NEWS OF THE DAY

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14758, 30 August 1913, Page 11

NEWS OF THE DAY

The auction announcements of Jl • K. ! 'c 1 and Co., I'vno and Co., Tonks, X n nn-i Co., Charles Clark, V- n «1 MTt"ago and Agency Co.. iisue. . Mr F L McKeon .states that ho ri nnt orosccute in the caso against a ii ;„th Magistrate's Court th.s ™* tie case, he says, was taken up Kβ police on their own motion. Vkicc of tho proposed tour of an Ail India tennis team was received bj §I 'SEcil of tho New Zealand Lawn Tcm2s , Association on ■JNednceday S? The hccrctary of tho Faiya* M& Tennis Club wrote statSf tot he would bo taking an Allladia team to different countries in 1314, and that he hoped to visit >cw Zealand. Ho asked ior a New /cahsd nrospectue. and the names of New &ads famous players. The letter : »ns referred to tho Management Coui- - 'nattee. Some peon!o seem to think that the rainfall in Otago this month has been phenomenal. That is not w> (telegraphs our Thmedin correspondent), IXstic records prove tho contrary, ffie Gktlbrcok gauge records show t:- t np to Thursday morning the rainfall S the nearly finished month of August ras 4?oin.' In many months that •JSging has toon exceeded. The same «ngo showed G. 14 for October of 1912, end 4.24 'was recorded in February of 1912 while January of this year was ttetter than tho present month.

A missing hat-box, said by tho stewards oi the Victoria to bo tho largest they had ? T ? r /ecn formed the fubject of a claim for-£3O by Mrs Lionel Clare ngainst the HuddartPnrkcr Company, heard in the 31«gistrtte,.. , Court at Gisborno, on Thursdaf Mr Barton, S.M.. held that the lo?s had been occasioned by the negncenco of defendant company in rot placing the luggage aboard the tender at Gishornp. Plaintiff did not sign nnv contract, and waa not aware ot CJiitiso IS of tho terms endorsed on tho passflgo ticket; consequently sho was not ?>oHnd thereby. Plaintiff was therefore entitled to recover the actual valuo of the trunk and contents. .Tudgmont was given for £26. with costs.

A private enquiry agent stated in bis evidence in the coursft of a divorce caso at the Auckland Supremo Court on Wednesday that ho had received his instructions to watch tho respondent to tho suit from tho brother of the petitioner.. His Honour Mr Justico Edwards'expressed surprise at this. "Do you take instructions from anyone? ,, ho asked tho witness. "Suppose I wanted you to watch tho houso ol its Excellency the Governor, for mttonce, would yon feol entitled to ao to?" Tlie enqniry agent replied in tho affirmative. Thereat his Honour remarked: "It is as well wo should know tkat. I think, however, if anybody Wg?er than yourself caught you under aich circumstances you would stand n, Ckncc of getting a thrashing, would you not?" Tho reply of tho witness was inaudible.

Asfar as can-bo seen, the>ffoct of Sir Joshua AViliiams's decision in the Mwjriel water-rate caso is that boroughs whkJa havu adopted the system of fating on unimproved values subsequent to tho passage of tho Rating Amendment Act of 1911. Bust fix. their water-rato on tie nnimproved, and not on tho annual or capital value. But having done co, it appeals that by an oversight in theAct mentioned, they havo no legal power to enforco payment. Power to tnforco payment of water-rates is con»rred by ikction 83 of tho Municipal Corporations Act of 1003, but this applies 4 'only to water-rates based on ."■uuntal, capital values. There fermi»te Tating generally on tho unimproTod system, who legally collect vater-rates under that section, but they had adopted tho unimproved system prior to-1911, before which timo it was specifically laid down that certain rates, iscJading water-ratos, must still bo levied oa tho annual or capital values, nn-yas tho ratepayers by a poll decided ise. It is quito evident (telegraphs our Ihinedin correspondent) that fosto very faulty legislation require? lmnwciate attention. the position K"eaingly being that in certain cases the law compels Corporations to adopt Scans which the law itseif has left imt*ncct, to tho exclusion of the only iß«acs by vfhich tho cud might bo wtained.

