GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15777, 19 December 1916, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

Trotting has great prominence in this jveck's sporting pages of the "Weekly Press," and an attractive new feature is the column, "Things Seen," contributed by "Searchlight." "Lancer" discusses the starting question, and "Janus'' writes on "The Brushing System of Training." In the racing pages of this week's "Weekly Press" "Spectator" writes on Auckland Cup and Itailway prospects, "Wayfarer" returns to the subject of starting-price betting, and "Antistlienes" has a brief note on Doping. There is a very interesting letter from ill - J. B. Rcid on Some Needed Amendments to the Rules, and a heap of "Scratchings" by "The Hook." At a meeting of the Waihemo County Council on Saturday, it was resolved that it be a, recommendation to the county engineer that he instruct county surfacemen wherever they could be relieved from work, that they would be i expected to give farmers a hand in getj ling in the harvest. The motion goes ! a little further than the policy of pre- ; vious years, when all that was done was 1 to place no obstacle in the way of the ; men doing harvest work if they so desired and could be spared. This season's • action is; of course, explained by the shortage of labour and the necessity of jrettinc the crops in.

The Wellington City Council last, night decided to appeal against the Magistrate's decision declaring the City By-law prohibiting Sunday golf to be ultra vires. Mr W. Wiles, chairman of the Thorndon branch of the Enginedrivers', Firc-men's and Cleaners' Association, has been nominated as workers' representative on the Arbitration Court by that body and other Wellington unions. The fete organised by the Fendalton Girls' Guild and carried out last Saturday week in Mrs N. L. Maebeth's garden, resulted in the sum of £100 being raised. The Guild, after paying its usual contributions to local charities, sent £60 on account to the Y.M.C.A., for the work among the soldiers at the front. At a general meeting of the Canterbury Frozen Meat Workers' Union on Saturday night, which was attended by fifty members, endorsement was given to the circular issued by the Canterbury Trades and Labour Council, respecting the picture theatres in Christchurch which have reduced the orches- | trnl part of their programme. It was decided to recommend the members of the union not to patronise these theatres until the orchestras have been reinstated. A demonstration of bread-baking which is likely to attract a good attendance of country people is announced to take place to-morrow afternoon in the premises of Messrs C. and J. Colville, Cathedral square. The occasion is to demonstrate the suitability of the Quirk Patent Safety Air-Gas Plant for country bread-baking, and an ordinary gas stove will be used in the work. The demonstration will continue from 2 till 5 p.m., and will be conducted b- the Dominion Yeast Co.'s gold-medallist demonstrator, the bread being made with compressed yeast. It is stated that an Ashburton lady purchased in Ashburton six toys on Saturday evening, and when the parcels were opened at home she discovered that four of them bore evidence of German manufacture. She also purchased a child's mug and jocularly remarked to hc-r husband that She was sure she had purchased one article at least of British make. To her surprise, on examining the mug, which bore the inscription "A Present from Ashburton," it had plainly stamped on the bottom in blue letters "Made in Germany." At a meeting of the Christchurch Diocesan Executive, his Lordship Bishop Brodie presiding, it was decided that the half-yearly Diocesan Council meeting be held on January 23rd next. It is expected that a large number of delegates will bo present from all parts of Canterbury and Wcstland. Several sub-committees were set up to deal with various questions in connexion with the conference. The chairman announced that £350 had been collected throughout the diocese on behalf of the Roman Catholic Chaplains' Camp Fund. Tho Dominion Council meeting will be held in Auckland on February 21st. A nautical visitor to Sydney tells a rather good story illustrating that occasionally there is something in a name. It seoips that several steamers with German patronymics prior to the commencement of the war changed their names. Not so, though, the British steamer Berlin, of Lcith, and thereby hangs the tale. A seaman showing his discharge certificate from that vessel was met by this rejoinder: "I wouldn't