GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16263, 13 July 1918, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS.

The .Minister of Defcnce has been ad- ' vised that the 39th New Zealand Rein- 1 forcements have been reported from a f port of call. The health of the troops j T is excellent. i j The auction announcements.of Charles ' j Clark, It. S. McKenzie and Co., Clar- ! r idge and Smith, Harris Bros., and' j Laurio and Dalton, will be found on i 1 page 13 of this issue. The ferry steamer Mararoa encounter- v ed rough weather, and heavy Jiead seas, p on her passage from Wellington on e Thursday night, and did not arrive in t port yesterday until mid-day. i

Wo have received £1 from A.P.P. for our Serbian Fund. _ Tho Minister of Marine, after consideration of the evidence at the preliminary enquiry and the report of the Nautical Adviser, has decided to hold a public enquiry into the loss of tho Wimmera. At tho Aviation School yesterday four more pupils —D. H. Dawson (Gisborne), H. S. McKinnon (Gisborne) A. D. Cooper (Cheviot), and A. I). Fleming (Cheviot) —were successful in gaining their tickets. Colonel Chaffey and Major Morrison were the observers. Up to the present 112 pupils have passed through the school. The Minister of Public Health has given instructions for the issue of a circular to all Hospital Boards, stating that in his opinion recipients of old age pensions resident in homes and other institutions controlled by Hospital Boards, should be allowed, in addition to tobacco allowance, two shillings per week for their private use. "There is a great waste of khaki ir> New Zealand at tho present time/ 1 stated a member at Wednesday night's mortm-g of the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association. After some discussion, the following motion was carried:—'That this meeting is of opinion tliat. from an economic point of view, any returned soldier who is in possession of uniforms and great coats should be permitted to surrender same at an assessed value." It pays to wield the axe and saw theso days, and it would appear that the man of brawn and muscle is coming into his own (says the "Tuatapero Guardian"). Locally in pre-war days a first-class bushman could be procured for lis or 12s at the outside. As high as 2'is 8d a day is now being paid for good men, some of the leading bushmen's pays amounting to £25 a month. Post-splitters are simply coining money, making from 25.3 to 80s daily at this work. Even nt these high rates a great scarcity of labour exists, and men are hard to procure who have a knowledge of bush-craft. "These hospital, ships could well do with a clearing out.; they are like our Houses of Parliament," *aid a speaker at a meeting of the Wellington Returned Soldiers' AsMr-iation on Wednesday night._ The staffing of hospital ships was discussed at some length, and 'he remarks of members showed the existence of a very definite opinion that men who had field experience ought to have first call oil hoFp't-al ship appointments. There was moro than a suggestion that in tho opinion of returned men some of the members of the hospital ship staffs were holding very tightly to comfortable and relatively secure jobs. The immense improvement which has been effected in the health of the troops in the New Zealand military training camps was referred to by .Sir James Alien, in addre-sing public meeting at Helensville on Tuesday night. Sir James said that the camps were now probably the healthiest places in Now Zealand. Continuing, he said he had just received a return of men admitted to the onmp hospital at Featherston (Turin?: hist wodi, and that return, although it was in tho middle of winter, when serious illness might ho expected among tho men, comprised under twentycca n s. Similar nondit'ons provailed at Trentham. The relatives of soldiers f-ef.assured that tho men were being'well looked after, and were being protected from diseases. A little publication of much value to military resorvists, discharged soldiers and their dependants, is "The C.D.C. Handbook," issued by tho Citizens' Defence Corps, which contains in tabloid form a wealth of information for soldiers and their dependants. It deals with tho classification of roservists, voluntary enlistment, appeals for exemption, hearing of appeals, medical examination, dental examination, separation allowances, dismissed officers.- financial assistance, the Canterbury Patriotic Fund's operations, what is necessary when goincr into camp, returned sold'ers on arrival, tV>e Returned Soldiers' Club, the C.D.C. Hospital '"'ommittee. pensions, nnd bo\v to anply ~ny thorn, t>"-, Discharged iSToldiers' Information J>cparfment, land for discharged soldiers, exiling money to wounded soldiers, and other matters. News of tho assassination of General von Mirbach, German Ambassador to Russia, has revived in tho mind of an old Wellingtonian recollection of a Dr. von Mirbach, at one time resident in rsow Zealand, and who is believed to have been a brother of the German AmDr. von Afirbach was iu practice in Wellington over thirty years ago, and afterwards moved to Waipawa. Later he left tho colony, and when last, heard of was surgeon on an Atlantic liner. He had a brother in tho German diplomatic service, and another brother <\ surgeon on the Russian