GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15400, 4 October 1915, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

t . By arrangement with the PostmasterGeneral of Egypt, the Postmaster-Gen-eral (Sir Joseph "Ward) has provided tho means of sending Christmas comfort* and presents to our soldiers in Egypt. Provided the whole packago as prepared for the post does not exceed the* weight of lib. he will accept at sample packet rates packets containing articles of saleable value addressed to eoldicrs in Egypt. This means that packets which transit Egypt, as, for instance., those, for the hospital at Malta, may also be posted at the samo rate. The weight must be carefully respected, as no exceptions will bo permitted in Egypt. Any package weighing more than lib will have to be paid for as a parcel. The sample packet rate- is Id for the first 4oz and id for each additional 2oz.

The. Postal Department has decided that in future letters posted without a halfpenny war-tax stamp will bo surcharged one penny. It is stated that in one of tho huts at Trenthara thero are six men who each have aji income of £2000 a year. A Taranaki man who enlisted recently as a private has an income of £1.300 a year. A cheque for £-3 or has been forwarded to tho Superintendent of tho Christchurch Fire Brigade towards the Brigade's funds by Messrs Boon and Company, of High street, in appreciation of the valuable services rendered at tho fire at their premises a few days ago. The latest returns of the enlistments of members of the National Reserve for active service from the different districts arc as follows: —Auckland : Headquarters 300, outlying districts 330, total GSO. Wellington: Headquarters 245, outlying districts 430. total 690. Canterbury: Headquarters (including outlying districts) 1440. Otago: Headquarters 254, outlying districts 20.3, total 459. Total for New Zealand 3239. There is a photograph in Wellington of considerable interest in these days when an earnest appeal lor men is being made. The photograph is of the New Zealand University Rugby team which toured Australia in 1913. Most of the team are now at the front. Tho manager of the team is not sure [ whether eleven or thirteen have enlisted, but is certain that eleven hav«\ These are Childs (Palnierston North), Quillam (New Plymouth) Smith (who enlisted in England while studying there). S. Porter (Canterbury). Fawcett (Wellington), Bilkcy (Auckland), Cuthill (Otago) (who is recovering from wounds received in the Dardanelles), Fisher Derby (Auckland). I>. Dobfon (Christchurch'). and Withers (of Otago, who is with the Medical Corps). Other members of the team are making arrangements to enlist. 'T think we should pay more attention to speed and less to obtaining perfection in form." said Mr J. S. Tennant. M.A.. in the course of a paper on the teaching of handwriting read at a meeting of the Wellington District Institute. N.Z.E.1., held on Friday night. Speed was by tar the most important— first because when a child left school he found it almost essential to write quickly, particularly if he entered some <>omniereial purMiit; secondly, a fast writer had a better chance of keeping pace with his thoughts, and his writings were usually richer in ideas and more fluent in expression. Fountain jx'n makers, in their advertisements, had often stressed the latter point, and psychologically the point v.v.s quite sound. Character in writing was another point stressed by Mr Tennant. He stated that at the Training College they had collected about 200U separate samples of school writing, and quite 00 per cent, were identical in style. That meant that nino out of ten schools had adopted the same style of writing—the same method of teaching. Of course, in some respects uniformity was all right because it led in a way to perfection. However. Mr Tennant thought that children should be encouraged to develop character in handwriting— within reasonable limite.

Tho Finance Bill has received tiie Governor's signature, and those sections relating to taxes, which have no specified operative date, come into force at one. The Minister of Defence stated yes- | torday that the camp lor the Tunnelling "Company which is being formed : for service abroad, will bo fully established at Auckland within. :t week's time—probably by October Sth. Since tho beginning of September, the poiice had been looking for a young man, a native of Invercargil l . who is alleged to have uttered a false cheoue for i"2. drawn on the National Bank of New Zealand. Ltd.. Oiautau, to Messrs Hallenstein Bros. Yesterday, however, his arrest was effected at Cheviot by Detective Hunt, of tho Christchurch Po'.ico Force A service for men only was held at St. Michael's Church yesterday jtt'tcrlioon, under the auspices of the Cnurcli "i England Men's Society. There was a largo congregation present, and after a simple service, with special hynvs and prayers for the war. the nveachor, Canon Burton, on the text: "Seek ve first the Kingdom of God and j His righteousness." He explained tho J spiritual side of religion, and impressed on his hearers that it was still possible to live \i;-> to the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount, even in these days of materialism. Regarding the steamer Wismar, interned at Uanjeewand, Java, tho .representatives ol the consignees, after a considerable amount of negotiation, haw boon able to obtain freight irom the Burns. Phiip Company, by their steamer Montoro. whicli is exj>eciod to leave Sourabaya alvont October otb, and will reach Sydney about <Vtober Cord, where the cargo u.'r Now Zealand consignees will !>e transhipped to tho various ports of the Dominion. Some trouble has been experienced m tracing a'i the panic in New Zealand interested in the Wismar's cargo. There are many ideas regarding a mere man's usefulness, particularly among members of the iairor sex. Recently Miss I'. Myers, a member of the Wellington District Institute. N.Z.E.I. circularised bodies in the various school districts as to the nalioir.il work done, by the schools in tho matter of equipping soldiers and other like service. A series of questions was asked, including the following: "Are the men assisting?" One reply read: "They are contributing money, and that seems to be about all they can do." Anoihe;- reply, rather indignant, was. "Of course." It is suggested that the latter reply was probably written by a "mere man." Dr. Albeit Harding Porter, a wellknown medical practitioner of Auckland, was arrested in Wellington on Friday

