Untitled

Southland Times, Issue 18849, 15 June 1920, Page 4

The head office of the New Zealand Shipping Company has now been transferred from Christchurch to Wellington. ’The Board of Directors, however, will continue to meet in Christchurch. If is seldom that a lion is sent abroad in the streets r.s a collector for any charitable object, hut this was done on Hospital Day in Sydney, when Carter the Groat's lion “Baby” was responsible for the cnilection of a very large sum and he was the object of much interest to the huge crowd which followed him round. The mono he roared the more money found its way into the collection boxes. “Sydney seems to have a race day practi - cally every day in the week,” said Mr A. O. Bignell (Wanganui) on his return from Australia recently. He added that the electric totulisator at Randwick was a wonderful piece of mechanism, worked automatically and a similar installation in Wanganui, would be approved by racing patrons. Speed and accuracy were the salient features of the electric tote. “At Randwick,” added Mr Bignell, “the paying out is done in a separate building so as to avoid confusion.” When speaking of some of his Gallipoli experiences at last night’s smoke concert given him by the R.S.A., General Birdwood recalled the exploits of a Queensland Light Horseman named Sing who was credited with having shot 238 Turks during his sniping career. He had a possie on the right of the line, and there waited his opportunity to take toll of any heads that showed above the opposite parapet. He would not say that Sing actually accounted for that number, but his total could not have been far short of it. When making a tour of inspection he one day mentioned Sing’s tally to some other snipers, and received the reply, “Some men are better liars than others.”

At last night’s smoke concert General Birdwood congratulated the R.S.A. upon having such an efficient official band, and expressed his pleasure at the items given by the band during the evening.

A lad named George Bragg, of Grove Bush, 15 years old, was admitted to the Hospital last night suffering from a bullet wound in the calf. He was shooting rabbits at Mabel Bush when a bullet rlcochetted from a log and struck him.

“ I would say to every soldier who has returned: Marry your sweetheart; and to those fortunate enough to be already married, I would soy; Keep your wife your sweetheart all your life.” —General Sir William Birdwood at the civic reception yesterday.

Speaking of his first welcome in Australia General Birdwood said that he received it at Perth, and in describing it stated that the first thing that caught his eye was a huge hand upon which was inscribed, “Put it right there, Rirdy.” That struck him as typical of the receptions accorded him by big-handed and big-hearted Diggers throughout Australasia,

If a shopkeeper gives a firearm to a customer in exchange for another, does he commit a breach of the regulations? Mr V. G. Day answered that question in the affirmative in the Christchurch Magistrate’s Court on Friday, though the weapons concerned were only boys’ air-guns. He also held that it was illegal to sell to boys round lead pellets for the air-guns.

Seven members of Parliament: Messrs Burnett (Tcmuknl, Bitchcner (Waitaki), Witty (Riccarton), Malcolm (Clutha), Hamilton (Awarua), Horn (Wakatipul, and Hudson (Motuekal, started yesterday to visit the West Coast coalfields to gain firsthand information on the subject before the session, says a Timaru Press Association telegram.

A young man named Thomas Shaw appeared before Messrs W. Barrett and J. Haigh, Justices of the Peace, at the Police Court yesterday morning charged with being drunk in Tay street on Sunday night, and v, dtb using obscene language in a public place. On the charge of drunkenness he was convicted and discharged and a prohibition order was taken out against him. I'or using obscene language he was convicted and fined £3, or in default one month’s imprisonment.

“While it is natural and proper for producers to demand a fre market in anticipation of high prices, conditions in Britain have to be considered,” was the dictum of Mr .1. G. Harkness, secretary to the Nation al Dairy Association, in discussing the butter producers’ demand for a free marker. "The Imperial Government,” he continued, “is confronted with problems unpr.ralloled in the history of civilisation. It has to consider what is best for the Empire and this perhaps might include the limiting of prices lor a further period.”

Our Mat aura correspondent writes:— Some time between midnight and 2 o’clock on Sunday morning a fire broke out at the Mataura Colliers’ pit. The engine-shed, which contamcd the engine and boiler ami winding machinery, was totally destroyed, together with a building adjoining and ten trucks of coal standing on the flat and a large quantity of horse feed. It is hoped that the machinery will soon be ready to draw coal from the mine, and arrangements are being made to supply customers in the meantime. The cause of the fire lias not yet been ascertained. The loss is estimated at between £7OO and £BOO.

“Many Birdwood stories are being circulated,” said the General last night, “and one of the Sydney papers even went the length of holding a competition to find (he host one. Many of them were new to me, but here is one that you can accept as authentic. Those who served on Gallipoli will remember the jam tin bombs that were used. One day on a tour of inspection I passed one man with a store of bombs and inquired how they were doing. “They are bad,” was the reply, and to demonstrate that he was correct the bomber put a match to the fuse of one. I hoard the fuse burning and thought it was getting a bit hot and turned my back u|xm the bomber. The explosion occurred almost immediately and I got a splinter in my puttees while the bomber had his face injured. “That's the first one ihat has gone off properly to-day,” said the discomfited bomber.

