GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16148, 28 February 1918, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

The Minister of Defence announces that the 33rd Reinforcements have safely arrived at their destination.

The Prohibition party have decided to nominate one lady member of the Dunedin Licensing Committee, _ but if there should be a contested election two lady candidates will be put in nomination on their "ticket."

The Akaroa County Racing Club has extended an invitation to all members of hi 3 Majesty's Forces to attend their Annual Meeting, to bo held on Tuesday next, at Motukarara. Those in uniform will be passed at the barrier. Nurses, returned soldiers in mufti, or attested men waiting to go into camp should call at the C.D.C. office for tickets of admission.

"I understand you are to be married shortly," said Mr Justice Chapman when admitting a young man in the Supreme Court yesterday to a term of probation. "Understand, that that is not tho reason'l am admitting you to probation, instead of sentencing you to a term of imprisonment. I certainly decline to take the responsibility of recommending you as a husband just now. If the young lady is foolish enough to havo you at present that is her affair. At the end of your term of probation there might be some sense in it."

Originally the Canterbury quota of the 40th Reinforcements was due to concentrate in camp on April Ist. The C.D.C communicated with the Minister of Defence on the subject, pointing out that this date was Easter Monday, and that the ferry service would be congested owing to the race meetings at Christcliurch during the Easter holidays. As a result instructions have now been given to postpone the concentration till April 6th. the Christchurch leaving for Wellington on April oth, and parading at the Kins Edward Barracks at 3 p.m. on that date.

Some of the prison reforms that have been effected in New Zealand were referred to ljv the Minister of Justice (the Hon. T. M. Wilford) whn replying to a deputation at Napier, the liawke's Bay "Tribune" reports. We have a prison at Waikeria, he said, working on the honours system. Every morning five men start out with three-horse teams road-making. They take their billy and lunch, and they are away from the time they leave camo until they return with their teams. They go two* miles from tho prison, and if they do their work fairly they get so many good conduct marks. Twelve marks is a day off their sentence. So far that had gono on for some weeks, and it was working all right. America boasted of its henours system, and he was telling them what we could do hero.

