GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15869, 7 April 1917, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS.

Tho auction announcements' of Craddock, McCrostie and Co., Harcourt and Co. Charles Clark, Dalgoty and Co., National Mortgage and Agcncy Co., AV. E. Simes and Co., Harris Bros., G'laridgo and Smith, K. S. McKenzio and Co., and Tonks, Norton and Co. will bo found on pago 15 of this issue. In future no charge will be mad© for maintenance while in New Zealand hospitals at Home against former members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Fore© who are admitted to a New Zealand hospital suffering from the disability which necessitated' their discharge from the Forces, provided such disability is not due to venereal or other diseases the result of misconduct. Further evidence of the Imperial sentiment shown by Ilugby footballers in New Zealand is afforded, by the record of the Athletic Club, Wellington. All the members but one—and he was incapacitated in civil occupation—of the fifth class team, which won tho championship four years ago, are now at the front. Under Rugby playing regulations this means that none of the fourteen now at the front can be more tlian 22 years of ago.

The outdoor workers in connexion with street collections for patriotic funds usually have a fairly strenuous time of it, and tho indoor staff, who have to count the contents of tho boxes, have almost as busy a time. For instance, the stragt collection on Thursday in aid of tlio Returned Soldiers' Association, necessitated tne handling of no fewer than 16,730 separate coins, the majority being, of course, the smaller denominations. <>? the total coins collected 323 wero halfcrowns, 590 were florins, 4014 wero shillings, 4110 were sixpences, 3654 wero threepenny-bits, <34U3 wero pennies, and 537 were halfpence.

A young farmer who appeared before the Third Military Service Board at Wellington on Wednesday stated his inability to 6ecure anyone to take his plac© to look after his farm. Captain Baldwin severely questioned him as to the possibility of his obtaining some ineligble man to work the farm, and suggested a Second Division man. Mr C. H. Izard, who appeared for appellant, remarked that probably the Second Division man would bo called up in turn. "That is all right, Mr Izard," replied Captain Baldwin, "but if we are to believe the Minister no Second Division men will be called un this year."

The Dannevirke newspaper has been thrown into a state of" excitement by hearing that Count Bernstorff, the late German Ambassador at Washington, was at one time a resident of Dannevirke. and was for a time the guest of Mr F. G. Cowper. At that time ho uas known as Baron Ernst. The gentleman "had a most persuasive manner, and was an adept lady's man. He had a charming way of conversing with ladies, ana.he had a way of acquiring information from them that in the light of after events was particularly subtle." After leaving Kaitoke, Baron "Ernst" went on a sketching; tour to Woodville, and proceeded on to Wanganui. where he spent some time with Mr Cowper's relatives. These incidents are said to have occurred 31 .years ago.

In connexion with tho Port Levy Regatta, to bo held on Monday, a steamer will leave Lyttclton for Port Levy at 10.15 a.m. The electric light was switched on in the main 6treet in Kaiapoi on Thursday evening, tho trial proving a success. » The Mavor (Mr 1L Holland) has received the following subscriptions towards the Scott Memorial Fund: —W. Wood, £1 Is, A. Ferguson, £1 Is. A portion of the re-laid original tramway track in Worcester _ street, from Stanmore road to near Fitzgerald avenue, was used for traffic on Thursday. The Deputy-Mayor of Lyttelton (Mr J. T. Norton) has called a public meeting. to bo held in the Excelsior Hall, on Tuesday, at 7.30 p.m., to consider important "matters in connexion with the borough. It was reported to tho -Education Board on Thursday that tho architect had been instructed to prepare a sketch plan of tho proposed new schoo] a t West Christchurch, and that Dr. Chilton bo asked to confer with the Buildings Committee at its next meeting. The trend towards economy is illustrated by the following recommendation approved of by tho Canterbury Education Board on Thursday:—"That tho Motor Committee bo asked to consider tho advisability of substituting motor cycles with side-chairs for the motorcars used by its officers." Mr Orton Bradley, chairman of the Mount Herbert County Council, has decided to contest a seat for the Lyttelton Harbour Board, standing for tho district comprising the Akaroa, Waircwa, and Mount Herbert Counties, and the Lyttelton, Wcolston, Sumner, and New Brighton Boroughs. The Mayor (Mr H. Holland) has received a largely signed petition protesting against the resolution arrived at by the City Council on the subject of Home Rule for Ireland, and has been requested to forward it to his Excellency the Governor, to whom the petition is addressed. Tho attendances at tho Ait Society's annual exhibition in tho Art Gallery on Thursday were highly satisfactory. The afternoon tea and the produce stall were in charge of Mrs W. S. Bean and Mrs S. C. Bingham. To-day tho exhibition will be open from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m., and from 7.30 p.m. till 9.30 p.m. Tho drawing of tho art union will tako place on Friday night.

