GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15939, 28 June 1917, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

Nine men who were out of work waited on the Mayor (Mr H. Holland) yesterday to ascertain if he could get them employment. One of the men had been recently put off at the Addington Workshops. The Mayor referred the applicants for work to the Mount Torlcsse Coal Company, as that company wants labourers at present.

The road roller recently acquired by the Sumner Borough Council from the Heathcote County Council came to grief yesterday soon after it started from Mr H. Holland's yard on its way to Sumner. Turning out of St. Asaph street into Durham street the driver apparently took the corner too sharply, with the result that the road roller ran into the kerbing and a portion of the machinery was broken.

Owing to the stoppage of football and the absence of most of tho players, the Wellington Rugby Union cannot find the money to keep up its payments for Athletic Park (says a Press Association message). Nearly £3000 is owing. The yearly cost for rent and rates is £600, while the Union's income is nil. An appeal is now being made to all supporters of Rugby to como forward and save tho ground by investing in a ticket scheme to raise funds. The Park was originally the property of a private company, but some years ago it was taken over by the Wellington Rugby Union.

An abandoned infant, about six days old, was found in the loft luggage-room of the Henderson railway station about eleven o'clock on Sunday morning (says the Auckland "Heralcl"). Unusual sounds attracted the attention of the stationmnstcr. On making a search he discovered that the sounds were tho cries of a baby, and that thev issued from a dress-basket, which, * it is thought, arrived at Henderson from Auckland at 5.5 p.m. cn Saturday On removing the lid of the basket' the stationmaster discovered a very youncr female baby almost suffocated. He summoned Mrs Curtis, a nurse, of Henderson, who pronounced the'tiny infant to be about six days old. At it was feared that it was too lata to succour the child, but Mrs Curtis's efforts were eventually successful.

Some insight Jnto the experiences of tho New Zealand forces fighting in Southern Palestine is given in a Tetter received from a quartermaster-sergeant of the Auckland Mounted Rifles, ° who has been cn active service for almost three years, and was through the Gallipoli campaign Writing 'to a friend, lie says: 'There is no use in worrvint* on our account about the lack of water? we can manage with very little to eat or drink, without inconvenience because we have become used to it ' One 11 yes on excitement, but lack of sleep wU kill me. It is very often agonv alter a few days without s'oep although after the first few nights ono docs not notice it During this last nghang I did not feel sleepv at all although we had very little "sleep for a °i xi San ? IS bad onou "h, but I think the dust here 'takes the cakc.' j v.hen wo came here tho countrv for miles was standing barley and grass, 1 beautifully green. In loss than a week i the horses had eaten every blade of bar- ] ley for miles round, and now the country is white with dust."- '

The operating room at the "Wellington Tek graph Office is being rapidly and seriously depleted. Quite a number of operators go into camp to-mor-row, and of the remainder who belong to tho First Division all have volunteered.

"I get credit sometimes for being an optimist," said Sir Joseph Ward at the luncheon at. Auckland on Monday. "I rather rejoice in it. I believe I would have been dead and buried long ago if there had not been a spirit of optimism in my composition."

To-morrow afternoon Colonel R. A. ChafFey, O.C. tho Canterbury District, will visit tho voluntary refresher camp at tiie Show Grounds and inspect the work of the 200 officers and men, boforo the break-up of tho camp on Saturday morning. Colonel Chaffoy states that he is extremely pleased with the way the men have turned out for the fourteen days' instruction, which was a purely voluntary affair.

Under direction from the Minister of Public Health a Bill is being drafted for presentation to Parliament dealing with the subject of venereal diseases. L'ntil the Bill has been approved by the Cabinet no details can be given, but it is understood that it will propose a very complete scheme for the treatment and", il' necessary, segregation of sufferers, with the solo idea of stamping out the scourge with the minimum of pub-lic-]'tv.

At tho meeting of the Farmers' Union yesterday, a member remarked that to bring any matter before the Canterbury Members of Parliament was a useless sort of and one might as well pour water on a fat duck's back for all the impression that was made. Mr J. O'Halloran replied drily, that oven to have the privilege of pouring water on a duck's back was a comfort in a way, because the person who did it usually showed that lie owned the duck, anyway.

