GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15338, 23 July 1915, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

Various questions appertaining to our military, forces were asked and answered by Ministers in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. Shortly before itio dinner adjournment the House settled down to. a "stone-u-all" of Mr Sidey'-s Daylight Saving Bill, and the frolic was continued with great vigour Jhroushout the evening Sitting. Mrs Annie Sloighthoime, of Linwood has contributed 3.s to the General Botha Testimonial Fund. The party of Australian nurses who accompanied the- sick and wounded soldiers to .New Zealand by tho Willochra will arrive in Christchurch from Duuedin on Monday night, and will leave again on Thursday for tho West Coast, en route to Nelson and Wellington, prior to their return to Australia. In Dunediu the nurses were provided with accommodation by varous citizens, and it is suggestotl that Christchurch people might do likewise while tho nurses are here. The Mayor would be glad to receive offers fromcitizens willing to entertain the nurses. A pathetic incident in connexion with the home-coming of the wounded soldiers by tho Willochra was related to a "Wairarapa I>aily Times" representative by a Wellington lady. About a week or so previous to tho arrival of the Willochra. she had been informed that her wounded son was on board. She prepared a room and bed for him, and obtained a next-of-Jdn permit to get on hoard the vessel. On the very day the Willochra arrived in Wellington ehe received a parcel and a letter. They were from a friend of her «m. who was at the Dardanelles. Tho parcel contained the son's pergonal effects, and tho letter informed her that her eon had been killed in action on May 29th. A strong protest was made on Tuesday night at a special meeting of tho Whangarei Borough Council, called at tho request of a number of ratepayers, against the Hospital Board's decision, to purchase the Kamo Springs Hotel and grounds for £6000. Councillor Harrison proposed that the Minister of Public Health should be asked to investigate the proposition before granting the Board borrowing powers. He stated thai, the property wa« 6old four months ago for £3500. There had been no increase in local values, nor had any improvements boon effected, yet the place suddenly jumped to £6000. No inspection had been made by the Board's architect. The locality was unsuitable I for a sanatorium or an old men's homo. I Tho tite was subject almost nightly to fogs, tho ground was difficult to drain, and tho land was impregnated with alkali. According to common talk in town there was a secret arrangement into which certain Buarcf members had been let, and which would bring no credit, on tho Government subsidy eyateni. The matter of a secret arrangement was also free'.y talked about by members of the Board. Councillor Holmes said he believed that when the Government wished to buy tho Kamo Springs property, the Government valuer assessed it at £14.000, and the ! owners wanted £22,000. Cr. Harrisons was carried.

"Mary" has given 10s to tho Coal ■Mid Blanket Fund, and "A Friend" £-5. The iirrivals in New Zealand from oversea during June totalled IU-'l »oinpared with 2-1 SO a year ago, and the departures were l-i-*& a-s against 3-152 m June, 10U A deputation is to wait on the Mayor Olr H. Hollands in hie room at 11.30 o'clock this moraing a iottory being gat up in Wellington ior the .Dominion Patriotic Fund. Matters are still proceeding quietly in connexion with opening up the City Council quarry at Birdling's Flat. Au assurance hu» been given by the Government liydro-electiic engineer that Lake Coleridge current will be available for power purposes. The Town Clerk has received a letter from the secretaiy of the -North Cauterbuiv Education Jioarci stating that tho Board approve;; of the efforts made to promote a seed campaign for the purpose of growing and gathering grass I seed. Applications for employment continue to bo received by tho .Mayor daily. Tho position was. relieved considerably lately by the taking on of thirty men by the Electrical Department of the City Council to assist m laying mains. The Lyttelton Borough Couucil havo sent to the City Council their contribution for last year for the Zig-Zag