NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13904, 1 December 1910, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Post and Telegraph Office at Broken River will be closed from December 13th next. The net Customs duties collected at the port of Auckland during tho month of November amounted to £58,987, which is an -increase of over £14,00'J over the corresponding month of last year. On Tuesday evening the Christchurch Cycling and Signalling Corps, who are encamped at Pilgrims' Corner, unuer Captain Loach, were out in the Park practising reconnaissance and skirmishing. A useful night's work was put in. There are fifty-five men in camp. The Christchurch Hairdressers' Assistants' Union has decided to forward to the Trades and Labour Council tho names of Mr R. Hoppy, vice-president, and Mr L. Brian, secretary, for consideration when candidates are selected to represent labour interests on the City Council. A Press Association message from Dunedin states that seeing that tne Municipal Corporations Bill has been passed, excluding directors of companies having contracts with a public body, such as a City Council, from sitting on the Council, the prosecution against Councillors Shacklock am. Stewart, fixed for to-day, will not be gone on with. It is understood that the new measure affects several members of the Dunedin City Council. A party of Boy Scouts, under Scoutmaster Foster, will cycle to Ashburton on the night of December loth, in order to arrive there on Anniversary Day. They will co-operato with the local patrols in boy scout work, and it is anticipated that an interesting and instructive time will bo spent. The visit is a return of the visit recently paid by a squad of Ashburton Scouts to thia city, and the boys who aro to make the trip have been especially selected for their size and their fitness for the long cycle journey. Only the older Scouts will be allowed to make the visit, which ig being eagerly looked forward to by them. The No. 1 Company Engineers, who are encamped in Hagley Park, were on Tuesday evening engaged in field engineering work—constructing a firing trench with traverses, loopholes, and overhead cover. A communication trench leading from the firing trench was also constructed. The field telegraph section were out with the caole cart and the signallers were busy vi.j the lamps. Last evening the Company was engaged in sapping work and building a model redoubt, the telegraph section carrying out electrical work. A dozen men, who are able to remain in camp all day, are receiving instruction in engineering work by Captain Duigan, of the headquarters' staff. On Tuesday they erected a cable bridge the Avon.

! Seven choice mctures bought ir I Rome by Mr P. R. Sargocd have been lent to the Dunedin Art Gallery. Ycsterdav Detective Ward arrested a man on a "charge of stealing jewellery valued at £9, from a dwelling house. The Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association met last night, when proposals j submitted by the Auckland Association relative to Centre representation on trie i New Zealand Association were approved l oL , 1 Vitrei V.. Scott, employed on the ! Tauranaa-Tcptikc railway, v.as arrested iat !aurnni*a yesterday morning on a i wr-rrant of commitment tor assault ai \V»Uim-ton on November 23th, l'W3. A* i that time Scott was summoneu, Jm.t i <iul i-ot npiK-ar. and the ■ 'is&e was «calt ! w ',th m bis absence, the ucc«sea O-.m" i w-ntonecd to one mc nib's imprtsoumort. j For seven years he evaded arrest. I it is exnected that Mr R. W. ! Holmes, Engineer-in-Chief. Pub he Works Department, will visu tlio locality of the Lake Coleridge hydroelectric scheme at tho end ot the present week or the beginning ot next v-eek \etive ooerations in connection j with 'the install:, tion will probably be ! started early in the new year. In complaining of the interference jof the New Zealand Lawn Tennis A.*----1 sociatitm with the provincial aswieni- ! tions in nearly every trumpery detail, IMr E. J. Ross, tiie chairman, stated at last night's meeting of the CanterI loirv Association, thai whereas the Now j Zealand Association was blessed or j cursed witii no k-fcs than 71 rules, the j much larger luiglish Association was j content to work with only 2-3. i The matron of the Hospital lias forI warded the following letter to the adjudicator in the recent competition in {connection with "The Raising of tho I Third Floor Back":—"The Hospital, November 30th. Dear Galleryite.