GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15870, 9 April 1917, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

The Art Society's annual exhibition at the Art Gallery was well patronised on Saturday. The exhibition will bo opon to-day and this evening, from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m., and from 7.31) p.m. till 9.5)0 ;>.m.

A North Canterbury resident points out that during this dry season the flax plants have been attacked with the American blight, similar to that on apple trees. In tiio flax it forma on tho portion of the leaves . nearest the ground, and some of tho branches of Sax are losing all the blades from tho cause referred to.

At the monthly meeting of the Canterbury Fruitgrowers' Association held on Saturday night, satisfactoj y reports were made regarding the arrangements in train for the Patriotic .Fruit and Allied Products Show, to be hold in the Colosseum on the 20th and 21st inst. Mr W. J. Courtier said many peoplo thought that they had to go to Hawke's Bay, Nelson, or Otago to get fine, highly-coloured apples, but he could guarantee that at tho 6how as fine and as highly-coloured fruit, grown in Canterbury, would be shown as in any part of tho Dominion. A very comprehensive display would be made of machinery and apparatus for the orchard, ranging from fruit cases to spraying apparatus and motor tractors. Arrangements were being made to give information regarding diseases of fruit trees, and their treatment, to all seeking for it.

Our Akaroa correspondent writes: — Akaroa is overflowing with visitors this Easter. On Thursday and Friday they came along in such numbers that the motor-cars —and there are no less than ten passenger cars here now —had to make more than one return trip, to Little River in order to deal with the crowd. AH the accommodation houses —hotels, boardinghouses, as well as several private houses that take in boarders —have the same report to make —"full." The weather so far lias been delightfully fine; indeed, Friday antl Saturday would have passed for balmy summer days. The oil launches aro having a. busy time of it. Easter is their harvest. Trips round the harbour, to the lighthouse, the Caves, Snenerv Nook, nnd other points of interest, are run regularly, morning and afternoon, and arc very well patronised. The advertising scheme initiated by the Akaroa Advancement Association, is, without a doubt, proving successful, for our visitors eomo from as far away as Auckland, Dunedin, and the West Const.

Tho habit of meddling with other people's umbrellas, though looked upon generally as a more or less venial offence, is not always safe (says the Auckland "Star")- A man who came before Mr E. C. Cutten, S.M., on Thursday, on a charge of theft of an umbrella, explained that it was really a pretended theft by way of a joke. He was drinking with several men in an hotel, he said, when one of them, who ho didn't know, left [his umbrella hanging on a hook. He shifted the umbrella, and, putting it behind a door, said nothing, when the man majie a fuss about missing it, and called a policeman. Next day ho took it from behind tho door, and put it in another hotel near at hand, with tho intention of telling the constable who had ieceivcd tho complaint so that tho owner might get it, but the information that he had put the umbrella there reached the constable first, and he was charged with theft. Ho admitted that the joko was on him, and mado no complaint when ho was fined £2 for his fun.

"Go slow" was tho advico given by Mr J. B. Mcrrett at tho annual conference of the New Zealand Poultry Association at Wellington on Saturday, in reference to tho proposals frequently made that returned soldiers should be urged "to raise poultry and produce eggs." Ho mentioned a case in tho South Island where money had been advanced for that purpose, "and very* soon lost. "As a matter of fact," said Mr Mcrrett, "returned soldiers as a rule know nothing about our industrv, and unless they do they will be well advised to keep away from it." The speaker urged that the Government should appoint ono of its officers to attend to tho duties of instructing returned men. for it was only with -proper instruction that they could liopo to succeed. In the course of his retiring address the president (M r H. M. Boddington)' also referred to this matter. He stated: "Criticism has been levelled at the executive for not taking a more active interest in agitating for the settlement of returned soldiers as poultry farmors. If tho critics would only givo the matter serious thought, and consider the exorbitant prices ruling for all building iraterials, they could hardlv come to any other conclusion, that delav in this matter would not bo 'dangerous,' but. advisable."

I A patriotic Queen Carnival will be I held at Ohoka to-day. Among the attractions will be displays by Maoris. A special train leaves Christchurch at 10.30 a.m., returning, at o.iu p.m. The proceeds of the carnival will bo devoted to soldiers' funds. Writing to his parents from Codford Camp, Private William Clark, sou of Mr G. H. Clark, of Mosterton, who was wounded in the Gallipoli campaign, and is now a motor engineer, describes a rather interesting incident. Ho states that ho was called upon to procecd to motor to the Sling Camp -to convey Mr Mnssov and Sir Joseph Ward to Codford. So dense was the fog in going that his enr collided with a hi" gun at Sling Camp. On the return iotirnev bo was unabl? to grope his way through the fog and Mr Massev procured a lantern ;vnd walked ahead nT the car for » distance of two miles in order to keep tho machine on the road. J'igg-laying competitions have taken on a new lease ot life, there being no fewer than four under way. all of which have succeeded in drawing fuil entries, stated Mr H. M. Boddington, president of the Poultrymen's Conferonce, at Wellington on Saturday. It wus pleasing to note that, notwithstanding its treble opposition, tho oldestablished and well-controlled Papamii competition was again going to play an important part towards popularising the industry. The competition beTng held at Masterton could be termed a unique one. and from an educational point should provide a lot of useful data, insomuch as heavy as well as light breeds were competing under the absolute intensive dry mash svstem. "Ask Lonsby about it" when you don't feel quite well. Adults 3s <sd, children 2s, for advico and medicine. 2 Gentlemen contemplating tho purchase of nn overcoat should view Armstrong's stocks —over 900 to select from—priced from IDs 6d to 00s. 1 Now Zealand rings with it s praises! "No Rubbing" Lauudry Help has killed wash tub drudgery! It'll wash any fabric with half usual toil. Wholesale Agents—Royds Bros, and Kirk, Ltd., T. H. Green and Co., Davidson and Wauchop. G Our readers' attention is drawn to Armstrong's, Ltd., advertisement, detailing telling selling bargains in connexion with tho sale of Dallas's drapery. 2 If you want an electric lamp, buy a: Royal Ediswam, -which is all British. Turnbtill and Jones, Ltd., solo agents for New Zealand. 6 A long timo since your last photograph 'was taken ? Time now for a new one. Let Steffano Webb take it. Telephone 1989. Petersen's Buildings, High street. 5 Armstrong's, the leading house for gents' hats, are showing new shapes and colours at 4s lid, 5s lid, 8s lid, 10s 6d. 3 "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 Easter Shooting —High-class Guns by Papo and BonehIll ; just opened, also new stocks of sporting cartridges, Winchester Rifles, Ammunition, Game Bags, Cartridge Belts, and Cleaning Gear, at Lewis and Anderson, Ltd., Cashel street. 6 G'ents' linen collars, best» quality, any shapo, 6d each, at Armstrong's. 4 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., TTigh street. 6