General News.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20492, 10 March 1932, Page 8

General News.

One positive case of infantile paralysis was reported yesterday, making a total of 19 since the beginning of the year. A dozen or more informations against persons who have failed to pay fares on the tramways are to be heard in the Magistrate's Court shortly. An indication that there is money seeking investment in Christchurch was given the City Treasurer yesterday, when a man, who had been informed, in reply to his question, that the municipality had debentures for sale, returned in due course with £IOOO, and bought City debentures to that value. Members of the Canterbury School Committees' Association last night discussed dental clinics, the question being raised as to whether committees were responsible for the financial conduct of such services. It was decided to ask the authorities concerned what tho position was. All who have promised cheques and gifts for the stalls at tho All Nations Fair, in aid of the Mayor's Relief ot Distress Fund, will greatly oblige the organiser, Mr J. Moody, if they will forward their donations to tho Municipal Chambers as early as possible. "Why should living ratepayers be asked to pay for a dead settlement," was a question asked by Qr. G. Gardiner, at the Waimairi County Council meeting last night, when matters in connexion with the Northcote Settlement were being discussed. "We are still alive," remarked Cr. W. G. Chapman. "Three more houses have been sold this wepk, and one the week before. ''

"There are many homes going back for lack of paint, and if labour were provided under the No. 5 Scheme there are hundreds of people who would be willing to find the materials," said Or. W. G. Chapman at last evening's meeting of the Waimairi County Council. "Many tradesmen who are out of work would prefer painting to pick and shovel work," he-added.

The tramway authorities have received advice that the Central Licensing Authority will sit in Christchurch soon. The Authority lias forwarded a list of applications in respect of routes the starting or terminal points of which are outside the city. .Regarding the Northcote road route, the Tramway Board is continuing its bus service so that the residents will not be left without means of transport. The Question of a. permanent licensed service is to rome before the Central Licensing Authority.

In response to the invitation of the Christchurch bra nch of the Town Planning Institute of New Zealand to torward suggestions for productive work in connexion with schemes for the relief of unemployment, Colonel H. S. Hobday has written drawing attention to t'he necessity for better road communication between Christchurch and Lytteiton, suggesting that the construction of such a road would employ a. fairly large number of men.

In a fortnight nine high voltage insulators were broken and every lamp in Webb's road was smashed, according to a report made to the Waimairi County Council last evening by the electrical engineer. The report added that the breaking seemed to have been done with a pea rifle, as several lamps had holes through the shades. Cr. C. E. Cross said it'was a very serious affair, and moved that the council offer a reward of £5 for information leading to the conviction of the culprit.

A novel method of raising money, which was devised by King Henry 111. in 1252, was mentioned by Sir John Hanham, Bart., in the course of an address to the Numismatic Society last, week. liaising money was always a difficult business, said Sir John, and in 1252 Henry announced that he was going on a crusade. One-tenth of the ecclesiastical revenues were set aside for this purpose, the design of a crescent and star appearing on coins from this source. Henry, however, found a better use for the money, and remained at home. It was only fair to add that in 1269 his son, Edward 1., did go- to the Holy Land.

In a New Plymouth nursing home three baby girls were barn on February 29th. They will therefore only have a birthday once in four years.

With nine days and two half days to elapse before city ratepayers who have not paid their rates will have the 10 per cent, penalty imposed, about 36.72 per cent, of the rates levied have been collected, as compared with 36.75 per cent, on the corresponding day last year. The amount collected yesterday, approximately, was £4460. Tho amount actually collected on Tuesday was £5643 18s 9d, making the proportion of rates collected to date to rates levied 35.38 per cent., as compared with 35.35 per cent, for the- corresponding date last year.

Considerable loss caused by sheep damaging young trees on the Eyre diversion has been suffered by the Waimakariri Kivor Trust, according to a report presented to that body yesterday by the Resident Engineer (Mr H. W. Harris). The report stated that on Saturday last 250 sheep wero impounded on the diversion, xaul were later delivered to the property of tho owner, who was served with a notico for poundage. Tailing payment being made it was intended to hand the matter to tho Trust's solicitors, with instructions to prosecute.

The Citizens' Relief Association has decided not to start the Pound Scheme till after the All Nations Fair has been held next month, and' to give as much assistance as possible to the Fair. Mr J. W. Woodbury said yesterday that it would depend on the amount raised by the Fair and by other means to augment tho Mayor's Relief of Distress Fund, when the Pound Scheme would be resumed. In the meantime more supplies were needed at the Central Depot, and a van .would be sent to any address where food or clothing was offered, if the Central Depot was communicated with by telephone, the depot's number being 36-G25.