—l have much pleasure in acknowledging ! cheque for £5 os for children's Chnst- : mas tree. It will be the means of proi vidiTVg many presents for many sad I little sufferers. I cnlv hopo you will be able to visit tho Hospital that day | and see tho pleasure your kind offering I h:is given. With grateful thanks on j behalf of my childron patients, I. am, 'yours very truly, M. Thurston, Matj rou." As "A Galleryite" is quite unknown to the adjudicator it has been thought well to publish tho icttcr. tho original of which can be obtained. Mr Edgar F. Stead, -who has just returned from a visit to Australia, states that in Victoria the farmers aro evidently in for a very good year. They are promised a good wheat seacon, and there is any amount cf feed for stock. An authority on the subject informed him that at the present timo Victoria's pastures could carry a million and a half more cattle than there aro being pastured. He was much struck with the difference in the appearance of tho country in Victoria and'in New Zealand. Learning that a very dry season had been experienced in the Dominion, he expected to find, on his return, everything burnt or brown, but the reverse was the case. Tho difference between the two countries could best be expressed by saying that Victoria looked as if it had been washed with yellow paint and Now Zealand with green paint. Looking very much better for his involuntary cleansing, Joseph Scott, the elderly man who was arrested hi Haglev Park on Tuesday, appeared before Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning. He was charged with being an idle and disorderly nerson, in that ho had insufficient 'lawful means of support. SubInspector McGrath described the deplorable condition in which Scott had been found, and asked that he bo remanded for a week. The Salvation Army might take him in hand. Scott, in reoly to tho Magistrate, said tnat he was 56 years old. Mr Bishop* remanded him for a week,'so that the Salvation Army could be communicated with. Tho Army might give thp man a wash, if nothing else. Subsequently it was decided that Scott would have to receive some medical treatment, and afterwards be handed to the care of the Army. / Tho possibility of the Waiau being diverted into the Lemington at a point some distance up-stream from the bridge at present- under construction is, according to reports recently received, not at all unlikely. At the point referred to it is stated that only ten feet divido the two rivers, and it is considered that if the Waiau turns into tho Lemington the bridge will be rendered practically useless, as it will be left high and dry. It is further reported that recently, at another point, the Waiau shifted its course ten feet in two hours in one day, and that at still another point it shifted thirty feet in a day and a-half. All that is apparently required to divert the'Waiau at the point where thero is only ten feet between it and tho Lemington is a heavy fresh. Mr H. J. Marriner, of this city, who has taken much interest in the matter of tho construction of the South Island Main Trunk line, in view of information that has reached him to the above effect, intends bringing tho matter under the notice of the Minister of Public "Works. It is believed that with a comparatively small expenditure the danger apprehended 'can bo averted. A feature of last night's St. Andrew's D3y celebrations of the Canterbury Caledonian Society was the presence of a good muster of the Caledonian Society's Pipe Band, the members of which played a number of selections of national music. Theband has been in existence for six years, and during that period has had some ups and downs, but the last twelve months have seen it placed on a solid and satisfactory footing, and it is now making favourable progress. The membership numbers twelve, and the weekly practices are well attended. On many occasions the public of Christchurch havo had an opportunity of judging,of the high state- of efficiency attained by the band. During the time the British Antarctic ship, Terra Nova, -was in port the band attended a number of the functions tendered to the crew, and the selections given by the band wero ereatly appreciated. On various occasions the band's services have been given in aid of charitable objects, and its work in connection with the parades of the Scottish Rifles is well known. At the church parade of the Papanui and. Belfast Orange Lodges next Sunday, the Caledonian Society's Pipe Band will be in attendance. Tho alterations and additions to the Tramway Board's offices aro nearly completed, and they certainly anake the work of the staff easier. instead of one small counter, where all and sundry transacted business, a- long counter has been built and divided into compartments, each compartment being for a particular branch of the system, such as traffic, stores, etc. The main entrance has been shifted more to the south, and leads into a small hall. On the left is the new Board room, in which is a new table, semicircular in shape. Each member at the table thus faces the chairman, and altogether tiie arrangement tends to facilitate the Board's business. At the north end of tho buildins an addition has been made, and here the conductors can make up their cash and pay it into the receiving office. A stroii£ room has been built, and it is intended to hiatal in it a receiving box. Into this box the men working at night can put their bag and cash, and it can be cheeked in the mornin__. Besides obviating the necessity for receiving officers to be on duty late at night, the receiving box will also do away with any delay in the conductors getting to their homes. A senarate building has been erected for the men, and a locker is provided for each motorman and conductor. Other alterations have been made, and altogether the organisation of the office has been considerably improved.

