GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16423, 17 January 1919, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

After threatening since the early morning, rain commenced to fall a little after 1 p.m. yesterday. It was intermittent for several hours, and then commenced to fall steadily, the downpour becoming heavier as the night advanced. Complaints are still being received! that tlie Soldiers' Car at Hanmer Springs, which is maintained by the Canterbury Automobile Association, ig being diverted from the purposes for which it is intended. It is understood that the Association is determined that the Soldiers' Car must be used strictly in accordance with tho conditions on which it was provided, and that, failing such compliance, tho car will he withdrawn.

Tho annual Xew Brighton Gala, which was postponed last Saturday, on account of inclement weather, will take place to-morrow, and, judging by tho efforts of tho -executive, it promises to surpass all previous records m the matter of tho number of attractions. Special interest is created bv the appearance on the programi >of several athletic events for returiud soldiers. A frequenttrani service will he provided on the Nos. 5 and 10 lines, and, given fine weather, the Naval Heroes' Fundi and Returned Soldiers' Memorial Fund, to which the total net procoeds are to bo devoted, should benefit materially.

The Mayor (Mr H. Holland), Cr. J. R. Hayward (chairman of the City Council's Reserve Committee), Mr A. Dudley Dobson (City Surveyor), anct Mr W. Wickens (city gardener), visited "Tho Sign of the Kiwi,'' tho Dyer's Pass Rest House, yesterday morning, and partook of morning tea. Tlie Mayor, whose first visit it was to the Rest House, expressed appreciation and admiration of- what has been done at Dyer's Pass. It is possible that as a result of yesterday's visit that some improvements will be put in hand at Victoria Park with the view of increasing its attractiveness and accessibility.

If evidence were required of tho keen and direct interest taken by members of the Canterbury Land Board in tho question of helping returned soldiers to settle on the land, it would be supplied by the action of tho South Canterbury members (Messrs R. Macaulay and D. Stowell), who at Timaru examine returned soldiers who are applicants for land, thus saving tho applicants tho time and expense involved in journeying to Christchurch, and attending the meetings of tho Land Board. This action, which is typical of tho attitude of all the members of the Board in matters affecting returned soldiers, is greatly appreciated by South Canterbury men who have served; at the front.

It is learned from an unofficial but authentic source that the prisoner, Scott, who made an escape from Otatara prison a few days ago, was recaptured under circumstances which would cause the most hardened champion of justice to comment, "Hard luck" (says the "Southland Times"). Having procured a change of clothes, and, being doubtless weary after many hours' sojourn in the bush, the fugitive was unlucky enough to apply for hospitality at a house which had been visited a few minutes before by prison warders in search of tho runaway. On knocking at the door, he stated that he was a warder who, being strange to the district, had lost his way._ _ The owner of the house was suspicious, but not openly so. "I shall show you the way," he offered .affably, and led the unsuspecting man into the midst of the searchers. So ended Scott's brief taste of liberty.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the South Australian Scriptural Instruction in State Schools League last week, Mr James Gray (ex-secretary of the State Children's Council) said his conviction was that in the community there was a marked lack of respect for duty, and a lamentable want of reverence, not only among children, but among young men and young women (reports the Adelaide "Observer"). In too many instances, where duty meant gain, it was observed, but duty for duty's sake was ignored. It might be replied that our soldiers had shown a high sense of duty in having answered their country's call. With the greatest respect for what our fighting men had done for the Empire, the face remained that some of them, at loast, had not gone to the war fronts from a sense of duty, by a very long way. As for children, in too many instances there was a lack of reverence for parents, and the children evinced a desire to run the households. It had not been so in his young days. He attributed the failings to which he had referred as due to a large extent to the absence of the Scriptures from tho schools, and until the Bible reached the scholars he did not look for any marked change for the better.

A possible outcome of the lessons of the war is the manufacture in Australia of paper from wood pulp (says the Melbourne "Age"). For this purpose mountain ash is considered to be most suitable, and of this timber there are 2,000,000 acres in Victoria available for testing. In the nast Governments have been content "with sending small trial lots of hardwood, believed to be suitable for pulping, to paper manufacturing countries, °'but these countries are directly ihterested in a large export trade. ' Authorities who have given some attention to- the utilisation of Victorian hardwoods for paper making contend that the results of tests cannot be satisfactorily known unless these tests are conducted in Victoria. The suggestion is mado that the three States interested should import a small , plant from the Continent, with a view to making thorough experiments in the manufacture or pulp for naper from long-fibred timbers in the forests, with both the soda and sulphide processes. In 1917 samples of white mountain ash and silvertop were sent to Norway for treatment at q wood-pulp mill, but only the grinding process was employed, and the reports showed that the nulp was so fragile that it broke when being taken from the rollers. As a supplementary pulp for pasteboard and thick papers, it was thought that these timbers could be used with advantage Generally speaking, the timber was regarded as inferior for the purpose to Norwegian spruce. Victorian authorities, however, consider that the Victorian samples would have given better results with the soda process. Spruce could he crown in Victoria on a commercial basis only at high mountain levels, and not by substituting spruce for existing hardwoods.

Yesterdav's river report was as follows- Waimakariri North, clear; Waimakariri South, clear; Kakaw, dirt>; Opihi, clear; Rangitata. dirty, \Vaitaki, clear. On Wednesday an Ashburton family had an unpleasant expnence as a result of some daffodil bulbs getting into the dinner in mistake for onions. At the finish of the meal each memher of the family was seized with sickness. but luckily no serious aftereffects wore felt.

