GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15219, 5 March 1915, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

"I have an order to got 120 men to do scrub cutting and other contracting work by the Ist of April," eaid the agent of a Palmereton , labour b.ureau wheu speaking to a reporter. Ho further stated that ho was experiencing difficulty in obtaining good men to fill certain positions-

Rangitata. dirty: Opjhi. c ear , flau toki; dirty: Rataia. tshable. parts of the city, many signatures were obtained. An Auckland telegram states that * meeting of users of Government stampin- machines resolved to telegraph v to the Postmaster-General demanding; * copy of the "agreement with the company now in liquidation, and urging that action enforcing a aeposit be deferred for another month.

During the past month about 400 seamen made use of the King &eorso V. Seamen's Institute, while -*» attended the Gospel srrvjecs. and 60 the Sunday teas. 1«f superintendent (Mr S. Booths acknowledges with thanks an annual donation of il Is. from Miss Olliver. Lytteltou. also a case of pears each from Mrs Smith and Messrs Turner and Sinclair.

The official opening of tho miniature rifle range of" the Sunuier-Redcliffs Ladies' Kifle Club will take place in the Anglican schoolroom at S:imnrr to-morrow afternoon. Colonel ChafTey has been asked to perform the ceremony. The membership of the club totals about/ GO. and the ladies are practising with great assiduity, and have issued a challenge to the Sumner unit of the Citizens' Defence Corps to fire a match.

Bluff i.s famous for all sorts of records—sculling, boxing, wrestling, cricketing, and so on—but another has been added to the list, namely, oysteropening. Mr \V. J. Newman opened five sacke of oysters on, Monday in five hours, ■which he claims is a New Zealand record. Mr Newman informed a "Bhiff Press ,, reporter that he 'will guarantee to do the sanw at any time and o»en them cleaner than anyone in New Zealand. Five sacks contain 4t£o oysters, and the opening rate works out at fourteen per minute.

The annual picnic; of the Lyttelton District High School was held at Kirwee yesterday, and was attended by about 700 children and adults. An enjoyable time was spent despite tho inclemency of the weather in the afternoon. Two races were held in connexion with the competition for the Old Boys' Shield, and resulted under:— 220 yards: C. Mazev 1. J. Pitcaithley 2, D' Campbell 3; 100 yards: D. Campbell 1, J. Pitcaithley 2, C. Mazev 3. The other events in connexio.n with the ehicld will be decided at an early date.

As a result of a petition from the Vicar of Avonside and members of the vestry, his Lordship Bishop Julius ■yesterday consecrated an extension of the Anglican section of the Linwood Cemetery. His liordship, attended "by Canon Kn'owles Archdeacon Gosset, the Rev. Otho FitaCerald, and the Rev, 11. S. Loach. Vicar of Sydenham, walked round the around to be -consecrated, reciting Psalms 23. 49, and IC. The Bishop'then said a suitable prayer, .and Canon Knowles read the document relating to the consecration. Bishop Julius then performed the ceremony of consecration.

The meeting of creditors in the estate of Raymond llepworth, sharebroker, which was arranged to be held yesterday afternoon, wae adjourned till next Thursday. Bankrupt estimates his liabilities at £1201. duo to two unsecured creditors, and his assets at £25 75.-2 d. leaving a deficiency of £1170 ,12s lOd. The unsecured creditore are H. Cotterilt £15, R. B. Holdsworth £11S6. There is one secured creditor. George Bonrv Cooper, whose claim is £150 and £4 'lOs interest, the estimated value of the security being £150. Bankrupt puts his 'assets at: — Furniture £20, cash in hand 7s 2d.

'•Where medical attendance is necessary on members of the Territorial Force and Senior Cadets, and the charge is considered to be one that should he borne by tho Department, all sick or injured are to be treated in a public hospital," state the latest district orders issued by the Defence Department. "In cases where this will not bo possible, the patient will be attended by an officer of tho New Zealand Medical Corps, and a fee of 7s Gd l>er consultation for visit will lie paid by the Department, biit unless under a certificate of the principal medical officer not more than three such consultations or visits will be paid for/

l.t may not bo generally known that a soldier on active service cannot be detained by. tho civil courts as/a witness or party to a case. The point was mentioned in tho Supreme Court at Paltnerston North on Tuesday. Counsel for plaintiff in a case before the Court statf.l that ho had tried to &ul>poena a witness who had enlisted .with the New Zealand Expeditionary , Force, but as ho was on the point of sailing, counsel did not proceed. Mr Justice Chapman observed that there was a special section which stated that a soldier under such circumstances could not bo detained as a defendant or witness. >

Corporal H. E. Moore, of the Ist Canterbury Infantry Regiment, writing to ■ his brother, }[r A. E. Moore, of Christchureh, soys with reference to tbo offer of commissions to New Zealanders in Kitchener's new army, that ho, could get one straight a«ny "by proceeding to England, but it 'was' quite ini|)o«Mbl«. to accent it. "'The conditions" (says Corporal Moore) "aro as follows:—You aro allowed'£4o for your uniforms and equipment: you go into training for six month at Aldershot. th<> pay is os 6d per day, and tbo field allowance 3s (id per day. Now. having gone thoroughly into it with competent mon, I find the smallest income you have to have nr'ivately is £200 per nnnnin, and you would ho" just existing on that amount: so you see the proposition i.s quito impossible."