All the Canterbury rivers were dirty yesterday. The Second Canterbury Military Service Board will sit in Christchurch 0 n March oth. A Sumner resident writes that a magnificent meteor came over Whitewash Head, blazed out and, fell seawards about 7.45 on Tuesday evening. A '"Press" reporter was informeed yesterday on good authority that the coming session of Parliament, which was provisionally arranged to open on April 9th, will now commence on April 4th. A le:ter regarding the proposed League Jor the Advancement of Canterbury was read at yesterday's meeting of the Hospital Board, and it was decided that as many members as possible should attend the conference called by the Mayor to be held next month. A four-roomed houso opposite the Opawa school, owned by Mrs H. G. Baunton, and occupied by Mr J. fiohbs. was burnod to the ground yesterday morning. The firo started in tho waslihoiise, and quickly spread to tho house, and being outside the Fire Brigade's area, the building was soon ■iomolished. The .furniture was insured for £100. and the house for £230. in the Atlas Office. The Hospital Committee reported at yesterday's meeting of the Hospital Board that an application had boen received from tho Permanent Railway Employees' Annual Sick Benefit Society to be allowed to conduct the business of the Society direct with the Board, rather than through the United Railway Sick Benefit Society. The committee decided, aftor consideration, that tho request bo not acccded to, as it would probably have a tendency to encourage other organisations to break adrift from tho united group and seok similar concessions. A deputation of two members of the applicant society waited oil the Board, and explained the position, -md aftor they retired the Board decided to refer the matter back to tho committee for reconsideration. Mr E. J. Howard, a prominent local Labour leader, in referring to the cablc messages regarding the inttr-Allied Labour Conference, said to a representative of "The Press" that the New Zealand Labour party had received an invitation to send its opinions on questions to be discussed at the Conference, and this had been availed of. The senders of the invitation had regretted that they had not been able to invite the party to send a delegate in sufficient time to allow of this being done. Mr Howard continued that it was probable that if the Hon. W. F. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward went to England, Labour also would send a delegate to the Old Country, although it was possible that the authorities wotdd not be supplied with the name of any su'„h appointee. When a motion for tho discharge of a bankrupt camo before his Honour Mr Justicn Chapman, at tho Supremo Court yesterday, it was opposed by Mr Rowe, oil bohalf of o:io creditor. Mr Gresson, for the bankrupt, explained that the bankrupt, had pa'd a dividend of 2s Id in tho M, and was about to bring the dividend up to about 10s. As far back r.s 1915 he had applied for his discharge, but the motion was not granted on account of opposition by tho same creditor, who was now objecting, and who insisted that he'should be paid his full 20s in tho £. His Honour pointed out that ho could make no order which directly or indirectly would result in one creditor receiving moro than another. Tho fact that tho discharge had been buns up for three years was, of courso, all to the l>encflt of the croclitors, and. moreover, it was not often that a debtor was found who would pay 10s in the .C. The order for discharge would bo made. Making appeal for the exemption of Carl August Borendsen, Chief Clerk ana Rogistrar of Industrial Unions, Mr JJ. W. Rowley, Secretary for Labour, told tho Military Service Board at Wellington on Tuesday that the start of the Labour Department had been very seriously depleted. Out of a staff of 3'clerks they had lost 21 who had gone tj • tho war, and four others —senior officers —two of whom had boen appointed Conciliation Commissioners. Tho vacancies had been .filled up as best could be done by the appointment of girls and cadets. Mr Rowley added that Mr Borendsen was a corporal in the n.c.o.'s training class at Trenthain Camp, where he had-been for about six months. The appeal was the_ first lodged by the Department, and it would be the only ono necessary out of a total staff of 85 until Class 3> of the Second Division was reached. The fact of Borendsen having been in camp for so long proved a rather formidable stumbling block, and the Board reserved its decision in the matter. In various parts of Central Australia where fresh water is difficult to find by boring, naturo has made provision for the storage of large quantities of rainwater in rock recesses and easily accessible water holes at .the foot of outcrops of stone. These natural roser•\oirs are the sources of 6upply*for man and beast in otherwise waterless belts, says the "South Australian Register." In the settled districts good use is made of the granite outcrops which serve as catchments for the rock basin and nearly ail the rainwater that falls on many of the larger rock surfaces is c'iretted into artificial tanks. The method is to construct a huge concrete tank within a reasonable distance of the outcrop by digging until the granite bottom is struck and then building four walls. A small concrete ledge is put round The lower portion of the outcrop to divert the whole of the water which falls on the rock into the tank. It is a simple and an effective method of saving the fluid. On the Minnipa line one of thsso tanks is capable of holding two million gallons. Samples were shown to the InterState Commission- at its sittings in Melbourne last week by Mr A. Whybrow, of ladies' boots, as worn in recent seasons, and as worn during the season immediately nast (says the Melbourne "Age"). There was a difference' of some inches in the height of the respective boots, and Mr Wliybrow ex- ; plained that the lower one -was of the height prescribed in England, which could not be exceeded. Witness said that the best leather was now put into military work, and the quality of the civilian boot might not be so good. An- ■ other witness, referring to previous evidence that military boots were not ' water-resistant, said that it was all a ' matter of tannage. The "upper" : leather should bo vegetable tanned in preference to chrome tanned, as experience in firemen's boots had shown. Mr Hallenstein, on behalf of Michaelis, Hallenstein and Co., Pty., Ltd., said that the best Australian tannage -was equal to the best English or American. The shortage of bark was the firm's chief trouble. It could get plenty of hides. The Canterbury College Board recently bought a property in Parle ter- , race, consisting of an acre of land, and having on it a large house, formerly - owned by Sir John Hall. It has been j purchased entirely for College purposes, ( and it is intended to establish there, as t soon as possible, a residential quarter for the lady students attending Canter- ( bury College. For this nurnose the ] property is particularly suited, because < it is close to the College and to tennis i courts. It is not intended at present r to extend the building, as it is thought v that it will provide sufficient accommodation. The chairman of the Board, Mr J. C. Adams, holds the view that the sooner Canterbury College can provide residential quarters for the students, both male and female, the sooner will the number of those attending the College increase. He pointed out to a representative of "The Press'' that numbers of students have at present to br> placed in city boarding-houses. The advantages of College residential quarters would be their close proximity to the Colleae, the increased facilities far study, and tho possibility of establish- j ing a degree of control over the board- £ ers similar to that in existence at Ox-1 i ford, in England.

