NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13740, 23 May 1910, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Simultaneously, or as near as local circumstances would permit, memorial services to the late King Edward were held all over the Dominion; and "Tho Weekly Press ,, reproduces some of them in its illustrated pages of this week's issue, among them those of 'Wellington, Christchurch and ♦ Ashburton ■that took on Friday afternoon. Tho daily newspapers "of Saturday stated that the public attended them in thousands, and the statement is borne rut by the excellent illustrations of our contemporary. In connection with these services the journol also gives a panorama of the one thai took plaeu at Cranmer square on Sunday week, on which occasion, it may be seen, there was also n very largo gathering of tho people. The paper is full of most intrrrsting engravings. Life on the East Coast of the North Island is represented in a set of pictures of the bringing of the wool from an out station, the branding of calves, tho driving of sheep and the digging end storing of the kumnra, and then a page of half-tones shows one of the recroations of tho men upon tho land as typified 'by the sheep dog trials of the Moawhango Collio Club. To those who are taking some interest in the coming Antarctic Expedition, which is to leave Lyttelton nest November, the front page portrait of the intrepid commander, 'Captain Scott, will be acceptable, and those who like to know of the industries that tho Dominion is engaged in, that of ostricb-ferming, as depicted in "The Weekly Press," will afford them useful information. There arc two notablo views of Halley's comet taken at tho Meeane Observatory, and in the miscellaneous mass of other pictures the public hare illustrations of the ferocity of American football, tho curious aspect of Africa's great dry sea, the Sahara, the excommunication of Robert the Pious, the town of Whangarei, and a veteran- colonist of 110 years of age. The literature includes a powerful story of the "White Slave Traffic," and others in lighter vein.

The police require an owner for a pair of boots found on the street.

The following entries have been received by the Christchurch Poultry Club for its annual fixture:—Poultry, 592; pigeons, 496; cage birds, 229; cats, 93.

Tho erection of tramway poles in connection with the extension of the electric system to Burwood is proceeding, and a larfje number of those necessary in Stanmore road arc now in position.

The new grand stand on the Metropolitan Trotting Grounds is rapidly approaching comoletion. The old stand is being raised in preparation for removal to another nosition, and it should shortly begin its journey.

An instance of the voracity of eels was discovered by a resident of Umutaoroa recently. (says the "Dannevirke News"). In a little'creek branching off the Tamaki river he caught an eejL aboufc 41b in weight, which, on being out open, was found to contain a trout nine inches, in length. Eols are -at present fairly plentiful in the creeks and rivers., and s apparently, will work havoc among the younger trout.

The dangerous habit that some cabdrivers have of driving close in front of the tramway shelter in Cathedral square nearly caused serious bodily damage to a number of women and children who were waiting: in front of the shelter on . Saturday. A cab was driving past, and suddenly, on the approach of a tram, swerved out towards tho middle of the roadway, and several people narrowly escaped being knocked down

The annual presentation of certificates, medallions, and labels to the members of the local* classes of tho St. John Ambulance Association who were successful in passing the examinations in first aid, home nursing, etc. > during the past year, will tako place at tho Choral Hall on Saturday evening next. His Excellency Lord Plunket, who is a Knight of Grace of the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, in England, will present tho awards. Duri?)g the evening his Excellency, who is also president of various Xevv Zealand centres of the Association, will receive a farewell adc~resp from the Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin centres.

The carelessness of some spectators at the automobile tests at the Metropolitan Trotting Grounds on Saturday afternoon occasioned a couple of thrills, which both occurred while the petrol consumption event was on. .The larger, part of tho crowd occupied standing room on the track, forming there a fairly extensive line. Sufficient room was left for the passage of the motorcars between -this line of people and the rails which form tho inside boundary of the track. On one occasion a, motor-car was coming up smartljr" behind Another which was proceeding very slowly, and the driver of the rear car had to pass just before he was clear of the lino of spectators. There was hardly-room for two cars abreast, and an accident was only saved by the startled celerity with which tho lino of 'people, swung bark. On another occasion a spectator had encroached too far on to the track, and the passage of a motor-car wheel over his foot was the first thing to warn him of his danger.

