GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16203, 4 May 1918, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS.

The auction announcements of li. Matson and Co., Tonks, Norton and Co., W. E. Simes and Co., Claridgoand Smith, Charles Clark, Harris Bros., Donald Roid and Co., and New Zealand Loan and M.A. Co. will bo found on pago 13 of this issue.

A faceting of men and women interested in securing a general Parliamentary election will bo held in tho Foresters' Hall this evening at 7.45.

It was announced at yesterday's meeting of tho Education Board thati the tender of Mr H. Hinkcy at £3429 had been accepted for tho new Sydenham school. The contract price is exclusive of the heating system to be installed.

Tho resolution arrived at by the City Council on April 22nd urging the improvement and development of the Education system of the Dominion, was received bv tho Education Board at its meeting yesterday, tho motion agreed to being: "That tho lotter be received: and its principles approved."

In reply to a communication regarding an assertion made at a Lytielton meeting, Mr J. McCombs, M.P., has received the following letter from Sir

James Allen: "I am in receipt of your letter of the 27th ultimo, and in reply beg to inform you that at no time havo I stated that 'another troopship Would never be fitted up at Lyttelton so long as Mr McCombs was member for Lyttelton.' "

The Wellington City Council at its last meeting adopted the following motion: —"That, the Council, while regretting that a considerable .number of its most valuable officers have been called up in tho ballot under the Military Service Act, feels that it would be failing in its duty to the Dominion ancl the Empire at tho present time of crisis' if it prompted any appeals for exemption." The city solicitor was among the municipal officers drawn in the last ballot.

A good response is being given the request of the Dominion Museum authorities that relations or friends of New Zealand soldiers who have gained distinction oversea should forward photographs for exhibition in the Museum. Photographs have been received steadily, and a Large number have now been, suitably framed and ar© displayed in good positions on the walls of the buildings. A good many, not yet displayed, will be framed as soon as suitable photographs are received to complete the sets.

For the protection of the Christchurch Cathedral grounds and to avoict the possibility of any right of thoroughfare being acquired through such grounds, the Cathedral authorities have been advised that it is expedient to closo all passages once in each year. Acting on such advice such passages will be closed all day on Monday next, and all persons wishing to enter the Cathedral on that day are requested to do so by the main west porch, access to which will be available. For the future it is intended that the passages shall be closed in a similar manner on the first Monday in May of each year.

An application from the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute that the Board should collect the dues of the branch's members twice a year by deducting them from salaries met with a mixed reception at yesterday's meeting of the Education Board. Mr C. H. Opie (the chairman) thought that as the deduction was to be made only toyice yearly and as the Institute was willing to pay a small commission to the Board, the concession might well be granted. Mr A. Peverill and some other members opposed chiefly on general grounds. It was decided to refer the request to the Board's Finance Committee and ask it to report at next meeting.

"The air at the present timo is pretty hot air regarding open-air schools," remarked Mr John Jamieson at the Education Board's meeting yesterday. His comment arose out of a statement in tho Buildings Qommittee's report that the Methven School Committee had asked that an independent export be requested to report on the open-air class-room, which has been found to bo draughty and 'unsuitable. Tho committee's recommendation was that the Medical Inspector of Schools bo asked to report. Mr Jamieson said that this was tho first open-air class-room provided by tlio Board, and it was remarkable that an expert should be required to find out why it was draughty.

Persons interested in tho old-time domestic life of the Maori will find pleasant reading in an article on shell-mid dens of the Wellington district by Mr Elsdon Best, in tho N.Z. "Journal of Scionce and Technology."' "Nothing pleased the Maori housewifo more than to have a cliff-head or steep slope handy to her home, over which sho oould throw all refuse," he writes. "This, then, was in many cases the rukenga lcainga of the hamlet, where all refuse was thrown, and the clatter of a basket of shell refuse down a rockv cliff-face has passed into a proverbial saying concerning noise." rhe proverb is not much heard' among the pakeha, but the practice of casting refuse on to a slodo is common in \\ elhngton (remarks the "Post") Unsightly rubbish can bo seen on hillsides near many houses.

The Salvation Army Divisional ConW e ?j opened by Commissioner Hoddor on Wednesday, and will continue over Sunday, May 12th. In addition to tho_ usual meetings for conference and business, private for all officers, there will be a number of public gatherings of special interest, the first being-the reopening of the Citadel, which has been in the hands of the contractors now for twelve weeks, and on which a deal has been Bpent to make it more comfortable This event takes place on Wednesday at 7.15 p.m., and is to be followed by a special programme by the united j Sunday schools in Christchurch. On Friday evening there will be a public meeting, when .special addresses are to be given, the subject being "Aggressive Christianity." On Saturday night there will bo a festival of music and Bong by the hands and songsters. The Sunday services will be conducted bv the Commissioner in the Citadel. Commissioner Eodder will be assisted by Mrs Hodder, Colonel and Mrs Mclnnes, Brigadiers Gist, Kirk, and Hoare, and somo 50 officers. This will be the' first; Congress held in Christchurch since the ] separation from the Australian wing of j Army, I

