GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15723, 17 October 1916, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

Notes on "New Books and Publications" will bo found on page 3 of this issuo.

Upon the recommendation of tho Works and Traffic Committee the Tramway Board yesterday decided that the sixpenny return seaside ticket now availablo for city excursionists on certain trips Ik> extended to seaside residents, as was previously the practice.

A senior cadet parade will bo held next Saturday afternoon. Rifles will be issued to several of the and all will then march to tho North Park, where they will be exercised in squad, platoon, and . extended order drill, and also receive a ten minutes' lecture by tho platoon commanders on badges of rank and saluting.

In the course of conversation with a reorcsentativo of "Tho Press" on the subject, Mr J. Caughley, Assistant of Education, said 'that it Tvas hardly to be wondered that some difficulty had been experienced by teachers in oomprehending tho new grading scheme. As tho result of the explanations made by him in tho different centres, several appeals which had been lodged had now been withdrawn.

During the week ended last Saturday, 29 men (1 bvicklayer. married; 28 labourers, 18 of whom - are married) registered as being unemployed at tho local bureau of the Department of Labour. Of the total, 7 labourers were found Government employment, leaving 22 still unemployed at tho end of tho -week. The report states that good labourers are required for the Kai-koura-Parnassus road and also for tho Otira tunnel. Tho Department has received enquiries from private employers for quarry men and also for two men for a country sawmill. Tho Public Works Department has work for ten men in the ballast pit at Culverden.

Of late it has "been the lot of Christ's College to mourn the death of several of its old boys who have lost.their lives upon the field of battle. Occasion is taken to fittingly honour tho glorious dead. Usually, just after chapel, between 9 and 9.15 a.m. the boys assemblo round the flag-pole at the College and tho flag is hoisted mast high, the hoad-mastor reading out the names of those in whoso honour tho flag is flown, after which a bugler plays the "Last Post." Any old boys of the school or relatives, or friends of tho soldiers so honoured, are invited to attend the ceremony, which is becoming an almost daily occurrence now at tho College.

The Rev. G. J. Williams, organiser for Australasia for the London Missionary Society, spoke very interestingly at the Y.M.C.A. last night on ccrtain aspects of our rolations with tho coloured races. There was a large audience and the chair was taken by Mr J. I. Royds, chairman of tho Y.M.C.A. in (shristchurch. Mr Williams's address was not at all on tHe usual missionary lines, but he we.pt moro into what might be called tne scientific and ethnological side of the development or lack of dovolopment ctf what are usually termed the lower races of mankind. Mr Williams did not hold with the popular idea that the natives of the islands, Australia, etc., were necessarily degraded beings, but rather that they were now in the state that our own ancestors were long before centuries of civilisation had had its inevitable result. There were possioT!itics that the native races when given tho benefits of education, might yet develop a genius that might startle tho white man. A very hearty vote of thanks was given to the speaker at the conclusion of his address.

At a meeting of tho Invercargill Chamber of Commerce last week the question of mail notices appearing iri tho local newspapers was again discussed. In reply to communications from the Chamber the "Southland Times" Company and the "Southland News" Company wrote, stating that they were unable to accede to tho Chamber's rcquc-st that, such notices should be. inserted in their nowspapers without being charged for. The chairman (Mr F. St. J. Loughnan) said they did not want the newspapers to publish flee advertisements for the Postal Department which were inserted for tho purpose of obtaining revenue. Mr T. D. A. Moffett said that the newspapers deserved a lot of sympathy in the matter. and at present they were heavily taxed in regard to war news, and a great deal of news "was inserted free of charge, particularly in regard to our 6oldiers. Mr John McQueen said that the newspapers were taking up a very reasonable attitude. Why should not the Government pay for advertisements as firms had to do that were run on business lines? Because these mail notices had not been paid for in the past was no argument in favour of the proposal that they should not bo paid for now. The newspapers at present were working under abnormal conditions. and at tremendous expense. Mi* Jas. Callender moved that further representations be made to the Postal Department in the matter. Ho thought that tho Postal Department should publish and pay for its notices as other departments did. Mr McQueen eaid the Chamber had been asking for a continuance of free advertisements, and the newspapers had a good right in refusing. Instead, the Chamber should go for the Government for wanting free advertisements. Mr Callender's motion wa* carried unanimously.

