NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14564, 15 January 1913, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Tho auction announcements of Craddock McCrostie Co., New Zealand Farmers' Co-op., New Zealand Loan and M.A. Co., P. S. Nicholls and Co.. Conway, Matson and Sons. Tonks, Norton aiid Co., Levin and Co., Farmers' Saleyards Co., and Charles Clark will bo found on page 16 of this issue.

Tho tremendous importance of a twopower aerial fleet is emphasized by Captain Beemau, in an article on "Human Flight,' ; in "The Navy League Annual." In view of the question asked in the House of Commons about Zepjjolins and aeroplanes, special interest attaches to this article, which describes in a striking way the first battle in tho air and its disastrous eltect upon the land and sea forces of tho defeated nation. The article is reprinted in this week's "Weekly Press." Others of exceptional interest aro. "My Platonic Sweetheart," by Mark Twain, and "A Gum Shed," * and To Pana's "Far North" sketch for the week.

Tho Government steamer Hinemoa. which leaves Bluff for tho West Coast Sounds trip to-day, is a full ship (telegraphs our Dunedin correspondent). A gentleman and his wifo offered tho Marino Department treble rates to bo taken, but tho ship be:ng full, no exception could be made in their case.

"Can you speak English?" was tho Magistrate's question to a native witness at tho hearing of a civil action at Gisborne last week. The witness, a Maori girl, shook her head, preferring tho services of the interpreter. Subsequently, in tho course of her evidence, she admitted she had obtained a scholarship at college.

Bringing coals to Newcastle would appear to be hardly "in it" with taking sand from Wanganui to New Plymouth (remarks tho "Stratford Post"); still, tho fact remains that thero wero two trucks of river sand en route for New Plymouth by tho early train on Thursday, and these were labelled Wanganui. A railway official stated tho sand was screened at New Plymouth, and then utilised by drivers of tho locomotives for the sanding apparatus when the rails aro slippery.

Some misconception seems to havo arisen in regard to tho manufacture and sal© of matches in New Zealand. Tho Phosphorous Matches Act, 1910, prohibited the uso of yellow or white phosphorous in tho match-manufactur-ing business after January Ist, 1912. Merchants and retailers wero allowed twclvo months' grace in which to get rid of existing stocks. To meet the provisions of tho Act, Messrs Bryant and May and Bell and Co., Ltd., tho well-known New Zealand manufacturers, immediately brought out a special nonpoisonous wax vestra, which has been, and is now, procurable throughout New Zealand. The manufacturers \ claim that it is not only the equal of the previous article in every respect, but that it is made from perfectly harmless materials. Tho improved vesta is claimed to be absolutely non-poisonous in manufacture and in vjse.

Tho Sumner Gala, which takes place to-morrow, promises to eclipse its predecessors, as the energetic Committee have spared no effort to provide amusement for both young and old on land and water. The entries for the various events aro far in excess of past years. Tho first race is timed for 2 p.m., and events will bo got off up till dusk, during which period cali'ng, running, rowing, yachting, and speed-launch races will be held. At 3.45 p.m. the race for hydroplane boats will take place, and with tho fino stretch of water to race on, an exciting contest may be looked for. Ample provision has been made for the children's sports and tho baby shows. During the day the Sumner Brass Band will play selections on tho rotunda, and in the evening a torchlight procession will be held, the whole to conclude.with a fireworks' display on the beach near tho Cavo Rock. A special fifteen minute trnm service will run during tho day, and, given fino weather, a record crowd is expected.

Applications for the position of General Manager of Railways arrived in largo numbers during tlie few days preceding the date of their closure in New Zealand (December 24th), and the aspirants are said to include porters, shunters, clerks, and stationmasters. Whether their intentions were facetious or serious, a number of ambitious men in the humbler grades have entered tho raco (says the "Now Zealand Times"), •Somo Oi thorn might fall short of tho qualifications imposed on applicants by tbo Minister of Railways, in that they might havo too abrupt a manner, or might not be about thirty-five years of ago. Interest in the final choice is very keen throughout all grades of tho railway sorvico, and a curious expectancy is said to bo general. The New Zealand applications will bo helu pending tho receipt of tho Hon. Thomas Mackenzie's report on his impressions of tho English applicants, and it is thought- that this*interesting statement, together with the Home applications tliimselves, will not be in the hands of Cabinet before Marcli. Meanwhile Mr T. Itonayno, who will be eligible to retiro on superannuation on March 31st, will / arty on his duties till tho new manager is installed.

