GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16420, 14 January 1919, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

A cable message to th© Australian papers states that the British newspapers are establishing an aeroplane service to brir£ news from tho Peace Conference. Tney will run two machines daily. Tho newly-ope'nod public library at Addington was visited by close upon two hundred people on Saturday evening. In the report of the opening ceremony, Mr I>. Brown was referred to as president of the Burgesses' Association, instead of president of the Addington Public Library. Tho military reservist, Albert Mainland McLachlan, horse trainor, Ashburton. who was found guilty by a courtmartial in Christehurch on Saturday of having disobeyed the lawful command of a superior officer by failing to present himself for medical examination when requested to do so a has been sentenced to two years' hard labour. Corporal T. Upton, M.M., in a lettor. to his father, Mr T. Upton, of Lithgow, New South Wales, states that during their advance the Australians came upon a dead German officer in a cellar, but when, with a view to giving the corpse a decent, burial, four of onr men attempted to lift it, a terrific explosion" occuvred. and tho four Australians were blown to pieces. The enemy had attached a bomb to the dead officor. A letter from an aggrieved ratepayer was read at last night's meeting of the Waimairi County Council. The writer stated that on December 30th tho light at the corner of Locksley road and New Brighton road had failed. He had rung up the Council office, and a male voice had advised him to ring up a certain number, which proved to be a Chinese fruit merchant. The writer demanded an explanation, stating that he considered he had been insulted. It vv'as decided to reply that no member of tho Council had any recollection of tho incident complained of.

An informal discussion took place at last night's meeting of the Waimairi County Council on a clause in tho engineer's report, stating that tho Tramway Board had charged tho Council £10 14s lid for watering Riccarton road during the previous month. It. was stated by one speaker that the Board did not water the whole length of the road The chairman (Mr S. A. Staples) said the trouble was that the sprinklers travelled too quickly, with the result that the roads were dry again almost as soon as the sprinklers had passed. In connexion with this matter the Tramway Board wrote stating that it proposed to discontinue watering Riccarton road, except that portion south of the Riccarton • boundary line. After further discussion it was decided to leavo tho matter in abeyance until the next meeting of th© Council.

Tho Federal Government granted a licenso some time ago to a certain firm, enabling them to use the German name of aspirin for their preparation of acetyl-salieyclic acid " (says tho Melbourne "Herald"). Protests were made in the several States against this decision on the ground that it was undesirable to perpetuate the name of aspirin. The Govornment were asked to declare that this drug should bo known as eutosal, or some equally suitable term. This rcquost was refusod, and subsequently the Government withdrew the license roferrod to. Pharmacists and manufacturing chemists were , then allowed to employ tho Gorman name, but this permission was not mado use of to any great extent. Tho pharmacists continued to call it acetyl-salicylic acid, but the public failed to master the term. Consequently it is still called aspirin by the purchasing public. To nrovido a short and convenient name for the drug pharmacists throughout Australia have now docided to use tho •word eutosal. This word is not the property of any person or organisation, and means no more than the clumsier chemical term.

The generosity of tho Defence Departmeut in distributing military designations, ana the emoluments that go with them, is carried at times to somewhat astonishing lengths (says tho "Dominion"). A good many people, for instance, would no doubt liko k to hear more about a serios of Dental Corps promotions nnd transfers gazetted a day or two ago. In one case a lieutenant in the Dental Corps was posted to tho Expeditionary Force with the rank of major. Some ha,;f a dozen other lieutenants in the Dontal Corps were posted to the Expeditionary Force with the rank of captain. Why dentists who have been working in the camps should be sent stepping upward in this fashion may be cloar to the Defence authorities, but will hardly' be clear to the man in tho street. It* is still more an occasion of wonder that these dentists should be posted to tho Expeditionary Force whon it is in process of demobilisation. The appointments instanced, it may be noted, are dated December llt-h and Decomber loth, so that they take effect from dates later by a month than that of tho armistice with Germany. Now that the war is over dentists who have been serving in the camps will presumably either bo returned to civil life or employed for a time on transports or in foieign camps. This being so. they will probably be inclined to protest against the lavish promotion that is being showered upon them, more otspeciallv since there is no indication that the Defence Department proposes to deal in a similarly generous way with the combatant ollicers of the Expeditionary Force. As thoy stand the promotions mentioned awaken a feeling "of curiosity which the Defence authorities ought to be willing to satisfy.

