NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13547, 7 October 1909, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

_« . —. In eferenco to the remark passed by one speaker at the canal meeting on Tuesday night as to the absence of several members of Parliament, Mr Geo. Witty, M.P- for Riccarton, desires us to state that he was detained by another important engagement, and that on Friday last he informed the Mayer that he would be unable to attend the meeting. Further, he received no invitation to attend.

The Auckland Drainage Board will j soon hay© works in hand involving an ! expenditure of about £_o,COO. No fewer than 294 young people i have been enrolled as members of the juvenile section of the Public Library. The officials in charge of the department state that the behaviour of the ' children is exemplary. For the conveyance of the volunteers on Labour Day to Yaldliurst to take part in the manoeuvres the members of the Automobile Association have promised to provide about seventy-five motor cars. The Association is also sending out circulars to owners of cars who aro not members of the Association, asking them to co-operate with the members of the association in assisting in j tho transport of th© troops. j In connection with the ep-ning of ! the boating; season on Labour Day, October 13th, a distinct novelty in the j shape of a ladies' four-oar crew is promised. Hitherto it has been found necessary to attire masculine rowers to represent a ladies' four-oared craft, but on the forthcoming occasion the Union Rowing Club hopes to provide the spectacle of one of the first ladies' four-oared crews in the Dominion. A somewhat-serious mishap occurred last :iight to a steam engine attached to a Burwood car. The engine 'had just taken the points in Worcester street preparatory to entering the Square when an axle broke. The brakes wero applied quickly and tho engine find ear brought to a standstill. The line was blocked for a time but another engine and an electric car were procured, and these hauled tho obstruction from the rails. Curiously enough, a similarly accident happened recently at almost the same snot. In connection with the request made by the Canterbury Chamber of Commcrco that the members of the Automobile Association might place their cars at the disposal of tho Chamber for the purpose of conveying the delegates to the Commerce Congress to Ashley Gorge on the 16th inst—a request that the Association had pleasure in acceding to—the President of,tho Association wishes it known that tho Association will bo glad if owners of cars who are not members of the Association, but who are willing to assist in making the trip a pleasant one to the delegates, will communicate with him on tho subject. Our London correspondent writes: — Now Zealanders may take some sort of comfort in the knowledge that the Habitual Criminals Act is having an appreciable effect in driving confirmed burglars and pickpockets to other fields. The London police are confronted' almost every day with some daring and impudent case of burglary, pocket-kicking,, or confidence trickery, which is traced to men who hove already earned themselves a reputation itt the Australian States and New Zealand. Their prevalence here just now is directly attributable to the recent legislation of New Zealand and some of the Australian States, providing for drastic treatment of persons repeatedly convicted of such offences. The quarterly meeting of the General Labourers' Union was held in the Trades Hall on Tuesday evening. Mr J. Bradshaw presided, and there was a large attendance. A circular was received from the Labour Newspaper Committee, and it was decided to take up twenty-five shares in the company. It was resolved: —"That any member owing six months' contributions shall be deemed to, bo an unfinancial member, and that a list of all unfinancial members be rested in a conspicuous place in the Union's office." The secretary was instructed to call a special meeting to consider filing a dispute between tho Union and the Wool and Grain Stores employers. Financial assistance was Granted to _everal members who through illness were in distressed circumstances. Tbe secretary reported that a new branch secretary had been appointed at Timaru, a satisfactory report had been received, and the branch" was on a good footing. The receipts for tho evening amounted to £48 Us 9d. Is the general health of the community improving? was the question which suggested itself to the chairman of the Wellington Hospital Trustees on Tuesday. The return submitted by the secretary showed that comparing the fortnightly period ending last Monday with the similar one of the previous year there is. a reduction of fiftynine in the number of inmates. On Tuesday there were 199 people in the various hospitals, and last year, at the some time, there wero 258. The monetary return from in-patients for the fortnight ending Monday was £180 3s 3d, against £143 lis 6d for the same period of 1908. . It was very gratifying, said the Hon. C. M. Luke, to find that the health of the community was bo much more satisfactory now