It is not generally known (says tho "Taranaki Herald") that Sir Walter Buchanan, tho new Wairarapn knight, one© did Taranaki a very good turn. It was in tho early days of tho Moturoa Freezing Works, before tho company.* business had grown large enough to command the respect and attention of the shipping companies which it now receives. Mr J. B. Connctt, then chairman of tho company, used to go to Wellington to personally look after tho transhipment ■of butter from tho coastal Steamer to the Homo liner. Occasionally he had trouble with tho skipping companies about space and tho company found itself in tho position of being forced to engage epac-o beforehand which it might not bo able to fill, or run tho rink of having part, of its shipment shut out. So Mr Commit looked up Mr Buchanan, who was a lftr~A shipper of frozen mutton, explained the position, and asked him whether he would help iho company out of the difficulty? What cOukl he do? asked Mr Buchanan. "Well,'" said Mr Gannett, "if you could sec your way to fill up with your mutton any epaco engaged by my company which tfc w-og una Wo to till, or to giro Us a littlo of your spaco if our shipments are larger than wo expected, you would bo "doing tho company and the dairy.industry of Taranaki a valuablo service." Without hesitation Mr Buchanan agreed to do this, and so relieved Mr Connett and the company of a serious difficulty. It was an action quite characteristic of Sir Walter Buchanan's generosity and readiness to assist th© farming community.

