GENERAL NEWS.

Since tho inauguration of tho Second Division League in the Ashburton County, 400 men havo been enrolled. There aro still a number of enrolment books in circulation, and new names aro being added daily.

"I have come across cases in which girls under 1G years of ago have been left with soldiers' pay, and the soldiers' mothers have been left to starve," said Mr Nosworthy in the House of Representatives last night. He urged that the Government snould take steps to bring about a different state of aitairs.

In accordance with a unanimous resolution, passed at tho last meeting o 1 : the local Ministers' Association, a simultaneous exchange of pulpits has been arranged for tiio evening of Sunday, August 19th. It is anticipated that iu •order to emphasise the unity that exists among the various lioncpiscopal churches of the city and suburbs, every minister will, on that occasion, occupy the pulpit in a church of another denomination. A committee, representing eacii of the denominations, which v.-as appointed to draw up a plan of exchanges, has had its task facilitated by the readiness of all to fall into line, and anticipates that tho movement will be a coracle to success.

The local office of the Department of Public Health, Hospitals, and Charitable Aid is to bo removed next week from the rooms at present occupied in the Old Government Buildings, Durham street, to rooms on the top floor of tlio nor,- Government Departmental Buildings in Worcester street.

A public distribution of diplomas and certificates gained at this year's examinations held in Christchurch under the auspices of the Trinity College of Music, London, will take place at tho Art Gallery, on Saturday, a t 3 p.m. Mr H. H." Loughnan will occupy the chair, and the awards will bo distributed by his Worship the Mayor (Mr H. Holland). During tho afternoon a musical programme will be given.

A spccial meeting of the Heathcote County Council was held yesterday, when a resolution was confirmed authorising the borrowing, by way of special loan 7 of the sum of £1000 for a period of 303 years, at a rate not exceeding oi per cent, per annum. The motion further provided that for the purpose of providing interest and other charges on this ioa'n. a special rate of 3-10 d in the £ on the capital value of all rateable property in the Avon riding of tiie county "of Hcathcoto should be levied.

At the meeting of tho Philosophical Institute, to be held on Wednesday next, tno' Hector Memorial Medal will be presented to Dr. Charles. Chilton, and Professor H. B. Kirk, of -Wellington, will lccturo on the "Fly Nuisance," a matter which Professor Kirk was recently investigating in connexion with tho damps. Tiie meeting will be held at Canterbury College in tho new lecture theatre, opening from Rolleston avenue, and will bo open to all who arc interested.

Just ovor the Carlton Bridge, on Bculey avenue, is a little triangular piece of ground that at the present ti'.no is rather a wilderness. In the near future there is a strong probability that this place will bo made nob only useful but ornamental, for a proposal has been made to tidy it up and establish a croquet ground for tho benefit of tho ladio.s in tho vicinity. Tho matter has not yet been dccidcd by the Domain Board, but it will como up for consideration very shortly.

The grading of cheeso was mentioned at yesterday's , .sitting of tho Military Service Hoard in Wellington (telegraphs our correspondent), and the secretary of the Department of Agriculture- (Mr F. S. Pope) stated that all the first and second grade cheeso was' now commandeered by the Imperial authorities. He caused some little amusement by stating, in reply to another question, that there was only one other grade, tho third, and that ho suppoced it was consumed on the New Zealand market. By way of qualification Mr Pope added that all the cheeso manufactured was wholesome.

At the half-yearly meeting of tho Millerton Miners' Union, hold on Sunday last, Mr John Dowgray tendered his resignation as president of that union, and intimated his intention to retire, at least for a time, from the trade-union movement (says the ""Wostport News"). Mr Dowgrny has occupied the position of president for nino years, during which time he lias proved an able chairman. The union passed a resolution that Air Dev.'gray's resignation be accepted with regret, and resolved to place on record its appreciation of his long, unselfish, and faithful service to tho trade-union movement of New Zealand in general and tho Millerton Miners' Union in particular.

A nice point was raised during tho hearing of an appeal by the Auckland Military Service Board, as to the exact difference between a member and an adherent of a Church (says the "Herald"). The appellant based his appeal partly on his objection to bearing arms. • stating that he had been connected with the Seventh Day Adventist Church for five years. "Then you are a member of the Church?" said Mr Elliot. "No, not exactly a member," replied appellant, who said that to becomo a member one must understand fully all the tenets of the ere 3d. He was an adherent of tho Church, but was not qualified for admission. This left tho Board in some doubt 'is to tho validity of the ground of appeal, and it was decided to adjourn the case until the exact position couid be ascertained from the pastor of she church.