than it was a year ago. Probably one reason for the great drop in the figures was that the cases may not now /be so serious, and that it is not necessary for the patients to remain so long in tho institution. During the course of the opening ceremony in connection with the Maori College at Otaki on Monday, an exciting incident occurred (says the "Dominion"). For the occasion a rough platform had been erected, and upon .it were standing his Excellency the Governor (Lord Plunket), Bishop Wallis, several other members of the clergy, and a number of ladies forming the choir. Without warning the staging, which stood about 2 feet from the ground, suddenly swayed forward and subsided. Most of itoccupants made no special effort to escape, but others, including Lord Plunket, jumped clear. Most conspicuous, however, wes the action of a lady, who, caring nothing for her own personal safety, devoted her energies— and with commendable success —to prevening the harmonium from falling on the Bishop. Fortunately, nobody was hurt, and nobody suffered any loss of dignity. In the course of his speech later, Lord Plunket said he had to thank them all very much for the kind reception they had accorded him, including the interesting performance they had earlier in the afternoon. (Laughter.) A recent visitor to Christchurch, ■speaking to a representative of ''The Dominion" on Monday last, stattd that btisiness, both trading and building, seems to be greatly improving there, and that a brisker tone generally prevails. During "his visit the gentleman was afforded a striking example of tho trait of casualness which makes the residents of the Cathedral City so charming, and which at the same time instanced to him tbe honesty of the Christchurch public. A friend who bad cycled to the station to meet him on the Saturday morning of his arrival left his bicycle in the stand on the public highway in order to accompany the visitor on the tram journey to his destination. Neither of them were in tho vicinity of the station again- till the Wellington man's departure for the north on tho following Wednesday, and in the meantime the northerner frequently asked in reference to the bicycle, but was told not to worry. With a knowledge of the ways of other cities —where bicycles are sometimes stolen, and he had, heard that occasionally tho same thing occurs in Christchurch—the visitor was not so satisfied; but on his return to the station he found that his misgivings were entirely unwarranted, for there, still in the rack, was tho bicycle. The Christchurch man's "I told you so" was merely accompanied by the comment that the policeman on that beat seemed to have kept the' machine well dusted, as was the custom of the local constabulary with streetleft bicycles.

It .is expected that at tho opening of the sailing season at -Redcliffs on Saturday afternoon, October 16th, Dick Arnst, the champion oarsman of the world, will give an exhibition of sculling. A meeting of head teachers is to be held at the Normal School on Saturday week, at 12 o'clock., to consider tho proposal to hold a School Garden Produce Exhibition in connection with the next annual show of the Christchurch Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Club, and to elect « Committee of Management. The adjourned meeting of manufacturers and retailers, convened by the Industrial Association of Canterbury for the purpose of considering arrangements for New Zealand Industries' Week, 1910, will be heki in the Association's rooms. Canterbury Hall, tomorrow, at 7.30 p.m. To-night, at the Canterbury College Hell, Professor Bickerton will give tho last of his series of free lectures on "The Birth of Worlds and Systems." The lecture will be largely devoted to the philosophical importance of the influence of the idea of an immortal cosmos on the trend of human thought. Mr E. R. Waito announced at the meeting of the Canterbury Philosophical Institute last that through the good offices of the Prime Minister the French Government had agreed to forward to the Institute a copy of the reports of M. Charcot, the leader of the recent French Antarctic expedition. Tho reports wore contained in seventeen volumes, and would form a very valuable addition to the library of the Institute. The Christchurch Photographic Society held a general meeting at the Worcester street rooms on Tuesday evening, when Mr S. Page gave a demonstration of "Intensification and Reduction of Photographic Negatives.'' Tho results of the October competition were announced. The subject, "Kitchen In- j terior," proved to call for a good dea.' of photographic skill, and some excellent pictures were shown. Mr McGregor Wright gained both first and second places. We understand that Dr. Bradshaw has handed' in his resignation as conductor of the Christchurch" Musical Union. The reason given is the adverse criticisms of the Union's recent performances appearing in a newspaper, which Dr. Bradshaw considers to havo j been personally directed against himself. Dr. Bradshaw was requested to withdraw his resignation, but has only consented to do so if a certain condition is complied