General News.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18404, 10 June 1925, Page 8

General News.

An appeal <against iai ,the decision of Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., in fining F. Wilding, K.C., £25 for an offence under the Stamp Duties Act will bo heard by Mr Justice Adams to-day. The conference between the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. B. F. Bollard) and representatives of motorists' organisations and others interested in the question of registration, plates, is to be held in Wellington on the 18th inst. Early yesterday morning a motortruck collided with a telegraph pole at Prebbleton. The truck was damaged, and the post, which was embedded in concrete, was loosened. The force of the impact entangled the wires, and the concrete kerbirig was badly broken. No one was hurt. A motorist who has just arrived from Nelson, via Blenheim and the East Coast, called on Mr J. S. Hawkea, secretary and organiser Of the Canterbury Automobile Association, yesterday, and stated that as the Wairau bridge has been closed, motorists going to Nelson from Christchurch via Blenheim should take tho Tuamarina route. A peculiar case lias occupied the attention of the Magistrate's Court her© (telegraphs our "Wellington corespondent). The defendant was Lanra Pascoe Harobin. At tho conclusion or' the case the Magistrate (Mr C It. OrrWalker) said he was satisfied from the evidence that defendant or her husband did not add water to the milk." "They gave their evidence in such a way, ,? said his Worship, "as to leave no doubt in my mind that someone else, forTus own purposes—or perhaps; two persons—have deliberately added water to defendant's milk. They are legally liable, but not morally liable. I must therefore enter a conviction without any penalty except Court costs."

All Unionists are invited to attend a combined meeting to bo held in the Trades) Hall to-night at 8 o'clock. The Industrial Conference proposals for closer unity will be explained and discussed. The speakers will be Messrs James Roberts and E. Semple. "I could not help noticing on returning to New Zealand tho fine stalwart men that one sees in the streets," said Sir Thomas Mackenzie, formerly New Zealand High Commissioner in London, who recently returned to the Dominion after a 15-months' trip abroad. "They aro a long way better physically and from the point of view of carriage and general appearance than tho average tvoc of man one sees in the Old Country." It was announced at the Wellington Rotary Club's luncheon yesterday that in connexion with the appeal for £ 10,000 for a Karitane Home, in Wellington, the first £IOOO had been subserii>ed by Itotarian S. Kirkcaldie and his interests. The chairman expressed the opinion that with this as an example there would be little difficulty experienced in obtaining tho required sum. Rotarians showed their appreciation of Rotarian Kirkcaldie's efforts in no uncertain manner.

At the meeting of tho Justices' Association held on Monday night, Mr H. Holland referred to the interesting address Mr C. E. Jones had given at the annual dinner held in honour of the. King's birthday, and the executive in a letter to Mr Jones expressed to him their very great thanks for so ably filling the gap, stating that his address was most appropriate and splendidly delivered, and was received by all members with appreciation and satisfaction.

The Sydenham Cemetery is not as spick and span as it might be, and a deputation from the plot owners is to wait on the Reserves Committee of the City Council. A reporter, who visited the cemetery yesterday, found that some parts of the ground is certainly bumpy and overgrown, so that a few graves are hard to pick out. It appears that the area is too great to bo kept in order by the one caretaker at present employed, and that a considerable sum would have to be spent to convert it into trim lawns and paths. The following telegram has been received by Mr A. P. Carey, president of the Y.M.C.A.:—"The Governor-General directs me to thank you Bincerely for your' invitation to him to visit the Y.M.C.A. while at Christchurch, delay in replying to which has been due to his Excellency's desire to arrange for such a visit. His stay, however, is so short on this occasion and his programme so full that he fears ho will have to forgo the pleasure until his next visit to Christchurch. —(Signed) A. C. Day, Official Secretary." Like a number of other New Zealanders who go abroad on various occasions, Mr R. A.'Kenner, general secretary of tho Y.M.C.A. in the Dominion,' who has just returned after spending the best part of the past twelve months in the United' States, took the opportunity of boosting New Zualand. He took away with him a set of lantern slides illustrative of life in the Dominion, and its principal beauty spots, and showed them before colleges, schools, church organisations, and Y.M.C.A.'s, where they excited much interest.

