GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16727, 9 January 1920, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

The Canterbury Horticultural Society's Sweet Pea and Carnation Show will be held in tho Art Gallery to-day. Tho entry is a good one, and splendid specimens of tho sweet peas and carnations will bo shown. Tho show will bo open to the public from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.

A "Wellington telegram states that Miss Jiouise Mack (a well-known Australian writer) and party, who have been missing on the lararua ranges for several days, wero found by a party from Clrey'town yesterday morning on Mount Hector, in an exhausted condition.

For tho three small grazing runs in tho Cheviot district for returned teoldiers, no fewer than 850 applications hnvo been rcceivcd by the local offico of the Lands Department, and a number of applications have been received at Timaru. Tho examination of applicants will commence at 10 a.m. on Tuesday next, and the ballot will be bold immediately after, probably on Thursday.

Two grass fires occurred on tho hills at .Sumner yestorday. The first broke out on the eastern sido of Tho Spur, and fanned by an easterly breezo soon commenced to get a hold. A good supply of water was available from ft neighbouring house, and tho flames wero checked. The second occurred ore Scarborough Ilill, and was of much larger dimensions. Tho oufljreak wa« noticed near the termination of tho Scarborough track shortly after four o'clock. The Sumnor Firo Brigade was callcd out, and with tho assistance of many voluntary workers tho flamos wero suppressed, but not before a number of young trees had been burned in Scarborough Park.

Referring to industrial conditions abroad, Mr T. Simeon, works superintendent for tho Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company, who lias just returned from a trip to Britain and the United States, stated that exceptional activity was manifested in all branches of industry, as far as receipt of orders was concerned, but that workmen were turning out far less work per day than was 'he case before the war. Individual effort apparently was so much less than previously that it appeared to be extremely doubtful if the increase in production "that was so much talked about would really be achieved. This criticism, he said, was just as applicable to American workmen as to British, and apparently the men had not yet settled down to that steady industrial effort that was interrupted bv tho outbreak of war.

Mr P. R. Climic, organiser of the Canterbury Progress League, has forwarded the following letter to all Canterbury M.P.'s: —"Dear Sir, —Tho Canterbury Progress League is anxious to •bring" about unanimity amongst tho members of Parliament in Canterbury, and to secure their active co-operation and support in connexion with all matters affecting the general interests of tho province, and upon which there can l>e no difference of opinion. "With that object in view, it has boon decided to call mombers together for the common welfare, and a meeting has been arranged to take place in the City Council Chambers, Christchurch, on Wednesday, January 21st, at 3 p.m. In view of the extreme importance of tho meeting. I sincerely trust that you will make a special effort to attend* as the success of the meeting will depend entirely upon all being present.

Yesterdav's river report was as follows:—V.'aitaki, fishable; Opihi, clear; south branch Waimakariri, clear ; north branch Wnmnkariri, clear; Ilakaia, fishble • Rangitata, dirty.

The Pioneer Sports Club has generou»lv ottered the uso of the club rooms to visiting liowlers who are in Christchurch for the Dominion tournament. The Federal Club and Commercial Travellers' Association have also invited visiting bowlers to make use of their rooms.

The Auckland "Star"' celebrated its jubilee yesterday by a special issue, giving a history of the paper and reminiscences of the early days. The occasion was marked by a presentation to Mr Henry Brett, tho founder and managing director of the company, of a congratulatory address. bearing the signatures of over 300 present employees, representing all departments. r l ho Oanterburv Aviation Company's four Avrn machines, one of which is to bo selected for the projected aviation tour to Invercargill. are on hoard the Mnnhine, which is due at Lyttelton on Sunday. Captain Dickson expects to start on the tour early next month, and will stop for flying exhibitions at Ashhurton. Timaru, Waiinate, Oamaru, Dunedin. Gore. Invercargill. Otaut.au. and Winton.

"With regard to the Government's aviation scheme. Sir James Allen told a reporter hist night that a committee consisting of Defence officers and the Naval Adviser had considered thn whole question of aviation, l>oth from tho points of land and naval defence, and they had submitted a preliminary copy of the report, but the whnlo report on all phases was to bo co-ordinated, and Sir James hoped to lx> able to submit this report to Cabinet before long,

"What is considered a new diseaso has made its appearance in local orchards (says a- Tauranga message), and is giving fruitgrowers some concern. Departmental officials at "Wellington, after examining specimens, think it might bo brown rot, and advise as to temporary treatment., but have made no definite pronouncement, as an expert is nob at present available to mako thorough investigation. Pear trees are principally affoctol. in some orchards seriously, but apple trees are also attacked, especially at tho Government horticultural station, and peaches slightly. Orchnrdists fool that tho matter demands prompt attention by tho Government.