with by the committee. The matter was discussed at the Musical i Union's practice on Tuesday evening, when Dr. Bradshaw maintained the position bo had taken up. . A iieeting of the Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club was held last evening. Mr F. W. Johnston • presiding. Eight new members were elected. On tbe motion of Mr Ellis, seconded by Mr Stubbarfield. it was decided to hold a spring meeting, November 27th being recommended as the date for the fixture. A sub-committee comprising Messrs D. Hoare, M. Moore, and H. St. A. Murray was appointed to make arrangements for the meeting. Notice of motion was given that the rules of the Association be altered with a view | to holding the annual general meeting at the end of October instead of March. The sale of work' at Knox Church was continued yesterday, excellent business being done at the stalls. The sale will be open again to-day, the special attraction being table decorations, which will be judged by public vote. Owing to the great success attending tho sale, the committee have decided to continue open on Friday evening, free of charge. Tho following: are the, results of yesterday's competitions :-— Lady's spray, Miss Rout; gentleman's buttonhole, Miss Rout; vase of flowers, j Miss G. Rogers; nail driving, Miss Rout 1. Miss Stella Rout 2; hat trimming, Mr F. Gardiner .1, Mr Heney ; 2.A free gift social was held in the Church of England Mission hall, Breeze's road, New Brighton, on Tuesday evening;, in aid of the funds for Sroviding an additional room for the lission building. About seventy were present, and" tho Rev. Mr Inwood presided. A trio was given by Mesdomes Sprosen and Blakeway and Miss Hanham, solos by Messrs Grigsby and H. S. Neale, a pianoforte solo by Mi»3 Brooker/ recitations by Mrs Sprosen and Messrs W. Blakeway and M.'-J.v Taylor. "Anchored" was sung by the Mission hall choir, under the leadership of Mr Grigsby. Refreshments were provided during the interval. It is intended to hold a sale of work at an. early date, the gifts handed in on Tuesday evening being intended for that \ event. _■;■■ '.';•"■'■ .' - '■•'."■; A largely-attended meeting of Island Bay residents and property owners, held; last night (soys a-Press Association message from Wellington), passed a. resolution protesting against the proposal of the Salvation Army to establish a prison gate home in suburb. A deputation was appointed to wait on the City.Council. Among the speakers was Mr Justice Edwards. He said he was the pioneer resident of Island Bay; the only roof he could call his own was there. Women and children would not feel safe,if the estabI lishment proposed was set up, unless the Army undertook to send a brigade to protect the population, or the Police* I Force was greatly increased. He rej cognised that .the Army was. doing j noble work', but, at the same time, the resjpectablo portion of the community must he considered. Messrs W. Belcher, general secretary Seamen's Union, and W. T. Young, Wellington secretary, were seen.by a reporter yesterday evening with regard to the Waitemata dispute. "They stated that an action would be brought against the Union Steam Ship Company, claiming wages to the date of the men's dismissal from the ship, and a certain sum as damages. Mr Belcher said the case involved one of the most important questions in shipping law ever raised in New Zealand. It remained to be seen whether the men were entitled to their wages, and possibly damages; but, independent of that, the cause would be an important factor in deciding tho nature and validity of contracts between shipmasters and seamen. The case will be heard probably at Christchurch, on Monday. Mr Belcher will leave for Dunedin to-day. Reference has been previously made to the proposal which the St. John Ambulance Brigade authorities in the Dominion have made to the defence authorities, whercunder the members of the brigade in .the various districts would comprise a reserve of the Field Ambulance Corps. Information has just been received locally from the headquarters of the St. John Ambulance Association that the schemo has been approved of by the English War Office in connection with the Territorials in England and Wales and in the British Dominions beyond the seas. Under tho English scheme provision is made for tho establishment,in each county of voluntary aid detachments, tho members of which are in no way liable to go away from their homes for military service, their only liability for service bein_: in the event of the invasion of England. The scope of the training is very com- | prehensive and deals with the preparation of vehicles provided by the military authorities for the removal of : patients lying down, the improvising of stretchers, and other means for severe cases carried by hand, the conversion of country houses, farms, and other buildings into temporary hospitals, the formation of rest and similar stations, arranging for transport from railway stations to hospitals and medical posts and vice versa, and other similar duties. The proposed scheme for New Zealand lis understood to be on similar lines.

