GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17418, 31 March 1922, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

Superannuated Civil servants are being advised that the maximum cost-of-living bonus to be paid this year will be £26. Last year the maximum was £4O, but no bonus was granted to bring the pension to more than £IOO.

The Very Rev. I>ean Carrington gaw the fourth of the series of Lenten addresses at tho, Cathedral Inst night. The Epistle to the Hebrews is under review, and the subject of the address was based on "Faith." A collection for the Chinese missionary was taken up. Continual disregard of warnings regarding the-spraying of fruit trees leads to drastic action at times on the part of the authorities. All the trees in an unoccupied orchard in the Auckland district. some two acres in extent, were cut down recently and burned, after repeated notices to the parties concerned liad failed to get tnem to observe the regulations. A novel scheme is now in operation among a party of returned men who had registered for employment at the Returned Soldiers' Club. They have had a special writing tablet printed, and this, with envelopes and ink, is being canvassed from house to house for sale. Ten men are engaged on the canvass and means have been adopted to prevent exploitation of the publicity given to the venture. Each salesman carries a letter of authority, and the writing tabWs are specially branded.

As indicating the trend of trades unionism in Australia (writes our Sydney correspondent) it is interesting to note the nature of the business to be discussed at the second conference of the All-Australian Trade Union Congress which has just been decided upon by the Cotmcil of Action. The chief business of the congress will be the consideration of reports upon the following:—The socialisation of industry, steps to prevent war, hours and wages, labour research bureau and industrial organisation. The president and secretary of the Council of Action, have issued the following manifesto to unions throughout the Commonwealth: "With economic crises all about us, and a world crash imminent, it is of great and grave importance that the June congress should be the largest ever held in Australia." It is expected that some revolutionary proposals will be the outcome cf the congress.

The Mayor was not well enough to be -present at the meeting of the City Council on Monday night, when the matter of granting a contribution to the Employers' Association came up for consideration and was rejected. Dr. Thaoker stated yesterday, that if the Council were model employers and took on only men of the highest efficiency at the best wages, there would be no occasion for the Council to be cited before the Arbitration Court As it was it was necessary for the Council to be represented by somebody. The Town Clerk had quite enough to do without engaging in Arbitration Court proceedings,"'.nd if the Council secured the services of an cxp<-rt to act for them then, those services should be paid for in the same wav as the City solicitor, or the Substitute Returning Officer were paid for their services when such, were required.

The development of an apparatus which will be actuated by speed/i sounds and will automatically set up the words in type was predicted by Dr. J. H. T. Roberts, formerly of the Cavendim Laboratory, at a lecture to tho Liverpool University Physical Society, reoentlv, on "Recent ments in Reproduction of Sound.' "Such an apparatus would depend upon every sound, both vowel and consonant, having a characteristic wave form," Dr. Roberts told a reporter. "The appar.-v----tus would have to be arranged so as_ to operate selectively a special type-setting mncliir.e, which would be something of a cross between a dictating madhine and a linotype machine. The apparatus would in a sense have a brain, and would be .able to transform the spoken sound into tho written word. The manipulative difficulties «re very great, but I am confident that we shall eventually overcome them." A rather surprising feature in connexion with the period of financial difficulty through which the Dominion is passing is that people appear still to have plenty of money for overseas and tourist travel (notes the Auckland ''Herald"). A representative of the firm of T. Cook and Son stated that bookings for England and tor Continental travel had been, if anything, even heavier than last season, which was a very busy one- Accommodation on ail vessels on the Panama route was booked until June, and on the Suez route until May. From February until May or June the bookings to England were always heavy, and it was expected that this year'B figures would be well up to, if not beyond, those of previous seasons, despite the fact that fares were still very high. A feature of the overseas travel was the number of families travelling, return passages being booked in the majority of cases. The fact that a number of immigrants are making their way' back to England was rlso mentioned, those, in most ! cases, being young men who have failj ed to secure employment in New Zea- | land

Mr J. A. McCullough, who is at present in Ihinedin, is announced to give an address on Sunday on • 'Politics.' r

The season for shooting native and imported game will open on May Ist (not May 31at, as stated in yesterday s issue). The license feo of £1 will include permission to slioot both nativo and imported game. Counsel in a ciVil case at the Supreme Court at Auckland was explaining some letters which had been written by a firm of solicitors as a "stop gap'' measure. "You know how the profession writes letters to stave off the other fellow," he ventured, whereupon his Honour smilingly rebuked, "You must not give professional secrets away like that." ''Well, your Honour, they are safe with the Bench if not with a jury," replied counsel. An adjourned meeting of creditors of Thomas William Kelcher, farmer, .Norwood, was held yesterday afternoon, Mr \ -\V "Wat&ers, Official Assignee, presiding. Mr F. S. Wilding appeared for Messrs J Young and G. E. Somerset, two of tho creditors, and Mr H. K. McDougall appeared for the debtor. At the previous meeting it was decided to procure a legal opinion as to the validity of a bill of sale held by Mr Young. Mr A T. Donnellv, Crown solicitor, was present The meeting adjourned -.ending a possible arrangement_ made with Mr Young as to the disposal of tho assets included in his bill of flfite. Referring vesterdav to the decision arrived at by the City Council on Monday night to grant the request to change the name of that section of Lincoln road fronting the Park to Hagley avenue, the Mayor, Dr. Thacker, who, by reason of illness, was unable to be present at the meeting, said that the request for the change came to th® Council from the residents of the locality. Ho saw no difficulties arising out of the change of name, for the whole thoroughfare would still be known _as Lincoln road, and the particular soction in question as Hagley avenue, Lincoln rottd.