At nine o'clock yesterday morning the Waimakariri North and the Waimaxariri South were clear, but the Rakaia, Waitaki. and Rnngitata wore dirty. Thero are still a few labourers out of work in Christchurch, but it is estimated that before long oven they Will find employment. The city clocks arc now on their host behaviour under the operation ot synchronisation. No stoppage . Has ocoecurrod lateiv, and the time is excellently ke;-.t. Thero was a goodly attendance of visitors yesterday at the exhibition ot china tiaiiititii- in the Art Gallery u.\ .Mrs Do Gruchy Virtue, and .disst-s Ij'-aird-Luxton and Makeig. There will bo an tn< r visits ot professional rompam.s here athe Theatre I'oval until Bosnia night, when the Knthcrino De Grey Company will commence a season under tho auspices of J. C. Williamson. Ltd. Mr Justice Sim will preside at the sitting of the Supremo Court to-day. at 1(1.30 a.m. His Honour will rrive judgment in the ease Mct.ratn v Minister of Internal Affairs, and will hear several cases on tho list. The Mayor of Wookton desiivs to acknowledge the following, addition:-! .subscriptions to the Mc! son fund:-— Vv. linsom CI Is. S. A. En.vom,£l Is. Sympathiser, Springston CI, W. L-- 10s, IJ . Hall 6s, W. R. C. ss. The fish season, which started rather badly in Akarca (.says tho ''Mail') is now'thriving. The net feh aro hemic caught in abundance. Beautiful fat mold and buttcrfish are being brougnt to the wharves in goodly loads, and are being carried round the town for sale. V Conference of delegates from tho New Zealand Hotel Employees Unions will lie held at Wellington next month. Auckland, Wellington, and Otago havo already affiliated, and Canterbury is to be invited to affiliate, and will be m-j vited to send delegates. Tho total | membership of the Unions in tho three I centres is estimated at about 2000. • I An interchange of mementos on a considerable scale took placo off Otago Heads on Tuesday, between the ladies and £irls on board the Plucky and burly bluejackets on the Terra Nova. The'tug was made fast to the whaler, and the ladies were able to pin brooches on the. iumpers of tho men, receiving cap-bands inscribed "Terra Nova" in exchange. The Stanmore Band will »>lay tho following programme on St. Albans Park rotunda to-day, at 8 p.m.:— March, "Ruaparaha" ; waltz. "Inspiration" ; selection, "The Aladdin Pantomime"; two step, "Clorinda"; intermezzo, "Rose Garlands"; waltz, "Maid o' the Mist" ; two step, "Cuckoos''; march, "National Guard"; "God Save the King." Yesterday morning his Honour Mr Justice Chapman gave- his judgment on tho application by Angus Black, Moore and Nicholls for leave to apply to the Court of Appeal for a new trial on the charge of robbery on which they were convicted at the recent criminal sessions of the Supreme Court. Leave was granted to Black, but the applications of the other two prisoners were refused. Mr Donnelly acted for Black. The contractors for the erection' of the tea kiosk in the Gardens (Messrs D. Scott and Son) made a start on the foundations for the building on Monday last. The plan shows that tne building will bo octagonal in shape, surmounted by a small turret and a flagpole. The building will be surrounded by a fine broad verandah, and four glass doors w il lead from the verandah into the kiosk. The site of the building commands n very fine view of Hagley Park and the Domain. The contract time for the erection of tlie kiosk is four weeks. A most satisfactory condition of rffairs prevails in the "Auckland labour market at present, and there is an unsatisfied demand for competent skilled labour in nearly every trade. This is very pronounced in the building trade, and several new dwellings are making tho slowest progress m their erection owing to contractors being unable to obtain carpenters. The demand for unskilled labour i is also groat, and domestics are almost impossible to obtain. In fact, if all tho vacant .positions at the present moment ■were to be filled there would bo a further substantial increase in Auckland's rapidily-growing population. In connection with tho recent case of the killing of the horse belonging to tho Cricket Association, a gentleman in Christchurch wrote to Mr G. Yi*. Russell, M.P., suggesting that a reward of £100 should be offered by the Government for tho detection or' the offender. Mr Russell replied that he had seen Dr. Findlay, and had learned