GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17109, 2 April 1921, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS.

V The auction announcements of .the N.Z. Farmers' Co-op. Association, Ltd., H. C. Smith, Wakelin Bros., Pyne, Gould, Guinness, Ltd., McKenzie and Co., Lawrie and Dalton, Harris Bros., -Farmers' Saleyards, H. B. Sorensen, Craddock's Agency Coy., Ltd., George Anderson, and Co., Wright, Stephenson, and Co. 1 , Ltd., P. S. Nicholls and Co., and W. E. Simes and Co. will be found on pages 16 and 17 of this issue. At 8.31 p.m. yesterday* the Fire Brigade was called to the corner of Armagh and Manchester street, the alarm arising from smoke being seen from Stephenson's bacon-curing establishment, but the Brigade, discovered that there was no fire in the premises. Councillor J. AV. Boanland, DeputyMayor and chairman of the Works Committee of.the City Council, announces by advertisement in this issue his candidature for tho Mayoralty at the coming municipal- election. Councillor Beanland will address meetings of citizen b in the various districts at ari early date. Yesterday morning the City Council receipts account started on a new book. On the clearing of the register, to whicn mailed and over-the-counter deposits for rates had been, credited, it was found that of the £166,7452 18s 3d levied for rates, -there was only the amount of £0257 7s lid left outstanding ,on which tho extra 10 per cent, could be levied. This is satisfactory to nearly all concerned, be=ausa it reduces bank overdraft charges' and leaves fewer people to grumble over being mulcted for the 10 per cent, penaltv. On Thursday £24,483 18s od was received by the City Council's rate colle'.tor. Durinsi the last month the total amount collected was £75,827 6s 10c. ■; The first of the series of lectures on music instituted by the Workers' Educational Association for the 1921 session was given in the Trades Hall last evening. 'The tutor appointed by the ] Council of the Association is Mr L. E. Strachan, whose lectures during the session will deal with the history of music from primitive times to the present day. Mr Strachan's lecture last evening was on "Sound in Music,"' the lecturer giving an interesting and informative discourse on the science of sound in its i elation, to music and musical instruments. In connexion with the music class a glee choir'is being formed, which will contribute n musical programme at the various W.E.A. functions. An analysis of the passenger list of the emigrant shin Waimanajr which arrived at Wellington on .Wednesday, showed that there were on board 611 -men, 169 women, 105' children between of one and twelve, and 21 in- j fants. The majority were single men, j arid the remainder married men with 1 their' wives and families, or single j women who had done war service, chief- ; Iy on the land, under the Imperial i Government. Or the total number 346 j are remaining in the Wellington dis- i trict, and the numbers bound for other j destinations are as follows: Auckland, ■ 27i); New Plymouth, 17s Napier, 2"; , Nelson, 21; Lyttelton, 117; south jf i Lyttelton, 75. . It is of interest that the necessary work for tho refitting of the Waimana as an emigrant vessel could not. be carried out in England on account of the carpenters' strike, and she therefore sailed for Hamburg, where tho work was completed. |

