GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14970, 18 May 1914, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

Of the many local happenings of interest or importanco th© doming issue of "The Weekly Press" has p, varied and attractive selection. The popular competitions which have received so much attention in ■ musical and elocutionary circles are represented i>y portraits of tho many winners in the numerous sections, and the visit to Canterbury, of tho -Uasonic Grand Lodge is commemorated by splendid engravings of the large gathering of members of the fraternity and of scenes at somo of the entertainments that wore organised for the members and families. The successful Trotting Meeting at New Briirhton on Thursday is suitably recorded, and there are pictures of the new bungalow and the caretakers of Kennedy's Bush, which is a reserve likely to become frequently visited by people fond of a little.hillwalking, "or anxious to get th© best view of Christchurch and its surroundings. Interesting photographs also came to hand by tho last mail, and of these "The Weekly Press" presents its readers with a varied number, including a map of tho great Cape to Cairo railway through Africa, further scenes in tho Ulster crisis, Mt. Etna, which has just caused such devastation and death, steeplechasing, cross-country racing, and swimming by means of the crawl stroke.

A smail boy is being diligently sought for about Waverley just now (says our Wanganui correspondent). The lad is about fourteen years of age, and was staying on a farm with friends for the past fivo months. On Wednesday evening at 7 o'clock he 6tated that ho was going to bed, and left the sit-ting-room for that purpose. At about 9 o'clock it was discovered that "ho was not in bed. A search party was formed, hut efforts to find the youngster have so far been resultless.

Tho Morere settlers have been completely baffled in their search for Mr R. S. Whitehead, the elderly gentleman who has been missing since Monday last (says our Gisborne correspondent). As many as forty men have beon engaged in scouring the bush between tho hotel and tho station property of Mr "Whitehead, jun., for which the missing roan was bound, and tho search is being continued by from a dozen to twenty men. Mr Whitehead took the track through the bush at a point just behind the hotel, and from that point absolutely no trace of him has been found. The bush has been . tramped and retramped without revealing any clue to the strange disappearance.

In connexion with tho fire at the Vice-Regal residence in Auckland this week, the "Star" remarks that interest in the Northern Government House, both as a building and an institution, has been maintained by the university site controversy. Four years ago it was proposed to practically demolish tho present building, and establish in its place a university. So intent was the -Government on carrying out this schemo that tho Vice-Regal residence was actually stripped of its furniture, which was either sold or railed to Wellington. A heated controversy followed, and tho outcome was that it was resolve 4 that Government House should stay, while meantime tho university question was shelved. Tho Vice-Regal residence was accordingly re-equipped, so that most of the furniture was practical! .now.

Four theatre managers—Rudolph Petersen (Queen's Theatre), D'Arcy Perry (Opera House), Joseph McMahon (Princ«s- Theatre), and Alfred Duncan (t-lobexTheatre) —wero charged at the Aucklakl Police Court on Thursday, beforo MrE. Page, S.M., with having permitted |crsons other than employees to stand in the passages on April 11th. All the defendants admitted the offence, but 'thef. explained that tho evening in questionwas a holiday night, and that they hat *' a d exceptional difficulty in coping lith tho crowds. Mr J. Lindsay, trait" inspector, who prosecuted, stated tbifc in tho Opera House he found chairs irttho passages—an extremely dangero« practice. Mr Perry said the chain!had boon so placed without his knowWge. Prior to Easter, he stated, tV theatre business was down on accounilpf the strong counter attraction of tli-Exhibition, and his 6taff had been redupd. To his surprise the rush at the Op<a House that night was exceptional, ft was surprising," be added, "that the pity Council, which makes tho by-law>! should allow 500 to 1000 people to slid in the Town Hall as has occurred ofline or two occasions. It _ rather a bl; oxample to set to showmen." A fiO of £4 and costs was imposed in thNeaso. In the other cases the fine wa_E2 and costs, the inspector pointing ouihat the managers of continuous picifo shows had great difficulty in con'Olling the crowds.

It is with much regret that we have to announce that Mrs Annie yuaylo Town end, daughter of the late Mr'o. H. Moore, of Ulenmark, and widow of the bite Dr. Towuend. of Christchurch, passed away at her residence, Cashmere, on Saturday afternoon.

At the Globe Theatre last- night- the Rev. P. N. Knight, of Melbourne, gave an address on the "'Law of Compensation." under the auspices of tho V.M.C.A. The hail was filled to its limit. Mr R. 11. Fountain presided, and Mr E. A. Bendall gave a solo. These meetings aro to be continued lor six nights.

The "Otago Daily Times" will announce to-day (says a Press Association tejogram) that the whole of the sum of £7500, which it asked the public to subscribe to provido for the erection of bacteriological and pathological laboratories at tho Medical School in Dunedin, in connexion with Otago University, has now been secured.

