GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14918, 17 March 1914, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

In the very large budget 01 illustrations with which the coming issue of the ••Meekly Press" is made most attractive, there is not one without intoivsi. in laiger or .mailer proportion. A remarkable collection ot aviation subjects has been obtained. Mr ..!. W". 11. Scoth.nd is seen in his success.ul Bight at tin -Shou Grmu-ds at Addington, tho lirst indoor aeroplane Bight is engraved, auu then: are two pictures of accidents to flying machine;- Most striking arc- ti>e views of the great earthquake in Japan, the first that have reached th<- Western World. The very pleasant official vi«it of the Governor and Lady Liverpool to Ashburton is brightly portrayed, and the iasciuat--1112: polo conic-sts for tho Rhodes and Stead cups, under the conduct of tho Christchurch Polo Cluh, are depicted in in excellent arrangement ot snapshot.:-. Tho lure of the Alps provides 1 pace of pictures, taken on a traverso I'rrm Peel Forest to the Hermitage by a party of climbers, which included -Mr S. L. K:u_. and Guide Richmond, who v..ro recently killed by an avalanche on Mt. CV-ik. The other pictures include Day* Bay Reserve. Wellington, lately a"o~uired 'as a public park, Lieut. Fodcn who did heroic rescue work in the North Atlantic, a peculiar motorcar accident at Wnipawa. and a new dop?r_iite in Lo_ Angeles, the appointment of a Pubic Defender, who is to work as diligently in the defence of any .recused Derson as the District Attorney does in the prosecution.

The a:ni''il meeting of the Chnstc.u'rch Beautifying Association will bo held in vhe Chamber ot Commerce on Thursday. 2«_b inst., at 7.4,3 p.m. Alter tho ordinary business. Mr S. Hurst Seager will give a lantern lecture on f.owr planning. V large number of teachers attended Ati- Herdman Smith's special class on th* Government's revised drawing -_>'-- lahns for primary schools last. Saturday morning It has been decided to establish a wad class on Thursday evenings from 7 to 8.30, at the School of Art, beginning this week. A quinnat salmon. 111b in weight, was caught in the mouth of the Rangitat'a river on Sunday. Quinnat salmon wero turned into the Waitaki river some years ago from tho Hakataramea hatcheries. A few small ones have been netted along tho coast.

On Thursday evening next theannual exhibition of paintings of the Art Society will be opened by the piesidei.t, the Hot.. E. C .1. Stevens, M.L.C, and a private view and the conversazione to members will bo held. On Friday morning at 10 o'clock tho exhibition will be open to the public. The i umber of pictures hung is in excess ol last year, and a higher standard of excellence has teen maintained.

Regarding the lecturing tour organised by the Australasian Town Flanxung Association, the By-laws and Finance Committee of the City Council recommend in its report submitted at last night's meeting of the Council, that the Government be urged to make a grant of £500 to enable the lectures to bo made free to the public throughout the Dominion. Tho recommendation was adopted.

Mr C. H. D. Turner, eecretary of the Elmwood School Committee., wrote to tho City Council last night, asking the Council to erect notice boards in Leinster and Aikman's roads, at reasonable distances from the boundaries of the school, warning motorists to slow down when passing tho school. H. added that there had been several narrow escapes from accident by children crossing the roads mentioned, owing to tho excessive speed of motorists. The matter was referred to the Works Committee with power to act.

A letter was received by the City Council last night from tho Town Clerk, Greymouth, respecting the urgency of establishing a daily mail service between Christchurch and tho West Coast, and asking for the Council's support in urging the matter on the Government. Tho Mayor said that the matter affected Christ-church, and the Council should do something to assist in tho matter. On the motion of Councillor J. R. Hayward, seconded by Councillor W. Miller, it was decided to co-operate with the Greymouth Borough Council in the matter.

The new director of the Boys' Gordon Hall (Mr P. M. Velvin) arrived in Christchurch from America on Saturday morning. Mr Velvin, who is a Christchurch boy, went to America eleven months ago for the purpose of training, and there attended the Bpys Workers' Conference at Culver (Indiana), and visited Pittsburg, where he becaVno connected with the boys branch of the central Y.M.CA. For three months he was engaged m community work< a feature of the \ 'MO. A. programme in America. Sir velvin. who takes ud his duties here on Aoril Ist, hopes to introduce a number of useful innovations into the working of the Boys' Gordon Hall. Mr Velvin told a "Press" representative yesterday that he met Sir W. H. Babcock, the late director of the Hall, before he had left for his home at Kruger, Wisconsin. Mr Babcock, who looked very well, said he had had a narticularly fair trip. He wished to be remembered to all his friends out here.

Tho question of apportioning the amounts to be contributed by the various local bodies in and around Christchurch towards the upkeep of the Domain is to be dealt with by a Government Commission, but at the meeting of tho Woolston Borough Council last evening, the Sfayor (Mr J. J-Graha-m) said that though they might not be called upon to contribute, it was time the Council moved in the direction of protecting its own interests He did not see why Woolston should contribute towards the upkeep of the Christchurch Domain, as the Council had no endowments to draw on, but only rates, and no other bodies contributed to the upkeep of the Woolston Domain, which was much more beneficial to residents of the borough than the Christchurch Domain. Other councillors endorsed these views, and tho Mayor and the town clerk were appointed to draw up a statement embodying the reasons why the borough should not be called noon to contribute towards the cost of the upkeep of the Christchurch Domain.

An eminent geologist is at present staying in Christchurch in -tie person of I)r. R. Logan Jack., who is a member of the Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, and a recognised expert in matters pertaining to geology and exploration in Australasia and the East. He conducted pioneer exploration in Queensland before the settlement of the colony took place, and was prominent in assisting in the mining development of the country and in the initiation of the system of artesian bores for water. In 1809, he represented Queensland at the Greater Britain Exhibition, and later visited Korea and China. For some time past Dr. Jack has been keeping a record of the relation of the temperature and the saturation of the atmosphere with moisture with a view to referring theso results to Lamb's Tables of Discomfort, which give, for each degree of temperature on the dry bulb and the percentage of moisture in the atmosphere, the actual amount of discomfort, zero being absolute perfection and ten de-.roes a combination of high temperature and moisture dangerous to life. Led to make these observations first when chairman of a Royal Commission on miners' disease in Western Australia some three years ago, he continued them in Sydney, and at Paradise (Lake Wakatipul, where he and his wife havo been spending part of their present holiday, he kept a further record for purposes of comparison with Sydney. Dr. and Mrs Jack will proceed' to* Wellington, en route for i Sydney, on Thursday.

The St. John Ambulance street collection at Timaru on Saturday yielded £230. as against £193 last year. The country returns havo not been recei%*ed.

The Christchurch Amateur Swimming Club-was represented at the funeral of the late Mr E. C. Ashby yesterday by Messrs Geo. Harris, W. D. Bishop, R. Harley. and -J. R. Buchanan. Mr Ashby was one of the earliest member* of the club.

On the recommendation of the Bylaws Committee, the City Council decided last night that the red reflector to be visible from the rear of motorcars and metor-oycic ,ideear> is to be not less than one inch and a half in diameter.

It is stated that a company iias been formed for the erection ot another continuous picture theatre in the vicinity of Cathedral square. One of the promoters is undcr.>too! to he a gentleman closely connected with the film business in Australia.

Commenting on the fact that the amount of rates outstanding total* £24.fUl lis lfcl, the Ma v..,- (Mr H. Hollands stated at last night's meeting of the City Council, that the 10 per cent, penalty would be imposed on rates owing on and after March 31st.

The Auckbnd drapery assistants who are opposed to the union that ha"; been formed decided last night to refrain from joining it, and to obstruct any attempt made by it to obtain an award or preference clause, by presenting a majority of signatures against it. Those opposed to an award greatly outnumbered the unionists (says a Press Association message).

The effect of the reduction of hours worked by the City Council employees was referred to by Councillor McCombs at last night's meeting of the City Council, and he desired that the City Surveyor should be asked to give his opinion on the subject. The Council declined to have the City Surveyor called in to reply to questions on the subject. The Mayor undertook that, the information would bo supplied to tho Council at itvs next meeting.

At last night's meeting of the Lyttelton Be-rough Cbuncil, Cr. Foster mentioned the necessity for a. readjustment of the time of starting from Christchurch of the 3.30 p.m. train to Lyttelton. As matters were at present a person working or having business to transact in the city, if he wero unable to leave by the train which left Christchurch at 4 p.m., had to wait for an hour and a "half. If the time of departure were altered to -"".la p.m. it would bo much more convenient. It was decided to bring the matter under the notice of the Railway Department.

At present a local hody has no power to allow discount on rates paid promptly, but only to add a percentage to all overduo rates. This disadvantage from a business point of view has had the consideration of the Woolston Borough Council, which last night resolved, on the recommendation of the Finance Committee, to forward a remit to the Municipal Conference urging that legislation he passed allowing public bodies t.he power desired, as it was considered that such a system would bo of great assistance to their finances. s

At the Cathedral on Sunday evening, before a large congregation, the Ucv. J. Russell Wili'ord gave another of his Lenten addresses, his text for the occasion being: "Where art thou?" He illustrated the question in an eloquent sermon, applying the words to modern times, and pointing out tho innumerable reasons people offer for failing to do their duty, especially in relation to the Church and Christianity. Ho urged his hearers not to shelter themselves behind weak and ineffective excuses, but to come forward boldly in the cause of their great Master, Christ.

Visions of councillors old and young endeavouring to wield hockey sticks seriously l(mdicapped by '.having to .wear skirts, no <|>übt crossed tho minds of Councillors at the meeting of Woolstjon Borough Council last night, when an application was read from the Ngaio Ladies' Hockey Club fpr a ground in the Domain and also intimating w.at the Club would gladly welcome further matches with Councillors. "I hope not," laughingly remarked one Councillor, probably recollecting the antics and amusement provided by last season's games, and the outburst of laughter following showed that the fellow-members also saw tho humorous side of those matches.

A powerful and ferocious-looking dog attracted considerable attention at the Ashburton Railway Station as he was tied up to a post waiting transit to Christchurch. On enquiries being made the animal turned out to bo one of tho sledge dogs which went to the Antarctic with Captain Scott's last expedition, and which a few months ago was presented A. R. C. Kilian, of Mount Somers, by one of the Terra Nova's officers. The dog bad been completely out of his clement in his new home up the Ashburton < and had to be kept on the chain, whilst it would worry any other animal which came near it.' The animal, which is a cross between a Siberian dog and a wolf, was to be consigned to Christchurch to bo killed, and then banded over to a taxidermist.

Reference was made at last night's meeting of the City Council to the petition which has been lying at the Council Chambers for some time past asking that the rating on unimproved value system should apply to all the rates levied and collected by the Council. Councillor Hunter moved to the effect that canvassers should be employed to obtain the required number of signatures. It was pointed out that the petition was not got up by the Council, that many councillors were opposed to the proposal, that even if the required number of signatures were obtained, the poll could not affect the system under which next year's rates would be levied, and that if the system wero adopted it would mean that ratepayers in the Central Ward would be called upon to pay £5000 in addition to what they already paid. The motion was withdrawn.

The following is a copy of a letter sent by the Mayor of Lyttelton to the Minister of Slarine, regarding representation, on the Lyttelton Harbour Board:—"I beg to draw your attention to a statement made by Sir Russell, M.P., at a recent deputation which waited upon you in connexion with the representation on the Lyttelton Harbour Board. Sir Russell's statement, as reoorted, was to the effect that Lyttelton Borough controlled tho election of three members of the Board. Sly Council feels that, as representing the residents of Lyttelton, it cannot let this statement pass without giving it an emphatic denial. The real position is, that while Lyttelton is the centre of tho Harbour Board's operations, and is undoubtedly entitled to a representative, of its wn or> tho Board, it is almost entirely disfranchised. Lyttelton is only a, unit in a combined district, comprised of five boroughs and three counties and although t is the largest and most important district in the combined area, it was denied the compliment of being appointed the principal authority for the combined district, thus being placed second to a purely residential district whose interest in the Port must bo very small as compared with that of the central borough. It happens that the representative of the payers of ships' dues is a resident of ..vctclton, but more tha _ three-fourths of those vho elect him are resident in. an<! carry on their respective businesses in Christchurch. The late Government nominee was also a resident of Lyttelton, but thi*. too, was a chance circumstance, so that instead of Lyttelton controlling tho election of three members it controls about one-fourth of ono ! member, and could easily be disfranchised altogether by districts whose inter e*.s m:ght be quite opposed to those of the electors of the Pojt."

