NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14238, 29 December 1911, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

_ 1 :—• The Town Clerk has rece-ved £3 from the Masscy, Harris Co.; and £1 from "Anonymous," for the Coronation Memorial Fund.

Ths matron of St. Helens Hospital desires to acknowledge with thanks, flowers from Mr T. Milligan, Mrs Bray, and Mrs Kimbor, of- Puaha, Little River. Owing to the exceptionally heavy traffic and the large number of stops at stations, the first express from The south . was twenty minutes late in leaching Christchurch yesterday. The concrete foundations for the new Technical School bu_din_s at Ashburton have now been completed, and tho ceremony of laying the foundation stono will be performed uy the Mayor (Mr Hy. Davis) on January- 11th. The treasurer to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board begs to acknowledge donations to the Christmas funds for institutions, from the Massey-Harris Co., Dr. Duncan, the Rev. W. S. Bean, and the Addington C.E, Society, and Mr Archey (vegetables, etc.) From January Ist, the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company will accept defoa-red plain language telegrams at half rates between Australasia and all British colonies and dependencies, Germany and tho German colonies of Fogo, Cameroons, South-West and East Africa, and United States, in addition to between Australasia and Great Britain. Tho members of the St. Michael's (Christchurch) branch of the Mothers' Union, accompanied by the Rev. H. L>. Burton, and Mrs Burton, 6pent a pleasant picnic holiday in the Ashburton Domain on Wednesday. They were met on arrival at Ashburton by Mrs G. B. Inglis, Mrs W. G. Roberts,' and Mrs G. Thompson (members of the Ashburton branch), who accompanied them to tho Domain. The Union Company and the Hud-dart-Parker Company have arranged for calls at Milford Sound to be mado during the next few weeks by the interstate passenger vessels between Hobart and Bluff. The vessels leaving Bluff for Hobart which will afford passengers an opportunity of viewing tho scenic beauties of the Sound, will bo the Moeraki, to sail from Bluff on January 29% the Manuka on February oth, and the- Ulimaroa on February 12th. Messrs Clouston and Co.'s bonded stores at the Blenheim wharves were broken into late on Sunday night, and tobacco and liquor valued at about £ 10 stolen. The burglary was not discovered till Tuesday morning, when the chief officer of the river steamer Blenteinl, which' had been lying at the wharves since Sunday morning, noticed that tho clasps on the door had boon forced. No trace of the missing goods, and no clue to the identification of the delinquent have yet been discovered. A Press Association telegram from AYolington states that whilst fitting on a rock paddling her feet in tho water at Island Bay on Wednesday, a little grrl was* attacked by an octopus. Attracted by her cries, her father found three tentacles wound tightly round the girl's leg, and she was being gradually drawn into the water. , Her father's strength proved unavailing to extricate tho child, but with tii« assistance of three ladies, the octopus was beaten off, and the child rescued. A very valuable shipment of highclass pedigree stock arrived at Lyttelton by tho Federal-Houlder-Shiro Lin<» steamer Morayshire from. England. The large shipment which has been imported by Mr J. Grigg, of Longbeach, comprises ono bull, one bull calf, a cow, five heifers, and two calves dropped on the passage out. all South Devonshire breed; three Southdown rams, five two-tootli Southdown ewes, three Shire oolts, one Clydesdale colt, and ono thoroughbred filly. The animals are a very fine lot, and liave arrived in good condition. Our Hanmer correspondent writing in regard to tho boring operations for an additional supply of hot water at Han- ' mer Springs, states that the contractor has now finished his contract to put down a 6in pipe 100 ft, and although, a supply was .tapped at a depth of 70ft, on going deeper thia was lo3t. The contracted is at present in Christchurch seeing the Chief Publio "Works "Engineer, and obtaining instructions as to. what he is to do As has already been poinjed out, it is to be sincerely hoped that the Government will not bo content with the "prosent test. lt__is understood tho contractor has now put in a price for additional borings with a -tin pipe. He is very