GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16205, 7 May 1918, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

Official information lias reached Wellington that the Thirty-fifth and Thirty-sixth New Zealand Reinforcements have arrived safely at ports; all well. A largo number of South Island Freemasons left by last night's steamer for Wellington, where the Annual Communication of the Masonic Grand Lodge of New Zealand will bo held this week, j

We have received £1 for our Serbian Fund, £1 Canterbury Patriotic Fund, and also £1 for our Red Cross Fund from R.L.R. (monthly;.

Sixteen building permits, representing £18,,500 in value, were issued by the city surveyor last month, as follows: Central ward, fivo permits £14.200: St. Albans, seven permits £3000; Linwood, one permit £100: Sydenham, three permits £900.

On Sunday afternoon a great treat vas provided by. the Tramway Band, under the baton of Bandmaster Woods, on the lawn of the Coronation Hospital, Cashmere Hills. The band rlayen several items, which were greatly "appreciated bv the patients, staff, awl visitors, ana after refreshments had been dispensed, the proceedings were brought to a close by the playing of the National Anthem.

The adjourned meeting of the Board J of Governors of Canterbury Collegei was held yesterday afternoon. Present: Messrs J. C. Adams (chairman),! H. D. Acland, Geo. T. Booth, H. Boyd, 1 \Y. Brock. J. J. l)ougaIl, A. E. j Flower, T. Hughes, 0. H. Opie, S. Hurst Seager, L. B. "Wood. S. G. Raymond, Dean Harper, and Dr. Lester. ; The two matters carried over I'rom the meeting held on April 29th were further discussed, and ultimately, in both cases, thoy wore referred to special committees for consideration and report* [

For the first time in many years there are no cases for trial at the auarterly criminal sittings of the Dunedin Supreme Court, fixed for to-day. _ The exhibitor who was placed second in the classes for twelve and six Japanese chrysanthemums at the recent show was Mr T. Barter, not Baxter, as printed in the prize list. Mr T. O'Brien, owner of the Criterion Hotel, Round Hill, Southland, has decided to close the premises during the period of the war. He will make application to do so under Section 7 of tho Sale of Liquor Restriction Act, 1917.

