GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14921, 20 March 1914, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

T>r. Ohesson, the new Health Officer for Canterbury, has taken up his duties in succession to T>r. Finch, who has been appointed to the Head Office of tho Department in Wellington. Considerable interest has been excited by some magnificent specimens of apples grown in the Kaikoura district by Mr Geo. Stevenson, of Clarence. These are at present displayed in the window of Messrs Archer and Haliburton. Colombo street. The varieties exhibited are Cox's Orange Pippin, Ribston Pippin, Emperor Alexander, Gravenstein. and Lord Suffield. Among applo growers much comment of a favourable nature has been made.

The Salvation Army Harvest Festival at Lyttelton concluded last night. when the Lyttelton Marine Band gave a benefit performance in the barracks. There was a large audience, and the fund should benefit considerably.

Speaking in reply to deputations at Nelson on' Monday. tho Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey) referred to the Parapara iron fields. He said that the Government were going to make certain proposals to the lessees and others interested, which he had reason to believe would result in these valuable deposits being developed.

The District Chief Ruler of tho Independent Order of Rechabites has received an application from several persons residing in North Richmond to open a branch of tho Order in that district, and a branch will he opened in the Methodist schoolroom. Stan more road, this evening.

The action of the Dunedin Bakers' and Pastry Cooks' Industrial Union in deciding to hold their annual picnic next Sunday is stroncly opposed by some church organisations (says a Press Association message)'. The Committee of Public Morals appointed by the Methodist Conference and the Council of Churches both met yesterday and passed a resolution strongly protesting against tho proposal.

Thi ring, his visit to Auckland '.according to tho "Herald") Mr Newton Moore, Agent-General for Western Australia, and formerly Premier of that State, in reply to a question regarding the working of the Bible-in-State-Schools League system in Western Australia, stated: —'There is no friction of any kind in West. Australia over the religious instruction given in tho schools. There was peace and harmony over the whole working of the Education Act."

The Board of Governors of the McLean Institute met yesterday afternoon. Present:—The Mayor CMr H. Holland), Bishop Julius, the Rev. C. H. Laws. Messrs H. W. BTsiop. S.M.. J. C. Adams, F. Horrell, Geo. Harper, and Mesdames A. O. Sandstein and J. H. Wilson. Apologies for absence were received from Bishop Grimes. Rev. John Mackenzie, and Mr B. M. Molineaux. It was decided to reply to tho Christchurch City Council that in view of the opinion of the Board's solicitor, tho Board declined to pay the rates demanded. The reports of the Finance Committee and of the Visiting Committee were adopted. Accounts amounting to £1174 «14s od were passed for payment.

The entries for tho fifth annual Jrtcrary and musical competitions will close en Monday, Marcb 30th. It is anticipated this year's festival will bo a greater success than formerly. A large number of entries have already been received, and competitors will bo present from all parts of tho Dominion. Tho local public and private schools are being interested in tb's worlc of the Competitions Society, and nearly all the schools will be represeated at the coming function. Since last year tho junior section has been thoroughly revised, and several new classes havo been added. This eection should now prove most attractive to both competitors and audience.

Mr W. IT. Thorley, a prominent English musician, who lias decided to settle in Christchurch, has been appointed conductor to the Christchurch Orchestral Society, conductor to the Christchurch Musical Society, and organist at tho Roman Catholic Cathedral. Mr Thorley, who is tho son of a noted musician, Mr Handel Thorley, studied music at Leipzig uuder Carl Reinecke, We.-izel. Sardarsohn, and K. F. Richter. lie was a leading organist in England, and has conducted concerts by the Halle and Queen's Hall orchestras and the Hans Ricbter orchestra and chorus. He founded the London Symphony Orchestra, and was for a time conductor of the Philharmonic Orchestra in London.

