GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15774, 15 December 1916, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

Tlic pedestal of the Scott statue has been completed, and the statue itself will be placed iu position soon. All the Canterbury rivers were clear yesterday morning, with the exception of the Opihi, which was fishable. A tuonster fancy fair will Uo held in the Kaiapoj Domain to-morrow in aid of the lied Cross and Lady Liverpool Funds. The 1.30 p.m. train from C'hristchurch will return at (i p.m. In the annual report of Miss Digby's Commercial College, presented at the prize-giving ceremony last night, it was stated that there had br-e n an unprecedented demand during the year for shorthand-typistes and lady clerks, and over 350 permanent and temporary appointments had been obtained by pupils since last January. Owing to the increasing scarcity of male clerks, consequent on the war. many girls had been called upon to fill positions in offices and banks, where previously only male clerks were employed. Replying in the '"Church Time*?"' to Press criticism of exemption of the clergy from military service, a New Zealand soldier s;»y s (writes our London correspondent):—"During the last advance, 1 witnessed one of tho finest deeds, that was ever done. I saw the padre of the New Zealand brigade tending wounded soldiers and burying dead while under shell-fire. This chaplain worked as hard as it was possible to work. He even dug graves and filled them in again. He made t-ea for tho wounded, and in fact did all that man could do, this in the pouring rain. too. I have been on active service right from the day war commenced, and I have not met a bad padre. One and all are keen on doing all that it is possible to do. ... I am not a great churchgoer myself, but have nothing but the greatest respect for men oi the cloth. This war is had enough. I but it would be many times worse if j we had not the padres to help us." '

A grand sacred concert is to be given in the Domain on Sunday afternoon next- commencing at 3 p.m. by the. Festival of New Zealand Music choir, assisted bv the Lyttelton Marine Band. Mr C. M. Hall, speaking at a meeting of Cashmere ratepayers and householders last night, said the Lake Coleridgo current had been turned on lhat night. Considerable applauso greeted this announcement. In a letter received by yesterday's English mail the writer, who is the wife of a major in the Army, says her daughter, a girl or :T!2, is going into Tie Army Remount- Department. She lias obtained quarters, and wTil hnvo entire charge of tivo horses.. Siio had previously been in a splint-making factory. nut the work had strained her eyesight. To-morrow, at 2.30 p.m., tho ceremony of unveiling the handsome I'.oll of Honour presented to the Opawa schoo] will take place. The Minister of Education (the Hon. J. A. Hanan) has been invited to bo present; also the chairman, secretary, and members of the Canterbury Education Board, and prominent citizens. The School Committee extends a cordial invitation to the . general public to be present at the ceremony. "I think I can safely say that the Girls' High School has established something of a record in University Scholarships this year," said Mr J. C. Adams when speaking at the annual prize-giving ceremony last nieht. "Four candidates sat for the examination, and all four secured scholarships. One took a Junior University Scholarship. one a Senior National, and the t.wo others were so high up that they were each awarded a Gammack Scholarship." Considerable speculation was rife in the city yesterday as to tho cause for which a solitary bell of the Cathedral was rung at ' irregular periods during the early part of the afternoon. On making enquiries, it was ascertained that no momentous event was being announced or celebrated, but that the bell ropes were being shortened e.nd tightened up, in preparation for the Christmas peals. The operation necessitated the bells being iaverted, and thus it was that rounds issued from the spire, which aroused the curiosity of the sensitive city. The verger .was visited by a large number of enquirers, one of whom, whose feelings nad apparently been wrought to a nigh pitch of expectancy and credulity bv recent war news, enquired if peace had been declared! The quarterly summoned meeting of the Canterbury Timber Yards, Sawmills, and Coalyards' Employee? Union was held at the Trades Hall on Tuesday, Mr J. Foster (president) in the chair. The carters reported that some employers were not complying with the recent agreement in the drivers' dispute, to pay Cs per week as a war bonus, in spite of the fact that the coal merchants of Canterbury had explicitly agreed when the Christchurch and Ashburton disputes were before the Council of Conciliation, that the wages to be paid were to be fixed by the Drivers' Award. An employer, who was one of the assessors in ChristchtfFCtl, and who was also one of tho employers' representatives at the recent conference in Wellington over the drivers' dispute, had acted "P to the minute issued by the Cabinet on the matter. Having no doubt as to the liability