GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16166, 21 March 1918, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

I-lis Honour Mr Justice Herdman wil hold a sitting of the Supremo Court in Chambers to-morrow at 10.30 a.m. Yesterday's river report \ vas as under: AYaimakarin North od: AVaimakariri South, discoloured, ltakaia, dirty; Rangitata, dirty waitaki, not received; Opihi, dirty. The agreement arrived at before ille Conciliation Council in the United F«iuiture Trades* dispute lias been tiled as an award of the Arbitration Court. It comes mto force 011 June Ist next and continues till January Jlst, IUiO. The Commissioner of Taxos announces that returns of land must be I furnished not later than April Btli. Forms of return may be obtained atanv postal money order ofnee; thoy will not be sent to taxpayers from tlic office of tho Commissioner of Taxes unless written application is maclo lor them. '""What ab::ut Australia now you bavo been oyer most of it again, ' a Sydney "Sun" representative asked Dr. \j. Ij. Morrison. Political Adviser to tho Chinc-so Government, recently. lam not prepared to say anything .jiwfc no*\. There are, an I pointed out before great opportunities for trade, but it I said anything about Avhat 1 Jiavo seen at this it would only be platitudmal. 1 I am off to China as fast as I can goo

there." Tlio vagaries of yesterday s gale included an incident which sounds almost incredible, but is nevertheless true At tho corner of Colombo :Urcet and rehouse avenue a man's hat blew on:; 1& was carried along by the wind right past a passing tram, and a youth who was a passenger reached out and caught it. The envnor of tho hat was running after the tram, and the catcher leaned out and pitched the hat towards tho niaiij who was some distance behind. Jno <>-ale sent the hat spinning along 111 tho air towards its owner, who made a leap and caught it in his left hand. The pijicb-traveiled hat had actually gono 100 yds or so in the air and never opco touched earth. Lieutenant-Colonel Fulton, of the New Zealand Medical Corps, states:Travelling from Gisborno to Napi or by motor I saw a bad specimen nf the awful roads that the Northern folk aro rompl-.iinintr about. It is the worst know of. Fancy travelling an up-and-down shelf with a drop of 1800 feet or so from the outer wheels, having to roversa to get ronpd a corner, and being consoled by the spectacle of a num- I her of cars smashed to pieces at the botI torn! That is the sort of road to test tjie nerves. I saw, too, in that district, ail example of the goneral disabilities that the settjers labour under. Halfwry between Wairoa and Napier wo overtook n cart corryius;- a Tvoniati ■who had had a leg brokaji by .being thrown from a horse. Tim accident occurred the previous day. She h.id been carried seven miles on a rough stretcher ovqt broken country, then sho had this journey in tho enrt, and at the end of it fl motor trip of eight or nine hours to Napier. Yet there was not a word of whimpering from her. Wo. could not do anything to help her. Tho limb had been nicely clone up by first aid on tho spot.

A conferencc of examiners, instructors and others interested in life-sav-ing'work was held at the Municipa Baths yesterday afternoon to discuss methods of life-saving and, in particular, methods of the resuscitation of the apparently drowned. The suggestion had been made that the methods of resuscitation as adopted :>v the Surf Association should be tata.-:i as the standard, but as a good leal of criticism had been launched r«gai i-st tli-S(! methods, chietly on tjie ground that thev were hardly complete enoug-i, it was thought that the ventilation of the views of those who had tried | rather more elaborate, or slightly different, methods would do good and might result in the laying down of a practical svstem that would he approved by all. Mr K. Bassett occupicd the chair, and an interesting dncushion ensued, demonstrations of various methods of resuscitation and the oroniotion of warmth heing given by Mr Mitchell, captain of the Sumr.?:Club. Mr J. Wyn-Irwin, and Mr W. Sareiius. It was considered that ilie discussion would do a great deal of good, and probably in the future a stnadard system will be formulated, incorporating the most desirable methods of the existing systems. \n instance of the value of a returned* soldier's badge, as worn by Now ZoaHnder= was furnished by one of "die officers'who have just returned (says the Auckland "Star"). A ?>ew Zealand officer lie stated, y.'ho had boon invalided to New Zealand and was subsequently discharged on account of his injuries, recently made a trip Home. Among other places that lie was desirous of sowing was the House of Commons. He was unable to get a pass, and was standing outside tho building debating with hims?lf his next course of action. A w4l-dressf-d gentleman, noticing his badge, asked hiin if he would like to go inside. He stutecl that he "would, and that that was what he had como thcro for. His newly-fonnd friend at onco took him through the wholcj of the lui'.ld- ! ings. and later in the day found bun a seat in the visitors' gjiller f - of the House of Lords. While there he was asked to cnt?r his name in a book, that of Ills sp-nsor being placed opposite. Before goin-_£ out again it occurred to him that ' he would like to know the nnme of the"eman who had hefriendrd him. and lie went back and glanced at the oook. He was not a little astonished to hnct that his unknown friend was no other than the Earl of Chesterfield.

The enquiry into the national system j&gfe }.m be gEggsjgs; Kmissbner oi the National Efficiency Board- . , A 'h IWK S^lSi hT't'he Y.M.C.A. "last uisht, the SocietJ oWppH to disband in its old farm and to amalgamate with Mr Sidney Williamson in his concert work. At the monthly symposium of the 0 4seas Club, to be held in the Caledonian Hall this evening, the llev. S. Laurv will speak on/'aome Aftei-w-i Industrial Problems, and Mi y ■ *■ WhUaber on "American Industries and the War." Elocutionary and * oca I items will be contributed by Miss Irene Mahon and Mr Keith Giant

An uncommonly good sporimgstoy annears in this week's "Weekly K" under the title, ''A Morning Workout;" it is another of the amusing yarns about "Old Man Curry "and his horse*. . The issue also contains "Bargains in HorseHesh.. hi \\ ay-fa,-or ; "From the bame Parents \et Thev Differ," by Antisthenos; Two Horses in One Race,' by Spectator: Scratching?, by The Rook: Form at Napier Park; Waimate and Tauhevenikau: "Starting Systems," by Lancer: Metropolitan Handicaps, Taranaki Futurity Stakes, and the Champion j Stakes, by Searchlight.

Tlie unsettled weather conditions cxrerienced In.tclv urotincl Cliristcliuioji are being felt bv the Territorials in camp at Burnham. A heavy rain fell throughout Monday night, when the bulk of the men. including those from Christeliureh. had their liist sleep under canvas. However, all kept tolerably dry. although the ground next morning was unpleasantly "slushy.'' Throughout Tuesday the rain continued, and little work vas done, but all ranks remained in the best of spirits. They are being generously treated in regard to rations, and few. if any, complaints have been made. Yesterday morning dawned fine, and work was commenced, but before breakfast rain came on again, and operations were abandoned. A sivordfish with a broken sword, vvhich wss < aptured at Russell last week, proved to be the one which rammed the launch Virginia oil February 19th. Upon examination it was found that the original sword, about 2ft in length, had ! been broken almost exactly in half. The fish, which is to be preserved, weighed 2671b, measured 10ft 3in from the tip of tho sword to the tail, and -14in in girth. Another swordfish, 10ft lin in length, caught by Mr Reade, of tho Bay cf Islands, was, at the suggestion of tho Hon. G. W. Russell, forwarded to tho Auckland Museum. Mr Cheesman, the curator, has advised Mr Reade that the Auckland Museum has already a specimen, and that hp has communicated with Southern institutions, with the view of forwarding the fish to any museum not possessing a specimen.