nil a warrant which alleged that ho intended t" leave the Dominion without making adequate provision for his wile. Dr. Porter appeared before Mr W. G. Riddell. S.M.. at the Magistrate's Court on Saturday morning, and Chief-Detec-tive Boddain applied for a remand to Auckland. "1 understand that Porter is a man of independent means." said Mr Boddam, "and if bail is applied for I ask that it be made substantial." .Mr T. S. Weston asked for bail on Porter's behalf. His client had settled a sum of money on his wife, and the amount required for the hitter's maintenance was the only question in dispute. Bail was fixed at' £'100. with a surety to that amount, and Porter was remanded to appear at Auckland to-day. Owing to the highly technical character of tho work undertaken in the Railway Signalling Department, and the necessity for obtaining in the first instance an officer who has had a wide and

varied experience, the appointment of Assistant Signal and Interlocking Engineer has not yet been made, says the General Manager of Railways in his annual report. Enquiries have been made throughout Australasia, and the replies indicate the improbability of obtaining a suitable man in any of the States. Applications have been invited in the United Kingdom, and the result is now awaited. Information already received points to the fact that the prospects ahead of qualified men in their present spheres are so good that they are disinclined to accept offers abroad, while the attention that is devoted to signalling improvements on many important railway systems has created a demand which is in excess of the supply of qualified men available at tho moment. At the. August meeting of the Animate County Council it was decided (says the "Advertiser"') that a certain tenderer's country of birth be deemed a ground of disqualification. At "Wednesday's meeting a letter from M. Scyb (a well-known contractor about South Canterbury) \\:u read, in which he stated that he had been in New Zealand for -to years, had been a naturalised British subject for -10 years; had brought up a large family ; had never been proved to have done or said anything disloyal; and, moreover, now had two "sons in camp at Trentham. training to fight for Britain. He claimed that under the letters patent issued to him !0 years ago lie was entitled to all the rights of a British subject. In a further letter Mr Scyb asked to be relieved of the contract which had been let to him, as he had been forced to sell his teams and plant. Tho council resolved to rescind the resolution, which decision means that Mr tSeyb's tenders in future will receive the same consideration as the other tenders. Delegates from various Women's Societies interested in reform and rescue work waited upon the Hon. Dr. McNab (Minister for Justice) at Wellington en Saturday to ask him to present certain petitions to tho House of Representatives. Mrs A. R. Atkinson said that the deputation complained of frequency of offences against children and the inadequacy of punishment meted out to tlse offenders, and they asked that the "law be amended so as to provide substantial minimum penalties, particularly in the case of second and third offences. In the of shorter sen- , fences, also, the deputation suggested something in the nature of medical supervision and the retention of offenders in the prisons or prison hospitals, or curative institutions, until there , seemed to be a reasonable prospect of curative treatment being successful; the work to be carried out on the lines of the Prisoners Detention Bill passed through the House last week. Dr. McXab expre-sed sympathy with the objects of the deputation, but pointed out that it was quite impossible for Parliament to deal with petitions this session. He therefore suggested that the petitions be held over till next session, and this was agreed to. Tho annual apjK'al for t'ne Church Mission Fund was made throughout the churches of the Christcburch diocese yesterday. Bishop Julius, before commencing Jiis sermon at the Cathedra! vestorday evening, said that tho Church Mission Fund was the one fund in the diocese which was at the free disposal of the Synod and Standing Committee. In consnpuer.ee, the fund was u»ed for a variety of mi-s;o!i purposes of great vain.' to the work of the church. 'Iwentv years ago the l'ur.d was about £400 a year, now it ran '•«> about £'1000 or £3 700 a year, and, with its growth had grown also tho many uses to which it was applied. It was used mainly for helping and maintaining tile poorer cures far away from tho centres, also for starting of new ones. A good example was that of Ross, which cure was about 180 miles long. The fund was also used to help to train clergy for orders, the work of the deaconesses was also helped, and the fund was ajvplied in. half-a-dozen other ways. Ho felt suro a good response would bo made thit year to the appeal. Since tho war started tho people had learned how to give, and there were lots of people from whom o:>e couid not screw threepence two years a;;o who were giving freely and gladly to-day. ana w;io had learned the joy <m it.

