GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14980, 29 May 1914, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

A number of Timiaru people have lately purchased small blocks of land m the Nelson district with the object of planting orchards.

The Mercantile Gazette" reports the registration of tho New Zealand Home Builders, Ltd., an Auckland companj with a Capital of £250,000. The objects of the I company are to purchase and deal in laiid and houses.

Altogether ten cases of infantilo paralysis havo bean notified to tho South Canterbury Hospital Board as existing within the South' Canterbury district-—one in Tinfaru, two in Levels County, three in Geraldine. two in Mackenzie County, and two in Waimate County.

"A word of commendation is due to. the Government for the manner :n which it has taken up the question of representation of New Zealand at the Panama Exhibition," said Mr W. Jones at a meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce on. Wednesday. "They are evident!y determined to leave no stone unturned to bring tho products of New Zealand into promiuent and favourable notice in tbac gathering of nations."

Yesterday afternoon a demonstration of tho hill-climbing capabilities of a Tilling Stevens petrol electric car was >yen -it Lyttelton in the presence of the Mayor, several councillors, the •touoch engineer, and the town clerk. Starting from near the municipal buildings in Oxford street the car traversed tho road to Corsair Bay, and on its return came by way of Cressy terrace md Dublin street. Sunnier road was also covered. One stage of tho journey was pretty severe, the grade being equal to ono in five, but the demonstration was in every way a success.

At tho present juncture when ( thero is a certain .amount of activity in enrolling electors, it is understood that it would greatly facilitate the identnu cation of elector*} /who witness claims for enrolment if. in addition to their signature, the witnesses also pare their occupation aud address. This is most; necessary in cases where there am several electors of the same naiuo oa the roll. Those witnessing claims for enrolment are reminded that unless tl'O witness is a registrar, a deput3--regis-trar. or. authorised agent of registrar, a Justice of tho Peace or a postmaster, they can only witness the" claims of those seeking to be enrolled on the roll on which the name of the witness appears.

A novel response lo an appeal for money has been made by a Lower liutt resident. Last Sunday the Rev. Jamos

McCaw brought under the notice of the congregation tho position of tJie Presbyterian Homo Mission Fund. The next day he unexpectedly found himself 'n possession of a horse, and he is at :j loss to know what to do with it.'Ho reported tho incident to tho annual meeting of the Presbyterian Orphanage and Social Service Committee on Tuesday night (says the "Post"), .'t is desired that tho animal should '•©

converted into hard cash, and various suggestions wero made as to its disposal. "I would liko to tee the horse purchased for the orphanage, ,, said Mr McCaw, amid laughter. - 'I am sure

they arc in need of a horse there." "No you don't," replied I>r. Gibb. "'Look here/ he continued. "I believe Mr McCaw is bsdt' v.\ need of a horso in order to work hi* district thoroughly. I would suggest that his congregation make him a of this one. Of course, they would have to buy it, and J wotifr] slickest that a hi~h prico be asked/ (Moro laughter.)

The V.M.C.A. Entertainers' Club held their "Presidents' Evening" ia*i night, and the function proved a decided success.

Tho foundation etone of the tower and spiro of St. Augustine's Churcu, Cashmere Hills, will be laid by Bishop Julius at 3 p.m. to-morrow.

A frost fish possessing the oxtmonlinary dimensions of twelve feet zn length by fifteen inches in width was picked up on the New Brighton beac.'i last night.

Mr Arnaud McKellar has siven fifteen tons of coal to the Coal ami Blanket Fund. Donations iv ca*h received yesterday were:—"Anonymous." .£«"» W. G. Cotterill £2 2s, "Friend ,, £2 2s, "Friend" £2.

Evidence of .in r.T.sier tendency on tho money market is furnished in Tiniaru through the fact that one o° the largest trading concerns then? has given notice of it*, intention to reduce, as from Juno Ist, its rate of interest on fixed deposits* lor twelve months, from .3 per cm:, to -\h per cent.

Mr "W. Moyle. secretary of the Canterbury Rugby League, lias written to the Mayor, stating that tho League would be pleased '.o arrange a benefit I match, the proceeds to be given to tho j Open Air Home for Children. The Mayor has replied, thanking the League L for "its offer, and accepting it.

The ceremony of turning the first sod of the Oounako railway took nlaco yesterday in glorious weather and in the presence of a large gathering of settlers. Tlip Hon. W. Fraser per* formed the ceremnny. Hβ said tho line was one of the greatest in importances in tho Dominion, and he would do what he could to have- it finished in reasonable t.inio. Ho was presented with a silver ink.s'.and in honour of tho occasion. A girl aged nine years was brought in charge of her father and mother before Mr H- W. Bishop, 5.M... at a sitting of the Juvenile Court yesterday. The parents stated that they could not control the child, and asked that sho should be committed -o a Home. Mr Bishop remarked that tho child was very young not to bo under control. Ho committed her to the Receiving Home, to bo brought up in the Church of England faith, the father guaranteeing to pay 7s Gd per week towards her maintenance.

