GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15014, 8 July 1914, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS.

The auction announcements of W. E. Simes and Co., R. S. McKeuzio and Co., Conway Matson and Sons, Charles Clark, P. S. Nicholls and Co., Tonks, Norton and Co., Gould, Beaumont and Co., Harris Bras., National Mortgage and Agency Company of N.Z., Ltd., Abraham and Williams, Ltd., Maling and Co., Ltd., and G. W. Moss and Co. will oe found on pago 15 of this issue.

The party sent to tho Government reservo, near Martinborough, by tho Wellington Acclimatisation Society, for tho purpose of weeding out deer of inferior quality, returned last Saturday, after spending a week in tbo locality named. They report having shot 700 hinds and stags, and add that tho animals were driven to tho lower grounds by the sovere -vroather, there.being 3 heavy fall of snow on tho higher levels.

On Monday afterqbon next, Lady Stout and Miss Pullen-Burry, F.R.G.S., will speak in tho V.M.C.A. Room m "The Protection of Women and Children and the White Slave Traffic." In tho evening they will address i meeting in the Alexandra Hall on "Tho Truth About tho Suffragette Question." Limelight views of leading English suffragettes, forcible .feeding, etc., will bo shown.

It is tho off season for visitors at Rotorua, but the other day the geysers at Whakarewarewa gave a particularly fine display for tho benefit of such visitors as were present. Pohutu was the chief performer. On fine days it erupted, over a dozen times altogether, playing for about half an hour at a time. Tho numerous other, geyeers in the locality were sympathetically excited, and boiled and jumped with great vigour Waikorohihi and The Cauldron, especially, gavo good displays, tho former playing at one.timofor four hours.

"Tho annual mooting of tho Now Zealand Motor Union, which is tho aggregate organisation of tho various -automobile Associations of tho Dominion,, will bo hold in Wellington ou Friday. The meeting will discuss a number of legislative and other matters of national interest from tlio motorists' point of view. The. principal subject will probably be the Motor Regulation Bill, which the Government intends to introduce during the session.' Mr P. S. McLean, of Napier, will preside at the conference.

The report of tho officer in chaTge.of the Christchurch Bureau of .the Department of Labour for tho period end- , ed Juno 27th states that during the period reviewed tho conditions of trade and labour were (.satisfactory. In all tho building trades men wore idle, and tho prospects for the coming month Tvere not encouraging. In the woodworking and engineering trades, business was quiet, - but in the leather trades satisfactory business was reported. Business was fairly quiet in tho'retail trades, and the demand for unskilled labour was slack.

At tho conclusion, of tho Postal Conference at* Madrid, Mr "W. R. Morris,i Secretary of tho New Zealand Post and Telegraph Department, will visit Hungary to inspect the motor service in uso thoro, with the idea of deciding whether it would bo moro suitablo aiid economical than tho present Dominion service of motor-cycles, and side-cars. When he is passing through America he will continue the negotiations com : menced by tho Hon. James Allen, on his return trip from London last year, regarding the conveyance of parcels by mail. A successful issue to these negotiations will, it is anticipated, lead to a considerable saving to tho Dominion.

"Do the water polico patrol the- harbour at night time?" asked Mr C. C. Kettle, S.M.j at Auckland on Friday on a. witness* in the nautical enquiry into the recent collision between the steamer Clansman and tho'scow Pahiki. Amidst laughter, tho witness, an elderly skipper of a ferry boat, replied, f'Oh. we never isee them. They arc too cunning, and keep out of the ivay." "But don't you know whether, they do or not?" persisted Mr Kettle. "I don't know anything about them, and I don't want.to," replied tho old mariner, who proceeded to express his dislike for Courts and the-police in genoral. "This is the first time I havo kissed the Bible in New Zealand," he added,'"and I-hope it will be tho last." Incidentally, he objected to answering too many questions and remarked that, having been up all night, ho would much rather bo homo in bod than answering any questions tho lawyers Uked to put to him.