t _sv"? oal . inwslia « <* the *_25% i Lady Visitors' Association will W?H_ I to-morrow. M 96 «Mi " The Telegraph Office advis«_ k __p - *' - advises that Fao rout?CtF* * restored. """• faa * W«_- - The will of the late Mr G P ',V hams was proved at Dunedin andTJestate was valued for probate _ t M As the midday tram for the tfS' * was passing over a crossing »t Addi»7 ton, it ran into a mob of _h«r> «»?_- v by Mr Holmes, of KiwckleJSSJT2 * five sheep were killed. *"«»iW__»* The next of the $ or i«s of prac , lectures m connection with ita t£_?V cultural Society will wiSJ&t evening, when Mr A P: r___T* will _ : ,e*k on 'Narcissi and 0«S J Spring Flowering Bulbs." W Our report of the sale of work _,_«_.'] Michael's on Tuesday * l tently omitted to mention that ato£S_ others there was a pottery &$ " T which, under the direction of jE.Boys, Misses Julius, Molmeaux 2xl bhrimpton, was well patronised. , Colonel Robin (Chief of the Gens*** Staff) and Colonel Tuson (Wd'Slff 1 * tary Member of the ' v fence and Adjutant and QuartcrroasfsT ; General) have acoepted M inv,Uftou I to inspect the Christchurch eon* of ST* , St. John Ambulance Brigade rhen t__v are next in this city. f The meeting of the Lyttelton __«. hour Board yesterday must have est*.. lished a record for 'brevity, as far v the past few months are corj-emed It commenced ot 11 a.m., and -nas ow* by 12.45. The word ''canal" was harrJiy breathed—hence the quick despatch 3 business. At the meeting of tho Harbour Board yesterday Dr. Thacker ga\e notice of motion that the present Sailors' Home at Lyttelton be removed, with a view of an up-to-date institution bomg erected. Dr. Tbacfcer said th-fr." his reason for taking this action was," that tho present premises wcr_ __. solutely insanitary. -, M S Joyce i lloa - secretary of fb» bouth Spreydon and Beckenham Di_,. trict Committee, has. received a letter/ from the secretary "tor the Board of , Education stating that plan* are beiiig prepared for a main school to accsn£ modate 300 scholars, on the BoardV site in Somerfield street, and an apali/ cation is to bo made to tiie D-partaustt' for tho necessary grant * ; ft Tlic members of Mr Post's __>t_dj__. Tina Band intend tendering him a complimentary concert at an early ia' recognition of his many serncw aj conductor of the band. An lnfinentiai committee, comprising met-bens of band and leading musical gentlemea?,.; lias 'iepn formed, and there _s eT_ry> probability of a successful concert l»jF_jf. ! civen. . . • ' The first 'quarterly Court retajftuj' since No-license cam© into force jjjjair-'.: a considerable falling off compared, £ft&'' the previous quarter (says a MajfarfQ.Press Aesoriat ion telegram). _fe*-lj were 13 convictions for against 85, and 73 persons vera tiiwSF into custody as against 220, iri_l„JfJ2 were summarily convicted at, 193. *fv. The sub-committee appointed "to driVup a draft programme for t&tfgtfcfe vf* fete in the Domain in Febjfwjr jparft"; will pay a visit of insp-cQjMiio this Gardens to-day, at 2:15 p._M :$&» pose of the -visit is to enabfe-ths nVg committee to lay off oonrfes,-«t -fife various races, arran_e cite* far _oSi_|£ : and decide other matters relating j4|| the fete, v ~';-;"■' ■';,'.' ?