LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2274, 7 October 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Grey as a veiling colour for warships was admirably illustrated within- the confines of tho harbour on Sunday afternoon. Lying under tho leo or Somos Island, yet .within tho rango of eyesight to all who paradod the waterfront, was H.M.S. Torch, tho Snith Sea Island survey gunboat. Tho sun was shining brightly overhead, but under the influence of a boisterous nor'wester tho spumo \vas flying in midharbour. "See. tho gunboat out there?" said ono trooper to another as ho lit his pipe. "Mo, whero? I can't seo any gunboat." "Out thero across tho bay." "Whereabouts."! "How did you pass tho oyo-siglit test? Seo tho island oiil tlwro—well look carefully just about a quarter of mile to the south—seo her now?" "Yes, I've got her now—littlo boat with three masts. She takes sonio finding, though,"

A few days ago a busy man rushed into the Telegraph Offico and cabled away to his Brother in Melbourne: "Congratulations securing -dynasty." After some ten hours had elapsed the sender was called up over tho 'phono and informed that the censor had stuck the message up and it could not be Bent forward until its meaning was made tjuito clear. Such a hold-up ,lind never been anticipated) when it was considered that tlib words used were "good plaiu English." Still the explanation had to be given in case the mysterious message was some vitally im- [ portant communication to the enemy. It will be sufficient to state the mes-

sage was sent in reply to ouo received which read, "Boy, both well." During tho week before ho left London, Mr. J. Tripo visited Oxford University, then in vacation. He found that practical!} , the whole of-tho" buildings had been converted into barracks, mentioning Christ Church in particular. The day ho was there an examination of undergraduates for commissions in the Army was being' lield.

A man named Harry Mather was fined £20 and costs at Christehurcb. for selling liquor without a license (states a Press Association telegram). A policeman in plain clothes entered accused's shop on Sunday, and after admitting lie nad had a "night out" was sold a "nip" at a shilling.

Charged under the Sale of- Food and Drugs Act, before Mr. Poynton, S.M., at Palmerston North, Mrs. K. Goilo was fined £20 and costs for selling adulterated milk.—Press Association.

One of tho canards circulated by cer-< tain of tho Opposition Press tills year is that in the lirst two years of the Kβ- , form Administration the State Firo Insurance. Department has lost business. Apparent substantiation of this statement was obtained by misquoting a return presented to the House a few weeks ago, and the misstatements were' bo flagrant that the Minister in. charge of tho Department (the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher) took the opportunity of refuting them in tjho House yesterday. Ho showed that/instead of losing business' the State Fire Office had increased its business and its profits in a remarkable manner. In the two years the increase in profit had been at the vato of £12,000 per annum, and tho office had liad the best two years sinco its establishment.

Constable Wm. Tricklebank, of the local Police Force, left some weeks ago for Sydney for tho purpose of bringing back Frederick College, a tailor's cutter, of Bondi, so that a charge of wife desertion might be preferred _ against him. The extradition proceedings in. Sydney wero, "however, not successful, being strenuously opposed. Consequently, when Constable Tricklebank returned some days ago ho returned alone. 11l an affidavit during the course_ of Court proceedings' over tlie other side, College said ho had been married in England in-1900, and that shortly after ho and his wife agreed to separate. He emigrated to New Zealand, but sub- , sequent!) , went over to Sydney, where for the past twelve mouths he had beea working- as a tailor's cutter .at-. Bondi. He was not aware that his wife, who had money of her own, was in New Zealand, being under tlie impression, thatshe was still in Bath (Engalnd).

French newspapers show how lightheartedly Frenchmen went to tho war. Thus, a hairdresser summoned to the colours put up tho following notice on his shop: "The business is transferred to tho 79th Regiment at Nancy. , .' On the first day of mobilisation two writers of revues, Ripand Bousquet, met on the boulevard. "You're not goingto Deauville this year," says Eip. "No, I'm going eastward. It seems that Verdun (the French fortress on the German-frontier) is all the rage this summer." Dranem, the Wilkio Bard of Paris, is guarding a bridge at Engheim at a halfpenny a day. Pierre Mortier, editor of "Gil Bias," is driving an omnibus.

