GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15537, 13 March 1916, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

The Postal authorities advise that the s.s. Westralia, which left Sydney at '2 p.m. 011 Wednesday for Auckland, is bringing mails from Australia and United Kingdom via Suez. The Christchurch portion is duo here on ■Wednesday.

It is notified in last week's "Gazette ' that, under the War Regulations Act, the sale of the following publications is prohibited: —The "International Socialist Review," the "Fatherland,", "Issues and Events," newspapers or other periodicals printed wholly or partly in the German language, and published, or purporting to be published, in tho United States of America.

Mr A. M. Robertson, president of the Hawke's Bay Fruitgrowers' Association, received tho following telegram from Mr Southcote. Wellington, on Thursdav (says the" "Tribune"): —"Examination all right[ finest fruit ever sent." Thid refers to the first shipment fro in Hawke's Bay this season for export to Buenos Ayres, South America. The consignment left Wellington on the 10th instant, and consists of 5000 cases.

Sausages are the latest articles upon which tho price has recently risen (says the Wellington "Post"). A large local firm specialising in pork sausage manufacture has raised the price of these goods by Id per lb. Certain Continental brands of cocoa were raised in the wholesale price almost immediately after tho war commenced. After a long run at the old pre-war prices a very popular English line has been raised by 2d per lb. The wholesale nrice of a well-known brand of condensed milk has also recently been advanced in price.

Tho Grevmouh police are making enquiries into a matter which occasioned tho railway authorities at Greymouth some concern on Wednesday morning (says an exchange). When the Reelton" train was approaching town, the driver noticed, when opposite the brewery, that a piece of iron rail had been placed across tho line. Ho immediately pulled up the train and removed the obstacle, which, had the engine collided with it. might have caused derailment. How the rail got on the line is a mystery, but the surrounding circumstances are such as to prompt the wisdom of tho Railway Department in placing tho matter with the police fo r further investigation.

In the course of a spcech at a social gathering tendered at Hokitika on Thursday night to soldiers leaving for Trcntham, Mr Joseph Grimmond referred to the large number of eligible young men in the cities who are shirking their duty. They could be seen engaged in almost every class of work, but particularly as waiters and suchlikc occupations. These loafers, declared Mr Grimmond, should be compelled to do their duty, and if they were no good in the firing-line they should be compelled to go to the front, where they could at least be made to wait upon* tho soldiers, who were fighting their battles for them. They would thus be doing '"something" for the honour and glory of their country, concluded Mr Grimmond, nnjidst applause.

"What is the membership of your union?" asked tho President of the Arbitration Court, Mr Justice Stringer, of Mr G. Davis, secretary of the Auckland Drivers' Industrial Union of Workers. Mr Davis explained that prior to the war the union had 970 members, and was regarded as one of the best organisations in the city. There had been a considerable reduction in the membership, -100 drivers having gone to the war. The Defence Department had communicated with the union, and invited its co-operation in enlisting drivers. The Department was of opinion that colonial drivers were more suited for cross-country work at the front than Englishmen. Another circumstance wns that, many men left the union owing to the ruling wage, £2 Bs, prohibiting them from getting married. Tho present membership of the union was between 000 and GOO.

Recently the. Auckland Hospital Board wrote to the Minister of Internal Affairs —apropos of a case in which it had failed in the Magistrate's Court to recover from a "Wellington citizen part of the cost of his father's maintenance in the Cost lev Home —suggesting that an amendment should be made in the Destitute Persons Act to meet the defect in the law which was disclosed by tho Court's judgment. The Minister has replied that ho will be prepared to give careful consideration to any suggested amendments which the Board may forward. At the same time, the Minister remarks that this question of widening the right of claim in regard to the maintenance of relations has' been repeatedly before him, as regards inmates of both nublie hospitals and mental hospitals. The solicitors to the Board have been requested to draft an amendment of the Act to be forwarded to the Minister.

"Manv Taranaki farmers are doing their bit. They have left their farms to their wives and families to manage and gone to tho front." This statement was made in the dining-room of tho Main Trunk express the other day In- a Taranaki resident to a South Island man (says the "Manawatu Times")- At the "same table was a returned trooper. Ho joined in the discussion. . ,; I am one of those Taranaki farmers," he said. "I loft my bush section "at the beginning of the war, putting in charge a man I had working for me and who, I thought, was a decent chap. When I was away at. Gallipoli he sold my stock and cleared out. Everything was neglected, interest on the mortgage was not paid, and the mortgagee sold me up. I could have fought him and held the place, but I had lost my stock and had no monej, and I hadn't the heart to oppose the mortgagee, and twenty years' graK went un in smoke." Further conveisation elicited the information that the soldier had been twice wounded, and was unfit for further military service. He has to start life de novo with a weakened physique. He has made his sacrifice.

A pathetic story concerning infantile paralysis comes from Auckland. It states that. a. young lady there sickened two days before the day fixed for her wedding day, and died about tho hour arranged for tho ceremony. At the Rangiora Magistrate's Court to-morrow, a well-known business man of the. town will bo charged with a breach of the War Regulations Act in having changed his namo during the currency of tho war. A Wellington message says that the Tutanekai has not yet completed repair to the Cook Strait cable. Shipmasters arc asked to look out for a buoy moored, with Terawhiti bearing north quarter west, distant 3J miles, and Ivarori Rock bearing east by north *2i miles. A second buoy is moored off Oteraiigi. A Press Association message pays that Mr F. A. Kuskop, of Wellington, who is well known abroad as New Zealand's blind composer, has been awarded second prize in the chess problem tourney nromot-ed by the Good Companion" Club, Philadelphia. There were thirty-two competitors. The winner liaile"d from Buenos Ayrcs. Mr T. H. Hunter, of Otopc, writes in this vigorous strain to the "Danncvirke News":—"Sir. I am thoroughly ashamed of Daunevirkc, and glad that J, shall soon shake its dust from mv feet for ever. It is chockful of slackers and rotters. ... I wish I had a pe n of fire, sir; then I would write a letter that would burn right through the thick hides of the slackers and right into their very souls, and make them see things in their true light." Mr Edward McAneny, a well-known builder in Wanganui, has received another postcard (via the Red Cross organisation in Switzerland) from his brother, who is a prisoner of war at Khangeri, Constantinople. Tho card is dated 12th December, 1915. The writer says he has bee n expecting letters, but supposes they must be held up somewhere, and concludes:—"Am m good health and spirits. The weather is much milder, the snow having disappeared. Am expcctmg clothing from our Government for the boys here with me. There are sixteen New Zealand boys here, all doing fairly well.—Sergt. G. McAneny." "The Government have no right whatever to allow men like this to go away to the front." observed the Mayor of Palmerston North (Mr J. A. Nash) at a meeting of the Hospital Board. The remark was prompted by an application from tho wife of a soldier who was away at the front for charitable aid. The applicant stated that she was in receipt of a military allowance of £2 2s 6d weekly and had six children to support. The portion of her husband's pav allotted her amounted to 3s a day. "These men should bo absolutely blocked," continued the Mayor. "This soldier had no right to bo allowed to go away and leave his family 3s a day— it is a crying shame." The matter was referred to the charitable aid officer. Following is a copy of a reply to a letter sent by the C.D.C. to the Quar-termaster-General in reference to the new scheme of allowances to children of New Zealand soldiers:—"ln reply to your letter of tho 3rd inst., I have to inform you that it is intended' to send out forms of application for children's allowances to the recipients of separation allowance. These are not yet printed, but will bo circulated as 600n as possible. The allowance is retrospective to the Ist June, 1915. It covers all soldiers honourably discharged since that date and children born after the father's enlistment. It is intended to obtain declarations giving evidence of tho children being alive and to ask for birth certificates, where these can be produced. Where they cannot be produced. I am making arrangements with the Registrar-General to have the particulars checked." Some residents at Seatoun who live near the Fort Dorset reserve were considerably startled—and in tho case of the ladies, alarmed—at a fusillade of rifle shots that rang out from the direction of the fort at about 10 o'clock on Wednesday night last (says the "Dominion"). Not only were shots fired, but the men of the Garrison Artillery were heard running about the hills, and down Inglis street (the road leading to tho Pass of Branda). It was too dark to sec anything, but that there was something "on" could not bo doubted. Scarcely had the people concerned settled down again after the first scare, than more shots wero heard (towards midnight). One resident, who resides in the immediate.vicinity of tho reserve, states that he considers the position so serious that he is thinking of either protecting his house with bags of sand or digging himself in. That thero wero intruders on the reserve whose mission was fraught with evil to our arms, there is not, it is said, tho slightest doubt in official circles. An enquiry was made into the matter, but all that could be elicited was that there "was something to shoot at" on Wednesday night, and that the matter was now being investigated by the higher authorities. For a considerable time a movement for the formation of a Friendly Societies' Council for North Canterbury has exercised the attention of some enthusiasts. In the initial stages Bros. J. W. Baty, F, George, M. Grimes, 11. O'Brian, AY. J. Hartigan, W. E. Inglis, J. A. Clarke, and A. D. Hassall, representing the Druids, Rcchabites, Foresters. Hibernians, and Oddfellows, respectively, acted in the matter. A constitution having been decided on, a meeting of delegates took "place on Saturday cveniug at the Foresters' Hall, for the purpose of electing officials. About forty representatives were present, and it was reported that over that number of branches had decided to become associated with the Council. Officers were elected as follows :—President. Bro. F. George, U.A.0.D.; vice-president, Bro. J. A. Clarke, 1.0.0. F., M.U.: secretary and treasurer, Bro. M. Grimes, Hibernians : executive, Bro. W. E. Inglis (A.0.F.), Bro. A. D. Hassall (Rechabites), and Bro. W. J. Hartigan (1.0.0. F., N.Z.). The Council has "been inaugurated under favourable ausDices. and in conjunction with other bodies throughout tho Dominion, will bo ablo to express the views of the societies on public questions affecting their welfare. Some remarkable disclosures were recently -made beiore a Koyai Commissioner in Queensland, appointed to enquire into a case arising out of an appeal bv an applicant ior Crown land irom vnc decision oi a .Land Commissioner in reiusing his application to select a grazing nomesteau. In the appeal case allegations of favouritism to a naturalised German, who won the ballot, were made against a ranger. Un the day the baliot was drawn tne ranger prepared the cards and envelopes, and sat on the Bench at the Court. One of the witnesses, a land agent, said that the ranger had admitted to him that he bad faked tnc ballots, and it would be as good as £350 to him. On asking how the bailot was faked, the ranger said: "You get 38 envelopes; place them in a box on the table. You have one closed dummy envelopo on the Bench beside you. You then pick up another envelope, mark it 'accepted,' show it to the applicants, put "it down, on the Bench alongside of you. close it. then pick up the dummy envelope, and hand it to th e person to put in the box witn the other 38 papers. Then when tlio right man comes along, and hands you up his envelope, you pick up the accepted one, open it, and show it to the applicants. You sec the accepted envelope never goes in the box." Other evidence of an incriminating character was given. The Royal Commissioner has now handed a report of the proceedings to the Minister for Lands, in which he expresses the opinion that the evidence was sufficient to satisfy him that the ranger had faked the ballot. The Minister thereupon notified the ranger that he would be suspended, pending action by the Public Service Board.

How acutely the shortage of paper is folt- in quarters is shown by the Fact that the Hokianga journal the other day was printed on pink poster paper. "I consider this building to ho the .vorst Courthous© in the said Mr Justice Edwards at the Supremo Court, Napier, on Friday. "It is high time this edifice was demolished and another one built." A member of the audience which Sir J.~G. Ward addressed in lnvorcargill on Thursday asked if ,Sir Joseph was favourable 10 a jxilicv by local bodies to discharge employees eligible for the front. <)esM>ii replied that if ho was a single man employed by a local body he would not wait to bo discharged. The monotony of the sordid surroundings of a case before the Supreme Court, Napier, on Thursday, was relieved by a =pice of humour when a witness was lvein<; cross-examined as to knowledge of a theft from a church (says the "Herald"). "So you robbed a church?'' said counsel, ■'""les.'' replied the witness. "What church was it?" "The Presbyterian Church, sir." •'And how much did you find there?" "Sixpence, - ' said the witness, ami a ripple of laughter went round the Court. Drilling,in the open air this time of the year is very hot aud diyVork, when visions of resting in the shade of the tents und£r the tender treatment of tho medico are contemplated and prove very desirable (says the "Waiiganui "Herald"). Probably it was with an intention of realising this dream that there was a larger sick parade than usual one morning during the recent Territorial camp at Kaugiotu, sixteen facing the doctor complaining of not feeling well. Tho ineaicai oificer recommended the ailing ones to tho adjutant for light duties, and they were put on scrubbing the board floors of tho ten.ts. There were about sixty tent; to do, and at midday the officer in charge informed the sick* ones that if they felt better thev could take their places in the ranks for the afternoon parade. That the euro was effective may be judged from the fact that none of tlio sixteen returned to their light duties, preferring to take their places in tho ranks, ''The fruit farmer's drawback ani main enemy is thn insect pest." said Mr L. Paynton, in a lecture at tho Hawke's Bay Autumn Show on Wednesday, "and as each year passes they become more numerous and harder to control. Of these the codlin moth ii undoubtedly the most serious to the fruit farmer. These pests can be classed under three headings—'the chewing, sucking, and fungus insects —which can only be repelled by sprays of poison, insecticide, and fungicide respectively. When the Government regulations came out prohibiting the sale of fruit infected with codlin moth, the farmers in the Auckland district opposed it, and after some length of time the Auckland fruit farmers wero aJlowed to retain not more than 5 per cent, of the infected fruit. The farmers in the Hawke's Bay, Hamilton, and Wellington districts are not allowed to sell any moro than one per cent. The result is that to a certain extent the disease in these districts is being retricted, while in the Auckland district it is increasing, and now tho farmers are wishing they had not put up such a vigorous defence." A curious point cropped up in tho Supreme Court, Napier, on Tuesday, (says tho "Herald"), in the case ot Henry .Baker, charged on two counts: (1) breaking and entering a ''dwellinghouse'' with intent to commit a crime; (2) breaking and entering and assault. At the close of the case the jury came back for direction as to whether they couid return a verdict on the . first count, omitting the words "with intent to commit a crime." After they had again retired, his Honour, Mr Justice Edwards, who had been looking up the Crimes Act, made the discovery that Section 278, under which the charge was made, although it specified boarding-houses and various other premises, made no mention .whatever of "dwelling-houses." He