A remarkable story connected with tho last voyage of tho schooner Americana, which disappeared while bound .from San Francisco to Sydney with timber, was brought by tho American mail steamer Ventura, 'last week (says tho Sydney "Daily Telegraph"). Tiio Americana loft San Francisco for Sydney, via Knappton, over a year ago, and shortly after .sailing a seaman named Louis Luttucr had his arm caught in a windlass. It is stated that tho arm had to be amputated on board 0:o ship, a common saw being used for the operation. Bnttner was put ashore and sent to a hospital at Eureka. The Americana took in additional cargo at Knappton, and then loft for Sydney, and was never heard of,again. B'uttnor sued the charterers of the Americana for 40,000 dollars, but, as all hands had disappeared with tho vessel, ho could not obtain witnesses. Shortly before the Ventura left San Francisco Charles Berndes, formerly first mate of tbo Americana, made his appearance, and filed a deposition alleging that ho witnessed tho accident. Ho .stated that he left the ill-fated Americana at Knappton, and thereby escaped the doom which awaited his shipmates.

Tlio vital statistics for the June at Timani show that tlere »*2f|| 43 birtJis. 13 marriages, and 17 deatfef^ Enquiries made in Timam our Tiinaru correspondent) go to that there is comparatively little-in^M ; employment there at the present tbags^i Tho offices of tho -New Zealand U^" veramont in Sydney havo been '?<£%; moved from 330 fteorgo street to Chambers, 14 Moore street. ,''''-?, Arrangements have been made hold a bis function in Timaru to-night «V when the Stead Shield, won by theV' Bth South Canterbury Mounted' Roj»u:>V ment at the recent camp at Kmtaij wilt*^ , * bo presented. Tho prei>om:itioD Trig/-, probably bo in ado by Col. Chaffer. , n\*; t Tho reception and induction of the 1 -"*" Rev. John "Patorfeon to St. Paul's !>«.'.> hytwiau Church will take place atifa*'church at 3 p.m. to-morrow. There wiu ■ also he a welcome lea in the school liity.':: at G p.m.. and a public meeting iv tjji IChonil Hull at 7.30. Mr John Henderson, nf Brougagjuy- ,- street, Sydenham, and Miss Buick, ci" 1 Selwyn street, who are in the ITospitiL' suffering from severe- injuries receive „■• in tho collision between a taxi-cii '*' and a motorcycle and hide-car, tut •*' making satisfactory progress toward i,j recovery. ■' -^ Tho Invoreargill Competitions So.; ;• cioty hah again an excellent entry fop- , ; tho annual festival. The aggregate tig* ; ures are:—Music OS2, elocution 393,.C literature, drawing, writing, .spelling/,,, sowing, 371; physical drill, dancing,', half-hour entertainments,, JWS. Total, ft 2111. Tho judges this year will bey Messrs Montague- (elocution), and Ureg. son (music), of Auckland. • Our Wcllinct-on correspondent tele*. .- rrraphs that the members of tho Otago/ Harbour Board deputation, who were " in Wellington on Monday, had an in«~i terview with Mr G. F. C. Campbell, the '- head of tho State Advances Depart-*. ment, regarding a State guarantee for i their £.30.000 loan. It is understood • that the Department ennnot guarantee.the loan unless tho Board has a bar. \ bour rating area and power to levy rates. ) Mr Lawrenco Birks, who is in charge - of tho electrical installation at Lake*Colendge, returned yesterday, and,", speaking to a "Press" representative, : ," ho said that tlio work was being pushed ahead satisfactorily. The last rivet we»ririven in tho pipo-line on July 4th, airf !-,-< things, generally, were progressing The whole of the machinery was unpacked and on tho spot, erection of it was proceeding rapidly- .*/ Tho Catholic gathering in with tho Christchurch Diocesan GowkS" - cil of .the New Zealand Catholic J?eh.f" f , ration, which commences a conferencefV to-day, will bo held in tho Art Gallerjy.. this oyoning. Owing to tho table indisposition of his Bishop Grimes, tbe Very Roy. Hills, S.M., Vicar-Gpneral, will &*s£ side, and addresses on, subjects aWT?" occupying public attention will bo £iveo»' by several speakers. . v */ Mr A. G. Goodwin, of Pigeon :Bfcy, \ has bought 3000 acres of land new Tikokino, Hawke's Bay (nays the\ Akaroa "Mail"). The land is all clear : of hush excepting for 30 odd acros,end " i, is within easy reach of Napier and - Hastings. It is probable that Mr ; Goodwin and his family will go , to the' North Island, living at Hastings or. Napier, within easy reach by motor of"' tho now