The impenetrable growth of willow trees on tho hanks of tho Avon, from Oowlishaw's corncr to the Milo Peg, may certainly look picturesque, but is not at all to the liking of rowing mon, who complain among other things that tho st-ato of tho trees prevents tho movements of crows heing seen from tho hanks. At its mooting early last November, tho Canterbury Rowing Association decided to approach the Oity Council and ask that tho trees bo cut, and according to a statement ma do by ilio president of tho Association (Mr F. I). Kesteven) at its meeting last night, a promise had been received that this would_ Ik* dono, but nothing had Itccn tlono in tho matter. It was docidcd to rcnoiV tho request.

flie language spoken by tho peoplo of llarotonga is almost identical with that spoken by tho Maoris of New Zealand. It is almost, but not quite. That led to an amusing mistake when tho late Colonel Gudgeon first went down to Itarotonga to tako over his official duties as Resident Agent. Tho word in _ Maori for the human body is "tinana." The new agent was giving the peoplo a littlo homilv on tho virtues of "health in the home," and impressed on them how essential it was to keep tho "tinana" clean. A clean "tinana" meant good health, and so on. Tho nntivcß listened with respect and interest, especially as tho newcomer hnd such a command of the Maori tongue. But gradually a look enmo over their faces that showed the Colonal that all was not well. At last they could restrain themselves no longer, and burst into a loud shont of laughter, in which tho Colonel joined when it was explained to him that in the Itarotongan dialect the "tinana" meant a "pig!" Colonel dudgeon used to tell this story with much relish.

Tho system generally followed bv benefit societies of contracting with, medical men for attendance upon their members has been abolished by the Southern Cross Lodgo of Oddfellows, Wellington (says tho "Post"). In its stead a special mcdical fund has Been created, to which each member contributes nt the rato of £1 per annum, with 5s as an entrance feo to form tho nucleus of tho fund. Any member, in caso of illness, is to bo entitled to call in whatovor mcdical man ho prefers, and, nfter payment of tho doctor's account, to send it to the Lodgo, which will then vote him half the amount due, subject to a limitation of 10s Gd per visit in tho doctor's fees. By this plan the distaste of members for dealing with doctors under a cheap contract system is overcome, the lodgo taking tho risk of tho amount of sickness, instead of asking tho medical profession to do so. In a circular issued to members tho secretary of tho lodgo states that as soon as possible tho lodgo will raiso the amount of refund on doctors' accounts,_ and it is hop?d that threefourths, if not the whole, of tho bills will be paid from the new fund.

Captain Euan Dickson, of tho Canterbury Aviation Company, who was accompanied bv Mr C. 11. Hewlett, a director, and Mr J. C. Mercer, havo mado .moverland trip to Blenheim and Nelson, in order to get a general idea of tho lay of tho land and tho possibility of establishing an air route between Christchurch and tho northern parts of the South Island, with a view to crossing to tho North Island at a later date. As a result of tho inspection, they describo tho country as suitable, offering several good landing plarcs. Blenheim was, in Captain Dickson's opinion, qnito suitable for nenyilano-; or seaplanes, and was a good "hopping-off" placo for a flight to Wellington, whero a landing would have to be mado in tho Hutt valley. Picton and Havelock provided no suitable places for on aerodrome, hut Nelson was suitable. Up to within four miles of the top of the Spooner Range, on the way to Westport, there were good landing spots in the vallevs. Captain Dickson considers he could make a two-hour flight from Christchurch to Hlenhoim, and a further flight to Wellington would occnpy less than another hour.

