GENERAL NEWS.

Interest increases in the war as the casualty lists stream in, and this has been accentuated by the latest forward movements in the West. All these make the illustrations in the "Weekly Press/' published this morning, the more welcome. Hero we have pictures from the Western and Eastern fronts, and from the Mediterranean, as well as 200 portraits of our own killed and wounded, among whom all of us have either friends or acquaintances. A fresh subject which will attract attention is the Queen Carnival at Darfield, by which about £3000 has been .added to the fund for our sick and wounded soldiers. The Carnival is shown iu a splendid set of pictures, in which all tho principal features are seen from procession to the coronation. There is also a fine group of the Queen Candidates, and one of the Queen in her coronation robes. The issue is of interest from end lo end, and will 6ureiy sell freely.

Several changes in street names were effected by the City Council by special order last night. . Gladstone street was changed to Wordsworth street, and Stirling street to Carlyle street, tho two streets being merely continuations of the main streets whose names they wero given. Carter's lane, running between Kilmore and Chester streets, was- changed to Dawson street, and Wairarapa Terrace road was changed to Fulton street, so as to obviate the confusion which now exists between Wairarapa terrace, which still continues, and Wairarapa Terrace road, which has beeu renamed.

The City Council adopted a special order yesterday declaring goat's rue to be a noxious weed under tho Act.

Arrangements are being made by tho Finance Committee of the City Council for the sale of tho debentures for the North Richmond channelling loan of £700.

The City Council's motor inspector has been authorised to inform all registering authorities in tho Dominion of the Council's new regulations regarding the affixing of identification marks to motor-cycles.

The following members of the Canterbury Automobile Association supplied cars for the conveyance of returned soldiers to the Darfield Carnival on Saturday :—Messrs 11. W. Piper, M. Hollander, B. Falck. H. P. Solomon, Kibblewhite and Vaugban (J. S. Hawkes) and U. P. M. Manning. The soldiers greatly appreciated the outing.

The Christehurch Beautifying Association suggested to the Works Committee of the City Council that a low kcrbing be placod round the grass plots at the corner of South Crescent road and Strickland street, and the corner of Colombo street and Strickland street. The committeo lias authorised this to l>e done tho total estimated cost being £5.

Mr C. D. Matson recently wrote to the By-laws Committee of the City Council, suggesting that a signboard be erected indicating where Wairarapa terrace ends and Strowan road begins, tho latter road being a continuation of Wairarapa terrace, and situated in Wnimairi County. The committee has given Instructions, for tho erection of the board.

A mild passnge-at-arms took place between Cr. Peek and Cr. Burgoyne at the meeting of the City Council last night, i» the coilrso of which Cr. Peek suggested that Cr. Burgoyne had been specially favoured, in the matter of getting his residence connected up with the electricity supply, while other districts were still waiting for the light. Cr. Sullivan moved: —"That the matter be referred to the electrica] engineer to report." The motion was seconded by Cr. Burgoyne. Cr. Scott suggested that a report should bo obtained from an independent party. Cr. McCullough thereupon jumped up and declared that the suggestion was nn insult to the clectricnl engineer, for it meant that tho engineer would be unfair. Cr. Scott disclaimed entirely any notion of impeaching the integrity of tho engineer, and Cr. Sullivan's motion was car Vied.

The Finance Committee reported to the City Council Jast night that the question cf making advances for installing electricity to workers' dwellings had arisen, and as the occupiers of the dwellings did not own the fee simplo they could not sign the proper application form, and it wa«, understood the Government Department, which had control of the dwellings, would not sio;n. The matter had been brought ufider the notice of the Prime Minister, with a request that he would favourably consider the question of giving occupiers of those dwellings an opportunity of taking advantage of the provisions of the Act. A cony of the letter forwarded to the Prime Minister had been sent to the local members of Parliament, asking them to co-operato in the matter.

A Press Association message from Nelson estates that it is felt in Nelson that Mr Masscy»s statement, that whilst believing that Nelson is the best district in the country for fruitgrowing, ho was afraid the price of land there would l>e too high, may give a wrong impression .as to the advancement made, A statement has therefore beon prepared showing that proved iinple land can be pufchased in blocks at from £4 to £12 per at*re. The cost of the first year of clearing, ploughing, fencing, trees and planting, is £10 per acre, the second and third years £4 a year, and tho fourth year pays work and expenses. It is pointed out that tho high initial cost does not mean dear land. Orchard properties at Stoke have been turned over at £300 .per aero, and nro still paying tho purchasers. Nelson fruit lands do not require irrigatiori or shelter trees,and no lato frosts are' experienced there. Factories greatly reduce tho working costs. Thus it is argued that when all these factors are considered. Nelson, with its mild climate, offers tho best opportunity /or farms for returned soldiers.

■A'Ho wns a brilliant, efficient, painstaking officer, always ready for duty," said Colonel T. W. Porter, in conversation with a Wellington "Post'' reporter. referring to tho late Captain R. W. Wilkinson (Wellington Battalion), who died in T/ondon last week as tho result of wounds received at the Dardanelles. Captain Wilkinson was staff officer to Colonel Pojrter when tho latter was in command of tho Seventh New Zealand Contingent in South Africa, and the Colonel relates an interesting incident showing his pluck rnd tenacity. It was in the Orange Freo State, and in a successful attempt to capture some of Do Wet's guns fierce hand-to-hand fighting took place. Captain Wilkinson tackled fearlessly a big, nowerful Boer gunner, and looked together thev rolled down a hillside. The Boer attempted to use his revolver, but Captain Wilkinson, who only had a sjambok (raw hide whip) mastered tho enemy and effected his capturo. "Itwas indeed a- meritorious action," sa:d Col. Porter, "and as such 1 characterised "it in my report of the encounter."