The rough pieca of ground in the C/iristehurch Public Gardens behind the observatory is being laid out as a children's playground. Mr J. Young, tho- curator, hopes to havo the lawn finished by the spring, but it will not bo made available to the public until the following year, in order to give the grass an opportunity to become hardy. Yesterday tho staff of Messrs A. and T. Burt, Ltd., met to make n presentation to their traveller, Mr Swallow, on tho eve of his approachina marriage. Mr Barrett on behalf cf the staff, presented him with a set of cutlery. Mr Corbett also spoko and referred to the many good qualities 0 f tho recipient. Mr Swallow suitably responded. Two of the reservists who failed to narade with tho Chcistchurch quota of the 41st Reinforcements yesterday week have been arrested, and were sent to camp last evening under escort. J hey were Charles G. Christ man and w. C. F. Hill, both Second lsivision. men. This leaves five wilful absentees from the draft, of whom only one is a member of tho Second Division. A telegram from Auckland states i that Joseph Thomas Christie, who had previously made several sensational es- j capos from custody, got through the window of his cell at the Avondale! Mental Hospital on Saturday night, ' and is still at large. Christie caused ! a sensation some time ago by escaping: from an Auckland ferry steamer, while! on another occasion he got through a carnage window and jumped from » railway train. Recently tho Navy League raffled two hoolcs in aid of tho Royal Naval and Marine Orphan riomes at Portsmouth, Plymouth, ana Nore. The books wore published in aid of the fund, and twelve copies were signed by Admiral Jelhcoo and Admiral Beatty. Two books wero sent to Now Zealand Admiral Sir Arthur Farquliar, ono being for the North Island, and one for tho South. The winner of the South Island copy was Miss R. Beumelbur" of Ilangiora. At last night's meeting of the Sumner Borough Council, tho Mayor sialod that tho Public Works Department would eommonco this week on the work of erecting tho poles for tho electric light for Sumner. In order to get over tho trouble of having so many polos along tho streets, arrangements had been mado to jus© tho tramway poles wherever possible. It was anticipated that tho work would bo completed and tho lights and current turned on in about threo months. Tho By-laws and Finance Committee reported to tho City Council last oventhnt it was still having considerable difficulty with tho Department of Labour over payment of rates on workers' dwellings, but it would endeavour to H i. arra »gements possible. As tho Department appeared to be immovable in the matter, apparently owing -•p '°5 difficulties, the committee would take steps to discontinue services to in rcspoat of which rates wore not paid. After considerable discussion tho committee's proposed action was confirmed. Owing _to the reduced patronage of tho Municipal Baths, caused to a considerable extent by tho number of swimmers who are members of the Expeditionary Force, it has been decided by the City Council to reduco the hours in which tho "baths will be open during tho winter months, still leaving ample opportunities for those who wish to use tho baths. A number of, applications have been received for permission to coach swimmers in the bath, and tho custodian has been authorised to permit suitable persons to coach swimmers from the side of the bath, provided no ropes or lines are used from the side. The question of motor alarms came before the City Council last evening, when tho By-laws and Financo Committee reported that it had' received a Jong letter from Professor Wall enclosing correspondence between ' the Automobile Association and the Mayor or Auckland and himself, relating to noisy or offensive motor alarms, and suggesting that the matter bo considered with & view to passing a by-law to regulate motor alarms. Tho committee said it did not propose to take any action in tho matter, as it considered that it would be hopeless to attempt to legislate for motor alarms thai: would be satisfactory to everybody. I'iie committee's action was endorsed. Between sixty and seventy people attended iMr 'W. o. Courtier's horticultural cias®, which was hold in Baker's Buildings last night. Mr Gono occupied tho chair. Motions of sympathy were passed with Mr Whinan and Mrs Itiordan, who had both suffered bereavement. Mr Courtier, in his addrees, dealt interestingly with tho cultivation of New Zealand spinach as a winter vegetable, and also with maize growing, recommending Golden Standard Leeming as a good variety. A large number of apples wero brought by members of tho class for identification, and Mr Courtier spoko on the qualities and virtues of different varieties of apples, and described the methods of judging show, export, and culinary apples,

A First Division reservist, named John Charles Orme, was charged at the Police Court at Auckland yesterday with failing to enrol. Tho police stated that accused, with a married woman who was separated from her husband, and had two children, had lived on a fishing boat in the harbour for two years. They lived on the woman's maintenance money, supplemented by the proceeds of fishing. He was dodging military service, and avoided coming into tho city, the woman doing any necessary business. Ormo was on. the roll as a Sscond Division reservist, Class D, his address being Waiheko Island, in the Gulf. Tho Magistrate said liad it not been thati tho need for men was 6o great, accused would have received a long term of imprisonment. He imposed a sentence of six months' imprisonment, the prisoner to be handed over to tho military authorities at 'tho expiration of his sentence.

The fact that opportunities of exporting fruit had not been available (hiring the past year r.-as p commented upon afc' Auckland on Friday bv the directors of the Fruitgrowers' Federation in their report to the annual conference. They stated that the absence of shipping facilities for South America prevented any business in ihat territory. A glut of fruit in San Francisco and Vancouver so depressed prices there as to make export to those districts unprofitable. Furthermore the Union Steam Ship Comnanv, which controlled the freight, and" had space! available, would only place it at ' ; 'i t » i growers' disposal at 52s a case more than was charged for similar fruit imported into New Zealand from the same ports. This position had been laici I before the Government. As export ' u-as impossible, the directors dec ded ! that steps should be taken to ..n-! deavour to enlarge the demand for'■ irmt among New Zealand consumer) i I'or that purpose a publicity campaign • had been arranged, which had con-' sidernblc results. From each part or ! the Dominion for several weeks past ' many hundreds of letters had been ix>-; cei\ ed fiom people who were consider- ' ui" the apple ■ question from a health and food point 0 ( view. The appleeating habit must and would grow, ind that was tho Federation's object. i.

The City Council last evening received from the Riccarton Bush trustees a copy of their annual report ana bal-ance-sheet for the year ended March 31st, 191 S. the trustees thanking the Council for assistance given. In "reply to some remarks by Cr Hunter, the Mayor (Mr H. Holland) admitted that the trustees wore not too well endowed with funds. It was, however, recognised that- this was not the time to appeal to the public for funds, but it was hoped that other local bodies would assist.

There has been considerable discus- ' sion in and outside the Christchurch City Council during the past few months regarding the proposed inclusion of the Hillsborough riding of Heathcote County in the city. At last night's meeting of the Council a letter was received from the assistant UnderSecretary of Internal Affairs, stating that as the petition for the inclusion of tho district in the city was not signed by the necessary number of electors of the uvea affected, no further action would, bo taken until a fresh petition had been presented. Tho Salvation Army Congress gatherings. which open in Christchurch tomorrow, will be conducted by Commissioner and .Mrs Hodder, assisted by Colonel Mclnncs, Brigadiers Gist, Ivirk, and Hoare, and some 50 officers. At 7.15 p.m. to-morrow the rc-opening of the Citadel will take place, and a programme will be provided by tho United Sunday Schools. On Friday, at 8 p.m., there will be a special holiness gatherin ir. and on Saturdav evening a Festival of Music and Song by the hands and songsters. On Sunday special services will be held at 11 a.m., 3 p.m., and 7 p.m.

The Christchurch City Council met last evening. Present—The Mayor (Mr • 11. Holland), and Crs. A. M. Loasbv, j J.' R. Hay ward, E. Peek, A. Wells, I E ; J. Howard, H. Hunter, F. Burgoyne, jW. Nicholls, J. W. Beanland, P. R. ! Clitnio, A. McKellar, J. A. Flesher A. ! Williams, A. S. Taylor, D. G. Sullivan, ' and H. G. Ell, M.P. Tho Works and ; Sanitary Committee reported that quotations for six months' supply of brushware and hardware at schedule rates had been received, and it had accepted the following as being the lowest:— Brush ware, Bunting a nd Co.; hardware, Ash by, Bergh and Co., Roeco and Son, and Mason, Struthers and Co. When the City Council at its last meeting was renewing its annual grant i to the Christchurch Technical College I one or two councillors asked for particulars regarding the position of the nostel belonging to the College in Ensor's road. Last evening the Council I received a letter from Mr J. H. Howell Director of th c College. Th e students in residence, ho said, numbered 16 for the whole session, and four for part of the session; the number receiving the full course of instruction was 92 and the number receiving special instruction seven. The number of students receiving full course of instrucion during 1918 would be about 110. Tho expenditure keen £fO3, made up of salaries £365, materia! £313, lighting and heating £19, and insurance £6. Thc receipts had been £379 in fees, £196 in capitation, and £15 refund, leaving a debit balance of £113. While the instruction was necessarily more expenS l V 2c an cta ss -room instruction, the staffing was less generous than in any similar institution that ho had visited in America or the Old Country

Feeling tired, weary, low-spirited sleeplessLoasby's Nerve Tonic and Blood linricher will cure you. 3 , . & year at least, 6ay on your birthday, you should be photographed at Stclfano Webb's, Petersen's Buildings, High street. Telephone 1989. 4

Chris tchurch ladies are greatly pleased with the quality of "No Rubbing" laundry help, "Golden Rule" soap, and Golden Rule" candles. Wardoll Bros. and Co. q You can depend upon everything being done promptly and well if you only hand your shipping documents to J. ivl. Hey wood and Co., Ltd, They are recognised us experts at this work; Telephones 250, 1241, and 2174 6

Special combination mop outfit, containing 1 dustless mop, 1 dustless duster, 1 oil mog, 1 bottle oil. only 8s Gd the set. Try Drayton's Emporium, Colombo street. (j

J ashions arc constantly changing even in wedding rings. The stylo now is tha curtain ring shape, perfectly round. We can remodel your old ring to the new shape at little expense. Procurable only at Watson's (Jewellers), Limited. >.•

THREE SECOND-HAND CAR BARGAINS. Now on viow.—Three five-seater touring cars, cacli newly painted in up-to-date stylo, and complete with l'oad equipmentDarracq (French), £125; Reigal, £145; Siddely-Deasy (British), £250. All in running order. Adams, Ltd., Garage, Tuam street. 6