GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16149, 1 March 1918, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

The Minister of Defence has received adviic that a New Zealand hospital ship which left the Dominion some weeks ago has reached a port of call, "all well."

An interesting astronomical event will tako place in tho early morning of Sunday next, when an occultation of the star 7 Aquarii—of magnitude 5.7 —by the planet Venus, will occur. Venus will rise that morning about 3.40 a.m., and the occultation is timed to begin at 3.00 a.m.', and end at 5.18 a.m. From a bulletin issued by Mr C. E. Adams," Government astronomer, it appears that the details of the occultation havtj been supplied by Private Arthur Burnet, of the British Expeditionar} Force, France, 11.31. Secretary of the Leeds Astronomical Society. Mr Adams expresses the hope that observers will note the exact times at which the occultation begins and ends, so that the predicted times maj' be chocked.

The very venturesome boy who carae under tho* public notice rather prominently tome time ago as a result of having "left his home and having been found sojourning at Lyttclton under vcrv irregular circumstances, appeared before the Magistrate in tiio Juvenile Court yesterday, charged with frequenting tho nublic streets. He was remanded so that he might be medically examined.

At the Military Service Board at Wellington on Tuesday, Ernest G. Kinvig, builder, appealed on the ground that he was the only surviving son of his parents. It will b e .remembered that appellant's brother. Gordon lvinvig, the well-known representative footballer and cricketer, was killed at the front last voar. Tho appeal, whicn was lodged on account of appellant s mother, was allowed.

In connexion with the proposal to ask Mr A. Carnegie for a further grant of £201)0 towards tho Hamilton and proposed FrankLon libraries, resolutions were passed by the Boroug-i Council at its last meeting agreeing to futlil the conditions of the grant, and pledging itself to provide'at least. £101) a year towards ttte upkeep of the institutions. It was stated that ho sum of £1500 had been promisod by Mr Carnegie somo time ago towards tho Frankton library, and it was decided to ask for the sum .to bo increased to £2000 owing to the increased prico of building material.

Under the auspices of tho \.M.C.A., Mr 11. Balkin delivered last night a highiv instructive and interesting _ lcctuie on "How to «Study Character, 1 illustrated by lantern .slides. There was a good attendance. Mr W. •!. Mason introduced the speaker. Drawing from an apparently inexhaustible fund ol knowledge:, Mr Balkin succeeded in elucidating his subject in a manner which to si groat extent cleared away tho hazy vagueness of its general conception and disclosed it as a definite an;l practical science. He outlined the voca - tional (Hialilications which had earned for men positions as leaders in commercial and other walks of lile, and urged upon his audience the necessity for care in the choice of a. vocation. Ho declared that the relationship between the physical and mental aspects of man was so closely interlinked that one coukl to « great extent determine tho ono front observing the other. He outlined the main physical manifestations which gavo ovidenco of tho jnental qualifications, and very rlenrly illustrated his remarks by means of lantern slides delineating the various types of facos. especially those of prpminont men. His lecture was followed with close attention, and at its conclusion he was accorded a heartv vote of thanks.

