GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16267, 18 July 1918, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

Recently, Mrs F. W. Anderson, of Lyttelton, presented a handsome and valuable diamond ring to tho soldiers in the Christchurch Hospital, who are now disposing of the ring by art union, in aid of tho Tramway Copper Trail in connexion with the Lady Liverpool Comforts Fund. Quite recently an old-age pensioner who resides on the banks of the Ashburton river handed to Mr F. Ferriman, of Ashburton, tho sum lie had saved for his funeral expenses. He instructed Mr Ferriman to invest the money until required, the interest to bo used for some patriotic purpose. The old-age pensioner in question has previously subscribed to patriotic funds. Regulations concerning the production of military papers upon demand hy any constable have been gazetted. It is provided that any man who may reasonably be supposed to be of military age, and who is not in uniform, may bo required by a constable to produce his military papers. Any person who refuses to comply with such a request may be detained by tho constable and kept in custody for such time, not exceeding 43 hours, as may be required for the purpose of ascertaining his identity and whether there are reasonable grounds for charging him with an offence against the Military Service Act, 1910, or the Army Act. The flags at the City Council and on the Council's Electricity Department's building were at half-mast yesterday out of respect to the late Mr C. I>. Begg, who died on Tuesday as the result of injuries received in a motorcycle collision, and who was head of the testing room in the Electricity Department. The deceased was the sixth son of tho late Mr Charles D. Begg, of the North East Valley. Liko his brothers, he was keenly interested in cycling and other sports, but outside his work it was as a musician he was best known. He was some years ago organist at St. Mary's Church, Mornington, and in /Christchurch at St. Saviour's, Sydenham, and lately at St. Michael's. Everywhere in the hairdrcssing establishments of Auckland there are chairs unattended, not so much because the saloons of the tobacconists havo less patronage as for the reason that tho men for this class of work are very hard to get (snys the "Star"). This shortage of capable hairdressers is not peculiar to Auckland, for the same difficulty in finding saloon assistants is a big problem with tobacconists throughout tho Dominion. Since the ballots have begun' to be called this shortage has become the more acute, for many of tho professional hairdressers in tho country havo been settled antl married, and have been "caught" with the Second Division. It seems as if men cannot be gol to replace them at their trade, neither can younger people be found to learn it. " Mrs Richardson, of Greymouth, has received tho following from her son, Corporal Charles Richardson, who is interned in Holland:—"Just a few lines to let you know that I have left Germany a.nd am interned in Holland. We had a great reception all along tho lino. Tho people gave us heaps of chocolato and food, and on arriving at our destination we had another groat rer-eption. We aro in new barracks, built especially for us._ Tho rooms are largo, with plenty of light. . The beds aro a treat, and we have every convenience rigljt at our hands. A bit different from whnt we had in Germany. Xo barb-wire enclosures, rifles or bnvonets.

No need to thank them for what thov have done for me. I am saving all that lip to toll you when T come home. Tf I hud put nnythiTinr else in my letters they would not have got through. Still I am in pretty pood honlth, and that is a lot to be thankful for." The fact that there is increasing loss through the pilfering of goods arriving from overseas has been brought under the notice of the Council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce by the New Zealand Marine Underwriters' Association. It was stated that the experience of insurance companies covering the risk of pilferage had been uniformly bad since the outbreak of war, the reason probably being the exposure of : the goods for a longer period on the voyage and in stores, and also less se- , cure packnge, canvas in many instances \ taking the place of zinc and wood, j Unless there was a material improvement shippers would be unable to find cover for the abnormal risk undertaken by some insurance companies. A complaint about the losses suffered by Auckland importers from pillaged and short-landed coods was also received by the couneir from an Auckland firm, which stated that all carriers, except shipping companies, were obliged to deliver goods in the same good order as received, or pay the market price for them. It was suggested that a short Bill should be introdurod into Parliament to place the shipowners on tho same level with other carriers in this matter. The council decided to recommend the Associnted Chambers to ask the "Waterside Workers' Union to incorporate in its rules a provision excluding from membership a man convicted of pillaging cargo. Members expressed the opinion that waterside ' workers as a body were thoroughly trustworthy, but one expert thief could suffice to discredit a jort. |

Tho First Canterbury Military Service Board will sit in Christchurch on July 23rd, and at Rangiora on July 24tL

Yesterday's enlistments comprised M. McKenzie, 486 Barbadoes street, salesman, age 19; J. H. Dickie, 65 Hill's road, Heathcote, returned soldier (for Samoa).