A supposed Gorman spy wandered around .Bluff on Tuesday on a hawking expedition, and called on most of the Bluff housewives. His poor English appeared to give the show away, and the police were made "wise ,, to the matter. The man had a light flaxen beard, spectacles, and a slouch hat. and two Mvags of draper* goods. The police tracked him along Barrow street (gays a Press Association message), and then pounced on him. The "spy? , expressed surprise at his treatment. He admitted that he wa s a foreigner, but denied that he was a Gorman, and produced papers to show that lie was a Russian. He said that he had lived in Ireland for sixteen years, and came to New Zealand to try and earn an honest living. He was in Chriftdnirch for a time, hut business was had, and ho had to take on hawking. Tim police were satisfied with liis papers, and allowed him to proceed.

■The. JJev. T- A. Williams, of Oamnru. in the course of a fcormon on Sunday night on "The Christian Attitude of the War," under the heading. "New Zealand Lags .Behind." said:—"But. so far. we have, not realised the sober seriousness of the situation and the gravity of the issues. If we had. instead of 13.000 mon, we should have sent to tlie. front four times 13,000. Look at this comparison. At the present time, England has given 1 in 16 out of the entire population to fight the common foe. while New Zealand lias given 1 in ""; or, if allowing for. say -000 at Trentham. but lin 73! Oh. wo can do more than this; but it is for the, Government to give the lead. I saj\ deliberately, that in this holy war it is the Christian duty of every man who is able and fit to "offer his services for t]io front. The, question for all • such is, What; Christian right have- I to stay j>t home in such h conflict with the powers of darkness and the.-principles o f hell? Tho moral and spiritual effect o f the war upon Britain must be great, for all great sacrifice is purification. Ought we not to share in this? .»* o if w e rise to the needed sacrifice.

At an enthusiastic meeting, held at Pninierston .North hk>t night, a branch of the National Reserve of New Zealand was formed. Colonel Porter delivered an address, and :.l>out oQ names were handed in.

The prices ai the realisation'sale of Hing, Harris and ( o.'s salvage stock of drapery and clothing at Armstrong's drapery stores, are evidently advertising the function splendidly—increasing business day I>y day is evidence of the fact, iliere are immense quantities ot goods to dispose of in every departriicnt. j

Among the many commodities af. tected by, the war. that of footwear shows the most surprising price advance. But Stewart Robinson, of Cashel street, in this i<>sin\ advertising a s.pecial purchase of footwear at 10? in the £. Tun: to hi s announcement now. 6

If you want a motor buy ;i Britishmade rnachtne from Tunibull and Jones, Ltd. who are .solo NVw Zealand agents for the IHtisli Westingbouso Company, -Manchester, C

Men's overcoats of all sorts a conspicuous attraction at Bing, Harris and Co.'i. salvage stock sale at Armstrong's. o

If you are deaf, call at John R Proctor's, optician. 200 High street. Christcburch. who will demonstrate the Auristican and Auris instrument* to you. They are the perfection of all hearing devices, and the be*t instruments for relievinc deafness. Call t*vday, or write for full particulars. A largo assortment of trumpets and tubes in stock 8 Customer!; are invited to shop early to-day at Armstrong's. 3

The new ''Tone" or curved lenses greatly enlarge tho field of vision. They have many other advantages, which Walter J. Watson, D.8.0.A., London, export optician, Colombo street (near Kmcaid's), will bo pleased to explain. 6

That treasured old portrait can be enlarged to mako a handsome picture. It will bo inexpensive if we do it. Stef. fano Webb Petersen's Buildings. High street. Telephone 1959. Wyr22-3*J4"J TRY THE BIG FIRM FOR RENOVATIONS AND REPAIRS. It may not be generally known that Adams, Ltd., make a specialty of reenamelling, plating, and general bicycle repairs. The firm has, here in Christchurch, the biggest and best-equipped factory of tho kind in the Southern Hemisphere, and the methods adopted are identical with those employed in the very host English factories. Experts with of practical experience in every branch of the trade; arc in charge, of the respective departments, and every job, however small, is under the direct supervision of Mr R.M. Adams, manager of the bicycle department of the firm. Tho firm does its best to make friends of its customers, realising that the satisfied customer is the best possible advertisement. All jobs are finished punctually to time promised, and we lend a bicycle while tho customer's machine is in our hands. Get a quotation from us for re-enamelling and plating your bicycle. We plate or copper, and our finish \& unequalled. You can rely on getting a fair deal from the firm- Special attention is paid to the requirements of country clients. Adams Ltd., motor and cycle importers. HigTi street,' Christchurch. (R. M. Adams, bicycle department representative). 6