At Dunedin on Wednesday Sir James Allen gave a deputation tho following examples of disabilities for which men had been turned down in the Military Camps in New Zealand during 1916: — 25 cases of tubercle, 43 of epilepsy, 27 of unsound mind, 73 of ear disease, 17 of asthma, 42 of appendicitis, 25 of heart disease, 43 o£ stricturo, 15 of rheumatic fever, 33 of alcoholism, 32 of neuritis, 24 of neurasthenia, 45 of gastric disease, 61 of hernia, 77 of flat foot and other deformity, and 112 cases of old injury. Colour-Sergeant Samuel Atkins, of Wellington, who died on Tuesday, saw some stirring sights in India at tho timo that country was aflame with mutiny, and no white man's life was safe. In addition to the inevitable horrors of war, in those times due to the primitive character of the services attached to the Army, cholera in all its hideousness had to b© fought insido the wall? of the cities, whilst'the maddened myriads of Sejpoys had to be kept at bay without with cannnon ba,ll and rifle bullet. Sorgeant Atkins said that on one occasion it was reported that a soldier named Joo Wilson had died of cholera. The mail was wrapped in a sheet and put into the deadhouse: During tho night tho sentry posted near was badly frightened by a figure peering out of tho window, and saying: "What timo is it, mate?" Thinking that it must, surely bo the ghost of Joe Wilson, tho sentry, instead of telling tho timo, fled to the. barracks, to relate his experience. Joe, it appears, was a long way from dead, and soon made it clear that he was not his own ghost, but a very material person. A few days ago wo published an extract from a Southern paper of a case of wanton destruction of a house and contents at Kurow belonging to Frederick Steffan, a Tyrolese Austrian. Mr and Mrs Steffan were absent at tho timo motoring with a soldier relative on leave from camp. Windows, crockeryware; mirrors, and furniture wero broken. Tho furniture was also damaged and tho floor strewn with flour. A few days afterwards Steffan threw the place open to tho public in aid of the Wounded Soldiers' Fund, and a considerable sum was raised. The detectives at once began to investigate the matter, and as a result on 'Wednesday Detective-Sergeant Kemp and Detective Hammefly arrested two married women named Hardy and Pratt on a charge of committing the damage, which is estimated- at about £100. An unusual feature (says the Dunedin "Star") is tho fact that tho woman Pratt is tho wife of the local constable, who was absent from the district when the offenco occurred. Tho other woman is the wife of a carpentcr, and they both lived next door to tho Stef* fans. Steffan is a well-known New Zealand guide, and an expert bushman. He has been in New Zen land for many years. With his experience of bush work he was engaged some vear s ago to assist Detective (now Sub-inspector) Broberg to hunt down the murderer Ellis in the back country of the North Island. Ho also recovered the body of a tourist named Andrews, who was lost in the bush while deer-stalking in the Martinborough district. Andrews's life was insured for £10.000. and a reward of £400 was offered for tho recovery of tho body, dead or alive. Loasby's Nervo Tonic and Blood Enricher makes rich, rod blood, imparts vigour ana health. 2s 6d and 4s Bcl. 1 Armstrong's drapery stores remain open until 6 o'clock to-day. 1 Rubbing wears you out. Save rubbing by using "Easy Monday;" Everypacket contains coupon for £100 cash prize. < 4 If you want an electric lamp, buy a Royal Ediswam, which is all British. Turnbull and Jones, Ltd., sole agents for New Zealand. 6 Tho sale of Dallas's stocks causing extra pressuro of business at Messrs Armstrong's stores. Our readers are advised to shop as early in the day as possible. 2 A long time since your lasfc photograph 'was taken ?• Time now for a new one. Let Steffano Webb take it. Telephone 1989. Petersen's Buildings, High street. 5 You can depend, upon everything being done promptly and well if you only hand your shipping documents to J. M. Hejrwood a nd Co., Ltd. They are recognised as experts at this work. Telephones 250, 1241. and 2174. 6 Akaroa, the old French settlement, chosen bv our Allies as the most beautiful harbour existing, it retains this health and beauty still. Take your holiday there. 8 "The glory of the garden." Bradbury's famous Sweet Pea Seeds are now ready; 145 varieties, mostly threepence per packet. Sow now for early blooming. Full selection. Catalogues and instructions at Hastie. Bull and Pickering's, Cashel street. 6 Securo your new Dinner Sets before Easter. Exclusivo designs in black and gold effects; Round-shape Vegetable Dishes, now on view at Drayton's, 765 Colombo street. 6 Armstrong's drapery stores remain open until (3 o'clock to-day. 2 WANTED TO SELL—SECONDHAND MOTOR-CYCLES Offers wanted—Latest model 4J h.p. three-speed "8.5.8.," owner has purchased car.- Low price for quick sale. Meade and Deacon 'Canoelet" side-car, first-class condition, £15. Adams ,Ltd., High, street. 6