GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16209, 11 May 1918, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS.

The auction announcements of H. Matson and Co., Stronach, Morris and Co., Donald Reid and Co., Claridge and Smith, Lawrio and X>alton, Charles Clark, Dalgety and Co., Harris Bros., and Tonks, Norton and Co. will be found on page 15 of this issue. To-day the Christchurcli Tramway Board will put four new trailors of the latest pattern in the running. Two more will be working on Tuesday. After the evening service to-morrow at St. Peter's Presbyterian Church, Ferry road, a Roll of Honour board wil] bo unveiled by the Mayor of Woolston (Mr McGregor Wright).

The annual reunion of Red Cross workers will be .hold in the New Brighton Pier Hall on Wednesday, at 8 p.m. A short musical programme will bo carried out. A meeting of members of the Now Zealand Society of Accountants, Canterbury branch, will be held in the Caledonian rooms on Monday evening, at 7.45, when Mr H. J. Marriuer will deliver an address on "British Commerce and its Outlook." Sif James Allen informed a returned soldiers' deputation at Auckland yesterday that thero was no ground for tho fear that if a man re-enlisted and w;ere turned down his pension would be jeopardised. If he were passed as lit his pension would, of course, coase.

Largo office and factory premises are being erected in Dixon street Wellington, for the Christchurcli firm of Messrs H. Berry and Co., salt «.nd space merchants. The front of the building will consist of three stories and a basement, and the back building (the factory) will be two stories ;n height. The contract price is about

The New Zealand Farmers' Co-oper-ative Association have a staff of men and boys engaged in lifting the crop of potatoes in the South Park which the Association planted for patriotic purposes. An American potato digger is being used to take the potatoes out of the ground. Tho Arran Chief variety was being dug yesterday, tho crop being a very good and even one but, like a]l other kinds this season, this potato has not escaped tho blight.

Bushfelling in the city is evidently a novel sight for tho public, judging by tho crowd which watched the operation yesterday of felling the big bluegum (which stood at tho south end of the Provincial Council Chambers. The big tree, which must have stood in its late

position for nearly half a century, was dropped neatly on to the river bank, and its removal certainly leaves a gap. However, it was not a, very shapely tree, and it will probably not be missed.

Mr W. Newton, Conciliation Commissioner, who returned to Wellington on Thursday from a vjsit to Nelson, Marlborougli, and Westland, say s that tjio furnituro trade disputes in those districts have been completely settled on the basis of tho Wellington award. With the exception of Taranaki, all industrial districts of New Zealand hav<? adopted the Wellington award. The question of a settlement in Taranaki will come soon before tho northern Commissioner, Mr Harle Giles.

At the annual re-union of the old boys of tho Southland High School, held at Invercargill on Wednesday evening, an amusing story was told of his youthful days by the Hon. J. A. Hanan (President of the Old Boys' AsIn his younger days ho was a sprinter, and in one race which he -won he "wore a. pair of pants "that mother made." In t]ro middle of proceedings tljey split. His colleagues rushed for fig-leaves, but the hon. gentleman won the race, split pants and all. Ho still ljas the "trou." "Sometimes I look at them," ho said However, the climax came tho other day when he discovered ono of his boys wearing the historic qnd treasured nether garments.

Ihe property on Wellington terrace which has been purchased from the trustees of the estate of the Jate Mr Joseph Burno for £8000 with a view to providing a hostel for returned soldiers and sailors consists of an original town aero and a wooden residence of twelve rooms. Mr Burne bought the land about fifty years ago qud erected upon a portion of it a house of one storey fpr his own occupation. Subsequently ha added another storey. After his death tjie trustees partly rebuilt the house for his widow's comfort and convenience. Since Mrs Burne's death about nineteen months < ago the property lias been in charge of a caretaker. The grounds—which are laid out in flower and vegetable gardens, vinery, orchard, with a conservatory, a hothouse, etc.—adjoin the residence of the late Mr W. H. Quick, now in the occupation of the National Efficiency Board.

"Before the first ballot was drawn," stated Captain Cossgrove, Director of Recruiting, in evidence before the Defence Expenditure Commission, Lt Wellington on Wednesday, "the Government. decided that Section 3p (commonly known as the 'Family Shirker clause') of the Military Service . Act .should be brought into operation. This was a unique clause and without precedent in British military history, its working was hedged round with many safeguards that injustice might not bo inflictcd on the innocent—and tho D.R.'s personal attention was required in every detail of procedure at first in order to ensure tho smooth and efficient working of the machinery. It was considered that if the section produced 500 recruits, its insertion in the Act would be justified. It has actually produced 765 who havo gone to camp to date." Speaking at Richmond yostcrday tho Minister ior Internal Affairs,* the Hon. G. W. Russell, made some optimistic remarks with regard to the present statp of affairs in Europe. "Ttie Government has ipformation to the effect that at present tho German line is being held solidly," ho stated, "and there is not the slightest chance, as far as can bo seen, that the Germans will again broak through. Recently

the Government had a period of great anxiety when the -Germans broke through and came within thirty milo3 of Boulogne. Had thpy succeeded in reaching the Channel ports England would have had. to ship her Flanders armies by sea in order that Paris might he saved." Mr Russell roferred to those -who were mourning loved ones they would never seo again, and urged greater sacrifices on the part of the people of the Dominion, in order that tho British Empire might maintain its priceless heritage of liberty. In explaining to tho Defence Ex-

