GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16410, 2 January 1919, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

A telegram from Invercargill states that the deaths in the Wallace and Southland districts during the influenza opidemic totalled 352. Entries for tho Canterbury Horticultural Society's Sweet Pea Show, which takes place in tho Art Gallery on the 10th inst. will close with the secretary at the Society's office, 166 Manchester street, on Monday,, at 8 p.m. An exceptionally severe electrical storm, with heavy" hail and rain, passed over Timaru yesterday afternoon. A Press Association message states that the hail did much damage to gardens in the town. No reports were to hand last evening from the country as to damage to the crops, but if the storm was as severe in the country as it was in tho town, much loss will have been caused. In Christchurch grey, overcast skies ushered in New Year's Day, and rain fell at intervals during the day. The unpropitious weather and its uncertainty spoiled the holiday. Many who travelled to Lyttelton with the intention of going on harbour excursions found the rain heavier at Port than in town, and gave up all idea of their projected jaunts. Thore was a fairly good attendance at the Canterbury Park Trotting Club's Summer Meeting at Sockburn, and also at the Patriotic Carnival at Papanui. Late in the afternoon the rain cleared up, and there was promise of fine weather for to-day. A passenger on a special tram to the Sockburn races yesterday had a narrow escape from serious injury consequent upon jumping off the car at the cricket ground entrance while it was going at a good pace. He failed to notice, before jumping off the car, that there were a number of motor-cars approaching, and the result was that on landing on the roadway ho found himself in front of several motor-cars, and but for the driver of one swerving his car he would have been run down. As it was the front wheel struck his legs and sent him spinning on the road, but he picked himself up unhurt.

The presence of "fire fiends" in Invercargill is now generally accepted, and any doubt that existed has been largely decreased by a recent incident (says the "Times"). When walking in the streets one night recently a youth, who is a member of the local Fire Brigade, heard a man remark to two others that they might expect a fire in Forth street. Ho did not attach much importance to the occurrence at the time, but next day he mentioned it to a senior member of the Brigade. The pair decided to visit Forth street in search of empty residences, and found only one. On entering the grounds they discovered that in one corner of the residence there was an aperture caused by the wood having rotted. They measured the distance from the fire plug to the house, and, as they explained it, "had everything ready." Next morning a call came from the house. The fire had started from the corner in which was the hole.

Our London correspondent mentions that on October 31st Cox's Orange Pippins were sold in Covent Garden market at 4s each, and Doyennes pears at 4s Gd each. On the. same day eggs were selling a t auction in the wholesale market at Braintree at over Sd each.

The attraction for include the New Brighton Trotiin„ Club's Summer Meeting an ,^ frnm 1 vttelton to Diamond Harbour ircoi™". Bay- HoU** tr = timetables will be run on the Cashmere Hills-St. Albans Park, bumner, and North Beach lines.

In tlio course of the morning service | at All Saints' Church, 1 alinerston North, on Sunday, the vicar yointed out a most interesting relic of the battlefield, which has been hung, by kind permission of Mrs -VFartin. urer the bronze memorial ot Surgeon-Major Martin in All Saints' Church I. «s a flag, riddled with German shrapnel, which was flying over th « h °^ ltal Bethune, where Major Mar _ . ' working, during the terrible fighting that took place at La and Ypres in the early days of the war. Since his return to rj 1 England a few weeks ago J\ir n. v. Skinner, who has been appointed Jecturer in ethnology at Otago , i •* ' has given much of Ins. tim^ ,^> f .f the curator of the University Museum bv undertaking the mst.alii v one "'John White collection'/ of Maon bone articles so generousiy given by • X. O. White and his mother and m rearranging other oases of +Tnfc mens. The 7>unedin "Star" states that as part of his work as leeto* l "® tr oc Uon nology Mr Skinner, will act asHoek® librarian and as assistant curat Museum. It is proposed by some local aJ lSlc rs (says the "Timam Post ) that a deputation should wait on the -*■ Wilford, Minister of Marine v y hll \£° is in Timaru, to ask hjm to Opihi a river for fly fishing only. Or anglers express the °P m .}°P .that would be better to ask the Master to secure a report from the Chieflnsp r of Fisheries for New Zealand (Mr L. . Avson), as to the cause of the lack ot fish in local rivers during recent years. The opinion is strongly held iu some quarters that the Government should import now stock and sell fish, to th Acclimatisation Societies at cost price. Those who hold this view say that the rivers are in urgent need of re-stocking and that only by the introduction or new blood will virility be given to tne trout now in our rivers.

Included in the list of Australian V 7 .C winners published in Melbovirne a few days ago was the name of Sergeant Sexton, of the 13th Battalion, N.S.W. Sergeant "Sexton's" real name—although he is thus designated in tno official military records—is Sergeant Maurice V. Buckley. He is a son of Mr and Mrs T. Buckley, of McArthur street, Malvern. .Sergeant Buckley enlisted in Victoria in December, 1914, and, prior to the date upon which he should have embarked for the front, he was given leave in the usual way. He went to Sydney for a short holiday, but inadvertently overstayed his leave there. The position caused him anxiety. Rather than return to Melbourne, he re-enlisted in the 13th Battalion., under the name of Sexton.