A vigorous campaign against the irritating noises which arise from squeaky and defective vehicle brakes and assail tho cars of city pedestrians has been commenced by the Melbourne CityCouncil. Quite recently the Council passed a by-law styled "the squeakybrakes by-law," to enable it to deal with offenders, nnd tho first batch of prosecutions was heard one day last weelc. Strangely enough, the first driver to be dealt with was named Melody. Tho evidence of the Council's inspector showed that Melody's brakes caused a hareh and inharmonious noise that. wa» not at all pleasant or sweet to tho ear. Mr V. G. Wood, who appeared for the Corporation, said the City Council desired to suppress the street noises, one of the worst of which wQ.s created by squeaky brakes. As the prosecutions were, the first of the kind lenienoy wr.s extended the defendants by the Bench, seven of them being fined" 10s, and the other two ss.

Tho Question of a uniform naturalisation law hat: been the subject of lnucu correspondence between the Imperial authorities and the. Governments of the various oversea Dominions during the past few years (says tho Melbourne "\po") An agreement has now been reached. By the last English mail Mr E. A. Petherick. Hon. corresponding secretary of tho Royal Colonial Institute. received a communication from the council of the institute stating that it was the intention of the Imperial Government to introduce a Naturalisation Bill into Parliament

during tho present sessiot, "all points of difference between the Governments concerned having now been adjusted." As tho subject is of considerable importance to the people of the Commonwealth, it is intended to hold a public meeting in the city at an early date, when a number of motions will be submitted. Recognising the importance of such a reform in the law of naturalisation as would cause the status of a naturalised British subject to be worldwide in effect, the meeting will be aeked to express the hope that the Imperial Government will pass the amending measure without delay, and to pledge itself to work for the speedy enactment of such supplementary legislation as may bo necessary in the Dominions

For many years there has been displayed on city and suburban stations a poster headed, in large letters "Victorian Railways." which purposes to attract the tourist to visit some of the Sstate s beauty spots, depicted in flaring colours, and only recognisable by fcho titles affixed to them. This production (remarks the "Age") has been described as a libel on Australian art. Wβ pot an artist to do it many years ago," said Mr Fitzpatrick. the Chief Railway Commissioner, recently "I don't know who he was," he added, 'but there it is." Some criticism was levelled at the production in an interlude, and <he Chief Commissioner announced that there was to be a new poster, as the one under discussion was considerably behind the times. While on the subject of Australian art (for. undoubtedly, tho department will engage an Australian artist to paint tho new poster). Mr Fitzpatrick's attention was drawn to the fact that one of the British railway companies was displaying a notable series of fine lithographic posters on its hoardings, which were the work of eminent artists. Mr Fitzpatriek was asked whether rt would not be beneficial to the State to encourage local artists to produce posters of our bonnty spots, so that tourists might bo induced, by seeing them, to spend more time in the State than they do in visiting such places. Tho Chief Commissioner thought the only person to whom such productions woukl be beneficial would be the artist win* was paid for them, but he added that the old poster was to go, and to be replaced by a new one.

About forty polo ponies were shipped at Napier for Lyttolton yesterday by the steamer Victoria, which sailed i;i

the afternoon via Wellington. The ponies will take part in tho Savile- Cup Tournament at Christchurch.

During the month of February, the arrivals in New Zealand from oversea totalled 3717, as asaiust 40.57 in February. 1913. The departures numbered 3410 and 2666 respectively. Last month 26 Chinese arrived in tho Dominion, and 33 left.

A deputation consisting of Riccarton residents waited on Mr T. Wadham. a member of the Borough Council, yesterday evening, asking him to consent to stand for the Mayoralty of Riccarton at the cominc elections. Mr Wadham replied that lie would give the matter his consideration, and would reply definitely in the course of the week.

With respect to they young woman who. as reported in yesterday's "Press." died in the Alexandra Hospital, it was made clear at the inquest which was held yesterday, that when she was admitted to the Hospital tOie was suffering from the effects of an illecal operation. A report of the inquest appears in another page.

