GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16160, 14 March 1918, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

We have received £1 from "Old Friend" for our Serbian Fund. A.M. has sent us £1 for the Y.M.C.A. Soldiers' Fund, and the amount has been forwarded to the chairman of the fund. We havo to acknowledge with thanks icceipt of £5 from "Betty Burr"' lor our SerbiaiivFund, being proceeds of sale of book of poems, entitled "The Better Way.'' The book is published by Whitcombo and Tombs, Ltd.. at Is. Two more pupils passed the flying test at tho Canterbuiy Aviation School yesterday, namely, David Barnes (Waipara), and Colin Gordon (Cliristehurch). Colonel Chaffey and Captain Robertson wero the oxamining officers. Flying conditions were good, and the pupils passed the test quite satisfactorily. The Canterbury Automobile Association's Orphans' Day on Saturday will be the biggest effort that the Association has yet made, and_ up to the present not enough cars have been or> mised to carry the number of children who are expected to be present. The secretary (Mr C. W. Hervey) would be pleased to receive offers of assistance from motorists without delay. The secretary of the Canterbury Patriotic Fund has been advised by* .lie War Relief Association of Wellington that the wives and children domiciled in New Zealand of reservists serving in tho Imperial Forces, are to receive from the New Zealand Government the difference between the Imperial pay and the New Zealand Expeditionary Force pay, and they will also have the henefit of any Imperial separation allowances to which they are entitled. Information has been received that Mount Ngauruhoe is again becoming active. Oil Friday several explosions took place. In the afternoon a very large explosion occurred. The whole of the north-eastern faco of the mountain was covered with ftones, thrown from the crater. On Saturday morning there were several very loud explosions, dense clouds of heavy black smoko being thrown many hundreds of feet into the air. A peculiar feature (says the Auckland "Herald'') is that tho vent, or b!ow-hole, of the mountain appears to bo pointed at an angle of about 45 degrees towards the north-east.

When giving cvidcnce in a case in which lie was concerned at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, Mr E. S. Luttrell expressed his opinion of tho City Council in terms more forcible than polito. He described a certain incident in connexion with the matter before tho Court, which he considered was duo to tho Council's own negligence. "That's just the way of the City Council,'' ho said. "Thoy always put tho cart before tho horse, and would drivo a man mad. That is everybody's experionco who has anyunng to do with, them ; just humbug all the tinio. AVhat wo ought to do is to clear tho whole bang lot out and get a new Council altogether.''

So many complaints have been mado about the Financial Assistance Board that tho C.D.C. desire to place the following case on record: A soldier entered camp owing rates to the Christchurch City Council. The C.D.O. wrote to the Financial Assistance Board applying for assistance on behalf of the man. Thev learnt from the city rate collector, they said, that if the Financial Assistance Board paid tho balance of the rates, £1 16s 3d, for the current year, the Council would not press for the payment of arrears of the general and sanitation rates, which amounted to a considerable sum. Thev have now been advised by the Board that it has made a grant for the balance mentioned above.

The damage that is caused in certain districts by tamo ferrets being abandoned by their owners in rabbit-burrows was referred to at a meeting of tho Auckland Acclimatisation Society Council. Mr E. J. Elliott said the nuisance was becoming very serious at Papakura. Ho knew of 25 head of poultry bcii'g killed by ferrets last week, and thought something should be done to put a stop to tho practice of liberating ferrets. The chairman said the only redress he could think of was to kill tho ferrets, but if tho owners of tho animals could be found damages could bo recovered from them. Ho also stated that over filty ferrets naa been caught by the curator outside the game farm at Cambridge.

Apparently the Government has not yet made up its mind what to do with the large number of Territorial officers, members of the First _ Division, who were called up for service some months ago, but for whom no positions in the Reinforcements as officers could be found. These men, after serving a period in camp, wore granted leave without pay, and that leave has been extended from time to time. Now, it is understood that a further month's leavo without pay has beon granted. Recently, it is understood, advice was received by the officers affootod that, they would roceive pay for January last, and they now anticipate that they will bo paid for the ensuing period of their leave.

Bt. Thacker has sent the following telegram to Sir James Allen (Minister of Defence) respecting Easter leave for the troops:—"Your reply is most unsatisfactory. You aro merely sidetracking the main issue and giving preference to civilian Easter traffic instead of the soldiers. You are forcing between 300 and 400 relatives to go to Wejlington, at a cost of from £10 to £15 each. One trip of tho Maori is all that would be necessary, which the Union Steam Ship Company could give free, as tho cost ivould be a mere bagatello and a discount on its war profits. Please try again and let the men away on the Wednesday beforo Good Fridar."

The amount of compensation due for the loss of several fingers has been computed by the Court of Arbitration in the case of Robert Ross ■v. the NewZealand Refrigerating Company, Ltd. The case was heard in Wanganui last week, _ and _ tho evidence showed that plaintiff, while then in the company's employ, lost as the result of an accident one joint of his left-hand forefinger, two joints of his left-hand mid•dlo finger, and one joint of his lefthand third finger. The company offered to pay compensation in accordance with the schedule laid down in the statute, and plaintiff had already received the sum of £84. In addition, the Court owirdcd in final settlement £125. Costs (£7 7s) and witnesses' expenses were allowed.

