NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13101, 28 April 1908, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Easter timo all over the Dominion ; s given up, very largely, to tho volunteers and their manoeuvres. This applies equally to Canterbury and Wellington, and a good series of engravings relating to these places appears in tho issue of '-The Weekly Press" that comes out to-day. Tho pictures are well illustrative of camp life at Addington, Motukarara, and Fort Jervois, and of the invading force which got into ; Wellington. The Autumn Meeting of the Canterbury Jockey dub provides a pleasant centre opening of tho paper, fn which aro seen tho portraits of the winners of the big events—Golden Slipper, Zimmerman, and Buccleucn. Outdoor amusements at Easter include golf, cycling, and tennis, and those games find representative illustrations in the snapshots taken on tho Shirley links during the Ladies' and Men's Championships at Christchurch, and in the group of the players in tho Cantorbury Lawn Tennis Association's tournament, and the group of the motor cyclists who essayed the reliability trial from Christchurch to Rakaia and back. In variation there are several pictures of New Zealand scenes and scenery, as the path to the bath-house at the Morore Hot Springs, a footbridge at Ohakune, Kaeo, and Lambton Quay, Wellington, and also another list of candidates for seats in the next session oi Parliament. Tho publio of the Dominion look to their representative paper to cater completely for their requirements in the way of news, whether pictorial or otherwise, and "The Weekly Press," as becomes the journal that led tho way in modern pictorial work, onco more fills tho bill. Today's issue is a particularly interesting ono.

Tbe sale of unclaimed articles at the Police Station on Saturday realised £30 odd, by Which amount the Police Provident Fund will benefit. The articles included eleven bicycles and a variety of trintkets,- hand-bags-, etc., found in the Exhibition during the period of its currency.

• Tho voting for two workers' representatives on the Conciliationi Board, which closed yesterday evening, resulted as follows: —H. R. Rusbridgo 42, G. 11. Whiting 35, J. Fisher 15, R. T.Bailey 4. Messrs H. A. Broadheaid and. G. Shea-t were re-elected employers' representatives without opposition, tho sitting workers' representatives having also been, returned.

Tho Merivalo schoolroom was crowded to tho doors last evening, on the occasion of the annual entortainment of tho Girls' High School in aid of the sports fund. A programme of excellent merit was presented, most of the performers being encored. "Vocal, instrumental, and terpsichorean items were submitted by the following:— Misses M. FAintain, C. Moon, M. nr.i E. Francis, D. Abraham, N. Luttrell, P Nownham, D. Tronic, M. Saunders, I. Mills, G. duleo, E. Garland, A. Jordan, R. and V. McConnell, and L. and 0. Bean. A'drill exhibition was also given by tho pupils of the school.

Drawing the attention of the Canterbury College Board of Governors to the fact that a new acconnt had been opened, viz., the Chemical Laboratory Building Fund, Mr G. W. Russell yesterday expressed his regret that only £81 had accrued to tho fund as a result of the appeals,! that had been made to the public of Canterbury. Bearing in mind the fact that during the last year" or two soveral huge estates hod been* willed away by prominent men who had built up tremendous fortunes in land in the province of Canterbury, he could: not but deplore the entire absence of gifts to Canterbury College by them. There could be no nobler canso for tho bestowal of wealth than that of education. When it was borne in mind that gifts and bequests grant-' ed to education carried with them a subsidy of -pound for pound from tho Government, it was specially to bo regretted that so littlo had been done m this respect in days past.

Dealing with the question of holidays for farm and station hands, Mr Aeland remarked at the Conciliation Board yesterday that those demanded by tho Farm Labourers' Union did not suit either tho employers or the men. Ho knew that on some back stations tho shearers wanted to shear on Christmas Day, and they would shear on Sundays if they were allowed. In Queensland they had practically compelled the bosses to let them shear on Sundays, and the same appiitd in New Zealand, though not to the same extent. A holiday was little use to a man thirty or forty miles from anywhere, and he had heard of men spending a holiday in poaching paradise ducks or damming a, creek for eels. As to the allegation that a weekly halfholiday was necessary so that the men should do their washing on Saturday instead of Sunday, he dismissed it as an agitator's excuse; probably the men would play cards oh: the Saturday halfholiday, and continue the practice ot doing their washing on Sundays. '

In the Bauitouptcy Court at Wellington yesterday, Robert Low was granied a- discharge, conditional on the payment of iIOO to the Official Assignee. C. S. Free, whose brother had paid tho creditors 10s in the pound, was granted a discharge, and JoLsn S. Pearson was grantted an unconditional discharge.