What is the fairway in the harbour? That was a questiou argued at the Magisterial enquiry held at Wellington on Friday into the collision between the steamer Pilot- and tho yacht Atalanta. A witness, who described himself as an expert yachtsman, said he considered it tbe duty of a yacht to keep out of the way of steamers when "in the fairway." Mr Blair: "Now, what is the fairway?" Witness: "I consider it is tho passage from the wharf to tho Heads, aud that from any wharf in the harbour to another wharf." Mr B'.air: "In that case there is a whole lot 01 little fairways all ovci the harbour —a regular network of them.'"

Tho drawing for an art union promoted by the Kaiapoi Cycle Club, with permission from the Minister of internal Affairs, attracted a largo attendance. The first prize gold nugget, value £15, was won by Mr R. Archer, Woodend; second prize nugget, value £10, Mrs'H. Trigance, Kaiapoi; third, a relief carved overmantel, Mr W. J. Doull. Taihape ; fourth, oil painting. Mr W. Stark. Kaiapoi; fifth, oil painting, Mr J. Wyatt; sixth, oil painting, Mr K. Evans; seventh, oil painting, Mr RWylie; and eighth. Mr C\ Keetley, of Kaiapoi, respectively. The drawing was witnessed by Messrs J. H. Blackwell and J. W. Barnard, Mayor, and conducted by Messrs H. C. Rcvell and LI. Evans.

Thero was a large attendance in tho Grand Theatre yesterday at the "Pleasant Sunday Afternoon" gathering, held iv connexion with the Central Methodist Mission. Tho Rev. J. Cocker presided, and a special programme was given by the Christchurch Mandolin Orchestra, about thirty strong, under the leadership of Mr W. A. East. In addition to tho items given \. by tho orchestra a mando-'cello solo was rendered by Mr East. Mr Petty contributed a solo and also sang a duct wit.i Miss Two.se. Mr L. Cummings recited. All the items were listened to. with groat interest by the audience, which "showed its appreciation by frequent applause. On tho motion of tho Rev. J. Cocker, a hearty voto of thanks was accorded to the performers.

"Tito education children receivo in th- playground has a great deal to do with the formation of their character and the trend of their futuro life, said Mr F. W. Lang, M.P., at the first annual social of the Auckland Suburban Cricket Association. 'Cricket, which is undoubtedly the leading national outdoor game of England, io at once of incalculable value to the school child, And of the greatest value, as far as health and exeroisc are concerned, to the adult. If such sports were encouraged in the school playing fields even more than at present, they wonld, I think, have a very benencial result on the nation as a whole. I have always taken the greatest interest m outdoor sports," added the speaker, "and the greatest lament of old players who are 'on the shelf' is that wo can't play the whole year round. 1 can, however, assure your Association that as long as it is in my power to do so, I will put forth every effort to assist you."

The extraordinary divergence of medical opinion as to the sanity or insanity of Thomas Edwin Brown, who was charged with having murdered Constable Hickey in Sydney, and was acquitted, but afterwards detained on grounds of insanity, cannot be passed over without comment (says tho "Sydney Morning Herald"). The evidence of no fewer than 13 doctors was taken in the case; and the conclusion of six of them was completely opposed to the conclusion of the other seven. "It is, tho "Herald" proceeds, "'high time that medical men were given Euch a training, in the diagnosis of madness that such a conflict of evidence should in future be put almost beyond the bounds of possibility. The public, in a. cas-. of this wrt does not know which set of doctors was right. What it does want is the assurance .that its medical men will in future obtain such a training in thr. important department of modern medicine as will make impossible the occurrence of any of the terrible rms f a_e_'_or which the absence of such training leaves only too obvious an opening."

A warning regarding what is known as "the typhoid period" iv Auckland was issued* by Dr. P.. H. Makgill, tho local District Health Officer, on Thursday last. "January, February, March, and April are," he said, "the typhoid months. In a dry year it invariably happens that typhoid is much mora prevalent than tn a wet .year. When a period of .drought is broken, the effect, though not noticeable immediately, is quite pronounced about a mouth or six weeks later. Only four cases iiave occurred in the city and suburbs so far this month, and the probabilities aro that with tho rain and the cooler weather, it will not be a bad month. But the rate in Mangero and Onehunga has been very high, and I know that somo of the cases at least are traceable to bathing in, and eating shellfish from, the Mangero reaches oi" tho Manukau. Tho oyster-beds in this locality are, of course, closed, and no anxiety need be felt by people procuring oysters from the 31arine Department, for the supply comes from clean beds. While people are very diffident about admitting having procured oysters illegally, there seems to bo littlo doubt in some cases that illicit oysterpicking might ha\_ caused the spread of the disease. The source of the pollution of these oyster-beds is the gradually increasing amount of sewago that is nonred into tho Mangere reach, from "Westfield down to Onehunga.''