discussed tho position with counsel, and said that he was afraid that if the jury brought in a verdict on the first count he would have to reserve the point for tho Court of Appeal. He could, however, accept a verdict of assault in terms of the second count. Strangely enough, the jury on returning found the prisoner guilty on the first count, and acquitted him of the charge of assault. A story of poverty and hardship was told by a witness in the Arbitration Court at Auckland on Tuesday. He said ho was a driver by occupation, earning £2 10s a week. He ha<l nine children, ranging in ago from nineteen to four years. The eldest was a hoy, who had gone to the war. Another son was earning 2os a week, and paying his hoard, while, a third had gone on to a farm. The witness said his family could not live on £2 10s a week, and they could not help getting into debt. He had had a great deal of sickness in his family. His wife had ''been ill for four months, while he had,been ill for over twelve months. He paid 15s a week for rent, and 25s n week for groceries. His family consumed 21 loaves of bread a week. He had been unable to buy much meat. Six pennyworth of stewing meat during the week, and a roast on Satnrdav was all that was bought. He had little money left for clothing, and had to depend on tho generosity of tho •public for clothing for himself and family. His Honour remarked that the case was an exceptional one. It was a wonder the witness ha& been ablest 0 bring up his family in deccncy. at allThe competition of the Mount "Eden prison with the q\iarry-owners of Auckland is an important factor in determining the price of road metal in the city-(say s the Auckland "Herald"). It was stated bv a quarry-owner in the Arbitration Court yesterday that tho prison authorities supplied a large quantity of stone at 4s 6d per cubic yard. He said he was prepared to pay 4s lid per cubic yard to anyone who would supply him with metal, and in addition he woulrl allow the supplier the free use of the whole of his valuablo plant. When asked by the President of the Court, Mr Justice Stringer, why he did not buy all the metal the prison authorities could supply at 4s 6d per yard, the witness's reply was somewhat contradictory. He said he did buy large quantities from the prison, but that ho could not get enough. He said that the prison authorities were the largest suppliers of stone metal in the city. Tho position of the Prison Department in relation to contractors had been placed beforp the Minister for Justice some years ago, but he had said the Department must do something towards making the prison pay. There the matter had rested. In the course of a lecture -in Sydney last week on "France and the War,'' the Rev. C. H. Talbot said France was making her present great sacrifices to prevent Germany from getting -possession of her iron mines. On the authority of leading scientists, Germany's iron mines cannot last more than another half-century, while France has mines which can supply tho world with iron or es for ten times that period. France "fas fighting to preserve her heritage. But Germany had acted better than she knew, and infinitely better than she intended. The German offensive was going to issue in one of the greatest blessings that had ever come to France. Just such a war as this was tho medicine necessary to check the moral and national rot that had set in in France. Amid the cruelty, suffering, and bloody welter of war, France was making the most stupendous sacrifices of her history, bat she was saving her soul, which she had nearly lost through the indolence, luxury, and the soft license of an unparalleled prosperity. France to-day was a new France. She had awakened to a new moral consciousness, a new life, a new hope, and in the years i to come, with her present Allies, she would direct the destinies of the nations.

