GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16422, 16 January 1919, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

All the Canterbury rivers wore reported clear yesterday with the exception of tho Raugitata, -which was "dirty." A Pi •ess Association message from: New Plymouth states that the manager of Pioi Station at Awakino, where the mine exploded last week, reports that the low spring tide has disclosed a great hole blown in~the reef by the mine. Ho also found a piece of mine casing weighs ing olb on the inland side of his house. Apparently with a viow to tile protection of guards and porters, the Railway Department has decided to supyly muzzles for dogs when in transit by rail, and ma|ce their use compulsory when tho Department deems it desirable. The general manager states that the arrangement cannot, however, be brought into force until a supply of muzzles can be obtained, and supplied to stations, and until a regulation lias been brought in giving the Department thei nccessary powers to enforce the use of muzzles. "Wlion asked yesterday if he intended to bo a candidate for the Mayoralty at the approaching municipal election in April, the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr H. Holland) said that at tho moment he could not say yes or no. He felt that there should be a change, but he could not give a definite answer just now—he would want to see who was coming out. Cr. A. S. Taylor has been mentioned as a possible candidate, but Cr. Taylor, when approached on tho subject, said that he had not given the matter the consideration it required beforo lic* could come to a decision. The Christchurch Returned Soldiers' Association at the meeting of its executive on Tuesday night received a letter from the Repatriation Board in which it was suggested that an officer of repatriation should be appointed ineach military district, the remuneration mentioned being very enticing. Tho local Association was invited to nominate a member for Canterbury, but tho executive, after consideration, decided that, as the position was such an important one, the selection of the various officers should not be left to the several associations,, but to ensure that every returned soldier received an equal chance for appointment, applications for the positions in tho various centres should be sought by advertisement. Preliminary arrangements for the celebration of peace in Wellington were made on Monday by tho Finance Committee of 'the "Wellington City Council, to which the Council at its last meeting delegated the' necessary uuthority. It was decided to spread the celebrations over .three days, including a Sunday. The churches are to be invited to hold special services morning and evening; in tho afternoon there is to be a mass gathering with children and choirs on the Basin Reserve; and in the evening a united religious service in the Town Hall. On Monday there is to be a big p 1,00638 " 511 * on Tuesday a series of spectacular events, including a military tourney during the day and a fireworks display at night. The latter will be staged on a hulk moored in Oriental Bay, which affords splendid facilities for an immense concourse of people.

