurch, is enquiring into the prices charged tor gas by the Sumner Borough Council, the Ashburton Gasworks Company, the Greymouth Borough Council, and the Westport Borough Council. The investigations do not necessarily imply that the fairness of the charges is under suspicion. The Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer) and Mrs Archer attended on tho railway station yesterday morning to say goodbye to tho Rt. Hon. L. S. Amory and Mrs Amery, understanding that they were leaving by the first express, and not knowing that arrangements had been made for them to travel by a special train leaving at 8.20 o'clock. A telegram was sent by Mr Archer to Mr Amery expressing . regret at having missed him, and bidding him good-bye. "A certain amount of newspaper advertising is absolutely necessary," said Mr C. J. Treleaven at the meeting of the Navy League last night, referring to the approaching annual appeal. "You can advertise in many ways, but you must do some, newspaper advertising—l know from experience extending over many years When we have been stingy with our newspaper advertising, we haven't done well, but when we have spent money—perhaps some people thought too liberally—we have done well. Newspaper advertising pays.'The work of. connecting the two inlets from Lake Coleridge so that if necessity arises both tunnels in connexion with tho power station can bo fed from one inlet, will be put in hand by the Public Works Department on the sth or the 12th inst. Advantage will be taken of the emptying of the No. 2 tunnel (the first to be constructed) to repair the portion that is built through sand formation —a distance of about five chains. It is intended to force cement grout behind the lining to fill up any spaoes that may exist, and thus present the tunnel "breathing" with the variations under pressure.

The opinion that trophies should replace money prizes to a greater extent in competitions festivals was expressed at the annual meeting of the Wellington Competitions Society. "There are too manv monov prizes." said Mr W. McLay. "and this is inclined to develop professionalism. I think it would be better if some were cut out and trophies given instead. It seems that some children attend all festivals, and enter in nearly all classes One might call it 'pot hunting.' " Other speakers shared these views, and one said that he had talked the matter over with the City Organist (Mr Bernard F. Page), who was of the same opinion. Auckland's claim to have secured a record entry in its competitions festival this year was mentioned at the annual meeting of the Wellington Competitions Society. "I think it is rather humorous." said Mr B. P. Gully, who presided. "Auckland claims to have had 3652 entries, though on our own system of computation the actual figure would be 1773. Moreover, our own record in 1924, was 8040 entries.' A member "It might be a record for Auckland." Another: "No: they claim that it was for New Zealand. They usually do that in Auckland." "A"ckland is New Zealand," interjected a third, amidst laughter. Already a number of applications, all from Canterbury, have been received in connexion with the W.E.A. Summer School, to be held at the end of the year at Metbven. This year the school will be practically a South Island gathering, and out of the 100, to which membership has been limited 40 have been allotted to the Otago district of the W.E.A. Mr G. Manning, secretary of the W E.A., has received a letter from Methven residents offering every assistance. The Bowling Club has kindly placed its greens at the disposal of the students, and tho Boy Scouts have offered to assist with the preliminary arrangements for housing the students.

Extensive alterations to the Lyttelton Harbour Board's offices in the Square, similar to those made to the Tramway -Board's offices on the floor below in the same building, have been commenced by Messrs P. Graham and Son. The present Board room will not be used for that purpose in future, and carpenters are busy preparing new quarters for the Board at the rear of the building, where its work will be able to proceed with less disturbance from traffic. A partition is being taken down throwing two rooms into one, in another part of the offices, new doorways are being cut, and a beam will be placed across the centre of the new Board room to carry the roof. The alterations should be completed in a fortnight.

People did not realise, said Mr T. Bloodworth in the course of his address to tho Auckland Economic Society on the question of industrial arbitration, the difference which an increase or a decrease of a half-penny an hour to the working community really meant. Taking as a basis a 44-hour week, with 50 weeks to the working year, the increase of a half-penny an hour to 10,000 workers meant a total of £45,832 for the year. There were considerably more than 10,000 workers in New Zealand. The employers, however were not called upon to pay this in a lump sum. Really, the money was merelv loaned to the workmen, as the extra Is lOd which each received every week went straight hack into the nurses of the traders.

Spend a pleasant half-hour wandering through our new upstairs Showroom. Over 6000 feet of space laid out with the most attractive display of goods all recently opened for Christmas tu-de Camping and Travelling Requisites Picnic Hampers, Trioyc'es. Toys. Brass and Copper Goods, and England's best China and Crystal in great profusion Goods will be set aside until Christmas if desired. Mason. Struthers and Co., Ltd., Colombo and Lichfield streets. —6

When the weather is changeable, keep colds away with "Nazol," the commonsense scientific remedy. Doesn't give the cold a chance. 60 doses Is 6d. —3