Mr Sainsbury, a Gisborno chessplayer, tent a Biblical excuse for his absence from tho Chess Congress at Wellington. Without quoting the text, h.> referred his friends to Luke xiv., 20. They looked it up, and on reading "1 have married a wife, and theretore 1 Cannot come" they telegraphed their congratulation*. There was a largo attendance at the funeral of the late 'Mrs Maofariano at the Presbyterian cemetery, Ra-ngi-ora, yesterday. Tho paH-bearers were her sons, Messrs Malcolm, Waiter, Bninoan, James and Alexaunder Macfarrane, and Mr Geo. Jameson. The ceremony vas conducted by the Rev. D. J. Steele. It was with a sigh of profound relict that the Christchurch Domain Board yesterday received an intimation that that portion of Hagley_Park which had been in the hands or tho Exhibition Executive for practically two years past, had been handed back to ite control, together with a substantial cheque in full settlement of all claims against the Government. Negotiations are in progress Government for the purchase of a block oi land at Waihao Downs for sites for cottages for railway employees, with tho intention of making Waihao Downs the terminus of the branch railway and of establishing a daily train service. The Waihaorunga-Waihao Downs Railway League has resolved to urge the Government to appoint an officer in charge, and to expedite the inauguration of a tlail> train service. The annual report of the Lyttelton District High School Committee, presented at the meeting of 'iiou»ehol<i*£-» last night, referred , to tho" success achieved by the school in the realm, of sport. Tho report stated that one ■ pupil, A. Reed, had. won the SchoolI boys' Swimming Championship of Canterbury, and another (J. Laureneon) had won tho Canterbury PubHo Schools' Tennis Championship. Mr Rich, an ex-pupil, had won the Half-mile Swimming Championship .of Canterbury, and another ex-pupil (Mr W. Webb) had won tho World's Sculling Championship. The remnant of the Elginshire now presents a very odd appearance (says the Tirnaru "Herald"). Tihe stern portion which has withstood th© buffettings of the seas so long, with but a slight list northward, has now been thrown over on the port side, and as the bottom had been, broken away the starboard side is now tho top and 'hapfh above the water. In this position its weight must put ta strain on the deck beams, that they are -not likely to bear long. Forward of the remnaunt! of tihe -hull the tops of the engines are to be soon projecting above tflie surface of uho water. As tho result of a shorthand theory examination- of studenß of G<iTbys Commercial College, held at the end of last year, when fifteen candidates presented themselves, the foUowing have been awarded the Pitman certificate, the three first named being in order or merit:—Miss Gwendoline Novis, Mr Roland P. Harris, Miss Elsie Allen, Mr Philip Mulligan, Misses Ivy Baker, Hilda Ell, Mary Ellis, Flossie Nixon, Jean Nixon, Kuini M. Marshall, Lillie Morley, Frances Scottj E. Trenchard, and Ethel Wright. Commenting on the improvement in tho food supplied farm labourers nowadays, Mr Aeland remarked at the Conciliation Board yesterday that he did not know what tho modern workman would say to the food that the pioneers lived on in tho old days. His own father and Mr Tripp had lived on very little else than wild pig for one or two years, and that was tho ordinary stato of affairs existing then. As to supplying butter ;to farm and station workers, he pointed out that this had been made possible by the establishment of butter factories; in the old days it was simply impossible sometimes to got butter. "It did not matter whether you were rich or poor," ho addod, '/it was not to be had, and you had to do without it."

The Canterbury College Board of Governors passed yesterday, on the motion of the Chairman (Mr G. W. Russell) the following congratulatory resolution:—"That the Board offers to Professor E. Rutherford its hearty congratulations upon his having been awarded by the Turin Academy of Science a 'Bressa Prize,' and trusts that his work in the higher branches of science may continue to lend lustre to his name and to his Alma Mater, Canterbury College." . Mr Russell 6aid that this was one of the high distinctions which had been conferred on Professor Rutherford, who was Fellow of the Royal Society and a Rumford Medallist of the Society. The monetary value of the prize just awarded was £384 per annum. It must be very gratifying to the Board and all Canterbury Collegians to know that one of the former students of the College had secured such distinction.