■Mr D. L. Poppelwell, of Goro, lisus received the following letter from Sir James Allen, in reference to the posting of A. M. Thomson, who left for the front in March, as a defaulter: — I have received your letter of tho lGth instant with reference to the publication in tho '■ Gazette" of tho name of Alexander Michael Thomson, farmer, of Brydone, under Section 13 of tho Military Service Act. Mr G. J. Anderson, M.P., has already brought this caso under my notice, and I have written him, stating that as a result of inquiries, I find that tho inclusion of the namo in this list was unfortunately duo to an error on the part of the Defence authorities, and expressing my sincere regret at the pain and annoyance that has been causod to tho soldier's relatives and friends. I have also advised Mr Anderson that a correction will be published in the next issue of the "Gazette" under Section 13.

"Concerts are .pretty dead in London these times," writes Mr Peter Dawson, the famous baritone, to Mr R. A. Horno, of this city. "However, the theatres and music hails arc always crowded to overflowing. There is nothing but 'reviles' at tho latter—tiresome things at the best of times. Sir Thomas Beecham opened his operatic season at Drury Lane two nights ago (the letter is dated June lst)„ with "Othello," in English—wonderful indeed. * Maurice D'Oisleyj 'Walter Hyde, Robert Parker, Robert Rudford, and Rosina Buckman all figure in their respective spheres. Rosina is indeed a great artiste, and is considered the greatest Madame Butterfly en the operatic stage to-day. ... I shall never forget her wonderful characterisation of' Murette in 'La Boliemc' ab Covent Garden when Madame Melba was m tho east. At the end of the performance, when the audience was cheering and calling for the various players, Rosina came out on the hand of Melba, and Melba loaded her up with flowers. I assure you wo are indeed proud and gratified over this fjreat New Zealand singer's success."

Some humorous stories are told In "The Masseydonian Stretcher" (tlic official journal of the N.Z. Stationary Hospital in England) as to the peculiar behaviour of patients when put under gas previous to an operation, "Gas is • esponsible l'or many an imaginary perfornance," says the writer, "as ivhen the Flying Corps patient woke up, shouting, 'All over? I thought I was in a— — aerial scrap.' Under tho heavier anaesthetic more weight and lengthy speeches are delivered while in a state of transit from tho 'knowablo to the comeback life.' As witnesseth the Australian Lance Jack, who ordered the battalion to 'come up here and get into it.' There are some men who will tell it in French, others who tell it in native Irish or Scotch. The latter especially are noted for their animated excitability. One can always tell an Australian because ho always shows fight, and not. infrequently uses language that is peculiar to the man from 'down under.' On • one never-to-be-forgotten occasion ttvo men were being 'put under' at tho same time. Suddenly one man commenced to sing—a not uncommon occurrence in itself. But one can imagine the humour of the moment when the •other man commenced to 'count nim out/ Perhaps one of the most witty things came from a badly wounded Australian jockey, who, when lnid down l>cside the 'table,' asked, 'Is she a hard horse to ride, Doctor?'"

"Bar* Day" in Dunedin last Saturdiv is* expocted to result in a clear profit of £'2500' for the Women's Patriotic Association.

Messrs Alfred Edwin Brewer and John Alfred Watts have been nominated to fill the vacancy on the Spreydon Borough Council caused by the resignation of Cr. W. J. Elliott. An election will take place on August 2nd.

Owing to the _ confusion arising through the similarity of names of tho Papanui Cemetery, situated at tho Anglican Church grounds, and the Papanui Public Cemetery, situated at Graham's road, the Board have decided to chango the name of tho latter to the Waimairi Public Cemetery.

A "Gazette" Extraordinary was is« sued on Tuesday proclaiming that notwithstanding anything in Section 4 of tho Military. Service Act, a Nativo reservist who has been married in accordance with native custom on or before tho first day of May, 1915, and whoso marriago is for tho time being subsisting, shall be a member of the Second Division of the Native Expeditionary Force Reserve.