story is going the rounds that one week a young_ ma'j, with a tfeH-assumed air of dejection, waited *jQ tho senior monibor of a well-known Jfffl of undertakers (says tho "Otago *wy-Times"). Ho' stated that his «tiedaughter had just died, and that *c wishtxl tho firm to undertake tho lOSfiral arrangements. lie also gave *» Mac aud address and the namo of foe doctor who had attended his child in rte last illness. Tho undertaker was profcsiipnaUy sympathetic, aud took a W 9 $ '"formation detailed to «;ni. The young man then unburdened ■enseif'of tho "fact that h e had been ffcp'Oyod in the country, and zs ho had ia <i to leave his work* in a hurry to foV 0 tojm, and h;;d not had time ™ collect his cheque for wa.grs due, ho suppose thero would bo any oi> £«on to the undertaker waiting a **£ J> T two for his payment. The j°wrtaker had tk> objection—he often ■g'oj'ait for his money. Everything thus arranged satisfactorily, tho r f*"& man made to depart, but with 'Sfc fi?- thp h^ndle of tho tloor > and -jtli s ¥- sitation - remarked that, tli* *?« » bit short of money, perhaps till- crtakor °° n]il len d him 10s to : * »» over a day or two, and this rj°tt«t could be returned when the «M3! n tf°! int caTno to ">« Paid. Seven 'Wμ* 8 ? , J lO1 *^ 1 ' 1 ". al] the under'«s» wi , on him ' and this w *s at t^tOS" 1 cvc , r - T1) o cl'max is that oug* ft tho address given knew l»ui ? liU k - chlld ' antl tho tloctor named S & ls<? 4 nove, ; hwml < )f tho case. iS t, ! t "i Md impudence of the

Ycst<n-day IOjCCO young trout wero liberated in tlio Ashlev river.

A Hamilton telegram states that James Leslie McGregor, land r-gent. v.-a-» committed for trial for alleged breaches of the Bankruptcy Act. Alfred Cros-ey, a farmer belonging to Rotorua, was p.l;;o committed for trial on a similar charge.

Tho New Zealand Cadet shooting team fired yesterday, at Trenthain, for ICarl Roberts's trophy, which is open to all secondary reboot in the Empire. The worthrr v.;i.s rather unfavourable. Tho team a total of (>1 hits out of a possible 100.

Tho Civil Service Appeal Board hepan its sitting--, in Wollirigton yesterday.

Thorp wwf> present: Messrs P. Barr •'<hnirman), Mnrryatt. Mouat, Jli'.l and Rialiardfron. Tlio Beard dt:ait with Severn 1 apivrals, r.nd vi.l continue its rittings daily. It has not yot deoirjod whether the tittings will be open to tho Press.

At tho annual mectiriiz of tho Pioneer Amateur Athletic and Cyrlin;; Club. h;>i-l on Tlmrsday evening, the Hen. K.C.J. Stovons was re-elected president for tin? thirty-fifth eonsccr.livo year. At tho dato of tho formation of the O!ul>, in 1379. tho Hon. E. C. J. 8r.0v.-vis wa> elected president. at;d has filled tin? position throughout the entire term of thft Cub's existence This is probably a record in connection with any sports club throughout tho Dominion.

Tho I/onilon County Council after some* years experimenting in various colours for their tram cars have at last definitely decided upon green and white, and a London mn.era zinc commenting upon the change . says the effect is mrst pleating and that tins colours adopted are a long way ahead of any combination hitherto adopted, and in the opinion of exports ami nlfo the public, it cannot he beaten. Tho Christehureh Tramway Uonrd had anticipated tlio London decision by adopting green and white.

