GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16421, 15 January 1919, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

The auction announcements ofl Dalgety and Co., H. B. Sorensen, Harris Bros., Anderson and Palmer, and] Harman and Stevens will be found oni page 11 of this issue. "The Mayor of Christchurcli has often preached against parochialism, but there is nothing more parochial than setting up branches of the Progress League," remarked Mr G. K. Burton at last night's meeting of the Heathcote County Council. A conference' of officers commanding military districts and other district headquarters' officers commenced in Wellington yesterday, the principal business being consideration of the proposed new Territorial and Senior Cadet schome. The Canterbury representatives are Colonel R. A. Chaffey, V.D.. officer commanding the district, and Captain D. M, Robertson, Assistant-Adjutant-General. Mr R. Bruce, of Lo Bon's Bay, brought a very interesting exhibit into "The Press" ' office yesterday, this being a fine section of the nest of the mason wasp. The mud cells, beautifully made, were all very distinct, and in each was a grub with its supply of paralysed spiders for food. The mason wasp is one of the few insects that gathers a supply of preserved food for its young to live on while in the grub stage. A resolution forwarded by the Hastings Borough Council was unanimously endorsed by the Heathcote County Council last evening. It strongly recommended to the Government "the urgent and absolute necessity of strengthening the financial position of the Publio Health Department so as to extend its powers and functions and enable it at all times to successfully combat and control any epidemic that may attack the community, that a schome bo evolved whereby the bacteriological work of the 'Department mav bo expended in every direction, that such salaries be offered as to induce and encourage men of great scieni tific ability to offer their services."

Local boot manufacturers adopt the same attitude as Mr W. Hammill, of Auckland, chairman of the Boot Manufacturers' Efficiency Board regarding the Government proposals for' tho standardisation of footwear, and the fixing by the Board of TVade of a maximum price. It was pointed out to a "Press" reporter yestorday that if the price of footwear Avas fixed, the price of leather and other articles required in the manufacture of the boot should also be fixed. The pressman was informed that some time ago the Board of Trade advertised that their footwear expert "would be in Christchurch to show samples of the standardised hoots to local manufacturers, but nothing has yet been seen of the samples, nor have any of the mamifacturers or retailers, <=o far as is known., been advised of the Government's requirements. The New Zealand Nurserymen's Association will open its annual conference in Wellington on Tuesday, 28th inst. The following remits have boen received: "Tliat the difference between the pricp of a single pkint and the price of a single plant and dozen rates should not exceed 12$ per cent." "That the Government be asked to take effective steps to prevent tho introduction of citrus canker into New Zealand." "That the Government be asked call the Varieties Conference together as soon as possible." "That, in the interests of the returned soldiers, the Government be asked to lay out suitable orchard areas in fruit-growing districts." "That Colonel Mayfield's npoea! on behalf of the Horticultural Relief Association be considered." "That the constitution be reviewed, with a view to any necessary alterations being made."

Vmtween the Duncdin Tho agreement D tho Tramway Citv Corporation • • e( j yesterday. Workers' Union was s>g" _ , a 1S ,3 ue The hospital si P - . ngt Sli e has Auckland 011 the - parts of New on board 550 men Zealand. ryninty Council, at LTdav'forlh 5 . fW 11,0 year. . . o legal opinion roAs the result z ea land Counties coived from the A licensing of Association re S n "|' County motor vehicles, the j mpo se a tax Council has decided to on all motor-cars "» v ß i<;on c itv 3Krf»" boroughs; using its roads. Messrs D. J- Cameron Rotert Cameron, of Mastorto , * £2500 for the purchase of tl j terton Show Around- to be «««*« a memorial sMrtbgio Oameron and Lieutenant Norman the others wliio ns ked to subscribe The public is being asfceu hniHinnw an additional £2500 to euict buiildin b and put the grounds in thorough older. mile shunting tho North train «t tho ,f; r 0 d ft ,o SpV°"fi S IoS, Mm. S = trucks and a van, and, as , - __i a fair amount of speed on L-.lornWn ed into the stop with I " d i f a n ' 0 force, lifting the big post clean f °" fc - The trucks were thrown over the fence and overturned into the road. Little damage was done.