Under tho auspices of tho Canterbury School Committee's Association, Mr E. E. cStark. city electrical engineer, last night delivered a lecture on "Tho Chemical Ro.ictions as Applied to Generating and Storing Electricity." Tho speaker announced his intention of telling his audience "real things about electricity"—what electricity really -was. He alleged that people could know electricity as well as they knew their brothers—"but," lie addod "wo do not always quite,know our brother." Ho then gave an interesting elucidation of his subject, illustrating his remarks by diagrams and very instructive lantern exhibitions. The first experiment covered the original wet battery, that is, sulphuric acid, zinc, and copper, and showed its simple action in a graphic manner.. From this he went on to explain the modern theory of the constitution of tho atom. Among other interesting experiments performed was a demonstration of electro-pl.iting. Prol ably tho most spectacular exhibition W£ the growth of a "lead troa," i.e., tli forming of crystals of lead on the neg: tive lead pole in a solution of sugar ( lead. He concluded a closely-followe address by an enliglitoning talk conceri ing storage batteries. Mr Staik, wli answered a number of questions, was ai corded a hearty vote of thanks. Tho party which visited the mun cipal reserves yesterday were much in pressed with the plantation of nath trees and shrubs m a triangular hi side at Victoria Paik, not far from tl entrance. Two acres have been plan cd with 1700 native trees and shrub and aheacly these are showing excellcr grewth. In a few years this piece < hillside -w'll present a very picturesqi: appearance, and will enhance the a tractions of the park. Tho party wei ever the track leading from the tran way terminus to the park, and foun it somewhat rough in parts. It wj stated that it was understood that tl trustees of the Cashmere estate intent ed shortly to eroct fences on both sid< of the track, which would enable it 1 be opened for vehicular traffic. A present, access to the track is by stile. The work of finishing off 'tl: track by putting a crown on it an removing loose stones, -will be uade taken as soon as possible. Tho trar las a gentle grade, and takes tho vis tor to the higher part of the park moi easily than tho road from the inai entrance. Therj are indications th£ Victoria. Park i-« growing increasing] popular with pionic parties, and tl Reserves Committee of the City Coui .•il has several improvements under col sideration, tiio object of which is 1 still further increase the popularity ( this resort. ;Ur a. Turner, F.It.U.S., whp was i Olii iiilo.iiUi oil Ycalul'uay, bulil 1U ti. cuuiao u. u Cuut wilaa a 11yreseutatn V)t "AliC 1 I'l'SS ' CullCOl Wis yc-iU' iiioUlii.alilecii.ig, iliac UiU ..iuUal \_-Ot aou.-iua liuu Ut-wa u veiy wei ouo. jju nig ins stay or live weeiis m tno ui nict, uOoUI three weeKs oi wet wcatiii wore experieiiceu. u no-i tue weutin was gouu, iue ii;oumaiuo v. ere coau wuu ice, and wneu lile niountan were in a good tho weamer w« bad. tie uitiiseir spent o.eveu uays i tne Hooker nut, in order to mime a atte.npt to ciuiiO -Mount Cook. J had been statod tnat tncre was no dai ger in climbing Aiount Cook. So 1» irom that being tne case, the Line Glacier route was one of tne most dai gerous in tho world. It was on tu route that two guides and a climb< woro lost some iour years ago. IS: Turner said that ho got within. 500 fe( or the summit of Mount Cook, but ws unable to reach the top, on account < his knee giving out. deferring to h feat in climbing alone Mount -Vathai an unprecedented thing, Mr Turnc said that tho mountain was tho mo; diSicult rock peak in the district. 1 was in good condition when he climbe it, but an unknown glacier in front ( it caused about eight or nine hour step-cutting. For 1600 fcot he climbe up a slanting stratum in the rock, an at last reached the summit (9200 feet where he erected a small cairn, an carved his namo. Mr Turner al; climbed the Footstool by himsel which has never be on done by one pe son alone before.

Yesterday's river report was as under : Waimakariri (south branch) slightly discoloured, Waimakariri (north branch) clear. Waitaki fishable, Opihi clear, llangitata dirty, Rakaia dirty.

In the cyclone that recently devastated Mackav., Queensland, the Ho]y Trinity Church, which was built in 1879 through the exertions of Albert Maclaren, the founder of the New Guinea Mission, was completely destroyed. The Bishop of North Queensland is issuing an appeal to Anglicans throughout Australia and New Zealand for aid in raising the £5000 required for tho rebuilding of the church.