road work, amounting to £350. Tho City Council's contribution is available, and it is proposed to get tho work going without delay, so that it may bo completed before the winter is over. As a result of a recount and the r.djustinen't of informal votes, the relnrnfei.g. officer has discovered "that the Dunedin tramway loan proposal on Wednesday was carried by 312 votes to 311. It was announced on "Wednesday that it had been lost by wo votes. The New Zealand Club decided at tho annual meeting last night to entertain the nurses who returned by the Willochra and .soldiers who returned by tho same vessel at lunch on Tuesday at tho V.M.C.A. Miss Thumon, lauy superintendent of the Chnstchurch Hospital, has accepted tho invitation on behalf of tho nurses. At tho annual meeting of the Auckland ■Employers' Association, •Mr J. J*. Craig, tho president, said that tho industrial position was grave. No business was being carried.on with profit, except in : a few industries, and in many cases a loss was being suffered. He believed that tho income tax returns this yea r ( would show n substantial decrease. It j would be advisable if warnings were ! repeatedly given by those in authority concerning tho stnneent financial conditions iikely to obtain during tho war and after. Unless some of the members of the Ash burton Citizens' Defence Corps improve wonderfully in their shooting, local people will bejdn to entertain grave doubts, as to the wisenesg of relying on them i'or defence should tho enemy ever trouble to invade this country (saj's tho "Ashburton Guardian"). On Wednesday evening one of the members of the corps shot through the thumb ono of-the Ashburton Clubs marksmen, who put his hand iin above the parapet of the trench. Hut this not all. The rifleman was firing at No. 7 target, and tho marksman was attending to No. 8 target, fully three feet away. This will indicate that tho shooting was "somewhat erratic." At Wellington on the. 17th inst. Mr Justice Denniston granted probates as follows:—Ro Thomas Aloysius Murphy (Mr Dougall); Adolf Wm. Bnm (Mr Donnelly); John Mathoson (Mr Harman); Jas. Paterson (Mr TJpham); David Moderate (Mr Helmore); Margaret Brans (Mr W. E. D. Bishop); John Matier (Mr Mosloy); Hugh Leaf Wilson (iVlr Grcsson). On the samo date letters of administration wero granted as follows:—Wm. Cupples (Mr Izard); John Thomas Macdonald (Mr Izad); Catherine Burke (Mr Izard); Robt. r Leonard Paton (Mr Meares). On the 19th inst.. his Honour ' granted tho following probates:—Hy. Wm. Halo (Mr Ooo'l'nan); Snrah Ann Sheard (Mr Hunt); Wm. Perkins (Mr Beswick). At Wellington yesterday, Mr .G. Witty, M.P., introduced .n deputation to tho Minister of Railways seeking to secure an alteration :'n the train arrangements between Christchurch and Lytteltou at the time of tho incoming steamer train. Air Witty pointed out that many people travelled to Lyttelton at an early hour in order to meet friends arriving by tho steamer _ tho north. , Under present conditions it was often the case that the steamer train left for tho city before the city train arrived at Lyttelton, which meant that those who had travelled from Christchurch to meet passengers missed them. Tho Minister said that something miirht bo done in the matter. Ho would look into it and ccc what could be accomplished. Speaking at tho Mission Hall, Breezes road, last night, on tho electric lighting question, M r Geo. Scott, chairman of tho Heathcoto County Council, said that ho had been subjected to a good deal of criticism in the papers for tho attitude he took up with regard to tho City Council's electric lighting contract, but, feeling that ho was in tho right, he was resolved that no amount of criticism would alter his attitude. Tho Heath, cote County Council's idea in its lighting scheme w as to Ret its current at tho lowest possible price, and ho believed its action would probably prove to bo a benefit to tho City Couricil. When the city saw that the County Council could" get its current at alow rate, it might be a load for tho city to follow, so that it could get a better contract than the existing ono from the Government. A novel street appeal for tho Red Cross Fund is to be made this evening by a largo party of rollor skaters of Christ-church. Tho skaters, who will all appear in fancy