GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15016, 10 July 1914, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

At twenty-five minutes past ten yesterday evening a brilliant meteor was observed in the heavens, travelling in a westerly direction. Its visible course lasted altogether about five seconds.

A man named David Morgan Leckio was charged at the Magistrate's Court at Taumarunui yesterday morning with keeping intoxicating liquor for sale. Defendant, who did not appear, was fined £50 and costs, with the alternative of three months' imprisonment.

At a special meeting of the Canterbury Rowing Club last evening, Mr F. I. "Cowlishaw presiding, plans for a now building, to cost £750, were approved, and the committee was^ empowered to proceed with the erection of a racing boat-shed, dressing-rooms, and billiard-room. Tho sum of £120 was subscribed in the room.

The first of a scries of popular literary and scientific lectures in aid of the Canterbury College Library fund will be given in the College Hall on Thursday, July 23id, at 8 p.m. The subject will bo •'English Folk Songs," by Professor S. P. Gabbatt, assisted by Miss Millicent Jennings. The subsequent lectures will bo given every Thursday evening.

The arrivals in New Zealand from oversea during May totalled 2812, compared with 3056 in May, 1913. The departures in tho same month numbered 3730, as against 3151 in May, last year. Tho details are: —Arrivals: Auckland, 1204; Wellington, 1178; Dunedin, nil; Invercargill. 130. f Departures: Auckland, 1271; Wellington, 2066; Dunedin, 5 ; Invercargill, 388. .

The collection of Medici prints at the Art Gallery has been enriched by tho additiou of five new pictures. These are: "Birth of Venus" (Botticelli), presented by Mr and Mrs William Wood; "Virgin in Adoration" (Fillipino Lippi), presented by Mrs J. Palmer and Mrs R. Allen ; "Holy Night" (Correggio), presented by Mr Bernard Tripp; "Christ Crucified" (Durer), presented by Mrs Michael Studholme; and "Virgin and Child" (Durer) * presented by Mrs Leonard Clark and Mrs Beckett.

Tho Rev. Father Quinn, of St. Bede's Collegiate School, Christchurch, has been appointed.to collect funds in the diocese* of Christchurch (winch includes the West Coast) for the boarding school ior boys which is to bo erected on the property recently purchased at Papanui. It is proposed to begin the building as soon as possible, and it is hoped that the foundation sione will be laid early next year. The Rev. Father Quinn left yesterday for Waimato, whore he will start his collecting mission on Sunday. Ho will then visit tho whole diocese. '

At Wellington yesterday the New Zealand Society of Accountants sued Albert Hamblyu, storekeeper, of fTgaruawahia, for the return of an accountancy' certificate, issued on the formation of tho society. It was contended (says a Press Association message) that Hamblyn had ceased to be a member of the society uy reason of not paying his subscription, and repeated applications for the roturn of the certificate wero not heeded,' and action was then taken. The defendant did not appear. Mr Riddell, S.M., ordered the certificate to bjb returned by July 16th, defendant to pay costs amounting to £1 17s Gd.

The Magistrate's Court was occupied for some hours yesterday in hearing a case in which Elizabeth Stuart Clutterback (Mr Leathern) claimed from Win. Bishop (Mr Emslie, Timaru) the sum of £7<j 5s Sd, for board and lodging of the son of defendant at the rate of 10s a week, and covering tho periods of October 4th, 1909, to December 15th, 1909, and from August sth, 1910, to April 10th, 1913. The case arose through plaintiff having taken the child with the view to adoption j but the papers had i.ot boon signed, and the child was subsequently adopted by other parties. Plaintiff was non-suited without costs on tho grounds that she was not registered to take charge of a person under tho age of six years.

