NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13742, 25 May 1910, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The auction announcements of Charles Clark, C. A. )>ecs and Co., Gould, Beaumont and Co., W. E. Simcs, Tonks, Norton and Co.. Con way, Matson and Sons, Harris Bros., A. lies and Co., Laurie and Page, and Baker Bros., will be found on page 11 of this issue.

Chicken-pox and scarlet fever are somewhat prevalent in Tiniaru at the nresont time.

At the Magistrate's Court at Auckland yesterday, a Tahitian named Baron Dβ Volley was fined £50 for selling intoxicating liquor in a curiosity shop. ;

Representatives of tho Ashburton and South Canterbury Hospital Boards proceeded to Palraerston "South yesterday to inspect tho proposed site for the consumption sanatorium there.

In connection with tho automatic fire alarm system which has been installed in the city, it might be suggested that part of the poles to which the boxes are attached should be tainted some distinguishing colour, so that they will be readily sighted by people who desire to give an alarm.

Rabbiters in many districts of Xew South Wales, 6a ys the "Argus," are making very largo wages, as high, it is stated, as £12 and £15 per week in some cases. Numbers of skilled workmen are leaving their ordinary avocations to engage in rabbiting. A contractor at Molong offered 20s per day for bricklayers, and could not secure them.

At the meeting of tho Cbristchurch Drainage Board last night, the Special Committee appointed to go into the question of extended boundaries for the drainage district reported that it had approved the proposed Bill, and recommended that a meeting of delegates from local bodies concerned and members of Parliament be held on Wednesday, tho 23th inst., at 7.30 p.m., to consider tha Bill. The report was adopted.

Several references were made last night at tho Bluejumpers' gathering to tho fact that the services rendered by tho volunteers, whose passing took place somo time ago, had not in any way been recognised by tho Defence Department in tho shape of a general order of thanks. After, as one of the speakers put it, spending a largo amount of their own money and time in making themselves efficient for tho defence of the Dominion, the volunteers were allowed to drift out into obscurity without a single word of recognition.

A milkman, while returning home along tho North road near Belfast yesterday morning in his cart, had a rather exciting passage at one stage of his journey. Ho encountered a mob "of cows, and when driving through them one of the animals suddenly ran across in front of the horse. "Before £he driver could pull up, the horse and cow collided, with the result that tho cow was knocked down and tho cart went over it. Fortunately the vehicie did not capsize, but at one stage it looked as though driver and cans would bo precipitated! into the roadway. Tho cow escaped, without injury.

At laet night's meeting of the Christchurch Drainage Board, the report of the Finance Committee. was read aa follows:—The committee has gone into the question of making an interim application to the Government in connection with the proposed loan of £7500 for the drainage of East belt and Falsgravo street, nnd is of opinion that the mode of procedure in connection with loans under tho Suite Guaranteed Advances Act is of such a cumbersome nature that it would be better for the Booard to take the necessary poll *>f tha ratepayers, and, if favourable, raise the money under., tho Local Bodies, Loans Act, 1908. The report was adopted.

In the Farmer pages of "The Weekly Press" this week is an editorial article oil "Cattle Breeding and Disease." Notes by "Korari' - ' arc. on "Seed Oats," "Foot-and-Mouth Disease in the Argentine," and ''What is a Profitable Milk Record." "W.W.D." contributes' his weekly budget of notes under "Tussock and Furrow," and describes a. visit to tho Canterbury Frozen Meat Company's works at Belfast. A wool letter from Bradford is specially interesting to wool growers, as it gives the .prices realised by well-known clips of Now Zealand wool at the March series of sales in London, with comments on the condition and quality of the wool. Country Correspondents' letters include reports from Hawko'a Bay. Wairarapa, Manawaiu, and Marlborough.

Whilst the balcony scene from "Ronioo and Juliet" was being given at, tho competitions in His Majesty's Theatre yesterday, morning, a rather different scene was being enacted on iht> floor of the orchestral stalls. ' A little black kitten, had caught a small mouse, and, as is the custom in such circumstances, it was toying with its capture before ending its misery. Several ladies who were seated near where the tragedy was in process of development, though aware of what was going on, behaved in exactly the opr'i»site way to that which the average humorous writer indicates is ordinanly the case when n mouse and n woman occnoy the same vicinity. One lady gently moved a little away from the kitten and the mouse, but others, who were not sitting so clo-se to the spot where the mouse was awaiting death to end its terrors, sat quietly, though now and then they cast anxious glances in the direction to make sure that puss had its victim well in hand. Presently, the callous feline, surfeited with teasing, began slowly to mako a meal of its unfortunate victim.