penditure Commission at Wellington~on Wednesday the difficulties he had had to contend with ill organising his staff for dealing with men called iip tiy ballot, Captain Cossgrove, Director uf Recruiting, pointed out that these were accentuated by the employment of untrained hands, those with the experience and knowledge required not available. This could not be helped owing to the demands made upon the country's man-pojver by the war »ncl they had to do the best they ' cou'd under tho circumstances. The untrained staff, ho admitted, had made the most deplorable mistakes. "But," lie said "in justice to that staff, it must be added that they had very good excuses. For instance, the members of the great 'Smith' family who had either made enquiries, been attested as volunteers or drawn in the ballot were a legion in themselves, and had an unfortunate habit of signing their communications as. say, 'John Smith ' when the full Christian name and surname were 'John Archibald Smith.' This caused endless correspondence and loss of i

At Dunedin for betting on licensed premises, Lyndon Ruttledgo was fined £50 and costs. The next communication of the Masonic Grand Lodge of New Zealand will be held in Christchurcli in May next year.

In the Appeal Court at Wellington, in the case re Mclvor, ten guineas costs ■were awarded to the Law Society, not against the Society as reported 'in a telegraphic message. Tho electric current in North Richmond, Shirley, and New Brighton, and in the neighbourhood 0 f St. Albans Park, will be cut off to-morrow between the hours of 7.30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Tho municipal authorities having obtained legal advice on the subject, stato that owing to tho conviction of Cr. H. Hunter on a charge of making a seditious utterance, a by-election must bo hold. Tho by-election, which will bo over the wholo city, consequent on tho abolition of tho wards, will be held 'n about three weeks' time. The secretary of the Canterbury Automobile Association lias received advico that a large number of invalided soldiers will be arriving in Christchurcli to-morrow. Mombors who aro able to assist in conveying the men to their homes are asked to communicate with tho secretary early to-day. Mr Horvey's telephone numbers are: —Business, 3175 and 479; private, 391 G. "I have often told tho North Island people, and I believe it," said the Hon. A. I'. Hawke at the last meeting of tho Bluff Harbour Board, "that in another 50 years Southland will be the most thickly populated area in NewZealand, with tho exception, perhaps, of North Auckland, where there is plenty of moisturo. However, tho soil there is not so good a's ours,"' he added. '

A "street day" in aid of tho lied Cross and Navy League Funds will be held on Wednesday next in connexion with tho grand art union organised 10 swell those funds. Tho art union is being conducted on uniquo lines, and its prizes will include no lees, than eleven valuable thoroughbred racehorses. The secretary, Mr G. L. Donaldson, will bo pleased to bear of any wotild-be lady helpers at the Art Gallery. Unabated interest continues in tho Salvation Army's Congress, which is now being held in this city. Yesterday, in the daytime, tho officers' council was continued, and in tho evening a publh meeting was held in the Citadel, when Commissioner Hodder gavo an address ou "Aggressive Christianity." 10-night a grand festival of music and song will be carried out by a number of special artists, supplemented by the united bands and songsters. To-morrow's "Battle of Souls" will be conducted by Coimuissioner and Mrs Hodder, who will bo assisted by Colonel and Mrs Mclnnes, and a host of visiting staff and field officers.

Tho German prisoners interned at Ripa Island—Count von Luekner, J.iontenant Kireheissj and their servant —

were sent to Auckland on Thursday

night, to bo interned at Motuihi again. Captain C. V. Leeming, M.C., who was in charge of Ripa Island, will return to hjs previous position in tho Defence Department, and tho guard be either absorbed in the New Zealand Garrison Artillery or discharged.

The Auckland manager of tho Union Steam Ship •Company, referring to the matter of trade with Tonga, stated on Wednesday that tho Tongari Premier's remarks as to how New Zealand had been enabled to securo that trade was a striking commentary on the utterances of the president and other members of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, attributing the loss of the Tongan trado wjth New Zealand to the

lack of an up-to-date steamer service, and the indifference of Auckland merchants compared with those in Australia. It might, he said, bp termed flat contradiction. The manager further stated that tho loss to Tonga of a direct steamer to Auckland was, prior to war conditions, necessitated by the falling-off of its own exports, for which tlie Tongan planters were themselves responsible The disease among tho fruit, and the inferior quality of it, as compared with "Fijian fruit, brought the output of fruit down to a negligible quantity. He further stated that warconditions had rerJuccd tho available 1 tonnage for such trades to such an extent that the Tongan Group was fortunate in having such a steamer servico as it )iad, in view of tho fact- that the stealer engaged in it" cpuld bo much more profitably engaged elsewhere. ' ' !

All coughs, recent or chronic, in young or old, yield to Loasby's Stop It. Grocers and chemists. 1

Once a year at least, say on your birthday, you should be photographed at Steffano Webb's, Petersen's Buildings, High street. .Telephone J. 989. 4

"No Rubbing" laundry help, ('Golden Rule" 6oap, "Goldon llule" candles, "Golden Rule" writing tablets. Winning qn their merits. Rpyds Bros, and Kirk. Ltd., wholesale agents for "No Rubbing'' and "Golden Rule." 5

Akaroa's autumn-winter climate, similar to South of France. Roses bloom the year round, and orange trees .grow to perfection. Motor farps: Cliristcliuich, 25s return. 3 General Carrying of all sorts undertaken by J. M. