GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 16037, 20 October 1917, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS.

To-day we publish the conclusion of the story sent to us by a French lady contributor, who, it may bo mentioned, lives in Nancy, tho town just bombed by the Germans in reprisal for the French air-raids on Frankfort. Only a vory few of our readers have taken the trouble to let us know whether they desire occasional contributions in tho French languago to appear in our literary column, so that we are in some doubt as to whether it is worth while to pursue further what was j avowedly an experiment.

The auction announcements of W. E. Simcs and Co.j National Mortgage and Agency Company, Dalg.ty a nd Co., Charles Clark, R. S. McKcuzie and Co., Claridge and Smith, and Laurie and Dal ton will be found on page 15 of this issue.

At the Military Service Board at Auckland yesterday, counsel for nn appellant said that tho Minister of Defence had written stating that provided the parents woro naturalised, it had been decided to allow sons of Bohemian settlors of Puhoi, to enlist, owing to their having demonstrated their practical patriotism.

A Press Association message from Wellington states that at tho Magistrate's Court yesterday George Skone was charged that while on an oversea ship on tho high seas, he obtained information which might be useful to his Majesty's enemies, namely,. secret information regarding the route, movements, and position of the said steamship, contrary to the Official Secrets Act, -1911 .(Imperial). He was remanded for a weok.

To show their appreciation of her splendid work in providing comforts and entertainments for New Zealand soldiers in Egypt, England, and other places, and for her offorts in raising over £13,000 for the London Anzac Buffot, tho returned soldiers of Christchurch will meet Miss Ada Reeve on her arrival at the Christchurch railway station at 3 o'clock this afternoon, and es:ort her to the United Eiervico Hotel. The procession will be headed by the C.Y .C. and the Citizens' Dofenco Corps Bauds. lhe soldiers will parade at 2.30 p.m. at the C»ub rooms of the Returned Soldiers' Association, Gloucester street, and from there will march to tho railway station, where they will be joined by the two bands. I

I Yesterday's river report was as follows : aimnkann South clear, AYaimakariri North clear, iiakaia fishable, Ranjjitata cleat, Waitaki Qshabie, Opiiu clear. i The Diocesan Brigade (No. 2 Bov Scout District, Christchurch), is to parade on La boar Dnv, at Latimer square, and will procecd to Burwood for a field dav. Colonel Hobday is the chief umpire. A public meeting will be held in Ilis Majesty's Theatre to-morrow (Sunday) evening, at < .15, under the auspices ot Christchurch and District Second Division Leagues, to protest against the scale of allowances proposed bv tho Government. E. T. J. Thacker, M.P., Mr H. F. 'Icogood, and others, will address the meeting. Residents in New Zealand who wish to enquire for a wounded Australian soldier should mako application to tho Red Cross Enquiry Bureau, Box 30, Christchurch, which has facilities for obtaining by cable from Melbourne all information received in Australia. In case of this not being sufficient, the Melbourne Bureau has kindly offered to cablo to London.

Anniversary services in connexion with tho Linwood Congregational Church will bo held to-morrow. Tho Rev. F. Copeland will preach in the morning, and tho Rev. G. P. Hunt in the evening. Special anthems will bo contributed by the choir morning and evening, and Mr F. C. Ponfold will sing "Lead, Kindly Light," at the evening service.

Under amended regulations to the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act, the amount to be advanced in any caso for the purpose of erecting a dweiling-houso and other buildings shall not oxceed £250. Tho advance that may bo mado to any one person shall not exceed £cOO, but a proviso is added that the Minister may, if in his opinion special circumstances rendor such amount inadequate, authorise an additional advance up to £250.

Regarding the statement by a local hairdresser and tobacconist which appeared in "The Press" yestorday, in referenco to a probable increaso in the price of cigars, our informant states that he finds that his remarks did not quite accurately represent the facts of tho case, for the extra duty on cigars ■was 5s per lb, equal to about 7s Gd per 100 ordinary cigars. This would make necessary the raising of the price of, say, tho 6d cigar to 7d, as ho stated previously. Six children, including two girls whose ages ranged from 15 to 8 years, were charged in the Juvenile Court yesterday morning, beforo Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., with throwing stones in a street in Linwood, to the danger of the public. They were all admonished and discharged. A boy of 9 years was admonished aid discharged for stealing a girl's bicycle, which he damaged to the extent of 12s 6d, and his parents were ordered to pay that amount. Another boy of 15 was convicted and discharged for cycling on the footpath. Two more boys were charged with stealing, at Sumner, a bicycle and a watch and chain, valued at £7 10s. One of them was committed to the Stoke Industrial School, and the other put on probation for a year. Some amusement was caused in a truancy case at tho Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, when Mr Thomas raised tne defence that the summons was wrongly laid. Tho information was laid under Section 59 of the main Education Act, 1901, tho defendant being charged with failing to send her son to school regularly. Mr Thomas, amidst laughter, pointed out that Section 59 of the Act was ono making provision for tho housing accommodation of a schoolmaster. The information, as he pointed out, should have been laid under the 1914 Amendment Act. The Magistrate allowed the information to be amended. "Oh, well, sir, it doesn't matter much," said Mr Thomas. "I have another defence, as the boy is over age," and on this ground the cane against his client was dismissed. ' The "A" to "E" instalment of the roll of the Second Division of • the N.Z.E.F. reserve has arrived in Christchurch, and has been placed on view ■at the General Post Office. The complete roll will be issued in four parts, and will bo issued to the Dominion as a whole, instead of according to military districts. The register has been compiled from the personal schedules furnished under the National Registration Act, and with a view to rectifying any errors, all persons who can are invited to furnish information in cases of the positions of reservists having changed since the compilation of the roll. The position of a Second Division reservist, it is pointed out, is not fixed at any definite period, but alters with every change in the number of children, of which notice must be' given to the Government Statis tician within 10 days of the event

Several scones of a comedy nature were witnessed at a fire in ■ Takapuna on Tuesday night (says the Auckland "Star"). A crowd had assembled for a social evening, and when news was brought that a house occupied by one of them was on fire, all repaired to the scene of the blaze to render evory possible aid. The house was well alight when they arrived, but two gentlemen, filled with enthusiasm and, be it told, with not a little "Dutch courage," decided to venture in and rescue things from the burning building. They made an entry and dashed forth a minute later bearing—a gas stove. Its top was broken, _ and neither would take the responsibility for this piece of misfortune. So. with tho flames licking their backs they proceeded to fight over tho burning question. It was not till they wero dragged apart and away from the hot corner with clothes severely singed, that their ardour ooolod. No doubt, as both the gentlemen afterwards agreed, it was a fitting culmination to a glorious evening.

Francis Joseph Carroll, ono of the three Carroll brothers, who were called up last June, but who subsequently disappeared, was arrested recently, at Awanui, Kailaia, in the extreme north of tho Auckland province. Ho had taken an assumed name, and was passing himself off as an American citizen. Tho arrest was made by Constable Martin, of Ivaitaia. Carroll was taken to Palmerston North and handed over to the military authorities, by whom he will bo dealt with. The case of the Carroll brothers attracted moro than usual attention some months ago (savs the Auckland "Star"), on account of the defiant attitude taken U o by them when before the Appeal Board. Two were ordored into camp, and another was given leave for a month or so. Tho first two disappeared, and the remaining brother was then ordered to camp but prior to the date of his taking up military training, he, too, left for part s unknown. Tho arrest just made is the first that has 'boon heard of the absentees since their disappearance.

A circular letter emanating: from H.R.H. the Duke of Cnnnaujrtit, tnt s forth the objects of King Georgs's i'uud for Saudis, of wlncn tlic- i\.. JS patron, H.R.H. Prince Albert president, and the Duke of Connaueht chairman. The letter points out t'>e heavy calls that aro all the timo being made on the resources o{' u, ( . great Marine Charities of England, and states that the King's Fund has been founded to meet the need for their fuller and more sustained support. "I confidently rely upon a sympathetic and generous support of the public to our appeal," the Duke's letter coneludes, "in the belief that what has been achieved in fearless action, ceaseless watching, and patient waiting is not forgotten, and that the d.ebt owed to the Navy and mercantile marine will be fully and heart Iv discharged. Contributions may be sent to *jn 0 addressed to King' George's Fund for Sa s ors ,i Trinifc J House, London, E.C.3. '

Whitebait hit a liigh point on tho Wellington market on Wednesday (says tho "Dominion''). The supply is not neaily equal to the demand this season, and tho result o7 tbat was evident when two 401b tins from tho West Coast wero submitted for sale by auction by Messrs Larry and Co., They realised £4 per tin, or 2s a lb.'

The ferry passengers from Wellington by the' Mararoa on Thursday night had a rather unpleasant experience, tho vessel having to battle against a boisterous head wind practically all the way down the coast. As a result of tho rough weather the Mararoa did not arrive outside tho moles at Lyttolton until midday, about 3J hours later than usual.

Tlie appeal made by the Bishop of Christchurch at the gathering held at College House, on Thursday afternoon, for funds towards tho establishment of diocesan schools, resulted in £254 worth of war bonds being given, besides £30 in annual subscriptions, and an extra anonymous donation from a old Church day school teacher, of £50 worth of war bonds. At Wellington yesterday, for employing an unregistered reservist, Frank H. Phillips was fined £20. The omployeo. when questioned by Phillips, said he had registered, and produced an "unfit" badgo, but he could not produce his certificate, and the Magistrate (says a Press Association message) held that sufficient steps had not been taken to ascertain whether the man had enrolled. j

The train leaving the Christcliurch railway station for Islington at 7.10 a.m., also the 5.15 p.m. Islington Christchurch train, and the 5.10 p.m. B Ji'a.st-Clirislchurch train, wi.l njt iua on Monday, Labour Day. In addition, tlio goods sheds at Lyttelton, Christchurch, Asbburton, and Timaru, and th:- goods delivery yard at Christ'.'hurch, will bo closed, ana work on the wh.arve3 at Lyttelton and Timaru will bo busponded for tho day. According to a return presented to tho House of Representatives yesterday,' 5370 dependants of New Zealand so.diers killed in the present war have received ailo .ranees or pei.siona from tho War Pensions Board. The number of officers' dependants who have received relief is 392, their average pension per annum being £45. Tho amount granted to non-commissioned officers' and privates' dependants by the Board is £147,987. Yesterday the "Self Denial" Appeal of tiie (Salvation Army was made in Christchurch, when tho sum of £98 18s 7d was realised by means of a street collection. Last year £70 was collected, and this was a record, so that I the response of the public on tho present _ occasion has been particularly gratifying, at a timo when so many other calls are being made. This year's innovation, a badge representing the Army shield, and having stamncd on it tho Army's official crest, with the words "Self Denial, 1917," was bought by a largo numbor of people, though not all of them, it is probable, realised its signification. Several friends of the late Captain Edward (Peter) Harris, of Geraldine, who was killed in action, have subscribed a sum. of over £700 to found a memorial scholarship to he tenable at Christ's College. Tixe primary purposes of the scholarship is to help (a) , Son 3 of soldiers of the N.Z.E.F., who have fallen or suffered in tho war: (b) Sons of mombers of the N.Z.E.F. who have been on active service; (c) sons of members of the various forces of the British Empiro who have served during tho present war; (d) Sons of members of any New Zealand naval or military forces; (e) Near relatives of any of the above classes. The scholarship, will be open to boys of any a ge, and it will bo of an annual value of £15 for a day hoy, and £30 for a boarder. Applications will bo r©ceived by tho headmaster on or before the Ist November in each year. If sleepless, nervous, tired and weary, come and "ask Loasby about it." 2 "Hire an Electric Suction Sweeper from Turnbull and Jones to do your spring cleaning twico as well and in half the time. q

Glass tumblers cheap, plain boll shape only 2s 9d the half-dozen, larger size 4s. nice quality circle tumbler 4s 3d, glass jugs 2s 9d. Best value, at Drayton's, Colombo street North 6

Catch the Home mails. To Bend your soldier friend or relatives beyond the seas a photograph in time to reach them by Christmas, you must have it taken at once. Alrange a sitting with Steffano Webb, Petersen's BuiMings, High street. W8234 "The Glory of the Garden."—Bradbury's Gold Medal Sweet Peas may still be sown for summer flowering. One hundred and thirty varieties in 3d and 6d packets at Hastie, Bull, and Picker, ing s, opposite Ballantyno's. 6 1

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

Cheerful, thrifty, winsomo housewives have been quick to recognise tho superiority of "Golden Rule'' Soap and "No Rubbing" Laundry Help for domestic purposes. Both lines always in stock. N.Z. Farmers'. g

Akaroa in the spring is at her loveliest, with green hills and jubilant native birds. Still reduced tariffs Cars from Broadway's, Christchurch,' daily, also Little River. 1

1913 THREE-SEATER "STD3>EBAKER"—£32S. Now on view at garage—l9l6 model 3-seater "Studebaker," full road equipment, electric light, electric self-starter. Only run 7000 miles. A bargain at £320. g