■- i:'iC£' % ■•■ His Worship the Vj| last mail a communicat:oni|ro_- Cr. aM B. Sbrensen,. dated Ia this Gr. Sorensen stated tbatjibere were M ', fewer than five re_id__n| living in Leicester square, Abndon. aM he had .that- day parted . with tra|l others who were. X«E-,lWffi sen also stated that he was leaving 3j!lK New Zealand, by the t Otranto v °ft,|j|a6 "'.Th ; of : Committee appointed to co-o-erate VmS the Board off Governors oi CantermßgH College in the - scheme for e_tabl_&6||M an early colonists'* 'Section Museum, will be held this The reports, of-the Varibub: tees appointed at .last meeting wUU||g|B brought, un, and a motion by Hall, excluding; the tures, docn_._nts,r.and* other'matjtgjjffl referring to matters arisins r last twenty-five .yeaifji-Ari& %» <^BC^l^|B ;■;• Jlt'_:.'_u__ahl_l)^i , r : wa* the renu[li«9 the train' paes-nger-ii* 'he WaimakaxW' yestord-y Stewart's G nlly bridge; Tlio q(fl«| a. h'ft-idvma-SiMv silt*v' It VUy-jnK first" bi_;,:fresK iH-4>sj_ra| son, and- ve*w*«|«M| raijia «Jys|_§ ranges, on whichr the river has thbro was a frefihsnoWfallj v from,WPplt future freshets may Jbe river.,.wa»; not; fishabie J whit-baiters, and;: except hand', for * In connection kith, ihe^anairniH^B; on Tuesday dent • >f the Tpadies and : 'J#W&Jp*smM' ■ states, that-. 3>y. ; : on.. «r-^r.,: ; ■ . ,he ; w_3' made--to--';-iit^^f|wiaßti; scheme. This. ..w-a; :- ; .not" ; - Trades and _jab<iQrv<!^--cil. : considered - the / schfeaicV: ''^■•^ L *^^^B ; Howard was in fayonrr- <*f'js&:s£&g&i lion of the representation on tttg,||^g: hour Board from ita one on a popular itaea&. by vot^^^^M Monday was the.'.first'day"-'^'^^^B.' through systeni of booking, pisww^*luggage on tho\New Zealand, rlu^^«: whereby a passenger, hookitttg^^^RH Auckland, and proceeding to M^HB is enabled to have his; luggage,t^M: right through to Dunedm, allr|gffl^ , sitility in transit being 'carried jffigHX;Railway Department 'io?\-*f;lgs£Bmr." charge of ■ twopence-, mi .paolcefei'JMg ■*. guard of the Main ;: ; which arrived in Wellington' y , day afternooHi was asked ; ; . of "his .passengers "had/ -availed * ' selves of the new privilege. ''fl single one," ho replied.■•;../. --'_•.- % According to latest reports,\Hg|gH| y appears to be almost extinct '"; air Hamilton, director of-the BogJW : : Museum, will make another .:••. ■ view to securing, if possible,-'*jSsSg i, two for breeding purposes. -J'SSil ft ■ return on Monday from ;.;; where he had been ICflk,n _:. t ' lß *K|g| ifeary preparations, he weawawpSSj ;;,: ' only two or three of the* s '$ been seen for a considerable Periel« |J ■ and his party, say*' the ■ 2emWfflffi [ % ■ intended to make a protrj«ed;;aß» | ' in the North Ruahine dirtrwt,.-L_{H| a it was helieved, was 'the only g where they were now to o e g 1 the party were successful, ttt *>«g | k taken would be placed on OD * *|ffl I ; Barrier Islands. .; i A paper dealing with the k of Christchurch artesian «*teft« f ' presented by Dr. C * and Mr D. C. H. Florance,. | meeting of the Canterbury ' phical Institute last night JJf. _ ' explained that the artesian «**J?3 ■ tni contained an unusual l«* e, g?Bp nitrogen, with the result that nw M eggs placed in the water or developed d:-sease. The w* l the Avon, on the other *"»'*,..,." found to contain the ordinary «»«< tion vfllues of oxygen and Tho other subjects set down pJjjfc, siucration were:—'Pet on Rocks from the Kcrmadee fj*ffi cuid Some Geological E f* Existence of a Former & U |£__SsV VPacific Continent" (Mr R- ISfcT •* -Tho Vegetation of the B*?3&?. $ Islands (-Mr Reginald B OU«*. | Bryophyta and Lichens CoUertW | Stewart Island in 1908 1 Cockayne," and -A I Zealand Rubus" (Dr. h Cockai^rW

