GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16167, 22 March 1918, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

Good progress has been made in connexion with St. Andrew's Boys' College, and there are now about 80 boarders and day boys in attendance. Tho formal opening of tho College is to take place at Strowan to-morrow afternoon. The Ashburton police received advice yesterday morning that Mrs Small had disappeared from her residence at Elgin during the early hours of the morning. As she was only partially dressed her sudden disappearance is causing her relatives anxiety. A search party was instituted, but late in the afternoon no trace of her had been found. A true instance of patriotism was related by Mr J. S. Orr, of Taradale, at a patriotic meeting at Napier (says the "Tribune") He told of two settlers who had struggled hard and were established on Hawke's Bay land. One day they heard of the way in which the Huns wero treating women and children, and one of them left his land in charge of the other and wont to the front. .Soon afterwards he was killed, and the other followed him and also lest, his life —or, rather, gave it for his country's sake. The land is now in tho hands of the Public Trustee.

All the Canterbury rivers were dirty yesterday. The Sccond Canterbury Military Service Board will sit in Christchurch on April 4th and oth. in Timaru on April 9th and 10th, and in Asliburton on April 11th. What must be almost a record for oven an E.F.M. cabl:—Expeditionary Force message, transmitted under -'deferred" conditions —is the time taken I v one which reached Dunedin on Wednesday (s ys the "Otago Daily Times"). It was s >nt frc:m France on January 2vitli, over seven weeks ago. During the hearing of a claim for damages at the Arbitration Court yesterday. there was considerable conflict of medical evidence. Mr Justice Stringer, who presided, commented, on this during the proceedings. "There is a much wider divergence of medical opinion than I anticipated," admitted Mr Andrews, who appeared for the defence. "It certainly shows the risks one runs!" said his Honour drily. Admission to the C'.J.C. Meeting, to bo hold at Easter, will be granted by the club to all members of His Majesty's Forces belonging to the Foreign Service Branch, returned soldiers, and attested men. For the' Metropolitan Trotting Club's fixture on Easter Saturday, the same privilege will be extended to returned soldiers. In neither case will men <jji "Leave without pay" be, given these tickets. Those who are eligible should, if in mufti, call at the C.D.C. rooms for tickets on Thursday, the 28th, bringing their discharge or leave pass for identification purposes. Those in khaki will be passed ipso facto. Ou Easter Monday Port Levy will be on fete on the occasion or 'he Patriotic Regatta, which will be held in aid of the Lady Liverpool and Red Cross Funds. An elaborate p-ogratnme, to suit all tastes, has bivn arranged, including yacht races, int tor race.?, rowing races, as well as land races for children and adults. There will rlso be a life-saving competition, baby shfiW, and side-shows of all kinds. '! he Maoris will be in force at the regatta, and visitors will be welcomed with bi.kas and poi danccs. In the evening a grand concert and dance will be no id. A steamer will leave Lyttelton at 0.30 a.m. and 10.30, and there will be ample accommodation for all. The ferry steamer Maori arrived outside the moles at Lyttelton yesterday at 10 a.m., after It hours' steaming against a heavy head sea and strong southerly gale. The vessel encountered the full violence of the gale upon leaving Wellington, and had to battle against wind and sea across the Strait. Tho wind abated somewhat about 4 a.m., after which better progress was made. The Maori was sighted from Oodlcy Heads at 9.40 a.m., but she did not berth until about an hour later, owing to the high wind giving rise to difficulty in bringing tho vessel alongside tho wharf. Tho passengers had a most unpleasant passage, tho vessel being continually shakon by impact with head seas.

A German prisoner of war. John Gnstav Blinn. was charged before Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., at the Wellington Magistrate's Court on Wednesday with a series of particularly mean thefts. Blinn was brought over from Somes Island and admitted to the hospital for treatment in December last, and took tho opportunity of collecting various odds and ends from nurses, patients, and the Board itself. The four charges preferred against him were the thefts of a watch, valued at 7s 6d, from Norah Holmes, a fountain pen, valued at 2s Gd. from Nurse Willis, and a pair of scissors and a pair of forceps, valued at 3s 6d, the property of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Tho articles were found in his possession, but Blinn pleaded not guilty, and the ease was remanded for a week.

With regard to the boiling oil which is Bent into the Hun lines, a Taranaki soldier says he saw one dose sent over, but he was unable to say how it was done. He presumes that it was done by electricity. He knows that tho gun from which it is fired makes a fearful report, and the flash shows up the country for a long distance round. Tho oil is fired in tubes. The passage of these tubes through the air seems to heat them up, and tho oil appears to be in a blaze when it arrives at its destination. Apart from the burning the oil emits a deadly gas, and either the gas or tho oil eats through tho Huns' helmets in a few moments. For this reason the helmets worn by the British are specially treated to resist the effects of this oil or gas in case the wind should happen to carry it back in their direction.