Two men enlisted in Christchurcli yesterday for active service. We have received a donation of £1 Is from "A Contributor to tho Press" for tho Salvation Army Fund. Tho Ashburton Borough Council at itr, meeting yesterday voted the sum ol "£oOO to the British and Foreign Sailors' Society. * Tho Commissioner of Crown Lands has received intimation that the education reserve No. G2, at Port Levy, will bo offered by ballot in the first week of July for discharged soldiers. There has been a great deal of enquiry about the land, which is known as the "GardinerJackson lease." It. is subdivided into four sheep farms. The annual chrysanthemum show of the Canterbury Horticultural Society was brought, to a close last evening. The attendance throughout the day was particularly good. In tho morning about 1000 children from the city and suburban schools visited the show, accompanied by their teachers. The children were keenly interested in the exhibits, Mr T. W. Adams's collection of fir cones appearing to make a special appeal to the boys. The Society is offering prizes for the best essays on the show, the competitors being limited to pupils of Standard V. and Standard VI.

Speaking at last night's meeting of tho Technical College Board, tho chairman, Mr G. Scott, said that ho regretted to see that misapprehension existed as to tho usefulness of tho hostel. It had been stated that only the girls in. residence wore benefited, but that was not so, for tho girls attending tho Technical High School and taking' the Home Science course had quite as good facilities for housewifery training. Every day-girl attended the hostel oven' day for one half of tho term and received a thorough courso of instruction.

Some of tho boys at the Burnham Industrial School still are in the institution, but they are being drafted to reformatory institutions in other parts of tho Dominion, and soon all will have gone. It is understood that negotiations are in hand between the Justice Departmont and the Defence Department to hand tho property over to the latter Department, to bo used as permanent military, barracks for the Canterbury Military District, but nothing definite has been done in this direction yet. Mr T. A. Archey, who has been master of tho Burnham Industrial School for about thirty years, has been transferred to tho Stato School at Otekaike, North Otago, of -which he mil take chargo.

Regarding accommodation at the Christchurch East school, it was reported at yesterday's meeting of the Education Board that, in reply to the Board's enquiry, the Senior Inspector had submitted a statement showing tho number of children in tho several classes at the school. The unwioldy classes in the upper department were the rosult of the special conditions obtaining, namely, tho school having to meet the needs of tho children passing from the Christchurch East infant school, Phillipstown, and South Belt. Tho only remedy was to make Phillipstown a mam school, and then place the infant school again under tho control of the main school. It was also pointed out by the inspector that with tho absorption of the infant school, the site could be used for a woodwork and cookcry centre, so urgently needed in this part of the city.

Tho Association of the Love of God, an association established recently to promote tho catiso of educational reform ,by way of tho establishment of church schools in the diocese of Christchurch, has been quietly pursuing its work, and £1200 in annual subscriptions has been so far obtained. War loan certificates have been sought also as donations towards the scheme, and during the last three weeks the amount has risen to about £ tSO. These sums are at present being devoted to the "win the war" campaign, and will ultimately be used to build "Victory schools." Such a school is about to be built at St. Matthew's. St. Albans. It will contain a wing built as a memorial to fallen Soldiers from their deferred pay, given by tho next-of-lrin for that purpose. Canon "Wilford will preach on educational reform from the point of view of tho church at both services to-morrow at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Phillipstown.

All coughs, recent or chronic, in young or old, yield to Loasby's Stop It. Grocers and chemists. i

_ Once a year at least, say on your birthday, you should be photographed at Steffano Webb's, Petersen's Buildings, High street. Telephone 1989. 4

N.Z. Fanners' Co-op. Association for "No Rubbing" laundry helt>, "Golden Rule" soap, "Golden Rule" candles. Ideal goods for every home. 4

Akaroa's beautiful harbour! Enjoy its perfect autumn and winter nerveresting climate. Modem accommodation, and glorious motor drive from Broadway's,, Christchurch—2ss return. 2

General Carrying of all sorts undertaken by J. M. Heywood and Co., Ltd. Their plant of horses and vehicles is one of the largest in New Zealand. 6

Bradbury's Glorious Sweet Peas. New seeds now ready. Plant now to secure strong, long-flowering plants in tho spring. A great variety in 3d and 6d packets. Catalogues free. Hastie, Bull and Pickering, Cashel street, sole agents. 6 Special combination mop outfit, containing 1 dustless mop, 1 dustless duster, 1 oil mop, 1 bottle oil, only 8s Gd the set. Try Drayton's Emporium, Colombo street. 6 Fashions are constantly changing even in wedding rings. The stylo now is ths curtain ring shape, perfectly round. We can remodel your old ring to the new shape at little expense. Procurable. only at Watson's (Jewollers), Limited. 2 THREE SECOND-HAND CAR BARGAINS. Now on view.—Three five-seater touring cars, each newly painted in up-to-date style, and complete with road equipment:—Darracq (French), £125; Regal, £145 j Siddely-Deasy (British), £200. All in running order. Adams, Ltd., Garage, Tuam street. 6