In Chambers on Saturday morning Mr Justice Stringer granted probate in the estates of the following deceased persons:—John F. Cowling (Mr Salter). Victor K. Couchman i'Mr Salter), and Mannco O. Moore iMr Wiliianis). Letters of administration were also granted in the estate of Julia liny Johnson (Mr Boswick'). A sitting of the Assessment Court under the Public Works Act will be held at the Supreme Court to-mor-row* at 10.30 a.m. to hear tho case. Mnrchison's Trustees v. the Minister or Public Works. The ease arises in connexion with the land taken at Lake Coleridge for the Department's hydroelectrical scheme. The oas,-, will be heard before Mr Justice Stringer and one nssc-.*or representing each of the -a'ties M- H. H Ostler will be rsse.vsor for tho Minister of Public Works. Fine weather, and special singing by the >..hoLurs, attracted large congregations to the Durham street Churcn votcrdav. the occasion being the is;xtysevond anniversary of tin? Sundayschool The afternoon and evening services were crowded. In the morning the Hev. J. J. North preached from 1 Kings, xiv.. while the Hev. P. >\ . Knight? at the evening soivico, took a-> his subject : "A Kai«-er and his Court Chaplain--." Probably the most interesting service of the day was the afternoon's when the scholar-., agisted bv the choir. gave the Wautiful c.-ntnta. "Fr.dor the Palms." solos T..1 <i-.iartets were sung by Mrs Finest Viir'n Miss Twose. Mr H. Blakeley. and Mr K. J. Johnson. The_ music of the dav v. as under the direction of Mr Krne>t' Firth. Tiie celebrations will lie .concluded on Wednesday evening, when the annual tea-meeting and scholars ontortainm.nt will take place Tho annual exhibition <u" the Now Zealand Academy <,f Arts was opened at Wellington on Saturday by tho Hon (I. W. Pu = s<H. Minister for Internal Affairs. * l:o. iu the com-.- ci a brief addror-s. congratulated the Society en the fine standard of works shown. Mr Russell sail that on a former occasion lie had plans lor the new .Museum prepared, on the tor* floor of which was to be a National Gallery of Art for tho Dominion. He saw a vote on the Estimates this year for the Museum, ami he (Mr Hussein hoped thev would vot see a National Gallery and" School "of Art established. That would bo worthv of the city and of New Zealand. He proposed shortly to ronveno a meetinc of the National Board of S-ience to go fully into the w'"olo. matter, and lie hoped to see a jvstem established eventually wherooy children from the small centres could go to the foiu- chiet centres to get art training. | An oxtrcmolv plucky action, and ono bv which a nofious accident was averted, was pel formed by a (hristchurch Hoy Scout at Papanui on Saturday. Tim Avonside Troup had been out for a (i'dd-dav at Stvx. and were passing tho Phtfmix." Hotel at about a quarter to five on their return, when a horse attached to a trap which was standing outside took fright and bolted up the North 'road, defying all attempts of those it met to arrest its progress. Two nionilfrus of tho troop gave chase on bicvelos, and one of them overtook the runaway near tho Papanui School. Ho seized the reins, which were dragging along the ground, and. riding along by the galloping horse, with one hand on the shaft, endeavoured to arrest its procress. which ho finally succeeded in doing, though his bicycle was considerable damaged in tho process. He then brought tho horse and trap back undamaged, refusing all attempts on the part of the surprised owner to reward him for his plucky act. In order to further the campaign of the Commercial Travellers' and Warehousemen's candidate in the Auckland Queen Carnival competition, a Mock Court was held at tho Commercial Tiavellons' Club at lunch time on Friday. Mr R. A. Singer presided as judge, Mr A. L. Denniston acted as Crown prosecutor. Mr F. Pullcn as policema;!, and Mr A. Wilson a s clerk of the Court. The iirsu charge was that preferred against, J. J. Craig, the head of tho well-known carrying firm, against whom an indictment was raised "that lie was 6oou driving on a lorry during lunch hour." '"A most heinous offence,*' declared the judge. ''Yes, one which breaks every rule laid down by the 1.W.W." added the prosecutor. "Where is this man?" asked the judge. "Ho flouts the Court.'' was tho reply. "Then he is found guilty of tho offence with whicli he is charged, and lined L2'>o. For contempt of Court, in failing to attend, he is fined a further £10," announced the judge. Within five minutes an "orderly" returned with a cheque for £2GO. the. announcement being greeted with applause!—an outburst whi-h the Court sternly rebuked, and os fines for disorderlv behaviour were imposed all round the room, tho constable being the first to be mulcted. "That will bo a lesson,'' observed the learned judge. Coughs and colds are very frequent at the change of the seasons. Keep n bottle of "Stop It" in your homo in case of emergency. 1