At the Blucjumpers , gathering Inst night, Mr H. F. Murrav-Aynsley, who was formerly captain of the Lyttelton Rifle- Volunteers, pave a spirited dc«ription of tho historic battl? of Hillsborough. From this it appears that tho conflict which at one time raged was quite equal in intensity to the historic Donnybrcolv Foir. The assailants of the redoubt, which had been erected by some misunderstanding or too much battle zeal on the part of their officers, wer* ordered to make the assault with fixed bayonets. The defenders of the redoubt, beyond their guns, were not prepared for such a warlike onslaught, and used the first weapons which came to hand. Those wore th? iron standards of the wirefencing in tho vicinity, and a very pretty tight ensued, in which several were wounded. Meanwhile the guns of.the artillery were fired at very close quarters, and some of the men were wcunded with the cartridges. Evidently the forefathers of ths present volunteers were epoiling for a fight on the occasion.

A fake alarm of fire was received last night from Box Xo. 3, at Brougham street, Sydenham.

The Staff and Plant Committed of the ChristchuTch Fire Board met last night, and a Board meeting will be held next Tnesdav.

The superintendent of the Lyttelton Sailors' Homo wishes to acknowledge receipt of a large parcel of .periodicals from Mr W. H. Cholniondeley, of Port Lew.

The Sumner Borough Council intend to sink a thrre-inch well in the Estuary, for the purpose of increasing the supply for the reservoir at Redcnffs. Tenders will be invited shortly for sinking the pipes.

The second express from the South, which ordinarily arrives in Christchurch at 7.27 \>.m.. was a quarter of an hour lato last evening. The delay occurred at Dunsandel, where the express had to cross another train, which had been delayed on its journey south.

The anminl meeting of tho South Canterbury Farmers' Union was held in Tiniaru on Saturday, Mr John Talbot presiding. A report, of r a very satisfactory nature, was presented, and the balance-shoet showed" a credit of £32. Tlu-ro arc now seven brandies of the Union in South Canterbury, with a total membership of 476.

There was a fair attendance at the netting of the Heaihcot-e Literary and Df-bating Society on Monday, when Mr W. Gimblett, one of the vice-presi-dents, presided. The evening was devcted to a discussion on ''Pxess" articles for May 21st, the. members showing a keen interest in xho subjects 'Zionism and the Jewish Problem" and ; The King's English."

An example of independence carried to heroic limits was mentioned at £he mooting of the Christchurch Drainage Board last night. It was stated that when an applicant for employment was informed impressively that a necessary stipulation was that he should not undertake the job while ho was drunk, h? retorted, ,; Then you can get someone else!"

The trustees of the late Mrs E. White, whoso estate includes the municipnl buildings and adjoining land at Sumner, informed the Sumner Borough Council la.st that they intended to offer the property for sale, and were desirous of ascertaining whether the Council were prepared to purchase. The -figure was not stated, and the Council decided to ascertain the amount required before further considering the matter.

A Xew York ca-blegram appearing in thf: "Australian Star last week etated that Mr Douglas Mawson, of Adelaide, ont' of the members of the Shacklelon expedition to the South Pole, had arrived in the United l States, and would sail for Australia by the next boat leaving Vancouver. Previously to having New York Mr Mawson was to discuss with Sir Ernest Shackleton the prospects of another expedition to the Antarctic. It was re,ported that in the event of Sir Krnest Shackleton not heing able to head the expedition, tho leadership would go to Mr Mawson.

Yesterday's "Temuka Leader" says: —'We are given to understand that the negotiations to purchase Colonel Hayhurst's 400-acre farm at Milford by a local association under the Land Finance Act, are likely to fall through. We pointed out, some time ago, the defective character of the Act, and expressed a doubt as to whether it was workable. It appears now that ifc is not, and, consequently, a hitch haa occurred. Colonel Hayhursb insists on getting cash, but the Government have no power to give cash: they can only guarantee the debentures ot the association. Colonel Hayhurst refuses to accept debentures., so the negotiations aro at present hanging fire."