It appears that Maori music is tremendously popular with English audir ences, lvnoni New Zealanders entertain. In a letter, Sapper Roland Foster —who, boforo leaving Christchurch, was beginning to be very kindly received by Christchurch audiences —says, in reference to a forthcoming entertainment by his company: "This concert ia going to be a wonderftfl affair. In fact, we quite expect the Maori hakas and dances to stagger the

English folk properly. . . Besides singing Walter Hill's song, 'Wa-ia J'oi,' | am singing two other Maori songs. The play company aro doing two little plays, which wo expect will more the audience to tears, therefore we have ordered three dozen tin buckets, so that they won't swamp tho placo out." Also, in speaking of an entertainment) he says:- —"The accompaniments were piano and fiddle, and for an orchestra wo have four fiddles, cornel, clarinet, and a pianist. Not so bad for a small company like ours." Tho Minister of Justice (the lion. T. M. \Vilford.) -had s-carccly set foot on tho Dunedin platform on the arrival of the north express on Tuesday night when his good offices were sought oU behalf of a returned invalided eojdier who was in trouble with tho railway officials (says the Daily Times"). It appeared that the man, who >vas one of ihosc who had just returned by the three big transports, had got ahoacl of his companions at Christchurch yesterday, and boarded the ordinary oxpross with an open secondclass pass. The trouble was that he had been travelling first-class, and the guard, in duty bound, was c|emanding the difference in faro, somo 6s 6d. The soldier could not or would not pay it. and the assistance of two "red caps' was called in. Just at this point the attention of tho Minister was directed to the inattey. and he satisfactorily settled it by handing over the amount required with the intontion of claiming a refund later. The war-scarred soldier left free to join liis -waiting wife. The extent to which trade with Australia has been alFected through war conditions is indicated to a certain degree by a statistical table issued l-y Mr G. 'J'. Milne, British Trade Commissioner in Australia, says the Melbourne "Age." This statement shows the imports into Australia during 191617 of competitive manufactured merchandise from all countries, With the proportions obtained by the United Kingdom, British Dominions, the! United States, apd. Japan. The value of imports from the linited Kingdom last year reached £36,034,438 (61.21 per cent.), by comparison with £38,285,340 (63.2 p«r cent.) in 1918. From the United States last year the Commonwealth obtained goods to the value of £11,929,839 (20.26 per cent.) —an advance of about £5,000,000 on the values of 1913. From Japan we imported last year goods to ihe value of £5,709,764. but owing to the fact that in pre-war years the statistics of imports from Japan were not compile 4 separately from those of other countries, a comparison is impracticable- It 'is, however, of interest to note that last year our importations of textiles from Japan reached a value of £1,087,477, or 6.6 of the total value of all these impoits. Japan, too, supplied earthenware, cement, chjna, and glass to the value of £263,056 (23.6 per cent.), manufactures of wood to the value of £38,311 (17.7 per cent.), and oils,'fat, and waxes worth £53,860, or 20.9 per cent, of the total.

"Violent changcs in tlie social orclsr are arising from the instinct of self- ] preservation in some and of self-saen-fice in others," remarked the Rev. J. ' E. James, 8.D., when inaugurating last week the new year of the Victorian Congregational College in Melbourne (says the Melbourne "Argus"). Jjife could not- ever be just the same, but it would be unwise to think that things were bound to be better because we had lived through the great war. In all this swift, bewildering change religion and the church wore j involved. Taking that setting. Mr i James headed his address Sermons or Ceremonies, and defended the rjght of sermons to exist as a public function. Facing the facts of life to-day, preaching was likely to increase in strength. Critics objected to the preacher's immunity from interjection and opposition. After reading reports of rroccedings in our Parliamentary institutions, one was glad of one institution which allowed a man to speak uninterruptedly his own conception of the . truth, however unacceptable it might be to his hearers. If tlie sermon weie not the centre of worship, then it must be nut there. A sermon need not Lo in conflict with a certain amount or ceremony or beautiful ritual. But ceremonial churches were conservative rather than creative, and they were apt to in.snire dubious and endless arguments 'about historic precedents. I In°ihe past it had been found that a ceremonial religion n:ight have «-ery little connexion with morality. The ' dav of the preacher was not gone. One ! of'-he most tremendous opportunities of human history stood before ihe j prophet of the Lord,