A meeting of sorrow in connexion j with tho death of the lato Chief, James Mackintosh, was held at the Scottish Society's rooms last night. Chief C. Broun presided, and there were present a large gathering of members of tho society and visitors. Chief Broun said that tho lato Chief Mackintosh had for many years displayed unfailing love for the society. At the first meeting called in Christchurch to inaugurate the society, Mr Mackintosh was unanimously elected hon. treasurer, and from ' that time till his death he had continually held office in tho society. He inaugurated what was now known as the "Heather Mission/ and his work .in that direction entailed a large amount of time and attention. The society bad sustained a deep loss by his, death. Chief Broun then proposed a motion, directing that there should be recorded on the minutes an expression of tho society's deepest sorrow and regret at the loss of their beloved Past-Chief Mackintosh, an ardent and zealous The motion was seconded by Mr Maclean Dun, spoken to feelingly by several of those present, and carried by all standing with bowed heads and folded arms while the Mackintosh Lament was played. With a view to minimisinot the danger of falling rock from tho Sumner cliffs, the local Council recently decided to. blast away some of the more dangerous portions, which have had a sinister appearance for some time, and have iateiy assumed » more forbidding aspect. The piece which was operated on yesterday was about liO yards from Shag Rock. At this point the cliff overhangs tho road some fifteen or twenty feet. That it was high time the Council attended to it was evidenced by the fact that there was a fissure near to the edge of the cliff about six inches wide and some fifteen feet deep. Elaborate precautions wero taken to prevent any disruption of the tramway service. Tho Board's employees removed tho overhead gear, leaving the poles to their fate, and arrangements were made for a steam tram to run on the sections whero the current had been cut off. As a matter of fact the former precaution proved unnecessary. The blasting powder did not prove nearly as effective as was anticipated, and only some fifty or sixty tons of the cliff were displaced. The fall of rock and rubble a drop of a hundred and fifty feet, however, was a great sight, ana an immense cloud of dust rose higher than the cliff. The rock face destroyed included that on which a Maori head was carved. Tho discovery of this ancient piece of carving aroused considerable interest some years ago.

At a meeting of the executive of the Wellington Citizens' Carnival Association, a balance-sheet was which showed a profit of £757. Fifty years' service with a local body must be* something approaching a record tsavs the Nelson "Colonist"). At tho meeting of the Stoko Road Board la*t Saturday. Mr T. M. Gibhn, who has been employed by the Board as a carter tor half a century, tendered his resignation, as he felt the time had com© for him to take a rest. The resignation was accepted with regret.

The Mallard ducks which were imported have mated with the grey ducks on the Avon River, with the result that tho ducks on the river now aro a nondescript lot. there being scarcely a pureblooded Mallard and very few grey ducks anions thnm. The Canterbury Acclimatisation Society intends to despatch them and replace them next year with the purebred grey ducks and spoonbills.

When the Lyttelton Harbour Board decided to re-open the Coronation Hall, which, on account of. the Watersiders Union not adhering to the spirit of their agreement, was closed for some weeks, the latter organisation instructed their secretary to writo stating that, as a union they had no further use for the hall under the conditions imposed, which, were that it should be under a hoard of control, consisting of six members, three from the Uniou and a similar uumber representing tho employers. Since thus resolution was forwarded, however, the Union has continued to use the building, and on Monday next, or the fir&t convenient date thereafter (according to a notice displayed outside the hall yesterday) a mooting will bo held to consider whether or not the Union shall uso it in the future.

Members of the State Parliament are being a.sked by circular, issued in the interest* of picture show companies, to oppose tho'Bill promised by the Government to prohibit tho opening of places ot amusoment on Sundays, Good Friday,"and Christmas Day (says a Melbourno paper). It .is contended in tho circular that the Sunday picturo entertainment is "a powerful aid to the clergy in developing the better life of tho community," and that in all great cities there is proof that "enormous harm results from the aimless wanderings of the young on Sunday evenings through the streets and other public places." The Sunday show, according to the circular, "does not interfere with religious observance, as it commences after tho church services aro finishod."

The first meeting of tho newly elected Council of tho South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society reached a deadlock before any business was dono (says a Timaru message). At the recent election three members wore declared elected, but their nominations had been accepted after the notified time. Tho secretary bad refused them", but the actual meeting decided to accept them. The objectors consulted the Society's solicitor, who advised that the nominations had been wrongly accepted, and that the next three on the list must be declared elected. At yesterday's meeting both sections turned up and claimed the seats, counsel's opinions being produced by both parties. The whole business was consequently tied up. Probably an apneal will be mado to the Supremo Court to decide tho dispute.

[When, in the Federal House of Representatives the other day, the statement was made that a shipload of livo rabbits was on its way to Darwin, the Minister of External Affairs was asked if he did not thiuk it would be unwise, in view of the experience in other parts of the Commonwealth, to introduce rabbits into tho Northern Territory. Mr Glynn confessed chat he had no knowlodge as to the accuracy or otherwise of the statement, and ho promised to have enquiries made. These disclose the fact that the so-called "shipload" comprises only three rabbits. The Minister (says the Age ) has received a communication from the Administrator of the Territory stating that the rabbits, which have been obtained for laboratory purposes, were being kept in a speciallvconstructed hutch, and all precautions had been taken to prevent their ©scape. „ J ?u* P™secution which was conducted at the Melbourne District Court for an offence under a section, of the Pea Rifles and Saloon Act, 1912 (says the Age >), the solicitor for tho- defence pointed out that, though it was an offence against the Act to sell cartridges containing less than 13 grains of powder to boys under 18 years of age, the law was not broken if tho cartridges sold contained more than that quantity of powder, which, presumably, would render them more dangerous. The fact was evidently lost sight of that tho section of the Act referred to was framed with the express idea of preventing the sale of pea nflo cartridges to boys. Such cartridges contain only a small quantity of powder—less than 13 grains, which quantity would be too powerful for the average pea rifle. It was obviously unnecessary to place a restriction on the sale of cartridges unsuitable to tho type of firearm covered by tho Act.

