GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17118, 13 April 1921, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

The auction announcements of Jones, McCrostie, Co., Ltd., Wakelin Bros., H. B. Sorensen, H. ! Matson and Co., Harris Bros., P. S. Nicholls and Co., Gcorgo Anderson and Co., Wright, Stephenson, and Co., Ltd., H. G. Livingstone and Co., Farmers' Saleyards, Dalgety and Co., L.td., W. E. Simcs and Co., H. C. Smith, and McKenzie and Co. will be found on page 13 of this issue. An instance of a' teacher who started poor 20 years ago and has retired with the comfortable fortune of £IO,OOO is reported by "National Education," tho journal of the New Zealand Educational Institute. This fortune "was acquired through industry, economy, conscientious effort, .indomitable perseverance, and'the death of an uncle wiho left hor an estate valued at £9999 1056 d.» .. The Central district is experiencing a lecord of stormy and unsettled weather. ,On Saturday afternoon rain fell, followed by sqow on the mountains. Heavy rain fell again on Monday for several hours, but the night was cold and wintry, with snow showers sweeping the mountain-tops. . Storms are still raging on the high country, and conditions are still very unsettled. "I don't want to shut you down—or shut you ,up," remarked Mr Justice Frazer, when the clock in the Provincial Council Chamber was pointing in tho vicinity of six o'clock last' night, and found the case before tlie' Arbitration Cpnrt still unfinished. Ho pointed out that the Court had four cases to deal with to-day and suggested that there should be an adjournment till 7.30 p.m. This course was agreed to. The public are periodically forwarding complaints to the Prices. Investigation Tribunal regarding retail prices of a number of articles of wearing apparel, and in one instance a prosecution against a Christchurch drapery firm has been recommended.. The , charges for repairing boots and shoes have, been the subject of complaint, and these will be considered shortly. In. several cases reported to the. Tribunal and investigated, refunds were ordered to be mad« The executive of the New Zealand Secondary Assistants' Association has selected tho following to conduct the oases of appellants before: the Teachers' Appeal Board, which will sit about the end of the month:—Wellington. Mr F. M. Renner; Auckland, Miss C. F. Hull; Christchurch', Miss E. Mcintosh and Mr R. Adamßori. The constitution of the Board has already been fixed. Women teachers in Auckland and Christchurch may have women' teachers to conduct their appeals. ; .- '' .Speaking at the ceremony of unrolW ing>;an honours board in the Masonic Tenlple last evening, to commemorate thoso soldier .Freemasons whp fell hi the Great Wrif, Lieut.-Colonel J. Murphy referred to the late Sergeant H. J. Nicholas, V.C., stating that his par,ents. were not very well off. anil -t behoved the Canterbury people to see that they, were never m any_ need. If the citizens of Canterbury did not provide, for them,- the Freemasons should see to it that they never wonted for anything. ,- A' party of Welsh ironworkers wha are to establish a new colony at Waratab, near. Newcastle, New Soush Wales, recently sailed for' Australia. There are 12p experienced millmenj employed by ilessrs Lysagbt, Limited, sheet manufacturers, of Newport'(M'on.),_ and the: whole party consists of 42 families. Sixteen, mills are being erected under the superintendence of Mr Sydney <Lysaght, who is in charge of this new development, the;chief idea of which is to capture the Southern Cross trade from tho Americans. The workmen; will live in a garden city, accommodation for which has been provided. They will occupy houses completely furnished by the firm, and are looking forward, to a happy ''tuna, in a new country.' Other batches will follow'. ''...■:■ ~ ''''^J/; The local Maoris were greatly disturbed when a part j6f Paritutu wa* blasted away, states a.New Plymouth exchange-. This sugar-loaf figures large*, ly in theirs legends and tradition's, being the rallying point: of the Ngatiawa tribe in pre-European days, and serving as a look-out tower when the fertile lands and good fishing waters were the objects of neighbouring tribes' covetqusness. "When 1 see ti Paritutu he make me 'ngakau pouri' (sick at heart)," said one old Maori, who vowed to a "News" reporter that he would again go to the breakwater or look towards the sugar loaf that modern needs demand should be disfigured, if not entirely destroyed. The Maoris' regret is shared by many a pakeha, who, however, cannot have an improved harbour and unimpaired sugar-loaves at the same time. The more utilitarian, indeed, affirm that these pinnacles were purposely placed where they are.to help "man to protect and build a harbour that will servo the needs of tho whole of-the West Coasts of both islands, there being no other harbours except bar harbours, which cannot bo made suitable \ for, pcoahgoing ships." An memorial to a. soldier who lost his life in the war is to be erected on the Little Matterhorh. on . Mount ltuapehu. It bears the name of the late Mr Hugh Girdlestone, of Eastbourne, who, before he entered the military forces, was an officer of the Lands and Survey Department, and was an enthusiastic climber. The memorial is a tribute from his tramping friends,, who selected- for its position the height which he regarded as his favourite. It consists of a small slab of blue granite; and during the Easter holidays a party, includincr Messrs W. H. Field, M.P., and H. "J*, von Haast, set out with the intention of placing it in position.' Unfortunately the work of erecting the stone was interrupted by a severe storm,** and had to be deferred. The stone meanwhile rests in a safe place. "What a chance there is for Mr Massey, the Prime Minister of New Zealand," says the "Nottingham Journal and Express," in. putting forward a suggestion which Mr Massey may not be bo eager to adopt. "Newspapers of all shades of politics in. New Zealand," .the journal proceeds, 'are already regretting that his attendance at the Empire Conference in London next June will necessitate his being away for a considerable period, but why should he not fly over? By so doing he would greatly shorten the travelling time. Tt only took Captain Boss Smith 27 days and 20 hours to fly from England to Australia, using the same aeroplane for the entire journey. With relay's of machines and pilots the period time might conceivably be shortened.. If not, it would not take so long as it would by rail and steamer. Perhaps if R34 had not been -damaged some person at the Air Ministry might have suggested its use for bringing the * Dominion Premiers to London for the June Conference."'