A curious illustration of the wide extent to which "The Weekly Press" circulates reached us by the last mail from America in the shape of a reproduction of one of Messrs J. Ballantyrie and Co.'s advertisements published in that journal. The illustration reproduced is that of a girl wearing a big hat crowded with roses, and our New York contemporary has the following remarks about it, concerning which we need only note that Greater Christcbureh, according to the last census, has a population of "8,605: —"A New Zealand Advertisements—The obeve picture is a reproduction from a weekly newepaper published in New Zealand, a country which to a good many people in this broad land of culture and progress seems to bo yet in tho swoddling clothes of civilisation, and atout as far from Broadway as one can get on this earth. This latter conclusion is correct, for, geographically, NewZealand is half-way round the world, cay 12,500 miles from New York, but in other respects it is not nearly so far away as may bo readily deduced from a glance at this picture from the advertising pages of "The Weekly Press" of Christchurch, a New Zealand city of CO,COO people. Humanly speaking, this young New Zeatendess is about as fair as anything we can show in New York, and her bat is as broad in the brim as anything that can bo shown hy our neighbour, the Quaker City. New Zealand may be forty days from Broadway, but this girl is right in it, and if wo "had a thousand or two es good-looking we would be none the worse off."

An election to fill two vacancies on thi Lyttelton Borough. Council will be hold on Friday. The candidates nominated are .Messrs O. Coak, J. McConchie. and J. It. Webb.

Messrs C. Cook. H. TX. Voyee. and J. R, Webb, have beeu nominated to fill vhe vacancy on the Lyttelton Harbour Board. A poll will be taken on Friday.

At present the staff of the Society for the Health of Women and Children are attending to 130 cases. During the past, month thirteen new cashes were attended to by tho nurses.

Wo understand that Messrs AY. Strange and Co. have been commissioned to supply a large portion of the furniture and appointments for the new Government House ot Wellington.

The committee of the Early Colonisis' section of the Museum will meet this afternoon to consider a letter from tho Town Clerk, asking i!ipm to join the executive of <the< Diamond Jubilee Celebration.

A meeting of importers and_ others interested is to be held 'at the Chamber of Commerce Hall on Wednesday, at 3 .p.m.. to consider the advisability of employing n marine surveyor to waic.h the interests of importers duriiiß the discharge of cargo from vessels.

The want of a suitable seb of scales for weighing infants in their own homes has been greatly felt by the nursing staff of the Society for the* Health of Women and Children, and at the last monthly meeting of the Society hone was expressed some sympathiser would present the Society with a .pair of scales.

Sixteen persons were arrested for insobriety on Saturday night, and one, for indecent assault. After these cases have been disposed of by tho magistrate this niorning, there will bo about thirty cases for breaches of various by-laws, and altogether tho different prosecutions will necessitate the attendance of about twenty-sis constables, a sergeant, and tho Subinspector.

There is to be another substantial increaso in the price of boots and shoefi in the near future (telegraphs our Dunedin correspondent). The rel-ail tradesmen have been informed to that effect. It appears that tho price of leather has been increasing steadily during tho pasl> decade. During that period the price of hides some nine years ago was 3d per lb, whereas the same quality of hides now realise 8d per lb, and leather that brought IOJd then is now purchased at Is 3d.

The Minister of Justice (Tho Hon. Dr. Findlay) states that he is considering the advisability of introducing in Now Zealand the system of Crown defenders, so that .prisoners without means n.ay not be deprived of legal assistance at their trial. Somo amendment of tho law will be necessary beforo this can be done, and the Minister hopes to place the matter beforo his colleagues at a-n early date, so that a measure may bo introduced! during the coming session.

A Press Association telegram from Auckland states that Jlr Mains, a resident of Mountain road, Remuera, had an exciting experience on Saturday night. Hearing someone moving about in a room overhead, he ran. upstairs and saw a man disappear from a bedrcom on to the balcony. Darting downstairs again. Mains caught the intruder as he was sliding down a verandah post< and adroitly throwing him, managed to keep him pinioned to the ground till the police arrived.