"I can't earn the money. lam past laborious work now," said the defendant in a maintenance case at the trato's Court yesterday. The, ' who had been a cabinet maker, said that he was 51 years of age, and had been working since ho was ten. Plenty of ponplo have done that, and can.still do good work at your age, said Magistrate, Mr S. 13. McCarthy. "Ihats fo. Mv father, at 70, was a bettoi man than 1 am," remarked the defendant. <: but I haven't got the nacosary physique now." "T am afraid the will lias a good deal to' do with it, commented the Magistrate. Writing to Mr E. Ogilvie, of the College of Radio-telegraphy in this citv, the superintendent of Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia), Limited, states that restrictions have heen removed hv tho authorities which enable the exchange of messages with ships carrying troops, and also with hospital ship's. This means that peace-time conditions are restored, and the on M messages that have to bo oi on which restrictions are imposed, are those for men-of-war, which must pass through the hands of the naval authorities.

If Miss X. E. Coad, 8.A., of the New Zealand Educational Institute carriffi out an expressod wish there is a shock coming for the New Zealand Employers' Federation. At the Institute conference at Wellington on Saturday. Mifls Coad was discussing the opposition manifested by the Federation conference and tho Canterbury Employers' Association proposals for dnytimo continuation classes. After reading: their resolutions of opposition, sho said she thought of a message sent by Obvnr Cromwell to tho Parliament of Scotland. nnd she felt she would lilco to send it to' the Employers' Fori oration. Cromwell's message wns this: "I beseech you, by tho mercy of God. to consider that sometimes you may be wrong."

The difficulty of securing rented homos has been acuto in Auckland during tho :>ast year, and there seems at present little prospect that conditions will ho lightened for many months to come (says the "Herald"). The far off easy days when one might take a stroll through any of the city's residential streots in leisurely search of tho familiar sign, "To Let—apply within," now seem like some happy dream to the weary householder who haunts the office of one after another of the land-estate offices, seeking a home for his family. "Wo have not a single house to let on our bo~ks," said two of Auckland's leading house agents last week, while a' third, who said he had quite a lot, immediately damponed the swift hope of the. enquirer by adding that they were the poorer type of house in localities not usually described as "residential." It is the avarrtge comfortable class of dwelling, renting at from 2os to 30s a week, that is most in demand, and practically impossible to secure.

An exhibition of amateur dentistry resulted in a man named Richard Neylon being charged in the Magistrate's Court yesterday with an aggravated assault on his seven-year-old daughter. The ovidence went to show that one evening last week the accused came home, ana, after annoying his wife, got his littlo daughter * asked her whore her loose tooth was, and proceeded to draw tho 1 tooth with a pair of pincers, but drew a sound one by mistake. Ho was under the influence of liquor at the time. When his wife remonstrated he chased her out of the house. A constable arrived just after Neylon had escaped through a broken window, and ran him to earth about 4 o'clock next morning. Neylon was then covered in blood, as though he had boon severely cut with glass. Mr Mallev. for the accused, said there was no evidence of an assault, but that the child ha ( d consented to have the tooth drawn. Tho Magistrate dismissed the case, .but on a further charge of breaking his prohibition order, accused was fined £2. in default fourteen days' imprisonment.

Though not yet out of its teens, the Sacred Heart College, Auckland, can successfully compete with the oldest established schools in New Zealand in at least respect, the "School Journal." The latest issue of tho "Students' Magazine," as the journal is called, is as up-to-date and as artistically produced a Bchool magazine as can bo wished for. It contains 127 pages of well-written "matter that cannot fail to be interesting to nil who are, or who have been, connected with the College. The actual school work of the year is fully dealt with, and considerable attention is, of course, paid to football, cricket, athletics, and the various im stitutions incidental to anv collece. There are a number of excellent original articles, some very creditable poetry, and several interesting letters and articles from old boys at the front. J>oinp,3 of old boys in various walks of life are chronicled, and them are. unfortunately, several napes devoted to r>ld boys who have fallen at tho front. The magazine is profusely illustrated with some very fine plates, and in evorv way it reflects very considerable credit on its editors and on the college generally.