Amongst the 431 clauses of the new budding regulations to bo adopted by the Melbourne City Council some day are certain safeguards that havo been inserted to minimise tho risk of fire. Warehouses aro to be divided into secwhich aro to bo mado fireproof. In other words, each building 350 feet eA £"5 tent ; . and havin 6 a capacity of 50,000-cubic feet, must bo self-con-tained and completely enclosed in fireproof materials. Staircases and liftwe Is connecting divisions are to bo isolated by brick walls or by reinforced concrete construction. All doors aro to be of solid wrought iron or, in tho case of wooden doors, iron-clad Of course, buildings that are being constructed at the present time, and any that have been erected during,the last three or four years, havo.had these safeguards That (says tho "Age") is the fare© of tho legal authority which' tho Council is seeking for tho now regulations. Two official referees havo been enquiring into tho plans and specifications submitted, and, the plains having been endorsed by tho City Council's expert, the referees collect a guinea each for the trouble of. attending at the Public Works Department of tho State. A sum of about £1500 a year is spent in this elaborato pieco of Gilbertian foolery.

In Melbourne no taxi-cabs ply /or hire in the streets, because tho* legal tare is too low to enable the cars to be run at a profit. Patrons of taxi-cabs must therefore, hire from the garage. A system now in vogue in Germany, if adopted, would enablo a taxi to* bo called to any point in the city streets (says the Motorist"). Machines bearing an external resemblance to letterboxes have been placed in all parts of the city of Hamburg, and are connected by wiro with a central office, lheso machines serve as islands, though it frequently happeus that there is no cab at the stand. In the latter case, a customer who wants a cab deposits a com (one mark) in the machine, f"d his call is automatically signalled to tho central office, which sends him a cab from the nearest stand or garage at which one is available; the money deposited is credited towards his fare. Ihe presence or absence of cabs at every stand in the city is indicated on dials at the office by an automatic device, and each of the machines is prou U 'i h a cal lJng horn and a telephone, by means of which orders aro transmitted from headquarters. Cabs summoned by telephono to a customer's home, office, etc., are also sent from tne nearest stand by this system. The whole plan ensures both economy and efficiency of operation, as it enables cabs to be moved 'about promptly wherever they are needed, and reduces the total number necessary for the business of the city. It no longer happens,, as former];", that some stands have a. long string 0 f idle reaicles, whde others where cabs are urgently wanted, are bare.

"E.B "his contributed £1 to the coal and blanket fund and ".i.H.8." £2 .:

Sergeant-Major Lezard and Quarter-master-Serccant Lee, of E Battery New Zealand Field Artillery, have* been promoted to warrant rank. The former has twenty-seven years' and the latter twenty-four years' service in E Battery. These are the first promotions of the kind made in tho New Zealand Territorial Forces.

Mr Lewis Wilson, of Punri road, Rio carfon, won the first prize at the lecent Palmerston North Show for onions, "any other variety." with an exhibit of Brown Spanish onions, which has also taken firsts this season at Kaiapoi, Rangiora. Canterbury Horticultural Show. Maniototo. and Wnimate, and second prize at Ashburton.

The certificate of the tasi-cab driver. Whitty, who was concerned in tho collision between his car and a motor-cycle and side-chair on tho New Brighton road, Burwood, lato on Saturday night last, has been cancelled by the By-laws Committee of the City Council. When the accident was reported to the police Whittv's certificate was suspended and he was called on to show cause why it should not bo cancelled. Whitty accordingly appeared before the By-laws Conimitteo of the Council and stated his case. The committee, however, decided to cancel the certificate. The By-laws Committee have also suspended the certificate of James Salt, the taxi-driver Concerned in tho "Joy Ride Case." Salt ha s yet to appear before tho committee.