The official opening of the Addington Branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants took place at the Oddfellows' Hall, Addington, on Saturday night, and was a great success, there being an attendance of over fifty. After 3ouie felicitous remarks by Mr Wm. Veitch, the president of the Society, congratulating members on the formation of the hew branch, an election of o'fficors was proceeded with. ~A, smoke concert followed, and several speeches were delivered. The gathering, "which was very enthusiastic throughout concluded with the singing of "Auld Lang Syne." The following were the officers # appointed: —Chairman, MrYcmm; vice-chairman, Mr R. Hean; trustees, Messrs G. Watson, It. Hean, and W. A. Turner; hon. secretary, Mr W. H. Jenkins.: hon, treasurer, Mr A. J. Bentleyf committee, Messrs Turner, Knight, R. Jenkins, E. Simpson, Woods, Duffy, and Bolfe; hon. auditors, Messrs H. Grammer and E. J. Foster.

The dismantling operations at the old gaol at Invercargill (says tho "News") resulted in some rather startling discoveries regarding the ravages of the omnipotent white pine borer. The building was erected in 1863, and through the agency of the all-devouring {.'.rub beams actually crumbled into powder on being hurled on to the grounds A "News' reporter inspected various kiuds of timber at the gaol, and found that tho boror had eaten into every variety of timber used on the premises—white pine, red pine, black pine, totara, and even 6ic x 2in bluegum studs. The defection of tho bluegum will cause considerable regret in the minds of those who have regarded bluegum as exempt from the ravages of the borer, but what will they say of the latest discovery—that the borer has actually eaten into solid concrete ? A piece of extra hard blue concrete, which had adjoined woodwork, was pierced by dozens of borers, despito the fact that the concrete had the durability and colour of blue ruetal.

The knowledge of the department in charge of acclimatisation matters was severely questioned at Thursday night's meeting of the Southland Acclimatisation Society, when a letter was read from the Minister of Internal Affairs objecting to birds and hares, having open seasons of different length. Mr Mulvey: "I think it would be advisable to instruct or enlighten the Minister upon tho fact that hares are not birds. (Laughter.) Continuing, ho said that it would bo remembered that last year the Minister said that he would not grant an open season for snipe ; because it had not been proved to his satisfaction that they were a ruisance. Every sportsman know, although tho 'Minister apparently, did not, that even if there were millions and millions of snipo they could not be. a nuisance. Snipe did not visit barn yards and steal the grain. He thought enlightenment was necwarv. Tho chairman Olr W. A. Stout): "The Minister might just as well say that we can't go out after rabbits for fear we might mistake them for birds.' , (Loud laughter.) Mr Mulvey : ,: It is advisable to teach him." v Applause.)

A complete modern telephone service will be supplied to Melbourne telephone subscribers when the new telephone exchange is completed and tho whole of the installations connected with it. The switch-board will be of the common battery type, in which all the current is supplied from tho single battery in the central office. Lamps on the switchboard, which will glow as scon a? a subscriber's receiver is takcti from the hook, will attract the attention of the attendant. Th-2 present equipment is for 9000 subscribers, but the ultimate capacity of the switchboard will be 11,700 lines. Every subscriber's line will hay? a motor connected with it, and on this the'number of calls will be recorded. Special arrangements will bo made for the rapid testing of lines. Should a subscriber leave a receiver off the hook the line will bo connected with an apparatus known as tho "howler." The subscriber cannot, of course, be reached by ringing, and so the iiowler' will be switched on, and a prolonged howl sent through the receiver until the subscriber replaces it on the hook. The switchboard, it is hoped, will bo finished towards the end of the year. When complete it is estimated " that there will be upwards of 1.200,000 soldered connections, or 3000 miles of wire used for the various circuits.

Tho ordinary meeting of the City Council will be held to-night, at 7^30.

Mr K. \V\. Chapman has, resigned from tho Oboku and Eyfeton Domain Board, and Mr C. M. Threlkeld has been appointed in his place.

There will bo no afternoon organ recital this week, owing to the theatre being occupied by the Competitions' Society,- but next week the Thursday afternoon recitals will be inaugurated.

Tho Mayor intends calling a meeting of the executive of the Diamond Jubilee shortly, so soon as an answer is received from the Early Colonists' section. The business beforo the meeting; ■will bo to decide upon the method of celebr&taon.