Tho Chri.stchuroh Gas Company has yrcured tho services of Miss I , ]. M. Johnson, L.C.A., ar> cookery demonstrator and export, and tho Com pan jpurposes giving cooking demonstrations in their lecUiro room. Worcostrr street, every Wednesday and Friday afternoon. Yesterday a number of iadietj were present, when Miss Johnson illustrated how effectively sausa.go rolls, apple meriiipue. and spongo cake could be turned out with the aid of tho ordinary gas stove. Tho correct tiso- of a laundry iron was also shown.

A unique method has been .adopted in regard to tho operations under the Defence Act in Kaitangata. where irregular shift work at the mines has to bo considered. The local Territorial corps, which set to work again after a winter spell on Wednesday evening, instead of drilling onto a week for tho summer havo agreed to undergo h'vo days' training per week for t-ho ■eniaiinf; month. Tho idea of "lumping" tho drills in this fashion meets with the approbation of those liable to serve. The* step (save tho Dunedin "Star") will probably bo a precedent for the "Dominion.

Mr M. J. Mack, general secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, writes to tho "Raihva} , Review advocating tho erection and maintenance of a convalescence homo for railwaymen. The sum required for such a homo would bo £-1000. Mr Mack urges that if members of the society agree to subscribe Gd per month per member, to be used solely in tho maintenance and upkeep of such an institution, the thing would be done. "If tho subject is worthy of consideration, Mr Mack says, "let us start at once, and do something which will be a lasting monument to the A.S.R.S. and a benefit to our fellow workmen."

Recently tho Spreydon Borough Council obtained authority to ra;so a loan of £7(XX> for footpath and road formation, etc., but found difficulty in raising the money at the rate of interest specified, namely, five per tent. Tho Council has therefore decided to issuo debentures in sums of £100 each, to the amount of the loan, such debentures to havo a fivo years' currency and to carry interest at the rate of fivo per cent., payable-half-yearly. At tho end of the fivo years it is hoped that money will bo easier, and that tho loan will be placed on better terms for tiio remainder of tho period specified, 31 years.

The cutter Antolopo returned- to Bbiff a few days, ago from tho vicinity of Dusky Sound with about 70 sealskins, as tho rcwult of a seal Irant a;]ong tho West Coast. From all accounts tho fur seals aro very scarce, and it is freely surmised that more than ono well-stocked rookery was depicted by poaching vessels during the past year. Aooordioc to ono statement (says tho "Otago XXtiiy Times"), a largo cache of seaJskins was discovered .hidden in a remote spot ou Stewart Island, and it is said that ono enterprising individual improved the shining hour by annexing 300 skins from the hidden sioro. but no information lias been vouchsafed regarding his disposal of tho booty.

Tho usual display of early daffodils was on view at tho Horticultural •Society's oliiec yesterday, and was in-' spec ted by a number of enthusiasts. Owing to the season, tho number of exhibits was rather smaller than usual, the bulk of them being from the garden of tho Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes, Otabuna. They were all trumpets, and tho majority wero very fmo blooms indeed. Mr F. Biggs also had sonio new early polyanthus varieties on show, produced by and raising from seedlings- Already tno season has been extended about three weeks by tho production of these specially early varieties, and it is anticipated that it can bo extended at leasta month, and possibly six weeks. The main chow of narcissi will be held on Friday week, September 12th.

In consequence- of several complaints that had boon rnado by tramway conductors nnd others of tho dangerous nature of long and unprotected hat-pins worn by many women, tho Auckland municipal authorities exhibited great activity last week regarding, tho enforcement of tho hatpin bylaw. Notwithstanding that this bylaw was adopted by tho City Council two months ago, tho practico of wearing dangerous hatpins has not ceased. Two municipal inspectors spent an afternoon in travelling on different tram-cars, with . tho result that a number of passengers wero found to b» transgressing tho by-law. They aro to bo invited to justify their conduct by appearing at tho Police Court shortly. It is understood that over forty cases oi breaches of tho by-lave woro reported.