At Raglan> oil Thursday, Djtvid Pretty chopped a 12in block in 24 2-ssee, a world's record, and a loin block in 27 2-osec, which is 6 4-ssec less than the present world's record. The' epidemic of thieving has seen<inglv extended to trains. A Palmerston "North business man who came home by the midnight express from Wellington on Tuesday night was relieved of a purse containing £4-5 and other valuables. Labour appears to be much more plentiful in the country districts of the North Island now than for somo time past. Recently about 40 men left a job near Morrinsville following a. dispute. Within two days the job was re-staffed with new men The manager of an'electric power board had no fewer than sixteen applications for labourers' work within three hours one day recently. Although Mrs Herbert's name was included in the Citizens' Association ticket for the municipal elections, she states that she is seeking election as an independent candidate, and not as a nominee of the Citizens' Association or anv other bod v. Mrs Herbert intimated this to the secretary of the Citizens' Association yesterday, and asked that her name bo' omitted from the Association's "ticket." The physical culture classes for the ensuing 'season, ' under the newlyappointed Y.M.C.A. physical instructor, Mr Spencer Green, are to commence next week. The gymnasium has been completely renovated and the interior painted. New equipment has also been imported, and it is claimed that tho rjymnasium is equal to the best in New Zealand.- A large membership is expected in all classes during the winter.. The trial aerial mail service between Christchurch anduTimaru w'll cease on Thursday, April 7th, to facilitate preparations for 'the more useful servieo between. Christchurch and Blenheim. During the fifty d%ys of running oetween" Christchurch and Timaru there was not one day on wihieh the service failed. The? total mileage done by the service between January 31st and yesterday was 9<390 miles, and the number of passengers carried was. 104. Nelson, in common with other parts of New Zealand (telegraphs our correspondent), experienced a dry spell during March, 92 points being recorded at tho Cawthron Institute meteorological station. Last year the rainfall was 3.05 in. Tho rainfall for the quarter just ended totalled 4.76ra, as compared, with 17.99 in for the corresponding period last year. The outlook for winter feed is not good. Fortunately there was an excellent, spring, and there is plenty of dry foddei\ , The regulations controlling Government officials prohibit their acceptance of presentations or gifts. At a' recent meeting of offirers in Duncdin (says the "Star"), at which Colonel J. L. Sleeman was farcwelled, a surprise presentation was made to that popular officer who, being unwilling to break tho harmony of the evening, forebore to mention the difficultv at the moment, but wrote next morning regretting his inability tp accept the gift, but expressing the pleasure that the good wishes of his brother officers and the well-intentioned act afforded him. ' "One of the most lamentable sights in Sydnev," said Mr J, R. Palmer, Town'Clerk'of Wellington, who. has just returned from Australia, "is the number of maimed returned soldiers in khaki, who aro allowed lo beg .in the streets. One cannot go down any of the principal streets without being accosted by armless or legless men, who rattb their boxes- under everyone's nose. There is also a-brass band of returned soldiers who play round the' streets, /whilst others beg contributions .front tho passers-by. In offering a com, I asked one man whether this sort ot thing was going to last. He said that the Government did not allow them enough to live on. I suggested that the Government readily supplied artificial limbs, but he replied that he, for one, was not going to wear them; and 1 shrewdly' suspect that tihey do', so well by begging that they do not really want to do .anything else. Still, it is a painful sight to visitors, and one that should riot be permitted." .Most of. the divisional and .brigade commanders and other senior officers of the A.I.F. have been absorbed in the now divisional organisation of the -e----constructed Australian Army. A largo number of brigade and .battalion commanders and other..officers of various ranto w.i<-h the -A.I.F. have been included m the provisional appointments to the establishments; which are subject to revision by'the divisional commanders. When the citizen appointments have been completed, to supplement the staff and. administrative appointments, the actual formation and ■training of the divisions will be undertaken. -The appointments should -ibe announced shortly.- Amongst permanent and citizen officers, either already appointed or whose A.I.F.- experience entitles them to expect appointments, and who are anxious to. proceed with, the- work, tho announcement is regarded as overdue. Active training under the new organisation in the circumstances will probably not commence till Jaly Ist', the beginning of the new training year. •• At a. deputation 'from the Film Renters' Association which met the Minister of Internal Affairs, on February 10th, Mr E. J. Righton, leader, of the deputation, 'stated, as a reason for excluding jfche Press, that a reporter had given a garbled and one-sided report of ft previous deputation, and that this had been published by a paper which wanted to back up one of iti previous editorials. -As this statement contained a serious charge of malpractice against" the jburnahstb profession (says the Wellington' '/Post"), .Mr lligh.ton was asked by the Institute of Journalists to fur.nish particulars, so that the case might be fully investi • gated. No-reply ■\\Vs received to th.->. letter, nor .to a' further "application made to Mr Righton, and the institute has now requested that, as Mr Uightnn's statement was published ot tho time, equal publicity should now he given to th? fact that he has failed to offer any. justification for the serious eh-.irge thus made against the, reporters and those.entnv-.to>l w ; th"the conduct of the Press in Wellington. - The mutant J.Enul, a. creature, which exists ou.y iu iNew 2je t ;land, and which it was thought would soon become extinst, appears to be increasing in numbers on Stephen .Island, Cook Btrait. The principal lighthouse keeper (Mr P.- Malvnus), in a report to the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hie Hou. IV. LV.vnie Stewart), says:—"l am quite convinced that tlie tuatara has increased here during the last four years. In my first summer here, lour years ago, 1 used ,to stroll about the island in twilight, and during tha<first hour of darkness, ' and take note- of the number of lizards I saw. I have, been doing* tho same this summer, and the lizards are unmistakably more numerous. I think 'it would be strange if .this were not so, for they have been well protected during my time, and relentless war has been waged on their natural enemies. On the night of the loth November, 1920, I saw a large tuatara making a burrow in .some fairly hard clay ground near my house, at the edge of an asphalt path. In the morning she had excavated about i six inches, taking the burrow underjneath the asphalt, which was ' about i three inches thick. On the following .midnight about six inches of her tail ' showed out of tho hole, and inthemorn- ; ing the burrow was empty, and mea- : sured fourteen inches. On the following morning there was jjp hole to he 'seen. The entrance was filled with earth, patted down, and" smoothed over. I'drew the earth out, and at the badk of the burrow — was filled ud afl the way—J found no fewer than fifteen eggs. So I now have first-hand knowledge of the fa<-ts that the tuatara lays her eggs—numbering from -seven to November, and that the eggs hatch probably about the foljowing September or October."

All the Canterbury rivers were reported clear or fishable yesterday.

The total gate receipts for the first Tes*. match •at "Wellington were £925. which constituted a record for the tour, the previous best being £9OO for the opening* match against Wellington. A Wellington newspaper is being prosecuted for exhibiting notices on the window of its premises and causing crowds to congregate, thereby obstructing the thoroughfare.

Arrangements are in train for the inauguration ot' what is to be known as the Trent ham Memorial League. The object of the League is to do justice to the memory of the soldiers who die*; iu Trenthnm camp.

At the Police Court at Auckland yesterday, Mr J W. Poynton, S.M., lined John Fairley £2-5 or "two months' gaol for cairying a pistol without a license and with refusing to leave a hotel when requested to do so. Fairley and another nuin were refused liquor, being under the influence of drink. When they were got out ir.to the street they threatened the licensee. Fn.irley drew a-pistol, which he flourished.

A controversy is raging in New lly"mouth over the intention of the Harbour Board to test t'lie quality of the rock of Paritutu for tho purposes ot harbour construction. There is an outcry in some ouartors against the proposed demolition of the landmark lor this purpose! 'Hie reason ior proposing the step is that Paritutu seoms.to provide the only repository of stone whieii is available "for immediate needs without great expense in quarrying ana transport. Patrons of 1 lie Qneenstown ferry service in the custom of enjoying an appetising' "nip" before proceeding to the drning saloon will henceforth have to content themselves with something witn less bite in it than has hitherto been obtainable at the bar of the Eamslnw or the Mountaineer (says the Southland •'Times''). It appears that the contract of llio providore expired on March, 31st, and it is evidently the Government's intention to do away with the bars and nlace a woman in charge ot the commissariat department. Twenty general service horse-drawn waggons" us,ed by New Zealand troops during the war, are being allotted by the. Defence Department to endi military district for hire to municipalities, farmers, and others, at the rate of ■£'> per annum. The premium on the insurance- will be paid by the hirers, and sptwe parts to replace breakages will be supplied by the Department at tho expense of the persons 'hiring the vo'hicles. Ten waggons will also he shortly available in each district for salo by ixiblic tender. What, has been termed a "freak'' clause is included in the new demand;, made imon the employees of tho New Zealand" Shop Assistants' Federation. It reads as follows: "In cases where an employee is not a member of the union, such employee shall pay to his employer a sum .equivalent to the union ■fees. " The accumulations of such fees shall be handed to the union quarterly, and credited to the union's benevolent, fund." It is'not clear whether this replaces the- usual "preference to unionists" clause, but it will be .interesting to see how it is viewed by the employers or by the Court.

Public meetings do not often give cheprs for members of tho family of a Cabinet Minister who aro not preseat(remarks the Auckland "Herald' ). There was, however, no doubt about the hearty response to a call made at Paotoa on Tuesday evening for dheersfor "Miss Coatcs." The explanation was that tho Hon. J. G. Coatcs, in apologising for his hurried visit; said that one reason ho was anxious to return to AVellington was that on Sunday -his wife presented him with' a. daughter. The laughter) which followed- this announcement was renewed when' the Mayor, Mr P. E. Brenan, said the excuse given by Mr Coates was a genuine one.

A correspondent writes: The small : launch in which' Mr W. J. P. McCullodh came to Christchu* : eh was the Kelvin; Mr McKeogftn,' we'll; known in Wellington And Otago yachting circles and now q, soldier settler on •AVnitohi i Peaks. Hawar-len, accorn-, panied Mr' McCulloeh as navigator. The Kelvin was a; high-powered speed launch, with a Scottish Kelvin'engine. The little craft was only 24ft long, 4fb beam, nnd draught of hull about Sin. The spectators at the Arnst-Welch sculling championship race Aviil remember the Kelvin as umpire's boat, with Mr A: E. Craddock as umpire for the race. This little craft was brought from Dunedin' by sea by Messrs Mc-Culloch and McKeegan, and some idoa of ttier size may be obtained from the fact that # she came right up the river Avon to jusfa below the Clarendon Hotel.

"In view of the r&ent wising of the school age in-New Zealand to fifteen years,".said Mr Q. H. Opie, chairman of tihe Board of Governors of the Christchurch Technical College, at the meeting of the Board last night, "some of the developments, elsewhere- are very interesting. In January'last 22 new continuation schools were opened in London for part-time instruction during the day of young people up to the ago of seventeen years. Statutory notices were sent out to 12,000 vouug pe.ople to attend them, and already 1 in the first, week 81 per cent, of that number enrolled. The desire of* all classes for continuation education iB shown by the fact that many children attend the schools voluntarily, whilst others ar.> remaining in the elementary schools long past the usual age. The London County Council is already regulating, the employment of children Up to tho ago.of sixteen years. It seems certain that in England, as soon as circuni* stances permit, the elementary school age will !>c terminated at eleven years, wlien children will be drafted into junior secondary sdhools until they art fourteen. At that ago they will be classified, and some sent on to secondary schools and others to technical institutions. The opinion is expressed that the establishment of junior secondary schools will not necessitate -additional buildings. In view ' of the remarks oft'!ie Minister of l&itic.itirtn, we can hope that in the- near future steps will be taken to crrminat? the course of primary s:4iool training at a nuieii earlier age than is the ease at present." '

