GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14983, 2 June 1914, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

Tho "Weekly Press," published this morning, is not a bit behind its predecessors in the interest of its illustrations as well as its reading matter. The two chief features aro tho Fatal Railway Collision at Whangamarino and tho Appalling Maritime Disaster on tho St. Lawrence River, Canada. Of the railway collision there are seven illustrations which show the results of the collision with great clearness, and there aro also portraits of tho dead and injured. Tho illustrations of the terrible maritime disaster are also informing, and a map in each case makes til© position clear. On the large centre opening are a number of beautiful illustrations of North Canterbury and Kaikoura, and there are also pictures from Nelson, Wanganui, Dunodin, Napier, North Auckland, South Canterbury, Rotorua, and other parts of New Zealand, including three of the Summit road, and a view of the cable station at Cable Bay, near Nelson, which was destroyed by fire early on Monday morning. 13or.'des theso subjects current world's happenings aro illustrated. As usual, the letterpress throughout is bright and informi-n<_, each section of the paper being, veil filled Tfio issue is one which fully sustains the great mana of the • 'Weekly Press," and our advice no readers is,to order their copies early.

The Canterbury miniature rifle championship meeting takes placo at Ashburton to-morrow. Forty-six teams havo entered, which number constitutes a record. Proceedings begin at 3.40 a.m.

Our Inveroargill .correspondent telegraphs that the sections in the Southland estates recently acquired by the Government, aro being gradually taken up, and enquiries have been received during the last day or two by the Department from several prospective settlers.

Included in the passengers from London by the R.M.S. Rotorua, which arrived at Wellington yesterday morning, woro ;6_ Government "assisted" immigrants. They comprised fourteen farm labourers, accompanied by their wives and families, 40 domestic servants, and 101 separated relatives. Most of the immigrants proceeded to their respective destinations yesterday

A special meeting of tho Board of Control of Lancaster Park was held last night, when it was announced that Mr Sv. Lints, of New Plymouth, who had successfully organised tho recent Carnival Queen election in Wanganui, had agreed to organise a similar function in aid of Lancaster Park. The Board decided to accept the offer mado by Mr Lints, and it was agreed that t the carnival should take place in Noyembei next. A special meeting of the Boot Trade Federation was hold last evening to consider a request from the Cnristchurch branch that tho Federal secretary, Mr G. It. Whiting, should be entrusted to arrange special meetings when visiting the branches in the North Island, and urge affiliation witn tho Social Democratic- Party and the United Federation of Labour in compliance with the resolution adopted at Congress. It was resolved to accede tn tne request, and that Mr Whiting ! should be instructed to do his utmost to give effect to the resolutions submitted by the Christchurch branch.

An Interesting specimen was hroughr a week ago to the office of the ''Sydney Moroing Herald" by a resident of Drummoyne. . It was a sea-snake, which he had captured on the sand near the paper-mills at Botany. It was of a deep-black colour, with a bright yellow stripo runnine from head to tail on either side, and was about 2ft Gin long. The most striking peculiarity about the reptile was its tail, which was flattened, to aid in swimming, and was brilliant yellow with deep black spot- on it. Mr Hunter stated than he had soon similar snakes on the Indian coast, but never in Australia before. There is, however, a sea-snake indigenous to Australia, though it is possible that Mr Hunter's specimen was a straggler from the East Indies. Sea-snakes aro mostly venomous, sonn being deadly, and pi.ss most of their lives in the water. They are often encountered far from the nearest lani, and are by no means uncommon, hi* specimens are jarely captured locally*. A remarkably fine _peeimen was caught on the South Coast, about two or *i_re» years ago. and was brought to Svdnoy It was nearly four feet long, arid'was of a pale green colour.

'<:]_.K.M." has contributed os to the Coal and Blanket Fund The We*t Coast Timber* Cotnmissiou commenced its sittings at Hokitika yesterday.

Li cvuinexion with the West Coast service, tho Railway Department notifies that luncheon will not now be provided at Cass. Light refreshments, however, will be obtainable at Springheld nnd lis 1 pin Creek. At the annual meeting of tho Napier Licensing Committee held yesterday, tho chairman announced that the committee had decided that at tho next annual meeting the licenses for tho Clarendon and Criterion Hotels would not be renewed unless the houses wero rebuilt.

An industrial a-rooment has been entered into between the Canrerburv Hotel Employee-' Union nnd the Licensed Victuallers' Association, af10..----ing the hotels in Lvttolton. Sumner New Bri _hton. tho Star Hotel, .'.ddi.ngton. and the Papanui Hotel. The term of the agreement is three years. At Hagley Park yesterdny. a ladies' bogey match was played, with the following results: —Seniors: Miss Way (handicap lo) 2 down, Miss R. Harris (8) 3 down. Miss Garrard (1-) 5 down. Juniors: MKs Greenwood (30) ;_ down, Mrs Boss (23) 5 down, Miss L. Dean (-(i) 7 down. The Wellington vital statistics tor May are as follows (compared with same month last year):—Wirths, 1.14, 160; 1.18, 174; deaths 54, (Xi; marriages 04, -v. The hgures for the hrst five months of this and last rear are: — Wirths. 1914, -55, 1913, 844; deaths, 344, 339; marriages, 4-2, 415. —Press Association.