A considerable number of book-lovers attended the sale of about 600 volumes from the library of the lato Mr Robert Gillies, which took place in tho Auckland Chamber of Commerce on Thursday night, under the hammer of Messrs Smith and Halcombe (says the "Star"). Main interest was centred in the salo of a number of works relating to New Zealand, especial interest being attached to the inclusion of books relating to Cook's voyages and discoveries. While the prices realised were not extraordinary, tho sale as a whole was satisfactory, and competition fairly keen. Among tho works of Zealand interest a good copy of Hochstetters "New Zealand" brought 355. "Tho Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute*' (17 volumes, 186S to 1.884)_ realised £5 2s; "Native Flowers of New Zealand." illustrated in colours (three volumes), 34s 6d; "Musings in Maoriland," by T. Bracken and Sir George Grey 13s; "New Zealand and its Colonisation," by William Swainson. 7s, and "Cook's Voyage to the \.cif*c Ocean" (threo volumes). 1776 to 1780, was knocked down at £3. A similar price was realised for "CooE _ Voyage of Discovery in tho Southern Hemisphere" (three volumes), 1773, by John H. D. Hawkesworth. For "Cook's Voyage Round the World*' (two volumes), 1772 to 1775, the sum of £4 10s was given. "Cook's GeoTaph - of tho Wholo World" brought Its.

Mr G. Witty, M.P.. will '* electors of hiccarton in the Oddfollw? liatl at _> to-morrow evening. • . The fourth night', play Jn th* '"' Christchurch Friendly Societies' Card' ' Association s tournament resulted k» ' ' follows :—Anchor beat Pioneer,. 33-l?7 • K taP 0 0, M,", bw,t " St ' ,r °f Canted - • .? r .f,' 2 £" JI: : M A s , l, ? tTO - l >™t - -'o-_M ; City ot Christchurch beat I*, of - Linwood. 2-1-1.-.; Washington beat Iw 7 severance, -'.7.-1.; Queens Own a by«. From report* to hand, the present shooting season bids lair to t>o as 1 -ii_! 7 oessinl as the past fishing .casoa ' Ducks, swans, and pukaki are plent--ul, and some very satisfactory barhave already been made at *he T-,&* and i» other districts. With .he ad" ' vent ot the colder weather the hares are coming oft the snow country on to tne lowlands.

Tae Mayor (Mr H. Holland) l las ' given notice to move at the next tacet ing ot the City .Council:— "T_ ia t all employees of tho Council whose wages an--] hours wore affected by the award which ramo into opera tion on December Ist have their wa__e_ s and hours altered as follows:—Hoy-, - to be -lot per week instead of 44. '* wages to be £_' 13s 6d instead of ci ' lis 4d." — :

"It is the first time I have ever been bet ore the 'beak.' " was the unusual remark of a defendant at the Auckland Police Court on Thursday, when he was oflerinc: a number of reasons win- he " should not be fined heavily for exceed- * ing tho speed limit. "I did not catch your remark." said Mr Frazer, with a ■ suspicion oi a smile. ■'] said it wa& tho first time I have over been before tiu. Bencli." replied tho defendant with perfect- composure.

A young Maori girl at Kokariki was found suffering from typhoid fever, and her removal to the Palmerston North Hospital was ordered (says our Wanganui corie-pondent). "The Maoris, however, took her to the Native pah at Bulls for treatment by a Native faithhealer. The Health Inspector visits the pah and carried out disinfecting operations. The girl is reported by tho Maoris to be getting better, and their faith in the Native healer has gone up.

Several technical questions regarding the management of a yacht wow discussed nt, the enquiry at Wellington on Friday into the Pilot-Atalanta collision. "How long would it tako to cast off the mainsheot. aud commence to slack away?" asked counsel of an expert witness. "Three seconds, I should say." came the "Only three seconds—are you sure?" persisted counsel. Witness: "It would take mc three seconds; it would probably take you three minutes." "'Oh! It might tike mc three hours. I think - it would," replied counsel. And theCourt laughed.

The game of baseball, which is bo popular in the United States, will be ,' played in Wellington during the i corn- ;. ing season (remarks the "Post"'). It - .-_, is recognised in America to bo the 7" leading .sports game, and is also now - making great strides in other parts ' of the world. At tho meeting held in Wellington ou Friday evening. Mr J. O. M'Donald, in .imposing that- a Baseball League be formed in Wellington, made somo interesting remarks about the game as played in tho United " States. He also mentioned that several . gentlemen had kindly voluntoered to coach the uninitiated players during tho winter months.