At a meeting of the Otago Expansion League, it was decided to urge on the Government the desirability of appointing a scientifically-trained man as the head of tho Forestry Department, when it is created, as by so doing the Department is more likely to be founded on sound lines, especially with regard to the operations necessary for establishing a correct system of sylviculture in the remnants of our native forests. It was also urged that no appointment should be made without first widely advertising for applications-

Last Friday night, Mrs Athol Tomkies had a very unenviable experience on tho Ngakawau Bridge (says the •'Westport News"). Just on eight o'clock, she was about midway oyer tho bridge, with two children in a perambulator, on her way to a picture show, when the train, delayed lrom' 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Westport, on account of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association's Snow, put in its appearance. Mrs Tomkies made a hurried run, pushing tho pram., for tho end of the bridgo, but, finding she could not escape tho oncoming train, she snatched the youngsters out of the "pram." and thus saved thom from what appeared to bo certain death. The "pram." was caught by the engine and damaged. Mrs Tomkies took some time to recover from the skock of tho thrilling escape.

Tho price of the 'lib loaf in Dunedin has been advanced from 9sd t-o 10d (says yesterday's "Otago Daily Tillies"). A certain amount of cutting lias boen taking place amongst tho local bakers, and though the existing retail price lias been named at 9sd, for a considerable time lower prices have been charged by some bakers to particular customers. Tho price of flour today is £15 (lees 2$ per cent, discount). This is tho price fixed by the Government, and it lias been ruling for many months. Tho Board of Trade_ is now, however, reconsidering flour prices, and tho opinion amongst these who should be able to form a fairly reliable estimate is that the Board will lix the price at £15 10s (less 2£- per cent, discount). Both millers and bakers assert that at tho prices they have been receiving up to tho present there is very little profit in their respective businesses.

In connexion with the recent fire at Foster's Hotel, W r anganui, an incident attended by remarkable circumstances is recorded. Mr and Mrs Foster's bedroom was on the upper floor, and its furnishings included a sale, in which Mrs Foster kept her .jewellery and monev, which, at tho time of tlio fire, included a roll of notes to the value of £120. When the floor of tho bedroom succumbed to the flames, tho iron safo crashed through to the ground floor, and, in falling, broke off a tap which was projecting from a water-pipe immediately in tho line of its fall, the result being that it was played upon by a continuous stream of water in tho midst of the liery furnace in which it was embedded. When the recovery of the safe had been rendered possible, it was found thai, except for the charring of some cardboard boxes and papers, tho contents were uninjured. With this exception, Mr and Mrs Foster lost the whole of their personal belongings.

A welcome homo to Corporal Frank Packwood, of Booth, Macdonald and Co.'s fitting shop staff, took placc at tho Carlyle Implement Works yesterday, when the managing director, Mr Geo. T. Booth, on behalf of the whole Carlyle organisation, addressed some appropriate remarks to the guest of the gathering. Mr Booth referred to the amount of service Corporal P.ickwcod had 6een, a brief summary of it being as follows: Enlisted on August 7th, 1914, went through tho Gallipoli landing, where he was severely wounded, and subsequently through the Palestine campaign, where lie was twice severely wounded. On concluding the welcome, on behalf of the Carlyle Implement Works' employees Mr Booth handed Corporal Packwood a very handsome watch, as a slight souvenir of tho esteem in which his shopmatcs hold him; also as a reminder of the "times of turmoil" through which he has passed. Corporal Paekood briefly but suitably replied, and -was accorded a hearty round o* cheers.