property. The new estate »'• sheep country, and will be managed as a sheep run. i-" - Tho financial position of Exhibitiotlj;'' Amusements, Ltd., is explained by n*\ ports, and a balance-sheet prepared for, A a general mooting of shareholders {eayj a Press Association telegram ffon"" Auckland). They show that suit from the operations of "Wonder-*" - land" during tho period of the Bxlii*" bition was a not loss of £3820?.; among the business of the meeting-will • bo tho consideration of a proposilUat; the company should go into JiqtUfl** -, tion. ■ ' \'\i"Ministers at Goraldine havo been the habit of giving, on bno day a-*k*{ ■ Bible lessons to a large proportional !v the children (87 per cent.) before hours, tho school opening for work at 9.30. Recently the commit* - tee docided .that school hours should ifrC gin at 9 o'clock. Tho ministers, oj , /. deputation, pointed,out the encb of giving lessons before 9, or school, and tho committee ha* agreed-; t to allow secular work, to .begin at 9.30:; on one <lay and closo as usual on tbatg-* day at 3 o'clock. >? Some of tho butchers in Wellington •ia consequence of the high price of W«' r stock, havo raised tho prices of certain v linos, .iv some cases H a lb, and\ltt« others Id per lb. The rise, .howOTto . is not general among ther meat-jfisMO-' liehments.(says the "Post"). Sim lot ■ the larger firms strike a level rate for all classes of meat over tho whole y®f» v but others, who cut their prices in enm.,. mor, when "meat is cheaper findjtt- i;necessary to increaso in the tnnter. loin at present iv some is selling at 8d a lb, and chops at 7a./* At Now Plymouth yesterday. Mr tico Stringer delivered judgment in tlje'sj caso in which the widow of Franca M ; Smith, one of the vlctime of the &»**. i mata tragedy, suod his employers, tJ»;< Now Zealand Express Corap'any, tor,; compensation for his death when cao-od on belialf of tho company. H« i i Ho°nour held. tbat. Smith's death wft* not directly duo to any special arising from tho nature of he om-, ployment, and gave judgment for toy, feudant. . . \ At the meeting of the DomainTßoarf c vesterda-y, the chairman Olr H, ?.'■? Beswick) stated that two items of pendituro in the balance-sheet had. been disallowed by tho ral on legal grounds. One was a-j compassionate allowance of old employee of tho Board, and «™r other was £3 10s, incurred Wthe chairman in visiting WcUmefcmiB o connexion with tbe Domain Bill..««-. Board's solicitor bad advised tbat tw. Solicitor-General's opinion could not-w>■ contested. It was agreed to settle «»- matter by each member contnUotlflS ono guinea to the Board's funds. : f-_ An exaggerated etory ot atUrmptid; robberj- by masked men, which, <»■«■£ sequent investigation, turned out «»; "a very small Affair indeed, ! told in Wellington yesterday. bIKOT,i; after 8 o'clock on Monday evening, e» ; it was alleged, the shop of Young Lmtfft,* a Chinese fruiterer, at tho corner & v Austin and Queen streets, was enier-;; ed by two armed masked men, whom, pointed a revolver at tho vow*' -► man while tho other tried to forcaopw , -? I tho till. Investigations by we poMJ however, whoso attention -was aiT«&*;~ to tho matter, showed tho whole «pj sodo to bo nothing more than a piank, tho actual facts being Two youths, with ecarves over **^- ! mouths, presented a toy pi.stol at «c Chinaman, -who threw a hammer,*-* them, and they rapidly mado on. A?° - polico (says our correspondent) aro no 6 taking any further steps in tho matter; ' Tho Union Steam Ship Company, attho request of the Britieh As.ociat»tt Reception Committee, hare decided «?. allow a concession of 10 per rent, on * tho passago money of scientists taking part in tho meetings of tho liritttnAasociation in Australia, and in tie Sciqnce Congress in iSow Zealand iߣ>eptembcr. Residents of "Kew 16eftlaa« wishing to obtain a concession for the, Australian meetings of the British Association, should apply to Professor T« H. Laby, honorary secretary <>f t|J c ' British Association Reception Committee, Victoria Cotlego, AVellingtou, upon, whose certificate the Cnion Steam Ship Company will give, tbo concession. The concession to scientists coming from Australia to New Zealand will bo given on tho certificate from the secretary <J" tho Australian Association for tbe Advancement of Science Tho concessionswill apply to the Huddart-Parte* steamers as well as the Union Steaffl , Ship Company's steamers.