The Prime Minister would probably, establish a record yesterday for quick travel between Wellinrjton and tho West Coast. Sir Joseph left Wellington on the s.s. Maori at oi<jht o'clock on Monday night, and tho steamer berthed at Lytttlton about twenty minutes 1-eJore her usual time yesterday. The train from the wharf to the city got away smartly, with the result that the pas» sengers were landed on the Christchurch platform shortly after seven o'clock. The train for Broken Itivcr, which usually leaves at seven, was hold for ten minutes, and tho Prime Minister's car was attached. According to timetable, Sir Joseph should have arrived in Greymouth Inst evening at seven minutes past eifjht—just over twenty-four hours from Wellington.

According to a "statement made by the officer in charge of the local labour office to a "Press representative yesterday, thoro will be no Prince of Wales holiday this year. Tho day on which it would have been held, Juno 3rd, has now become the King's birthday, but as there is at present no Prince of Wales, no holiday can beheld on his birthday. The birthday of th«* heir-apnarent falls on Juno 28rd, and should" Princo Edward of York bo created Prince of Wales' before that date, then the holiday would bo observed. Some of the awards, Mr Hagger, added, made the Prince of Waies's birthday, while others made it an alternative holiday to Empire Day. A few of tho awards mentioned Empire Day as a holiday, but .in most cases Empire Day was coupled to tho Princo of NVaies's birthday. November 9th, the date of tho late King's birthday, will no longer be a holiday.

A. meeting in connection with the British and Foreign Bible Society was held in tho V.M.C.A. Hall last evening, the Roy. J. W. L. Close presiding over a largo gathering. An apology for unavoidable absence was received from his Lordship Bishop Julius, who was to h;u'c presided and delivered an address. Tho Rev. Mr Closs save an address on the great work dono by the Society, and its claim for support. Mr G. Stening spoke on a. visit he made to the headquarters of the mission in London, and the Rev. F. H. Spencer detailed the operations of the Society. His very interesting account of the work done in South America was illustrated by limelight views. Tho following were the officers appointed for the following year:—Committee, Messrs R. S. Badger, G. L. Beath, E. C. Brown, J. T. Brown, F. W. Dudney, R. TV; England, P. Hercus, W. Jameson, J. Munnings, J. C. Prudhoe, J. P ; Roberts, G. Stening, and S. R. Webb, with ministers of all denominations who arc willing to act;' the committee to have power to add to its number; hon socretarv, MrC. F. Harrison ; hon. treasurer, Mr J. W. Twenty-m-Mi.

Tho Auckland Harbour Board had before it at yesterday's meeting a letter from the local manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company, Ltd., asking that the company be relieved from paying the amount charged for docking the Kaipara, namely. £3573, which tho company deemed to bo excessive. Tie letter concluded by reminding the Board that the expenditure in conneotion with the repairs to the Kaipara had amounted to term of thousands of pounds, all of which had been spent in thfi port of Auckland. According to the Press Association report, the Chairman said that when the time came for the vessel to leave the harbiiir, a bill for the full amount was sent in. The position was that under b>-law 194 it was mandatory that a vessel occupying; the dock after a certain time had to pay douoie, in the event of another vessel desiring to use the dock. This was not a question of "may," but it was mandatory. The course "for die company to follow was to pay the full amount and then to ask fora refund, nn<l he had advised the manager of the company to that effect. Ho moved that the matter bo referred to the Finance and Legal Committee. In irply to Mr Heather, the secretary (*lr Bingham) said that in addition to the Challenger, he knew that the Tofua wanted to dock while the Kaipara was in- The Chairman's motion was adopted.

Constables Refian aad Brown. arrested a man last night fcr the theft of two bicycles.

The Mayor intends to call a meeting of the Diamond Jubilee Executive at an early date. At this meeting the various'oroposals as to the method ot celebration will bo considered.

The tender of Messrs AW Strange and Co., of Christchurch, has been aecepUnl for £'440 worth of furniture Jor the new Government House, Wellington. Only about £2000 worth will b< , required, as much of the o'-d furniture is to be utilised:

It is understood that his Excellency tho Governor will be asked on the occasion <»t his farewell risit to present several long-service medals to volunteers. If his Excellency consents, the ceremony will take place in Cranmer square in connection with the presentation of the citizens' address.

