General News.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19178, 8 December 1927, Page 8

General News.

The final meeting of the committee set up in connexion with the Christchurch reception of the 'Rt. Hon. Mr Amery will be held this afternoon. A single man, named W. Summerfield, Darfield, was riding his motorcycle through Yaldhurst yesterday when it caught fire. Summerfield received burns to his arms and legs, and was admitted to the Christchurch Hospital

The Lyttelton Harbour Board yesterday adopted the report of the Harbour Master, Captain T. M. Hunter, which recommended that no fireworks be allowed to be let off on shipping in port.

A mushroom, which exceeds in size those mentioned in The Press recently, was found this week on Thompson's track, near Mitcham. It is 31 inches in circumference, and nearly a fool across at the widest part. On Tuesday afternoon representatives of the City's musical societies will confer with the Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer) regarding the musical festival to be held in conjunction with the opening of the Municipal Concert

The "New Zealand Times" building was offered for sale by public auction at Wellington yesterday. The bidding commenced at £50,000 and went up to £66,000, at which figure it was withdrawn, the reserve not being reached by some thousands.—Press Service Two scholarships of an annual value of £6O, tenable at the Sacred Heart College, Auckland, given by Marist Brothers and open to all Catholic boys under fourteen in the Dominion, hav* been won by F. Hall, Christian Brothers, Dunedin, and B. Beadle, Marist Brothers, Invercargill.—Press Association.

The ten-inch pipes in connexion with the extension of the high pressure water system to Woolston have been laid along Ferry road almost to Bamford street. Two gangs are engaged in reticulation work in the side streets. It is anticipated that little will remain to be done in Woolston by the end of the year.

At Poynder avenue and Wroxton terrace, Fendalton, where work in connexion with the extension of the sewer-' age system is in hand, difficulty with water is being experienced, and continuous pumping is necessary to keep the trenches clear. In portions of Woolston and Opawa sewer-laying operations are nearing an end. At the quarterly meeting of the Board of Agriculture the position or the Central Development Farm at Weraroa was carefully considered, and it was decided, to recommend to the Government that the farm be sold and the proceeds set apart for the development of the experimental and research work of the Department of Agriculture. The new six-inch well at Woolston, to augment the high pressure water supply, has b6tn sunk to the third stratum and is sending up more than 300 gallons a minute, with a static head of 28ft above the surface, or, without pipes, of 22ft. A 16-inch well is being sunk in the same district, and it is hoped to get at Woolston a supply of 1,000,000 gallons a day. As the Marine Department intends to carry out netting during the ensuing season for experimental and investigation purposes in the Waimakariri river, it is intended that _ only three netting licenses to take quinnat salmon shall be issued this season for that river; and these will, as provided by the regulations, be issued only to bona fide whole-time fishermen.

The City Council has begun the reconstruction (if its portion of the Canal reserve between Buckley's and McGregor's roads. Arrangements still have to be made with the Heathcote County Council for the _ improvement of its portion. Tar-sealing has been done in Strickland and Smollett streets and Fitzgerald avenue, and operations are in progress in Rolleston street and Soriiumeld road.

The Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer) stated yesterday that already many apphcations have reached the Town Clerk for toys for children at Christmas. The anticipated flood in the Waimakariri did not reach very big dimensions yesterday. There was only •three feet of a rise at the Empire bridge.

The St. Margaret's College magazine for December contains a full and interesting account of the school activities during the year, together with articles, and also photographs of the visit of the Bishop of London to the college. There are numerous photographs of school groups and original contributions of some merit.

A little boy about four years of age was found to have wandered on to the 2.45 p.m. train from Christchurch to Lyttelton yesterday. He was able to tell the inspector who found him that his home was in Flaxton. He was

taken charge of by the guard, who later restored him to his people at the Christchurch station.