In the possession of a sense of humour General Binhvnod is equipped with one of the chief graces of a public speaker, and it ran like a thread of gold through his address at the. Art Gallery on Saturday afternoon (says the Otago Daily Times). In describing the difficulties with which he was faced when men came up to him and said: “Don’t you remember me?” he recounted an incident which occurred in the north, where a man said to him: “Don’t you remember one night when you were going round the trenches at Quinn’s Post, you came along and trod right in the middle of my stomach?”—(Laughter). “I could only say,” adder] the General, “that I was very sorry that I did not remember him, but under the circumstances I must have made a much greater impression on him than he did on me.”—(Renewed laughter.)

A rumour that the position with regard to the supply of doihing from the colonial mills to wholesale and retail merchants had eased considerably led a Southland Times icportev to make inquiries yesterday into the position locally. The replies were not reassuring and it would seem that both wholesale and retail merchants are experiencing as much difficulty as ever in obtaining all lines of clothing manufactured in New Zealand while prices still continue to increase. The colonial mills have not increased their supplies of suitings lo local tailors, but there are indications that in England the supply is gradually overtaking the demand and tailors are receiving a few out of the way lines which they have not been able to procure for the • last four or five years. The market is far from being normal, however, and worsteds recently to hand cost as much as £2 per yard.

The Mayor looked as if he was in something of a quandary at the reception to General Birdwood at the band rotunda yesterday afternoon when Sir William, after taking a vote on a show of hands on the momentous question as to whether or not the school children should be given a holiday next day, asked; “May they have one, Mr Mayor?”' The affirmative, needless to say, was carried by the youngsters by an overwhelming majority, and his W'orship, in whose hands dors not lie the say in such a matter, gave a hesitant “Yes!” Delight was unbounded, and the celebrated General must, have risen even higher than he stood already in the children’s estimation in consequence of this benefaction. Such a pledge, although unofficial, could scarcely be broken, so the acting-chairman of the Education Board (Mr P. de la Perelle i decided that this shall be a school holiday in honour of Sir William Birdwood’s visit to Southland.

“New Zealand, probably, is the second highest taxed country in the world,” Mr A. Boyle, the retiring president of the Canterbury branch of the Navy League said on Friday. “Even if income-tax and othertaxes on wealth are reduced I can. see little chance of a decrease generally, because we must provide for our naval protection. Canterbury’s individual contribution to the Navy Funds during the war was wonderful. I believe that I am correct in saying that Canterbury in this respect practically set an example to the whole Empire. As far as my memory goes, Canterbury and Marlborough contributed £dG,B77. The total sum sent from New Zealand was nearly £IIIO,OOO. Canterbury and Marlborough, therefore, contributed nearly half. 1 have not the sums contributed by all the dependencies of Great Britain but it will be remembered that New Zealand’s total stood out. pre-eminently. In these days, we insure practically everything, from our lives to our pigsties. Why should we hesitate to insure our safety—our very existence—against the attacks of our future enemies?”

“There is nothing going to save New Zealand so much as hard work. The only way for national salvation to be worked out is by work.” These sentiments from Mr G. W. Leadley at the Farmers’ Conference in Christchurch on Friday met with enthusiastic “Hear, hears” from his fellowdelegates. “More production and less rows,” was the remedy suggested by Mr G. Sheat to reduce the cost of living.

It has been remarked on several occasions that a large proportion of the colonial troops when on leave visited Scotland, and natives of that country resident in New Zealand have been wont to take to themselves a little of the glory reflected from this fact. General Sir William Birdwood yesterday attributed this inclination on the part of the visitors to causes other than northern hospitality. The soldier on leave, he said, had a free pass taking him anywhere, and he thought he should go as far on it as he could. “Besides,” he added, “he got two days extra leave if he went to cither Scotland or Ireland.” —(Laughter.)

In regard to the necessity for increasing the area under wheat for next season, a deputation consisting of Mr J. A. Macpherson (President of the Otago Fanners’ Union), and Mr J. B. Waters (President of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce), both of whom are members of the New Zealand Wheat Trade Committee, will wait on the local Farmers’ Union. It is stated that these gentlemen are empowered to place the views of the Minister of Agriculture and the Wheat Controller fully before the Southland farmers.