On and after Monday next two deliveries daily will be made by the postmen in all" the residential parts of the city and suburbs of Chris tchurch. Our Dunedin correspondent telegraphs: The New Zealand Insurance Company has received £200 ''conscience money." It was Bent to tliem by a Dunedin clergyman on behalf of an anonymous donor. A meeting of tho local transport workers was held in the Trades' Hall last night, to consider, bo a pressman was told, "some important labour questions." Press representative's were not admitted to the meeting, which was fairly well attended. The Canterbury Sweet Pea and Carnation Society will hold their annual, show in Victoria square to-day. Tho entries show an increase of 50 per cent, over last year's totals, and competition for tho various cups should be very keen. There will be largo displays of swoet peas and other flowers for exhibition oniy, and the decorative section will be a special feature. The show -will be opened at 2.30 p.m. by Sir John Denniston, and tho net proceeds wilt be devoted to tho Royal Horticultural "War Fund. At a public meeting held at Rodcliffs on Tuesday niaht, it was decided to erect a public hall as a war memorial for the district. It was estimated that a hall to seat 200 would cost about £1500. The. question of a site was left to the General Committee, which consisted of: —The Hon. ,T. Ran*. Messrs J. F. Sinmson, G. H. Woods, A. Holdo'.i, A. W. Heaven, R. and A. Senior, E Chaffer,' «T- Longuet, A. Shaw, E. W. Pidgeon. A. Morton. J. Middleton, W. Bi-ittenden, T. G. "Williamson. AV. T). .Kii'kpntriek, D. Coleman, ,S. Bettorly. W. Mitchell. A. Hinds, J. Gibbs, "Mnsdames Loe and Host, and Mirees E. i W. "Wells, Bearen, and E. Pender. It is of interest to road that a sovere j attack of influenza was experienced in tho North Island as far hack as 1830. In the late Mr Ro. Carnck's book, "Historical Records of New Zealand South," tho following extract is reproduced from tho "Hobart. Courier," of March Ist, 1839: ". . . . Tho master of tho Elizabeth and three of her passengers from the port fell victims to tho influenza, which was l aging in New Zealand with great violence, especially among tho native. During the stay of lI.M. Pclorus (in New Zealand) Mrs Wilson, the wile of a missionary, died of the complaint. Mr Williams, the head < f the mission, had been absent on a missionary visit round the coast, and returned from Tauranga in tho beginning of January." A number of enquiries are being made as to whether men who were in camp in New Zealand on November 12th, the dato when demobilisation was commenced, are entitled to the King's Silver Badge. This in the past has been awarded to men discharged after six months' service, whether in their own country or abroad. Enqiiirios made bv a Wellington "Post" reporter elicited the information that men demobilised who had completed six months' service in camp wero entitled to the Silver Badgo. The method to secure it was to apnly to the Director of Rceruiting, Wellington, who, in reply, would advise whether the applicant was ontitled to . tho badge, and if so, would at the same timo notify Base Records, who would issue it. The usefulness or otherwise of school committees was exhaustively discussed by the New Zoaland Educational Institute at Wellington on Tuesday. The majority of members wore strong in the opinion that school committees as at present constituted are next to useless. Generally school committees were made up of men pf modiocre intelligence who met together at regular intervals to indulge in occasional squabbles or perhaps arrange for tho payment of the charwoman who cleanod out the school Tinder their control. One or two teachers gave it as their opinion that school committees if regularly used might be holpful. The institute passed a resolution suggesting the abolition of school committees and in their place to establish education committees; such committees to be composed of strong men who could bo given more power to. advance education along right lines in tho districts under their control.

There are differences between tlio j Order of the Bath and an order for a bath, and if the person concerned is | a county teacher under an Education Board, ono difference is that both orders are not obtained with equal facility (remarks thp Wellington "Post"). In other circles, of course, the Order which has no relation to cleanliness may be as difficult to obtain —perhaps more so. This is a conclusion drawn from statements made by Mr F. L. Combs, M.A., to tho Educational Institute on Monday. Mr Combs was discussing the Department and education committees which should have something to do with baths. "Cleanliness is next to Godliness," said Mr Combs, "and we teach all the virtues in the schools; but when it comes, to getting a bath in the school house, it is another matter. It bocomos almost an act of religion to wash, the bath is so difficult to obtain." But light-house-keepers, Native school teachers, and others who had to send all the way to Wellington for such things, obtained them without difficulty. Decentralisation for the supplv of necessary furnishings was, according to Mr Combs, much over-rated.

"I iiave not yet read of any prisoners of war being w;orse fed than I was as an apprentice in a British sailing ship." This remark was made to a Dunedin "Star" reporter recently by a sea captain, who explained that he had! no wish to minimise the sufferings of prisoners of Avar. But it was only since he had heard people expressing dismay at the short rations accorded some prisoners of war that he realised how shore people never understood the semi-star-vation experienced by seamen on deepwater sailing ships almost up to the beginning of the present war. This captain's experience -as an apprentice was not different, he said, from the experience of thousands of other sea apprentices. The "pound and pint" scale of rations, as it was called, was really a carefullr-compiled minimum of existence. Ho could recall how. at the end of a three-month passage, he and his fellow-apprentices, as soon as they got ashore, would buy a loaf of bread, andl on eominor out of the shop where it was purchased, break it in pieces and cat it in the street. Nowadays, when he hears, or reads of the departed glory ofl the old sailing ship days, his momorjfl mostly serves up to him a wearisome longing for a good square meal.

