GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15269, 4 May 1915, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

At 10.30 a.m. to-day tho re-trial of J. A. McKinnon will take place at tho Supreme Court. Air Justico Denniston will hold a Chamber sitting at the Supremo Court on Friday next, at 10.30 a.m. The trouble in regard to the Opouri's firemen was settled yesterday morning, and the vessel was enabled to sail for Greymouth, after having been held up for nearly two days. Tho boys of the Government training steamer Amokura wero entertained at tea on Sunday evening at the King George V. Seamen's Institute, and subsequently an inspection was made of the building by Commander Hooper, R.N.R., and other officers. Mr G. Gray, F.C.S., who for thirtytwo years has held tho position of lecturer on chemistry at Canterbury Agricultural College, is retiring shortly, and on Thursday next, at 3 p.m.. the members of the Old Students' Association, the Board of Governors, and friends, will meet at the College for the purpose of making a presentation to Air and Airs Gray. One of the most useful institutions in the city is th- Young Women's Christian Association, which is doing a splendid work amongst the young women of Christchurch. Great preparations aro being made for an "All Nations'* Fair," to be held towards tho end of this month. The board of directors aro bsing helped by members, and a .large number of interested women, the object being to raise a sufficient sum to enable ths Association to carry on through the year and extend th c work without financial worry. Alany fet_s have been held to roiso funds to assist the unfortunate peoplo of Belgium, but none has been more successful than that held last week at Ashburton. It is very fully illustrated* in the "Weekly Press," available to the public at noon to-day. Four pages of our contemporary aro devoted to the subject, and on these aro reproduced pictures of tbe procession, of tlio mass.d enthusiastic . crowd at the Show Grounds, of the Citizens' Defence Force squads marching, of the "Queen" and the pressntation of her crown, and snapshots of incidents at tho fete. It' is a fine record of a fine gathering. In Chambers, at "Wellington, on April 30th, Air Justice Dennistion granted probates as follows: —Jane Remington (Air Cuningham), Edwin White (Mr Upham). Isabella Rathgen 'Air Wright), Frederick Rathgen (Air Wright) and George Lamb (Mr Dougam. In Phillips v. Phillips (Air Donnelly) a motion to dispense with service on respondent was granted. ?*Tr Justice Sim dealt with tho following matter on the same date at Dunedin: — Re William Challenor, deceased (Air Mosley), motion for probate. His Honour granted probate of both documents as containing together tho last will and testament of testator. The ■probate is not to includo the words referred to in paragraph 9 of affidavit of 13th April, 1915. . | Entries for the Chrysanthemum Show, which take d place to-morrow and on Thursday, closed last night, and were very satisfactory. Tho show of blooms should bo up to tbo Society's highest standard. In addition to tho comp-titivo classes there will bo somo fine stands for exhibition only. The fruit section is also well filled, somo splendid examples coming from Blenheim. Tile Show will bo opened by tho Mayor at 2.30 to-morrow afternoon. Afternoon t?a will be available, tho proceeds being in aid of the Belgium Fund. Tlfcre will also b e a stand for tho salo. of plants for the same obj.-ct. Ihiring the Show Air Courtier, Government expert, will giv 0 lectures oil pruning, selection of varieties, and, planting of fruit trees. The lectures will take place at eight o'clock each evening.

At the Wellington Magistrate's Courtyesterday, Herbert Howes, a man cmnloved about tlio Trentham Camp, was Tinod *-5 -or taking alcoholic liquor into tho camp. The official recount in the Lyttelton Harbour Board election for tho Lyttelton, WooLston. etc., district gives tho following result:—J. J. Graham 1001, J. 11. W'ebb 1577, informal SS. A local resident forwards us a copy of a letter he has written to tho Chairman of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College, making application for permission to use stealine candles to read by, in the gallery of tho Reference Department of the Public! Library. He fears, he says, that he will develop eye trouble unless he is permitted to reinforce with caudles the inadequate lighting of tho gallery. » At tho local bureau of tho Labour Department last week. 32 men (.23 married and U single) registered a** being out of work. Three of these, carpenters, were sent to private work at Masterton; three carpenters were still unemployed at the end of the week. Twenty-four labourers (16 married and 8 single) were on the registers, throe of whom wero found casual work in town. There was an engineer and a gardener on the list, and at the end of the week the total still seeking employment was 25. Sinco April 19th four married and four single men have failed to renew their applications. Mr G. Girling Butcher, organising spcrotarv of the New Zealand Catholic Federation, has just returned from an organising tour of North Canterbury. Mr Butcher delivered addresses m each parish and on Sunday night he gave a lengthy address before a large congregation at St. Mary's, Manchester street. Mr Butcher leaves to-day for South Canterbury, where, in addition to other centres, he will visit Timaru, Temuka, and- Geraldine. Ho reports that a considerable amount ot success is attending his organising work, the numbers of members showing an increase, and jfrcat interest is being manifested in the work of.tho "'ederation. Tlio recently-formed freezing company to establish