ship-of-war Ycsnik, which made a sudden appearance in Wellington Harbour some thirty years ago, at a time when the Russian scare was the sensation of the hour. Dr. von Mirbach was a powerfully-built man, considerably over G feet in height, and was esteemed a clever man in his profession. Ho was employed on two or three occasions on Government Commissions enquiring into medical and health questions. One of tho most curious cases of suicide known in Victoria—a man shooting. himself without a gun—was reported to tho police in Melbourne on June 30lb, when the body of Richard Garrard, 39 3'ears of ape, was found near his home at Mordialloc. Tho mystery surrounding tho death was solved by the police on the discovery of an inlenious weapon which Garrard evidently had manufactured. The instrument which caused the death of Garrard (an engineer's carpenter by trade) consisted >f a length of brass tubing, a cartridge, md a bradawl. The cartridge, it is surmised, was fitted into the tubing, uid the bradawl was placed in such a position as tc cause the cartridge to explode. A&_a hammer was found near the body, it is thought that Garrard jlaced the tubing against his chest and then struck the bradawl with the lammer. For some time Garrard had ieen despondent owing to ill-health—he ivas recovering from a nervous breakJo wn—<ind the fact that he was out of ivork The letter which appeared yesterday .vitsh reference to an alleged danger of mporting Australian boring beetles of a arge size in the timber used for telegraph poles, was referred to Mr E. Shrimpton, engineer to tho Post am: Felegraph Department, who said he had j loticed the tunnels bored by beetles in I ;he timber used for poles, 'but he had j tevcr yet been able to find the j iving beetle, though he had look- I ;d for it carefully. He considered that :o far as the South Island was concerned. and the colder parts of New j Zealand, there need bo little fear of. in Australian beetle living, as tho dimate would kill it. In the Auckand district, however, insects such as vhite ant had been imported' from Australia, and damaec had been caused iv it, and in this climate boring beetles | night survive. _ Mr Shrimpton thinks I hat the holes in the poles were prob-| iblv made when the tree was in its j ivins state. Enquiries made at the ; ?hrivtchurch Museum legarding the natter elicited the fact that Austraian beptles of the borintr variety had leen found as far back as 1873. There rns one labelled as having been found 'in Tully's cowshed" in February, 573, in the Wakefield collection, but, i :enerallv sneaking, an insect of an im-1 lorted species was rarely found. On I he other hand, New Zealand has a! argo native family of beetles raneing • n size from a fraction of an inch to learly two inches long, which all n timber during the larval stage, but a many cases these beetles do not ttack the living tree, but chiefly eonirip their Attention to dead and rotten rood The opinion was again a:<n.'sscd by our informant at the Milium that the cold eliirate of Canterrury and the South Island was more , ban likely to kill Australian insects. '

A resident of Dunedin, who has made a practice for some time past of sending parcels of flour to a relative in Dundee, received word by the last mail that ono of these parcels, which arrived in Scotland several weeks ago, was "a perfect Godsend," as the bakers in Dundee had been on strike for somo days, and no bread was procurable from them. A meeting of ratepayers in the Riccarton riding of the Waimairi County Council was held last night, presided over by Mr Geo. Witty, M.P. Mr S. A. Staples, chairman "of the Council, delivered an address, after which a motion approving of the Council raising a loan for the purpose of relieving the electrical system of its overdraft, was carried unanimously. Tho Rev. H. L. Blamires, of Wanganui, in the course of a lecture at Hamilton, stated that, although he was a minister of the Gospel, lie hoped the war would not end until it had been carried into tho enemy's country. Ho did not 6ay this out of a spirit of revenge, but because he believed that it would be for the ultimate benefit of tho German people. The chaplains at tho front, said Mr Biamires (himself a returned chaplain), were unanimous in their support of air reprisals. June was a most successful month in all departments of tho Canterbury Public Library. Ninety new members wero enrolled, and 11,313 volumes wero issued from tho lending library, as compared with 10,18G for the same month last year. The reference library was frequented by a very largo number of peoplo daily, and 2738 volumes were consulted, or 400 more than during Juno, 1917. In the juvenile library 1801 volumes were issued for home reading, and the membership now stands at 659. In spite of the Gcareity of new books. 