NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14836, 29 November 1913, Page 11

NEWS OF THE DAY.

l Tho auction, announcements of H. Matßon and Co., Harris Bros., Christchurch Woolbrokers' Association, Pyno and Co., Tonks, Norton and Co., "Wright, Stephenson and Co., Dalgety »nd Co., Farmere' Saleyards , Co., . Mai ing and Co., National Mortgage ud Agency Co., Con way, Matson and Sons, and Lowrie and Dalwie will be found on. p3go 19 of this issue. . /At a meeting held at Timaru last Bight, Mr H. id. Bowie in the chair, it was resolved to form a Timaru Electorate Liberal Association., to organise the Liberal strength for the next election. A severe thunderstorm was experienced at Highbank (about twenty-four miles north-west of Ashburton) on Thursday afternoon. Lightning fired a straw stack and killed two owes and a lamb. The occupants of a nearby farmhouse were also considerably alarmed, the crockery on the table dancing about Tideatly.

The Registrar of old age pensions desires us to state that although Monday Docember Ist, is a Government holiday,' pensions will bo paid out as usual at tn© office. .The annual street collection in aid of the St. John Ambulance Association, originally intended to be taken up in the streets of the city to-day, has been postponed till early next year, owing to the present labour unrest. I _ Weeds are a- nuisance to rowing people on the river below Retreat bridge, and at tho meeting of the Canterbury Rowing Association last night it was decided to write to the Drainage Board requesting the removal of the obstruction. For the Christchurch Domain Rose Carnival, to be held in tho Gardens on Saturday next, 6th December, handsome prizes are being offered. All entries must reach the secretary (Mr C. W. Hervey) at his office—s9 Cathedral square—by 5 n.m. on Tuesday, December 2nd. A largely-attended representative meeting of the Catholics of Cbristchurc/ has been held to arrange for tho annual combined Catholic Schools picnic at the Riccarton Racecourse on Boxing Day. Strong committees wore eet up, and by the enthusiasm displayed a sue- J cessful outing is assured. j

A great amount of care has been exercised in building up the educational eystoni of Xew South \Vales, and to no section has more attention been #iven than the kindergarten. A complete and expert ey6tem of kindergarten instruction has been established. Now that is to be further improved. A special report by ono of tho Department's specialists lias been made on tho Montessori system. Sho visited Italy for the purpose of studying it, while threo chosen graduates from the Kindergarten College were also sent to Rome to learn the new .methods. An enthusiastic report in its favour has determined the'Deparirncnt to graft the Montessori system on to the present methods. The result will be to place New South Wales in the front rank iv this respect.

Maiy physically unsound immigrants have been allowed to land in Australia *inco the immigration movement ha.} been inaugurated. The most common complaint is'consumption, arid instances are recorded where immigrants within a few days of their landing have applied for admission to consumption sanatoria. Owing to the methods of medical inspection, immigrants who have been refused admission at ong Stato have been able to land in another, and thence they havo made their way to their original objective. It is hoped that the establifZiment of a Commonwealth medical bureau in London will prevent those who are physically unsound from leaving Great Britain for Australia, whether they aro assisted immigrants or not.

The following programme will be played by Dr. Bradshaw, City Organist, at the grand "Gounod-Eigar" organ recital to be given in His Majesty s Theatre to-morrow at 8.30 p.m.:—lmperial March (for full orchestra) (Elgar); Canto Popolaro, "In Moonlight," from the concert overture In the South," Op. 60 (Elgar); Sanctus for tenor solo, chorus, and orchestra, from the Mosse Solennelle (Gounod); Andante expressivo (1), Finale (Presto) (2) from the Organ Sonata in G, Op. 28 (Elgar); Serenade for voice, with flute oblin-ato (Gounod); Solemn Prelude for orchestra "Sureum Corda" ("Lift up Your Hearts"), Op. ll (Gounod); Funeral March of a Marionette (Gounod) ; Morcean Mignon, "Salute d'Amour," Op. 12 (Elgar); Gavotte in A major (Elgar); Marche Militaire, for brass instruments (Gounod).

The housing conditions of the people of Australia are being enquired into by Mr JKnibbs, the Commonwealth Statistician, and most valuable evidence has already been given by him before tho Select. Committee that is dealing with the subject/ -Mr r Knibbs finds that houses of four, five, and six rooms constitute two-thirds of the dwellings in the Commonwealth, and that a similar proportion of the people in each State in houses of these sizes. The question of rent has also engaged the attention, and he has as* certained that the rental, according to the number of inmates, decreases as the reckoning passes from one to three rooms* After that it begins- to rise again, and the law of change is go regular that for communities of all sizes in the Commonwealth it is expressible by mathematical formula. <

It was explained in the Divorce Court in Melbourne, last week that Under an Act of Henry VIII. a marriage between an uncle and his niece was voidable in Australia, but under erubeequent statutes such marriages in England were void. In Australia a marriage could be dissolved upon action being taken by one of the parties, though the children of any euch union were legitimate. This explanation was made by counsel for Rachael Jones, stenographer, of Essendon (Vio.). Petitioner married her uncle, Ebenezer Jones, without her mother's knowledge, in ! March, 1909, and she asked for a declaration that her marriage be declared void, oh the ground of consanguinity. After evidence .had been given, a declaration of nullity was granted. .