A regulation under the War Precau--15 tions Act, -which, has tho effect of proo hibit.ing any agreement among traders l " to increas ; the price of commoditi-,->f chased by the Commonwealth for the u'= > d cf the troops, was gazetted last week. >- Although officers were reticent about tha o matter, it is understood that the regulation_ has been rendered necessary Dy suspicion that an arrangement was bei- ing made to exact higher contract prices i- from the Xtefenco Department for cer•c tain supplies. The first commodity to 11 which the regulation will apply is bread, 10 but its application may be extended to t- other commodities by notice in the Sj "Gazette." _ Although at first giaiice Lt the regulation might be construed to jf prevent any combination to fix a minie mum price, or boycott a retailer, its [_ scope is limited by the definition of ,t "supplies," which is as follows:—"Supplios include clothing, equipmont, fooastuffs, or other commodity used by or is squired for the use of the forces and G notified by tho Minister by notice in . the 'Gazette' as being supplies within !s tho meaning of this regulation." 0 A cable message to the Australian it papers states that the people of London a took tho air-raid of February 16th ■ c calmly. Warnings of the approach of d the raider were given in the theatres, but the performances were not disk turbed, and no one left the buildings. New lamp signals were used to guide e pedestrians to the shelters, with the resuit that the streets were deserted. 1 Many of the shelters are now provided ,% gramophones, and in others dances are held. A number of Australian soldiers organised a dance at Piccadilly " Tube, and fashionablo women who had come from the restaurants joined gaily in tho fun. The Gotha was not seen, but the movements of the searchlights and the 11 intense barrage showed the track of the m raider as he fled homewards. During 'a the raid 14 bombs dropped in a field on the Kent coast. The' majority of these were thrown out hurriedly to enable the i- Gothas to rise. One was unable to ess- cape the searchlights and was hit white tr passing over the cliffs. The machine if blazed up and crashed into tho Channel, amid the cheers of spectators. is lsi A shooting affair occurred at Lynchn ford, Tasmania, on February 10th, reu suiting in the death of Jolin Deegan, single, aged 33 years, sen of Mr W. Deegan. dairy farmer, Lyncliford, and " the arrest of another son, Charles, aged about 23, on a charge of attempted mura der. It apuears that shortly bsfarc 0 }" j p.m. John Deogan returned home, and 13 | a quarrel started between the two bro--r | tliers. This, it is stated, led to blows it" . being exchnnged in a cowshed, and both :t I men lost control of themselves and inis i dulged in threats of shominp. Charles )f j Deegan, it is alleged, rushed into the is | house, and, taking a loaded gun, went i, j out on the verandah, whilo almost sim;r | nltaneously John Deegan appeared at j the door of the shed with a loaded rifle :in his hands. The two men wero only j ' about 1C yards apart when they fired r I at each other, but while the rifle shot !, j fired by John IX>o£jan went wide of its 3 , | mark, the sliit fro-u Charles Deegan's 4 ' gun struck John Deegan on tho left " side of the face and head, inflicting ter- )» i rible injuries, and he fell, excfainiing, d • "My God, I'm killed." The whole afio ; fair occurred within half an hour, and a : snd feature connected with it is that r- 1 both the father and mother of the two • men witnessed it all#

The "Welshmen of Christchurch will celebrate their national day to-morrow by a dinner and musical evening. To-day is "St. David's Day," but it was found more convenient to hold the annual celebration to-morrow.

An Auckland telegram states that, the 'Comnensation Court awarded tho Auckland* University College £17.02-' for land, buildings, and incidental outlav in fitting up temporary premises, as against £20,289 claimed. The action arose over the Auckland Citj Council taking the property for a new citv outlet.

Various rumours have been afloat of late regarding the fate of the crew s of the Wairima and Matunga, which, it would appear, have fallen victims _ to the German raider "Wolf. Enquiries, however, have proved that so far nothing is known as to what has happened to the men, though relatn es ol some of them have, some little time back, been informed officially that they might expcct news to the effect that their seafaring relatives are safe.

At a meeting of the Deor .Committee of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society hold yesterday morning a ballot lor fifteen-deer stalking licenses for thi Raknia herd this season was taken. There were thirty applications for lo blocks, the following being successful: G. Gerard, L. 13. James, G. Sutherland, C. Turner, F. Spray, 1' • C. Archer. L, N. Irent, E J. Hcrrick, G. Penlingtoii, W. Duckett. E. B. RimC P. Gardner, R. Urquhart, K J S. Murcliison, G. N. Park.