The Red Triangle ~1"? "Jf" 1 South Canterbury realised touo. The salaries of field secretaries 0 Y.M.C.A. «e:-Single TOJ « married men £3, plus t- . nrinted anec. The figures were wiongly p

in yesterday's paper. Mr E. H. Hiley, General Manager^ the New Zealand al + 1 "* • ' chamoei members of the v.ante - j n f> l( of Commerce this w ,th than Chamber Hall, and disc -j v ; . latl matters connected with laiivn. igemenfc in Canterbury. T , The solitary oCC " P^ nt Waikarcmoana Vlaori pa, near, u* the Parliamentary vhieh was visited b >> f O -,ble woman jarty. was a deaf an tv an(l inything between)ne mmdred > ears. one nrvo , 'rom any other habitatio . seen a trap or a tram, and is tho lasl if hsr tribe. Anion? the foodstuffs which it, i. forbidden to import into> tho Lnue. liingilor.i '"'fepaS!-S w «f- »v s-i.Kd 6te*tL^«jjp«yas :han coiulcnsed milk wlm j ;ii-ar, tea. canned, dried, 01 nouie pickles., and yeast. I ■ il«o forbidden to import ia» «ui •rccept lemons and bitter orang . general license lias been «sued ov.'in" the importation of SStZaA in t£ British Dominions uk icenses for canned, bottled, 1 served fruit are granted up to fifh ■ent. of the 1916 imports. \t a largo and roproseutative pubic* meeting, held at Invercargill on Monday night, tho foUou.ng r«o Uion was carried unanimously . iliat .his meeting enters a most ompbatu irotest against the continued ne S lc <* md unfair treatment accordoi to southland by the Railway Department n failing to appreciate the urgent necessity which exists for through and liroct communication between Inver■arcill and Wellington: and further revives that a memorial be prepared rom tho people of Invercargill. and iurrounding districts for submission to ho Ministor'of Railways, calling-upon iim to afford relief by reinstating the lirough express service, Invercargill to and vice versa, either as i daily service, tri-woekly, or bivcekly."

Want a Trass? Let Loasby ft you. Large assortment just landed. Why suffer? Come and "ask Loasby about it." Advice and medicine, Us 6d; children. 2s. 1 Owing to tlie inclement weather on Tuesday the dispersal sale at Barry's Bay of Mr Robert Latter's Englis.i Leicester stud flock was not held, and has been fixed to take place on *nday, 22nd inst. a To-night's meeting of the Micro-1 scopical Society will be held in the Demonstration Room on the corner of Armagh and Manchester streets. Three short papers will be given: Mr S. Lindsay, Evolution of Insect Life: Mr 1. Williams, Polyps; Mr C. H. E. Graham, Diatoms. * When you send a soldier a "Steffano Webb" portrait you are sure to please him, for it will be the best you can obtajn 252 High street. Tel. 1989.

Eye Strain. —Persistent headaches a>e 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, anq are prepared in neat and becoming rimless designs. " The "Sturgis" Collapsible Push-car embodies all tlio latest features in baby carriages. Faces mother or father. Grey, Tan. or Black colours. Prices from £5 Jos. Try "Draytons," 765 Colombo street. ® No pn-, likes moving, but the work can be made much lighter if competent men are employed. J. M. Hejwood and Co.. Ltd.. have them and three up-to-date pantechnicon!,. ielephones 250. 1241 and 217-1. o N.Z. Farmers' Co-op. Association for "No Rubbing" laundry help, "Golden Rule" soap, ''Golden Rule" candles. Ideal goods for. every home. 4

FOR SALE—BUICiv SIX-CYLINDER FIVE-SEATER, PRICE £350 NET CASH. We havo fpr immediate salo a B" 11 ?} 1 six-cylinder five-seater (1916 model). This'car is in exceptionally good order, having recently been overhauled and repainted. Complete, with electric lamps, horn, and self-starter. YJ ICC o?u quick sale £350. Adams, Ltd., -21J Tuam street.