'•Washington is a most beautiful city," said Mr J. E. Strachan, president of the Canterbury Progress League, who recently returned after a trip to America, to the executive of the league last night. "I am going to pay Christchurch the compliment of saying that it is the only city in New Zealand that is likely ever to become as beautiful as Washington." On January 2nd the railway authorities intend running an excursion to Hlanmer Springs. It will be a combined rail and road outing, and arrangements have been made for the transport of 350 passengers by motor from Culverden. The train is to leave Christchurch at 7.55 a.m., and the excursionists are to reach Hanmer Springs at 11.30 a.m. The. return journey is to start at 5.30 p.m. Passengers arriving at Wellington by the Makura and tho Maunganui, both of which vessels left Sydney according to time-table, expressed the opinion that the strike in Australia will not be of long duration, and that saner counsels would prevail. When the two boats sailed there had been little time to experience any of the full effects of the strike, but the opinion was expressed that incalculable harm would be done by any prolonged struggle. A demonstration which goes far to show how tho City could utilise somo of her abundant artesian water supply was given by Mr R. Stewart yesterday afternoon at the Council yard, Woolston. Mr Stewart, who has been engaged in well-sinking operations for the City Council, has fitted_ up at his own expense a series of jets on an artesian well. The centre jet sends a column of water about 16 feet into the air, while six other smaller jets in a circle rise to 14 feet-

Mr David Miller, Government entomologist, stated yesterday that his Department had been successful in rearing a large New Zealand generation of the parasite imported from Aus tralia to combat the gum tree weevil, and th© parasites had been liberated in different parts of the country, .especially in Canterbury, where the weevil pest was bad. The parasites introduced attacked the eggs of the weevil and it was expected that they would hold the weevil pest in check. Valued help was given by Mr Robinson, -Superintendent of the Selwyn Plantation Board's reserves, especially in the matter of the liberation of the parasites in his district.

A misprint in a Dunedin newspaper regarding the terms of the Auckland City Council's loan of £450,000 has apparently raised hopes in the hearts of certain enterprising Dunedin sharebrokers (says the "New Zealand Herald"). The percentage at which the loan was raised was stated at 5} per cent instead of the actual 5} per cent., and on this basis a firm of Dunedin brokers telegraphed to the Auckland Council offering to lend it £50,000 or £IOO,OOO at the same rate in one sum or by instalments, less 1 per cent, and London exchange. Its terms, the firm stated, were cheaper than borrowing in London. The brokers concerned will no doubt have learned by this time that the terms arranged by the Auckland City Council are not so easily im. proved upon as they had imagined. Mr A. H. Cockayne, Director of the Fields Division, outlined to the Board of Agriculture at its recent meeting the progress being made with regard to wool research work. At its last meeting the Board requested Dr. Reakes. when abroad, to enquire into the possibility of securing in England the services of a specially trained man to carry on and extend such work. A cablegram from Dr. Reakes on the subject was considered, and ,the Board decided to recommend to tne Government that he be authorised to offer an engagement to a gentleman who was considered eminently suited for the work in view. Dr. Reakes further reported that of the wool sent Home last jrear to Dr Barker, of Leeds, for examination, the Romney only had been dealt with, and that Dr. Barker was impressed with its quality and had no fault to find.

An interesting point of view in regard to daylight saving was expressed by a Hawke's Bay sheepfarmer (states an exchange). His shearers, he said, grew dissatisfied at having so many hours of daylight after their work was done at 5 o'clock, and he acceded to their request to go back to the old hours. Beginning work at 5 a.m., Sidey time, meant that the sheep were not dry; that the cook's work was disarranged, and that the men did not settle down to their evening's occupations till it grew dark, which meant that they were more tired than they- should be. They liked to play cards at night, and though he told them they could hold as good hands by daylight as they could at night, they said it seemed unsettling to play before nightfall. Many other station-owners have done likewise, but no inconvenience is caused by beginning at 6 a.m.

Among the attractive collection of native shrubs exhibited in the window of Col. in the United Service Buildings,. Hereford street, are two plants of particular interest, one Pterostylis Banksii (Bush Orchid), and. the other the native Forget-me-not), from Stewart Island (Myosotis Petiolata). —1 The Hotel Federal's new and up-to-

date dining-room is now completed with ac-onimodation for 200 guests, and specialising in casual luncheons from 12.30 to 2 p.m. Six courses (including grills), 2s 6d. 'Phone 1040 to reserve tables. —6 Twin City Tractors are "making good," under all conditions- in New Zealand, as they have already done all over the worldl The "introduction" price at which they are now selling is from 30 to 40 per cent, under their real value, and will Bhortly be withdrawn, so if you wish to get the very best tractor on the market at a very

"ordinary" price, you had better get busy. Trial demonstrations arranged to prospective purchasers. Every Twin City Tractor owner is satisfied—absolutely! Illustrated Catalogue, post free. Booth, Macdonald, and Co., Ltd. —0521