As tho outcome of a special meeting hold lap. week, the Waihi Miners' Union Executive .waited on the superintendents of the Waihi and Grand Junction Mines yesterday in respect to recent dismissals. Tho companies have replied:—"Wo reservo to ourselves the right to engage or discharge any employees wo choose."

Our Wellington correspondent telegraphs that by tho Rotorua yesterday, an Irish wolfhound pup. broil by Mr Booth, of Bnrnham-on-Crouch (England), arrived for Miss' H. Clifiord. of Stonjhurst. Mr C. L. Clifford's hunter, .Dundee, which was bred in Canterbury, was brought back to tho Dominion on board the llotoriui. Mr Clifford hunted with Dundee in North Staffordshire, and now intends to hunt with him "in Canterbury.

A Westport Harbour Board employee, who recently cancelled his connexion with the Woetport Labour Union because ho objected to the payment of levies for the "Maoriland Worker" and to contribute towards tho United Federation of Labour and the Social-D_mocra.tic Party has received notice to quit the Board's service (telegraphs our Westport correspondent). Other Harbour Boards in the Dominion imposo on its employees such conditions as the Westport Harbour Board imposes by its ngreemont with the labour union. It is stated that tho validity of the dismissal may bo tested in an action for. .damages.

Referring to Mr Justice Sims decision in a caso in Dunedin thc other day, tho attention of tho Wellington "Post" has been calletl to 'tho fact that hia Honour has evidently overlooked an x.mending Act passed in IUUG which enacts tho very \ words which his Honour implies were "surreptitiously" inseited. In the definition of tho word "submission," In tho Arbitration Act, I_9o, section 3 says: —"Su_mission means a written agreement, to submit or present, of futuro differences of arbitration whether an arbitrator is named therein or not." Tho Arbitration Act, 1906, sections 2, providos:—-"The definitiqn of •submis-ion,' in section 3 of the Arbitration Act, 1890, is hereby amended as from tho coming into operation of that Act, by adding thereto tho words 'or under which any question or matter is to be decided by one or moro persons to be appointed by the contracting parties or by some person named in the agreement ' "

In reply to some representations concerning the orc-tion of slot telephone cabinets in vjjious parts of Christchurch South, the PostmasterGeneral states that the placing of _lot telephones at th© corner of Warrington and Somcrfield street-* and Ba.rri_.gtDn and Wychhury streets cannot be agreed to. The junction of Burke, Hanover, and Antigua streets was considered moro central than the corner of Brougham stieet and ''Windmill road, and a telephone placed there would serve a-larger number of residents. The erection' of a machine at that point was under consideration. Thc engineer had recommended the erection of a -lot cabinet at the corner of Colombo street and Moorhouse avenue in preference to tho suggested site at Antigua street. As the residents of Montrose street wer« within reasonable distance of slot telephones, it was not proposed to afford a further extension to that street at present. A plau for the extension of the whole "system throughout the city bad been prepared, and was now being considered.

Yesterday's "Otago Daily Times" has tho ' following:—-It is said that the operations of a Ihinedin gentleman on what may be termed the football betting bourso are being viewed by the officials of the Otago Rugby Union with cold disfavour. The gentleman referred to is credited with losing £50 on a match played on Saturday week, and with winning £100 on a match decided last Saturday. Human nature, being what it is, the union officials recognise that it is practically impossible for thorn to stop these betting transactions. What the union will try to do, however, wo understand, is to take steps to prevent tho betting individual referred to from approaching players taking part in a match in which he is pecuniarily interested, and telling them, in sporting parlance, that they are on "a hat, or pipe, etc., to nothing" if their side wins. It is argued that, if players are approached with the above stimulation to do their bust, they may similarly be approached and stimulated to do their worst—that is, when the money is on the other side. Some of the local union officials have a full knowledge of what is occurring, and are determined that tho practice' referred to shall be stopped—that is, as far -as they can possibly stop it.

The alterations at the Public Library are being pushed on with all possible expedition and, when completed will add much to tho convenience of the public. The re-arrange-ment of the book-shelves in the circulating department will lie a great improvement, one result being that there will be' moro light, and another that less difficulty will be experienced in finding any particular division of literature owing to the labelling of the contents of each 6et of shelves. Yesterday a beginning was made with the installing •of the electric lignt. Good progress has been made with the erection of the new accommodation for the iuvcnilc division, which haa been hitherto hidden in an out-of-the-way corner of the circulating brancn. A large space has been provided near the entrance to tho reference branch, and is being fitted with the necessary shelving. The shelve- are being put at a level that those using this department will be able to reach the books without using ladders. The juvenile branch will re-open with a total _of 2.500 volumes, an increase of 500 volumes. A start is to be made with a juvenile reference department with a comolete' set of the l_nc.vdop.rdia Brittanica and of the Children's Ency-.lo-pifeJia F'.n the prevent at least the juvenile reference department will be housed With the circulating branch,

and tables and chairs will be provided so that those using the reference branch wiii be able to take note;.