An organisation named "Tho People's Protection Society of New Zealand," was formed at Auckland recently, at a public meeting called by Captain A. Whitney, with the general aim of safeguarding the intorosts of the public against exploitation in any form, and of promoting all efforts for the common welfare. Among the objects of the Society are the following: The protection of the people in every sphere of life, including men, women, and children : tho advancement of the peo- ! pie's will; tlio organisation of public I opinion for the purpose of using its weight in dealing with matters affecting the people generally; the promotion , of simple, efficient, and righteous go- . vernmont of the people, and tho main- ; tenanco of truth and justice; the care of tho people's interests and rights m : such matters as public health, Parliamentary leg'.slation, public services, municipal matters, railways, shipping, tramways, and roads; tho securing of proper representation in Parliament in matters pertaining to the public welfare; the securing of the support, by vote or otherwise, as found expedient, of the people with view to rectifying grievances, great or small, affecting' the people, the organisation ol' tho study of all problems of political or social I economy that may arise from time to 1 timo.

A. cable mesage to the Australian paners states that a Roumanian prince, a Russian grand duke, a French county and many ol the British nobility took part in revels at the Ititz Hotel, Lo don. on Now Year s Eve. A Sunday motor service to Pa*s Toll House and Kennedv s Bush has been established, leaving tlieTourist Office. Hereford street at 9 am. and 11 a.m., returning at 4.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. Speaking at the Addington Government Workshops yesterday morning, Mr J. McCombs, M.P. for Lyttelton, said in answer to a question, that it he wore to roreive an authoritative invitation to stand for the Christchurch South seat he would thon make a definite pronouncement. A.t tho New Brighton Gala, which will be held on Saturday, the big programme of attractions will include a baby show for special prizes, a dance in the Pier Hall, a concert, and a grand plain and fancv dress dance in the evening, when special prizes will be given for the best costume. Mr J. McCombs, M.P., visited the Addington Workshops yesterday morning, and gavo an address to the workers.' The speaker urged upon them the necessity of returning members to Parliament "who would help on the cause of labour, and endeavour to givo expression to its idoils. Ho held up tho Labour Administration in Queensland as an example of what could be dono by a purely Labour Government in nationalising and socialising industries to the groat advantage of tho majority of tho population.

Speaking to a Press reporter last Mr H. O. Ell, referring to tho resolution passed at the meeting on Taeccinv in reference to the proportional representation system of voting, said it ivns rather ambiguous ns pub- ] lishod. His suggestion, which was unanimously- endorsed hy the committee set up, was that a referendum should he taken of the ratepayers at the nest municipal election, by a special hnllot- paper, on tho question of whether proportional representation on tho "flwt past the post" system should be used in municipal elections. A Timber Workers' Union for tho Wetland and Grey districts was organised last year, and an agreement was asked for in respect to wages and working conditions. Xo progress towards a settlement resulted from a recent conference, and a large meeting is to he held in Groymouth 011 Saturday. It is stated that all the mills will clcee down for the day. and the posit'on will ho fully discussed. Mr TT. Hunter, secretary of the New Zealand _ Timber Workers' Federation, has a-lvised the union to request the Minuter of Labour •to take aetioVi under the Industrial THsputcs' Investigation Act. Striking proof of the almost general immunity of the old from tho scourge of influonza is given in the fact that not a single case occurred at either the Auckland Veterans' Home or the Costley .Home. At the former 30 old soldiers, mostly - between SO and I JO years of age, passed untroubled through all the long period of sorrow and suffering, immune from the deadly attack of the enemy which laid low so many thousands of the young and vigorous. Tho sam.e fortunate immunity was experienced by 270 aged moii and women at the Costley Home. The place was closed to visitors, and the only cases which occurred were one or two among the staff. / Regarding tho offer made' by Mrs T. H. Lowry, of Okawa, to place lier Parapeti nroperty, near Park Island, about four miles from Napier, at tho disposnl of the military authorities as a place to which convalescont soldiers could l>e sent to reside until they have regained their health, tho authorities regretted that circumstances would not allow of tho acceptance of Mrs Lowry's generous proposal. The Government is starting a largo farm in the Foatherslon district, to which soldiers of this class will be sent to reside, and to p-dtter about at their pleasuro until they get well, and over which control will be centralised, ft was considered inadvisabo under the circumstances to establish any separate convalescent depots. According to statute the present soasoiy should be a closo season for shooting native game, but on tho recommendation of any Acclimatisation Society. tho Government can declare tho season in that district a full or open one in respect to whatever game the society may recommend. . At last evening's meeting of the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, Mr L. D. Shand remarked that tho stocks of birds, ote., on Lake Ellc6mere,. for instance, was greater this year than for tho past fifteen or twenty years, and he moved that the Government bo approached with a view to having the coming season an open one. Mr Shand's motion was carried. Tho society has not yot decided . what its actual recommendations will be, but there i<s a possibility that thoy will include an open season for paraclise duck, and a closo one for pukeko.