In handing in his resignation to tho Timaru A. and P. Association on Saturday last, Mr lv. Leslie Orbell stafed that ho did so with regret after tho many years of pleasant association with the committee. However, his growing business made it difficult adequately to attend to the work of the Society, and then it seemed to him that those who had not taken part in the threat war, and who wore able to do without them, should not hold positions that could bo filled by the returned men. It was not for him to dictate, but as this feeling was the deciding factor in his resignation he would tfek the' committee to accept it, on the that the place be given Ao a returned man. _ At the start might have a little difficulty TTfnttinrc into things, but he and his staff would lend evoTy assistance in their power to his successor, feeling that it was real practical help to those who had fought. Mr Orbell added that he would still maintain his interest- in the Society's work, bound as ho was to it by his love of animals, and concludcd by thanking the chairman and committee for the kindness and consideration that had always been shown him.

All the Canterbury rivers were reported clear yesterday.

The O.D.C. annual meeting and reunion will be held in the Masonic Hall on tho 23rd inst. The postponed Gala at New Brighton 's to be held on Saturday next. A fP' e ™ programme is promised, and if the weather is fine visitors should enjoy an excellent afternoon's entertainment. Tho annual show of the Canterbury Sweet Pea and Carnation Society will bo opened in Victoria square at 2.30 p.m. to-morrow by Sir John Denniston. J he proceeds of tho show are in aid of tho Royal Horticultural Society's War - und. Owiiuj to trouble with the City Council s North Brighton and Rich- ] mond electric light feodors, about 9.15 j last night a short circuit occurred at tho Aldington sub-station, and the city ' w;is plunged in darkness for a while. ' Iwo or three times tho light was 1 switched on, onlv to go out again, but ( within 15 minutes or so the trouble . was rectified. ' W hen a small boy was charged with ( theft in the Juvenile Court yesterday, < Sub-Inspector Mullanoy suggested that ( a good birching in the presence of tho i parents might verv well meot the case. < flio Magistrate, )[r b. E. McCarthy, • however, did not receive tho suggestion with enthusiasm. "I have always found that there is no reforming influence in a birching," he commented. Some time during the past week-eud the Sydenham Post Office was broken into and a sum of about 30s taken frojn the petty cash drawer. Tho thief or thieves displayed a destructive and mischievous turn of mind, for a good deal of minor wanton damage was done to the furniture and fittings of the office. The postmaster's revolver was taken and a watch smashed, fire extinguishers wore emptied, and some of tho letters in tho posting boxes torn. About tho samo time_ an entry must have been made by thieves into a small sweets shop on ' tho opposite side of tho road to the post office, occupied by Miss Portman. Here n good deal of wanton destruction of stock had taken place. An office at the back of the shop, used by Mr E. Iloliis, coal merchant, was also broken into, and a desk forced open and r ansacked. Altogether, several pounds worth of damage was done in tho sweets shop and office. Regarding the commandeering by the military medical authorities of the St. Saviour's Orphanage for Boys at Timaru for orthopaedic arrangements have been made to leaso two large houses in Maiston street. Tunam, on adjoining sections, comprising about eight- acres, as a temporary orphanage. from. Mrs Howell and Mr Jas. Wallace. Some alterations are boing carried out to fit up these residences, and as soon as these are completed the boys and staff will bo transferred. Ono advantage through the change is that both properties contain large gardens of vegetables and fruit. The terms of the compensation to bo paid St. Saviour's Orphanage will oe settled by the Assessment Court. The Government has appointed its assessor, but tho orphanage authorities have not appointed theirs, as they are not yet in possession of definite information as to the extra expenditure they will be put to in respect of the temporary provision made for the accommodation of the children. Seven boys and two girls appearod before Mr S. 13. McCarthy, S.M.. at the Magistrate's Court, yestoruay, charged with throwing stones at Belfast, and damaging panes of glass, the property of J3. W. Swift, to the extont of £4 iOs, Tho children, who wore all given good characters, wore convicted and ordered to pay 10s each towards making good the damage. A hoy of 1(3 appeared on a charge of stealing £1 16s, the property of A. J. Hall. It was stated that tho hoy had arrived, from "Wellington on Sunday with the intention of "looking ; for work," but next day had boon caught in the act of robbing the till in Mr Hall's shop. Ha had been before the Court in Wellington several times. Ho was committed to the Veraroa training farm,, to he brought ui> in the Jewish faith. Anothor small boy, 10 vears of age, was charged with the theft of a quantity of sweets, biscuits, etc., from the shop of Mrs Gill, in Addington. Tho.police gave him a had character, and he was committed to the Weraroa training farm, to bo brought up in the Anglican faith. Superior perfumery at Loasby's make splendid gifts, Atkinson and Yardley s perfumes in out glass bottle" and presentation caskets. Old English Lavender Water and JCau de Cologne. Best English and French hair brushes for ladies and gentlemen, and manicure seta in unexcelled variety and value at Loasby's, Chemists. I