Mr Cyrus J. Williams, engineer to tho Lyttelton Harbour Board, estimates the- probable cost of an improved boat harbour near Bell's Baths, Sumncr, at £9000. Ho could not say whether the Board would bo prepared to carry out this work without contributions from other bodies seeing that the anunint to be expended would produce practically no revenue, but the Board certainly would have nothing to do with the project at all if it lost control of tho foreshore according to tho desiro of tho Suinner Borough Council. "Regarding the matter ot assistance to bo expected from other bodies Mr Williams quoted a statement recently made by the Primo Minister, in reply to Mr Wilford, that it was not desirable that municipal corporations should have statutory powers which might lead to a conflict with Harbour Boards or River Boards, but if the power desired was to enable municipal corporations to contribute to the funds of Harbour Boards for tho purpose of enabling such Boards to provide boat harbours, the Government would favourably consider proposals for euch an amendment of tho Act.

Tho ET-wke's Ray Education Board ador.u-i a re.-olutioa urging that the mimriium salary for teaciiers in backblock schools be raised to i-IJO. Preliminary tests of the municipal trams arc iuVcgress (says a Press Association r.iesir.ge from rapier) and the service is ex"ec\ed to be available to tho public in*a week's time. 'Vv.ir.--ly you can got an intelligent man to'settle the whole question?' queried Mr Justice Deuniston of coun■ci in cam- mentioned at tho Supreme Court "That would bo all ri'-ht if "wo had intelligent clients to dus! with," replied counsel. An n-rii'ation for the adjournment of thi' l/.Li.Kriipicy petition iv tho estate- of Herr:;'.a:i L.'.-wis wr<s made in tilt' Wtlljirton Supreme Court yesterday (;:;;v.s ;? Press Association message). Coiur-.-'l <-.\plaiuefl that tho creditors Jirtr] «.;>t u;i an informal committee to ivonrt onYn:-! positbn of the missing debtor, ai-.d until the report was available th>j petitioning creditor did r,ot wish to piv-j the oruL'i*. An adjournment for fourteen ciays was granted. Not the l'<:st interesting of the 400 exhibits a: tin? inaugural flower show iicxl at Sanson, near I'oikiinp,, was an exhibit <•:' ne"v potatoes of medium kizo, I grown b'v Mr R. U. Perrett, of bauson. In" formally opening the show. .Mr J. (J. V.'i'Von," President of the Is'ew Zealand l'".i::ii. rs' Union, said it was indeed a revelation to even old res-i----drr.t-s of thr; district, such as himself, at this time oi' tho year to see new potatoes of size suitable for eating. The civil .sittings of tho Supremo Court connv.e:i;v ut 11 a.m. on .Monday. Tho two first case-i set down for hearim' t>re John Alexander Newell v. LvUdton Times Co.. Ltd., £1000 damages for alleged libel, and Alexander A. v. Lyttclton Times Co.. Ltd., £1000 dnniaßM lor alleged malicious nuolicr.tiou. The third case .set down lor hearing is William and Ksth'-r Coombos.v. Christchureh Tramway Hoard, £COl damages on account of the death of plaintiffs' daughter. \ Why not free yourself of tho routine of Customs work? You can. Simply hand your documents to us. and, as far ias you are concerned, there's an end to work and worry. We pass the entries, deliver tho poods, and thero is no dolay. The X.Z. Express Coy., Ltd. G Up-to-date Spring Cleaning. Vacuum Cleaners on hire. Wo have set aside Koreral efficient, easily-worked Vacuum Cleaners, to biro out by tho day. Terms on application. Ila.stio, Bull, and Pickering, opposito Bailantync's. 6 If you want your electric light, lift, motor, beils. or telephones properly ;ind promptly attended to, ring up Turnhiill and Jones. Telephones 421 and 3370. . 1 Present conditions of education and competition all demand a higher standard of eyesight than was tho ca?.o in former years. Modern ro.soare/j shows that near-sight, far-sight, neuralgia, headaches, etc., arc all relieved by properly adjusted glasses. For all impairment of vision consult John R. Procter, oculist's optician, 200 High street, Christchureh. Hours, 9.30—1. 2—G. 5 Your Eyes—A new discovery for removing Cataracts, Films, WhittSpecks, etc., without operations Send for particulars and testimonials, free E. V.'. Hall, Herbalist. 117 Armagr street. City. '■i ■ When yow get a touch of the "flu,"' don't take ' , — risk of it leaving ■ou permanently weakened. Hush for lierry's Influenza .Mixture. It reduces the fever, a:d qu.okly cures. Jno. Derry, opp. Recce's, 670 Colombo "* A new and effective treatment for unbroken Chilblains. Berry's Chilblain Mixture (Is Gd), taken internally, and Berry's Chilblain Liniment (Is), used externally on parts affected. For Broken Chilblains, apply Berry's HealAil, stimulating and healing. Is. Obtainable only "from Jno. Berry, 670 Colombo street. 6 ■ When you think of moving arrango with J. M. Hey wood and Co., Ltd., to do tho work. Their plant is one of. tho largest in Christchureh, and their men aro civil and reliable. 6 Meccano. —Tho ideal present for a boy with a turn for mechanics. Correct working models of the world's mechanical wonders constructed by an intelligent boy. Set 0 ss. 18s Gd, 2 16s 6d, 3 ( >ss 4 40s. Lewis and Anderson, 112 Cashel street W. 'Phono 1202. 6 A SERPENT TONGUE. Twenty citizens of Atlantic City, New Jersey, have succeeded in convicting a nagging neighbour as a "common scold" (says the "Evening Standard"). She is known locally as "the woman with the serpent tongue," . and tho magistrates propose to banish her troiu tho city. RUSSIAN BOY-SOOUT FIREMEN. Tho Russian Ministry of the. Interior is considering tho question of creating quito a "r.ovei typo of Boy Scout. Tho official idea is to form brigadciS of beys who will bo instructed in all the duties of fh-omon and. tho correct way to savo life in caso of an , outbreak ot lire. At tho same, time, tho "fire scouts' will be taught the supremo necessity of taking every precaution to avoid fire, l'he brTgades will a.so serve to instruct tho youngsters in the elements of military training. CABLE-EATING SHRIMPS. In consequcnoo of the damage dono by shrimps and other Crustacea, tho French Post Office has found it necessary to reinforce their submarine telegraph cablo by roil of gutta percha and hemp (says tho '.'Mail's" J'aris correspondent).' Tho cablo from Naples to Palermo and tho new cables between Sicily and Tripoli have had to bo encased in a copper envelope, as tho shrimp-, boro their way through the outer covering and ko destroy the insulation. LATEST SNAKE STORY. "Whilo trout-fishing in a mountain stream near Mc'untaindale, George Enser, a well-known business man of Piedmont, Va., was attacked by snakes, and before he could beat them off tho reptiles had entwined themselves about him, binding his arms, hands, and feet. The snakes, over a dozen in number, measured from 4ft. to Gft. in length. Tho story goes that Enser hnd the presence of mind to rob down the hill into a fire that he had built to warm his breakfast. His clothing caught firo, and the snakes, scorched ami sizzlini?. untwined from Ins body and escaped. Enser, though badly burned, ran to the trout stream and threw himself into tho water, extitvuishing his burning clothes. His body, arms, and face were severely burned. THE FIRST MAP OF JAPAN. "An interesting etory of tho lifo and work of tho first man to make a reliable map of Japan is told by Colonel E. B. Kuobel. Ino Chukct, for such was his name, was a very remarkable mm Born in 1747, ho earned on business as a brewer until about ISOO, aniassm« considerable money. Late in life ho asked to be allowed to make a man of Japan at his own cxnonse. For ei"htci>a years he continued hi 3 labours employing thirteen assistants, includin" , four pupils, and the rceu.t of his work was afterwards incorporated in fourteen volumes. All tho instruments ho made were of his own construction, and it was staled that the original instruments_wore on view at the Shepherd's Buih Exinbition last voar l> has been ascertained, however' that only the compass was an ori-'VI the other instruments hav:ug teen destroyed by fire.

