GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16147, 27 February 1918, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

The auction renouncements of H. Matson and Co., Harris Bros., Laurie and Dalton, New Zealand Loan and M.A. Co., 11. S. McKenzie and Co., W. E. Simes and Co., Claridgo and Smith, P. S. Nicholls and Co., Charles Clark, and H. B. s Soronsen and Co. will be found on page 11 of this issue.

Arthur's Pass advised yesterday that it was raining heavily, and the rivor was rising.

At Foilding yestorday the bearing of tho charges against McKee and llowan, in connexion with the recent assault on clergymen nftor the Rev. Howard Elliott's meeting, was adjourned till March 13th. The accused were represented by outside counsel.

The earthquake which shook Wellington early last Wednesday morning, and was felt in Christchurch, was distinctly felt on tho Government steamer Hinemoa, which was then lying at anchor off Rangitoto Island, east of D'Urville. Tho vessel trembled violently, causing some of tho crew who were asleep to awake.

Tho Government's enterprise in respect to salmon taking in the Waitaki rivor has so far been thwarted by unfavourable winds and a heavy swell, these conditions making it difficult to work the nets to advantage, but it is believed that tho fish are beginning to go up the river, and hopes are entertained of success, before tho season closes.

"Racing clubs have done admirably in assisting the military authorities," said Lieutenant-Colonel McDonald at the Defence Expenditure Commission at Palmerston North, on Saturday. Ho said that in the Manawatu district and in other places racing clubs ungrudgingly placed their buildings and grounds at tho disposal of tho authorities without charge, and in a good many cases also spent the wholo, or nearly tho whole, of their profits for war purposes. The chairman: That's good hearing.

Very desirable would have been an appliance which could, have effectively laid the driving clouds of dust whica were so evident and unpleasant yesterday. The _ Tramway Board employed the whole of its sprinklers to deal with the nuisance, but, while they did good work, they were insufficient in number to carrv out the necessary watering on the lines. The Board some time ago considered the question of increasing the plant, but it was ascertained tnat the cost would be nearly double the pre-war price, and it was decided to nold over the matter until conditions became normal.

The question of fish waste was again discussed at a meeting of the Thamos Ohamber of Commerce. Tho position is that tho freezing works can only deal with a limited quantity of fish, and in cases whore there is a very large catch, a*ll over the requirements of the frecz/ng works are dumped into tho Gulf, it wa3 stated rocently out of 400 dozen taken, 350 dozen wero thus destroyed, and this is only one instance out of many. The Chamber felt that something should bo done to check this wholesale wasto, and resolved td join tho Borough Council in bringing tho matter before the Minister of Marine.

At the last meeting of the Nelson City Council, tho Mayor referred to tho differences existing between the City and Gas Engineers. He said that matters had now reached a crisis necessitating tho intervention of the Council, which had already considered the question and arrived at certain decisions. He would ask the Council to go into committoe to further consider the subject. Tho Council then went into committee. After a long sitting in camera, the Council resumed, and tho acting-Town Clerk reported that it had been resolved to accept the resignation of the City Engineor, Mr J. G. Littlejohn, and to givo tho Gas Engineer. Mr A. Noil, three months' notice of the termination of his engagement. A strange phenomenon in connexion with last week's earthquake was recorded at Tongaporutu, a coastal town north of New Plymouth. According to a correspondent of tho "Daily News" tho tremor in that district was very severe, and a atrange occurrence was noted at the wharf. The incoming titfo ceased and there was dead water.. As tho tide was due at full at about 4 a.m. the correspondent stayed to make observations. For tho next two hours tho tide did not make, but remained at the one level for nearly the -whole of that time, when it commenced to recede. Talcing particular measurements at tin wharf, he states the tide was from 12 to 15 inches lower than at ordinary tides. It would certainly appear that the earthquake was particularly severo somewhere at sea to affcct in so remarkable a manner the action of tho tide.

Giving cvidenco before the Dofenco Expenditure Commission on Saturday morning, says the Palmcrston "Standnrd," Lieutenant-Colonel T. AV. McDonald spid that the persecution of himself ior what he had said in evidence about officers' travelling allowances had already commcnced. The chairman said he would like the colonel to let the Commission know of any persecution so that they could take stops to protect him. The commission had been appointed by the Government, and the Minister and General Officer Commanding were extremely anxious to knpw the truth. They wanted the colonel or any other witness who could help them to"come forward. Colonel McDonald said that his superior officer had told him to tell what he knew, and he (witness) was going to do all he could to assist the country in this matter. The chairman said that the evidence given by Colonel McDonald was vory clear and very valuable. " He or any other witness would he protected, and Colonel McDonald replied that he was glad to have thai assurance.