-pfi The Canterbnrr A. and P. tion s Tvnni I"aw will bo held at tK«- - aT, !',o n T ,S °? T!"i ,rsday nndl'Md^-V : - oi British manufacturers who arc conJ ti actors to the Admiralty, W»r Offiro and India Office, write 'to Messrs R and T'.. Tingoy. of Wellington: "Tin Derby groups are now being called out m rotation all over the country, and whilst we naturally desire to keep' business going to the best- possible extent the paramount duty, of the country is tu do everything to win the war. All other matters sink into insignificance in face of the present upheaval. . present. w.> see no probabilities of sending in any tenders for paint or dry colours. . . . Owing to the continuance of the war we see no possibility what, ever of quoting any prico for forward delivery." Instances whore patriotic people are doing valuable work without any desire to gain notoriety are by 110 means rare isnys the '"Grey R; ver Argus"). \y 6 know that a great deal is being accomplished by local bodies in the direction 5 of furnishing comforts for soldiers, and thei r efforts are. of course, greatly ap- yt predated. In this connexion tho following is worth recording. .V parcel containing four pounds of wool, valued at about 30.5. was received recently v br 31 rs William Smith of Hatnpdcn street with a covering noto from an anonymous writer in Christehurch. asking as Mrs Smith was a first-class knitter, she might be good enough to complete a parcel of socks for tho soldiers. Tho receiver of the wool has no idea as to tlie identity of the donor, but. needless to say. she is already complying with the request and hopes that in tho near future a sufficient number of socks will be completed to forward to tho front. The Territorial of to-day has no sympathy with tho man who does not believe in military training on conscientious grounds, as an instance which occurred during tho reccnt Territorial camp at Rangiotu demonstrates (says tlio Wanganui "'Herald"). Ono of a party giving a concert at tho cainp one evening was a young man who had obtained exemption from military service on conscientious grounds, and whose • case had excited somo public feeling. During the concert this man was recognised ny eome men of tho 7th Regi- , ment, ivlio were enraged at his presence • there. The feeling spread until there) were between two and three hundred men itching to get at tho conscientious objector, • and it was only tho exercise of military discipline that checked them. Ono of tho officers managed to g6t the man out of camp and welL<n the way to Longbum before his .departure was noticcd. It wns fortunate for him, for had bo been caught by the Territorials he would have been roughly handled. Some days ago tho Mayor of Auckland, speaking of tho improved rate of family separation allowances conceded' by the Defence Department, expressod the view that a soluier with more than four children should not be penalised by the stoppage of the scale at lour. On the matter being placed before tho Minister for Detence on Thursday Mr Allen denied that a soldier with moro than four children was penalised. one," proceeded tho Minister, "compels such a man to serve. If ho .has' more than four chddreu under 16—note that they must be under 16—it is for him to consider whether his duty! to his family or his duty to the Empire, is the greater. I have not asked married > men with families to go to the front until we have had all tho single men without dependents. If the married man volunteers wo accept him. and' we are now making him an allowance of 2s a day more than we have made hitherto." A bottle of "Stop It" will soon drive that cold away. Get a bottle now. j All chemists and stores, and from A. J M. Loasby, 679 Colombo street. : First quality White Dinner Sets,' 26 j pieces, nicely engraved. 22s the sel", . odd Vegetable Dishes 3s 3d ? white ■ Toilet Sets complete 15s, odd ware from Is lid. Drayton's Emporium) 765 Colombo street. 923,.-' Good-bye washboard slavery, "No Rubbing Laundry Help" washes all gar- 1 ments perfectly clean, without rubbing or injury. £l 0 guarantee with every. 1 3 package, sufficient for seven washings, Kincaid's, Ltd. An electric fan is not a luxury, •'*, is a"necessity, health demands it., anil. ; comfort' depends upon it. Westingbouse fans give tho most breeze for tlio v money. Turnbull and Jones, Ltd.V y agents. ;6 Your home pets photographed in a ; manner you will appreciate, and results ► will last for over. Stcffano Webb, 252 • High street. "4For present, planting, Bradbury* Gold Medal- sweet peas, daffodils, tulips, etc. Now seed and bulbs no*ready. Catalogue post free from Hasti®. Bull, and Pickering, Cashel street. j>_ . Climax-Synovia is tho name of the . finest motor grease produced. Obtait able in 1, 5, and 10, and 251b tins, » Lewis and Anderson, Ltd., 112 CasMl street. Motorists should also try our.;:! special motor oil at 5s 6d galloj.: There's no better value offered. I*B. Buick six-cylinder cars are so carjv.; fully made, and so perfectly balanced,, that they yield a power that, for smoothness of running, cannot) bo sut; passed. V ' Spring Cleaning, 1915. —Wo are quit# at your service lor the renovation..™ ■ your home. A. J. White, Ltd. . & THE SIDE-CAR RECORD OF THE U.S.A. The B.S.A. motor-cyclo has a rccord • for brilliant side-car pertornianceb ww<« v , is absolutely unique tor a inotor-c?cM> ox such low engine rating as tlie in some ol tiic most important Lngpitj tests, 111 the last bij; reliability tri» held 111 Australia, and in side-car evoiltiin this country, the 8.6.A. has put. up performances, with side-car, wnicii Pl?|* it absolutely rirst for this sort of servnA It may be mentioned that the B.S.A. holds the side-car championship of tW South Island and has to its creditmUJ side-car wins in New Zealand trials anOj, races. What has made theso performances possible is an engine of greats®" ciency. simplicity, and reliability, and» . three-speed gear which marks the great-' est improvement in motor-cycle yet placrd on the market. In addition the U.S.A. is pleasant to ride, eaW manipulated. economical of cost, and immensely durable. B.S.A. is rapidly becoming the <®>* motor-cycle, used for commercial Pjj£ poses by the business firms of tho.:W*'; minion. Jt goes without saying that f motor-cycle such as the 8.5.A.. only 4i h.p., can be economically'*®? satisfactorily used as a solo The New Zealand demand for is enormous, and big shipments even* month. We can give imnjeai® . delivery of the latest three-speed with either combined belt and chain o*l . , or complete chain drive. , ms Vr««»L ; Agents for B.S.A. Motor-cycles. , quarters Garage and Showrooms. street. Christ church (G. B. ' Motor-cycle Department Ropre tive).