Speaking to a largo congregation in St. Andrew's Church, Dunedin. on Sunday night oa the subject of "The Real Yellow Peril," tho Rev. Dr. Waddell drew a vivia picture of the tremendous forces that are involved in the present awakening of the East. Ho instituted a startling comparison between tho ancient Roman Empire and the British Empire at the present day. "If in this great conflict between the yellow and the white man in tho not distant future we failed, it would bo for tho same reasons as.had brought about the ruin ,of Rome. Wo shall go down," he 6aid, "not because of the material forces outside our gates, but because the spirit has loft tho body within. Like the wild tribes that swept down upon ancient Rome, they will bo but the eagles of judgment that remove tho infecting carcase from tho face of the earth. . . Tho real yellow peril is not these nations, vast though they be, that are rising on the distant horizon. It is our own lust of tho yellow metal and what the yellow metal can purchase. It is to bo engrossed with our own interests and our own ambitions and to be dead to tho summons to lead tho Gospel in through theso great opening doors of tho Orient. If we'fail to do that we may live to sco ourselves where proud, imperial, self-loving Rome found herself—in the dust at the feet of Vandal and Hun."

A pathetic story was unfolded before Mr C. C. Kettle, SJXI., at the Auckland Police Court last week., when William Garrett was charged with deserting from tie steamer Wakaaiud. Garrett, when the charge was read over to him, said: "It was like this, 6ir. I have a wife and children at Home, where I lost my position through tho introduction of mechanical stokers, and I tried -very hard to get work. Night and day for five months I trod the streets and docks of London, trying to get a job, until at last I was told we would have to go to the union workhouse. That meant, sir, that mo and my wife and the children would be separated, to say nothing of tho disgrace of it. Then I heard of the proeoects of work in New Zealand, so I left"tho wife and children at Home and worked my way out, and deserted when I got here. I don't drink, nor interfere with anyone, but I have a good wife, and I want to £jet her out here to livo with mc in this land of plenty. I have a job to go to in Auckland, and thai was further temptation to desert." The charge was allowed to stand over to see if any arrangement could bo made with tho captain of the steamer to secure tire man's release.

A good rarmbex of entries in the frtrifc classes have already -been, received for tho Chrysanthemum, and Fruit Show, to bo held in the Colosseum, next week. At the meeting of tho Canterbury College Board of Governors yesterday, the Chairman (Mr G. W. Russell) reported that a letter had been received from the Premier stating that in the event of an institution such as a conservatoriuin of music being established, the offer made by the Board to supply a. site would receive consideration.

A householder at a suburban School Committeo election last evening roferred; to tho fact that, during the previous year, tho school library had been augmented by a number of volumes presented by an anonymous givor. "I intend to mako an anonymous gift ot books this year," he pursued, "and I hope thero are others present who will do tho same." The marble bust of the late Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, executed by Mr Nelson IHingworth, was placed in the main cntra-nce to the Government Buildings yesterday. Its permanent home will be in tho Parliamentary library. The bust stands upon a pedtsta! of polished green granite, upon the front of which tho name "Seddran*' is inscribed in bronze. The height of tho bust, with its pedestal, is 0 feet C inches. A meeting of tho committee set up to mako the necessary arrangements for tho formation of the Linwood Citizens' Association was held on Friday evening, Mr Richardson presiding. It was decided to call a publio mooting, to ho held in the Linwood Public Hall, at an early date, to receive tho report of tho committee, and to elect the various officers. During tho evening between seventy and eighty names of intending members were handed in. At tho suggestion of one of tho householders at tho meeting at New Brighton last night for the election of a school committee, a publio meeting was held after th© annual meeting to discuss tramway matters, tho Mayor (Mr Macfarlano) being voted to the chair. After a heated discussion, it was reserved that a deprataition coaisasting of the Chairman and Messrs G. W. Staniland, J. Glanvillo, A. W. Owles, and the Bey. H. T. Purchas should wait on the Tramway Board and explain the complaints of the meeting. . A covert sragaostion was made at yesterday's meeting of tho Domain Board, that some of the rocks buried by the Exhibition authorities in Hagley Park should bo exhumed, in order to furnish material for the rock gas-den for the growing of Alpine plants, as proposed by Mr H. G. Ell, M.P. It was generally thought; however, that it would be more economical to procure the rocks direct from Nature's laboratory, and the matter was relegated to a committee to enquire into. Some emueement was- oaiusodat the (meeting of Addington ' householdiars last night by a householder's questions regarding the salary, paid the school caretaker, which was stated! to be. £65 per ajMHini, with free house and firing. The qnestrioneir, a member of a previous School Committee, urged that the salary should be increased to £70 and, the chairman gently chaffed him for not having made provision for a higher rate of payment, but the exoommitteeman defended himself .by stating that the caretaker's duties had increased since he was a member ■ of the committee. Another householder thought that the caretaker was well paid, as he calculated that his;salary and "privileges" were equal to £2 per week, but; his remark was greeteti with cries of "No."