A correspondent writes: —"Noticing a paragraph in your columns a few days ago that -in irotibark pumpkin, grown in the garden of Mr W. Keetjey, Kaiapoi, weighed 56!b, I thought it might - be of interest to your readers to learn that, in the presence of tho writer, last week Mr W. 11. Taylor weighed throe pumpkins grown by "him upon his father's estate, 'Dovedale,' Waipara, the aggregate ■ weight of which was 2001b, comprising Mammoth 7Glb, and two iron barks of 60 and 641b respectively. To tho writers knowledge such weights aro not exceptional on this : property." "

The danger of taking lights near- -. petrol was further demonstrated a - evenings ago (says our W "anganui correspondent). Whilo the Knupoko- - nui Dairy Company's motor-wag-gons were receiving their supply of ' petrol in a shod near tho factory an , acetylene lamp, held by a man standing by, caused a sudden ignition of the petrol vapour, and at Once a sheet of . flame shot up to the roof of the build- > ing. The clothing of 6omo of those ■ ; standing around was set on fire, and ■ there were some exceedingly narrow ' escapes from serious injury. "The roofof ono of the motors, was set on fire • - and partly destroyed. ..-"

The estimated expenditure by the -' Auckland .City Council during the -- ensuing year is £144.i03, and the estimated revenue £59,335, leaving £84,772 - to be provided out of rates! Tho debit * balance at 31st .March. 1914, wa_ £29,77- 13s, while among the principal - items of expenditure were salaries and,, allowances, £8500; abattoir ■ Westfield. -. £14.200; streets expenditure. £49,550 ,* (including traffic control, £750); public 'J lighting, net, £3500; streets mainten- .? ance, "net, £34,000; streets special .. wo-ks, net, £9500; tree planting £100; ' and conveniences. £1700. JTho total ex- - penditure on parks was £5075, of which '• £1500 was set aside for Myers Park.

In aid of the fund being raised to provido open air homes for children,_*_>:. ontertainmont is to he given next Fri- -j day evening in tho King's Theatre. Miss Balkind has cdisted the assistance of a number of those who took part in.: tho recant Competitions, including se""-__ oral who gained championships, an. , an interesting and varied programme ..£ will bo submitted. Amongst the con'-.-tributors of musical items will be Mitt-, Maud Stringer and Mr V. H. Papakura, both of whom did so well at the J" competitions. The Dresden Piano Com- ■> nany has kindly given the use of ,«* piano for the entertainment. Ticket-.: may be obtained from the secretary, Mt C. *W. Hervey, 59 Cathedral square. _" In tho course of the marine enquiry ". at the Magistrate's Court at Welling-"_ ton on Friday into the Pilot__tala_ta \ collision last month, the proceedings were on several occasions the cause of . merriment. One witness was asked tQj' stato the crew that were aboard the:. Pilot at the time. "Well," he saifl,'; * reflectively, "there was the captaW.' the chief" officer, th© chief engineer , " Hero a pause ensued. "Coon." said the examining connß.l. "That's all," continued tho witness, ' amid general laughter. At a later' . stage the same witness waxed indig-' -' nant at the misdoings of certain yarbte-. men in the harbour. "Why." ho Eaid, __ "some of them route right up to the .- side of a steamer and go about and some cut right across your bow?. If ' you speak to them they put their fingers to their noses (illustrating the • action), and you know what that - means!" Counsel disclaimed all know- .. ledge of any significance that might be . attached to the mystic sign. yell. _■ I don't know what it means either, finished tho witness, amidst more laughter. A few days' trial proves the advant- • age of using Mrs Rollcston's Special- . Cream for the face, instead'of wattry during the cold weather. It is imported from England, and is guaranteed not to promote the growth of hair on the face. Price 4s Cd largo jar. 2s G*d small. Dominion Building, Cathedral square. »~- Steffano Webb makes a specialty of '- wedding and family photographs artis- • ticallv grouped and excellently finished. _. Telephone 1030, Petersen's BuildtofSp. High street. * . The mornings grow dark. The mo. tf" Watchman, "Big Ben," will call on «<» ; moment and insistently. Price lis «3j - ; < at Hastio, Bull and Pickering's, _W__\, site Ballantyne's. "Big Ben s _tt» - brother ''Lookout," at 6s. '?',"', Walter J. Watson, D.8.0.A.. I**'?; don. Expert Optician (near "Euncaja W- v > ! Accurate Sight-testing and "sP"" £ fitting. Repairs to Frames and "oWg_p Lenses matched. Charges madera».'i>;jL||

Tho beginning of tho end.—On Fnnav nest the curtain will be rung down upon the big bankruptcy bargain sale at Armstrongs. Ltd.. tne drapers. Iho low prices for the last five days, to effect a clearing up. will command business and be remembered. * Boys, invent a new model ior.the 'Meccano" instrn-.i Mm lo U. *.-d •••'er tbo great "Meccano' competition. Prizes for the most original mode!*. Full particulars from Lewis and Audei'Jod, H2 Ca.hcl street, agents for •'Meccano."