A Press Association telegram from_ Paliiatua states that the heavy galo caused considerable log fires in the Pongaroa-Waihi Riding, in Akitio County. Tho fire area is about three miles square, and settlers are ansiouß for their farm buildings.

"I left England in March, so I did not,see the .country under war conditions," said Sir William .Vestey, a prominent merchant of London, in couversation with a "New Zealand Herald representative on Monday, "but I do , not think that there will bo much distress. The great volume of British shipping is going on almost as usual, and British industries are not being interfered with. On the other hand industry is almost completely paralysed en the Continent of Europo—particularly in Germany, Austria, and Belgium". The Freuch ports are still open, but a- great proportion of the French r«en are engaged in the war. Tie iliscignnisatiott of finance and com-nerco a-ght teiul to create unemployment in Briton, but this is counteracted by the fact that a million men are being taken into the Army. It will be a long and costly war,' ,, added Sir William, "but thereis no doubt about its ultimate icsult. Thp Germans will not bo easily beo.ten. They have lines of fortifications in their own country of a stronger and more permanent character than those out of which the now driving

them." Mr. Clement Wragge informs the Auckland "Star" that in the courso of a. few days further eruptions in the v sun may bo expected. When these ap- ; pear, lower atmospheric pressure will ; become a feature, tho weather will probably change, and raiu become likely. The abnormal conditions m New Zealand and Australia ar« mainly, due to the last '.'kick" of tho solar minimum. As pressure relaxes after tho sp?' l °{ high those engaged m ccal milling must be especially careful to guard against explosions. As clreaay intimated a return of pood seasons is oxpectod, and such should bo especially manifest over the Commonwealth, and' spread from coastal district* inland, yet modified by decrease of latitude and physical featur.es.

A STRAIGHT TALK TO MOTOK-CAE The farmer, wore perhaps than any other class of the community, demands value for money when he is purchasing a motor-car. The purpose of these few. ines is' to demonstrate to him that m the Studobakor car the firm of Adams, Ltd can offer better value for less money than anv other firm in New Zealand. Adams, Ltd., are tho largest importers of automobiles in the Dominion. They have had fourteen years of experience of importing cars to this country; and of driving "them under all conditions. They know the motor business from A to Z, and they have selected the Stndobaker car as absolutely tho best value for money obtainable in the world. Stndcbaker quality cannot be surpassed, yet the Studebaker car sells in New Zealand from i£M to .£SO lower than any other car fitted with the indispensable- electrio polf-stiirtor, and electric lighting Bet. Studobakor cars are being purchased daily throughout New Zealand, and every purchaser is more than satisfied. Tho more \ experienced tho motorist tll'o better, does he appreciate the Studebaker. These are Tho Studebaker prices for Now Zealand:— 35-h.p. 7-seater Stndcbaker, ,£3!>3; 25-h.p. 5-seatcr Studebnker, ,£345; 25-li.p. S-soater cabriolot Studebnker, .£395; 25-h.p. 3-soatDr Stiidobaker (body made to special order bv Boon and Co., Christchureh), £315. These prices include "Wngncr" electric self-starter, electric lighting set, hood, wind-shield, and, in fact, all' the items usually charpred as "oxtvns." As sliipment of tho now 25-h.p. Studebakers.. has just arrived, and the cars mav be inspected at Christchurch. or any of our agents. DISTRICT AfiENTS-Tourist Motor Co., .Hastiiips; Newton Kinp. Nf>w Ply. mouth ami Stratford; ,T. H. I.vttle. Ma'srorton; Hutehinron Bros., .TJketahnna; A. and It. EonnM, Pal\i<«tna; E. A. Runjwiic, Danncrirkc; and Grovo Motor Co., Wellington. ADAMS, LTD., Agents for Studebaker Motor-cars, Christchurch. Branches at Wanttanui and* Pat merston North,.