An enouirv is to be held by the North Island Bands' Association, at Palnwston North next week, into the demonstration made by a large number of the competing bandsmen against the judge during the Exhibition-content at Auckland last month. It is understood (says a Press Association message) that charges alleging misconduct in this connexion haw been preferred by the Exhibition authorities against the Wellington City and Wanganui Brass Bands.

The question of admitting tuberculosis patients from outside districts to tho Otaki Sanatorium was dsicussed by the Wellington Hospital Board yesterday. It was decided to ask the Hospitai Committee to recommend special conditions for the admission of patients who do not belong to Wellington, into the hospitals under the Board's control. A committee was set up to interview the Minister of Public Health to ascertain the intentions of the Government regarding farm colonies axd other matters appertaining to the treatment of consumptives.

A respectablo looking boy, 11 years of age, appeared before Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., at the Juvenile Court, late yesterday afternoon charged with living with an habitual drunkard. Senior-Sergeant Mathieson said the father was always drunk, and tho boy, an intelligent lad, slept with him. The mother was out at service. She was anxious for the boy to be removed from the father. In fact the Iad was anxious himself to be separated from the man. The boy's brother was at present at the Stoke Industrial School. The father had been committed to Roto Roa but was liberated. Tho boy was committed to Stoke to be brought up in the Roman Catholic faith.

The boys of the Waitaki High School were brought into touch a new department of interest on Tuesday last, this being the removal of school lifo from the ordinary routine of scholastieisin and the authority of the headmaster, and the transformation of the institution into a form of military barracks, where every consideration is dominated by the exercise of strict military discipline. Complete arrajurements have been made in connexion with the week's training, during which the boys will remain at the school: while tho whole of the tiruo will bo devoted -to military exercise, either in its relationship to the life of tho soldier when off duty or to work in the field. Major Grant, V.C., is the Officer Commanding and ho is assisted by CVitain Moore, D.5.0., nnrf the officers, attached to tho school cadet corps. During the period of training the whool will bo visited by Colonel Heard. Director of Military Intelligence for New Zealand.

Mr R. Robert Hollister, journalist and lecturer, of New York City, who is on a three-years' tour of the world, will give two lectures on the Bible in the Alexandra Hall on Saturday and Sunday evening. Mr Hollister is described as a forceful speaker. His Australasian tour is under the auspices of the International Bible Students' Association, and large numbers have assembled in the various places he visited in Australasia to listen to his addresses. He maintains that the Bible when taken without sectarian bias, is scientific and logical, harmonious and complete, satisfying both the exactions of the intellect and the cravings of the heart. The lectures will be free, and no collection will be taken up. Mr Hollister spent three years in visiting practically every important city and community in the United States. Eighteen months were spent in Europe, chiefly Great Britain, as student-journalist and lecturer. During the past two years India. China, Korea, and Japan have had his attention, particular study being given to their political, social, and religious problems.

A now process of sterilising milk and other foods haa been invented by Jlr A. R utter, recently science master at the Gordon College, Geelong (says the Melbourne "Age")- The claim Ist made of the process that it destroys germs by means of nascent oxygen, and it is said to consist of addirrg minimised amounts of harmless peroxide of a metal to the food without producing the slightest injurious action. Tho net result of the destruction of injurious microbes in milk is said to give an article suited for infants and invalids, which can deteriorate but slowly, even under the worst conditions, and the nutritive qualities of which are unimpaired. The further claim is made that tiie proteids are practically unaffected, and, if afterwards precipitated, are thrown down in n finely divided form eminently adapted to the purpose of easy assimilation and digestion. Dr. Bull, director of the bacteriological laboratory at the Melbourne University, states that ii milk treated by the process is exposed to infection in open jugs it will keep sweet for days or weeks, and that harmful bacteria do not multiply in it. He further states that tjre process does away with tho necessity for cool storage and that its general application ''would mean the entire stamping out of milk-born epidemic infective diseases "