"It is a scandalous and dangerous practice that the police should do allowed to cross-examine suspected persons with a view to getting statements from theini" said ; Mr J. It. Reed, K.C., in the Auckland Supreme Court. "This power of cross-examination, which is denied to judges and magistrates, should certainly not be allowed to a constable, who may be prejudiced against the suspected person in his desiro to obtain a conviction. ,. Counsel went on to state that probably several innocent men had been convicted on what purported to be their own written and signed confessions, these confessions having been obtained by methods approaching tho American third degree. Counsel instanced a case in which a man was conclusively proved to be innocent, although he hod written and signed a document admitting his guilt. In this case, which was tried, curiously enough, before the same judge and with the same counsel as the present one, the chief witness for the Crown was subsequently sentenced to ten years' hard labour for perjury. His Honour Mr Justice Edwards said that he agreed with Mr Reed that there was considerable danger in the desire of constables and detectives to obtain incriminating statements.

In a report on the Fisheries'of Aus- ! tralia, Mr H. C. Dannevig, the Federal Fisheries Director, hints at possible Government action to ensure a cheap and regular fob. supply for the people, iocording to the official statistics of the number of fishermen in Australia, and the quantity of fish, caught, he states that the average catch per i° an U about three tons a year. Mr Dannevig mentions that the average catch a trawl in the North Sea is ten times as great, and adds that it is apparent that "the industry from start to finish is antiquated, and its methods so clumsy as to render tb© necessary profits impossible, except by the great inflated prices," and "that there does not appear to be any way whereby the general public can benefit from the present methods' of working. The profitable trawling grounds surveyed by the Endeavour extend over 11MXW square miles, and can accommodate about 120 trawlers. If private enterprise does not takA up the trawling industry in the near future, there w a possibility that a step further wf»i be taken undw Mr Ifcmncvig's direction, to show hovr the industry COTld be commercially worked by the regular marketing of saleable fish.

Intending exhibitors at next "VVednesl j,rtßo» S* lo * aro , remin< led that eajtrii dose on Monday cv eoing) at - c o'clock. . Messrs Stepl? enso " and Linloy, of the Royal Pantomime Company, have extended en invitation to the inmates of charitable institutions and children's homes in the city to be present at this afternoon's ,ma«noe performance of "BoSeep" at the Theatre Royal. It was reported to the Ashburton County Council's meeting that nineteen motorcar drivers committed breaches of the Ashbnrton traflie bndge by-laws by erossinc the bridge at an excessive speed during Chnstchureh Carnival Week. Action has been taken. Whatever the secret—if there is one o f the mystic picture, "The Shadow of the Cross." now on view in a studio next Bnllantyne'e in Cashel street, it is drawing all classes to witness its mysteries. Mr Kilpatrick will as usual, hold continuons receptions to-day from 1 to 5 o'clock. Members of the Public Schools' Amateur Athletic Association are advisrd that "their membership tickets will admit them into the Park and into the east stand. Tho stand at Lancaster Park will bo free to all during the morning's performance, but it will be cleared '"during the luncheon interval nnd a small charge made during the afternoon. Tho displays will commence at 2.30 p.m.

A Wellington country school was closed for a week in order to enable tho teacher and some of tho pupils to attend tho Competitions. It wae pointed out at the Education Board meeting on Thursday that the committee had -no authority to closo the school for any such purpose, and it was resolved that the school should remain open for a week during the Christmas holidays. It was stated that the teacher had no .objection to this being done. Tho Postal Department announces that during the continuance of tbo present industrial trouble it lias been decided as a temporary measure that from Monday, December Ist, tho limit of the weight of inland parcels will be increaeed to 211bs, and the size limit to 7 feet, length and girth combined. This concession will only apply to parcels addressed to places served by rail and steamer.

At a meeting of t"hc Christchurch Domain Roso Carnival Committee yesterday, Mr H. J. Boswick presiding, .it was decided to extend the time for the closing of entries till 5 p.m. on Wednesday. A meeting of the executive committee will be held on Thursday at -5 p.m. It was also decided to close all the pates on the day of the carnival, Saturday, December 6th, at 6 p.m., except the Hereford street main entrance rrate, through which'the public would thereafter be admitted.

At a large meeting of the Wanganui branch of the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Officers' Association held last night (saya a Press" Association message), the following resolution was passed by a four-fifths majority:— "That this branch considers the action of the delegation which waited upon the Commissioners, in refusing to withdraw tho resolution passed by the whole Conference, was the only possible course for it to adopt, and that the Commissioners wore unreasonable in characterising the first motion as an impeachment, and in demanding its withdrawal."