It is comforting in these days of keen competition for land (remarks the "Oamaru Mail), when so many apply for, and so few can bo successful, .in obtaining lands for. tions, to find that in this;, "as in all other matters, perseverance will eventually be crowned with success. \ For many years, ever since the system of cutting, up-the land vmsh inaugurated;; by Sir John M'Eenzie, a family in this district lias followed the ballot from Ardgowan to Meadbwbank, and a 1 ways without; success, but to-day, when ihe numbers were djawn which entitled applicants to leases of sections on Meadowbank,. two members of this ofl>4isappoint©d fannily ; were found to have drawn plums from the ballot-box. In this there is a shred of oomfortj for those many ptihers Bnnilarly situated. ,"':' '-'-vv,. :.,^-\ : \:.. ■-.. ;

The Ten. ArcWeaooh. WJUiarhr left a bequest of £1000 : to:i.thef- OrphaiisV Home at Parnell (Auckland)' on-. coixdition. that the sum of £4000 was collected from other sources by June 80th next. At the amiual meeting of sufcsoribers to „tho, Home, the horv treasurer stated:' that the £4000 reqtjired to qualify the trustees to receive-tine-bequest of £1000 had' not yet been collected. The sum of £578 was still needed, and that must be in hand! by the stipulated time. Assuming that the sum named was obtained by June 30th, the trustees would then have £1578. In- addition, the Government had! promised £500, of which £250 vas to be paid immediately (which -would bring the total available to., £2078). This, with tho amount already spent on the new buildings (£2182), made a total, of £4260. The full cost of the buildings would be £10,000, and conaeqaiemily about £6000 would have to betaken from the endowment funds to equalise, which would mean raising about £300 per year in subscriptions. No difficulty was anticipated in doing this.

The Chairman of the Addington School Committee informed the meeting of householders last night that ho had taken upon himself to inspect the sewing class in tho school ono day. "I wasn't received very nicely," he continued, "and they looked at mc sideways." . Being a practical man, the Chairman had criticised the work being done, and had told some that they had not done their work very nicely— an opinion ho felt justified in expressing seeing that he was an expert. He thought that the sewing in the school should bo more practical, and said that if the parents or teachers could not cut out a pinafore, for instanco, if they sent tho material along to him he would cut it out for them. (Laughter.) He thought that sufficient attention was not paid to darning; in these days or sewing machines it did not matter whether one could sew or not; but darning was most essential in a household. When thero was a bole in a stocking they did not want to throw it away and buy a fresh pair; it was not fair, and he would not liko his own wife to do so. He failed to see why the boys should not bo instructed in darning, and referred to tho custom in Scotland of boy 3 learning to knit.

Acknowledging a voto of thanks accorded him by tho meeting of Addington householders last. night for the work done by him in connection with religious instruction, the Rev. W. S. Beaji ho bolievrd that ho had had a simiia/r resolution forwarded to hdm .annually since lS\)o, tho first Bible class in ccuinection with the school having beenl commenced- in January of tliat year. He found that not only boys and girls of his own congregation, but bovu and girk belonging to pretty well* every denomination .attended. There were about 130 on the roll and an overage attendance of bctiveeu 70 and 80. He was no:, satisfied with this, and considered that in a school of 500 to 6CO there ought to be 200 to 200 present at the Bible class. Ho would welcome the entrance of any clergyman from any denomination to assist, in removing the prevailing ignorance on Bible subjects. One of the householders present suggested that charts obtaining the Ton Commandments and the Lord'u Prayer should bo displayed' it tho clasi rooms.

