General News.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20099, 1 December 1930, Page 10

General News.

Tho reservation for plantation purposes over land in the Hawkins sur vey district, 46 acres in area, situated in Blocks X. and XIV., has been revoked.

An Order-in-Council is published in the Gazette consenting to the raising of loans totalling £31.920 by the South Canterbury Electric Power Board.

According to advice received from Waiau by the Canterbury Automobile Association, the lower ford at tho Mason river is soft, and cars are sticking. Motorists aro advised to take the upper ford

The scrutiny of the rolls in connexion with the recent Tramway Boar.d election was concluded on Saturday, and it is anticipated thnt the official count will bo finished this evening.

The slump in the timber trade on the West Coast is reflected in the goods traffic on the Midland line which, on an average, is about 2000 tons less per week than it was at this time last year. Up till Fridav of last week only 7870 tons were railed through the tunnel, compared with 10,000 for the whole week n year ago. Most of this was coal, the 'traffic in which is keeping up well.

Plans and specifications are being prepared for the curator's houso and also for th© hatcheries at tho North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society's new gardens at Greenpark. Reports regarding tho progress made to date at tho new gardens will be submitted at a special meeting of the counc : l of the Society, to be held next Wednesday.

"A bird takes from a minute to a minute and a half to find a worm or grub or whatever food it is seeking,'' said Mr Johannes C. Andorsen when lecturing to the S riety for Empire Culture on "New Zealand Birds and Their Songs" on Saturday. "The hird does this all day in the bree'lina season, and T wou'd like to impress upon the fnrmer the fact that everv year they kill hundreds of thousands of insects that would do harm to his crops.

Übiquitous autograph hunters swarmed round Oscar Garden, the young aviator, at the official reception on Saturday, but the Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer) announced that he would collect the books for signature. Many were pressed into his hands, and in the Canterbury Aero Club's hangar afterwards Mr Garden was busily engaged upon them for a considerable time.

There used to be an idea that the cuckoo was a disagreeable bird and that he imposed upon the other birds," said Mr Johannes C. Andersen, when lee- " «| T t0 th ~ s ? ciet y f °r Empire Culture New Zealand Birds and Their F° «? vei > W0 belie ve that the °. b " d f>. like it. The cuckoo, instead of flying about haphazard and laying »ts eggs in any bird's nest, only uses beforehand^" 14 methodica »y

the Bon S s of birds. » -i'w® aren 't conscious of them, said Mr Johannes C. Andersen when lecturing to the Society for R™ p , ,re , C "' tu . re rl °n "New Zealand ~'r l d . s and Their Songs" on Saturday. Ims was brought home to mo once when I was paying a visit in WellingI t ? ld , the owner of the place that she had a grey warbler in the garden. No, she said, 'IV© never seen the bird.' Thereupon I whistled vJLi 8 ? 5 ? warbler s song to her, and a week later, when 1 saw her again, she said, If I could catch that bird I'd wring; its neck.' She'd been hearing nothing ■else but the grey warbler's ong all the week,"

"Onoe in Canterbury 1 beard a bellnird whistling something very like U)Q opening phrase of "The Campbells are Coming.' " said Mr Johannes C. Andersen in his lecture on Raturdav to the Society for Empire Culturp on 'New Zealand Birds and Their Songs." "I didn't say anything about it be'•ause I was alone hut wh«n f pot nome my boys tW'rf bp-rd Mi" same thin<r. I mentioned this at a '"cture. and a rep-rter wrote next dnv that I had s-id I'd h°nra n Id'bird ringing 'The are Coming.' This got home to England, and a paper copied it. adding, 'We leave to our readers' the obvious jest upon this scientist's name.' Hans Andersen wrote fairy teles," the lecturer added.

In tho September examination of the Australasian Institute of Secretaries the following candidates were successful; —Final Secretarial (3 papers)—J. \I. Willougliby, Ashburton. Paper 2 I jr. Rhodes, Christchurch (completing examination).

Tho railway excursion to Timaru yesterday was patronised by approximately 500 people, while 27 excursionists visited Peel Forest. These latter travelled from Orari to Peel Forest by motor.

About eleven o'clock yesterday morning o nor'-west wind sprang up which gradually increased to almost a gale. A good deal of damage was done to ft nit trees through the threshing of tho trees, and flower gardens also suffered considerably. The blow was the stiffest experienced in North Canterbury this season.

A taxi-cab crashed into the posts supporting the verandah of the Queen Anne oonfectionerv shop at the coiner of Colombo and Casliel streets o n Saturday evening, carried away two of the posts, and did considerable structural damage to the verandah. The accident occurred at the point where the automatic control signals have been recently installed. After tlie mishap the verandah sagged dangerously and had to be supported by serernl temporary stays.

There was a good congregation pit St. John's Church, Rangiora, yesterday, when the Bishop of Christchurch, Dr. Campbell West-Watson, confirmed 2'J candidates presented by the vicar 'the Rev. J. F. Feron). and nine cnadidates presented by tho vicar of Oxford (the Rev. H. R. Sell). At evensong there was a very large congregation when his Lordship preached, taking fw his subject the Lambeth Conference. Mr R. C. Pullar was the organist at both services.