The electrical contrivance used for ! the purpose of exploding the blast in Paritutu was a former German patent with a unique history, says the New Plymouth "Xews." It was captured by a New Zealander from the Germans in a village in Flanders, where it was connected with a mine all ready to explode, while a German soldier, who had evidently been left behind to fire the mine, was found wounded in a cellar nearby. The patent, which consists of a dynamo driven by clockwork, was retained by the New Zealander as a souvenir, and subsequently secured by the New Plymouth harbour officials, who have diverted its once sinister energy to a useful purpose. At the Welllingto:> Magistrate's Court yesterday the police proceeded against" the proprietors of the "Evening Post," "on charge.* of obstructing the traffic in Willis street, as the result of pasting up cricket and racing results on tho front window of the newspaper office. Counsel for tho defendants pointed out that the lattcr's act was really a public service. Tho nbtifiG{.ition of these results was of no benefit to the defendants. Evidence was given by the Mayor of "Wellington and by the chairman of the Wellington Rugby Union, who said they frequently asked the use of the "Evening Post" window on which to make announcements of public interest. Agreeing with counsel for the defendants (says a ; Press Association message) Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., said he did riot think tho case was one for a conviction, and dismissed' the information. Several announcements have been made by the Admiralty respecting the distribution of Naval Prize Money to those qualified by service in ships of war at sea. The last announcement issued shows that tho Naval Prize Department has now made arrangements for dealing with the claims from' all those eligible to share who have not yet applied. It is notified that, if any of the Reserve should not now have received their shares they should make application to their Registrar. Money is at present availablo tor paying over three-fourths of the amount due to all the claimants. The remaining portion will shortly bo available, when the balance duo to those entitled to it will be paid over. ,It is quite possible (writes our London correspondent) that many New Zealanders who served with the 'Royal Navy, with tho R.N.R., or with the R.N.V.R., and who have since returned to the Dominion, may nob have had notification of the distribution of tho fund. During his visit to Hawcra last week the Prime Minister formally handed to the- pupils' of the Hawera District High School a French flag sent by a- school in Boulogne in return for a New Zealand Ensign presented to them about tw> years ago. The ceremony was brief. The assembled children saluted tho Union Jack, and recited the declaration of, loyalty: "I love my King, I love .my country, I love tho Empire arid the Empire's flag." They sang the National Anthem with great vigour, and listened to the reading of the message accompanying the flag, "the same flag, that (has flown over Verdun—the nag of liberty, equality, and fraternity—to give a message from the hearts of tiho boys of France to the hearts or the boys of New Zealand." Then they sang "The Marseillais," and cried in, lusty unison "Vive la. France." , Mr C. W. Hervey, at the request of the Southland Motor Association, will represent that body on the South Island Motor Union. The letter asking Mr Hervey to represent the Southland Association, refers to the approaching annual meeting of the Union and states that as it is understood that the Union intends adopting a universal Badge, it is desired that it should be mentioned that the Southland Motor ; Association is dealing -with the matter of a badge of its own. Respecting the \ proposed tyre tax, the Association' is in accord with anythirtgJ.the.;Union recommends. The Association is" desirous that the matter of motorists' signs should be finalised and suggests a printed card giving instructions with reference to the rules of the road and so forth. The letter mentions that the Invercargill. Borough Council is framing new traffic by-laws and before adopting them they are to be placed before the executive of .the Association before they are adopted.' , ■ ." The retirement of Mr Will Crooks through ill-ihealt'h deprives Labour of one of the moat popular representatives that it * ever sent to Parliament, and public Jife of a very noble figure (writes our London correspondent). "He went into politics," says "The Times," "for the best and least, common of reasons, that ho loved his-'fellow-men and wanted to help them and to savo them from trials such as he had to undergo in his: young days. This simple charity begets love in others, and Mr Crooks had not a single enemy; "man, child, or dog, wherever he went. He had tho motherr wit that is.often quicker, to detect h fallacy than book-learning; a big"(heart first-hand knowledge of the subjects he spoke about, honesty