The Wellington Stage Emplojwetf -ft Union has arrived at an agreement '''' with tho employers on tho basis of tlwi '-"'* Christchurch and Dunedin awards. ■':-" The plans for the bridge over __$ -.- Hooker river on the road from the Sit. " x Cook Hermitage to the Tasman glacier are being prepared at present. * -. A petition in bankruptcy has beets filled by Oliver Revill. ot Spreydon, garden, r. The meeting of creditors hi. jot yet been fixed. A meeting of Justice., of the Peaco in the jury district of Christchurch wjJJ be held at the Magistrate's Court r»t 11 a.m. on Friday, April 3rd, for the purpose of revising the jury list. Mr Finest Firth. F.R.C.0., will give " an organ recital in the Durham street Church at 8 p.m. to-morrow. Tho voeali>ts will be Miss M. Twcse and Miss F. M. Ford. Anthems trill j a given by the choir. * A return giving the financial details in connexion with the Sydenham and City water supplies was asked for br Councillor Hunter at th.» City Council last night, and his motion on the subject was seconded by Councillor Scott, %. and agreed to. ' . 5 Mount Cook is growing in favour I with tourists and holiday-makers, for, I according to a recent visitor, the ae* I commodation at the new Hermitage I was taxed to its utmost last week in order lo find room for visitors. Indeed, the ordinary accommodation was found inadequate, and tho manager was under the necessity of turning bis private sitting-room into a bedroom. Since Dr. Kerr-Hisiop's retirement from the position some months ago, the medical examination of school children in the North Canterbury district has been suspended. It is. therefore, gratifying to learn that within a few weeks the examination will be renewed (where it wa.s left off) by Dr. Eleanor Baker, who is at present ia the South Canterbury district. Some doubts have existed in the minds ot motorists hitherto as to whether the journey to the Mount Cook Hermitage is possible for private cars. A Christchurch man who spent two days at the Hermitage, last week . informed a representative of the "Press" that one night during his star six private cars, which had found little or no difficulty in arcomnlishing the '.. iournev. arrived at the Hermitage. The only difficulty experienced, and it was not a great one. was at the lagoon about six or seven miles before t_» Hermitage is reached. To motorists' accustomed to touring, the negotiation of this lagoon presents no difficulty. Whatever difficulty exists will be removed shortly, as the Public Works Department is bridging tho lagoon, and the bridge, it. is anticipated, trill be completed in a fortnight, in plenty of time for visitors who may be contemplating going to the Hermitage at Easter. Of the six private cars referred to. two were comparatively small ones, and it is stated that cars of 15 h.p. will find no difficulty in doing the journey. On his return to Fairlie, the Christchurch resident informed thefts- • porter, lie found three private cars ready to set out ior the Hermitage. The Government vino and wine in- , strut-tor .Mr S. F. Anderson) is at present in Christ-church inspecting the vineries in this district. Ho will be here for a week, and possibly longer. Ho informed a "Press"' representative yesterday that this season's grape crop promises well. He does not think grapes will be cheaper this year. Some j growers are complaining of the price., but others ate well satisfied. Mr An. dorson remarked upon the large number of vineries there afe now to be found in this city, and he said the quality of . , the local outmit was much above the average. The* system of housing was very good in Christchurch. In r .ply to a question, he said the wine-making in- •< • dustry in the North Island was leaping ahead, despite the shadow of Dominion i prohibition. The growers of Hawke a £. Bay and Auckland, and also the Govern- ; ment farm, had increased their sales ' very much. All of the wine was eaaily disposed of; and very fair prices were realised. Tho fear of Dominion prohibition waSj however, affecting the industry, as if it came into force even the making of home-made wine would not be allowed. The result waa that since tho nrescnt prohibition lawa had come into force, the owners of larjje vineyards were not extending their holdings. When in town this week, be sure aP(J see the beautiful display of Eidcrdowj Quilts in the windows of A. J. Whit*. Ltd. 8 Don't your corns make themselvei felt this weather? It is not worth while._ suffering when a shilling for Berry. Killkorn will givo you foot-case. John Berry, Colombo street. 