. . — ■ —— -~„_ -Sir Josepli Ward lias ptomisorl tol open tho new post office at GcraHiWi as soon as it is completed. - #4 "It's a long time since I had said a Papanui householder last aurMpt "but if I had it I would not school committee" with it." • .%$ Two prisoners,' named John Frai»ew| Usher and John Johnson, escaped frotf| the Waiotapu prison camp, near Roto.! rua, yesterday. vSijS Owing to the executive meeting bi£N ing held on Saturday, the annnali meeting of the Waikari branch of th*l Farmers' Union is indefinitely potfcjff poned. o-^fj On Saturday night the assistaoiP harbourmaster was knocked off '•■''ttilii Napaer wharf into the river by an ttttra expeoted blow from a drunken ra«y® aod narrowly escaped contact withTSJJ woodwork. Tho culprit was beforeHfc»l Court yesterday, and waa fined £3^J| Tho H.L.V.A. Conrmitteo begs j|l draw the attention of the friends oM tho Association to the advertisement ofE the work party in aid of destftnterf patients, and hopes that there will bill a. good attendance of those in tbe work of providing warm ing for tho sick and needy. ;.' : fts! A portrait of Miss May IhrihufM formorly a resident of Ghrist<&ar:it§i appears in one of tho-leading rnagaainos for March as one of tjkm'U eight beauties in. London on. which tha'll verdict of celebrated artists- and pattatiyj' ens has been, asied. Miss Pudney &M% ceived very flattering encoraiurns frcttN some of the artists. . v 3 Mr S. R. Webb, Mayor of LytieJtebfS who is a candidate for the same officii this year, addressed a meeting of payers in the Colonists' Half lastniglrdlf There was a fair attendance, and Ct v ' 3? M. J. Miller presided. The Maywll commented on tho -work of tho pastel year, and on the position of borough, and at tho close of hia addreaail answered a number of questions. '.^j.;'^ The educa'tioaaal statistics for th*'*!! quarter ended March 3lst marked moreaae p the attendance f tt | Otago schools dhunng tho three The number of pupils.osthe, roll, the begHWMig of fc»e rHiarter '.-vmM 19,398. x> 17,417, being 492 for the, prenons quarter, ands43mare M wian tor tho March, o/nairter, lovu. •-?? ,At the annual meetingof tonae- ri nolders at Richmond Lust evening, re-Is ferenoa was made to tiie success'"of the;"<§ school swimming bath, and to ta»'« energy shown by tihe teachers m : ii&3ffj parting instruction.' to young : mere. During tho past ; year the fosl lowing first-class proficiency certificate*; had been awarded to pupils by tW New Zealand Amatenr Swimming-Alp sociatioa:—Bßoyds, 8 boys and 3 girlll 440 yds, 3 boys and 1 girl;. hoys and 1 girl. ,; -§« . Harvest thanksgiving services war* oclehrated at th«Tßea<&'Church,. JT*S Brighton, on Sunday, the services ,b*| ing conducted in the morning by ,Iss Rev. Harold Purchaa, and in the ing by tbe -vicar, tho Rev.' H. T.-PjiH chas. In the afternoon a chdldr«i!i| flower service was held, after which t tiwj many floral offerings tendered distributed by tbe elder soholaM amongst the cpoor and ailing in parish. The church was prettily; deoajji ated for the servioes. with and flowers, and quantities of xTrrrt"*w| vegetables. \ ■■ ~ .'■•'•■'B^HM "Under date of, Maartb 6rt3i, M«m Coode, Son. and Matthews, wrote to agM secretary of iSia " Board, elating that the report special engineer on Hm i iiiinil ■iNJISm ■would be-posted a* the. April. Tha month, ofApril --i&nwsfl nearly at an end, but up to sent no - intformoi&m lias beon «s to the posting of - the -'■ » probaWe > tha*; the .. 