and strength of character, : and a broad Dickensian humour. He was never, unlike so many Labour leaders', lost to the class- from which he sprang. He ihad few theories, but he believed in loyalty and helpfulness between all classes as tho condition of progress, and his career shows how much mflre character counts than mere theory; Would :that more were like him." A " Boots are now at lower prices in Dunedin and elsewhere in the Dominion than they have 1 been for many years (telegraphs our correspondent). The reductions are the greatest in men's working boots. The finer makes are prettv well holding their values. It would be a very difficult matter to com-; pile a list of retail prices, for the reason that: some shopkeepers, have not done any marking down worth speaking »of. Equally hard would it be to state the wholesale rates. The position seems to be that "cost" is not now the basic consideration in fixing selling prices. The financial stringency has produced such a topsy-turvy state of affairs that some overstocked warehousemen are unloading under pressure, and the question is'not "What is a fair price?" out "What can we get for'the goods?" It must not, however, he imagined that boots are going to slide down continuously. Very spon the point of stabilisation must, be found. "One aid to that highly-desirable,result is already in operation, and that is that the dumping from Australia has ceased, at any rate, so far as Otago is concerned. The Linwood Club hag just been compelled, to vacate the club rooms in Rolleston street, that have] been its headquarters for just on thirty years. The house shortage is responsible for this, as the old club rooms aro to be turned into dwelling. The club has moved into the «mall hall at the corner of Rolleston and Hereford streets, for many years used' as a kindergarten. The process of removing necessitated delving intb old records of the club, and these revealed the very large number of Linwood and other residents who have been members at one time or another.- Many old .members have passed the "great divide," and many others have ceased to belong to the old club through changes in residence and other causes. The names of many —at one time or another well known — citizens appear on the records, a few of which may be mentioned: "M. S. Brown, H. R. Smith, T. E. Fraser, J. S. Williams, John Connal (for manj vears president), J. J. DougaU, W. Minson, G. W. C. Smithson, T. E. Danks, A. L. Smith, H. J. Otley, W. A. Cooke (the founder of the club), Eph..Toomer, W.-Gee, K.'P. England, Dr. Lomax-Smith, and J. G. L. Scott. For many years the club jvas known as the Linwood Chess and Droughts' Club, and its activities embraced chess and draughts, whist, bridge, euchre, and cribbage tournaments, and matches against other clubs, also shooting, rope quoits, and ping-pong. The new club' room is more commodious than the last, and it is hoped to enlarge the club'a sphere of usefulness among ' Linwood residents.

• The Auckland Aniateur Operatic Societv has decided upon "The Countrj Girl*" for its next production. Tho work of extending the Summit road track to Kaituna is being pushed ahead, and the men, though they are now experiencing heavy rock, have aireadv got round Senecio rock, and expect* within two months to reach Gidding's Saddle. Tho Court of Appeal at Wellington was engaged yesterday afternoon in hearing an application by I<. J. Smith, •to be admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of New. Zealand. Smith had been admitted in, and practised m Scotland as a law agent, and the question for the decision of the Court was whether, under the Law Practitioners Act, 1903, Smith was entitled to bo admitted as a solicitor in New Zealand. The Court reserved its decision. After a lengthy discussion in committee at its meeting on Monday evening, the Waimairi County Council decided to reorganise its clerical stall, and to give notice of dismissal to each member, with the right to apply r.oi reinstatement. It was also decided to confirm the resolution passed at a special meeting on March 18th, to give the engineer (Mr J. H. Sharpe) three months' leave of absence, prior to his retiring. An appeal-is being made to South Down shepherds to produce a true-bred Sussex bob-tailed sheep-dog, capable oi acting in a Jilm-play wluch is to be shown the world over as a picture of Sussex shepherding life (based on om> of Mr Tickner Edwardes's Arcadian books). It is realised by the producers that Sussex shepherds are not moro oasily induced to part with their bobtails than are Scotch shepherds with their collies. 