Scrim for sale, cheap—72-inch scrim in any quantity required, Is 6d fer yard, "at Armstrong's, Ltd. 1

To havo good eyesight from the very commencement of 1,919 should bo the aim of everyone, and those people who have a suspicion that tboir eyes are pot just right should loae no time in callirtg on Walter J. Watson, D,8.0.A-> London, Expert Optician,, who can by the roost approved scientific tests, tell them cxactly what thoir requirements are. 695 Colombo street, Christchurch. 4

Santa Clans urgently requests housewives to make liberal use of * i? bing" Laundry Help, also pure "Golden Rule" Soap, to ensure cleanliness and a happy Christmas. 3 For Holiday Makers. —A very fine lot of Suit Cases, Kit Bags, otc.. is just now on offer at Messrs Hastio, Bull, and Pickering's, Cashel street. A Strong Suit Case of particularly good value is priced in two sizes at 18s 6d and 21s respectively. 6 Boys' suits and odd garments—further stock showing at Armstrong's. 2 With the present shipping troubles, it is only a pharmacy doing a. big dispensing business that can be relied, upon to accurately dispense a prescription nowadays. We hold good stocks of drugs, and charge moderate prices. ECameron Smith, chemist, 9G Worcester Street (just off Square). 58461 —213 Armstrong's, Limited, have effected a big job purchase of hand-mado India and China laces, all widths, with insertion to match. These are selling at about half current prices, Bid, Is, Is 3d, Is 6d yard, and a lower range at from 6jd to is lid. 2 Royal Doulton Ware just arrived. Have first choice for Christmas. Plaques 4s 6d, jugs 4s 6d, teapots, Balads in Dickons, Shakespeare, coach scenes, etc., on view at Drayton's, 765 Colombo street. 6 TO OWNERS OF TRIUMPH MOTOR-CYCLES. Wo are prepared to roako 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. G TO OWNERS OF B.S.A. MOTORCYCLES. The same offer holds good to owners of "8.5.A." motor-cycles. We can give delivery of tho now "Triumphs" in February, "8.5.A." in a week or two. or "Excelsior" at once. Adams, Ltd., High street. 6 TO OWNERS OF EXCELSIOR MOTOR-CYCLES. Excelsior owners aro also included. Prices of new model motor-cycles are: Triumph (4 h.p. 3-spoed), i'l2o; B S \ (41 h.p., 3-speed), £110: Ex» celesior (7-9 h.p., 3-speed), £110. Lamp and horn included. Adams, Ltd., High street. 0

A LIFE SENTENCE. Many a Davis has worked it out, sewing for a life-time and saving clothing buls for a big (amdy. The simploat machine on earth (Muison's). M 6409