A "Gazette"' notice states ihat Frirlpy Juno 3rd, being tho birthday of his Majesty King George V., will he observed as a public holiday throushout the Dominion, and that- the Government offices will not bo closed on May 24th, as previously gazetted.

Thnt the work of the Society for the Health of Women and Children is arousing interest outside Xew Zealand is shown by the fact that recently tetters of enquiry on tho subiect ftvcjro recently received from Adelaide and West Australia.

It was telegraphed in error from Masterton that at tho sitting of the Conciliation Council to consider the shearers' dispute, tho parties agreed to the employment of Chinese ocoks on stations. As a niatter of fact, both paities were unanimous that Chinamen should not be employed to cook for tho shearers, and a clause to that effect was'agreed to.

New firo alarm boxes are now being installed throughout the city. The wiring has been completed and the boxes aro now being fitted, and it is expected the system will be "working by the end of the month. A foaturo of tho new boxes will be that to raise an alarm all that "frill be. necessary will bo to press a button instead of pulling a handle.

Speaking to a "News" reporter on Saturday, Superintendent Erck stated that asbestos was not a non conductor of htat, as some people imagined, but on the contrary, was really a conductor of heat. Hβ said that the flooring underneath a gas-stove in the tea rooms in Hereford street, where a slight conflagration had occurred, had caught fire in spite of the fact that the stove Stood on an iron sheet under which was a sheet of asbestos. If there "were any otficr places whore gas stoves were installed in the same way, remarked the superintendent, they would be equally unsafe.

With reference to statements made as to tickets for the memorial organ recital on Friday having been ispited previously to the opening of the theatre to the public, enquiries were made on Saturday at the. City Council office. From the statements made in response to these, it appears that less (than, twenty tickets in all out of the 1479 seats available in the theatre were issued to City Councillors, and to two or three who were incapable, by means of blindness or lameness, from getting in through, a crush. Two factors contributed to-the trouble at the doors. One of these, and the principal, was that about 3000 people were endeavouring to geli into a building only able to hold 1479. The other was that a large number of jtersons took up their position on the western, side of Manchester street, and when the doors were opened pushed into and broke up the queue. .

An eloquent appeal was made by the Rev. Dr. Kennedy, at his leoture on the oomet in the Wellington Town Hall on Thursday evening, in support of the claims of ecientifib and astronomical work. Wellington, lie pointed out, was admittedly, a very active centre so far as commercial matters were concerned, but how lament ably did she lag behind >n matters astronomical 1 Of all the delightful and ennobling studies- that tho humane mind might be applied to, he said, astronomy was the first. Even a moderate acquaintance with the wonders of the solar system tended to improve and broaden and uplift the mind. It compelled man to realise his own insignificance and better? appreciate the stupendous works-of the Creator. Dr. Kennedy repeated two lines of an bid nursery rhyme—"Two little children looking through the bars; one sow the mud and the other saw the stars." "That's what a study of astronomy,will do," he said. "It will enable t people to get their minds above the -mud and improve their intellectuality and men-, tality:" For. this reason, he hoped that th*» appearance of HaHey's comet, if it did nothing else, would awaken an interest in astronomy in Wellington, afid that some effort would be made to provide the Capital City with » decent telescope.