Tho recent acuta position in regard to supplies of petrol appears now to navo been considerably relieved. Speaking to a "Press" representative yesterday, a gentleman prominent in tho oil business locally said that up to the beginning of the present week, the position had been worse than it had over been before, worse even than it waa somo eighteen months ago, when the flhortago waa very marked. Howevor, supplies which had just been received from America had very substantially altered tho situation, nnd there was now enough petrol to keen all going, provided that users kept within reasonable limits. With the prospect of tho shortage, he explained, people became rather panicstricken. and ordered eonsiderablv more petrel than they actually required, with a result that merchants were unable to fulfil all orders, nnd consequently a shortage-scare resulted. However if people did not order more than t&ev actually needed, there "were enough supplies in hand to accommodate them all, and" more would shortly be arriving. The farmers, who needed petrol for their milking machines, etc.. bad recently been down in snpplies almost to zero, but they were now receiving wfiat- they needed. Of course, the speaker explained. the stockn in hand were not heavy, and sufficient for a fortnight's requirements onlv was being delivered to customers, hut the situation had been greatly relieved, and at present there was no prospect of a shortage, nor was there any likelihood of an increase in pricea.

The District Court-martial to try Private William Payne, charged with desertion, will sit at the King Edward Barmeks on Monday next, at 10 a.m.

A poll will be taken on Wednesday. February 11th. in connexion with the Christch'urch Tramway _ Boards proposals to raise a loan of i'.UO.O'IO, particulars of which will bo found in our advertising columns.

"It is for Mr Mn*sey to say when Parliament will moot, but I do not think there is any necessity for it mooting before .Tune. 1 lie Government must be given time to prepare its nolicvremarked Sir Jam os Allen at Ciiri«tciiuroh station last night in response to a question by a pressman.

The military authorities a Wellington recently offered prizes for the best designs for a in-me service certificate. Along with many of no great merit, they received two* designs well worthv nf awards. Those were submitted liy A. Humphrey (Mount Albert, Ati:'klnnd> and J. "\\ - Biackie •'Government Printing Office. Wellington'). Humphrey wins the £2-"> prize and lilackie the £10 prize. No other prizes arc- to be awarded. All the agony of Rheumatism can bo avoided and the disease itself remed'od by ridding the system of excess urio arid. For this purpose nothing is so good as Loasby's Rheumatic Pebbles. Price 2s Gd a box. at all chemists and stores, or from Ixiasby and Co., Chemists (opp. Ballantyne's). 6 Gibb's Art Depot for Picture Framing, Pictures, Artists' Colours, and Drawing Materials, 10 j Ca-shel street-. G Armstrong's Sale—To-day. Grass Seeders and Harvesters should secure their outfits at Armstrong's. Tho sale now running will save them money. Buckskin trousers, overalls, camp rugs, hats, shirts, etc., at Solo prices, are nil right. 1 " Characteristic," " distinctive,"' "true to life," are expressions we hear by those who have their portraits in ado by Steffano Webb. We are particularly successful with children's portraits. Petersen's Buildings, High street, Christchurchc. Telephono 1959. t3

Economise, and buy now, at Armstrong's Sale. " 2 lling Drayton's Emporium for jam jars, lib sizo os 6d, 2lb 7s Gd. Mason's fruit jars, all sizes, 10s Gd, l.'Js Gd, lGs Gd dozen. Orders delivered promptlv. 'Phono 2004. 6*

Dear Housewives, —To wash clothes clean without rubbing or injury to hands or fabrics, always uso "NO RUB--11ING" Laundry Help, in conjunction with the pure "{.'OLDEN RULE" Soap. F. A. Cooke, Ltd. 5

Ono of the pleasing Surprises of Armstrong's Summer Salo was tho wonderful values showing in dross fabrics, including beautiful floral voilos, double width, at Is Gd per yard. 3

STUrtEBAKKK ANT) EASY STEERING.

In Studebaker chassis design particular attention has always boon paid to balanco. with a view to easy steering. In tho now models this welcome feature is retained and oven improved upon, with tlio ro-sult that the Studebaker is becoming a primo favourito with lady drivers all the world over. Tho .Studebaker "holds tho road" firmly and requires no exertion of muscular strength to keep it running straight. Tho steering knuckle-bearings aro in exceptionally wido forks, cutting down leverage stress, and the tapered front of the chassis frame makes it possfblo to turn the car in very narrow thoroughfares, a very valuable feature for scrvieo either in town or on tour. Light in weight, perfect in balanco. and with a steering mechanism which it is a joy to operate, tho now Studebaker cars make driving a pleasant pastime, not a trymnnstie feat. See the Studebaker Xmas Exhibition at our High street ShowroDis. Adams, Ltd. 17