Mr 0. T. J. Alpers, who is attending the Appeal Court here (telegraphs our Wellington correspondent), quoted Biblical authority in regard to a wid case in which he was appearing. He eaid there was authority for the submissions ho was laying before the Court, but not in the "learned tomea which ho saw around him." "I refer to the parable of the prodigal son," remarked Mr Alpers. "Unfortunately, I must admit, however, that if the member? of this honourable Court should ask me for tlhc reference I would be unable to givo it." (.Laughter.) Mr Alpers expressed tho opinion that it was the curse of New Zealand/that so many sons worked on their father's farms for no* thing.

Time may be considered as standing still, at least until the end of the present month—if a statement suggestive of an Irish bull is permissable—in respect of the offices in the new Government Departmental Buildings. For two or three days past the hands of the .timepieoes in the different offices have remained stationary, pointing to any time but the correct hour. Their resumption of functioning is understood to be linked up with the close of the financial year. Once the momentuous 31st of March has been ticked out by clocks that are doing their d,uty, funds will be available to set those in the Government Buildings going again.

The nights are getting colder, there is a dampness in the air, everything is ripe for the contracting of a winter cough that will plague you for months. Don't allow even a slight cough or coip to make any headway, but nip it in the bud by taking "Stop It," the most successful cough and cold cure. Sold by all chemists and stores, Is 9d and 3s a bottle. Loasby and Co., cheinists (opp. Ballantyne's). $ Storekeepers will oblige by forwarding tliei' 1 orders early for "No-Rub-bing" Laundry Help, "Golden Rule" Soap, "Golclsn Rule'' Candles, and "Keep Smiling" Pumice Soap, to facilitate prompt delivery. Royds Bros, and Kirk Lra., Wholesale Distributors. —2

A shopoing event of more than usual interest is now in progress at Armstrong's two shops, Colombo and High streets, where tne great sale of Gill and Co.'s stocks is daily attracting crowds of satisfied shoppers. Many of the lines advertised are now limited in quantity, aJid an early visit will repay those in search of seasonable goods at much below usual prioe9. We quote a special lim» which is selling rapidly. All-wool Colonial White Blankets, single bed Gill's Price 39s 6d ; now selling at 28s fid pair; Double Bed size i)9s 6a; now 48s pair. —9—*

Reductions in Best British Ca;t Shores—reduced below cost. R.N.F. 4S, 88s per doz; R.N.F. 62, 38s per doz; R.N.F. 92, 403 per doz. Reduction for cash lots; railage paid on £lO orders. Get in early. Re id and Gray, Ltd., Moorhouso avenue, and Burnett street, Ashburton; or Arthur Burke, Box 43, Amberley. 6 Disc Harrowß, heavy colonial type, made by Howards, of Bedford, 6ft (12-18 in blades), reduced from £34 to £2O for cash orders only, before March 31st. Nearly £lO less than even American or Canadian discs. Quality unsurpassed, and fully guaranteed. Ivor.vs, Ltd., 21 Manchester street. 15823-8801 The New Zealand Clothing Factory offer their apologies to those of their customers who were unable to get proper attention during last week. The business far exceeded their expectations, thus proving that the public are keener judges of value than anticipated. The values offering during the first week of Gray's assigned stock sale will be augmented for this week, thus allowing the disappointed buyers to partake in these wonderful values. ■Shop early at the New Zealand Clothing Factory Assigned Stock Sale. 9345 Pilkington's motors run twice daily between Christchurch and Akaroa. 6

A long and careful study of the properties of drugs by Mr E. Cameron Smith, chemist, 96 Worcester street, is allied with most careful dispensing by him. 59112-1331

TO FARMERS' SONS—NOW THE HARVEST IS OVER, WHAT ABOUT A MOTOR-CYCLE? Farmers' sons and farm hands generally are now coming into the city with their pockets lined with money- It is the ambition of most young men in the country to own a motor-cycle, so that they can easily get to the city with its attractions in the way of theatres and picture' shows. Adams, Ltd., are now holding a sale of used motor-cycles at very low prices, which should prove interesting to country visitors. For instance:— £lB will buy a British-built Premier, h.p., a very good mount for a novice in motor-cycling. £3O will buy a fine 7-9 h.p. twincylinder "Reading-Standard" (all chain drive), a powerful and speedy solo mount. £6O will buy a splendid "Big X" (electric model), 7-9 h.p. twin, 3-speed gear. A fine machine for a plucky rider, and offered at £65, under new price. £65 will buy a B.S-A. (3-specd countershaft model), in fino condition; £6O under new mice £7O will buy i B.S.A. (3-speed countershaft model)/ looking like new, at £55 under new price. £BO will buy a magnificent lato model Triumph (3-Bpeed countershaft model), at £6O under new price. £125 will buy a late model HarleyDavidson, with side-car, in splendid condition, the outfit being about £lu) cheaper than new price. Many other bargains of equal attraction.

Adams, Ltd., Motor-Cycle Department, 152-154 High street. ®