Three more days remain in which citv ratepayers can pay their rates and escape tnc 10 per cent, penalty, Inoso who wish to avoid a long period or waiting, and the liability of hemp; shut out, are urged by the City Council s officials not to delay payment till the last day. Past experience has shown that owing to the lack of accommodation at tlio Municipal Chambers, and despite the best efforts mado to reduce the inconvenience to the public, theio is usuallv an extremely large crowd on the last day, and m consequence ratepayers lose much time in waiting to be attended to.

Illustrating a warning as to the need for care in choosing a vocation, especially for one's cliilureii, Mr liBalkin, a lecturer from Amoriea, who spoke at the V.M.C.A. last night, instanced the case of a Pittsburg banker who took upon himself to chooso his children's career, irrespective of thoir wishes. He spent several thousands ol' pounds on a musical education for his daughter, but sho, although she had a remarkably keen sense of values and mathematics, possessed no aptitude for music. With the same obstinacy tho father insisted upon his son going into business. "The boy was passionately fond of music, and finally embezzled thousands of dollars in ordor to go to Europe to study art. The speaker backed up this instance by several others, illustrating the unhappy results of misconception of vocation, and added, "Go to the gaols, and you will find that -10 per rent, of tho men there owe their misfortune to thoir misplacing in life, their want of real interest in their original honest vocation." Ho added that he had specially observed numerous criminals, and intended visiting tho New Zealand gaols in tho course o further investigations relating to his studv.

Want a Truss? Let Loasby Ft you. Large assortment just landed. Why suffer ? , Come and "ask Loasby about it." Advice and 'medicine, ;is 6d; children, 2s. 1

Tho week-end sale of .home-made food supplies at the Bed Cross Sales Depot, Cathedral square, will bo in charge of Mesdames Claikson (four), Warren, and 11. Ballantyne, who will have on offer a large supply of homemade cakes, pies, tarts, butter, eggs, mutton, ctc. Donations received from Sydenham lied Cross branch 4s 9d, Mrs A. Macfarlane ss, H. 13. Bs, winner of ham last week, ]\'o. lidOl, kindly donated ic to the Soldiers' Ward. 6

Sale Bargains—Gents' Khaki Handkerchiefs till, white 4d, coloured -id, bordered 6d. Armstrong's, Ltd. 1

Busy scenes are witnessed in every department of Stewart ltobjnson's, Cashel street Boot Stores, where an extra staff is assisting in the disposal of tho boot stock bargains from the North Island. 6

When 3-011 send a soldier a "Steffano "Webb" portrait you are sure to please him, for it will be the best you cau obtain. .2.32 iligu street-, lei. 19bl). 1

"No Rubbing" laundry help, "Golden Rule" soap, "Golden Rule" candles, "Golden Rule" writing tablets. Winning on their merits. Royds Bros, and •Kirk. Ltd. 0 wholesale agents for "No Rubbing" and "Golden Rule." 5

More Bargains.—Good washing joints in navy, black, and cornflower— and stripe, 7Jd yard; 2iln) .yaids liius.ui, crepes, delaines, and zephyrs, 6d yard, at Armstrong's. Sale. 2

Eye Strain. —Persistent headaches u r e in most cases the result of muscular eye strain. Have your eyesight scientifically toslod by Walter J. Watson, D.8.0.A., London, of Watson's "Jewellers" Limited. Glasses aro only recommended when absolutely necessary, and are prepared in neat and becoming rimless designs. <5

English Enamelware.—We are offering exceptional value in high-class British ware—everything for the kitchen in pure white and mottled giey. There's always something new in kitchenware at Lewis and Anderson, Ltd., 112 Cashel street. 6

Sale quotations—33-inch heavy white twill flannellette B|d yard. Pyjama cloths in great variety now, new designs and colourings, 7}d > yard, at Armstrong's Sale. ■ 3

HIGH-GRADE ENGLISH CLEMENT-

TALBOT, 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