General News.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20496, 15 March 1932, Page 8

General News.

Two positive cases of infantile paralysis were reported in tho Canterbury health district yesterday, making the total fnr the week ended noon yesterday 8. In the previous week there were only four cases. Notice of motion was given by Cr. Gr. T. Thurston at last night's meeting of the Christchurch City Council that By-law 368, which prohibits the distribution of hand-bills on tho street, be repealed. Following the receipt of a letter from tho Christchurch Returned Soldiers' Association the Canterbury Disabled Soldiers' Civil lte-establishmeat Committee at its » meeting yesterday set up a sub-committee to interview racing and trotting clubs and suggest to them that employment should be given to disabled men on race days. Of the total Citv rates levied amounting to £333,729 2s 4d, there was collected up to 4 p.m. yesterday £'140,775 6s lOd. Approximately the sum; of £5680 was collected yesterday, making the proportion of "rates collected to date to rates levied 42.18 per cent., as compared with 42.52 per cent. on. the corresponding date last year. The actual amount collected on Saturday was £2995 16s, the proportion being 40.48 per cent., as compared with 40.23 per cent, last year.

The next meeting of the Christcliurch City Council will bo in three weeks timo instead of in a fortnight, as would be usual, _to avoid a clash with the Easter holidays.

While ploughing on the banks of the Otaio river on a hot afternoon last week, a farmer decided to have a swim. H$ action in diving from the bank startled one of the horses which reared in the harness and broke its neck.

Tho president of the Christehurch Rotary Club (Mr A. M. Burns) has agreed to givo an address to-night from Station 3ZC in aid of the Mayor's Distress Fund. Mr Burns will speak of the need for assisting distress in the City, and will appeal for a generous response to the street collection to be taken up on Friday next.

"Tho last day for the payment of rates without penalty is March 22nd," said Cr. E. H. Andrews at last night's meeting of the Christehurch City Council. "I'll have to make a note of that," interjected Cr. M. E. Lyons. "Yes, I think a lot of us and other people will need to make a note of it, too," added Cr. Andrews,

A motion was passed at tho meeting of the Springs-Ellesmere Power Board yesterday proposing that the local body elections, which are usually held in May, should ho postponed, and will be forwarded to the Department concerned at Wellington. It was stated in support of the proposal that in the past twenty years onlv one sitting member of the Board had been displaced at elections.

"I understand that thero are some Council employees taking other work outside tho Council's working hours, and I ask the Mayor to ascertain form the chairman of the various committees to what extent such is the case," said Cr. J. W. Beanland at last evening's meeting of the Christehurch City Council. It was agreed that Cr. Beanland's question be referred by the Town Clerk to tho various chairmen of committees for a full report.

The open season for tho taking or killing of Canadian geeso in the North Canterbury Acclimatisation district has been fixed for the period from May 2nd to July 31st (both dates inclusivo). The boundary ha? been defined as the main Christchurch-Dunedin railway line, and that portion of the district lying to the east of that boundary can alone be exploited. This information is contained in tho latest supplement to the Gazette.

A lotter was read at yesterday's meeting of the Christehurch Unemployment Committee from the Unemployment Commissioner, replying to ono from tho committee recommending that labour under tho No. 5 Schemo should bo employed in laying down a permanent surface on the RollestonRakaia road. Tho reply set out that the matter was being investigated and a further reply would be sent later.

According to tho By-laws and Finance Committee, in its report to last night's meeting of the City Council, tho following debentures were sold during the week ended on March sth: Relief of Unemployment Loan £3000; Christchurch Koading Loan £I4OO. It was reported that from February Ist to tho latter date, sales of debentures had amounted to £15,"00, leaving £115,767 still to bo raised.

There was an increase of eleven cases of infectious and other notifiable disease l ? in tho Canterbury health district during the week ended noon yesterday, as compared with the previous week. The total was 32, as follows Canterbury: Scarlet fever, 4; diphtheria, 9; tuberculosis, 9; infantile paralysis, 8; puerperal sepsis, 1; erysipelas, 1. There were no deaths from infoctious diseases reported in the Canterbury health district, and no cases or deaths were reported froth tho West Coast health district.

The comprehensive report on the Christcliurch tramway system drawn up by tho general manager (Mr Frank Thompson) is still being considered by tho "Works and Traffic Committee of the Tramway Board, Mr K. H. Andrews, chairman of the Board, informed a reporter yesterday afternoon. Tho investigations into it, lie added, would take some time. Mr Thompson had goncj into tho whole question very systematically, and the report discussed the substitution of one-man trams and of trolley-busos for electric tramcars. Tho questions of the capital cost of tho suggested alterations and the raising of tho money required to givo effect to them also are being investigated.

Tho By-laws and Finance Committee reported to last night's meeting of the City Council with reference to the pro< posed by-law requiring milk bottles to havo caps bearing the date upon which tho milk was bottled, that it. had been pointed out that it would bo possible for milk producers on, say, a Monday, to keep milk for two or thifco days before bottling it. The committee had therefore instructed tho City solicitor to frame tho by-law making it necessary for the cap to bear the day upon which, tho milk was produced.

In its report to last night's meeting of the City Council the Electricity Committee stated that it had before it a report from the general managor, together with a set of curves showing the rate of electrical development in tho City and in Canterbury. These indicated the offect of the shortage, and, to some extent, tho effect of the present economic conditions on the rate of progress. The committee had given very careful consideration to the situation, and would report to tho Council if it felt that any special action was warranted.

A seagull that had allegedly been kept in close captivity as a pet in a Christehurch garden was the subject of discussion at last night's meeting of the Canterbury Society for tho Prevention of Cruelty to. Animals. The Inspector (Mr D. J. White) said that in his opinion the seagull was not being cruelly treated. It had been reared from a chick by a young lad, and was kept in a Merivale garden, where it was evidently useful in keeping down slugs and -other pests which attacked plants. It could not escape from the garden; but it was well cared for in every way. The Society decided to take no action in the matter.

Taxis Id per mile just think of it, that by 5 persons riding in Gold Band Taxis it only costs a little more than Id per milo each person, and this includes luggage, cycles, prams, etc., cheaper than trams and from door to door, so 'phone 34075 or 35572 for a Gold Band Taxi. Thank you. —1

Artistic wedding portraits . . beautifully posed ... a Steffano Webb speciality. Come in and inspect our work. Studio. 202 High street. —6

Now, more than ever before, the farmer needs the most efficient helps to increase his income. And, considering the reasonable price of modern implements, thero ib no need for him to put up with obsoleto and worn-out Ploughs, Cultivators, and Harrows, when our up-to-the-minute. models are so low in price. Write for details. Booth, Macdonald and Co., Ltd., Christehurch. —6

West Coasters, when yon come to Christchurch and want a taxi, como across the road from the railway station to our garage, and get a Gold Band Taxi and save money—our lowest fare is only 1», why pay more. Patronise the firm that brought the fares down. 'Phones 34075 and 35572. Thank you. . —2