On Sunday afternoon a gig, owned bv Mr Sandrev, had a wheel smashed as a result of a collision with tramway sprinkler outside the Bush Inn, Riecarton.

A Wellington Press Association telegram states that for the first time in six yoars, the police presented a clean sheet at the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning.

Yesterday's river report was rs under: Waimakariri North, clear; Waimakariri South, clear; Rakaia, dirty; Waitaki, clear:'Rangitata, dirty and swift: Opihi, clear.

In tho sporting pages of this week s "Weekly Press' —liaenig at _ Egmont. and Wanganui. by Wayfarer''; Speed and the L'aullield Vutunty. l>y "Autisthencs'' ; Biplane, by "Spectator" ; Wanganui Autumn Meeting, , Akaroa Annual Meeting, by "Lancer": Racing in Australia; Trotting at Wanganui. by ; Reminiscences of Flora Temple.

A howling nor'-wester blew yesterday morning, ami raged throughout tiie cuy for the greater part of tne day, accompanied ijy an enervating heat. Gritty clouds of dust swept down the streets, to tho great discomfort and inconvenience of pedestrians, cyclists, and others. Many fences and trees were damaged, if not levelled, and, of course, orchards and gaixlens suffered considerably, the apple orop in particular being adversely affectcd.

Other peojile's property has a fascination for some people, oven ir it is only bricks and mortar (says tho "Gisborno Times"). A complaint hag been lodged with the Mangapapa Town Board by a ratepayer, who reported that a chimney in a washhouso in Willis street had "been taken away; as also had bricks from around tho copper. The ratepayer looked upon "the matter seriously, as the building was practically a new one, and he has asked the Board to protect him. Tho Board decided to draw the attontion of the police to the complaint.

Colonel 11. A. Chaffey, on helialf of Mesdaines Templer ana Garbett, who are teaching soldiers in the Christchurch Hospital to make baskets, appeals for cars to take some of the soldiers to Akaroa. The ladies have been very successful in selling baskets in Christchurch. They have extended their operations to Akaroa, whero largo numbers have been sold, and now they wish to take a party of soldiers there for a trip. The party will leave at 8 a.m. tomorrow, and about five cars are required. The party will return to Christchurch tho same evening.

Mr Thomas Bullock, of Rangiorn, made a car run with a party consisting of Messrs Hiatt, It. Mcintosh, Metherell, and Wilkinson, to Mt. Possession sheep sale on Monday. The distance from llangiora to the Hakatcro yards proved to bo lOi miles, via the 6orge bridges. The roads were in very fair order throughout. A unique sight, oven for Canterbury, was presented by the cars, about a hundred and fifty, assembled at Hakatere. These, with help in some cases, had negotiated the swift and wide South Ashburton streams, rarely attempted by cars, and their success testified to the reliability of tho modern car, even in the unbridged rivers of the back countr\\ The return was made to Christchurch in the evening, and no difficulties were experienced.

At yesterday's joint meeting of the Finance and Deputations Committees of the Arthur's Pass Tunnel League, the Mayor read a letter from Mr D. J. Evans, secretary of the Westland Chamber of Commerce, to Mr H. J. Marriner, in the course of which it was stated that the Westland Chamber desired the Canterbury Chamber to take up the matter of forming a Parliamentary Committeo to watch matters in the House and to arrange ai as early a date as possible a Parliamentary visit to the works. It was thought that as the recent visit had been impressive the members of Parliament would uc also impressed and, if accompanied bv essential Ministers, the visit would result in incalculabie good. Mr Evans added that when Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward went Home, Mr Seddon would bo asked to make a point of specially interviewing the Ministers on tunnel "matters.

An explanation of how a girl named Eunice Hammer, who lives at Wakari, was shot in the foot by a bullet from a pea-rifle on the 14th inst. has been solved by the confession of the victim that she accidentally shot herself (says tho "Otago Daily Times"). Her original story was that she was standing outside lier father's gate, and she felt a sudden pain in her foot, and found later that she had been shot, tho implication being that she had received a stray bullet ircm someone shooting in the neighbourhood. Her later story, however, is that she felt the day vei-v long, being alone in the house, and took up her father's rifle and a ball cartridge, proceeding into tho paddock to have a shot at the birds. She rested the muzzle of the rifle on hor left foot while putting the cartridge in, and tho_ rifle- went off. Her reason for telling tho first story was that she feared to let her father know she had been using his rifle.