There are various definitions of ''"friend." but that given by a witness in the Wellington Magistrate's Court on Wednesday would be hard to beat as regards originality. (says the "Post"'). "This man is a friend of yours?" queried tho Sub-Inspector. Witness (with emphasis): "No, ho is no friend of mine; I haven't drank with him in my life. Why, I don't like the man." In upholding his own character, the witness said that, in 1-1 years, ho had only been run in three times.

A Wellington cricketer, writing to a friend in Christchurch, mentions that J 1 ;. ("Ernie") Taylor, t'ho coc-Lin-wood player, was with a Wellington company, and in the cricket matchcs they had played ho had taken most of the wickets for his side. He mentions that they had played matchcs against the Canterbury Battalion, which included J. H. Bennett, D. Sandman. ('. .Ridley, A. Haddon, Lynch, Stitt, and Bernan. Three matches were played, each side winning one, whilst tho other was unfinished.

In the course of a letter from London to Mr ft. A. Home, of Christchureh, Mr Peter Dawson, tho well-known baritone, pays a tribute to the New Zealand soldiers'. "I linve met many New Zealand boys over this side," lie says, "and grand fellows thoy are. They arc humans of the first water, so

sturdy, so open-minded, and they c-arrv themselves with a dignitv so becoming to tho land of their birth—'God's r»wn men from God's own country.' Tho doings of these great men will down in history. They are honoured and loved on every hand, and treated with a respect that stands, ■unrivalled."

This year, instead of posting tho farmers the necessary forms for returns of income tax and land tax, the Commissioner of Taxes made it necessary "for those concerned to call on the various post offices for same. It was stated at the Farmers' Conferenco on Tuesday (says the "Post") that a mail in f the back-blocks seldom saw a post office, and when ho did call at the office it was very often closed. The following remit from Auckland was carried unanimously : —"That it be incumbent on the Commissioner of Taxes to post to every farmer his form for returns of his income for taxation purposes." It was also decided to suggest that the forms delivered to farmers should he simplified.

A soldier writes from Tauherenikau camp to the "Poverty Bay Herald":— "A happy meeting occurred down hero between two brothers Wlio had not met for fifteen years. One of them, a Gisbornc boy, a company regimental quartermaster who is well-known in Poverty Bay, had a party of recruits out showing them the art of using the bayonet. One of the recruits was very backward in his drill and came under tho notice of. tho young instructor who called him aside, and was giving him a little extra tiiition. When the recruit was in front of the officer they stared at one another, and then grasped hands in silence; each had thought the other was dead. ■ Two special passes wei'e granted and the happy pair celebrated their rexinion."

Mr Peter Dawson, the world famous baritone, in a letter to Mr 11. A. Horne, of Christchurch. speaks in terms of the highest praise of the Maori song "Haero Tonu," the words of which were written by Mr E. D. Hoben, late of Christcliurcli, and the music by Mr Horne! Mr 'Dawson describes tho song as a really splendid one, and ill the course of his letter said'that ho was making'a record of it for the famous "Zonophone" Gramophone Company, of "His Masters Voice" fame. On the reverse side of the record will be another Maori song, "Waiata Poi." Incidentally Mr Dawson remarks that he is shortly coming out to Australia and Auckland, and may, if he has time, drop iii on Christchurch .

Tho old man, David Robertson, 80 years of age, who cscaped from tho Tuaraugi Old Men's Home on Sunday week, is still-at large, writes our Asllburton correspondent. The Ashbiirton police received word that lie liad been seen at Charing Cross, biit on tho police going out no trace could be lound. Another message was received that ho had been seen at Ncwlands, but the police were again unsuccessful in finding their man. It appears that this is not tho first time tho old man has escaped, and before going on this occasion lie stated that he "would . not bo caught so easily this time," as he intended to sleep during the day and travel at night. As ho is very feeble, and there is no trace of his having called at any of tho farmhouses for food, fears arc entertained as to his safety.

A substantial donation to the Methodist Foreign Mission Fund was announced at a foreign missionary meeting at Northcote on Sunday (says -lie Auckland "Herald"). The Rev. C. H. Garland received from the chairman, Mr J. W. Court, a document setting forth the gift of a freehold property in an Auckland suburb, valued at £1000; and. accompanying it, a cheque for £200, the whole being n donation from an anonymous friend of missions. In thanking, through the chairman, tho anonymous giver, Mr Gnrland, chairman *of the Foreign Missions Board, stated that already there had been subscribed at Nortbooto this year considerable* more than £1000. which, added to the present gift, made a circuit record tnnt had never been surpassed in Australasian Methodism, nnd but rarelv ecinaJled in the world's .history of missions.