6ac?e£arvij||9] communicate iy'-;ciaMo' ; L : Coode, Son and Matthews-, ther; tho report bm ioem if iwt/whea ft wffl . '•'.i'L^j'S^SßJ ■ At tbe annual parish at Michael's iles*: eveniag, /fahe Yen.--deacon Averiß: said in his addre* <tbo9 ho had often - beard, the opinion' <jMI pressed that the vicar of St. MioW«M made "a (fat thing otKt fees.'' He. wirfied, cm tihe caatrßffiM to have xt nndcrstood 1 that srudiMJOM not tho case, hut rather tho The . marriage fee, lis, was MiKa oyer to the diooesaii> -firndj! great nuumv people from ishies thought they had dome when they puttten,rn, slmUiß ra : officiating ciea-gyman's ham Is to pay, he woa <nbt on>. marria©e feeß^eaWWasl' ■ aHy,;whe.n he fead as ; roaiy ■ afternoon. At -tie antrraal meeting of ere of St.. Michael's, held:last •-maiWmM the vicar, tibo in tho chair,- tiie aimTO> j balance-sheet were - adopted. ''40§tf9maa bearers were , elected. as '■ Vicar's -wardenj,.. people's warden, "'■ Mr-, G; •: (re-elected, W. Barrett, G. T.Dixon, E. Bvans, T. P. MoMurray, M. C. Orholl, S. Dr. Manning (all; re-elected): T. A. MosfceAV. The meeting resoltttaon. recommendtng tihVf take into considexation term of office the dosiniMity ■ of^M^wf; ing -.the-., "whole v of :.lfa:fa&%£*loi!&MMm church to be made free pri ated .//■ A motion by - "that iiri the opinion of thas it h desirable wi* women thio ecclesiasticair froinchise/'.; on ■ a show of hands. / '^^Sivgj^M' At a of creditors terdajv afternoon, a. 6oTi<^r, for tfio debtor, stated the creditors-wished the W taken in camera, and Official.Assignee (Mr G. L, GreeiflftjflwM' to ask '"The Press was the only reporter present, draw. . JMr. porters had no .legal'riaihifr': these but their great deal of £ood in giving U- fraiudulent bankrnptrjaes, ting_ tbe tradespeoplo on *Jbeir : Again, at presßed-rery liardly persons who, ' some unfortunate force to fiio, aaid h© rogretterl proceedings ■(rero puhlashed eases. However, as that l3«t sitiing in the ca.pao%-of ; Assignee, !ho took the opportenityswßt Uiajukimfj ths reoortem for the o&urteligM" &xtended to him, and their ■tta&t&RSmA plianco with any •wish bo fxpressed. Ort pu-ttins the inowfigffißf tho vote seven were for tha". pr&pjslME and four against. As this a Email proportion. of thoso preißaiSgK* Llio Official Ass-igmee said he ask the reporter to withdraw. %"*§Bw An important point cropped ing the hearing of a civil at the Majristrate's Court yesterdiiml?i i>efore Mr If. W. Bishop, S.M.,,rit;*spft nection with a claim by a Company against a purchaser rolumes. The company su«d-/tti«S ! fendant for a certain W, It considered was owing for wlvrßafjjaS || i cycloj>edia supplied. The tdsWsm I that defendant had agreed tojraSi p ;hase only four volumes of.■'the.;3jfflffi 1 in question, which had been duly.i-Pgal S or, and all responsibility for the;«]§|l M cional volumes forwarded was dei»|oa |l rhis, it was contended, was in; a #■ inco with Section 11. of the Boot :haser» Protection Act, I891;:'|-iirogl| | itipulated that the agreement || ;he dealer and the purchaser must g >rinted across ft the total p ;he purchaser. In this case, I winted out, that the additriwpi | oituue.s had. been returned,'. a be cost of tho volumes retajneytjlgjap he cost of whicli, £4 4s, was s t* n JWj|B§§ icroas tiie agreement) had bcea L'he Magistrate maintained lad l>fen. sust-ined, und gave. or defendant, witih costa» \' ~- ; . ":iMmim&

Detectives Gibson and Ward arrested n man yesterday en charges cf bicycle stealing. ' The annual meeting of the Acclimatisation Society tsics place this evening. The polling for tho Mayoral election Trill take place to-morrow. There is 8 little mild excite meat connected with the city election. It is anticipated that the newly formed orchestra, which is doing excellent work under the baton of Herr Benno Scherek, will give its inaugural concert some time in Juno. At a meeting of the Oamaru Harbour Board yesterday it was decided to ask tho ratepayers for permission to borrow £50,000 for tho purpose of purchasing a now dredge, and so render the harbour and approaches absolutely safe for Home-going vessels of any size. U a meeting held at Napier last evening, it was decided to form a union of master bakers, which will be registered under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. It was resolved not to introduce the coupon system at present, but to take steps to eliminate bad debts as far as possible. In the opinion of a building expert who has inspected Government House during the alterations now in progress, in order to convert it into a temporary Parliament House, the principal timber of the building is badly affected bj borer, and can not last longer than from five to seven years with safety. The Arbitration. Court sits to-day at Auckland to hear eight disputes. Two applications are for extension and two for interpretation of awards, there aro fifteen claims by workers for compensation, and 125 claims by the Inspector of Factories for the enforcement of awards. "I have never been on the course in j— iif e .»—A remark which incidentally fell from tho lips of Mr H. W. Bishop, S M at the Magistrate's Court yc&terdaiy "during tho hearing of a case in which a young man was charged with the theft of a totalisator ticket at the Trotting Meeting at Addington on Saturday. • While papa blasting operations were in progress on a road contract some dbtanoe out of MangaweKa, some very fine- fossil specimens were unearthed. The shapes of fishes and different kinds of shells were easily picked out, but unfortunately orumbled to dust w-hen exposed to the air, and therefore they could not be kept any length of time. The best selections received in connection with '•Truth's" first football competition wore sent in by Messrs J. Main, 146 Fitzgerald avenue, and E. It. Dartnall, Hewitt's road, Monvale, who have been awarded the first and second prizes respectively. Only three out of the largfl number of competitors who sent in coupons placed the teams in the right order. As the Provincial Counoil Chambers will -bo required to-morrow as a lK>lling-place m connection with the Mayoral election and on the following days for other purposes,: the chairman of the Conciliation Board (JUr W. Minson) announced yesterday that on Wednesday" and afterwards- the proceedinge in the farm labourers' dispute would tako place in the Supreme Court. '