optimistic with regard to results. WTien at Hanmer the Rev. Mr Mason said.most emphatically that h<» believed there was. a large supply of hot water to be had, and placed several pegs in most likely place* If such were possible, the best idea would be for the Department to Arrange for the Rev. Mr Mason and the well-sinker to bo on the snot together, when the affair could be settled definitely in a few minutes* All tho contractor's- boring plant is now on tho spot, and it would mean an additional £60 or £70 to take it down and bring it up again. The 13th annual meeting of the New Zealand division of Sons and Daughters of Temperance was held in the Methodist schoolroom, Selwyn street, Addington, on Wednesday, 28th inst. All the divisions were represented except Wellington. Bro. Thos. Cutler presided, and gave a resume of the business transacted during the past term. Tho secretary reported that- the membership connected with the Centra Funds had not shown tho increase desired, . considering the very satisfactory condition the funds wore in. The balance-sheet showed that £301 had been paid away for sick pay, but only £40 for funeral claims. Tho tralanco to tho cerdit of the Sick and Funeral Fund was £7883 10s 6d, being an ikcreaso of £606 16s Gd for the year. The total funds of tho order weiv £9545. of which about £8500 was invested in freehold property. Tho. newly->olected of_Oers vrWro installed, viz.: xM.W.P. Bro. V. Dedwel!, M.W.A., Bro. W.G.Rowe;M.W. scribe, Bro. J. H. Jones; M.W. treasurer, Bro. F. Lucas; M.W. chaplain, Bro. J. Ford; M.W. con., Bro, P. C. Lucas; M.W. sen., Bro. C. Kent; trustees, Bros. Thos Culter, W." F. Cooper, and W. H. Seed. The next meeting was fixed to be held between December 25th and 31st, 1912, at Wanganui. Even in the cause of scientific research (says tho Melbourne "Age") the Postal Department is not prepared to handle without complaint packages which contain specimens to Bo submitted at the University to bacteriological examination, but are posted like ordinary, innocent parcels, A number of 6uch packages have passed through the hands of the sorters, and have proved not to bo packed and posted according to regulation. Dire possibilities have suggested themselves to tho Department of broken specimen jars, escaping microbes and subsequent reduction of the staff. One medical man has been cautioned, and the Department is drawing the attention of others whom it considers likely to forward specimens to the regulation bearing on* tho postage . of. pathological specimens. This requires that on the outside of every packet there must be written the words, "Specimen for bacteriological examination." Tlie liquid or substance forwarded for examination must be enclosed in a receptacle hermetically sealed, and this must be placed in a strong wooden, leather or . metal case, in * such a way that it cannot shift about. With it must bo packed a sufficient quantity of some absorbent such as sawdust <r. cotton wool, to prevent, possible leakage. The package must on no account be dropped into a letter box or sent by parcel post. A penalty of £50 is provided. "**

I Two distinct earthquake shocks were felt at Dunedin last night shortly before 10 o'clock. The Presbyterian Bible Class Union opened its. summer conference at Hamilton yesterday. Three hundred delegates were present. Tlie Canal Commissioners—Hon. ¥.. . Mitcholson (chairman) and Messrs W. Ferguson and J. E. Watson—will resumo their sittings in Christchurch on January 2nd. Tho great exactitude necessary in fixing the city rates is exemplified by tho rate account notices which contain an appalling fraction in respect to several amalgamated rates, the rate in tho pound sterling being stated to be 3d 32,099—680,432. Another rate looks' quite simple as compared with it, tlu» rate being Id 289—13,410. To cope with the largo volume of ■ storm water that collects, at the corner of Manchester and Gloucester streets, tho City Council have put in under the , footpath on the western side cf .Manchester street a culvert, two feet and a > half wide by one foot deep. This connects with tlie culvert that conveys the surface flood waters from tho corner ol Manchester and Armagh streets to tkt> river. The following resolution was passed at the last meeting of tho Otago Trades and Labour Council: —"That this Council notices that the Otago Education - Board has at different times given leave of