"London in these times is appallingly thinned of her manhood, anu women predominate on every hand," saya iur i J etcr JDawson. tho famous baritone singer, in a letter to Air it. A. Home, of Christchurcii. "The women oi Kngland are mado of the right stuff, and they are carrying on in every -joueeivable capacity—filling Government; offices, munition factories, post offices, train, train, bus, and lube conductors, working lifts, sweeping the streets, driving motor-cars, dairy and farm work, special constabulary, everything that will go towards relieving the lighting stock, who must ultimately beat tlio Hun to his cursed knees, Ifte Hun is now an outcast to the mind 3 of decent thinking men. . . . The great schenve nowadays—in London especially—is to own a plot of land and grow one's own greens. The golf links tennis courts, crickct grounds, p ar k lands, private lawns —all are committed to the plough and spade. . . Itiveryboay is growing food to combat the Hun U-boat menace. This has been a. most wonderful summer, and con.iequentlv a record output is assured. . . . The Hun will never starve Lngland into submission; far easier for a camel £o walk through the eye of a needle.

A soldier in a neighbouring distrt.it (says the Palmerston "Standard") was being farewclled at a social. The chairman, i n making him a presentation, incidentally remarked that so far that particular district liad escaped inclusion in the casualties. - Next dny the speaker was advised that his own son had been killed in action.

An employer witness, supporting an. appeal to-day before tho First- Auckland Military Service Board, comforted himself on the prospect of losing his man with the following remark : ''If ho had had sense enough to get married seven days before you could not havo had him at all. He -would havo been in the Second Division." An Auckland message soys that a congress of Auckland Provincial Labour Unions carried the following resolution : "That this congress of sixtyone Labour organisations has absolutely no confidence in the National Government ; that in tho matter of food supplies for the pcoplo tho Government has not considered the public interest, but has also aided and abetted exploiters of food supplies. *'

At the annual meeting of the Canterbury Sweet Pea and Carnation Society Inst- night, Mr T>. Bradbury was presented with the goid medal won bv him at the last Show of the Society for a- display of sweet peas. In making the presentation the president stated that it- gave him much pleasure tn hand the medal to Mr Bradbury. not only on account of the fine sweet pens he liad grown, lint also because he was an indefatigable worker in connexion with the Society.

Tliat cough —When tired of it got a bottle of Loasby's "Stap-it." CuresolJ or young. Chemists and grocers. tiiyj.

T. Armstrong nnd Co.. Ltd., are justin receipt of advance shipments of Spring Millinery nnd Costume Models — some extremely beautiful goods. Ladies desirous of viewing the very latest, win he shown the same on application. in the inner show rooms, atcither of the firm's, establishments. L

Furehase your footwear to-day. Exceptional bargains in store for you, every kind kept in stock. (Stewart I'.obinsou, Cnshel street west. li

Wo have just landed the very latest, thing in electric radiators. It's worth your while to come and see them. Turnbull and Jones, Ltd. 0

Stocks of Sheflioitl pockct-knivcs, on account of sever,? restrictions imposed by the British.Government, .-ire running short in New Zealand. Lewis and Anderson, Ltd., Cfislip] street, report th:it tliry are holding good stocks, and so far have been able to supply all de T mantis. G Soldier Portraits of the type you'll like —full of manliness and character— made by Stcffano Webb, Photographer, Petersen's lildgs., High street. W8234

Three-ply Black and "White Roslyn AVooi 4s lid head. C'-oats's -100-yard Cottoil Reels 5d per reel, 4.s lid per dozen —at Armstrong's. 2

"Wrong thinking" caused tho war! Ib also causes people to use hand-rough-ening imitations of the genuine "No Rubbing" Laundry Help; Is packets with "Thinker's" Notebook free. J. and A. W. Munnings, Grocers. 3

"WANTED TO SELL—SLIGHTLY USED STUDEBAKER—£32S. Now on view —offered on behalf of

client —3-cseater (1916) "Studebaker," full equipment: owner requires larger car. Only run about 5000 miles. Nearly new condition. Inspection invited. Price., £325. Adams, Ltd., 219 Tuam street. 6