\: The coal mines; of Otago are ex- ■■■ wrfcacing the busiest toason cvpr; - X The Knitansata mines last-' S established a record daily output with a tally of 783 ton?. Tho permanent electrical ?«"?P in j> machinery tor the recently-installed • drainage* system for East Richmond hand, and will bo pm in. P<* ll '°" J J once. A temporary pumping p.ant is i at present doing tho work. Yesterday say tho completion ot plate-laying on tho first section of the ■ f;i«borne-soGthwards railway, tho iron mils havinp reached Nsatapa, fourteen , miles fromOishonie The lirst of • tho lino wan turn-d at Mokanha in , February, 101' i. ■V meeting of all interested in the advancement of North Canterbury will 1m« held at the City Couiu-il Cmmheve tliis evening At. the matins tho report of the Provisional Coinniitt*.o feet up at the mollis held on the -lib tilt. Tv-ill be present. (1. Tho disp.no. i.elwrrn t|,.. Woollen Mi X EmpiveeV Union ;.iyl the emp o>- ;« will bo heard bnforo tho Lone.hat.on Commissioner (Mr -I. H. IYigpO-.-'t v am.; on Wodnwdav, July loth, in tho Provincial Council Chamber.-.. > n<J dispute in the jpiwlUt*. *nd watchmakers' trad" will bo heard ;n JU a.in. on July 20th. At tho meeting of tho committee of tho St. John Ambi:!;ince Association, to beheld next week, the onestion of what uteps are to bo tal.en tr» give effect to the offers mado. by the Hon. R. Heaton ' Rhodes, and Mr Arthur K. <i. Kbodes in connexion with the proposal to buiM headquarters for the Association ji Christchurch. will be discussed. Mr O'Brien, secretary of tho Dominion Executive in connexion with tho Panama-Pacific Exposition, is reported to have done excellent, work whilst in Christchurch recently, having -beon instrumental in setting a number of firms .in Christchureh and the vicinity to agree to exhibit at the ban Francisco show. The exhibits will.consist chiefly of wool and other products. Enquiries mac'i) by a "flawke's Bay Tribune" reporter on Saturday morning showed that practically all the pic- ' tures and all the Maori curios, in addition to a" number of valuable Maori books, were saved from tho hre which destroyed Mr Ci. P. Donnelly's residence at Taradale last Friday evening. A quantity of furniture was also rescued from tho burning building. Tho Idss is (says tho •Tribune.") not so great as at first anticipated. Respecting, the two septic tanks which tho Heathcote County Council mintend installing in connexion with tho drainage of Cashmere, tho effluent iTom which is to be discharged into the Heathcoto river, the county is within its rights in installing the tanks. Owing to a clerical error made many year.3 ag°- '-he control of tho river was not vested in the Drainage Hoard, and at present it is under the control of tho county. The Drainage Board is promoting a Bill to rectify tho error and to transfer the control from the county to tho Board. Tho funeral of tho lato Lieutenant Alfred Noafces took place yesterday •afternoon, and was largely attended by - -members of tho Vetoians' Association ■ *nd.representatives of tho Gonycrs and ''Concord Masonic Lodges. -A. largo ■number of beautiful wreaths were roeeived, The burial service at the ■ graveside was read by <..• Rev. 11. S. j teach, and tho Masonic Service by ■ ' yr.ll. Bro. E. Haley, of tho Crown " Lodge. Tho pall-bearers, who were -members of tho Crown Lodge, were as * follows:—Bros. J. D. jlutlor. D. Brown, E. J. Foster ~H. Tapping, W. Wise, and - 2X. Peterson: Tho interment took