Tho Christcliurch City Council notifies householders that all trees overhanging streets must bo trimmed ud to 9ft Gin from the level of thft foQtpath; that, hedges encroaching on Jie footpath must Ge trimmed back to tho street line, and that hedges at street comers, which are of such a height as to obstruct the viow of drivers of motorcars and other vehicles arc _to be lowered to a height of about sft from the footpath. Arising out of a request made by Mr H. W. Reynolds, who asked that the practice should be discontinued of displaying cards over beds in the hospital giving the name, address, occupation, and religion of the patient, the Hospital Board decided yesterday that where patients are sent to the institution from gaol no indication is to be given of the fact on tho card. The Board, acting on the recommendation of the Hospital Committee, declined to accede to the other request. A Timaru message, says that a meeting representative of all classes decided to form a South Canterbury Development League, similar to those of Otago and Southland, to endeavour to further the prosperity of the district and co-oper-ato with other South Island leagues to assist the progress of tho South Island. Branch railways, electric power for industries. soldier settlements, and closer settlement were among tho items mentioned as possible means of progress. The Mayor of Christchurch and members of the Festival Committee for the encouragement of music by New Zealand composers, will welcome members of the Festival chorus at the opening rehearsal on Monday next, at tho Chamber of Commerce, at 7.4 a p.m. An invitation is given to all local singers, members of the original Festival chorus, church choirs, and musical societies being specially askod to join.. Singers wishing to secure their places at the first rehearsal arc asked to communicate with Mr Alfred Bunz (chief conductor), Mr H. Neville Smith, or Mr Arthur Lilly, hon. secretary. Tho enrolemcnt fee is 2s 6d. Want a Truss? Let Loasby ft yon. Large assortment just landed. Why suffer? Come and "ask Loasby about it-" Advice and medicine; .">3 6d ; children, 2s. 1 N.Z. Farmers' Co-op. Association for "No Rubbing" laundry help, "Golden Rulo" soap, "Golden 'Rule" candles. Ideal goods for every home. 4 Eye Strain. —Persistent hoadaches aro in most cases the result 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 aro prepared in neat and becoming rimless designs. 6 Tho ''.Sturgis*' Collapsible Push-car embodies all tho latest features in baby carriages. Faces mother or father. Grey, xan, or Black colours. Prices from £5 15s. Try ''Draytons," 765 Colombo street. 0 Sit for those New Year portraits today. Do not put it off any longer—and be sure they are made by Steflano Webb, Petersen's Buildings, High street. Tele. 1989. 8 No on* likes moving, but tho work can bo made much lighter if competent men are employed. J. M. Heywood and Co.. Ltd., have them and three up-to-date pantechnicons. Telephones 250, 1241 and 2174. 0 HIGH-GRADE ENGLISH CLEMENTTALBOT, 5-SEATER, £160. We have for immediate sale a 12.22 h.p. 5-seater Clement-Talbot motorcar. Has been exceptionally well kept, and is well worth inspection. Tyres almost new. Complete with full road equipment, including spare rim. Price £160. Adams, Ltd., 219 Tuam street. 8704