TO-DAY'S PAPER

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2379, 8 February 1915, Page 5

TO-DAY'S PAPER

'The complacent reference to Wellington in the following paragraph from ithe Christchurch "Press is not on all ■fours with the result of recent inquiries ,amongst business houses in this city:-— Sn tho experience of some Christohurch 'firms, war-time is proving less disturbing that strike-time was.' It is reported that whilst payment of rents was sus- . tpended by workers for a period during ithe big striko, rents'ore being paid with regularity at present. As to debts, it lis alleged that much consideration Is ■being shown by creditors, and in many instances where, under -normal conditions, debtors would be sued, no action •of tho kind is'being taken. Generally it is believed that the war has had a 'steadying effect on domestic expenditure, especially'in respect to luxuries, lit is interesting to,n6to that according •'to some, business in Christoliurch is on ■p, somewhat sounder basis than in Wellington, jn which city, it is alleged, tho inistom bf living beyond one's income-is more prevalent. In. support of this contention, it is asserted that, approximately, only twenty per cent, of' Weltngtonians could liquidate their indebt,«dness if called npon to do so. ; This jis, probably, somewhat exaggerated, but /it is likely that it contains an element ■ tof truth. ;

; The point whether a man with an inijured hand oould claim expenses for loss [of wages when giving evidence in'the (Court cropped up in the, Invercargill iPolice Court on W-ednesdy. The maii ■(says the "Southland Times") was called in a motor accident case, and Inspector Norwood claimed that he was entitled to witness's expenses, but the (Solicitor for the defendant asked the 'Bench to decide whether a man with an 'injured hand, who would not be able to work in any case, .- was .entitledto claim wages. The witness: said that he ■had to pay another man to do his work 'in the meantime. The inspector insisted that the witness was entitled to expenses, which were eventually allowed. ! The latest invention, tie : discovery ef which is .'due to a speoial -demand .created by the European war (says a '■Reuter Chicago message), is that of a, .machine designed to dig ; graves. A Chicago concern has perfected the deirioe, and has started upon 13 of the machines, which have been ordered by two of the-allied nations. The new machine, it is said, can a!§o be made iof use,in',the, digging of trenches. : American humourtakes . peculiar ffcurns Here is a specimen,- culled from an American newspaperA dress sui-v in excellent' condition, ..'.was diswverecl in a collection of clothing that was being gotten l together in this city to-day for the needy Belgians. 'At first it was ; thought that it had gotten into a pile of clothing by mistake, and the_ garment was searched in hopes of finding some ;clue to the owner. On : the sleeves was pinned this note : ''This suit is contributed in the hope that some -good self- • respecting Belgian gentleman may- have -something suitable to weax to the ,fun•«erarof the German Kaiser." An old proposal to drain Liake Rotoaira, which is situated on the Waimarino' Plains, into the upi>er waters "of the Wanganui River, is being_renew•ed The Taumarunui correspondent'of ; tlie "New Zealand Herald" states that , ,tiie object in'view is l : to . increase the i.yolum© of water in ; the -W^£ a J"?? 'River, • but it is considered doubtful if there will be any considerable effect, as tho catchment area ,of • the lake is not great. The Petone District - High r School Cpmmittee intends to communicate with the three councils that control the Hutt I'aife, namely, Petone, Hutt, and East•bourne, asking that they - favourably consider the application of the Wmlineton Education Board for a.grant of 10 'acres on'-the:park for a site for a hisch .school, and that the full area applied for be given. The communication will add .that in- the event of the council's ■,add' I .that in-, the event of' the.'council .favouring the application, they give effect .to the recommendation through their representative on the Hutt Park (Committee. It is also intended to ac--1 quaint the School Committees of Hutt and Eastbourne of the Petone Committee's intention, with the request that they act in a similar manner. V

' There has been a hysterical practice | going on in Auckland lately of posting • anonymously a copy of what is termed ;-"An Ancient Prayer." It is sent in ''chain" form, and each recipient is. Supposed to send it on to nine Mothers, .without signing any name, and .in nine 'days he will receive a great-blessing; SFailure to oomply with this'custom, states the letter, will mean that on the ninth day_ the slacker who refuses will ■/he the victim. of a great calamity. seem to get. a .large number -of these missives sent them, and. it is estimated that several thousands are ;now in circulation in Auckland. The iOßev. W. E. Gillam, of St. Matthew's, •speaking to a "Star" representative, said : "The remarkable part of this miserable superstition is that many of the /people who indulge in it . seem, from \their handwriting, "to be well-§ducated Wen and women, who should know better. I feel so strongly about the matter that I intend to preach about it on Sunday morning. In England the. results of this practice have been to: create such a morbid dread in the minds 'of some people with -relatives at the war .that instances of nervous hysteria are not uncommon." • ' It is the intention of the New Ze'a(land Government to send, a quantity cf ' Otago Central fruit to the Panama Exposition, and for that purpose the vari.ous fruit-growing associations were cir-' cularised for donations of fruit,- the Government undertaking to defray all 'expenses in transit. 'At'a recent meeting of the Teviot Fruitgrowers' Association it was decided' (says the "Tuapeka "Times") to send an exhibit of apricots, spears, and apples to the Exposition. ' ! A few days ago Mi'. W. 1\ Goodwin i (orchard instructor) was in 'attendance 'at Messrs. Waigth and Sons', shed and rpacked the apricots for the journey, the > varieties used' being Sam Boltons, MoorMansfields, and Early Reds. The v; frnit was supplied by. Messrs. J; Ben/netts, .R. E. Bennetts, A. Birch, J. B. iGilmour, J. H. Sparrow, Tamblyn IBros.. Waight and Sons. Sirs. Toms, and Mrs. Matli'eson, and seven hnlfcases were packed for the exhibit. The axhrbit 13 more in the waj? of an experi'meirt as to the suitability of the apricot /for carrying purposes, as it is not exipected that the fruit will arrive in a : show condition after the voyage, which rwifl occupy about a month. Some of ' i-the fruit, particularly Early Reds, was Itoo far advanced to have much chance ■of seeing the journey out, and it is quess i'tionable whether it will get any further ithan the port of departure. • ■ .

A' yarding of sheep is announced (for the Associated Auctioneers' Solway Sale, Masterton, on Wednesday next at 12.30 p.m. The' agents are still receiving entries.

SOME LEADING FEATURES. (LEADING ARTICLES— Pag' A Paper Blockado 4 Victory for Reform 4 Progress of the War 4 {GENERAL— - ; , Local 'and Personal News i and- !i War Cablegrams 5 and G Rowdies in Uniform G Trooper Killed at Lambton ...... 7 •' Our Wheat Supply G .'WOMAN'S WORLD '. 3 > SHIPPING AND MAILS 8 FARMTTW ANT> COMMERCIAL 8 I ENTERTAINMENTS .1 'J;AW REPORTS 9 • SPORTSTho Turf 0 Cricket ....; 9 Bowls ..' ; 9 Rifle Shooting : «... 9 Lawn Tennis A - t Swim mint: 7,