works at North Cauterbury is stated to bo meeting with great success, and applications for shares in tho concern are daily being leceived from all quarters. It is added that, in addition to paying-full attention to the distribution of its produce to the b?st advantage- in the English markets, it is the intention of the North Canterbury Compativ to fully consider, as centres for distribution, the markets which aro rap'dly opening iii> in Ca.mda, France, Japan, also the United States, both in the centres of tbe West Const and those on the East Const, wlr'ch have been recently mado available for our produce by the opening up of the Panama Canal. The fourteenth edition of Stone's Directory for Canterbury, Nelson, Marlborough, and Westland, of which a copy has been received from tho publishers, has been thoroughly revised and has been added to, and improved in various ways. Tho directory contains a largo map of Christchurch suburbs, and also a map of New Zealand, both of which have been corrected up to onto Tho street, country, alphabetical, trades, municipal and county, societies, and miscellaneous directories, cover nearly ICOO page-s. The New Zealand Annual, which is incorporated with tho.directory, consists of a useful and comprehensive almanac and a largo amount of commercial, statistical, and general information relating to the Dominion. Tho New Zealand Customs Tariff, carefully revised, is also included in tho book. The Rev. 11. E. Davies, of Knox Church, Dunedin, in a sermon on drink and tho war, said ho regretted that tho temperance party in New Zealand had abandoned tho reduction issue and gone for a moro swooping policy, for which tho country was hot prepared. During recent years, in consequence., we had not reduced one' license in the Dominion. It was worthy of note that this policy was suggested by tho liquor party. The preacher said he was convinced that there was an appotito for alcoholic drink in this couutry that would defeat any prohibition law. They .hiid largely forsaken the old method of persuasion and that of education for _ tho easier one of legislative prohibition. In spite of all efforts, .the tide of inebriety remained high and constant, and it even threatened to rise. "Why," asked Mr Davies, "should we not be willing to do what we can, because we cannot do all we would?" The laudable effort being mado by tho Plimmer-Hall Dramatic Company to raise a substantial sum* for tho selfsacrificing Belgian people, met with wide-spread support from tho public of Napier on Thursday night, when, not only did they attend in large numbers, but they responded liberally to tho call of Mr A. E. Ilenouf, when he offered for sale by auction a largo Belgian flag. Never was Mr Eenouf moro stirring in his patriotic appeals, which the audience cheered again and again (says the "Hawke's Bay Herald"). In all tlio flag brought £110, being sold no fewer than five times; on tho fifth it was a stipulation that this would be tho final one. _ Tho purchasers were: Mr W. G. Stead (Canterbury), £30*. "A Friend," £25; Mrs T. H. Lowry. £20; Mr T. Walker (Wairoa), £20; Mr J. H. G. Murdoch, £15. Mr Rcnouf made reference to Mr Murdoch's early departure for the firing line, and in wishing him a safe return, hoped that be would come back to fly this Belgian flag, which, he was sure, would be one of his proudest possessions. The members of tho Christchurch _>rainage Board yesterday completed their visit of inspection of tho tannery and wool-scouring works at Wool-ton, tho object of the inspection being to ascertain the nature of the effluents discharged into tho Heathcote river from the works, also to see what could best be done to improve tho effluent so as to reduce any pollution of the river to a minimum. Last week the three larger works wero visited, and yesterday .an inspection was made of tho remaining small works. Samples of all effluents wero taken, and these will lie submitted for analysis.' WTien tho analyst's reports are received the whole matter will bo considered by tho Board. Tho river itself was also inspected yesterday, tho timo being favourable, as it was then low tide. Tho low-lying banks certainly did not possess a. very attractive appearance: they were muddy-black in character, this being due to the effects of tho tan-water passing into the river. The banks and tbo river generally, it was stated, looked much worse than they really were, for tho reason that the tan effluent is only -wattle-bark pfrtined water, and in all*respects'perfectly harmless. '•'Equipped this timo with rich cover d?sign in colour and gold, the 'Weekly Press' Christmas -dumber, Christchurch, New Zealand, is a magnificent example of high-grade, typography. A first-class art paper bears a fine selection of subjects reproduced from photographs and other originals, and the whole printed in most skilled fashion. The number, which is chiefly representative of New Zealand agricultural interests, is pictorial from beginning to end, and there is shown a wonderful variety of scenery and beautiful subjects. The artist has again offered charmingly appropriate line designs for head and tail pieces and for borders generally. The emblematic full-paga three-colour is equipped with a notable example of suitable design, and the whole is printed in a s-iyle worthy of the highest praise. A supplementary picture of a pioneer's homestead affords a beautiful example of three-colour landscap- effect. The : 'Weekly Pr?ss' has undoubtedly gone yet another step in advance of its earlier records, and wa cordially congratulate all concerned in its produc--1 tion." This is the opinion of the "Bri- | tish Printer" concerning th? 1914 j Christmas number of tho "Weekly Press."

A Press Association message from New Plymputh reports that the first sod of the electric tramway line, between tho breakwater and Fitzroy, was turned by tbe Mayor yesterday morning. It is expected that trans will bo running before the end of the year. A recent addition to the collections at the Museum is th a centre of the flag that floated over the British Consulate at Apia, Samoa, during the German occupation. It has been presented by Sergt. E. W. Hall, of the Expeditonary Force. A deputation of Canterbury producers, representing tho Farmers' Union,' tho A. and P. Association, and the Sheep-owners.' Union, and also Ashburton and South Canterbury, will leavo for Wellington to-morrow night to interview the Prime Minister ou Thursday. The efficiency of the automatic lifeguards which are attached to tho tramway cars in Christchurch was demonstrated on the Papanui extension line on Saturday evening. The motonnan noticed a dark object lying across the track less than a car length ahead. Ho immediately applied the brakes, but it was too lato to avoid a collision with tho object, which proved to be a man lying right across tho track. The tripping g:ite struck him, which resulted in tho wheeU-iiard being automatically re-eased. The man was rolled to tho .side of the c;ir," which alino**t immeulato'.v afterwards came to a .stop. The following is tho result of an examination of a women's class which has received instruction iv first-aid to tho injured, under tho auspices of tho St. John Ambulance Association: — Certificates were gained by Mesdames J. Millies and R. Tyres, and Misses E. Baxter, L. E. Biug. D. Bone. E. M. Gibson. M. V. Gibson, W. E. Gibson, G. E. Greenstreet, K. M. Gre-.son. H. Leversedge, A. Harrison, M. E. Marriot. I. Milnes, F. Sheard. E. Sims, A. Williams. G. W'eod. E. Graham, L. Daniel, and N. Beckett. Th** examining dor.or reported that the class wile an excellent one. and showed good knowledge of tho subject. A mooting was held in tlio Opawa Schoolroom yesterday afternoon in aid of tho Bed Cross fund. Thei*o was a largo attendance. Mrs G. Bowron presided. Miss Freeman, secretary of the Christchurch branch, was present and explained tho objects of tho Red Cross Fund and tho urgent need for financial and practical support. It was decided to form a branch of the society at Opawa. and officers were elected as follows : —President. Mrs Bowron ; vicepresident. Mrs Wilding; joint secretaries, Mesdamc- Allison, Brown, and Wood; oxecutivo committee. Mesdames Tacon, Gcbbie-s. Lucas. Robins, Selwyn Bruce, L. J. Smith, and Miss Harman. It was decided that those present .should be a general committee. It was resolved to hold a produce, home dainties, and iumblo sale at tho end of the month. Monthly-donations amounting to £v' were promised* The proposal to form a Tramway Band was referred to at yesterday's mooting of tho Tramway Board by Dr. Thaeker, M.P., who _aid that an unofficial deputatidn on the subject waited on tho members of tho Board present at th 0 tramway social last week. It was estimated that it would cost £-300 to purchase silver-plated instruments and also provide ifml'orms. There were twenty-two ex-bandsmen in tho Board's employ, only 5 or 6" being in tho Traffic Department. Ho thought it would be a good id?a to have a band, not only to play when the Board was running excursion trips, but also as a means of cementing the good-fellow-ship between tho Board and its employees. At a later dat 3it was proposed to submit financial propositions to the Board, and if the Board could see its way to assist the Band by granting a loan, those connected with the movement would b 6 plea_-d. Replying to tho chairman (Mr J. A. Flesher). Dr Thaeker said that tho Board woura hear more of the matter later on. Messrs W. Strang© and Co., Ltd., announce to-day an unusual sale of midseason purchases which should interest all our readers. The firm has been successful' in securing, at big price concessions, 'large quantities of this season's goods, which are now being offered at very tempting reductions. The prico catalogue appearing with this issue gives some idea of the seasonableness and real economy of these goods. 6 Electric Light Fittings.—We havo just landed a shipment of artistic fittings, which are quite exclusive. —Turnbull and Jones, Ltd. 6 Tho new "Toric," or curved, lenses greatly enlarge the field of vision. They havo many other advantages, which Walter J. Watson. D.8.0.A., London, expert optician, Colombo street (near Kincaid's), will be pleasod to explain. 6 Your portrait will bo natural, artistic, and inexpensive if taken by Steffano Webb. Petersen's Buildings. High street. Tolephono 1989. W9722-3242 I>o you want inexpensive Cutlery that will "stand up" to hard kitchen use? Our Nickel Silver Waro is guaranteed whito throughout. Teaspoons 2s 9d. Dessert Spoons and Forks 4. Gd, Tables 6s 6d half dozen j also reliable Table and D-essert Knives at "Drayton's Emporium," 765 Colombo street. _ I Get in touch with J. M. Hey—ood and Co., Ltd., directly you decide-to move. They will handle your furniture carefully, pack it securely, breau nothing, and deliver it unscratched to your new residence. - Ballin Bros.' Sarsaparilla enjoys tho largest salo throughout the Dominion. It promotes digestion, and removes t-ie worried look. Proprietors, Ballin Bros., Christchurch. 't If you aro deaf, call at John It Proctor's, optician, 200 High 6treet, Christchurch, who will demonstrate tho Auristican and Auris instruments to you. They are tho perfection of all hearing devices, and tho best instruments for relieving deafness. Call today, or write for full particulars. A large assortment of trumpets and tubas iv stock. 8