from him that enquiries were,being made. On receipt of the report the Government would decide whether a reward should be offered. /He also forwarded a letter from Dr. Findlay, stating that the Police Department were prosecuting enquiries into the matter. In Australia, according to Mr Edgar F. Stead, active ste_» aro "being taken to bring under the notice of tbe children the desirableness of protecting native birds. In the schools, the children aro asked to sign a declaration that they will not interfere with native birds or their nests or young. "Bird Day" in the schools is ahx* helping to preserve bird-life. As to ladies' weakness for decorating thieir bonnets with plumage, it is proposed to introduce a measure prohibiting any person from wearing the feathers of any native bird. In Sydney and Melbourne, Mr Stead discussed with several Australian naturalists the importation of owls into New Zealand to deal with the small birds. Speaking from Australia's experience of introduced birds, they said that they were very doubtful if any permanent good would be gained by tho presence of the owls imported here in. rocent years. Mr Stead added that on his way up from Dunedin on Tuesday he went through districts -where the owls were supposed to exist, but as far as ho could see the sparrows and other small birds were just as plentiful and destructive as ever. In Melbourne Mr Stead was shown several hiiiia feathers, and was able to tell the possessor of them that they were more valuable than had been supposed. He intends to make- another attempt to capture some living specimens, to be placed in one of the bird sanctuaries, and will probably go in March into the Rangitikei district, near the Maungaterau river, and Mount Aorangi, where le spent some ten days on the same quest this year. Imagine the comfort of getting your baggage collected, checked free by rail or sea, ar.d delivered at hotel by time you arrive' That's what our checked oaggago system docs for you, and all yoii pay is small sum for cartage.— New Zealand Express Company, Ltd. 6 In years gone by Spectacles had but one use; they were worn to assist tho old folks in reading and sewing. Modern research shows that near sight, tai sight, neuralgia, headachas, etc., j are all relieved by properly adjusted glasses. Consult John R. Procter, Oculists' Optician, 200 High street, Christchurch. Repairs to spectacles dene at short notice. 8 Readers of 'The Press" would do well to nay a visit to Gill and Co., 480 r>nd 482 Colombo street, Sydenham. They are showing some rattling bargain lines; praminent amongst them are Silk Ties (wide ends), absolutely the latest, Is each (they charge 2s 6d and 3s for them in town), and Ladies' Suede Lisle Gloves, all shades, 2 dome, from 10 _d. a pair. 4 Are your nerves out of order? Do you suffer with rheumatism, sciatica, or a skin disease? Visit the Vibratoriura, 14fJ Armagh street, the instituto . ior modem treatment. Phono 1462. 6

What, Christmas in ithroe weeks? I must go round to Claris aand Procter's G44 Colombo street, ftir ray presents; they always have soraethir.j, nice. 4 In proof of the prosperous times one needs no better evidence than to watch the steady and consistent buying ot jewellery m the White; Hart Buildups, 247 High street. Undoubtedly it is the values that Mr F. W. Tucker is offering that attract the public, but it is not every day that the stock of a linn like D. Benjamin and €0.. of Dunedin. is offered at half-price. Christmas buyers would do well to make a selection enriy. as December 7th is the last day of the sak. 6 Hemsley Burnet, Ltd.. ladies' hairdressers, expert hainvorkers owl roasj■stMirr.s. rooms'G and 7, first floor Royal Exchange Building, Christchurch (near Post Office); 'phone 2758. Every description of hair work dono on the premises. ' 6 There is no one better qualified to undertake tho clearing of your goods through H.M. Customs than J. >L Hey wood and Co., Ltd., the oldest clearing house firm in the Dominion. 6 Motorists will be interested to know that we make a special line of the repairs to accumulators, coils and magnetos, which are purely electrical appliances. Turnbull and Jones, Ltd., Electrical Engineers, Christchurch. 