3 Avoidance of harassing delay, saving - of timo, and the careful handling of goods for Customs clearing, should W . sufficient inducement for placing .your next shipment in the hands of J. AL Hey wood and Co., Ltd. -» . In these dnys of hurry and bustle . there are hardly two people in ten with* out some ocular defect, which require* , remedying. It is of the utmost importance that all defects of vision should «*, corrected by means of properly ground lenses, and adiusted spectacles. Consult John R. Procter, Oculists' Optician, 200 High street. Christchurch. * Walter J. Watson, D.8.0.A., Lon-. don, Expert Optician (near Kincaid'*). Accurate Sight-testing and Spoctaelefitting. Repairs to Frame* and broken Lenses matched. Charges moderate, « , If you "want your electric light, lift, motor, belk, or telephones properly and promptly attended to, ring up Turnbull and Jones. 421 and 3370. * Motor Accessories—Lycetfc _Belth 3-inch, 13s; i-inch. 15s: 1-inch, 17s €d; Hutchinson Heavy Tyres, 37s 6d: Ac* sorted spares kept, also best quality repairs, at J. H. Suckling and Co.. Garage, 117 Worcester street. o Tricks to Get Sleep. Inability to sleep, which is proriog a serious complication after Lord Rose* bery's operation, has been his enemy for years (says the London "DailyTelegraph"). To combat it be has beenin the habit of taki:___ motor-car dri*** just before bed-time, changing his bedroom, and counting imaginary sheep . passing one by one through a gate. "Insomnia i<_ one of the penalties. « the increasing strain modern Wo throws upon our brains," said a pnysician of St. Bartholomew's Hospital. 'The man who works with his muscle* « and lives in the open air is rarely * victim of sleeplessness. The essentials for a good night's rest are monUl repose, a requisite amount of muscular fatigue, comfortable body heat, ana plenty of ventilation. The most dim- , , cult to secure is lessened brain actir- . itv. An excellent plan is to take a«j brisk half-hour's walk just before bed- f time, followed by a hot bath and a ruo doivn. and then a cup of warm milK - and a biscuit or two a.s one gets into bed. If. in addition, tho mind be focused on some pleasant but not ex; citing topic, a night's rest is assure, to all but the most chronic f-ufferer. The typo in which the sleeper suddenly wakes an hour or so after having fallen anleep. usually means that more outdoor mu.icular exercise is required. EXTENSION OF "SWIFT" REDUCTION* SALE. The phenomenally large large sale of "Swifts" which has taken place during ; tho last week consequent upon our announcement of a drastic cut in price* ■ lias been so far in advance of cv , ,r , € f ■ pectation* that it has been decided-to cntend the sale period for •*l no Y ,er 1j ■ week. As previously announced, durine this period 'Royal Superbc Swift* t will he reduced from £20 to £15, arte i -Rovai Club Swifts" from £15 to **'■ ■ 10s." The stock of these machines haf • been greatly reduced b- the wondertut i sales of the last few days, but we nop* to bo able to continue to meet this ?**

■ admitted to be elegance and durability. Inc. elrrr a five years' guarantee, and *.l Sis-men's roadsters, ladies' roa «- ' 3£ and racers-are of Positively, the ££latc-t patten, and finished in a Igk unrivalled by any. other bicycle to the world. The equipment of the roadster mode's includes free wheel. S»l mm-cuaros. and two jwrertu/ brakes, while the -'Royal Super be Swift" racers .ire finished m royal bi.ie v.th mated rim- and top bar. hsp*iallr oasr terms of purchase by ins/alme'nts can be arr.inced—deposits t/om £1 and instalments from II per month. Come and buy a high-grade. "Sriit while this special opportunity/ continues. Adams. Ltd.. Acent/ for "Swifts,' ! High street. Chnst/burch. Clr R. M- Adams, Manager,/Bicyclft Department). i 6