Mr John T. Peet, of Perth. TVest Australia has been passing through >ew Zealand on a holiday trip. Mr 1 ret was formerly Government Land Agent, for West Australia, and is now the hoad of a leading land agency business. Hβ is an active member of the Congregational Church in the city of 1 ertli. Mr Peet was asked whether he had any testimony to giro as to tho way m which the Bible-in-echools eystem works in his .State. In reply, Mr Pent stated that he had resided in West Australia for nineceen years, covering, therefore, tho whole period sinre that system had been introduced. Ho could, therefore, speak with full knowledge, and he declared that tho Bib!t>-in-schools system works smoothly in that State, nnd appears to give general satisfaction. He has never heard of any hitch. Ministers of all denominations take advantage of tho system to visit the schools and givo the lessons. The Congregational minister in Perth does this. There has never been any attempt to upset or vary tho system. No such attempt would have the 'slightest chanco of success. Even the Roman Catholics do not actively oppose the syetem, and there is no campaign jxgainst it by letters to the Press, or otherwise. Mr Peet said finally that he had been mnch surprised to learn that there wore some ministers and members of the Congregational Church and certain other churches who ire re actively opposing the scherue. It warned to him that these people were doin;; a very wrong thing in using, their inSuenco to keep iht> Bible out of the schools of tbe land.

Some difficulty is being experienced in collecting enough money to make ut> ' ' the £1500 required to enable th© Elnj.-' wood Park project to lie financed. \t is honed, however, that £1000 will be raised by public subscription, and if that is done the City Council may bo induced to place another A , .300 on* the estimates to provide for the balance. Heavy bookings of passengers to Australia are reported, and much difficulty is being experienced by some who do- ' : sire to travel to the Commonwealth. The present state of things is understood to bo due to a large number of Kn.gli.sh and Australian touri.sts returning to thfir homes and to the tact that many New Zcalamier> are leaving oa visits to Australia. The course of justice ran in a remarkably stagnant fashion at the civil court sittings yesterday. The usual pile of cases was there, the Court officials were there, and tho Magistrate was there, but there was a dearth of solicitors to conduct affairs. No one seemed to know anything, and cveutualiv ' nearly all tho rases were adjourned en bloc. A whisper that tho Law Society's * cricket match was on may hold the clue to the situation 1 J Commissioner Richards opf"rd a nw Salvation Army hall at Foxton oaf ■f Wednesday night. During his speech he said that .since his arrival in New Zealand £-10.000 worth of property had been acquired by the Army, towards which the public had contributed £"20.000. Two thousand live hundred pounds had been set aside for acquiring sites in rising townships. A scheme for widening the scope of tn» Army's operations would be considered at an oarly date. The cable to carry the. Lake Coleridge electricity from tho sub-station at Aldington to the City Council's powersta- ■" tion at the Destructor is at present being laid across Hagley Park. The cable runs from the Addingion station * by the saleyards across the West Town belt and then into the Park. After crossing the Park it will come out at the Hospital corner, and will follow the river bank along Oxford terrace to the Destructor. It is often urged by counsel in courts of justice that married men should be leniently dealt with out oT consideration for their families. The Chief Justice (Sir Robort Stout), however, told a prisoner at Wellington that the fact that he was married should bring him additional punishment. A man with othersdepeudont on him ought to be more careful even than a single man. ''You have no proper sense of your responsibilities," his Honour concluded. An interesting relic of historic value was added to tho collection of tho Akaroa Borough Council by Archdeacon blocker, when leaving Akaroa recently. It was a very well-preserved photograph of tho residence of Commodore JLivaud, commander of the French emigrant ship Comto do Paris. This quaint French structure once adorned tho street, bearing the. commodore s name, but all vestigo of tho building has now disappeared. The secretary of the Christchurch Shorthand Writers' Association has received from Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons, Bath. England, the results of a speed examination held last December. The following candidates have been success- ' ful in obtaining Pitman's first-class speed certificates: —Miss Ivy Straw. 130 words per minute; Misses Agnes Cunningham. Dorothy Glasson, Edith Goodall, Edith Rockctt, and Alma Suckling, 100 words per minute; Miss Mary Strouts, 90 words per minute: Athol G. Hunnibell, "0 words per minute. The trouble between the Acclimatisation Society and the Domains Board, which arose at the meeting of the Council of the Society on "Wednesday, was referred to yesterday by the Mayor, who ii a member of the Board. Mr Holland said that as far as he knew the area occupied by tho Acclimatisation Society . was as much the property of tho Board m as any other part of tho Park or Gar- . JH dens, and the Board had a perfect right - to inspect that area at any time. * It certainly neoded inspection, for at times* it was allowed to lapso into a most disgraceful condition.