"There is a good tone, and a fine snirit in our Afsociation, even though spirit, in our cut i ve docs may not everything the execute L , ,? -j itoturnwl Mtors' members by the executno for an ex pression of opinion. ' a + tho meeting of the Canterbury Industrial Association, hel £^ st Mr C M. OUivier, speajvui 0 of tho difficulties of fostering local industries, said that the greatest obstacle ho had Slid the npathv and '»**»»»» of tho people themsehes. »>o excel ?n New Zealand in many lines oi industrv?" he said, "and yet you wilL find the difference of a few P e " c ° ™ price will incline people to favour an imported article. In a reference at last night s meeting of the Wookton Borough Council to tho c vic reception tendered the French Mission on its arrival in CJiristcliurch the Mayor (Mr McGregor Wright) said that'what had impressed lnm most was the love of country expressed by the member,, of tho Mission. He urged that WoolstonitM should foster a similar lovo for their borough, and make it tho garden suburb of Christchurch, =o that it would be well spoken of. instead of peoplo saying nasty things about it "Oh, it's only jealousy! interpolated a councillor. Councillor Hobson added a few words to show that Scotsmen, and, sneaking for his own nationality, Englishmen, had just as stron" lovo for their countries, though they mioht not be quite so demonstrative as our visitors from France were m expressing their love of la belle Franco. During a recent discussion in tho Victorian Legislative Assembly on tho advisability of State assistance being ' r iven for the encouragement of the cultivation of New Zealand flax under artificial conditions, the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Oman) promised . to ascertain whether flax was artificially grown in the Dominion (says the Melbourne "Age"). He expressed his belief that only flax grown under natural conditions in the swamps there was exploited. Mr Oman has now received cabled advice from New Zealand fitating that there is only about CO acres of artificially-grown flax there. Despite the high prices offering for fibre from New Zealand flax, none has been planted during the war period. In view of the limited extent to which this flax is artificially cultivated in its native place, tho opinion is expressed by Departmental officers that the Government is unlikely to encourage its cultivation in Victoria.

Speaking at the annual meeting of tho Congregational Church Mon's iSociety in Adelaido } last week on "Men, religion, and reconstruction, ' the Rev. S. H. Cox, of Perth, said the average man in the church did not take his work in it seriously, reports the "South Australian Register." Cnurch work was still too "namby pamby" and confused, and did not appeal to men. Religion vas bigger than tho Church. The war had raised the pointed question— "Is the Hindu who sacrificed his life in Frence as real a Christian a3 the Australian who had done likewiGe?" They must rocogniso the permanent value of other faiths. They must change their attitude. Credal squabbles must go if they wore to win the respect of the average man, who judged all sects by what they did. The firfit great demand on tho Church was efficiency, but there was little of it there, and the fault lay with the average irresponsible layman. The Church must be reconstructed, for in the war men had learned to ask for sincerity and simplicity. The Church must awaken, wipe off its bad dobts, and begin afresh. That would mean crossing off tho roll nil non-working members.

The visit of the French Mission to New Zealand has brought us in close touch with European affairs, and is jikely to have a lasting influence on our trade and commerce, lor the Mission is composed of men who are studying our industries, our laws, our poople, and our sports. Last week, the Mission was in Canterbury, and amongst the most enjoyablo of the outings they had was tlio visit to Akaroa, where- they met some of the early French settlers and their descendants. The "Weekly Press," published this morning, has a very fine set of pictures of the. visit of the Mission to Canterbury, special attention being paid to the Akaroa visit, which General Pau describes as ono of the happiest, if not tho happiest day they had spent sinco they left France. Interest centres in the war country, for so many of our men are still there, and readors will be pleased to note several pictures _ from the Western front. The beauties of our Canterbury scenery have not been neglected, and as a worthy addition to the great French 'Mission souvenir, are some magnificent pictures of the beautiful Ashley Gorge, in which thousands of Canterbury people j>icnic each year. The "Weekly Press" will be on sale today, and orders should be sent in at once.

The effect of war conditions upon the marriage rate in the Commonwealth is apparent from the quarterly summary of the Australian statistics just issued (says the Melbourne "Ago"). In 1914 the marriage rate •was B.SO por 1000 of the mean population. In 1915 the rate advanced to 9.14, hut fell successively to 8.21 in 1916, 6.87 in 1917, and 6.79 in 1918. The decline has been common to all the States. The birth rate has suffered' proportionately, having declined from 28.05 in 1914 to 25.52 in 1918. Victoria claims tho distinction of having more or less consistently had the lowest birth rate and the highest death rate of the six States for some years. Tho highest birth rato last year (28.83) was in Queensland, and the lowest (22.61) in Victoria. Victoria's death rate last year was 10.13, its nearest competitor being 'Queensland, with 10.11. The death rato in the, other principal States ranged between 8.72 and 9.44 per JUUO of the population. The Northern T?rritory's death rate, which advanced from 21.59 in 1914 to 25.16 in 1916, and declined again to 14.93 in 1918, still remains as distinctive in one direction as that of tho Federal Teiritorv in another direction. The Federal Territory's death rate, which has never been higher than 6.89, dropped last year to as low as 1.72. The reported explanation of this phenomena is the persistent disposition of tho population to die elsewhere.