Ashburton presented a busy scene on New Year's Eve, when most of the shops were brilliantly lighted up and large numbers of people paraded the 6treets up to a late hour. The Eighth (South Canterbury) Regimental Band turned out and played selections at intervals, while many juveniles amused themselves by firing off crackers. A watchnighfc service was conducted in St. Stephen's Anglican Church by the Rev. Nelson "Wright from 11.30 o'clock to the dawn of the New Year, which waß ushered in by the ringing of church belllai. The weather was dull and threatening at an early hour yesterday, and at 7 a.m. rain set in, and it came down heavily at intervals till eleven o'clock, when it cleared up. The rain, however, spoiled all outdoor fixtures for the day.

Though postage stamps are not legal tender, it will not be an offence, Treasury officials say, for the Railway Department, embarrassed by the scarcity of pence and halfpence, to give stamps as change at the ticket offices, states a Melbourne papar. It has been suggested that the Railways Commissioners could escape the difficulty by insisting on the observance of the bylaw that each passe >ger moist tender the exact fare, but the passenger, short, perhaps, of small change, would be no more inclined to make an overnayment than would the Department fee to risk the loss of business. The bronze scarcity is not likely to last long enough to compel the Department to amend its fares to even money. The Secretary to the Treasurv stated that a cable message from India respecting future coinage was expected at any hour. The fire which broke out in the Premier Picture Theatre, New Brighton, early yesterday morning, resulted in the complete destruction of the operating box and the theatre plant. The Joyiand Picture Company had been using the theatre, and the whole of it.s plant and that of the Premier Company as well was destroyed, thus making it impossible for either theatre to carry on for some time. The generating plant fortunately was not damaged. Two shops on the ground floor, occupied respectively by Mr L. Fisher, fruiterer and confectioner, and Mr S. C. Thompson, land and estate agent, were somewhat damaged by water. The fire broke out about 2.15 o'clock, and within an hour the brigade, although working undor great difficulties, had it well under control. The building and plant were insured for £2300 with the South British Company, and the damage done is assessed at about £600. Mr Borneo Gardiner, an ex-resident of Wellington and former member of the Wellington Savage Club, has arrived unexpectedly in Wellington from London. A few weeks ago his mother had a seizure, and on the news being cabled Homo Mr Gardiner at once made arrangements to leave, and was fortunate in being able to secure a passage by the Ayrshire. Unfortunately Mrs Gardiner died whilst her son was at sea. Mr Gardiner has, during his absence, made for •himself a niche in the vaudeville stage in England, and after a rest in New Zealand he proposes to return to England, where engagements in plenty await him (says the "Dominion"). He will be remembered in Wellington as a gifted siffleur, but since leaving New Zealand he has qualified as a monologue entertainer, being now a capable performer on the piano, 'cello, and oboe. Superior perfumery at Loasby's make splendid gifts. Atkinson and Yardley s perfumes in cut glass bottles and presentation caskets. Old English Lavender Water and Eau de Cologne. Best English and French hair brushes for ladies and gentlemen, and manicure gets in unexcelled variety and value at Loasby's, Chemists. - 1 If you have the faintest suspicion that your eyesight needs attention you should not hesitate to have an examination made right away. If you have this done your' life throughout 1919 will be happier and brighter. We are qualified opticians, and apply the be6t scientific tests, which will tell yon just what is wrong with your eyos. Watson's, "Jewellers." Limited, Opticians, 695 Colombo street, Christchurch. 1 No >ne likes moving, but the wor* can be made n-uch lighter if competent men are employed. J. M. Heywood and Co., Ltd., have tnem, and three up-to-date pantechnicons. Telephones 250, 1241, and 2174. 6 Santa Claus writes:—"Wash your clothes clean with 'No Rubbing' Laundry Help and pure 'Golden Rule' Soap, tfrun tha flu won't bother you any." 4

HANDY 5-SEATER FORD, £110. Now on view—Two-seater Ford, new- j ly painted dove grey; electric lights and new tyres. Suitable for commercial man. £140. Adams, Ltd., Garago, 2ID Tuam street. 6 LIGHT 4-SEATER TOURING CAR, £235. For sale, a bargain—Neat-looking, light 4 cyl., 4-5 seater touring car, finished in dark blue. Magneto ignition. "Hoodite" seat, covers, and full equipment. £235. Adams, Ltd.. Garage, 219 Tuam street. 6 HANDSOME 3-SEATER STUDEBAKER. £275. Ready for delivery—Throo-seater, 4-cyl., "Studebaker, beautifully finished in cream. Electric lighting and selfstarter. Five good tyres and usual equipment. Sound investment at £275. Adams, Ltd., Garage, 219 Tuam street. 6