'An American millionaire who offered a Highland shepherd a fabulous sum for his intelligent sable collie wias flatly refused. A monthlater the American chanced to see the same collie tied up in the yard of a cottage, separated by a r,iver and some few miles.of country, irom tho shepherd's home; and learnt that the collie had been sold for a song. Ho sought out tho original owner for an explanition. "Weel," said the canny Scot, "I couldna be parted frae him for aye. You ken weel ho is a vsonsie swimmer. But I ken weel he couldna swim th' Atlantic." First a sniff—then a sneeze—neglect it, and probably you will be plagued with a cough and cold all tho winter. Banish all risk by taking "Stop-It' the successful remedy, at once. Is 9a, 3s.'and 5s 6d. All chemists and stores. Loasby and Co., chemists (opp. Ballantyne's). " ' G - A well-known Canterbury farmer writes to us as follows: lam pleased to say ihe Gorse Cutter you fixed on my Motor Tractor has given me complete satisfaction in every particular. Farmers cah cut down' the largest and heaviest fences with your attachment, and what I am most pleased with is tho ability of the cutters to cut gorse on the flat almost to the level of the ground, making it quite easy to plougih. even with horses. ; ' P. and D. Duncan, Ltd., Tuam street, Christchurch. .r.O. Box 124. , 6 The public of North Canterbury are notified that J. Johnston and Son have complete stocks of sporting goods, viz., English Tennis and Cricket materials. Special discount to clubs, P.O. Box 1. :'Phono 4. JSOOB-4619 Furniture Removals.—Our big Leyland Motor Pantechnicon is now on the road. A whole houseful of furniture can be removed, in one journey. . We are booking orders for country removals. Quick despatch and low charges guaranteed. Apply A. J. White, Ltd., High street. W8959 Who wants strong Cup*s A ■ special, line is offered without saucers-, 7s 6d the half-dozen. Drayton's, Colombo street north, Plates equally right. 2 Always use "No Rubbing Laundry Help"'far washing clothes during.summer, owing to its wonderful sanitary and perfect cleansing qualities. Frank A. Cook, Limited. H 5414-6797 To secure an early' Spring flowering, now is"the time to sow Bradbury's gold modal Sweet Pea seed, named or mixed varieties of. which can be secured in threepenny and sixpenny packets from Hastie, Bull, and Pickering, 113 Casliel street. -7 Hot Water Bags. Best English make. Stociks fresh to hand at E. I Cameron Smith's, 96 Worcester street. From 7s each. AH with spare washers. ■-'.■'• 395 Pilkington's motors run twice daily between Christchurch and Akaroa. 8 For artistic pictures and pictureframing, patronise Gibb's Art Depot, 105 Cashel street, opp. Ballantyne's. Big stocks of artists' colours, brushes, and materials. Farmers needing ready cash will find it in their plantations. Here are our special prices tor circular saws: 22in 70s, 24in 80s, 26in 80s, 28in 100s, 30in 110s. Quality considered the cheapest in the Dominion. Ivorys, Ltd., 21 Manchester street. 1 638 * One of the biggest sales of drapery and clothing ever recorded in Christchurch is now proceeding at Armstrong's—the people's draper—'where-a single article can be, had at wholesale price. It is autly called the "Slump Price Sale," because every article in the two enormous shops are offered at slump prices: These' prices cannot last —they must rise again, on account of the high cost of labour, so ladies are advi'jed to pay a visit now while stocks are wide and prices slumped to the lowest possible depth. y ,. ,' ' STREET DEMONSTRATION TO-BAY OF THE NEW "BLUE E?CEL'SIOR." V'..'. The "Excelsior" is an American motor-cycle of the high-powered, twincylinder type which has won many friends in New Zealand because of its low-seat construction, its general reliability, its economy on petrol and tyres, and its capacity for hill climbing. The new like its predecessors, is powerful, speedy, and economical. It runs 80 miles to the gullon of petrol (with side-car), at a speed of anything up to 60 miles an hour, and for solo seivice the 7-9 h.p. engine will develop sufficient power to maintain a speed of 80 or 90 miles an hour. The new model differs from tho old in several important particulars—better balanced engine; deeper interlock on gears; 3J gallon tank instead of 2J gallon ; oil reservoir part of petrol tank instead of separate; wide 7-inch mudguards to allow use, of tyre chains: tremendously Btrong front forks with enclosed coil spring of big diameter; heavier segment on kick-starter; tyres 27-inch by 3i-inch (same section as Ford) instead of 28-indh by 3-inch; cable control instead of rods, and so forth. We intend tq demonstrate the new Excelsior, with side-ear, on tho streets to-day. Look out for the blue, motor-cycle with the flag, and take a trial. We don't care what make of machine you ride. Don't be afraid to stop the driver and ask for a spin. Ho wfll be glad to oblige. Demonstrations by appointment on ringing rip 1104. Standard model, price £160; electric light niodol (separate generator), £155. Adams, Ltd. Motor-cycle Department, 152-154 High, street. 6 DEPENDABLE BICYCLE TYRES. Savillo and Co., direct importers of highest quality bicycle tyres^—British manufacture. 12 months' guarantee, 17« 6d. Michelin and Dunlop tyres also obtainable at Saville's, near Theatre RonaL -68838—463