4 We have received word that Father Christmas will be arriving in Christchurch very shortly, and that as usual ho will nnike his headquarters at tho D.I.C. Look out for further news in to-morrow's paper. *■ Every day new members are joining the Wholesale Club in order to be able to purchase everything they require at wholesale, instead ot retail, P r3oe fUntil you personally visit the Club s warehouse and see for yourself the | splendid quality of the goods supplied jto members at such remarkably low ! prices, it is impossible to realise the full significance of the quotations given from day to day in tho advertisements iof the Wholesale Club. It's when you see the low prices, side by side with ! the high qualities that you begin to sco this wholesale buying system is too thoroughly economical for you to overlook. Any one may becomo a member by purchasing a member's ticket costing 10s per annum. No liability whatever attaches to members, but ticnet holders only are supplied with goods at wholesale prices. Family tickets,,which include husband and wife, and all children under twenty-one, are issued at the same price of 10s per annum. Every, one in Christchurch should, in fairness to themselves, at least, investigate this wholesale buying proposition, which saves from 30 per cent, to 50 per cent, of their spending money. Your personal inspection of the goods and comparison ot prices will be' welcomed at tho Wholesale Club's Warehouse, WorI coster street East, next Smith's garage, right behind tho Cathedral. 6 The Robey Collection for the Christchurch Show:—Traction Engines, Combine, Kerosene Oil Engine, Benzine Oil Engine (magneto ignition), and Centrifugal Pumps. Wo nave revised our oil engine prices. McClelland and Anderson, Sil Cashel street, Christchurch, agents. *> By neglecting the nerves when they become weakened you are placing your life-long- happiness in jeopardy. If you're feeling headachy, irritable, can't cat or sleep, etc., get a bottle of Marshall's Fospherine, and start a course of this splendid treatment now, and you'll soon bo well again. Your chemist sells Marshall's Fospherine at Is, Is 6d, and 2s 6tl. 477 A MINISTERIAL~METAPHOR. Surrounded by.all the pomp and circumstance of glorious war —to wit, the scarlet mess jackets of the Garrison officers—the Hon. Dj Buddo, at- the Hotel AVindsor, at Wellington, on Monday evening waxed eloquent upon the nobility of the profession of arms, and gave voice to some fine sentiments on the subject of national patriotism, military ardour, and so forth. As he spoke (says the "Dominion") his imagination quickened, and he saw, in his mind's eye, the international situation spread before him; heard, with the statesman's ear, the faint discords which jarred upon tho European Concert. But what were these faint discords to British bulldogs? All this, in effect, he descanted upon at length, and finally rounded off a stirring peroration with these words:—"Those ripple;* on the political surface will never dull the trumpet sound of the national call to arms I" ALL THE AND ALL THE KING'S MEN. We have something to say about the price of motor ear tyres, and, as always, we make it. openly—take the public into our confidence and have nothing to conceal; tell some things which some dealers would prefer to have been left unsaid. Most motor car tyres are to-day sold at high prices made necessary when rubber was worth over 10s per lb. To-day rubber is selling at 6s 5d per lb, and'still the high retail price of motor car tyres is maintained by some of the manufacturers. The "Black and White," under date London, September 24th, 1910, says:— "It looks as if all the king's horses and all the king's men will not be able to shako rubber shares back to favour just at present." 'We have just received a shipment of Michelin motor car tyres sent out by the makers on consignment, with instructions to sell at tbe following prices:—Square-tread covers, 710 x 90, old price £6 13s, new price £5 3s; 760 s 90, old nrice £7 7s 6d, new price £5 lis 6d; 810 x 90, old price £7 17s 6d, new price £6 16s; 815 x 105, old price £10 3s 6d, new price £9 0s 6d; 875 x 105, old price £11 9s, new price £9 14s 6d; 820 x 120, old price £11 15s 6d, new price £11 0s 6d; 880 x 120, old-price £12 10s, new price £11 17s 6d; 920 x 120, old price £13 6s 6d. new orice £12 8s; 895 x 135, old price £16 10s, new price £13 10s 6d. Motor car owners should at once take advantage of the great reduction now offered, as our first shipment, ex Ruapehu. will be cleared out almost immediately. ADAMS LIMITED. High street, Christchurch, Chief Stockists for