absence for various lieriods of timo on full nay to well-paid teachers and other officers retiring from tho service. This Council protests against such action, as it considers that as, the servants retire on superannuation there is no justification for the money devoted to educational purposes being 'thus diverted from its proper use." Tho New Zealand Festival of Empiirc Committee in Wellington on Wednesday night entertained Mr R. Coombes, who was their representative in London with the Aus--1 tralian team. In the course of his 1 reply to the welcome, Mr Coombes (.aid that the team which went home was i foredoomed to failure. Tho members < f the team reached London ono by on<\ and were located in different parts of tho city. Consequently it was difficult to deal with them as a team, and : the men were left to thoir own device*. .. Whenever a team went Home again, the members' should go together, and h* ~ in the same quarters, thoy got \ to England they should be Iwund to do ! as thoy were told by the representative in charge of tho team. Tho Telegraph Department announooß ;. that deferred cable messages will lx» * • accepted for transmission from Ist " •' January. Tho text of deferred tele- •■ grams shall bo written entirely in plain language, and shall not contain any .• figures, commercial marks, groups o"f ■ letters, or signs of ation or ah-" -.- : breviatod expressions. Any telegrams ' containing a succession of "isolated letters, of numbers, of names, or of words without connected meaning, and generally any telegram which docs not in tho opinion of tho telegraph officer to whom it is presented for trans- " mission bear an intelligiblo meaning - on the face of it, shall not bo trealw 1 as a deterred telegram. Registered addresses will be accepted if accompanied by a text which makes their nature clear. Numbers shall be - written in words. Telegrams without - text shall not bo, admitted. The lato Mr David Wilson, who died ' ■ On Christmas Eve at the advanced ago '" of 8o years, and who was a very old • - colomst having arrived in tho Dominion-' in the barque Victory in 1857. and who '' settled in the Ashburton district _.''• years ago, left an estato which it is/ expected will be sworn at just under" £80,000. The religious and charitable' bequests total £3300, and of tins all but £200 is left to,the funds and institution* in connection with tho Presbvtocian Cliurch of New , Zealand. * The . , £3100 is divided amongst 14.objects, ..* i tho biggest amounts being £400 euch - to tho Aged and Infirm Ministers' Fund, and to assisting weak congrega- -• tions in settled charges; also £350 vach ''./ to tho Knox College Endowment Fund " and Churoh Extension Fund. The, sum . of £250 is~ left towards scholarships for <' divinity students, and £200 each towards foreign missions and tho widows' ■. and orphans'fund. , .' Tho Arawa berthed in Wellington yesterday from London ."a full ship ' _o : far as passengers were concerned, no ;' fewer ' than -4443 landing. They were }" distributed: Twenty-seven in tho first'-* class, 75 iff the second .class, aud 344t/--------in the third class. The immigrants wore'-K: classed high by Mr A. S. Danby, tho ■Government Immigration Officer, who';j went out to the steamer as usual for ■* tho purpose of advising them regarding % their prospect-. He is of opinion (says', \i a Press Association message) that not'-,Y ono "of them will have any difficulty xa-'y\ obtaining employment immediately," vj The assisted immigrants comprised .43 r ;i| adults and 11, children, and the fol-. '$ lowing "were tho occupations: Domes- -.\ tics 19, cooks 1, farm hands 3, farmers 'U 2, farm labourers 10 1 while four wive* s% came out to rejoin their husbands. V Tho domestics camo under tho charge • • of Mrs Edith Palmer, of Wellington, / and will.bo at once placed in euitablo \{ situations throughout New Zealand. ,'.' I Tho declared capital of tho assisted v. immigrants ranged from £1500 down s." '"to'tho minimum of £2. ' •.'