Important matters arc set for discussion at a conference of Xcvr Zealand chemists to be opened in Wellington on June Bth. The subjects to bo dealt with include tho Sale of Poisons Act, tho Pharmacy Act, Australr.sian Formulary, the Opium Act, and thfc establishment of i> Chemists* Defence Fund.

The preparations for tho concert to be given nest -month in connection with the bazaar to be held later in flid of tho funds of the Ambulance Brigade are being pushed forward with vigour. A very excellent programme of vocal and instrumental nrusic, together with a farce by the members of the Christchurch Comedy Club, will be given on the occasion.

A somewhat amusing complication arose the other day between an importer of books, etc., and the Customs authorities. Tho former imported a large, quantity of religious tracts, and was iniormed that he must nay a duty of 3d per lb on them, as "advertising matter." In reply the. importer asked to bo iuformed whose and" what goods he was advertising. He has not up to the jire-sent received any answer to his enquiry.

According to a "Wellington paper, stoats and weasels greatly hampered the operations of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society last year. The annual report says t&at ifc is beyond doubt that the presence of these pests in the district greatly handicaps the society in it* efforts to establish ground game of any kind. The Californian quail appear to hold their own fairly well against them, but not so pheasants.

In view of the fruit season being practically over, the "Hastings Standard" made enquiries at the railway station with the object of comparing this season's output with that of last year. In 1909. 900 tons of fruit were railed away, producing a revenue to the apartment of £000. This year 1700 tons were railed, producing a revenue amounting to £1700, an increase of £800.

A matter affecting the classification of patients at the Auckland District Hospital cropped uo incidentally during the hearing of a case in tho Supreme Court on Thursday. It was stated that a patient, who had entered tho hospital to await an ooeration. had been placed, about the end" of Inst year, in the same ward as a patient who was suffering from typhoid fever. Mr Justice Edwa-rds remarked that he thought aJI fever cases were isolated. Mr J. 11. Rood said that the hospital was very crowded at tho time, and tho second ease was then, ho understood, one of suspected fever only. The juxtaposition of the two patients, curiously enough (says the "Herald"), as one Court report shows, had its sequel in a slander action.

The first trawl on the west coast of the Auckland province was made last week, when xho ttug Sterling, which has been fitted up as a trawler, went over the Kaipara bar for a day's fishing. Tho haul was a splendid on© (says the "Star"), no less thnn seventy tons of fish, mostly schnapper, but including also bream, barraooutta, and other food fish, in good quantities. In one haul two tons of fish were lifted, and several others ran to a ton. The bottom is good, and there are millions of acres which can be swept, so that heavy and regular sullies should shortly bft available. Large smoke houses will fee erected, and, in addition to tho Auckland market, the towns along the railway line will be exploited.

■At tho Motueka Magistrate's Court yesterday, several hotelkeepefs and employees were charged with breaches of the. Licensing Act, in pupplying youths tinder the apparent age of 18 years, and in one case of permitting drunkenness. The cases wore the sequel to the accident at Pokororo on Easter Monday .night, by which a young man named Porter lost his life. * The evidence then showed that deceased and his companions had been drinking during the day in various hotels, and at the license booth on the sport? ground, and tho Coroner directed the police to make searching'enquiries into the matter. Four convictions were entered on the charge or serving youths under age, two defendants being fined £3, another £2, and the other feeing cottvicted without fine.

Acting on Diver May's report regardins the jffrospect of raising the Waikare, the syndicate concerned have abandoned the idea of raising her, and operations will in future be confined to breaking her tip and salving all marketable machinery and fittings (saya the ."Southland Notts"). Diver May loft for Sydney last week, en route for the eoene of tho wreck of the Pericles, off Cape Leeuwin. . Diver Todd, a. New Zfalander, has been engaged by the Waikare salvage party to work at the \\reck in place of Diver May. He has successfully concluded a contract in the Molyneux at Cromwell under difficult conditions, as can be readily understood when it is remembered that the Molyneux is a snow-fed river, which flows fast, and is almost invariably dirt* owino; to tho gold-mining industry. The milder and still water conditions prevailing at -Dusky Sound should be much more congenial from a diver's point of view.