■All the Canterbury trout streams were reported clear yesterday, e s . cept the Rangitata, which was reported fishable. t O. E. Farrow, a builder, was before tho Magistrate's Court at Auckland ' yesterday, charged under the Bankmptcy Act with rash and hazardous speculations. He was remanded for a week. The traffic returns on tho tramways to New Brightou on Thursday last. Gala Day. were again a record, 12.524 persons being carried on the New Brighton line, nnd 3898 on the North " Beach line, making a total of 16,722 fares. Tho Mayoress has received 5s from. Mrs Panuett, as a contribution to tho Cadet Prize Fund. A meeting of tho local committee will be held at the City Council Chambers at 3 p.m. on Friday, when it is hoped thero will be a good attendance of thoso interested. Tho Chinese Government has inritod the Anglo-Chinos© College, Amoy. to establish a Department of Agriculture and Commerce at. tho College, and &s i the authorities aro anxious that British * produco and manufactures should b>> well represented in their show rooms jnd museums, they havo invited tho Canterbury Chamber of Comnierco to forward samples for exhibition. Tho final returns for tho Christmas holiday traffic handled by tho local Tourist Bureau aro not yet complete, but it is certain already that they will surpass those of previous years. The traffic continues to be very heavy, th© tli'pg most in demand being tho £10 railway ticket, which gives the freedom ■ of the railways of the island. All the, recognised resorts are still full. A Press Association me&sago from Dunedin states that tho lato Mrs Jessio Blair ot Lee Creek farm, near Outrara, left £:11*"0 among local charities, of which £'250 goes to tho Presbyterian Orphanage nt Grant's Braes, £200 for St. Margaret's College, £300 for Knox ColEndowment Fund, £200 for th© Solvation Army, and £200 for tho Karitane Hospital. Yesterday's heat brought the Municipal Tepid Bath particularly into request. As many as 700 ladies used th© Bath between tho hours of 2 p.m. and 9 p.m., which Mr Billson, the custodian, declares is quite a record attendance on ladies' afternoons. Between one and two hundred men, who did not know that tho Bath was only open to ladies, wero turned away during the afternoon and evening. The New Brighton Power-boat Club held a meeting on Saturday night/Mr C. H. Winny presiding. It was de-. cided that the" first of three races io decide th" winner of the Comnicdoro's Cup should be he'd on Saturday afternoon next, at 2.30, and to hold a long distance race on tho followin_ Saturday for tho "Michigan Steel" Cup. the course to be 12 miles, the race to start at 5 o'clock. Four now members wer© elected. A leaflet has been issued by the Dunedin Expansion League, in which are set out in emphatic terms th© many c'imatic advantages possessed by Dunedin, and the whole of tho province of Otago as against tho climate experienced in other parts of the, Dominion. "For from the troricaKdAnkncss of Auckland, the windy bluster of Wellington, the parching 'nor'-westers' of Canterbury." it states, "New Zealand's climate is found at its best in Dunodin, tho capital of Otago." A charge of attempting to commit suicide by cutting his throat, was preferred against William Miller at the Magistrate's Court yesterday. Ho pleaded," guilty. Tho act was committed' at LyttcTton on the 7th instant, but' after cutting himself twice with a '■■ razor, Miller desisted and called for a : doctor. Tho accused handed a short \ statement to the magistrate (Mr T. A. V B. Bailey), who. after reading it, re- \ marked that drink appeared to bo tho * cause of the trouble. Miller was convicted and discharged. . Tho 3layor has received a letter from the Town Clerk of Dunedin, to tho effect'that the statements mado in a letter published in "Tho Press, Christchurch, regarding tho charge for electricity in Dunedin were grossly exaggerated, aiid contrary to fact. With a view of advertising tho benefits to bo derived from tho us© of alectricity' :n Dunedin, tho Electrical Department of tho Council had taken, at random, certain accounts from its books, and theso showed that the Avornuo monthly account per house, including meter rent, was -Is Bd. Amongst th© correspondence received by the Automobile Asscc ation last evening was a letter as laconic as it was accurate. It was as follows:— "Dear Sir,—A cuido book is not worth a d— until there aro signposts to marl: the roads!" The Secretary stated tha-. he had written in reply offering to forward sign posts if the writer would describe what was wanted and how tho fingers should point. Tho reply -to tlm was equally kcon'c. It sot out that ho did not care about tho devil ho know, hut tiie devils he would have to meet-, it was not his own district, but strange country he had referred to. After :>, great deal of discussion in tho local newspapers on the various means of supplying tho «*at need fm facilities for jetting about T maru--tramwn.Tß, trnohlfiss trams. And mo or - buses—the Borough Council ast niglu, :„*ter a debate at a special meeting, . revived by ten votfl* to two, to «wk Uio i-ti-mvors to sanction a loan ot-i/uuw to iustai motor buses. A Press Association telegram states that electric trnmwny.3 wero , estimated to cwt . -CIOO 000. and trackless trains A.6o,WU, including buying out tho present electric works, which would bo useless it cheaper power wero available irom Lako Coleridge. .■ ■/ . ' Tho mail service contract to Proser- ■ vation Inlet having lotfpired, residents in that locality aro anxious to have it renewed, and to this end sent a petition to -Mr J. C. Thomson, M.P., woo has duly forwarded it to tho Postmaster Gzneral. In his representations tho member for Wallace pointed out that tho mail service was tho only means by ( which tho petitioners could got their supplies of toed and mining material, ar.d without theso tho residents, of course, could not carry on. Preservation Inlet was in the developmental static 'ust now, and tho day conk! not be far distant when the State would 08 handsomely recouped for any present. outlay. Graham, Wilson and Smdlic's Gigantic Summer Clearance Sale, which opened yesterday with such overwhelm-' ing success, will be continued todayIt will bo to votir■interest to visit this sale, as tho prices on high-class merchandise arc amazingly low. 6 The worry of scraping together enough to furni&h and set, tip a nomo ol your own is quite a thing of the past, 'iho system of purchasing furniture on easy terms makes furnishing at once for everyone. Ail you have to do is to call and pick out your furnitiiro trom a big high-grade stock. It will be delivered to you at once—but you can pay for it gradually on terms to fcuit you:- purse. Com nit at once. A. JWhite, Limited, New Zealand's Premier Houso Furnishers, High and Tuam streets, Cliristehurch. o - Graham, Wilson- and Smcllio's Annual Summer Clearance aalo astonishes by its great , diversity of offerings. Every department is teeming with bargains, biiepping as early in the day as possible is advised, as tlie store is not then so crowded. <"■ Our "Real Sale" commences Friday next. Great Stock-taking Clearance. Hallonstein Bros., Limited. ' Harvest and Grass-Seeding Requirements—Forks, Sickles, Sharpening Stones, Files, Binder Oil, Oil Cans, Gloves, etc., at I/ewia and Anderson, 112 Cashel street. * ■

Help with your baggage! T\o offer i» you. You just sco us before starting out or starting for home. We call for, h«ck on, and deliver baggage. You on jov yourself. Inexpensive. Costs cartage only. The N.Z. Express Co., Ltd. ' Seven weeks ago these Bags were in London 1 The ve.y latest in Ladies Handbags just opened All the latest ehap-.s and colours. ELst.e, Bu.l. anl Sckor.ug, oppo-ite Baimntyne s. 6