Martin's, Clark's, Priest's Ball Bear-, ing, and Knowles' Horse Clippers, Singeing Lamps, Mane Scissors, Hoof Parcrs, Hoof Dressing, etc., at Lewis an-1 Anderson, 221 Cashel street., 3 For School of Art second terra advertisement see Educational Column, page 10. 4 Halley's comet: known all over the globe! So is Drinnan's Customs, Shit* ping,, and Forwarding Agency, 172 Lichfield street. Wβ check luggage to any destination. Agents everywhere. Government cartage contractors. 2 Housewives and voting .ladies busy with their wedding trousseaux will not weloome the news of the impending 50 per cent, rise in the cotton market, as announced per Press Association in our columns last Tuesday It may, per- 1 haps, re-assure them to know that the p.I.C. will continue to sell present stocks at old prices till forced to advance them on the new ehipmente. 6 Prices figure, hut the real essence of cheapness is quality. Messrs Armstrong Coy., Limited, are keenly alive to this fact, renowned as the firm have become as our leading oasii drapers. They sustain their reputation by carefully maintaining quality, despite, their low prices. 4 _ i Guns at low prices. Wo axe offering balance of our high-class English Guns at specially low prices. D.8.8.L. Guns from £3 17e 6d. Cartridges at lowest rates. Hastie, Bull and Pickering, opposite Ballantyno's. 6 Baggage Lost! "What a plight to he in! But this is the risk you run with unchecked baggage. Avoid it by checking through us (rail or sea). Costs less in the end and ensures safety. Enquire. The New Zealand Express Company, The thousands -who patronise Messrs Armstrong's High street establishment ■will arypreciate the internal re-arrange-ments just completed for their comfort. A new ladies' coat and costume .room has been added, and the clothing department greatly enlarged, enabling thp firm to oops with their increasing business. " 4 Who can name the New Zealand Dreadnought ? Well, the Cabinet can and will name it, but there is a five pound note awaiting the man, woman, or child who first anticipates tho Cabinet's choice. Tht3 stimulus to intellect "is offered by our enterprising contemporary "The Weekly Press," which publishes full details of the competition in its current issue. 6 Before purchasing elsewhere, call and see the llobey Oil Engine, benzine or kerosene; also belting and lubricating oik, at McClelland and Anderson's, 224 Cashel street, Christcburch. 6 TAMING INDIAN TRIBFS. Sir John Hewctt, Lieut.-Governqr of the Punjab, speaking at a Salvation Array meeting, said (retorts the don "Chronicle") that" the Salvation Array, tinder the control of Commissioner Booth-Tucker, had been giving tho greatest possible assistance to the efforts which the local Government was making to reform some of the criminal tribe 3. The Army had taken overs settlement of Dome in Gorakhtrar, and was about to take over the BEatoeand

Haburahs in Moradabad. Hβ •*„, '„-&,.%? hopes that in time it might-be jibfeiw , "P extend its operations so as to den! wto. some of tho Sansias, who at umaX* Vtroubled many parts of the Unitid pS. "''' vmces. Tho greatest difficult* experienced by the Government -in i£ r ,' attempts to reform these tribes 'W? '" seemed to him that light was. befiinab* ' \ to be thrown on t\e matter -by awS* -. of the method of the Salvation Tho c svic«»s of the Bara Banki , mg School had resulted in a threat sTixe from the adoption of tbe Salvai^ , Army hand loom, ami on« of tI» P h««* • effective rnoan ß by which CommiiefoS ' Booth-Tucker was honinn: to divert til Doms from criminal ~to industrial u«r . suits, was by teaching them n eaviiA* ' ' • means of this loom. " " * OPPORTUNITiEci. , Miss Agnes Doans Cameron, the ex> plorer and writer, delivered no ijjl teresting lecture recently on'• Canada the Land of Opportuaitjy" at tlie" V.M.C.A. Hall, Mount Pleasant' Liverpool (says the "Standard of Em*. - pire ). Miss Cameron, who has made . s closo peHonal study of Wcst«M l ' Canada for tho past four \ ears de. clared that nortli of tho Saskatchewan - River, that isj north of tho presonl " " area of settlement, Canada rich lunt«rland containmg 100,003 OOQ acres of land capable of growing No ; ' * hard wheat. Northern Cai.ada &X described as a veritable hnJ of fat tilings—timber, fur, coal, tar, natural i Ras. That country would oo opened * ( cut by a railroad running from FoW. ton to the Athabasca River. TjL speaker also prophesied tnat Foil Georg-:, in Northern British Colmahi*! • <n the direct line of tho Gra'id Treat Pacific Railway, would be tho <n«at notropolis of Northern British Co- '' lumbia. This district, and, n> fact the whole shoro of Stuart lake in British Columbia, was fast Utractins * : settlers and investors. I