The Otago Harbour Board considered in committee last night a report by the chairman on the conference hold in Wellington between the chairmen of tho principal Harbour Boards and tho Prime Minister, for the purpose of promulgating a scheme wliereby greater stability of employment shall be guaranteed to waterside workers. It was decided that the Board be represented at the conference to be held in Wellington, -which will be somewhat in the nature of an advisory meeting for the benefit of the Prime minister. The Otago Board will be represented by three delegates. The Court of Appeal delivered judgment yesterday in the case Hill v. the King. Tho majority decided that judgment should go in favour of suppliant for the amount awarded by the jury (£1000), with costs on the highest scale, and ac from a distance. All the judges agreed that the public were entitled to rely upon the general practice of the Railway Department of erecting notices at level crossings, and the absence of such notices at the crossing where the accident happened was evidence oi negligence entitling suppliant to damages. Sir liobert Stout, hir Joshua Williams, and Mr Justice Cooper also, found that there wes no contributory negligence on suppliant's part. Mr Justice Edwards and Mr Justice Chapman dissented. The Crown was granted conditional leave to appeal.

At the Police Court at Auckland yesterday a young man named Frank Grimstead was charged with bookmakihg on Alexandra Park racecourse. Chief-Detective Macmahon stated that accused attended the trotting races at Alexandra Park last week. He was seen to be surrounded by knots of people during the day, and received from them various sums of money, which he invariably placed in one particular pocket. He was watched by one of the club's racecourse detectives, and" was ultimately arrested. . Before he could be seized he succeeded in tearing up the book in which entries had been made, but on the , way to the stewards' room he dropped a slip of paper which was a betting slip. On being searched be waa found to possess £5 7s 6d in silver in the particular pocket referred to, £4 in gold, and £132 in notes. Accused was fined £20 for a first offence. The Banks throughout the Dominion will be closed on Monday, December Ist, St. Andrew's Day, a statutory Bank holiday. 5 Sugar.—John Hall and Co., Ltd., Sydenham Supply Stores, and the Cash Grocery Co., Cashel street, are taking orders for delivery on Monday next at the old prices: 2£d lb, 10s 6d bag, and brewers' crystals for preserving at Us bag. 6 Motor Accessories. —Lyoett Belts, 2-inch, 13s, J-inch, 15s, 1-inch, 17s 6d; Hutchinson Heavy Tyres, 37s 6d; Assorted spares kept, also best quality repairs, at J. H. Suckling and Co., Garage, 117 Worcester street. 6

Walter J. Watson, D.8.0.A., London, Expert Optician (near Kincaid's). Accurate Sight-testing and Spectaclefitting, Repairs to Frames and broken Lenses matched. Charges moderate. 8 Work good, charges reasonable, timetakon the shortest possible. That's the kind of service you get when you employ us. We "forward parcels, move furniture, pass entries, provide storage. The N.Z. Express Co., Ltd. 6 Dr. Van Slyke, Specialist, Eye, Ear, Throat, and Nose, has removed to the Dominion Buildings, opposite Square and Broadway's. Telephone 744. 6 No nnripe, orer-ripe or inferior frait used in manufacturing Thomson* Snip Lunejnice. No adulteration, no artificial colourings; just the finest limes giving it a qua ljty that is un<ed V a ?V- E ery bottle is pasteurised. Ask for Thomson's Ship Limejuice. All grocers. Ford and Mirams, agents. 7 Your Eyee—A. new discovery for removing Cataracts, Films, Whitts Withotjt operations. Send E \S iKn*V\ d testimonial*, free

Included amongst our fine range of prism, binocular, and field glasses, wo have a line of field and opera glasses which we are selling at a remarkably cheap rate. We also undertake to do repairs to any class of binoculars, field, or opera glasses, at the shortest notice, at John R. Procter's, ocular optician, 200 High street, Christchurch. 5 It does not pay you to do your own Customs work, and this fact is recognised by most importers, who find it saves time, money, and worry, to employ J. M. Heywood and Co., Ltd.. to do it for them. Let them put through your nest shipment. It will pay you to do so. fa One of the reasons for tho phenomenal success of Rheumaline-Oxygena as a rheumatic euro is that xiie discoverer himself prepares it to suit individual cases. In preparing RheumahneOxygena for rheumatic sufferers, personal peculiarities are taken into consideration. Rheumaline-Oxygena is an internal remedy which drives out the uric acid, reduces swelling, banishes pain, and tones up tae system, Write Dominion Rheumatic Cure Syndicate. St. Kilda. Ihinedin. - Shearers should not fail to inspect our stocks of T.U.S. sheep shears, both hollow ground and double hollow ground, also special stones and etonoil Lewis and Anderson, 112 Cashel street W. . 6 "Gentlo and beneficent as a Summer Shower." —Tho "Daisy" Garden Spray, as supplied by us to the Domain Gardens. Christchurch mid Asliburton. Simple and efficient. Hastie, Bull and Pickering, opposite Ballantyne's. C It you want your electnc ijght, lift, motor, beils, or telephones properly and promptly attended to, ring up Turnbull and Jones. Telephones 421 and 3370. . 1