All the Canterbury rivers, with the exception of the Waitaki which was dirty, were reported clear at 9 a.m. yesterday.

At the Canterbury Provincial Fire Lrigades' demonstration, to be held at Sumner on Labour Day (next Monday), the wnole of the Ffre Brigades in Canterbury, from Waimate to Rangiora, will be represented. The proceeds of the demonstration will be devoted to the Naval Dependants' Fund.

A financial statement presented by Mr H. D. Andrews to .the Hospital Lady Visitors' Association yesterday afternoon, showed a credit- balance of £'226(3 13s, to ithe New Women's "Ward Account —late the Chronic Ward Fund. Another addition of about £500 is expected.

The Lincoln College students, who form No 7 Platoon, B Coy, 13th Regt., are at present spending a week in "barracks- 1 ' by way of compounding the statutory half-day parades. The students are entirely under military discipline, the civil authorities having given place for the time to the military members of tho staff. Lieut. L. J. Wild, officer commanding B Company, is in charge, Scrgt. X. M. Paulsen is acting Adjutant, and Sergt. C. H. Green is Camp Sergt.-Major. Yesterday the Platoon took train to Lakeside Rifle Range, and made a route march of 14 miles back to Lincoln.

J; Caughley, Assistant Director of Lducation, in reply to a representative of "The Press" stated that the new institution at. Richmond, near Nelson, for girls of feeble mind, had begun operations. The first batch of 10 or a dozen girls had arrived at the cottages, or were on their way to take up their rcsidenco there*. These ivoro chiefly girls that had been in the State or other institutions such as orphanages and suchlike. As tho necessity arises, more cottages will bp. built to provide accommodation for theso afflicted ones. Already it is known that there are between five hundred and six hundred feeble-minded children in the Dominion. It is probable that tho census, taken on Sunday, will disclose tho existence of many more.

Tho City Council has replied to the Hcathcote County Council's enquiries regarding rating on portions of tho county joining tho City as follows: —(1) "Tho City Council have no objection to taking •over tho portion of Avonside Riding referred to in the petition on either basis of rating but distinctly prefers tho unimproved value. If it wero ultimately decided that the area would be. continued to bo rated on the capital value the rate required would bo one that would produce a sum equivalent to 2£d in the pound on unimproved value, that is of course, for tho current year, I am unable to say what the rate would bo next year. (2). No notice has yet been received of the desire on the part of a portion of Bromley Riding to join the City. I If it wore, the question of rating would "bo answered as above."

In its report to tho Christchurch Tramway Board yesterday, tho Works and Traffic Committee stated that the return for September showed that cloven persons fell through alighting from, or attempting to board, moving cars. The injuries were, fortunately, of a superficial nature, except one in which the victim's leg was .so badly crushed ns to necessitate amputation. "Opportunity ifl taken,!' said the report, "to urge upon parents that strict warnings should bo given to school children, who, it is frequently noticed, alight' from cars, in Cathedral square and elsewhere before the cars have stopped." Four oases were reported of collisions with motor vehicles, and three eases of accident with horse-driven vehicles. Tho necessity for great care at .street intersections where thego accidents usually took place, was as much obligatory upon members of tho public as upon members of the tram-way staff.

Tel] your friend you don't feel well— ten to one ho will say: "Go and ask Loasby about it." Adults 3s Gd, children 2s. 4

"The Thinker's Favourite" (registered brand) Writing Tablets 6d and Is each. Splendid foi 6 chools: in fact, best for everybody. Shakespeare's philosophy, as printed on all tho. covers, hae a distinctly refining and elevating influence. D. Craig and Co., Booksellers and Stationers, Colombo street. Fo

"Practical patriotism demands that as far as the Empire's money should be spent within tne Empire. if you want a motor buy a British Westinghouse. Turnbull and Jones, Ltd., agents." 6

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No likes moving, but the work can bo made much lighter if competent men are employed. J. M. Heywood and Co., Ltd., have them and three up-to-date pantechnicons. Telephones 250, 1241. and 2174. 6

A window display which is attracting great attention is that of John R. Procter's, the Meccano Kingj 200 High 6treet. The succc6sful drawing iu the late great Meccano competition i 3 being exhibited, with several others. The display certainly illustrates what a splendid hobby for boys Meccano is, and ■will doubtless help swell the ranks of the "Meccano boys." 6