"When the Minister of Education visited To Orauga Home in company with members of the Board at the end of last year, he promised that a sum. of £I2OO or £lsoo'could, be available for the purchase of a school farm," said Mr G. H. Opie, chairman of the Board of Governors of the Christc'hurch Technical College, in the cour»'j of his address to that body last evening. "With this in view, the special committee 'Jet up by the Board inspected many properties, and finally recommended one of about 17 acres at Hornby, which appeared to be eminently mlited to our purpose. An option was obtained over Hhe property, and an application for a. grant to purchase it was made to the. Minister. His reply was, to say the; least, disconcerting, as it stated that in view of the financial stringency he wu.s unable to find money for the purchase of more than two or three ncies. I immediately sent him a telegram on behalf of the Board, requesting him to honour his promise, and be has since replied that, whilst he is ( unable to ful-I iil his original promise, lie will guar-1 antee a grant large enough for the pur- ■ chase of four to five acres. I have now ' made enquiries regarding properties of! that size, and have inspected several, j but up to the present have not- seen any worthy of consideration. Whilst of necessity falling in with the Minister s idea as to the area of land to be purchased, I cannot but reiterate what has . frequently been stated by this Board, ; that for a- school of this' size at least 50 acre's of good arable iand are necessary, and I am of the opinion that we should press for this as soon as industrial and economic conditions permit." j It decided to ask the Minister the amount he was prepared to give, and endeavour to obtain a suitable area in accordance with the amount of the j grant. - * '

On Mondnv traffic on Colombo street between Moorhouse avenue and Carlyle street will bo stopped white the railway crossing is being repaired. To-morrow, from 8. a.m. to 4_ p.m.. electric power will be cut off in the area enclosed i>v Lincoln toad, .Jorrold street. Selwyn "street. Moorhouse avenue, and Richmond terrace. Those desirous of obtaining exemption from the provisions of the airly closing clause of the Shoos Act are asked* to attend a meeting" to lie !held_ in the Chamber of Commerce on tlte 7th inst, at 8 p.m.

The Rev. .lohn Hell, of the staff of the liondon Baptist Missionary Society, who is stationed at Shrnsi. North China, will preach in the Oxford terrace Church tomorrow morning, and in the Elgin street Church in the evening.

In the Durham street Methodist, Church to-merrow the Rev. W. Ready will be the preacher. In the morning his subject will be ''The Tuexpected Issues of Life,'' and in the evening

"The Surprises of the Resurrection."' Mr-Eric Winspear will sing "It is Enough" ("Elijah"'). The Canterbury Aviation' Co.'s airplane left Christehureh yesterday morning Cor Tininrii at 8 o'clock, »"iving at* its destination at 9/20 o'clock. The "plane left Tiniaru at 11.57 o'clock, arrivin" back in Christehureh at 1.-1 D o'clock. Mr F. TV. Crawford was the pilot.

\ Gishorne message says the borough power-house authorities were startled vesterdav by the discovery of a packet of dvnamite in some State roal recently received. It is assumed the explosive was an unlired charge which dropped among the coal by mischance, bmallei packets of dynamite have been iound on previous occasions.

The Board of Governors of the Chris.church Technical College, at its meeting last evening, accented with WiaiiKs a gift of a number of complete, sets ot bridge-drawings, including working details? from Mrs Alabaster, widow ot s.ho lato Mr Austin Alabaster, who made the drawings while ho "was engineer to the New Zealand railways.

The Canterbury College Dialectic b«>ciety have arranged a delmto for voni<rlit in the form of "a motion ot nocoiifidencc in the Labour Party as a prospective Government for Aew /enland." The mover and opposor ol the motion will bo students, and they will be seconded bv Messrs David Jones, M.P., dnd J. McCombs, M.i\, resneotiveiy. n

The following incident is a- sign tof the'times: A Rakaia farmer employing five men • and a cook called his employees, together and announced that ho must make a reduction in expenses. The men had been receiving, £2 10s per -week and found. Ho offered them the choice of taking £2 and found or £2 10s and provide their own meals. The men considered the interests of the cook, and agreed to accept the reduction of ten shillings.

• The erection of a fernery in the Christchurch Gardens was discussed by the- Domains Board yesterday when Mr George Harper reported on alternativesites, and recommended one just south of tho stono seat in the rose garden. ,Tho Board decided to 'postpone action for. twelve months, in view of the present high cost of materials. Tho selection of a site was held over, the curator remarking that in a year's timo tho Board might decide to go on with a winter garden.