dress, will leave the Olympia Rink at 7.30 o'clock, and will march in procession along Hereford street and around the angle to Cathedral square, where a circle will be formed, and an open-air skating entertainment will bo given by Mr V. Brittan, one of the best fancy skaters in Australasia, Mr H. Spencer, also a good fancy skater. Miss Thornton, ft very skilful lady skater, and Miss Hill, who will appear in an eialtorate electric light costume. Those taking part in the procession will don their'"skates in the Square and assist at the entertainment. Several short speeches on behalf of tho Fund arc to bo given by the Mayor and others. It is expected that two of tho returned soldiers will also speak. "It has for some time been acknowledgsd that the maintenance of the physical fitness of the people is a matter of vital interest to tho State, says Sir Georgo Clifford, in the annual report of the New Zealand Sports Protection League. "The present great war ha.-* shown that those best equipped to take their places in the fighting line arc the young men who have been prominent in out-door sport, and in this direction New Zealand can already look with pride upon the deeds of our own men, a very large proportion of whom were prominent among tho various sports bodies throughout tho Dominion. The events in connexion with tha war havo held so much of the jjeople'e attention that questions of local interest have been neglected. Although in thesa circumstances it is not wise to allow the interests of sport to obtrudo themselves j to tho detriment of tha work of national ! defence and recruiting, the r jlicy of continuing usual pastimes has been followed with a good healthy infiuenco on i tho peonle, and without impairing tho work of the State"

The Financial Statement will not be broucht down in the House before next week. Although Loasby's are selling "Step It" all day long, just a few doors up the street* Kincaid's buy it by the gross. 60414 [ Nov.- war -pictures showing to-day m Armstrong's windows. 1 Have that long-promiseo , photograph taken by Stelfano Webb. Do not delay any lon'ser. maie an appointment today, at 252 High street. Tel. IPSO. 1 l r ro?h supply oi Wooden Knitting Pins at-Armstrong's. 1H pair. 2 Just Arrived—Tha> noted Laugley Foot Warmers, price *-s: strongest ware made: also Teapots. _Jugs._ Vases, etc.. at I>rayton ? s Krnporium. 7Go Colombo, s-treet. 5 Three-ply Wheeling "VNo-ols no?,- in stock at Armstrong's. 3 Vouuc Engineers. —Now is tho time to get your Meccano Sets for the Great Meccano Competition. See our windows. Turnbnll and Jones. Ltd. J Now designs in Kaiapoi Travelling Hugs, full size 13s Cd.'at Armstrong's-. Less than old price.*. J The new "Toric," or curved, lenses greatly enlarge the field of vision. They have raanv other advantages, whicn Walter J.Watson, D.8.0.A., London, expert optician. Colombo street (near Kincaid's) will be pleased to explain. 15 Men's Heavy Double-breasted Overcoats, 255. also, lined with tweod, 29s 6d. Armstrong's famous low prices. o Boys' Norfolk Suits, fit boys 10 to 13. * Armstrong's low price '.'s lid ami '21- Cd. <J REORGANISATION OP ADAMS. LTD.'6 MOVOR JJJiI'ARTMJiNT. As part of a eciicuie of reorganisation necessitated by tuo steady giowth oi ail dep.n uiiencs or tiie busuiess con * ducted l?y JUoi-srs Adams, Ltd., .\lr 1?. M. Auani.s has been appointed travelling lepiesontative oi tun motor department, which holds tho agencies lor Aliuorvii, Siudobakcr, Humber, and Cieinent-Bayard care. The new 25-h.p. 5 seak-r 6tudebaker is proving exceptionally popular by reason of tho quality of workmanship, magninccntiy up-to-date oquipment, and veiy niodorate inclusive price. Tiie pric© of the now Studebaker, delivered anywhere in New Zealand. i s £315, which includes .electric self-starter, electric lighting set (complete*), o.ne man hood and "•fjiTy" .sido-eurtains. spare detachablo rim and tvio, electric horn, clock, speedometer, high tension magnoto, tools, and finish to order in any colour. Tho firmest friends of the Studebnker are owners who reside in the hilliest and most difficult country in New Zealand Every Studebakpr owner is a wcll-sati>fiod owner. Adams. Ltd., Now Zealand Importers of Studob"k-r Motors. HonaViuartors Gamp , ". 219 Tuam street. (R. M. Adams, TravcllinK RoprcFentativc.) 6