■>- Tho scope at tlie Auckland Railway, , Station on Saturday morning prior to the departure of the three expresses was a particularly busy ou_ (says the."Herald"). Perspiring travellers rushed wildly, around trying to find their train or their luggage,- and everything was . bustle and confusion. None of the trains,were actually crowded, but owing to tho three express trains running so close to ono another, to say nothing of the various local trains, tho ticket - offices became "jammed," and tho __«,'' fortunate officials were quite unable to copo with the stream of traffic, with tho result that at ono time'there wan a ■''>*'■ huge crowd of anxious and humanity fighting hard to get a ticket."'' At the "loft parcels"- office it was just ■ ' the same. Tho men worked hard id. copo with tho rush, but it was that there should havo been more "myV ~~ to do the work. Ono gentlemanwwar,..;s r ,..; lialf an hour trying to get near the;,. ( . counter to deposit luggage,! and finally [/ gave it up in disgust, and decided to' ~ 6it on his luggage until the departure .;. of the train. Tho actual numbers that r left by the Rotorua, Tauinarunui, and -; Thames expresses were not available, but it is estimated that fully a thousand'.--peoplo left Auckland by these trains. { The new- steamer Zealandic, which' 'f arrived in Auckland on Monday, on her •, " , maiden voyage to tho Dominion, was j,--------1 specially built for tho New Zealand sor- ''■; i vice operated by the Shaw, Savill, and •.- ■' Albion Company, Ltd., by Messrs Har-' »>" ' land and Wolff, Ltd., for the Whito-:" Star Lino, and wag launched at Belfast T -,V 1 Juno 29th of • this year. Sho is ", 477 ft long by 62ft 9in beam, about "f: 10,000 tons gross register, and lias been ' - l specially designed for the trade. Sho .;"',' has very large cargo capacity in six '•T.'l holds—two for general cargo, and four J. holds insulated for carrying frozen cargo. There is accommodation for \ Of a number of first-class passengers, with ,-4 a comfortable saloon on ■ the bridge deck, furnished in oak and upholstered '-# in moquette, with handsome piano at ;>; the forward end. Tho smoke-room is -.Jk also situated on the bridge deck, ad- '*-;', joining the 6aloon. This room is panelled and framed in oak, with hirnitura of tho same material and moquette up- >-■*] holstery. A feature of the ship is the accommodation socially arranged lor :«j over 1100 third-class passengers in enclosed rooms, with space on shelter deck '''■';, arranged for third-class smoke-room -'0, and dining-room, and also a third-class "£\ ■ladies' room—a provision that' doubtless, prove very popular.». -;

At the final meeting of the Board of Ccntro! of the Australasian Amateur '.' Athletic Union in Wellington yesterday, ■itwas re-foived that the Associations ho recommended to considor their (11113- to 1 -sport in the changed circumstances likely to be brought about by compul- '■- tory -military sen-ice. A meteor of unusual brilliance was teen in Wellington at 10.43 o'clock on Tue-fd-w evening, travelling in a south- ■■' f-rl.v direction. A bright shower of ' sparks was emitted and long shadows - Hike distant lightning lit up the clouds. . Tho lli-iht lasted between two and three .', '-seconds, the meteor disappearing be- - yand the Tinahori hills. Several meteors of more or less brilliance have been observed in Christchurch during the past three or four evenings. _ A solution of tho gift problem can easily be found in the extensive t>&Vortment of sensible Christmas and Xew Year gifts, now cut show at Gra- - ham, Wilson, a:id Sraellie's store, street. Inspection cordially invited. Xo one pressed to buy. 6 Shooting and camping parties may now hire our motor-van with seats and tilt for Christmas and Xew Year holiday!'. Quotations on application. Tha Xew Zealand Jix press <Jo., Ltd. 5 . Doulton Art Pottery is being shown , in a splendid variety of shapes and subjects this week by A. J. "White, Ltd., and is attraoiin-j; considerable attention. Thousands of articles suitable for Xma-j and New Year presents arc displayed in tlio various departments, and should be seen by all buyers of presents to-day. * ti The Bradbury Motor Cycle wins *.' again. Information just to hand that this noted machine scored first and -st-cond in the Dannovirko Trials last .-.Saturday. This is undoubtedly a great performance, and should attract tho prospect purchasers. Tho 1912 free A; engine, two-spocd freo engine, and fixed models aro to hand; also arriving _ this week the second shipment of tho famous A.J.S. Lightweight. Farmers' Co-operativo Carago Agents. ti -Motorists will be interested to know - that wo mako a special lino of the jo- . pairs to accumulators, co!':*. and mag- • netos, which are purely electrical appliances. Turnbull and Jones, Lttl., Electrical Engineers, Christchurch. (i