to state that, at • -W« •» "SSStiwof many of fte earnest c - tat,^ nnc i! s We de- - their customers y s ; ot Sale eided to continue ««"£ G ' fjr fourteen days longei- . .« *r. eft«v as a "Royal intermediate Kearea heate _ street Eassett and Lo., *■» <, Tflrrvinc, Packing, Houschold Bemoy>ns, L n Vd to be done, and done w *j ,j j (->- Ltd. -J Hevwood and v-0., v * j-nhtedlr one of the leading Undoubtedly , vas h, n g dresses favourites amon*. v roat erial at Is lia, , »»■ J • fabric comes in all tho '^I_?*£&>_ its dainty texture V°F l A nleasing colour schemes . an d the many "Pi« J dc * aml tbat it Wds are creating snen. fhat fair . t0 .%««." Ladies are advised rXI _5J?£ *-«« at th l n I c W R and C The quickest, best, f S' f sM_e*t medium for sending i_ w»fa7 and Ne w c3r mementos to ChrKrt«n« ana Zea _ _3*bSSS»- ,s sm ' ice - Reduce _' -griff for door to door service. 4 Merchants and Importers realise that «cwrt knowledge is essential in all j J. M. IlevwocKl and Co., JT -s Customs and Forwarding Atents are qualified to place such knowledge at their disposal. 4 4bout the most unpleasant feeling on. can experience on a hot and dirty d_v in summer time is a soreness of the Ives caused through the continual ruDbrng. tryinß to get the grit out. Gogdes keep the eyes nice and cool and a • farce assortment, from Is upwards is to Ken at John R. Procter's, Oculists' Optician, 180 High street, Christ- . church. B "Life on the ocean wave" is worth living U?e the "Ocean Wave," and spend washinn-day at the seaside. The '•Ocean Wave" is Hastie, Bull and Pickering's marvellous Washing Machine, now on view opposite Ballantyne's. 6 Messrs Fountain Bros., Dentists, have removed from Colombo street to over Wardell's, Cashel street. Painless Dentistry in'all'its branches; fees moderate; all work guaranteed. . b Hartnctt Milking Machines, Oil Engines, Wolseley Shearing " Machines, are tho three Reading Machines in New Zealand. Particulars _nd prices for Complete Im,ta tions. McClelland and Anderson, 224 Cashel street, Christchurch. 6 THE STATE OFTHE RIVERS. Yesterday the rivers Ashley and Waiiaki were reported as being ' «'clear," the Waimakariri, Rakaia, and Ashburton as discoloured, the Selwyn, Itaogitata, and' Opibi as fishable. A SHOPPER^EMBARRASSMENT. A quaint incident occurred last week in a Wellington drapery establishment - (seys the "Post"). A little knot of ' .. .ladies stoUed into the hat department, ' one of them desirous to choose a smart simple hat for morning wear. One of her companions noticed such a hat on ' a table with many jother specimens of - headgear. -It was of burnt straw and swathed with soft green silk muslin, ■ finished with a big rosette, Tho mus- • lin, too. Jine&it, and altogether it was decidedly neat and attractive. She carried it to her bat-hunting friend, ' who fell at once a victim to the subtle simplicity of its charms. She tried it on, looked' at it-with mirrors and at different angles, exclaimed on its com- * fort anil' style, and finally decided. -u_>on- taking it. ■ Shft/was- giving her name and address to the assistant, when another saleswoman came up, and .said, iri;accents trembling with eolation of some variety,' "The lady over there Would be'glad of her hatl" There was b horrified siTence, and then in the distance they saw a hatless lady, c "flushed hut .smiling. Apologies were but •probably the innocent because.of tho tho tasto of the _nrner-of,rtheha't.i '■