serve in a ship that bore that name— wonder she hasn't gone under!" '•That's where you make a big mistake, for last voyage out, a German ciuiscr came up alongside, noted tho name, and a teamed away without firing a shot." At the meeting of the Riccarton Borough Council last night, Councillor A. E. Stoere said he thought that some seating, accommodation should be provided for the Riccarton tram passengers in Cathedral square while they were waiting for trams. He moved that the Tramway Board should be written to asking if anything could be done in the matter. The Mayor (Mr J. Brown) said lie thought that under tho new scheme something would be done. Councillor A. Hampton said that thc.ro was always an old trailer there for passengers to wait .in. (Laughter.) The motion was carried. Councillor A. D. Ford then moved that the Board should also be approached with regard to the trailers used on the Riccarton Ijne. Tho Mayor, in supporting the motion, said that the trailf-rs were in a filthy state with dust. The motion was carried. A meeting of three brothers in London under remarkable circumstances took place a short time ago (writer our Amberle.v correspondent). Bombardier L. J. Smith was wounded at the commencement of the "big push" on the Sommc, and was sent to England. When convalescent he took a trip to Ireland, and on returning to London was reporting for light duties when he jnct a friend, who informed him of tho death of a brother. Private R. Smith (who was killed on the Somme). To ensure the correctness of the story he journeyed to the Records Office, and whilst on the way met another brother, Private Lcn Smith, who was also wounded. On verifying the information the two brothers walked to the New Zealand Soldiers' Club, and at the entrance • met the third brother, Driver M. Smith. The brothers were very much surprised to meet one another, and to celebrate the occasion a trip was inado to the nearest photographer's. Another brother recently left New Zealand for the front. Tho name of an Auckland soldier appearing as the recipient . of a Military Medal illustrates the strange vagaries of fortune (writes "Mercutio" in the "New Zealand Herald"). Tin number of men to see the Gallipoli campaign through untouched was small. Many among their ranks escaped from the perils of that, campaign, only to fail a victim to shell or bullet in Franco. The soldier in question, however, has been phenomenally lucky. Two days after the landing he was struck on the right breast with the fuse-cap from a shrapnel shell. This object, a conical piece of brass, is capable of inflicting terrible injuries, yet in this case it merely caused a large bruise. A day or so later the same man was sitting in the open with his knees braced up writing up his diary- Ho had just written "Shrapnel falling very thickly" when a whole shell came down, passed' underneath his legs, and buried itself in the ground without bursting. Though naturally somewhat startled, he. was quite unhurt, and ten minutes later was busily digging for the shell which so nearly put an end to his soldiering. And now, after all the time the New Zealanders have been in France, ho is still "going strong,'' and is the recipient of a decoration for good service in the field. Loasby's Pharmacy |s noted for Xmas perfumes and brushware suitable for Xmas presents." 3 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 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 b6 reduced from 25s 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 FREE. —Toys to every purchaser of boots and shoe>s this week. Bring along the kiddies and get something to please the little folk. Stewart Robinson. 7 The array of Mechanical Toys now on exhibit at John R. Procter's, 2CO High street, is daily attracting crowds of boys and girls. The toys are certainly unique, and at the reasonable prices are fastly diminishing as Christmas comes nearer. 6

For washing dainty fabrics, "No Rubbin<r Laundry Help" is best. N.Z. Farmers' Co-op. 8 Ex s.s. Opawa. big shipments Royal Doulton Ware, Salads, Vases, Plaques, Teapots, etc., delightful Christmas Presents. Choose yours now. Small deposit any article. Drayton's Emporium, Colombo street. I No oat likes moving, but the work can be 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 217-4. 6 THE IDEAL XMAS GIFT—A -SWIFT." The "Swift" bicycle, the finest wheel made in Britain, is an ideal Xmas gift for any young New Zealander._ Price £12 10s, with full roadster equipment. Terms, from £1 down and £1 per month. Adams, Ltd., High street. 6