It is possible that the 500 collectors required for Friday, March 18th, for the street appeal to be made on behalf of the Mayor s Belief of Distress Fund will be obtained within the next tew days Yesterday close upon one hundred' offers from collectors were received, a highly gratifying result, leaving only about 200 more offers to be mado to complete the total aimed at. To the apweal for helpers, the Young People's B'iblo Classes have responded most satisfactorily. Mr S. W. Jameson the organiser, expresses himselt ns delighted with the result and will Greatly appreciate further assistance. Already about sixty girls, voluntary helpers, have been engaged putting tlie pins in the badges.

Considering the large number of peoplo present on Cranmer square on Tuesday evening at the community dancing and the playing of the test selection by the Woolston Band, the amount collected for tli© Mayor s "e----lief of Distress Fund, £ls 10s 6d, was disappointing The collectors' boxes contained 120 halfpennies, 540_ pennies, 400 threepenny pieces, 201 sixpences, and shillings and larger silver coins amounted to £3. From Christchurch Cinemas. Ltd., the Town Clerk (Mr J. S Neville) yesterday received a cheque for £2O for the fund, this amount representing a proportion of the Christmas Day takings at the theatres controlled by the company.

Discussing the cost of living in the House of Representatives last evening, Mr -D. McDougall (C., Mataura) created an amusing diversion by relating that on a recent visit to the West Coast ho enquired into relative costs. "I met a dear old Scotswoman at Greymouth," he. said, "and asked her if the cost of living had gone down because I suspected it had gone down in theory only. She'said: 'No, you have to pay as much for milk here as for beer.' I asked: 'Hasn't the cost of living fallen at all here, thenP She replied: 'The only things that have gone down in price are clothes pegs and Beccham's Pills.' "—Parliamentary Correspondent. The shipment of Japanese oranges, which arrived at Auckland by the Melbourne Maru on Friday, was boycotted by Chinese fruiterers at the Auckland city markets on Saturday morning. When the fruit was offered the Chinese, who had gathered round the buying benches, withdrew, and left the competition to the Europeans. A previous shipment of Japanese oranges by the Brisbane Maru was also boycotted by the Chinese both in Auckland and in Wellington. It is stated that the boycott is being extended to all import? from Japan.

Mr J. L. Pasßmorc, president of the Otago Motor Club, stated at a meeting of the club that a rather regrettable incident had occurred in connexion with the annual picnic for the inmates of the various city orphanages. The members of the club provided the cars to carry the children to the picnic ground, and in every instance they had had most enjoyable outings which the children had thoroughly enjoyed. However, there was one particular section which had refused to allow its children to join in the picnic on more than one occasion because it was hold on the Wingatui racecourse! The secretary of the club (Mr Sutton) was to interview the head of the body which controlled this orphanage, and they hoped to get to the bottom of the trouble.

Within a few years' time, it will be difficult to obtain specimens of the silver coinage minted between 1920 and 1927, for an official decision has been reached to withdraw from circulation the entile silver issue of that period. There is one section of the coinmunity which is applauding the decision with a sense of profound satisfaction (says tlio Glasgow "Herald"). By enthusiastic numismatists the post-war silver coinage has generally been regarded as oue of the most unsatisfactory efforts ever produced by the British Mint, and some of them, like Sir Charles Oman, who has more than once raised the matter in House of Comnfons, have never ceased to deplore the dobased character of the currency now to be withdrawn. Its liability to change colour to yellew and russet, due to a bad alloy, was its most disturbing feature. Improvement has marked the issues of the past four years, and in due course the coins of the new standard will gradually replace about 500,000,000 discredited pieces rccnlhd by the Mint'. Brides book up early with the Gold Band Taxis for their Bridal Cars, which arc the best and the charges the lowest from 7s 6d per hour. 'Phones 34075 and 35572. Thank you. —1 Now, more than ever before, the farmer needs the most efficient helps to increase his income. And, considering the reasonable price of modern implements, there is no need for him to put up with obsolete and worn-out Ploughs, Cultivators, and Harrows, when our up-to-the-minute models are so low in price. Write for details. Booth, Maedonald and Co., Ltd., Christchurch. —6 Large crowds are seen every day at the Railway Station on the arrival of trains, goiug across the road to the Gold Band Taxiß Garage opposite. "Why?" because they know they are saving money by doing so, and every moans is being applied to try and put the Gold Band Taxis off the road, so support the firm that supports you. Thank you. —3