Throughout the entire nnriod of tho recent influenza epidemic tho town of Cornmand*] remained immune from infection. As far as is at present known this is tho only town in the Auckland health district, and possibly the only town of 1000 inhabitants in tho whole of New Zealand, which holds such a record. Tho freedom from infection it is claimed was due to the practical isolation of the town and to the precautions taken by the local Health Officer and his assistants. Immedintelv the outbreak had assumed serious proportions in Auckland a quarantine station was un on Jones Island in the Coromnnrle; iniot. Her« passengers wero detained for twenty-four hours or until passed by the Health Shortly afterwards, on the authority of the .Public Hoalth Department. all traffic to Coromandol. was prohibited unless passengers he'd certificates of good health. In order to prevent infection by road, barricades we're erected out.«*de tho town, and all incoming travellers were examined, were subjected to formalin fumigation, and if found to bo affected wore not allowed to enter the town. Two who succfeded in penetrating tho "dofenros" wcr© cnucrht* nnd ono who was found to be infected was at once sent bank to his homo outside the town. In th 13 way the inhabitants of Coromnnrlel wore kept absolutely, free from infection. The outbreak at lanaia, eirht miles from Coromandel, which aflectod eight houses containing 55 people, was prevented from furt-ior extension by similar methods of absolute isolation.

Frank criticism of some of the Council's workmen was made by members of the Waimairi County Council last evonintr arising out of a proposal to givo two' employees an increase in their wa<res It was alleged that some of tho° mon made a regular practice of starting work late and leaving off early. After some discussion it was decided to defer the whole question of wages for doe'rion at a special meeting of the Council later on. "I should bo ashairfld to take tharks for anything I havo been nb!„ to do for returned soldiers,' said r ,P* T* Alpors, at last evening s rally of the Returned Soldiers' Club, when a resolution was under discussion thanking various prominent citizens who were named, for what thev had done in furthering the Returned Sobers Memorial scheme. "There should be no bouquets thrown at any civilian until every man who has gone forth to fight has been rewarded. (Applause). Good Heavens l# What has any civilian done that is worth a. 'twopenny, d—- ' compared with what tho Main Body and the rest of our gallant men have done? It's not the civilian, hut the soldier who must be thanked, and that is a matter on which I think very strongly. A member of tho Waimairi County Council {Mr J. P. W. Lee) asked the chairman of that body (Air S. A. Staples) last evening what was the position in. regard to the merging of special tramway rating areas in the general tramway district- Mr Staples, who is a member of the Tramway Board, stated that tho Board had decided to merge tho districts, but ho did not know where tho Board was going to got the money from. Mr Loc said he had not yet paid his rates. "Don't you pay them," advised Mr W. J. Walter, who is also a member of the Tramway Board. "Tho Board are getting a legal opinion on the matter, and. don't you pay your tramway rates until that opinion is received." 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 do Cologne. Best English and French hair brushes for ladies and gentlemen, and manicure Getii in unexcelled variety and value at Loasby's, Chemists. 1 Tho more you -use "No Rubbing" Laundry Help the better you like it. Is packet sufficient for seven weekly family washings. N.Z. Farmers' Coop. 1 Everyone in Christchtirch knows "Watson's," but there aro still some people who do not avail themselves of the opportunities offered by this enterprising firm in the matter of obtaining the most artistic jewellery at moderate prices. The firms New Year stocks "invito oarly inspection. Watson's, "Jewellers," Limited,. 695 Colombo. 6treet, Christchurch. . 3, No me likes moving, but the work can be made n-uch lighter if competent men are employed. J, M. Heywood and Co., Ltd., hare them, and three up-to-date pantechnicons. Telephones 250, 1241, and 2174. 6 For washing hospital linen use "No Rubbing" Laundry Help regularly to ensure perfect cleanliness. Is packet sufficient for eeven weekly washings. Wardell Bros. 2 TO OWNERS OF TRIUMPH MOTOR-CYCLES. Wo are prepared to make liberal allowances on Triumph motor-cycles ! taken in part payment for latest model "Triumph," "8.5.A.," or "Excelsior" motor-cycles. Adams, Ltd., High street. 6 TO OWNERS OF B.S.A. MOTORCYCLES. The samo offer holds good to owners of "8.5.A." motor-cycles. We can give delivery of the new "Triumphs" in February, f 'B.S.A." in a week or two, or "Excelsior" at once. Adams, Ltd., High street. 6 TO OWNERS ~OF EXCELSIOR MOTOR-CYCLES. Excelsior owners are also included. Prices of new model motor-cycles are: Triumph (4 h.p. 3-speed), £125; B.S.A. (4£ h.p., 3-speed), £110: Excel esi or (7-9 h.p., 3-speed), £110. Lamp and horn included. Adams, Ltd., High street. 6