Cr. E. J. Howard has given notice to move at next meeting of the City Council that the resolution, arrived at by Monday's meeting authorising tho erection in Cathedral square of a permanent stall for the sale of goods for patriotic purposes, be rescinded. The Council of Agriculture at Wellington carried a remit urging upon tho Government and ownors of land the great importance of instituting a scheme of afforestation on waste areas, and particularly urging the employment of returned soldiers in the work. The Government was also urped to prohibit the export *of white pine timber. The poll for the election of the various members of tho Canterbury Education Board closed at 5 p.m. yesterday. In accordance with the statute, the votes must remain unopened for 14 days after the closing of the poll, to allow of all votes posted before the closing time to be received, and the results will, therefore, not bo known until that period has elapsed. A strong committee has been formed in connexion with the Navy League Gift Day, to bo held on November Ist. This is the annual appeal for the men of tho Royal Navy, and their dependants, and for those who have lost their lives, or have been incapacitated, in connexion with naval operations. There will bo several novel features in connexion with this year's appeal, and arrangements for these are in hand. A refresher course for officers and non-commissionod officers on tho Canterbury Military District Staff will commence at the King Edward Barracks this morning, under Major Morrison, General Staff Officer. The course will be divided into two sections, tho first lasting from to-day till Saturday week, and the second from August Ist till August 10th. The hours of parade will bo from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. The short supplies of iat siieep that are coming forward, and the hign prices ruiing, will prouabiy result m tne butchers applying to the Board of Trade for permission to obtain mutton from the freezing works. Tne yarding of fat sheep at Addington yesterday was unusually small, there not being much more tnan one half of a week's requirement. Every line of wethers reached £2 per head and over, the top price being £3. There are probably a iargo number of sheep to como in off turnips, but no doubt the bad weat.her and snow will delay fattening. Methven

and other parts of the Ashburton district usually send forward good supplies of fat eheep towards tho end of winter and spring, but few lines have yet come from here, and much of the best turnip country has beam under snow. "The play of Hamlet with the part >f Othello omitted," was suggested i>y

vi yjbiieiiu owibbcu, wua suggesbtju i>y the position disclosed at the meeting of Addington residents last night to set up a committee of management for the library. It also called to memory the plight of the young lady "all dressed up and nowhere to go." It came out in the discussion that whilst a handsome and suitable library building had been provided and a number of subscribers obtained, there were no books! The discussion ranged round the necessity for the City Council augmenting its grant so that books could be provided. The situation was saved to a certain extent bv Cr. E. Peek's offer to present the library with two volumes. It was recognised, however, that these two volumes would not long satisfv tho subscribers, and the necessity for further financial support from the City Council was emphasised. Some critics of the Canterbury Land Board, evidently unacquainted with the facts, liaye alleged that the Board »"n its treatment of returned soldiers has shown itself unsympathetic. The criticism appears to proceed on the linos that bccause a man is a returned soldier lie will be a successful settler, which is, palpably, a non sequitur. It is also, apparently, overlooked bv these ready critics that tho Board" is by statute bound to make certain enquiries as to the fitness of applicants,' and that no matter how anxious the members may be to assist the returned soldier, they are in duty bound compelled to conform to the requirements of the law. But over and above all these considerations is the fact that all the members of .the Board, from the Commissioner of Crown Lnnns downwards, with one _ exception which does not in any way vitiate" the general conclusion, have sons cither at he front or who havo seen active service. A very interesting address concerning operations on the Western front was given by tho Rov. Father Gondringer to tit. Mary's branch of tho lied Cross, last evening, tho Very Rev. Dean Regnault presiding over a fair attendance. Tho speaker, after dealing with Gormany's submarine methods, and the I consequent drawing into tho war of America, went on to explain in detail the various German offensives. By aid of maps and blackboard sketches he succeeded in transporting his audience, as it wore, to tho actual scene of the fighting, and his explanations of the various objectives of the Germans, where they sucecedod, and where they ju§t failed, proved extremely interesting, particularly as tho sneaker had an intimate personal knowledge of the country to which he was referring. Incidentally, ho naid various eloquent tributes to the bravery of the French. British, and colonial troops. The address was at once intere«tintr and educative, and the speaker fully deserved tho hearty vote of thanks which 'was accorded him at its conclusion. Chatting with a reporter yesterday members of the Canterbury Land Boaid, referring to the ballot for four sections at Port T,evy which took place yesterday, remarked that their on'y rerget was that there had not been enough sections to go round! Taking the average of the applicants thev were a fine stamp and just the kind of men wanted in connexion with land settlement. Comment was made as to the large number of applicants as coin-