Tho ordinary meeting of the Christchurcb Catholic Club was held last night, Mr M. O'Rielly presiding. The Literary and Debating Society reported that the following officers were appointed for tho ensuing year:—President, Mr E. L. McKeon; secretary, Mr D. Edmonds; leaders of teams, Messrs D. Edmonds, C. Lafferty, D. F. Dennehy, and M. O'Reilly. Tlie item on th« syllabus for the evening was recitations, and Messrs C. Fottrell, A. Harbison, F. G. Healy, p. and J. McXamara. M. Finlay, and M. O'Rielly contributed items. The Rev. Dr. Kennedy criticised the various recitations, and tendered excellent advice to the reciters." The chairman announced that tho programmo for next Tuesday evfning would be a debate: "Would National Prohibition be conducive.to foe welfare of New Zealand?"

The Oxford Terrace Baptist Church celebrated ita thirty-ninth anniversary last evening with a congregational social and a coffee suprer. The reports presented showed that the church membership was now larger than it had ever been, there being over 400 names on th« roll. Reference was made to the fact that the church had granted its pastor, "the Rev. R. S. Gray, furlough to attend the Pan-Baptist Congress, vV.ieh meets next year in Philadelphia. Mr Gray will leave Christchurch in January, and is likely to be- away from New Zealand for nine months. Sister Gracei who has been working for the past six months as deaconess in connection with the church, presented a most interesting report. The ltev. Win. Hay, of Dunedin, addressed lac gathering, and the Rev. H. E. Hobday, of Roslyn, gave a recitation. Musical items were given by the choir. Special votes of thanks we're accorded to Miss Colem&n (organist), and Mr C. Ball (conductor).

A big batch of summonses have teen issued in Auckland againet mining companies for neglect inp to furnish returns of their business for the past year.

Cur Grcymouth correspondent telegraphs that Sir Joseph Ward will make an important Ministerial announcement at Hokuika this evening regarding the Government's intentions concerning the water power regulations.

We check your luggage free; don't ho misled. Win. Driixnan's Custom, Shipping, aud Forwarding Agency, is tlio linn to do your forwarding. 'Phone 2745. Government cartage contractors. Ask us to quote. 3 In a circular appearing with this i&sue, Messrs Boath and Co.. Ltd., announce the opening of a new showroom foi the display of ready-made costumes, and also thf inauguration of a ton days' bargain period in all departments. <> The nominations for the elections for members of the. Canterbury College Board of Governors close at noon next Monday, May 30th. Tho flag at the Christchurch Boys' High School was flying at half-mast yesterday, out of respect to the memory of the late Professor Cook, formerly Professor of Mathematics at Canterbury College, who died at Marton on Satur- ,, day.

Mdlle. Bel Sorel, the prima donna of Williamson's Grand Opera Company, discovered, on opening her trunks on Thursday, that the hasps of one had been forced, ami several valuable articles of stage wearing apparel had been stolen. It is impossible (says tho "Dominion") to say where the trunk was tampered with, as it had not been opened since, leaving Sydney.

FAMILY OF THIRTY-TWO. An amusing incident occurred at the Coombungeo Agricultural Show, near Brisbane, where a prize was offered for the largest family in the district. The Queensland Minister of Agriculture was present, and remarked that the district couln hardly equal his own constituency, where there lived a man with 24 children. A farmer promptly rose and interrupted the Minister by remarking that he had 32 children, and that all were living. Enquiries showed that this was the fact, the farmer having been married twice and having reared two families,.one after the other. £5 REDtJCTCONS. ~ We have to-day made a special window display of 24 bicycles, and to induce quick sales wo ha,VG decided to make- a .substantial reduction of £5 on each machine shown in our windows. Star Cycles are well known as reliable and practically everlasting cv«les. We are offering four standard Star road racers for boys or youths who Want to ride fast, usual pneo £15, reduced to £10 We aro exhibiting nine Eadio Star roadsters, Otted with free wheels,' back-pedalling: brakes and guards* admitted to be the best gentleman's bicycle imported into New Zealand: usual price £20 s reduced to £15. For road-raciuc cyclists we, have reduced tho Imperial Star road racer from £20 to £10, and we have tix in our windows for sale. The most exoentive bicycle is certainly the Beeston Humber, and we are offerinc four ladios , . all with free wheels and brakes, usual price £24, selling at £19. To complete the window exhibit, we are cutting the price of the Beeston Humber road racer from £22 to £17. Any of the machines shown in our windows can be bought on very easy terms. Deposits from £1 and instalments of SI nor month. Good second-hand bicycles taken in part payment. Adams. Ltd., 135-140, High street, Christchurch. 6