During the discussion on the "Coach" Fund, at the annual meeting of the Otago Cricket Association at Dunedin oil Saturday night, Mr Joel asked how much the coach received per annum. "£3oo'' camc tho answer. Mr Joel: "£350 a year, and you are £250 to the bad on tlie past year's work." In answer to a further question by Mr Joel the chairman (Mr Clark) said that the coach had been engaged for three years, and that the engagement had two years yet to run. ,f lt's a pretty big hurdle,''' dri'y remarked Mr Joel, which prompted the chairman to remark that tho greater a difficulty the more determinedly it was faced by . sportsmen. As tho association has an actual debit balance of £$?G3. and has to find another this.coming season for its coach., it can he seen that, apart altogether from any other expenditure, £013 ha 3 to be" obtained by the association from somewhere to meet these two iteme alono (says tho "Otago Daily Times"). It certainly doe> seem a stiff hurdle, but judging by tho expressions of the members of the Association at tho meeting on Saturday nicrht. they are certainly not going to balk at it. The Mayor stated at the meeting of tho City Council last night that the city surveyor had informed him that the Government were erecting a wooden building in the Post Office _ block. The erection of a wooden building right in the centre of tho city was a breach of tho by-laws had tho matter been one in which private individuals w6re concerned. His oninion was that, the Government should study the desires of local authorities, and not commit what, in the case of a privato individual, ■\»ould- be a flagrant, breach of the bylaws. Such a disregard of the Council's .wishes was, to say the least of it. most discourteous, and he thought the Council should strongly protest against tho action of the Government, and should communicate with local members on tho subject. Cr. Sullivan moved : —"That the Christchurch City Council takes very strong exception to tho action of the Government in abusing its powers bv committing a flagrant breach of tho by-laws." Cr. Beanland said the Public iVorks Department had always done as thev liked in the past, and seemed bent on "doing so in the future. The motion was carried most heartily, and it was decided to forward the protest to all the local members, and to ask for their support.

Messrs Hayward Bros, and Co., Ltd.. have agreed to accent the sum of £325 for land taken under the Public "Works Act for widenin c Antigua street, they to bear tho cost of setting back tho fence to tho proper boundary.

At the Dunedin Competitions yesterdav. the operatic solo was won by Mr J If. Cocks (Christchurch), the same competitor being second in tho champion solo. In tho vocal solo with piano accompaniment and obligato. Miss Stella Murray (Christchurch) was first and Mr Cocks second.

The Bands Committee of the City Council was given authority last night to arrange band concerts for the ensuing season on similar lines to previous years. Cr. Hayward urged that the Orchestral Society should participate in the Council's grant. Cr. A. Williams. the chairman .of tho committee, said that tho committee would invite applications for the giving of municipal concerts.

"We can always do with moro men." said Lieutenant Aldridgo, of Wanganui, who has returned invalided I'rom Gallinoli. "Even with reinforcements my own regiment wu9 never up to strength after tho first engagement, but in spite of all odds, the conduct of all —officers and men —has been splendid. I never saw an instanco of funk, and the men were always ready for any duty t «nd for any saci ifice and always ready for fight or for anvtliing. I feel proud, and any man would feel nroud. to have been associated with "every man jack of thqm. There is not waster amongst them, and they hav c ployed the game right through."

A young man appeared at tho Magistrate's Court at Dunedin yesterday morning charged with knowing that he was suffering from an. infectious disease (scarlet fever), ho did wilfully expose himself in a public place. It was explained thnt defendant and other members of the family contracted scarlet fever, and the house was isolated by the Health authorities, but when defendant was gettine better ho visited his office in "town. Defendant plcsadod guilty, explaining that an important matter required his attention. Ho nad fumigated himself thoroughly before leaving. The Magistrate said that the prosecution would act as a general warning, and defendant would bo ordered to pay costs.

There is an epidemic'of colds just now, but "Stop It," Loasby's Mighty Cough Cure, is proving its curativo value. It will »cure your cold. 2

Cheap Electric us about your Power Installation. Tunihull and Jon/36, Ltd.. sole New Zealand Agents for the British Westinghouse Electric Company.

Everv soldier, before leaving for the front, should call on Steffano Webb, and bo photographed. It's your 252 High street. Tel. 1989. 3 Expert knowledge is the only kind that counts. Over sixty years experience in Customs, Shipping, and warding Work, including Furniture Removals. Call or telephone, J. M. Heywood and Co., Manchester street. Established 1851. " A Microscopo is tho finest aid to tho Nature student —its educative value is We have a fine range of these instruments, from the small size at 15s up to elaborate five guinea instruments If you don't want ;t for yourself, your lad would .iu6t love one. See u© about it. _ «T. R. Proctei, oculist optician 200 High street. G THIRTY SECOND-HAND BICYCLES GOING CHEAP. Messrs Adams, Ltd., take a fairly largo number ol' 6eoond-hand bicycles into stock every month in part payment for new bicycles, and at intervals during the year the second-hand stock gets so heavy that it occupies more floor space than can bo conveniently allotted to it. This is iust what has happenod at present, and in order to reduce tho second-hand stock to reasonable dimensions wo are offering thirty machines this week at especially low prices. Tho machines offered have all beon thoroughly examined and overhauled in our bis factory, and aro in good running order. They include many well-known makes, and am all capable of giving good service. Prices range from £2 upwards, and every machine is a genuine bargain. The firm needs tho space, and if you need one of the bicycles occupying the snpco you won't be a loser on the transaction. I'oy a visit to our showrooms this very day and take your pick of a big collection. The range of selection will <rrow smaller day by day. Adams, Ltd. Headquarters Showroom, II iali street, Christchurch. (C. S. Orr, Bicyclo Department, Representative.) 6