Thieves entered Messrs Eder and Wright's petrol stat.'tin in Colomlx! street. Sydenham, late on Friday night, and stole about £lO in cash. Entrance to the station was gained through n sido-door. A man was questioned concerning tho theft on Saturday morning by Detective Findlay, who is investigating the case, but he denied any knowledge of the crime. Some of tho money stolen was taken from a cash draxver in the office, nnd some from a suit of clothes to one of tiie proprietors, Mr Wright.

Major O. A. C. Cowper, of the Western Federated Airways, made tho landing at the Wanganui airport on Saturday afternoon. To mark what was really the official opening of the port, he was welcomed by the Mayor Ur Rogers) and representatives of the Wanganui Aero Club Wanptanui will bo a j'ort of call for the da'ly service

etween New Plymouth and Wellington. Mr Hurgess. president of the Aero Club, announced that tho club >ad £IOO available for unemployed re'ief. Provided a £'2oo subsidy conl ' ho obtained from tho Unemployment iJoard. tho amount would he spent on the new port within six weeks. —Press Association.

. A strange craft made its appearance in the surf at Sumner yesterday when members of the Sumner Suri' aid LifeSaving Club launched a catamaran. Its strange construction evoked interested comment from the onlookero and its launching was watched by many residents and visitors. IJriefly it comprises two fl>ats of Australian redwood, kauri ribbed, securelv lashed together. It is canablo of cariying alxiut a dozen persons, who propel themselves with paddles. Yesterday the craft rode the waves in fine style and was taken some little distance out from the shore Apart from being a source of amusement, it is possible that considerable assistance might bo gained froin its use during a rescue.

Speaking to a deputation at Dunedin on Saturday morning, the Hon. P. A. do la Perrelle remarked that last session was one of the most strenuous for all members that had ever been experienced. "We have now three Parties in the House," said Mr de la Perrello, and all members had to put in their full time with their duties Quite apart from my Ministerial office 1 have had previous experienoe wi*,h Parliament, and I am going to say that I have not had a more exacting time. I wish to say this, that there is a great spirit of camaraderie existing among members of the three Parties, and they have given me a great deal of help. I hose that know the ramifications of 1 arliament will know that thcro is real team work in the building; we all help one another."—Press Service.

The automatic warning signal at the Harewood road railway crossing was fut into operation last week, and on the approach of a train, bright red lights flash continuously until the train is over the crossing. When the train is standing at the Papanut station, or shunting is being carried on in the yards, the lights are switched oft, vehicles crossing the line in safety. Information given to The Press, and published on Saturday morning stated that on Wednesday evening traffic was held up for half an hour during shunting operations, but this has been contradicted by the stationmaster at Papanui. who states that the whole time the train was there was 14 minutes, and that every time the line was clear, the lights were switched off, and traffic was allowed to pass. Mount Greenlaw, one of the most formidable peaks in the Arthur's Pass region, was climbed for the first time last_ week, by three members of the Christchurch Mountaineering Club, Messrs Edgar It. Williams, R. E. Clarke, and Mclnnes. The peak, which is about 7600 feet high, has resisted the challenges of alpinists for many years, its ascent entailing some difficult rock and ice climbing. The party arrived at the Hnrper river on Wednesday, November 19th, and after climbing up the Avoca Valley, reached the head of the Avoca river, where a snow-storm held them up over the next three days. The ascent of the peak was made on Tuesday afternoon, after the men had had to wait for several hours until avalanches, caused by the melting snow, had ceased. From the too of Greenlaw a magnificent view was obtained. Travellers by rail will be able to cot a Gold Band Taxi at their Branch Garage opposite the Kailwav Station, as from November Ist Tn the meantime, 'phono 34-075 or 35-572. It will pay you handsomely. Thank vou. —8 A popular Maori concert will be held in the Jellico© Hall on Monday night, at 8 p.m., in aid of the Maori Girls' School, Ferry road. The entertainers will be young Maoris from the local kaingas. There will be an all-Maori programme of waiatas, hakas, and pois.—6 Weddings are specially catered lor bv the Gold Band Taxis We have two classes- of Bridal Cars from 7s Cd per hour, and every one of our brides have had good luck, so why pass us andjisk had luck. 'Phones 34-075 and 35-572 and book earlv. 4 ™ The P - «V d *>. D. Perfect Potato Planter With our improved Machine and two or three horses, one man-single-handed. can plunt from 3 to I acres a day with fertiliser- up to SfW+B per acre, making a better l"!' than hand planting Using one of these machines. Mr E McCarthv last year eot a remarkable crop at Pre'ible ton Another fourteen purchasers got excellent results p and D Duncan Ltd. 190 Tnnm street. Christchurch and nt Ashburtori. 6 Have you anything to sell—Do you wish to buy? Il so, a small advertisement in_ the classified section of Tub Pbesh will be nil you need. 12 words la, three imertioao 2# 6d, t—<s