GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16856, 9 June 1920, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

Word has been received that the R.M.S. Niagara, which sailed from Vancouver on the 27tli of last month, and is due at Auckland on Monday, lias 957 sacks of English and American mail on board. The R.M.S. Moana, which sailed for Wellington from San Francisco two days later, has a large parcel mail, filling 1572 sacks, and some fifty sacks of letters. These, however, are all .American.

Tho auction announcements of Craddock's Agency Co., National Mortgage and Co., Jones, McCrostie Co., H. C. Smith, Charles Clark, George Anderson and Co., lonks, Xorton and Co. 11. -B. Sorensen, Harris Bros., McKenzie and Co., Xew Zealand Loan and M.A. Co.. Harman and Stevens, and p. S. Xieholls will be found 011 pages 13 and 12 of this issue. Our Ennedui correspondent telegraphs that the Taratu coal mine:.s are sc ill out 011 strike. The permanent hands are simply getting enough coal to keep the pump's going, and these hold the mines for future use. In the examinations for teachers' certificates, held last January, 11. J. 'Daniel of Kingsdown, former.y a pupil of the Timaru Boys' High_ School, (ruined the highest marks in Xew Zealand for the subject of chemistry, Class D. An interesting lecture, entitled "On Leave in Paris," was given by Mr Frank Anderson last night, under tho ausnices of the .M.C.A. Literary and Delisting Club. A series of slides added to the attractions of the talk, which was greatly enjoyed by those present. The applications for the ten sections in the Waitohi Peaks settlement for discharged soldiers total -J97; lor two sections at Hornby the applications total -1 ; and for one section of Crown land at Aylesbury there are 6 applications. All the applicants will be examined by the LaJid Board to-dny. During the month of May the mimbe.- of books issued from the lending department of the Canterbury Public Library was 1i.0~3, as compared with 13,813* issued during May last year. In tho reference library 3252 works were consulted, and in the juvenile library 14(52 books were issued for home reading. Excellent use is being made of the books in the technical and commercial section of tho reference library. Tiiis section now contains over 1000 volumes. Seventy-five new volumes were added to the circulating, 37 to the reference, and 81 to the juvenile library during the month, and 151 new subscribers wero enrolled. In a letter addressed to the Christchurch Y.M.C.A. from Melbourne, Captain JO. A. Taylor, of FT.M.S. Renown, writes: "I beg to tender you my sincere thanks and appreciation for your kindness in providing sleeping accommodation and meals for the ship's company of 11.M.5. Renown during the ship's stay at Port Lyttelton, and on their*behalf, I request you will express similar sentiments to all those who helped in so many ways to make their stay such a pleasant one. I can assure you that the ship's company very much appreciate all that was done for them." By the same mail the Association received a group photograph autographed by the Prince of Wales. A slouched liat, a pair of "slinrts," and a pair of hoots, as all Anzncs kmw, formed the chief, in fact, the only, costume of most of the troops on Gallipoli. Commenting on this fact at the II S.A. smoke concert last night, General Sir William Birdwood told of one occasion on_ which he had taken a French Admiral to see a battery cf such scantily-clad men. The Admiral was greatly impressed. "Ah, my General," lie said, "what magnificent men! and if they could appear in Paris in such a costume, what a sensation they would make." (Laughter.) "Well," commented the General, amidst laughter, "they say is the sinccrest flattery. When we got to France, w 7 e found that the 1915 fashion of Gallipoli had almost become the 1918 fashion of Paris, I mean, amongst tho ladies." Buildings at the new Wi Tako Prison Camp, near Trentham, are now almost completed. They have been constructed by prisoners under the supervision of prison officials. The same labour was used last year to make the road giving access to tho camp. In designing and laying out tho camp, it has been the endeavour to avoid anything prison-like in appearance, as all tho men detained here will bo short-sentence offenders, who are deemed capable of reformation. Most of the prisoners are engaged now in draining the swamp and making a largo vegetable garden. Pig-breeding has been commenced, and later cattle will bo placed on tho property. Development will occupy some years; but already some directly reproductive work is being done. Keeping up the population was a subject of a few remarks' by General Birdwood at the R.S.A. smoke concert last _ night. When in Waratah, Tasmania, Jje said, he had met an old man from the same place as he himself, Devon, whose children, grandchildren, etc., numbered no fewer than 170. Xo fewer than five generations of the familv wero alive. Another record was established by a lady whom the General met in Queensland, who, he said, completely astounded him 'by stating that she had had five children in 16 months. He explained that she had first given birth to twins, and next to triplets. "Tho crcam of that," commented the General, "was that her husband advertised for a wife, and that was what ho got. As I thought to myself at the timo, 'it served him well right'." (Laughter.) Messrs H. T. Armstrong and H. Worrell have been appointed tho Canterbury Trades and Labour Council's delegates to the annual conference of the Thiited Federation of Labour, to be held in Wellington, on July 6th. Among the remits to be discussed is one from the Xational Executive: — "That the Federation take such action as will prevent workers in Great Britain and other countries coming to this country under falso pretences, and thereby being exploited to that extent." The Christchurch Bootmakers' Union has forwarded a remit that clause 18 of the Factories Act be amended to provide that not more than fortv hours shall bo worked v excluding meal times, in any one week, and to provide for Saturday whole holiday. An amusing incident concerning General Birdwood and a "digger" was told at the returned soldiers' smoke concert to tho General last night by Colonel R. Young, O.C. the Canterbury Military District. Colonel Young said that one day on Gallipoli he was standing with the General in a gully when a sparselvclad, tired-looking "digger" came toiling un the hill with a pail of water in each hand. General Birdwood stepped aside to give tho man room, and as he passed asked him how things were going. The man took no notice, but went on tin the hill, but suddenly he turned round and said, "Well. I think we've got the 's beat anyhow.' l "A cold shiver ran down my back, to think what would hanpen." concluded Colonel Young, "but General Birdwood merely remarked, 'Well, Young, that man's got the true spirit.' " Ho recognised that beneath the rough exterior of the 'digger' beat a heart as good as gold." A lease for 10,000 years must surely be tho "record" for Dunedin, if not for Australasia (says the "Otago Daily Times"). It is known that more than one lease for a similar period of timo exists in Britain, but it was very generally assumed that the political accident which gave Xew Zealand the 9C9' years' lease established a record in tenures in the Dominion. That is not so, however, for in the local Lands and Deeds Registry office there is a perfectly valid title to* a lease for a piece of land for 10.000 years. The lease concerns the right-of-way which separates the Bank of Xew Zealand premises in Lower Hkh street from the offices of the Xational Fire and Marine Insurance Company. The area is nineteen-one-hundredths of a pole, being part of section -IS, block IX. If there exists a longer lease in the Dominion, -with a large prospect of tlie lessees seeing the end of it, as is possible in the present case of such corporations as the Bank of Xew Zealand and the Xational Insurance Company. we are sure tho public would be glnd to learn the full particulars. In tho records of the Dunedin lease, which are most voluminous, the names of several early settlers, including that of Mr John Jones, are mentioned.