A now photograph every birthday — one worthy the occasion, by Stetfano Webb. High-class woik At moderateprices. 202 High Gtreet. Tel. 1939. 2 To Cricketers. —We arc- now showing bats from Gunn and Moore, Bussey, Wisden. Stew.irt-Surridgc. also "Vernon Ransford" .specially selected. New stocks of all sporting material. Ayres' tennis balls just opened. Lewis and Anderson, Ltd , 112 Cashel street. 7 Tho North Canterbury Freezing Co have let to Messrs John Chambers and Son. Ltd.. tho machinery contract for their new'works at Kaiapoi, comprising complete boiler-house equipment, manufactured bv Messrs Babeock and Wiico\\ Ltd., London, and refrigerating plant manufactured by The Haslain Engineering Co.. LUI.. Derbv. Mr A. S. Mitchell, of Wellington., i s the company's consulting aichitect and engineer. It is anticipated that the works will be completed about six months from date. u The leading house for gents' hats, Armstrong's, Ltd.. are showing the now lounge felt hats, in black, brown, medium ami dark greys. 4s i»l. 4«= lid. Os '.id: new straw boaters, 3s lid. Is lid. 5s lid; fine soi't strnws, 2a lid, 3s lid, garden hats. Is; boys' washing hats. '3d. 1 Cheap Elect!ic Power.—-Consult us about your Power Installation. Turnbull and don?s, Ltd.. eoie New Zealand Agents for the British Westinghouse Electric Company. 5 Working men should know _ Armstrong's prices tor overalls, S.S.S. navy drill "trousers 3s ( M, jackets 4s lid; grev-striped trousers, best quality, 3s lid'; painters' 2 S lid: 5.15.5. navy overalls, with bib, 4s lid: S.S.ft. combinations 9 S t>d. - Curtains and Coverings.—Our new fa brie flock abound* in choice and effective designs moderately priced. A. J. White. Ltd.' G With a good Vacuum Cleaner in use rtll the limo "Spring Cleaning" will be .erne a thing of the past. Wo have the "last word" in Vacuum Cleaners, a strong-suction machine easily worked, having both nozzle and brush. Price 435. Vacuum Cleaners on hire. Hastie, Btiil and Pickering, CasheJ sueet. 3 Two crockery specials. Afternoon Tea Set, 21 pieces in art design, lis 6d; Flora! Blue Dinner Set. 32 pieces, 27s <>d. No advanced price-. Save money at Dravton's Emporium, mjs Colombo street. " 113-3

WHY NOT BUY A B.S.A. AND HAVE THE BEST?

There i- not, at present, Mich a. wkl-? rantie of < lioiee ior th<> pro-pot tivo l»tir-cha.-r i,f n HKjtor-hicyi-io as existed beJoro ihe war. Shipment? from Britain ha\e bo?n curtailed, ami a certain neutral nation with >iroa£ commercial

proclivities., is making a strenuous effort to profit by the shortage and capture a goodly *.haro of tho motorcycle business in this Dominion. Luc»il'v. supplies ot on© British motorcycle, at least, are available in adequate quantities. W P have arranged lor shipments of forty B.S.A. rootoreveies per month, and tht> B.i.A. stands right in tho front rank. Its | competitive achievements are only equalled bv the Triumph, and in respect to excellence of design, beauty ot workmanship, and sterling reliabihty and efficiencv. it has no superior in th* | wide world'. "We recommend tho j B.S.A. on both patriotic and practical "round* As a side-ear machine it has no equal. It holds tho South Island championship. Yet. ratine; ru it does, at onlv -tj h.p.. it is an ideal solo machine, economical on both tyres and | petrol. The B.S.A. countershaft j throe-speed gear is mechanically per- I feet ami the new complete chain drive J is wonderfully efficient, "We supply tho in either combined chain and | boh drive or complete chain drive i fail and «eo the lnto=t models. Adams, Ltd.* Aponts for B.S.A. Motorcycle*. Headquarters Showroom*. High street, 'X.J. B. Brown. Motor- < cycle Department Representative.) 6