The annual memorial parade of w.e members of the Chrisichurch Veterans' Association will be held on Sunday afternoon. The veterans will assemblo at Kinc Edward Barracks at 2.30 p.m., and march to Victoria square, where Divino service will be conducted by the Ilev. A. fi. Norris, of Tennika (formerly of the 2nd JiV.v Zealand Contingent). The band of tho Ist Mounted Rifles (C.V.C.) will bo : n •attendance. Addresses will also bo given by. the Mayor (Mr H. Holland) and Colonel Slater, V.D.

Asked hy a. representative of "Tho Press" yesterday if further information was available regarding the Government's proposals in connexion with Lyttelton Gaol, tho Hon. A. L. Hordman, Minister in charge of Prisons, said that it had been decided to close the gaol at Lyttelton, and make provision in tho country for tho reception of prisoners. A sito was under consideration at present, but he was not yet fully satisfied that it would bo a suitable one for the purpose, and, therefore, could not give auy information regarding it at present.

Tho V.M.C.A. Literary and Debating Club is starting a movement to inaugurate annual competitions in which, members of all debating clubs in Christchurch may participate, and to this end a meeting of delegates from all kindred societies in Ohristchurch has been arranged. It is hoped to hold the Competitions on throe or four evenings during October, in tho V.M.C.A. Hall, and in addition to prizes for the winners of the various sections, a shield will be obtained to be held annually by the most successful club. Tho Committee, of the Club emphasises tho fact that those proposed competitions are not suggested as rivals to the present annual competitions, but rather as aids to them.

. Some time ago the Cnristchureh Branch of tho Amalgamated Society of Engineers submitted new demands to tho employers, who took them into consideration on Wednesday. It was decided to decline the Society's request for a conference on the demands submitted, chiefly on tho ground that they could not form the basis of any agreement. It has been estimated', that if tho demands made -were agreed to it would involve tho payment to tho workers directly concerned of an extra £7000 per annum -whilst tho cost of production would bo increased by an additional £8000. Tho Christcßurcb employers have taken up a somewhat similar stand in the matter as wa3 taken recently by tho Wellington employers when similar demands were submitted to them.

At the meeting of the City Council on Monday last it was decided to enforce the by-law requiring that women' 3 hatpins should be protected when they protruded from thVhat. While it 13 ~ranted- that a protruding hatpin does constitute a decided danger to tho public, especially, in tramcars, railways, and crowded places generally, it is urged as some mitigation of the heinousness of tho once much-decried evil ihat the fashion for long hatpins has now entirely changed * and that th«» shorter hatpins which are now in vogue do not by any means constitute the same danger that the longer "weapons ' of a few years ago did , . Milliners endorse the statement that the hatpins of the present are not go long as they once were, and to that extent the enforcement of the by-lav now becomes somewhat fn the nature of precautions after "the horse has been stolen. At the same time oven tho short pins of tho present still constitute a danger from which the City Council has decided the population shall bo protected. The iriepectors of the Council have been instructed to take active steps in reporting women found without covers upon the points of their hatpins and to guard against prosecution at the hands of tho City Council. Already, it has been noticed, there lisa been a decided movement on tho part of tho women of Christchurch to cover their pinpoints. . In this way the by-law is being observed and the inspectors hope if. will continue to bo observed without their interference. After Riving the women a few days' srr.ice to becoiuo aware of the new conditions it is like', that the inspectors will be pouncing upon some culprit and '"making an example" of her.

A few days' trial proves the advantage of using Mrs Itolleston's Special Cream for the face, instead of water, 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 large jar. 2s 9d small. Dominion Building. Cathedral square. 6

Comparison is the true test of value, and courted by Messrs Armstrong and Coy. with every'line. Unshrinkable Union Shirtings Is 3d. Is 6d; Dominion Finnel 10Id; Flannelette 4s 3d dozen; 72----inch White Twilled Sheeting from Is, 58-inch Belgian Tick Is. i

Steffano Webb makes a specialty of wedding and family photographs artisticaJlv grouped and excellently finished Telephone ISSO, Petersenls Buildings, High street. 1

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

The Showrooms at Messrs Armstrong, Ltd., simply coruscate with bargains. Xew up-to-date lines at distinctly cut price*. Black Velvet Hats 2s lid, 4s fxl. 3s lid, Ladies' Wool Rinking Hats (all colours) Is 3d; Trimmed Felts V 4s lid. Velvet f.maitly trimmed, wings and mcuntij, 12s 6d. 2

Women and Politics. In Japan it is rot lawful for a Tvomaa to attend a political meeting. A prj. vato Bill was introduced into the House of Representatives just before the prorogation in March to remove this disability, but it did not even get through committee. Mr Shindo said that the beautiful manners of Japanese women would bt» corrupted if they mixed m politics. Ho may bo right (says tho "Japan Chronicle"'). Those of the men have certainly not stood the strain.

Quaker and the Landowner. Sir John Ramsden, oni' of the largest landowners in.. England, whose <ie;vthis aimounoi-.d in his eighty-third year, owned IoO.COO acres ot land. Some years ago it was stated that ho owned i-be land on which every Jiouso in Huddei-s!i-)M was out't oxropt one. Being desirous to obtain possession ot this piece of land Sir .lohn, to tempt ihc owner- a. Quaker—offered to cover tho ground with sovereign*, "AH right," wa* the reply, "I'll soil to theo if thou wilt put thorn on edgeways up" rii-J salo ilid not lake place.