A correspondent writes to the London "Daily Mail" offering a suggestion which he thinks should be useful in the cause of propaganda. He says: "With all the talk about consolidating the Dominions with the Mother Country, has it ever occurred to steamship companies l to issue cheap return tickets to the Dominions—particularly those lands which are clamouring for immigrants. Many a family would club together to send out some member of the family to visit a relative who, for business or other reasons, is unable to spare the time for a trip Home, and this would do much to cement family ties, which, after all, are the strongest of the human race and bind nations together. These visitors would make the best advertising agents for the Dominions. Much good propaganda work could be done in this way." An interesting story concerning the purchase of the land on which the ProCathedral now stands in Wellington was told by Archdeacon Williams at the jubilee celebrations of the Gisborne Church of England. Sir George Grey, who was a very great friend of the Church, asked certain of the Maori owners of land to set aside a portion of their land for the Church. The Maoris went away and considered the matter, but about midnight they returned, and said to Sir George Grey: "You have asked us to do something for the Church. Have you done anything yourself ?" "No, I have not, so far," replied Sir George,-"but I will." The speaker added that soon after that Sir George Grey had bought a section in Wellington, and given it to the Church. Bishop Selwyn had done the same, and the Hon. Mr Tollemarch had bought a third section. On these three sections stood the fine Wellington Pro-Cathedral of to-day.

A comprehensive explanation of the Christchurch City Council's superannuation hcheme Las been prepared by Mr H, Worrall, secretary of the General Labourers' Union, and has been issued to the members of the union employed by the City Council.. Doubts existed in the minds of some of these members regarding, the equality of sacrifice made by the parties to the ruud, the impression Being that the employee was called upon to make greater contributions than the municipality. In addition to a clear exposition of the scheme, there are several actual instances quoted of men who have retired from the service of the municipality. One, taken at random, is that of an employee who was employed by the City Council for 26 1-3 years; he paid into the fund £54 13s 8d j the contribution still being paid by the City Council since his retirement is £64 19s per annum; and the amount of pension is £6 12s 2d a calendar month. One instance of the death of an employee before reaching retiring age, taken ' from the threo cases set out, shows that the payments by the employee were £9 8s 8d; payments by the Council £4 4s lid; benefits £43 13s 4d; the widow gets £lB iper annum and in respect of three children under 14 years of age, she gets os a week each.

The "Financial News" has a lengthy referenco to "Progressive New Zealand" (says our London correspondent, writing on May 4th). The volume, is described as "a book of great worth and merit; . The information for investors and traders is of a very helpful kind. On the industrial side the record of progress has been steady and sure, and the policy of fostering those manufacturing concerns which utilise tho raw materials and foodstuffs, with which the Dominion is so richly endowed, has been steadily and successfully carried out. Another interesting chapter is devoted to tho Dominion's mineral wealth. Years ago New Zealand's many seekers after treasuro arrived there. Yet much gojd remains to bo won, although more wealth lies in other minerals. The thorough geological survey, which is now making good progress, i 3 far from completion, but enough has been done to show that New Zealand's mineral resources are worth the attention of enterprising capitalists. Prospecting is encouraged by the State in the form of subsidies, loans, the use of plant, and the service of experts of the Mines Department. ... To touch upon the many other matters dealt with in 'Progressive New ! Zealand' is beyond the scope of this article, but their universal interest is I unquestioned.'"

A list has been opened. a.t the Sumner Borough Council Chambers, where residents aro invited to subscribe to the national memorial to the late Mr Massev.

After a long succession of clear frosty days the weather changed at Dunedin on* Monday, when a fino and mild day was followed by rain, tho first since Tuesday of last week. The fall waa a light one and continued at intervals throughout the night. With regard to capital expenditure on school appointments, the following sub-committee was appointed at last; night's meeting of the Canterbury School Committees' Association, to wait on the local Parliamentary Committee to-day:—Messrs T. W. West, D. Swanston,*J. Okenden, Woods, G. P. Purnell and H. Odell.