Professor Scott was in reminiscent i mood on Wednesday at tho annual meeting of the Canterbury College Athletic Club. Speaking yachting experiences around the English coast ana on . the Continent, he said it wae his privilego to fly the flag of the Royal Yachting Squadron of New Zealand for the first time at Home. His craft waa the- . now historic Bloodhound. While he was yachting at Cowes he passed under the bow of H.M.S. Zealandia (the quondam B.M.S. New Zealand). The' battle-cruiser dipped her ensign, but ho attached no importance to the fact, as the Kaiser's yacht. Meteor, was at that moment entering the harbour, he was • afterwards assured, however? that the Zealandia was dipping to what she took : to be the New Zealand flag flying from his peak.

The longevity of people in Westland. - hae often beenremarked upon. Figurescompiled by the Kumara Registrar of Deaths show a very high average of persons who died in Kumara during tho lost year. For fifteen consecutive regie- - tratfons tho age average was 74i years. Leaving out the registration of a lad (eighteen years of age), who was killed, and taking in the previous registration! the average works out for eighteen persons at 7t)J years. Tho following are the ages (in years) of deceased persons registered consecutively in Kumara dur* ' ing the past year:—7o, 80, 86, 18 (killed), <6> 67, 69, 81, 80, 70. 78, 69, 79, 90. 76, 67, 72, 74, 73. There are • scores of octogenarian residents in the district.

It is now nearly a year since the huge slip occurred on the Hutt-Wellington-road, on the city side of Ngahaurang*; and yet it was only on Monday that t£e work of clearing away the earth tfaa completed. Ever since May last —the month in which the slip occurred—* gang of men has been continually eagaged in clearing away the earth, and* also making provision for future safety, and the manner in which they have carried out the work has created a good deal of attention and interest. After the actual slip had been cleared away, it was easily seen that the hillside wa# far from safe in its then condition, withthe result that a great part of the time had, necessarily, to be taken in loosening and carting away the unstable earth. For many months ihe earth was raided to the Waterloo Quay reclamation, over a line specially laid down for the purpose. A short time ago, however, the Railway Department recognised the value of the earth for the Halt lino duplication works, aud accordingly diverted it for thie use. Altogether, it is estimated that upwards of 60,000 yards of material was handled.

The conflict between the Christian and tho worldly standards of life and conduct was referred" to by Dr. AveriU,

Anglican Bishop of Auckland, in a sermon delivered at St. Sepulchre's (say* the Auckland "Star' , )- Could the Church, he asked, accept the world ac it was? Could tnere be any compromise between what God demanded and what the world wanted? The world was not deliberately irreligious, but its ideals had fallen "below those of the Divine Law. No compromise could be made between right and wrong, as Christ had shown by Hi* decisive answer, "(Jet thee hence, Satan." The Church could only help the world by being unlike it, but the greatest drawback to tho Church's work was the lack of unity among Christians. There waa a popular idea that vice could bo made respectable, but that did not alter the position one iota, and the prostitution of tho law to sanction any form of vice was likely to impair the effectiveness of tbe law in general. Moral courage was largely lacking arid there was too littio recognition of tho truth that man was his brother's keeper. Character alone could not b* taken away, and it was tho duty of every man to see- that his was Dot mA» red by a dishonoured conscience.