Edmund Richard Wheeler, trading as E. Wheeler ami San, photographer, yesterday fi'ed a petition in bankruptcy. Advice received from Bealey states that heavy westerly rain fell during Sunday night '_._.- river was high, hut is now falling.- Snow was falling yesterday morning. The pictures sent from Christchurch last November to the Auckland Exhibition will arrive in Christchnrch. so the secretary of the Canterbury Society of Arts is informed, in a day or two. The Canterbury Freezing Works, Bacon, Manure, and Sausage C-sirg Workers' Union has filed two disputes, ono affecting bacon workers and the other sausflco casing workers. The ribbon fish found on the New Brighton beach some days ago has been pfs-osit-'l to tho Canterbury Museum. A cast is to be. taken of it, and in course of time it wiil bo added to the collection of fishes in tho Museum.

' Tbe Mayor .and members of tho Christchurch City Council havo accept- , ed an invitation from the Waiau Railway League to attend the ceremony of ' turning the first sod of the CulverdenWaiau raihvav extension by the Hon. IR. Heaton Rhodes on Wednesday, June 10th. A bureau of general knowledge is not usually to bo found in a list of Government offices ; but such a bureau has recently been established by tho Commonwealth Government in London, under the title of "The Australian Intelligence Department" (says a Melbourne paper). Its main duties consist in supplying Australian information of every description to those interested in any way in the Commonwealth. Movements of public interest in Australia are noted. Copies of official reports. Parliamentary papers, blue books, and royal commission reports are kept, and closely examined, ns nnv one. publication frequcntlv touches upon divers subjects. In addition the latest cables, articles. Press notices and Ministers' statements ou leading questions are available, and with the aid of on elaborate system of indexing, the latest information from all sources on any given subject is thus collated and rendered easily accessible to enquirers, and a record of all ou options answered is kept. The onrvuiriovs cover a wide range. The cdibilitv of certain sea snails of the coast, nrospects for various professions, railway fares and similar diverse topics aro dealt with, as are the more usual n'l.ric- dealirxr with politics and statistics. English journalists, politicians, essayists.' travellers and political economists make freo use of the department. and Australians iv England may find it helpful in man_i* instances.

•The slogan in America at present in regard to industrial concerns, is 'efficiency,' which has been defined as the elimination of all needless wastes, m material, iv labour, and in equipment, so as to reduce costs, increase profits _nd raise wages." This statement was mado on Monday by Mr Henri L. Benjamin, who has returned to Auckland on a.holiday visit, after an absence or i seven years in America and Franca I "This," ho went on, "is a comprehensive definition, and involves a knowledge of all branches of engineering and workshop management. The 'efficiency idea is taking hold in France, and the French manufacturers are wisely following tlie American methods for im proving their facfo-y efficiency. i have been fortunate, during the past twelve months, in being associated with the leading cr. :!iouing firm n France, Morinui and Company, and we are meeting with great success wherever tho American methods have beci tried. In ono automobile factory thb production was increased from 63 chas-

sis per month to a total of 85, anc. this was accomplished without any new machinery, and without any increisf in personnel. Similar results have been obtained in other factories by standards Lsing processes, beeping complete records, and by analvsincr all phases ot the work from the reception of the raw materials to the di*s*>as_i of the finished products. This leads to the elimina tion of all wastes in raw material, motive power, and transmission, management, work of the machines, and the work of the men." A few days' trial proves tho advantage of using Mrs Rollestcn'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 6d large jar, 2s'9d small. Dominion Building. Cathedral square. 6

The grocery establishments will be closed on Wednesday, June 3rd (King's

Birthday), and be open Saturday, the 6th inßt., until G p.m. 7

When tho children grow up tho family group taken now will bo most valued. Get yours done by Stcffono Webb. Telephone 1989, Petersen's Buildings, High street. 4

Walter J. Watson, D.8.0.A.. Lon* don. Expert Optician (near Kincaid's) Accurate Sight-tc-stina and Spectaclefitting. Repairs to Frames and broken Lenses matched. Charges moderate. 8

Get in touch with J. M. Hoywood and Co., Ltd., <l : rectly you decide to movo. They will handle your furniture carefully, pack it securely, break nothing, and deliver it unscratched to your new residence. 5

In years gone by Spectacles had b-; one U-e. They Mere worn to assist the old folks in rending and sowing. Modern research shows that near fight, far sight, neuralgia, headaches, etc. aro all relieved by properly adjusted .glasses. Consult John It. Pipcter, Oculists' Optician, 200 High street, "'iriatchurch. Repairs to Spectacledone at short notice. 7

Don't yonr corns make themselves felt this weather? It is not worth while suffering when a shilling for Berrv't. Killkorn will give you foot-nase. John Berry, Colombo street. 3