The application of some substance inimical to plant life to several of the flower and ftrass plots in the city, by some destructive and mischievous person has resulted in a certain amount of damage being done. Flower beds iii Victoria square, Oxford terras, and the Triangle, and the grass plots behind the tram shelter in the Square and in Hi'ih street all bear distinct traces of tlie work of nndfll.

\ meeting of the Christchurch South branch of "the New Zealand Labour Party was held in tho Trades Hall last night. It was decided that nominations he cailed for for a candidate to contest tho seat at the next Parliamentary election; members of affiliated unions residing in Christchurch South to be invited to vote. Several nominations for tho seat, it was stated, had been received.

Not being a believer in the "first past the post" system of election, Mr H. G. Ell, M.P., was unintentionally misrepresented in the paragraph in yesterday's issue with reference to the proposed quostions to be decided by the referendum of the municipal electors in connoxion with the retention or rejection of the proportional representation system. "I want the adoption of tho second ballot." Mr Ell stated to a reporter yesterday, "to ensuro the representation of majorities on the Council. I was always opposed to the repeal of the second ballot in connexion with Parliamentary elections, and I have never been in favou'r of 'the first past the post' system."

Mr Theodore Saraty. who is well known in Greymouth and Kumara, received a lettor this week from his wife in Syria. Mr& Saraty and family wore in Tripoli, Syria, wlien the war broke out, and as the country was under tho rule of Turkey, Mr Saraty was unable to communicate with them (says the Groymouth "Star"). iJe endeavoured lo obtain permission to send a cable, but was unable to do so. Tripoli is now in the hands of the British, and Mr .Saraty received the welcome news that Mrs Saraty and his son and daughter are all well. The country, howover, is in a deplorable condition, and thousands have died of famine. Tho Turks seized tho food supplies of the Christians and sent them to Germany. Bread was 4s a loaf, sugar and rico 10s a lb. Property, which was worth £1000 beforo tho war. was sold for £100 Turkish or £20 English money. Tho British, since their occupation, have dono all possible to relievo the people's wants, and tho people greatly appreciate the change.

Tho number of youthful burglars who have been discovered of late is disconc-orting. Yesterday their number was added to by tho arrest of three boys at Sydenham, who, it'is alleged, wero tho. authors of several lawless acts in that locality, chief among them bein cr tho Sydenham Post Offico burgla;y. Other places where they are said to have committed depredations are Miss Postman's sweet shop, Mr Hollis's coal depot, tho Vacuum Oil Company's office, Dalgety's 6tore, and the coal yard of Jones and Duncan. They wero apparently aided by a large collection of keys, and it was through these that Detective-Sorgoant. Gibson, who conducted the investigation, ran tho alleged culprits to earth. The burglaries were accompanied by wanton destruction and acts of depravity, and one of tho boys who made a confession stated that the proceeds were devoted to picture shows and ice-creams.

Tho annual report of the Administrator of Norfolic Island for the year ended on June 30thj was tabled in the Federal House of Representatives the other day (says the Melbourne "Ago"). Owing to lack of shipping facilities tho exports and imports declined. The local industries are confined principally to lemons and fish, but there are indications that the whaling industry is to be rovived. Tho total area placed under cultivation for wheat, Indian corn, potatoes, and other commodities was 254 i acres, while the estimated number of coffee troes is 24,196, and the approximate yield 45,7551b. At the end of Decomher last the population consisted of 337 males and 427 females, while the Melanesians in the mission numbered 114, and the tourists five, making a total of 883. The vital statistics for 1917 showed that there were 23 births, 12 deaths, and five marriages. The island celebrated Australia Day, France's Day, and Our Day, and contributed to many patriotic funds, the total being £1580, while tho Norfolk Island honour roll contains 78 names of natives of tho island and other residents who enlisted in the Australian and New Zealand forces—l 2 wero killed in action, and 12 wounded or incapacitated. The establishment of a wireless station at Norfolk Island is being considered by the Australian naval authorities.

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Scrim for sale, cheap—72-inch scrim in any quantity required, Is 6d per yard, at Armstrong's/ Ltd. 1 Shipping hold-ups have been responsible for a lot of worry to business people, and many lines of goods that should have been here for Christmas havo only recently been landed. Among them is a fine selection of gift goods, delayed, but not too late, which we are now showing. Watson's, Jewellers, Limited, 695 Colombo street, Christchurch. 2 Boys' suits and odd garments—further stock showing at Armstrong's. 2 "No Rubbing" Laundry Help does washing while you rest. Is packet sufficient for seven weekly family washings. Wonderful for labour saving and perfect cleansing qualities. Kincaid's, Ltd. 5 Large reels cotton v Coat's, 400 yards, 7d a reel, at Armstrong's. 1 Matting suit-cases, leather bound, strong and light, for week-end use, now ss, 7s Gd; 10s 6d, wonderful value; at Drayton's, 765 Colombo street. 3 Armstrong's. Limited, have effected a big job purchase of hand-made India and China laces, all widths, with insertion to match. These are selling at about half current prices, 83d, IOJd, Is, Is 3d, Is Gd yard, and a lower range at from 6id to Is lid. 2 TO OWNERS OF TRIUMPH MOTOR-CYCLES. - We 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 same offer holds good to owners of "B.S.A. ""motor-cycles. We can give delivery of the new "Triumphs" in February, "8.5.A." in a week or two, or "Excelsior" at once. Adams, Ltd., High street. G TO OWNERS OF EXCELSIOR MOTOR-CYCLES. Excelsior owners are also included. Prices of new model motor-cycles are: Triumph (4 h.p. 3-speed), £12o; B.S.A. (4J h.p., 3-speed) £110; Excelesior (7-9 h.p.. 3-speed) £110. Lamp and horn included. .Adams, 1 High street.