The C.D.C. has presented a largo flag to the Christehurch Hospital, and at the Board's meeting yesterday, quite a discussion took place as to whother the Board was justified in spending £15 for the erection of a flagstaff to fly tho flag from. One suggestion was that an appeal should bo made to the public for subscriptions, the Board to give a £ for £ subsidy, but eventually it was decided that the Board should bear the expense itself, as it was such a small 6um.

The "Eltharn Argus" remarks that it is freely stated that in Taranaki farming laud Ki rapidly passing into tho hands of foreigners. A land salesman, says the paper, informed them that tho position js getting serious. Ho says that our own countrymen arc going away to fight, and when they como back, if ever tiicy do, they will "find that their properties havo parsed into the hands of foreigners. From what tho salesman told the reporter, it would appear that peaceful penetration is getting in it.* handiwork in Taranaki. Is anything, it asks, going to bo done in tho matter Before it is too lato?

Tho successful growing of a plot of peanuts is reported by Mr J. Down, Acting-Gaoler of the Waikoria Prison. Auckland district. Tlie experiment was tried on the river-Hats oi tho prison farm, where the soil is of a sandy nature. The ground was prepared similarly to tlint for potatoes. Threo rows 1 chain loiiir and 2ft apart were planted with a nut every 18in. The manure used was basic super and bone. 71b. The nuts were planted on September loth, 1910, and harvested on May Ist, 1917. From -]Ib nuts planted there was a yield of 221b.

Speaking at the civic luncheon, in Auckland. 'Mr Massey snid that great political changes would take place at the heart of tho Empire after the war, but anyone who imagined that there was any prospect of a revolution in Great Britain was much mistaken. People were perfectly satisfied with their present Governmental conditions, and wore not asking for a republic, knowing' as tuey did that they had the freest, most democratic, and most progressive Constitution tho world had ever seen. The same loyalty prevailed in India, although it had been supposed by tho enemy to bo seething with sedition.

The plans for a new tram shelter at tho Bank of Now Zealand • corner aVe very nearly completed by the Tramway Board's onginecr, and it will bo necessary to forward them to the Cily Council for approval, inasmuch as it is proposed to use a portion of the footpath for the erection of the shelter. When, and if, the plans are approved by tho City Council, they will be sent to the Bank of New Zealand authorities for their inspection nnd approval. In the meantime the with tho Bank, under which permission is given to attach tho siie.ior to > eir building in Cathedral square, is boing proceeded with. Should the sciicuiu materialise, the erection, which is to bo about -16ft in length, although of a temporary character, will bo made quite presentab.e in appearance.

The arrival of a parcel from overseas labelled "cutlery," and addressed to a well-known family in A k arc a, led somo mildly-curious folk to speculato as to why ccrtain people should send outsido the Dominion in wartime for "the real thing in tablo implements" (writes our Akaroa correspondent). Tho hoad of tho household paid the duty with a murmur, and the young ladies of the family undfd the numerous wrappings with eager expectancy. Horrors! the cutlory was a Gorman bayonet! Attached was a. note from tho only son of the house, stating that he had picked it up on the Sommc battlefield after the day's struggle. It is not considered safo to oaquiro from the young soldier's parent as to the amount of duty payable in wartime on "imported cutlery \'~

There is an unlimitod demand for birch (or beech) timber at the present time in Australia and such large orders have been placed with the local sawmillers that tho mills could bo kept running at full timo for months to overtake them (says the "Western Star"). But there is one drawback, and that is the want of shipping. Somo months ago a large shipment was got away from tlio Bluff and it is expected that the same boat will again lie available, but there i.-s no certainty. A movement i 3 now aioot, wo understand, to build a vessel of '100,000 ft capacity, with a draft of 9ft, adaptable to shallow harbours, which would run regularly to Melbourne or Sydney_ It has boon demonstrated, after a careful test, that beech can take the place of white pine for butter boxes, while large quantities arc used in brush, furniture and woodware factories. The local mills have extensive areas of this timber untouched, and, as ono sawmiller mentioned to us, his firm lias over 30 years" supply.

