GENERAL NEWS ITEMS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2266, 21 April 1921, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS ITEMS.

The art world of Paris has been excited by the appearance of a young unknown artist whose live pictures, shown at an exhibition in the city, have won warm approval from the critics. The painting name of the artist.is Charles Morin, and everyone was asking “A ho he is 1 [ t now appears that this young painter of great promise is Mr Winston Churchill, the British War Minister, who during the war, when he was out of office, began t.O tunuse himself, at the ago of 40, with lanseape painting. Mr Churchill has in turn been a soldier, a war correspondent, a forceful politician on both sides, a Minister of the Crown; and he now suddenly wilts wide admiration as an artist. Mlmt further surprise lias lie in store.

The small township of Guyra (Xew South Whiles) is much perturbed at what is known as' the stone-throwing mystery. Cor some lime the house of a resident was subjected nightly to stone-throwing and mysterious rapping*, while windows were smashed and furniture damaged. The vigils of the police and residents failed to find a solution. Spiritualistic means were then employed, a little girl being taken to the room where the rapping* were heard, Tn Ihe presence of the police and others, the girl, referring to tier sister recently dead, asked: “Is that; you?” and received a reply in the affirmative. She also sent messages to her mother that the owner of the voice was happy and safe in heaven, and would look after her mother for the rest of her life. Investigations are proceeding. Sir Ernest Shackelton has for some time turned his attention northwards, and is planning a Polar expedition likely to leave England about June. He has bought the Norwegian whaling boat Coca 1., in Christiania. Sir Ernest is to be accompanied bv a dozen men, all tried explorers, most ot them have, ia fact, been with him on the Antarctic trail. The itinerary includes a start from Hudson's Bay in time for the expedition to reach Baffin's Pay by the end of July, if conditions are favourable. Thence the explorer will make for the islands eastward to Parry Island, m region already . explored by Scandinavians, but -till wanting, in the opinion of Sir Ernest, more scientific exploration. It will be remembered that the explorer was employed by the British Government in the North of I Russia, and he has been able to obj tain for ids expedition some of the ! necessaries for Arctic work from i the stores accumulated at Arciian- ! got. Sir Ernest will probably tie ab- ! sent for two years.

The amazing admission made by Milton Jenkins, aged 13, in liio Baltimore Juvenile Court, was that he had set tire to a .Sunday school room so that he would not have to continue to attend there. The boy said his parents insisted that he should attend regularly, and would not let him smoke or throw dice. He therefore made up his mind that the only way*t.o avoid going (n Sunday school was to burn the place, lie was immediately frightened by what lie had done, and he rushed out and told some of his friends, who raised an alarm. Judge Williams ,-ent the lad to a school for bovs.

Mice nibbling’ a( matches in the liar of flic Victoria Hotel, adjoining the Central Rhilwav Station at Preston, caused a destructive fire. Twenty guests escaped in their night attire, but two servants had their escape cut off. A few seconds before the lire brigade could rear the escape to the bedroom window, it chambermaid, Miss Fanny Hawthorn, jumped from the third storey. Seeing what she was contemplating, liranen quickly got the jumping .sheet ready, and, although Miss Hawthorn collided against a ledge immediately underneath her window and rebounded outward, she was ( aught by the firemen. A man named Wm. Hareourt was charged at the Mansion House with stealing overcoats valued, at £l3 from offices in Salisbury Square, London. It was stated that tiiere were 27 previous convictions against him, including three of 10 years' penal servitude each. Altogether the man had spent 4!) years in prison. The defendant said he had done 30 years' penal servitude for stealing £3O. Sir Louis Newton sentenced him to a month's imprisonment, on which the defendant said, “Thank you, sir; and if the devil gets hold of me again I'll pro-

mise you it shall uot be in the city.’ A young woman who obviously possessed some legal knowledge represented her father in a ease at Willcsdcn Police Court recently. She engaged in a* keen duel with the opposing solicitor, and scored in one instance. She was the daughter of a local property owner, who was summoned by the district council for disobeying an order in respect of one of his houses. The solicitor said the girl had been a solicitor’s clerk, and probably wanted to practice on someone. When the verdict was given in the council’s favour the solicitor asked for legal costs. Costs, indeed!” exclaimed the defendant’s daughter. “You are the deputy clerk to the council; and are paid a salary for your job.” The magistrate refused to allow legal costs.