Tho inroads of the shag 011 trout wore remarked upon by Dr. C. Morton Anderson at last night's meeting of tho Council of tho Canterbury Acclimatisation Association. Dr. Anderson first of all spoko of a conversation which he had had with Dr. Devonport, of CoaJgate, in which Dr. Davenport had spoken of the severe ravages of shags on tho fell in tho Upper Selwj-n. Dr. Anderson then remarked that ho had lately been on holiday in the south, and had fished the White rock stroam, but ■with littlo success. Ono resident had shown him a pool which had been thick, with trout, but which had been practically cleared out by shags. Tho resident had told the doctor of one very significant incident whiah showed tho liking of shags for trout. He had on one occasion taken a gun and gono out in quest of shags. One bird which ho had hit had disgorged no fewer than three trout when shot. Don't suffer with Rheumatism. Try "Rhoumatic Pebbles" for the relief and cure of Rheumatism and allied compjaints; such as Lumbago, Sciatica, etc. Price, 2s 6d a box, three boxes .7s, from chemists or direct. Loasby and Co., Chemists (opp. Ballantyne's). l There is nothing more charming m home decoration than dainty tableware. Glass ware of artistic design makos a wonderful difference. Those who contemplate the purchase of such aids to home comfort should lose no timo in inspecting our stocks. Watson's, Jewellers, Limited, 695 Colombo street, Christchurch. 1 Santa Claus writes: —"Wash your | clothes clean with 'No Rubbing' Laundry Help and pure 'Golden Rule' Soap, then the flu won't botlief you any." 4 You can depend upon everything being done promptly and wall if you only hand your shipping documents to J. M. Hey wood and Co., Ltd, They are recognised as experts at this work. Telephones 250. 1241, ar-d 2174. 6| TO OWNERS OF TRIUMPH i MOTOR-CYCLES. Wo are prepared to make liberal allowances on Triumph motor-cycles taken in part payment £or latest model "Triumph," "B.S.A.j" or "Excelsior" motor-cycles. Adams, Ltd , High street. > 6 TO OWNERS OF B.S.A. MOTORCYCLES. The same offer holds / good to owners of "8.5.A." niotor-eycles. We can give delivery of/ the now "Triumphs" in February J_"B.S. A." in a week or two. or "Excpfsior" at once. Adams, Ltd., High street. 6 TO OWNERS OF EXCELSIOR MOTOR-CYCLES. Excelsior owners are also included. Prices 1 of new model motor-cycles are: Triumph (4 li.p. 3-speed), £125; B.S.A. (4i li.p., 3-speed), £110: Excelesior (7.-9 h.p., 3-speed), £110. Lamp and horn included. Adams, Ltd., High street. 8