Sir William Birdwood has a penchant for good stories which, he narrates in a way that is the gift of the chosen. He was dealing with things Scottish at the civic reception held at the rotunda yesterday, and an anecdote he told, although against the oft-maligned son of Scotia, will probably be enjoyed by him as much as by his English neighbour. A Scottish sergeant, said Sir William, was sent to hospital badly wounded. On coming out of the anaesthetic he found that one of his legs bad been amputated. His language was lurid and his demand that his leg should be given back to him insistent. “Gie me back m’ leg, gie me back m’ leg,” he ordered, and entreated in turn. At last, in desperation, he exclaimed; “Gie me it back I tell ye, there were twa ten franc notes in the sock.”—(Laughter.) Those Scots in the crowd, who had not recently visited the Homeland, continued Sir William, would be pleased to know that the people had not lost their national characteristics.

Let your boys kick their way to robust health and happiness. It is infinitely cheaper and better to buy a toe-ball than attend on sickness. Hyndman’s, Dee street, Invercargill, offer 200 splendid coft-hide footballs; hand sewn throughout and of lasting quality, complete with best rubber linings in four popular sizes, 2, 3, 4, 5, at 10/6, 12/G, 14/6, and 17/6. Posted, 6d extra. Cheaper qualities down to 5/-.

A fine range of the popular Sweater Coats for men can be seen at THOMSON & BEATTIE’S, in Heathers, Browns, Greys, Cream and Lovats. These are in heavy Woollens and fine Worsteds. One of the newest styles is a Grey Worsted with trimmed edge of Brown and Navy. Prices, 22/6, 25/-, 2G/6 to 39/o.—(Advt.)

“Ladies who want to preserve their stylish figure” must abandon the toil of rubbing the weekly washing and instead, let “NO RUBBING LAUNDRY HELP" do the hard work.— (Advt.)

To those who have been waiting for Messrs PRICE & BULLEID’S, Ltd,, Winter

“Colossal” the time is now close at hand for them to realise their anticipations of making money-saving purchases. Thursday of this week is the opening day. Thera will be bargains freely offering in all departments. The “Red Pencil” has been very extensively used and prices will be such that record selling should result. Buyers are requested to visit all departments as the Sale is a general one and “snips” will be obtainable in all directions.

FISH—2 Salmon 1/8, 2 Sardines 1/8, 2 Pilchards 1/8, 2 large Pilchards 2/7, 2 large Salmon 3/2. Also Honey, 21b tins, 2/3; jars prime Honey, 2/9; 91bs Honey 9/9; 561hs superior choice Clover Honey, 10td —at BAXTER’S.—(Advt.)

A busy week at SMITH’S. Tremendous preparations are being made for the big x-eliability Sale. All our huge stock of over £50,000 worth of new and fashionable Drapery, Clothing and Wearing Apparel of every description will be marked in Red Letters and at quick Sale Prices. Reliability will be the watch-word during this great sale. Our past success means much to you. It places at your disposal the offerings and services of one of the most modern and Progressive Stores in the Dominion. It protects your every purchase with an irreproachable good name and the highest standards of value. Sale begins Thursday, June 17. A hearty invitation is extended to you to personally visit our splendid display. H. & J. SMITH, Ltd., Progressive Stores, Invercargill and Gore. — (Advt.)

“What muddle superfluous preparation makes.” —Stanus. Certainly be prepared, for wise preparation means also the battle half won; but superfluous preparation ii ill-advised. Always be prepared during winter time, which to the unprepared is chronic cough and cold time. Baxter’s Lung Preserver is ample preparation, for this sterling remedy is a sure, safe, and prompt remedy. It nips the trouble in the bud and fortifies against the return visit. The home that knows “Baxter’s” is cough and cold proof. Get large bottl* of this 54-year-old specific to-day. 2/6 at chemist and store. — (Advt.) RAPID FIRST AID. By promptly rubbing Q-TOL into a cut, burn or bruise, ail dangers of inflammation or festering wounds are avoided.— (Advt.) HATS for men, youths, and boys—a fine shewing of ail the popular styles and value prices. UNDRILL’is, opp. P.O.— (Advt.) INFLUENZA BACILLUS. As the influenza microbe takes two day* to develop, a dose of germ-destroying “Fluenzol” every second day will ensure immediate relief. MASTERS, LTD., were the originators of Use xu per cent, discount to returned soldiers. Ulher storekeepers have copied ua and we now go one better. We now invit« ail discharged soldiers and those waiting discharge to have their military hats replocked, free of all cost, by the only hatte* in Southland. We still give a 1U per cent, reduction •to ail returned soldiers.—* MASTERS, LTD., Dee street. — (Advt.) A Special Display of Exclusive Evening Frocks, Silk Dress Skirts and Blouses, now being made at THE “ECONOMIC,” Ladies' Outfitters. Prices exceedingly reasonable, lAavt.) Be emphatic. Insist on genntna “NAZOL." Nothing like it for preventing or relieving coughs and colds. No cold 1C N azct-prool. 60 doses 1/6. tAdvt.J