76 wero added to the circulating, 34 to the reference, and 12 to the juvenile department. Canterbury's unprecedented snowfall is very beautifully pictured in the current "Wreklv Press," and the management has been deluged with repeat orders from agents, and urgent requests for copies from the general public. Owing to the shortage of paper it was impossible to print a second edition of this week's issue, but to meet the wishes of subscribers and others, especially thoso who wish tor send tho snow pictures to soldiers, these will be reprinted in next issue, together with new ones of eoual interest. Another subject which will bp fully illustrated is tho College-High School football match. In. anticipation of a keen demand extra numbers will be printed, but intending purchasers are strongly urged to place their orders to-day if they wish to avoid disappointment. Some time ago the president of tho Southland Leaguo indicated that he ,was convinced tiiat tho rabbit difficulty could be veiy greatly minimised by means of eloctric power, and in a conveisation with a representative of tho "Southland Times" on Wednesday Mr Rodger said that a practical test of his suggestion had been made with very satisfactory results. Ho had consigned . to him a low days ago a dozen live rabbits, and through the kindness of Mr E. G. Foster, the borough clectrical enginoer, and Mr Crane, his assistant, the idea of killing tho rabbits by electric power was proved to be possible. The test was made by means of a length of ordinary sheep-proof wire netting. The olectric current being passed through it at 230 volts, the ordinary voltage supplied to a private house. The rabbits coming into contact with the wire netting were electrocuted, and while two rabbits received only a slight shock and recovered after a time.- this was found to be due to the primitive method of experimenting. The result of tho exjperimenthas convinced those interested that further exhaustive tests in a practical way should be made, and arrangements have been made whereby these tests will be carried out within tie next few weeks. An unusual explanation of a motorist's action in not stopping after be had collided with another vehicle was given in tho Magistrate's Court yesterday by Mr Alpers, who assured the Bench that although his story miglit seem rather hard to believe, yet it was. perfectly true. His client, he said, with his brother, was motoring to Sumner at night when there was a very thick fog, which, incidentally, almost completely dulled tho screen. Suddenly, from nowhere, as it seemed, an express loomed up in front of the -ar, the driver of' which swerved, and although he felt a graze, did not think tjiat anything more serious had happened. A.few yards further on, the grazing of the mudguard on the wheel was felt, and,, pulling up about ot) yards from the scene ot the impact, the "motorists found that the guard was badly bent. They righted this and then looked round for some sign of the express, but seeing .nothing, concluded that it had not been damaged,. and drove on to Sumner. As a matter of fact thev had turned the corner at Mount Pleasant, and this with the heavy fog, accounted for their not seeing the express, which had, it transpired, "been hit so hard that the driver was thrown out under the vehicle and injured. Mr Alpers added that although it hardly sounded feasible, vho motorists had had a somewhat serious collision without knowing it. The driver of the express had, however, been fully compensated since for his injuries. Feeling tired, weary, low-spirited sleepless? Loasby's Nerve Tonic ana Blood Enricher will cure you. 3 There are a good many photographic obligations you have never paid. Call on Steffano Webb at once, 252 High street, Christchurch. Telephone 1989. 0 For Departing Soldiers. —Tho New "Gillotto" Safety Razor, with unbreakable mirror completej 2os; Autostrop Razors, "tseven o'Clock" Razors, Wristlet Watches, Money Belts Wallets, Knives, etc. Hastie, Bull, and Pickering, Ltd., Cashol street. 6 Quick Optical Repairs—When your eyeglasses get broken, it is most important that you_ should got the correct lenses fitted again. We have the machinery and large stock essential for cor/ rect optical repairs. Walter J. Watson, D.8.0.A. (London), Expert Optician. 3 Akaroa'i fashionable seaside resort provides golf links, and all out-door games, best and least expensive accommodation in the Dominion. Fares, return Christchurch, 255. 6 General Carrying of all sorts undertaken oy J. M. Heywood and Co., Ltd. Their plant of hoises and vehicles is ono of the largest in New Zealand. 6 Brisk demand for "No Rubbing'' Laundry Help. Remember, "clothes washed white and out by nine" when "No Rubbing" is used. Is 3d packed. ] Wardcll Bros, and Co. 6 ' Two Specials.—Child's collapsible ' push chairs, rubber tyres, reclining i backs, 50s each; drophead sewing ma- ' chines, five yoars' guarantee, all at- 1 tachments, £7 19s 6d. Drayton's, Colombo street. _ 2 ! ' i GOLD CAR TO LEAVE CITY ' SHORTLY. , The famous Studebaker Gold Car will i be on view at Adams, Ltd.'s Show- j ] rooms, High street, only a few moro! days. Those who have not seen it ( should make a visit to-day. It is an i automobile well worth seeing-r-the -ost- 1 liest and most beautiful in the world. 6 i WANTED TO SELL, FOUR NEW ' STUDEBAKER CARS. f We have ready for sale in our show i rooms to-day one 4-cylinder Studebaker I roadster, 2-3 seater, finished in carmine, £465; one 4-cylinder 5-seater J Studebaker touring car with two; 1 auxiliary seats, finished in light brown, : 1 £465; one 6-cylinuer Studebaker road- 1 ster, 2-3-seater. finished in lemon yellow,, £565; and one (i-cylinder 5-seater Studebaker touring car with two . i auxiliary seats finished in dove grey, j Adams, Ltd., Show Rooms, High < street. 6 • ]