All interesting discussion took place at tho annual meeting of the W'anganui Caledonian Society on Wednesday night concerning tho "mixed" blood that was slowly but surely finding its way into tne Society. The question was introduced by .Air J. Driver, resigning from tho committee, giving as his reason that ho considered tho Society was getting away from the objects for which it was formed. Tho Scotch element, ho said, was decreasing. Mr Ncttleship said that four years ago' tho same matter cropped up. Tho experiences- of several of tho big towns wero quoted. In Dunedin, which was essentially a Scotch settlement, they could not get a sufficient number of Scotsmen to form tho Society, and they had to take in any otner gentlemen they could get. In smaller towns hko Wanganui, they could not expect to keep the Society entirely Scotch. The discussion closed with Mr Driver saying that he only expressed his views, and that he thought tho Society should be entirely Scotch.

At the conclusion of tho ceremony of replanting the Alexandra memorial oak on Fitzgerald avenue yesterday, another function followed, Cr. J. R. Hayward, chairman of the Reserves Committee, planting the tree which is to fix the lino of tho trees to bo planted in place of those which have died. The planting was done by the Mayor and Crs. Hayward and Sorensen. >Cr. Hayward in some remarks after tho planting, said that it was to be regretted that tho Council had been compelled to 1 -re-plant a portion of tho Avenue. Many years ago there was a fine avenue of- trees on Fitzgerald avenue, but a number of tho trees had died owing to the gas mains having been laid too close to them. It would take some years for the new trees to grow. There was nothing moro beautiful or more decorative in a city than a fine avenue of trees, when it could be planted without causing obstruction. Iv the cities of the Old World there were many fine avenues. He recalled the beautiful avenue of chestnuts at Bushey Park, which leads to tho Palace at Hampton Court. It was a mile long, and when the trees wore in bloom in-the spring they presented a beautiful sight. He hoped that in Christchurch they would be able to imitate such avenues, and also that the re-planting being dono would provo successful. He eulogised the work done by the' City Council's head gardener, Mr Wickens, and said that ho had his heart in his work. Chilblains.—No need to suffer from this painfnl and irritating complaint, when a remedy of proved efficacy (Chilbo CCCC) can bo obtained from ! chemist or storekeeper. Numerous testimonials from delighted users have been received. 2 airs Rolleston, Cathedral square, makes a speciality of Transformations to Order. They are considered by numerous ladies in all parts of New Zealand equal to the best made in London. Prices from four to twelve guineas. 7 The defiant prices submitted by Messrs. Armstrong and Co., Limited, daily attract business to their stores. Comparisons proved their bargains unassailable. Gents' Wide-end Ties, all •silk, 6d, 9d', Is; President Braces, Is 6d, Is lid; All-wool Cashmere Socks, Is, Is 3d; Motor Scarves, is lid, 2s Bd. An attractive line. 1 Family .groups made frequently be-i oomo, treasured possessions. High-class work at moderate prices is the policy of Steffano Webb. Telephone 1989, Petersen's Buildings, High street. 2 Walter J. Watson, D.8.0.A.. London, Expert Optician (near Kincaid's). Accurate Sight-testing and Spectaclefitting. Repairs to Frames and broken Lenses matched. Charges moderate. 8 A week-end display of Ladies' Evening Wear is being mado at Armstrongs, Limited, with salo prices on everything. 42-inch Crystalline Is, Is 6d, Is lid; Evening Serges and Coat Cloths, 2s 9d; Jap Silks, 27-inch, splendid shades, Is 3d, 2s 6d; New Brocho Crepes. 4s Grl; -10-inch Coloured Sateens, 2s lid yard. • 3 Motor Steeplechasing. Motor steeplechasing over hurdles and water jumps is.a new sensation shortly to be introduced in England. "Tho Times" says':—Mr Richard Klegin, who organised the motor polo match at Ranelagh last year, is arranging a motor-car race over a course similar to that on which steeplechases aro run, and obstacles, which will include hurdles end water jumps, will bo arranged upon a*motor track a mile long. Some of the hurdles will be 8 feet bi«h and the water jumps 20 feet wide. The total distance of the race "'is to be 25 mi ' es -, It is hoped to obtain a course suitable, for the race auite close to London. Several countries will be ropresentedv and drivers from America. France. Italy, Germany, Spain, and Belgium have already decided to competo. At recent trials some of tho cars wmen will run in tho race jumped hur- | dies and water jumps while going at a I speed of 60 miles an hour. A Modern "Mousquetaire." | ■ M * Et L enne Laberdesque, who died recently, was one of tho most picturesque - characters of modern Paris, where he became famous after a series or di-Ji,, with five friends of M. Mas Rfgis, the ifjiyor of Algiers, all °J "™ om he- woundes. and finally with M. Regis himself, an Homeric encounter, which lasted two terminating likewise in M. Laberaesqne's TaV ? U l' _, one ? he became the hero o, the boulevards, and a familiar figure in all public functions. His life-stoty is like that of one of Dumas's. characters. Born in Cuba of a Spanish mother, ho quarrelled with his family at, the age of 18, and went to fight in tho Venezuelan revolution. When a revolution was threatened in Cuba, he returned there, and in the course* of three years fought 43 duels with sabre, pistol, and yataghan. His father succeeded in shipping him off to France where ho enlisted in the Snahis. He had astonishing strength, and was capable even of carrying his own tired horse on h'js back after being carried abput by it all day. A Matter of Nationality. The racial feeling among certain sections of the students attending Edin-