of. the employers of timber and coal carters to pay the extra 6s por week war bonus, it "was resolved : "That if the employers do not pay the war bonus to their carters by to-morrow as from November 27; th, that a special meeting be called immediately to discuss further action." A charge of wilfully and wantonly damaging 30 artificial wreaths in the "Wailcaraka Cemetery was preferred against) John Francis McGrath and Thomas McGrath, at the Auckland , Magistrate's Court on Monday. Evidence was given to the effect that on the mornintr on November 11th, the 36 wreaths were found to be broken, evidently having been damaged with some sharj> instrument, such as a flat-fish spear. Two men were seen near the cemetery with lanterns and spears. John Francis McGrath was arrested a few days later for the theft of three fowls and subsequently convicted. Giving evidence on his own behalf, John Francis McGrath said he spent the evening in x a hotel, and, .after stealing the sexton's fowls, went to bed. He would not go near tho ecmotcry at night, as he was afraid of ghosts. Tho case against Thomas McGrath was dismissed. The Magistrate said he was satisfied from the evidence that John Francis McGrath committed the damage, but it was hard to say who was his companion. After leaving the hotel in a semi-drunken condition lie evidently went round the cemetery stabbing the wreaths with the spear. However, drink was no excuse, and ho would bo sentenced to two months' J hard labour. | Manufacture of coal from waste ma- j teriais of paper factories—an industry which holds forth promise of reducing the cost of paper and furnishing at small cost an excellent substitute for coal as fuel product —is in a report made public by the United States Department of Commerce from American Consul-General Dennison at Christiania, Norway. The project is said to be practicable, and an exploitation corporation already has been formed by Norwegian interests. Department officials were keenly interested in the report, and discussed whether such a project coukl not be undertaken successfully in the United States, particularly in paper-producing localities, and pointed out that if this were dono It might provide some relief from the threatened coal famine and prove valuI akle to paper manufacturers. The inventor of the coal is Robert V. Strellenert, a Gothenberg engineer. The process is said to bo that of producing coal in powder form from sulphite lye. Tt is stated that this process," the report said, "produced a coal powder almost equal to calorific value to firstclass coal —namely, calories against in the case of the best English coal. The process has been tested and proved to the satisfaction of Norwegian interests. A company under the title of Sulphite Coal, Limited, has been formed, with a minimum capital of -Mo.ooo dollars, to exploit it. It is estimated that if tho coal powei l is made of all the suiphito lye refuse of Norwnv. 30 per cent", of the import coal w... be replaced." The Board of Governors of the McLean Institute met yesterday afternoon. Mr H. Holland (.Mayor of Christcinirch) presiding, and there being present The Rev a . A. T. Thompson, 1\ N. Knight, .Messrs Geo. Harper, and F. liorrell, and Mrs J. 11. Wilson. Apologies wen made for the absence of Bishop Brodie, Bishop Julius, Mr B. M. Molyneux, and Mrs A. C. Sandston. Accounts amounting to £700 14s 4d were passed for payment. The chairman stated that ho had paid a visit of inspection to Holly Lea, and he thought that the display of vegetables and fruit he had seen was a complete refutation of tho assertion that the place was not suitable for raising those products. He- mentioned that at the Rose Fete vegetables and roses entered from Holly Lea carried off two first prizes and a second prize. Under a misapprehension the display from Quamby was entered for exhibition only. As a sample of what Ilolly Lea could produce, Mr Holland handed round some cherries, which were sampled by members. The secretary (Mr W. F. Hilson), in his report, stated that a comparative statement of expenditure for the twelve months to December 14th, 1916, showed a decrease of £1673 as compared with the corresponding period last year. This satisfactory result had been attained by the co-operation of the matrons and gardeners. The renort was adopted. Tho. of tho_ Finance and of the Instituticns Committee were considered and were agreed to. It was docided i not to hold a meeting in January un- j less unforeseen circumstances 1