A RELIGIOUS RAILWAY-GUIDE. Although the provision "D.V." has nc-rer figured on railway time-tables, a close examination of Bradshaw reveals a trace of strong religious feeling (says tho •'Evening Standard' ). On the cover the months are referred to by their Tiumerieals —"Ist mo. -, lor January; "2nd mo." for February, and so C'-i. . Brad.shaw as a Quaker objecu-d to taking the names of the months fr..m heathen emperors and deities, and this prejudice has been perpetuated since the first issue of the time-table seventytwo years ago. THE "CANADIAN LANGUAGE."' The curriculum- of the telephone school in Vancouver. British Columbia, includes a course cf the 'Canadian ' language. This provision is necessary owing to the number of girls of fore-pi 7Kitionnlity employed as operators. The countries'represented rank numerically as follows:—Canada, Scotland, England, United States. Australia, Wales. Norway, France, Germany. Ireland, Belgium. Poland, and .Iceland. All tiuv young won'fn claim to speak English, but it is rather a variation of the tonciie. The Er'dif-hman naturally thinks he sp-aks tho best English. The Canadian and the American speak of tho English 'accent. 7 ' All three of these at tiir.es have difficulty in understanding their Scotch friend. To eliminate trouble, an elocutionist trains the pupils in the school to "talk slowly, to enunciate clearly, and, as far ;\s possible, to 'speak the Canadian language.' " MUSEUM AS A CRECHE. Mr Cocil Hallett. the official guide at the British Museum, gave an amusing account of his work in an address to the conference of the Museums Association at Hull, recently. '" Parties are taken round daily." he said, "but there is no limit as to a;;e. and it is rather disconcerting to try to lecture on prehistoric flints to a party which includes several hnbio<s in arms. There is a tendency for education authorities to 'SO'id children who are too young, and it is rather diilir-ult to explain prehistoric ■specimens to .jluvcniles who are not tall enou«h to f-'oo the case unless they are held up. Then thero is the desire to see too much nt a single visit. One of the teachers asked mc to give the children in niio hour a General idea of tho civilisation of Egypt, Assyria, Greece, nrd Rome. It is rot only the London County Council, who have 'discovered tho museum. The poor people have, fourd it a warm, dry place. They use it, in fact, as a creche."' ELEPHANTS EXCHANGE SALUTE. A remarkable instance of mental telepathy, or animal intuition, occurred last week on board tho Kanowna, inward bound from Queensland ports (says tho "Sydney Sun.") Tho vessel, in addition to her usual complement of passengers and cargo, had on board tho whole of the members, animals and paraphernalia of Vv'irth Bros., circus and zoo, en route for Melbourne. Nothing unusual was noticed until tho vessel was in.side. the Heads. Tho herd of elephants then began to show peculiar restlessness. When opposite Bradley's Head the ■whole- herd began to trumpet in a manner most terrifying Their keeper endeavoured to paciiy thorn, and to ascertain tho causo of their uneasiness. He had just succeeded in calming the beasts when, to the amazement of tho whole ship, an answering trumpeting borne across the water from the direction of Bradley's Head Was distinctly heard. Conjecture* wore bandied ab'iut tho ship, and an explanation of tho mystery was vouchsafed by a passenger, who recollected that an elephant was then located at tho Zoological Gardens now in course of construction at Bradley's Head. Enquiry confirmed his' statement. The elephant, Jumbo, now at Bradley's Head, was until recently a member of tho herd aboard tho Kanowna, but owing to his developing a temper and attacking and injuring his trainers ho was sent to Sydney. It is assumed that the herd on board tho Kanowna were by eomo power of intuition mado acquainted with the close proximity of their lato companion—honco their restlessness and trumpeted greetings.