At last night's .symposium of tho Overseas Club there was a large attendance, which was presided over b.y Mr H. Holland (Mayor of Christchurch). The chairman stated that arrangements were in train for the celebration of Empire Day. Tho Club was trying to arrange for a distribution of Distinguished Conduct Medals, and it was hoped that at least one Minister of the Crown would be present. The Rev. S. Lawry gave an interesting address on. "Some After-war Industrial Problems," in the courso of which ho dealt with the possibility of co-partnership and profitsharing proving a solution of the problem of industrial unrest and an incentive to industrial competency. Mr C. G. "Whitaker spoke on "American Industries and the War." Votes of thanks were accorded both speakers. During the evening Miss Irene Mahon gave a recitation and Mr Keith Grant a vocal item.

The new system of physical drill and bayonet instruction brought from Home by Captain Brocks, M.C., is, it is stated, proving very popular in the camps at Trentham and Featherstonr Two or three classes of instructors have been chosen for their physical and mental qualities from the ranks of tho trained "non-coms," and these men have proved generally most efficient as instructors. They have had several weoks' special training to fit„them to take the men in squads of about 25 at a time. The new recruits, it wus said, come fresh to tho work, and quickiy realise that it is both interesting and beneficial to them. They prefer it greatly to the ordinary infantiy drill. The new methods are also proving most beneficial at the CI camp; and hope is expressed that this system will be extended to the Territorial training also, as it will add interest to the work and awaken a spirit of emulation amongst the men.

An Edinburgh lady, writing to a. friend in Christchurch, under date of January loth, says: —"The girls are all driving cars or mfcking munitions now, and servants cannot bo got. We live in stirring times. For the last hour, indeed_ as I write, & terrible bombardment is going on in the Firth, and tho office windows are shaking. This is a common occurrence, and we do not tako any notice of it. I suppose it is the Navy practising. We had a great week last week with the War Loan campaign. It was conducted like a circus. The monoy was taken in one of the tanks, which was situated at the National Gallery. Bands and pipers played the whole day. and there were great aircraft displays. It was rather startling to see threo or four aeroplanss looping-the-loop above Prinecs strret. You saw them coming down above your . head, noso first, and ymi thought that it was all up with them, when they recovorod their horizontal position and sailed away. One big plane. fl:w verv low and scraped the Scott Monument' and the tops of the houses. It mado a most awful noise, and certainly made a good advertisement for the tank. We now knovv what to expect when a circus comos to a town .nfter the war. I ralhodeprecated this method of raising money for national purposes, but it certainly appealed to the working classes, who are fast becoming the rich mon of the country. We got four and a half millions in the week, which was not bad. as Edinburgh ba.s subscribed well already to the various war securities. We are having a very hard v.-inter, the hardest I can remember: the cold wo had last week was most intense."

"Preference to unionists is, at present, a one-legged affair," remarked the Rev. S. Lawrv in the course of his address at the Overseas Club last night. "To entitle unionists to preference there should be some guarantee of their competence, and. as far as I can gather, there is no such guarantee. Industrial competence involves compulsoptechnical education, so that men will be turned out with a proper knowledge of the trade at which they are to work." | Want a Truss? Let Loasby fc you. Large assortment just landed. Why suffer? Come and "ask Loasby about it." Advice and medicine, Us Gd ; children, 2s. 1 The United Tennis Club will hold a sale of cakes, pies, and other home-made delicacies, etc., at the Red Cross Sales Depot, Cathedral square, to-night and to-morrow morning. The jumble sale held at St. John's Schoolroom last Saturday by the Red Cross Sales Depot realised £60. G Some very special attractions in Armstrong's blouse show rooms. Beautiful crcpe do chine blouses, squaro neck, trimmed spoke stitching, hand embroidered, 39s Gd; Jap silk blouses, heavy weight, all new stylos, 12s 9d, 15s 9d, 19a Gd; art silk sports coat, full loose stylo, with sash belt and pocket, 39s Gd, 49s ; all-wool sports coats, 355, 49s Gd, 57s Gd. 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 are 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 arc prepared in neat and becoming rimless designs. 6 Woikingmen's wants at low prices, Buckskin trousers 8s lid, overalls 4s lid, strong tweed shirts 3s 6d, knitted socks Is 3d, at Armstrong's. 2 "No Rubbing" laundry help, "Golden Rulo" soap, "Golden ltule" candles, "Golden Rule" writing tablets. Winning on their merits, itovds Bros, and KirTf. Ltd., wholesale agents for "No Rubbing" and "Golden R.ule." 5 FOR SALE—BUICK SIX-CYLINDER I FIVE-SEATEK. PRICIO £350 NET CASH. We havo for immediate sale a Buick 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. Price for quick sale £350. Adams, Ltd., 219 Tuam street. 6