The invitations havo been issued by tho West Coast committee for the luncheon on Tuesday, May sth, in connection with the Otira Tunnel celebration, and in order that arrangements can bo made for accommodation and facilities for transport, it is of the utmost importance that those gentlemen who intend to-assist at the ceremony shot Id, ia addition to replying to the Secretary of the West Coast Committee, Mr Evans, notify Mr H. A.- Adley, Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, not later than Thursday next, April 30th.

The funeral of the late Mr Matthew Wheeler, of Church Farm, Gebbie'b Flat, which took place on Saturday, was the most largely <-■ attended ever Been in the district, the settlers from far end near -uniting to pay a, tribute-to the memory of one who had lived in their midst for nearly forty years. Mr Wheeler came to Hew Zea-. land in the sailing ship Merope, and settled in tie Gebbie's Flat district, where he acquired and carried on a dairy farm. His deathy at the age of G7, was universally regretted, and the sympathy of the whole district was extended to his widow and family. The late Mr Wheeler left three sons and two daughters, all of whom are married, and a brother, Mr J. Wheeler, resides in Timarii; The service ot the grave was conducted by the Rev. Mr Pritohett. Wreaiths were sent by numerous friends of the deceased.

Nothing succeeds like success, therefore if any reader of "The-Press-' is in want of a really first-class silver lever watch, they cannot get better value or a more reliable article than one of B. Petersen and Co.'s famous Canterbury watches, which are sent post free with guarantee on receipt of Post Offloe order for two pounds. 1

The following new books are in constant demand, and all have been, well reviewed:—"The World's Awakening," "Come and Find Mc," by Robins; "Sheaves," by Benson; "Somehow Good." "Aliotvfor-Short," and "Joseph Vance," by Do Morgan; "The Weavers," by Sir G. Parker; "Pam," by Baroness yon Hutten, Graham of aaverhouso." Founts* Barber, The Hall, High street, Christchurch. 1 There is nothing like a Beniicia Disc ; Plough for working out twitch.. W. Bassett and Co. 2

■ It is essential for every lady, whether residing ip town or country, to have an exquisite tailor-made costume cut and cleverly fitted by Monsieur Spitz and made by the very best workers under hie direction. 198 Cashel street, Whitcombe and Tombs' Buildings. 6

Novelties in Neckwear as displayed at the DJ.C. to-day, include many pleasing fashions in ladies' embroidered collars, lace and silk scarves and ties, lace cravats, fichus, kimonos and collarettes. Specialties for to-day at the D.I.C. aro prominent in real Maltese lace collars, etc., and a new shipment of motor scarves in finest mercerised cotton and 6ilk, ranging in prices from 2s lid to 21s. 6

With the approach of winter! and the accompanying changeableness of the atmosphere, the throat, if at all woakj comes in for a very trying time, and it is ju6t at such seasons as this that serious colds and chest complaints are most easily contracted through neglect. At the first sign of a cold, attention should be given the matter, and in cases where a cold has existed for some time, it should certainly bo shaken off now, before tho cold winter days come. To remove a cold—no matter how slight or how long standing —and to permanently strengthen the chest and bronchial tubes, there is one effective, sure medicine, that hundreds of Christchurch people have proven good and true—Wallace's Cough Elixir. Tliis wonderful chest medicine acts by removing the disease-producing germs, which lodge in the throat, and, by eliminating from the system the diseased phlegm, by making free expectoration easy. Most chemists sell Wallace and Co.'s Cough Elixir—the price is Is 6d and 2s 6d per bottle—or it ia procurable from Wallace and Co., Chemists, High street. But insist on having Wallace's Cough Elixir, the medicine that ha 6 proved its worth here in Christchurch to hundreds of your own neighbours and friends. 4

. The Robey Oil Engine is worth inspection; call and see for yourself. Full particulars and prices for instalstions; also, xSheep Shearing Machinery, etc. Apply, H. McCleiland, 224 Cashel street.-Christchurch. i

"Yon will remember that you packed and removed my furniture to Feilding. Everything turned out satisfactorily. Nothing was broken, scratched ojr spoiled. Accept my thanks for the good work done."—(Signed) G. B. Extract from letter addressed to the N.Z. Express Company, Ltd. 3

Simple ideas, if patented, often bring fortunes. Consult Henry Hughes, patent agent. 183 Hereford street( opp. United Service Hotel). Consultations free. Q

•Special line in AVaders lor the coming shooting season. Messrs Hastie, Bull, and Pickering, Ltd., opposite Bailantyne's, Casbel street, are offering an excellent line of Waders and Fishing Stockings of 20 per cent, better value than anything previously offered in the Dominion. First-rate English and American Guns at low rates. 6 J D. Clarke, D 8.0.A., F.S.M.C, F. 1.0. (London), Opthalmic Optician, lateiy returned after two years' special study in London in reference to eye defects. Latest appliances for grinding all kinds of spectacle lenses. Every frame made to fit each individual face. Specially-built testing rooms, fitted with .latest instruments for sight-test-ing. Charge? strictly moderate. Telephone 2321. - Address: 148 Colombo street (adjo«mng S. Ciarke and Co., jewellers.) 6 Now that ladies' dresses have no pockets, a dainty little '"Vanity" Bag is almost a necessity for carrying purse and handkerchief. Some protty kinds at low prices are at Fountain Barber's, 330 High street. 4 Ernest M. Sandstein , F.S.M.C, D.8.0.A. (London), Consulting Optician, may bo consulted on all cases of detective eyesight. Fifteen years' special study and experience. The most complete and up-to-date optical parlours in the colonies. Consulting rooms, Cashel street, W. (next Bailantyne's). Hours. 9.30 to 5.30. Telephone 397. 6

John R. Procter, Oculists' Optician, 180 High street, established 26 years, may bo consulted daily on all cases of defective eyesight remediable by glasses. Hours 9.30 to 6 p.m. Consultation free. A most complete and up-to-date 6tock of lenses, frames, and artificial eyes always kept on hand. 5