The question of whother or not the Govornmont should continue the granting of allowances to wives of soldiers undergoing imprisonment was discussed by*~the executive of the Canterbury Patriotic Society at"" its meeting last month. At yosterday's meeting of the executive the secretary read a letter he bad received from the secretary of the War Relief Association of Wellington on tho question, in which the writer said:—"You asked Us to inform you whether it is the usual practice of the Defence Department to continue tho allowance of the wife, where tho soldier is undergoing imprisonment, and I have to state that "we urged upon Sir Jamos Allen the fairness of

the last-mentioned contention, and as a result, our representations were placed before Cabinet, who decidocl that the War Expenses, Branch shall pay to the dependants of the soldier who has boon convicted bv court-mar-tial the married allowances until ho has been returned to civil life, but in no case will this be allowed for a longer period than six months from the date of cessation of tho soldier's oav, i.e., date of sentence. . . . Under the Army Act the military pay and allowances of any man convicted by courtmartial coise at date of sentence, and tho amending resolution passed by Cabinet is the utmost we can expect to obtain from the Defence authorities."

I All the Canterbury rivers were rej ported clear yesterday. The secretary of the Domain Board has rc-coived tne applications of sports bodies for sports "grounds in Hiigiey Park. These will be submitted to a commit tee of the Board, which will report on tliem at the Board's next meeting. The Rev. F. A. Crawshaw, of Waihao Downs, late of the Melanosian Mission. makes an appeal for Association footballs for the Islanders. Donations may bc> left with Miss Hockley, 108 Gloucester street. Cliristehurch, or forwarded to Mr Crawshaw. About midday on Tuesday J -he Fire Brigade was called to 952 Colombo street, occupied by Mr G. Gray, fruiterer, where some smoke was notired coming from tho matchlined wall behind a gas stove. A bucket or two | of water extinguished what fire there was before the Brigade arrived. Some seeds of the sand-binding plant, which has worked such marvels wSth sandy wastes in Australia and elsewhere, have been planted 011 the Petone Esplanade, and the .results will be carefully watched by the borough engineer. The plant is* a legume, and therefore acts as a fertiliser to the soil. The Norfolk Island pine trees which were planted in the same locality are now making headway, although a few have died. A particularly bright meteor was noticed to fall from the northern skies last evening about 7.30 o'clock. For a moment tha heavens were brilliantly illuminated, as though an electric light of great power had suddenly been switched on. Then a bluish ball of fire, leaving a long, bright trail behind it, was seen to drop towards the west, and the pyrotochnical display of nature was over as quickly as it had begun. There wore good attendances yesterday at tho annual exhibition of the Art Society, at the Art Gallery, and ti.e numerous works displayed wero much r.dmired. The exhibition will be open -it the custoinary hours to-day; in tho afternoon tiie programme of music will be ; n charge of Mrs John Guthrie, and in tho evening it will be in charge of Mr Bracy Wilson. On Saturday, Mrs N. L. Macbeth will provide the afternoon tea.

There was samp opposition at the conforonce of local bodies regarding motor traffic, hold yesterday, to the proposal that the speed limit in the enmities through which the traffic to Akaroa' goes should be 25 miles an hour. One. speaker asscitc-d that a motor-car going at 30 miles an hour was less dangerous than a horse and trap going at four miles an hour. His opponents, however, contended that the motor going at the speed mentioned "scooped up" the road to a much greater exlent than tho slower moving vehicle.

"Isn't it true that you spoke of procuring a revolver and some poison and finishing your wife; with the one and yourself with the other?'' asked Mr Johnston of a defendant in a maintenance ease at the Magistrate's Court, yesterday. "That is absolute 'tommyrot.' " responded the defendant. "In any case I am too mean a man lo both poison and a revolver," he added amidst laughter. "If one of us took roison. then that would have to do for both of us." "I see; economy in view of tlie higji eost of living," commented Mr Johnston. A number of proficiency certificates, medallions, etc., were presented at last evening's meeting of tho Canterbury Head Centre of the Royal Life Saving Society. In making the presentations the president, Mr Iv. Bassctt, reforred to tho remarkable fact that two of those who h.id gained both honours were both deaf and dumb. Notwithstanding their great handicap, they had both ryeoivod special praise from the examiner for their work. Mr Bassctt specially congratulated the two successful competitors, Messrs H. O. Williams and C. V. Pruden, both of whom wero loudly applauded when they received their awards.

"When your wife left vou. you r,ot a housekeeper. Now. isn't it a fact that you used to go from the tram to your 'shack' arm-in-arm with that ladv?" enquired Mr Johnston when cross-examining a witness in tho Magistrate's Court yesterday. "1 don't think so," replied the witness. "In fact, lam sure I didn't. My answer to you is that I did not." "Oh, on second thoughts you Bay so," commented Mr Johnston. "That's right: second thoughts are always the best," was the reply. "Quite "so, but they are not always the most truthful/' interjected the Magistrate, Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M.

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

Tho week-end sales of home-made food supplies at the Red Cross Sales Depot, Cathedral square, will be in charge of tho New Brighton Red Cross branch. Donations received: Mrs Haigh 12s, H. S. Martin ss. Mrs Fabling ss, M.H. £5. Mrs McKellar (annual) £10. G. L. Rutherford, Supremo Court expenses £6 13s Id. Mr Wilding, winner of ham, kindly donated it to the soldiers' ward. 1

When you send a soldier a "Steffano Webb" portrait you are sure to please him, for it will be the best you can obtain 252 High street. Tel. 1989. 1 Eye Strain.—Persistent headaches in most cases the result of muscular eyo 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 are prepared in neat and becoming rimless designs. " (j The _ ''Sturgis'' Collapsible Push-car embodies all the latest features in baby carriages. Faces mother or fathor. Grey. Tan, or Black colours. Prices from £5 15s. Try "Draytons," 765 Colombo street. . 6 N.Z. Farmers' Co-op. Association for "No Rubbing" laundry help, "Golden Rule" soap, ''Golden Rule" candles. Ideal goods for every home. 4 No on-, likes moving, but the work can be 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. 3