A sperm whale was found stranded on tlie beach about_ three and a half miles from North Brighton on Monday, by Mr A. Griffin, of Limvood. It is 64 feet long, and Las a girth of 24 feet. Negotiations aro proceeding with a local soap-making firm for the purchase of the cil. The medical officer in charge of the Cashmere Military Sanatorium has received a cheque for £60 from Mr Robt. McFarlane on behalf of the car shed employees of the Chnstchurch Tramway Board. This amount is a donation from a fund established by means of weekly subscript .ons by the tramway employees during; the war for Red Cress purposes. The daily bulletin of influenza cases reported to the Canterbury DistrictHe,tlth Office yesterday showed that 28 oases had been notified as under:— North Canterbury, 18 mild, 6 pneumonic (Christchurch, 11 mild 4 pneumonic: Kainnoi, three mild; Sefton, Lakeside, .Ashley, and Lvttelton, one mild each; Balcairn and Sheffield, one pneumonic each); Ash burton, three mild (all at Rakaia): South Canterbury, one mild (at Cricklewood). Thero is no guess work about curing either a cold or cough when "Stop-It" is used. This splendid remedy has the longest li?t of successes—it is recognised as being the "sure" remedy. Is 9d, 3s, and 5s 6d—all chemists and stores or from Loasby and Co., chemists (opp. Ballantyno's). 6 liavo you Gorso to Cut? After a long period of shortage of Corse Knives, Messrs Hastie, Bull, and Pickering have just landed an excellent assortment of the best shapes from Gilpin's, the famous English makers. H5004-467 Pilkington's Motors are now running, Christcluirch-Akaroa, at 30s return. G Here is evidence that Armstrong's mean business when they say millinery prices shall come down. A f<v,v examples will prove to anyone who calls how drastic are these reductions. No half measures at Armstrong's solid prices slashing. Smart Trimmed Millinery for ladies, well worth 425, cut down to 21s, the very latest fur present wear. A bargain in young ladies' Ready-to-wear Felts, in all the new shapes and colours, worth easily 255, going for 12s Cd. At Armstrong's only, 7 Our special Influenza Mixture quickly relieves, 2s Cd. To prevent an attack, use our special Nasal Douche and Gargle. Kills the germ. Never known to fail. Creosote Cough Cure is unequalled for Coughs and Colds. E. Cameron Smith, Chemist, 96 Worcester street (just off Square). 58619-1-113 Playing the violin while "No Rubbing" Laundry Help and "Golden Rule" Soap do the weekly washing is wifie's favourite hobby now, and so say all of us.—Christchurch husbands. 6 We have now received a choice assortment ol' glassware in rich old gold shades. Fruit dishes, 3s 6d, 5s 6d; largo size vases, 4s Cd. Useful presents. Drayton's, Colombo street. 1114 School of Art students' requisites, artists. colours, canvas, brushes, drawing papers, and drawing materials, at Gibb's Art Depot, 10a Cashel street. (J WHY PEOPLE BUY STUDEBAKERS —THE SPARE PART SERVICE. Tho motorist who has a broken or damaged part of his car Heeding replacement, is unfortunate if he cannot at onco obtain a spare part made by the original manufacturer. In the case of many parts of electrical equipment the thing simply cannot be made locally, and tho owner is put to great inconvenience and perhaps deprived of the use of his car for several weeks. In the case of engine parts, gears, etc., these, if made locally, must be of inferior material, and cost three or four times as much as a standardised part from the maker. People buy Studcbahers because Adams, Ltd., the New Zealand importers, carry an absolutely complete line of spares, their stock of spare parts being valued at £-5000. Studebaker ears are as nearly fool-proof as possible, but a careless driver may damage gears or differential, injure the clectrical equipment, or crumple up radiator or mudguards in a collision. We can replace at once any damaged part of tho gear or differential; wo carry a full lino of electrical parts, including armatures for self-starters and generators; a full lino of engine spares—pistons, piston reds, gudgeon pins, timing gears, etc., together with radiators and guards for all models. In fact, we are ready to meet any possible contingency, and cordially invite tho public to inspect the complete and heavy stocks in our spares department. Inspection is also invited of tho wonderful new 1920 Studebaker Sixes, now on view in our showrooms, with working parts displayed over a mirror. Adams, Ltd., 152-154 'High street. _ {J