An admission that he felt like an "April fool" was made by Mr W. H. Winsor at tho Domains Board yesterday. He said that at. midnight on March 31st bproydon was merged in tho city, and as he represented bpreydon on the Board he assumed that he would go out of office automatically. Two 'legal members of the Board expressed the opinion that Mr Winsor would not "have to give no his seat, while a third took a contrary, view. The chairman, promised to. look into the matter.A deputation, representing a largo nuuifeer of Spreydsn ratepayers, waited' on Mr W H. Winsor, and requested him to accept,nomination for a-scat on tho Ohristchiirch City Council. Mr A. Smith eulogised Mr'Winsor's public work in therpast, and said that if he accepted nomination he would receive tho .support of electors all over Greater Christchurch. Mr Winsor, in thanking tho deputation, intimated that he would accept nomination as an independent, which was unanimously agreed to.

In the course of the proceedings of the Master Painters' and Decorators' Conference yesterday, reference was made by several speakers to the responsibility ' of. painters in lespect. of paperhangings that developed unsightly spots after having.been hung. At yesterday's meeting of the a remit was submitted, in joke, "That paperhangings addicted to be sent to Roto Roa Island."' "Yes," corny ment'ed one delegate, "that's where they send all the drunks;"

An impoverished condition of. the blood is generally responsible for unexplainable lack of' energy, lassitude, etc. The remedy is to strengthen your, blood with Loasby's Nerve Tonic and Blood Enricher— n makes rich, red blood. 3s 6d,and 6s 6d a bottle, all chemists, or from Loasby and Co., Chemists (opp. Ballantyne's). 0 The Prince of Diggers is doing a great work in helping potato growers ihrough the present difficult season. The Aspinwall notato digger cuts the cost of harvesting by two-thirds, and saves sufficient hard cash to pay for itself in digging 10 acres of potatoes. The Aspinwall will dig under any condition of soil and it gels all the potatoes. Catalogues, prices, and -terms from Ivorys; Ltd., 21 Manchester titreet. . . • 8

Furniture Removals.—Our big Leyland -Motor Pantechnicon is now on the road. A whole houseful of furniture can bo removed in one journey. We are booking orders for country removals. Quick despatch nnd low charges guaranteed. Apply A. J. White, Ltd.. High street. ' "W89.59

To secure an early Spring flowering, now is the. time lo sow Bradbury's gold medai Sweet Pea seed, named or mixed varieties "of which can be secured in threepenny .and sixpenny packets from Hastie, Bull, and Pickering, 113 Ca.sh.el street. „ 7

When your hair comes out in handfuls secure the really wonderful Rosemary and Quinine Hair Tonic <?old by E. Cameron Smith, 96 Worcester street.

■58897-11S

In addition < making a full line of hi^h r class AgrLu.i'iral Implements, Machines and Vehicles, also attachments and accessories for same, we' do repairs of all sorts, from Lawn Mowers to Traction Engines. P. and D. Duncan, Ltd., Tuam street, Christchurch. P.O. Bos 124. D 2992-9395

J. Johnston and Sons, Merchants, Rangiora, have landed, ex s.s. Westmeath, a shipment of best quality English D.B. Shotguns. P.O. Box 1 'Phone-4. JSOOB-4619

Akaroa, early summer boating on its lake-like harbour, makes a restful holiday. Try its nerve cure, healthiest town in Dominion, good accommodation. .A 2953-9890

AVo pack, mark, route, and ship goods with, care, securing for you tho best rates and most careful handling at a moderate charge. J. M. Hey wood and 00.. Ltd. ' H 4943 •For washing bakers', painters', and all household clothing, use "No Rubbing Laundry Help'' regularly. It is simply invaluable. 'The demand keeps us quite busy. Kincaid's, Limited. H 5414-6797 For washing all hospital linens and every variety •-' summer clothing, use "No Rubbing laundry Help" regularly. AVardell Bros, and Co. H 5414-6797