Regarding the complaint made by "Suburbia" in a letter to tho Editor (which appeared in yesterday's issuo) concerning the sewer-laying contract in Opawa, Mr J. Cullons, the Drainage Board's Engineer, told a reporter yesterday that the contractor had struck bad ground when operations wore begun, but was now pushing on with the work and had a good team of men employed. The audience in tho Liberty Theatre was considerably disturbed last night when a middle-aged man in the circle was seized with a fit. It is stated that, being an Australian, ho was affected by some Australian scenes in one of the pictures. The incident took place at the exact moment when those scenos appeared. In consequence of Mr 0. H. Opio having resigned from the Waimakariri River Trust, an election for the purpose of filling the vacancy will be held to-day. The following have been nominated: —Messrs J. A. Flesher, H. Paterson, and H. E. Porymau, A poll will be taken between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. A list of the polling booths is published elsewhere in this issue.

Street sales of art union tickets will take placo in the city on Friday, when tho Canterbury Cricket Association and Tennis Association will make their final appeal in tho Gigantic Art Union in which the prizes total £4OOO. Tho aft union is in aid of tho coaching and ground funds of tho two Associations, and Friday's sales aro oxpeetod to clinch the success of tho effort. Tho rank and file of cricketers and ionnis players, as well as the offtco-bearors, will take a hand in disposing of tickets on Friday.

"I think we should devise ways and. means of instilling some life into hho Association," said a speaker at last night's meeting'of the Canterbury School Committees' Association. It* was stated that the Association had been falling back rapidly of late, and that unless some effort was made to rejuvenate it it would very soon be a defunct body. Matters in connexion with the revival of the Association were discussed at some length, and a programme of work was approved. "It does not matter what our political t-houghts might be," said Mr G. P. Purnell (chairman), speaking at last night's meeting of the Canterbury School Committees' Association, with regard to proposals for the future meeting-place of that body. "The.reason why we no longer meet in, the Trades Hall is that people began, to think that the Labour Party was out to capture us." he said. "We cannot afford, to let political feeling creep into these matters, and so as not to injure the Assoteiation in any way, we decided to shift." There's wonderful comfor s t in the thought that even the roughest weather holds no terrors in so far as coughs and colds are concerned if you rely on "Stop It" —McArtbur's mighty cough remedy. You can't afford to "lay up" even for a few days, so be sure to include "Stop It" in your next order. One dose relieves, a bottle almost invariably cures. Sold everywhere. Large size 2s 6d, small size Is 6d. I Ladieß will welcome the news that Armstrongs have purchased the complete stock of beautiful model hats of Bosina Price. This was bought at a ridiculously low price, and the savings are handed on to our many customers. Beautiful Imported Model Hats that were usually marked 45b to 49s 6d,are now all offering at 7s 6d. These really high-grade hats from Paris and Lond6n are the last word in exclusivehess. Also, a number of dainty, untrimmed hats ranging from Is lid. Pay an early visit to the millinery showroom, and see for yourself the great savings. —6

J. Johnston and Son, Merchants, Rangiora. (Estd 1863) We shall be pleased to " quote North Canterbury Farmers for Birch Fencing Stakes and Fencing Wire. P.O. Box 1, 'phone 4. 6

Fifty million rabbits in Canterbury. They should all be poisoned at once. Those laying poison on hill-country will find our new pattern all steel reversible rabbit plough OJL for making the furrows. Weight 701b. Photos on application. P. and D. Duncan, Ltd., 196 Tuam street, Christchurch. 6

A life time's durability and efficient service all the time is a safe prognostication for the Booth Top Dresser. With reasonable care this must be its history; Built of supargrade material, to the very latest designs the Booth is a high-grade machine and sells at , a moderate price. Booth, Macdonald and Co., Ltd. —4187