There is a Chinaman living in Akaroa the one and only Celestial on this corner of the Peninsula (writes our correspondent). Ho rejoices in tho euphonious patronymic of .Sing Chow. No one knows exactly how long ho has been here; "a good many yoars," all tho old residents agree. He is a friend of everyone. He manifests deep interost in tho progress of the war. He has lived long enough under the Union Jack to be able to appreciate some at least, of the blessings and privileges the Old Flag bestows upon the citizens 4 of its Empire. Each day ho gets his special English friend to give him the outline of the nows. His comments and remarks upon tho progress of events are highly diverting, that is, provided you understand them. His concern for the welfare of the eoldier boys who Icavo our midst, is as touching as it is practical. He is not blessed with much, if any, of this world's goods, but he gives to "each of them his offering of goodwill. It i<?. in every case, a tiny bottle. containing what kind'v eld Sing stoutly maintains is a sovereign remedy for all coughs and colds. And the boys in khaki take it. and return Sine's smile and grip with interest as they go <jff to the m ux.

Only one "20 year" volunteer registered his name at the recruiting office yesterday, and no Second Division men.

Mr A. W. Owlcs, president of the New Brighton Bowlintr Club, has presented the club with a very handsome 6nver (championship) cup.

It is understood that the Tramway Employees' Union have submitted proposals for a new industrial agreement, and that these came boiore the Tramway Board's Works and Traffic Committee yesterday.

At the annual meeting of tho Canterbury Licensed Victuallers' Association, held yesterday, tho following officials were elected for the ensuing year: —President, Mr J. Bryan; vice-presi-dent, Mr C. Lange; lion, treasurer. Sir T. Cotter; lion, auditor. Mr C. D. Morris; committee, Messrs T. G. Fox. S. Brooking, P. Burke, J. I. Sutton. C. H. Piper, J. I. Souper and "W. H. Overton.

The debate between Mr T. Whittle, evangelist, and Mr John Page a registered spiritualist medium, on the question, "Is spiritualism of the devil?" was continued last night in the King's Theatre, before a large and interested audience, who listened to the arguments brought forward by the speakers with clcso attention. The chair was occupied by Air P. Trolove.

A few nights ago an overhead wire at the Bank of New Zealand cornor was pulled down by a loose trolley role. aii emergency crew was soon on the spot, and a number of spectators gathered to watch the proceedings, fortunately standing clear, lor the wire slipped from the crew's control, and. coming into contact with the rail, a loud report was heard, and a display of a pyrotechnical naturo was seen This "shot" caused the circuit breakers to come out, and the result was that the current was cut off from the Cathedral square section. Restoration was effected within a few minutes, however. Apropos of this, it may l>e remarked that although the publir, may notu-o tramway men handling live tvirc with impunity, they must not assume that they themselves can do litrcwiso, for the tall wooden "tower" from wßirh the men work is a sufficient insulation from the ground. If the men were standing on the around when at worn, they would use rubber gloves. No cough is too stubborn or 6erere for Loasby's "Stop-it" to cure, Is Gd, 2s 6d, 4s (3d. Larger bottles are cheaper. 6191 Your wedding is tho happiest event of your lifo, and is worthy of absolutely superior photographs—tho kind you are sure to get from Stoffnno Webb, 252 High street. W8231

Whito clothes, clean and sweet; sott hands, and no rubbing of the weekly washing, make "No Rubbing" Laundry Help a unique boon. T. Hopkins, Grocer. 2

A Hot-Point Grill Stove makes cooking a delight. Two stoves, two operations, at the cost of one. Turnbull and Jones, Ltd., solo agents for New Zealand 6

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

Watch our prices - . Thermos Flasks us Gd, better quality Gs Gd; Stone Langlcy Eootwarmers, only 2s 3d; Sleep iVleter Alarm Clocks, 8s 6d; Coir Mats 2s 9d. Save money at Drayton's Emporium,-Colombo street (.north). •?

"The weekly washing is robbed of i'o drudg y" by" "No Rubbing" Laundry Help!—lt's wonderful. "Thinker's" Notebook free with every Is packet. T. Hopkins, grocer. 7 TWO-SEATER LIGHT SAXON* CAR FOR SALE TO-DAY, £175. We have for sale to-day a 2-seator Saxon Car, complete with full equipment, including electric side-lamps, Stewart speedomH nte., £175 net cash. Inspection invited. Adams, Ltd., Motor Garago, 219 Tuain street. G