burgh University, where .there'_-_*"s " largo number of coloured ' been demonstrated in a quwrdM_" "■' " tween an Egyptian and a South If*!?' ' "Daily Mail"). During a IHL%* the burgeons' Hall, Edinburgh »*_?- a number of the students were __3? ' ing for the degree of dental eunsSf" paper pellets were thrown room. One struck an Egyptian _* dent on tho face. Flushed with j__2" he turned round and asked a Bots African sitting behind him if ho tSS the pellet. The South African d__2. having done so. but the said, kicked him on the |&_J»-' were exchanged, and instantly was in an uproar. Order was rcstoiSl' j on tho arrival of two tutors/- £2? the two men decided to "fight to »_?' ish" on tho Blackford Hill, which *L joins the city. Each chose two seconds. I and a crowd of studenus foUowedT^lt' was arranged that tho comoatajrti should stand back to back, march thr»- f paces forward, turn round, and th_f" I begin a bout of fisticuffs. The fight *ag f fierce from the first. Ultimately fjj | South African, tho heavier of the t»» '% got home several telling blows fj knocked his rival down. Angered \n {1 tho cheers of tho South Africans, tl£ f Egyptian seconds set upon the ih|J j party. One Egyptian, it is said, dret I a revolver and "covered" an opp_jor second. Tho South Africans, aoJ superior in numbers, immediately <&. armed tho Egyptian, and by the tha» the police reached the summit of tia hill the fight was over. A CUT-RATE SALE OF MOTOR.'. CYCLE AND CYCLE SUNDRIES. '*: The annual balance of ihe firm jj} Adams, Ltd., takes place on July Jflrt aud in order to effect a substantial p£ duction of tho firm's vast stock of etta. 1 dries before that date a sale is at 1 sent being held in which sundries j_%' n offered at prices lower than have ere* ffi been .quoted before. Purchasing ia m huge wholesale quantities, Adams, £&_ H buy in the lowest market, and tho avi ing thus effected is now being hao&i on to tho public. Here aro a few qaet§. ■ tions:—1000 good quality outer covets'8s 6d, now 3s 9d; 1000 good stwog inner tubes. 5s 6d, now 3s 9d; ICTO' shilling tyre repair outfits, novr 4i«-----1000 English Dunloo motor-cjele bafts, |in, 22s Gd, now 17s 6d; lin, 35$ ft? now 20s; 1000 Lyso belts, Jin, 20s, nor 1.55: lin, 22s 6d, now 17s Gr}; Taree motor-cycle outfits. 2s 6d. now 2&; .3 tons of carbide. 31b tins. Is; 81b fe. Is 9d ; 1000 sets free-wheel and brakes, complete, 15s. now 7s 6d; Kjoq" sets Bleumols best celluloid mudguiufc. J 7s 6d. now 6s 6d: 1000 Lumino nickelled 1 oil lamps', 4s 9d, now Ss 6d; IQgQ 1 Nymph oil lamps, now 2s. with tia of § oil: Richmond ladies' chain-gusrdi I (black celluloid' 12s 6d, now 6s 6d"' : 1 Express leather chain-guardß, 8s 6d| i now 4s 6d; oilskin cat>e S and conntiga I other lines are offered* a* equal reduce I tions during this salo. The mail order' I department will forward all goooV 1 ordered during tho salo free of postafifc 5 1 Tlie present opportunity is on» that Is/| not likely to recur for many months, jg and as big reductions hare.alreadV baen, I made .in the stock customers should ! make their purchases oarlv in order iff I avoid disaopointment. "Don't forcei-Xl Adams, Ltd., Hieh street. Christchaii*' 1 (R. M. Adams, Bicycle Department B*. 1 prosentative). tho cheapest placo ia' § town for cycle or motor-cyclo sundries "*§