A resourceful solicitor tried a little logic on Mr \V. A. Barton, S.M., at tiio .Magistrate's Court, GisOome, last neck, wnich to a layman seemed absolutely sound and unanswerable, but apparently uot very sound from a legal point of view, or, at any rato, did not achieve its puryoso (says the "Timo.s"). A man was being charged with assisting a prohibitea man to consumo liquor, but the cvidcnco only showed that tliii accused was seen in" tlio act of handling a bottle containing whisky from which, presumably, he was about to. take a drink. How could it be said, Mr Burnard askod, that a man •who was about to take a drink himself was assisting another to drink. On the other hand was he not, bv drinking the liquor himsolf, making it impossible lor the other man to drink it ''\ou suggest," snid the Magistrate,' that defendant acted as though ho would say to his companion: "Now you are a prohibited man. You can't drink this, so I'll drink it myself." Jie refused to accept such an interpretation of the man's conduct.

• A i , (les ; rtc , r from camp was arrested m the back country of Mackenzie County, and was Lrought to Timaru on -Monday, x-lo was placed under militar v guard and sent to Wellington. The detorter -vrnr, to Jiavo roturned to caUip £n fee ocks ago, but iailccl to do i:v, and missed the beat by which his contingent left (says the "Herald"). He adopted a very cunning mothod to avoid detection. Considering that he would be safer m the Mackenzie than in Timaru he took the train for Fairlio on Wednesday last, with the object of securing a position on a wnyback run. Ho arrived at Fairlio with a green siiado over oue eye, a pronounced iimp in one log, and generally bore the appearance of having been so cruelly handled bv the war machine as to excite the sympathy of all who saw him. By the time he reached his destination,* however, the invigorating air of the Mackenzie had caused his ailments to disappear as by a miracle, and whon arrested he was sans eyeshade, sans limp, and sans everything save the appearance of a well man who had never been touched by sword or bullet. liven the coac'idriver who brought him down did not recognise in him the same man that ho had taken up a few days previously. Want a Truss? Let Loasby ft you. Large assortment just landed. Why suffer? Come and "ask Loasby about it." Advice and medicine, I*3 oil; children, 2s. 1

Aro you interested in the '"'last word'' n perfect dustless cleaning? If so, inspect the "Ladv Torrington" Vacuum Cleaner at Hastie, Bull and Pickering s. IQI2

n n L £ quality Buckskin Trousers Bs2d; Fawn Cotton Whipcords 8s nJ»uf C L °fiJp luc DriU and Denim To day Armstrong's Sale

English Enamel ware.—"Wo are offering exceptional value in high-class British ware —everything for the kitchen in pure white and mottled grey. There's always something new in kitehenware at Lewis and Anderson, Ltd., 112 Casliel street. G Eye Strain. —Persistent headaches uro in most cases the re.-ult of muscular eye strain. Have your eyesight scientifically tested by* Walter J. Watson, D.8.0.A.. London, of Watson's ''Jewellers'' Limited. Glasses are only recommended when absolutely necessary, and arc prepared in neut and becoming rml- - designs. (i Tradesmen's Aprons.—Butchers' lis Oil, 4s 9d : Painters' Is (id. Is lid. 2.<« 3d; Bakers 2s 3d, 2s 9d, at Armstrong's. 2 Sit for those New Year portraits today. Do not put it off any longer—and be suro they are made by StefTano W cbh, Petersen's Buildings, High street. Tele. 1959. 8 For progressive people! "No Rubbing" laundry help, ••Golden Rule'' soap, "Golden Rule - ' candles. Kincaids, Ltd. 3 Convincing bargains in dress department at Armstrong's to-day. Fortyinch White Voile Is, 3S-inch Black Moire Skirting Is lid, good quality Winter Tweeds 2s lid, double width, at Armstrong's Stocktaking Sale. 3 HIGH-GRADE ENGLISH CLEMENTTALBOT, 5-SKATER, £'160. We have for immediate sale n 12.22 h.p. 5-seater Clemen t-Talbot motorear. Has been exceptionally well kept, and is well worth inspection. Tyres almost now. Complete with full road equipment, including spare rim. Prico £160. Adams, Ltd., 219 Tuam street. 8704