GIRL SCOUTS. The idea of a corns of Girl Peace "', Scouts, which is in process of fornjj;" "" tion in Wellington, finds little favour "'. in the eyes of at least one city .school, headmaster (says tho "DomyuonVi? ' The other day he received s letter from ' • tho Organising Officer (a ladvl, he was requested to ask the "girls of his," school "if any of them would like let- • join the Girl Peace Scouts." The Girl * Scouts, it was explained, meet on'""" Saturday afternoon. They loam first- *~ aid, signalling, swimming, Kfe-savinjr , ~ 1 cooking, etc. They go out in charge - of a scoutmistress, and do not mix tu> >' n with the Boy Scouts. All girls or^ i * : eleven years of age may join. subscription is threepence per enrnun 'A I Costume is a plain khaki drill blouse" $ and skirt." To this he renlied :• "H$ *.- proposed Girl Scouts: I feel V obliged to decline to recommend ' tlib -* proposal to the girls of my school.'and. Vii of course, for such a refusal one shoajdi be able to give a.reason. The one gmat-H evil among young people in this cottn- lv s try is lnck of home control. The -Boy ''jv Scout movement threatens to increase the evil, unless the fad dies'as other fads do.. The proposed'Gtri ~s. Scouts movement cannot do" oven tie,'-- r good that is claimed for the BoyScouta,but would do its full sharo of in taking young girls away from that- r " sphere whioh already possesses . toft 4 * ; little of the affections of very mm&& —tho home." . ( . "A TON OF SELP.WILti." ' Those friends of Sufla Culli (the. X great Indian elephant brought to land by King Edward —when Prince of V Wnles—in 1876) who visib the" 7m* #£ logical Gardens.to-day (said the Mail" on 28th March) will wonfar; why he is chained up in ;i far corner of the cage. These oonds are the'««<■/ suit of a slight difference of opmiia^iw: 1 B tween Suffa Culli and the keepers! qji*tithe beet way of dealing witS who inrvdo tho space between JifJiJ barrier and tho bars of , the cS£Ji il* proper. The, keepers think tho ' casty* is met by a <oiirteous prohibition, Suffa Culli days—in effect—"Let mis giy© Wiem one Jiitle tap with nw tiunk; they woit do it a secooi time,' , Argument is useless. Tho slephant-*: house bas to be deserted by the'lwpßW'i on a bank holiday, for they^mujS-'takeV. out Lukhi And Nellie, I earning' elephants, and Sufio , -,Culli a ia£> I therefore' chained .to prevent /,bito putting his theories into practice. ■U^£ is not out of bunishot, Tiowover,>'ol*;-,, serves the writer, and it is hoped h&M. friends will not forsake him aitktfl thirty-four years. Nellie is another-»| royal elephant—brought to the Prince of Wales (King George) irm'vr India. She has grown nearly since Jfcst season, and tho smoll. ladders by which her back is reach*!';* by children have had to bo raised. • cordingly. .lessie, a junior will not do any work this Easter., Htrlffi;', training- began last year," but from JoompTcrte. She as' a self-will, and three keepers cannot!»V yet persuade her to do her duty.trafe; will net tolerato even a o'and-bag-oiig her back. Even though her pebbled she contrives to turn saults when she is askod to beWjft't burden. ' • . , sfj^ £5 REDUCTIONS] '" ' We to-day made n special dow -display of 24 bicycles, and tajSsgt ducc quick sales we havo mako a' bubstantial reduction of £s"gfti each machine shown in our Star Cycles eiro well known as and practically everlasting cvcles,S'T%? are offering four standard Star ]tm\ racers for boys or youths who want-wt ride fast, -usual price £15; reduced £10. Wβ are exhibiting nine' Star roadsters-, fitted with free whetlSSi back-pedallirip: brakes mittod to bo the best % gentleffl»B'#v bicycle imported into Now. Zcajfmhusual price £20, reduced to £15.~-Ity!s road-racing cyclists we have reduced ti»4-! Imperial Star road racer from £15, and we iiave cix in our for sale. The most expensive bicycle a* J 5 certainly the Beeston Humber, and «?? are offering four ladies', all with •SttE* wheels and brakes, usual uried , £3J/i"{pelling at £19. To complete the jnaSs» dow exhibit, wo are cntting the pri&SiSf | t the Beeston Humber road racer freSF", £22 to £17. Any of the m«A&M% shown in our windows can be bought very ©aty terms. Deposits from £1 «nk' instalments of £1 tkt month. Cfoofe; eecond-hand bicycles" taken in parfeiSE*c meut. Adams, Ltd., 138-140, EM\ street, Christchurch. ,^i