-v charge of attempted trading in enemy stamps, under the war regulations. will be fiearCT against W. L. Hooper in the Dunedin Magistrate'" Court on Monday next. "Women arc doing so much nowadays that there are some people who think that within the next ten or twenty years women will have too much power in the world," said Dr. G. M. L. Lester at the annual prize-giving of the Girls' High School las;, night. "My fear that they will have too little. A women's power does not lie in good executive work. It does not lie in what she does at all. The power lies in the charm of a good woman. Following i> the last draft of New Zealand selected for the Imperial Navy Motor Boat Patrol: — Sub-lieutenants: P. A. Adams. Auckland: C. Armitage, Auckland: B. • Beaumont. Auckland: G. F. Bothamley, Wellington: G. Thorno George, Auckland; R. W. Gunson. Auckland; .1. W. Stubbs, Auckland : L. M. Hare. Remuera : 11. E. Goodwin. Wanganui; G. C. Maltby. Tnuranga: H. Hamilton, Wellington: T. Piorard. Wellington: .T. S. Hinds, Christchuroh : H. A. Tthind, Lyttelton. Chief motor mechanic: I'. C. Loasbv, Christchuroh. The draft leaves towards the end of the month. Tho scholars of tile Elmwood District School have been sending, per the Liverpool Fund, presents to the men at the front, putting notes in their little gifts to show from what school they came! Mr J. R. Sinclair, headmaster of the school yesterday received an acknowledgment. Typical of many others, ft is wruten TTotn '•.Somewhere in i* ranee," arid rends:—"Just a few worils. of thanks. ! iTiousfnt'you would like to know I have received your nice warm scarf with a cheerful little noto pinned to it. lam wearing jt now, and it is so warm and comfortable, "ill tho hoys are issued with them in the trenches." T7:o writer. Private Wright, signs himself, "Your soldier friend, Angus Wright." The letter was received by the scuoo'l with intense satisfaction. A Tress Association telegram states that a Commission of Scientists is visiting Nelson at the invitation of the C'awthron Trustees to advise on tho establishment of the Cawthron Institute. The Commission consists of Sir •Tames Wilson, Professors Benhain and Marshall (Dunedin), Easterficld (Wellington), Worley (Auckland), and Dr. C'-ockayne (Wellington). In welcoming the visitors vE-sterdav. Mr T. A. H. Field. M.P.. acting-chairman of the Board of Trustees, said it was tho opinion of the trustees that the Insti--1 tnte should be a research institute. Sir James Wilson, in replying, congratulated Nelson on leading the Dominion in such an important direction. The sittings of tho Commission will occupy some. days. The youth of this part of the i)o----minion have not been dilatory in taking advaiuagc of the opportunity to earn good wages owing to the scarcity of labour now existing (telegj-aghs our Dunedin correspondent). A reporter learned yesterday tnat the roll number of tho male side of the King Eldward Technical College Tias been considerably ''npleted during the past few week 3 Through lads leaving the Institution to engage in rural occupations. Most of these have been attracted by casual work incidental to shearing, and boys from the day classes of the College whose ages are in the vicinity of 14 years are now engaged picking up fleeces on stations where shearing is in progress. Last year one 'lad whose holidays extended over the usual period earned £33 before resuming his studies at the College. The hoyn earn cheques of from £10 to £30 during the Holiday period. No cough mixture cures so quickly aa Loasby's Stop It—ls 6d, 2 S 6d, and -4s Bd, grocers and chemists. Larger bottles are cheaper. Before selecting your new footwear, inspect the magnificent range of Crockett and Jones's styles at Harris's Imperial Boot Depot. 691 Colombo street. Every pair smart and dependable. 3 It is worth a long walk to see the fine display being made for Christmas trade by Messrs Armstrongs, Limited, at each of their shops. Their immense stock are nicely shown, with cash prices placed upon each article. As far as presentation goods are concerned, they appear in infinite variety, and priced from pence to pounds. It is always wiso to make "Armstrongs' " popular houses your port of call when satisfying wants catered for by them. Their values and their prices /really defy competition. 6 As a Christmas Gift, nothing equals a well-made Photograph • of yourself. Make an appointment with Steffano Webb, Petersen's Buildings, 252 street. Telephone 1989. 6 This season's smartest Crockett and Jones's models are being shown at Harris's Imperial Boot Depot, 691 Colombo street. A pplendid buying opportunity for ladies and gentlemen. Hot Point. Hot Point. Hot Point. —Hot Point Day will be held on December 23rd, 1916. Boudoir Sets and Three Pound Hot Point Irons ordered before, or sold on that day, will be reduced from 2os to 17s 6d, and 22s 6d to 15s. What could be better or nicer for a Christmas Gift than either of the above useful articles? See our window. Turnbull and Jones, Ltd., Cashel street West. Hot Point. Hot Point. Hot Point. 6 For washing nurses' caps and aprops "No Rubbing Laundry Help" is best. John Hall and Co., Ltd. 5 Seo the latest Crockett and Jones styles in ladies' and gentlemen's highgrade footwear. Two large shipments just opened. Harris's Imperial Boot Depot, 691 Colombo street. 1 Sporting goods make acceptable Christmas gifts. Tennis racquets from 10s 6d, cricket bats, cane handle, from os 6d; compo bails from Is; croquet sets, lawn quoits, and every other lino of sports material at Lewis and Anderson, Ltd., Cashel street. 6 SANTA CLAUS AND THE "8.5.A." Tvook at page 2. There you will find some seasonable suggestions regarding Christmas Gifts, with especial reference to tho All-British "'B.S.A.'' Motor-cycle. Adams, Ltd., High street. 6