A petition in bankruptcy has been filed ny Fred. Haig, joiner. 349 Cashel street, and the firs: meeting of creditor? will bo held, in all probability, next weok on a date to be fixed. Only .i few hour? to go; Strance's Sr.mnier Sale definitely Hoses at 9 o'clock ?o-ni£ht. You have the day before you in which to make your final purchase of sale bargain.-. To-morrow Strang's retail warehouse will he closed all day qs the employe"*, will lie celebrating their annual picnic. 9 When in town this week, be pure arc! see the beaimful display of Ouilts in tho windows of A. J. White. Ltd. 6 Attention is directed to the Overcoat fhowinps at Messrs Armstrong and Co-'s. Dunne: the past few seasons tho excellence of their storks—very moderately priced—has established a reputation' for the firm that will be well sustained this winter. They have some magnificent garments, priced from a cninea upwards, that must be seen to bo appreciated . 1 Walter J Watson, D.8.0.A., London, Expert Optician (near Kincaid's). • Accurate Sicht-testing and Spectaclefitting. Repairs to Frames ana broken Lenses matched. Charges moderate. 8 Motor Accessories —Lycett Belts, J-iiicb, 13s; fc-inch, los: 1-inch, 17s 6d; Hntchinson Heavy Tyres, 37s 6d; Assorted spares kept, also best quality repairs, at J- H- Suckling and Co., Garage, 117 Worcester street. 6 We have it of our own knowledgo that the best houso for Blankets is Armstrong's, Ltd. They control several makes, and their rich fleecy down, all-wool blankets aro the acme of comfort. Further, they are the cheapest on the market. 2 To Keep Sober. "I hare an antidote that prevents mo from being drunk," said Revenue-De-tective Cecil Ormond Butler, when he was cross-examined by Mr P. J. Ridgeway, at the Melbourne City Court last week, as to how he had remembered what'he was relating, as on his own admission ho had taken eeveral drinks on the day in question. Mr Ridgewny, •who appeared" for defendant, asked Butler what was his antidote. Butler: Cod liver oil. (Laughter.) Mr Ridgeway : It is a case of pouring oil on the troubled waters. I suppose you have been a seaman ? Witness: Yes, I have. Mr Ridgeway: It keeps the waves down. Mr C. Barnett: I think tho remedy is worse than tho disease. Sub-Inspector J. O'Sullivan: Ido not think it will be popular. Mr Ridgeway: I suppose you take a lot after every drink of beer. Witness: Ido not pour it down. 1 timply apply a little to my tongue. Two Scullers and a Shark. Two scullers had an exciting experience on Leichhardt Bay this morning (says the Sydney "Sun" of 12th inst.). Shortly after 7 o'clock Miss Eadith Counsell and Albert Haydon left ono of '■* the eheds at Leichhardt in a 16ft racine •skiff and proceeded down the bay to White Horse Point. The scullers took things easily on the way, and it was 8 o'clock when they were on tho mark ready to do their trial row before the race which is to be held next Saturday. The pair, together with two pacemakers, set out at a great bat, and all went well until they were off Callan Park Point. Between, there and Rodd Island immense shoals of mullet were seen, and so thick were they in places that the scullers were jompelled to ease up. Shortly after tlio fish had disappearec? w two big sharks passed quite close to tho ekiff. Tho occupants were of the opinion that the sharks wcro chasing the mullet and took little notice of them. To their consternation, however, one of the sharks circled round the skiff and then crashed into it. Miss Counsell lost her .scullh overboard. Tho scullers A wero at this time abreast of tho island .-■ and their skiff was rapidly filling. A plank on tho starboard side had been t stove in. and in order to save the boat from kinking it was necessary to stuff a cushion and a wrapper in the hole. Miss Counsell, having recovered from the shock, was able to bale out, while - her partner rowed hard for the shore They got safely on to tho flats near the Leichhardt. Baths, and from thore it was easy to reach the shore.