utrge maimer or applicants as compared with the comparative!- fewer applicants for other lands for settlement in Canterbury by returned soldiers in the past, and' the 'statement was made, in reply, that hitherto tho lands offered to soldiers were, with tho exception of the_ Lees Valley settlement, quite unsuitable. In spite of the experiences through which tho Lees Vallev settlers had recently gone, the members of tho Board expressed tho opinion tlint thev would be all right in the end. If more land of the qualitv submitted yesterdnv was offered returned soldiers they thought that there would be little or no difficulty in finding the right men to take it up. As a scqael to tho recent production of the pantomime, "D.ck Wiritddgton," in Wellington several parents appeared at the Magistrate's Court, charged with j keoping cuiidien iiom school on tiie occasion of the matinee on Ju.'y 3rd. The truant officer (says a Press Association message) stated that tho pantomime management applied tor permission to cmpioy a number of children, and the request was granted, cn the condition that the children's education was not interfered with. The children, howover, were kept at the theatre till late at night and were asked to attend an afternoon performance. One girl, aged eight years, was so overcome by the excitement that she had been in bed ever since. The prosecutions were brought as a warning to parents. Many children besides those participating had boon absent from school to witness the performance. ' The Magistrate, Mr F. V. Frazer, said that perhaps parents were not so blameable as the management, which took an unfair advantage of tho children and of the permits. However, the parents were responsible, and the children had received a reward for acting. The defendants wore fined 2s each.

All coughs, recent or chronic, in young or old, yield to Loasby's Stop It. Grocers and chemists. 1

The week-end sale of home-made food supplies at the Red Cross Sales Depot, Cathedral square, will be in charge of the Shirley-Burwood Rod Cross Branch, who will have on offer the usual supply of cooked goods and country produce. 1 There are a good many photographic obligations you have never paid. Call on Steffano Webb at once, 252 High street, Cbristchurch. Telephone 1959. 6

Eyo Comfort —Those that require to wear glasses can only obtain eye comfort by having their eyes tested and tho correct glasses fitted. Call on Walter J Watson, D.8.0.A. (London), Expert Optician, and get the glasses you require made to order. 1

It is pleasing to see so many thrift} wives paying spot cash —Is 3d —lor a large packet of "No Rubbing" Laundry Heip. "No Rubbing" does away with th-o old washboard slavery. N.Z. Farmers' Co-op. Association. 4

No me likes moving, but the wort can be made n-uch lignter if competent men are employed. J. M. Heywood and Co., Ltd., have them, and tnrw up-to-date pantechnicons. Telephones 250, 1241, and 2174. 6

FIRST CAR TO REACH LAKE COLERIDGE—THE STUDEBAKER.

iiy tao courtesy of Mr jjuwrenco BiiJis, Uovermuout electrical eii&moer, iuid Mr J. i'osKeU, motor- driver for uie Public Works Department, a reporter was yesLoiday aoie to glean a jew tacts coueeiniiig the moioiuig experiences of tue Vapartment's oincens during tho iortuigut following tuo iieavy snowstorm wnich dislocated tae .Lake Coleridge transmission line. The car used during this trying period was a 4-cyiinder touring Studeoauer, which since its purchase by tiio Department, a little over a year ago, has run l<i,-±OO miles. During the lortnignt after tne storm the car ran 575 miies, mostly in tho snow country. Tho car opened its innings by running through to Coalgate on Monday, July Ist, being the tirst car to make the passage. On tho way back two cars of other makes which had attempted to make the journey wore found snowed in at the Hawkins. For the rest of the week the Studebaker did valuable work, patrolling and carrying repair gangs and gear in the neighbourhood of Hororata. The following week, fitted with a snowplough, the car was taken right through to Lake Coleridge, being again the first car to make the journey since the storm. These performances are a fino tribute to Mr Poskett's ability as a driver, and also to tho sturdy reliability of tho Studebaker car. It may be added that the Department has recently purchased another 4-cylinder Studebaker. 6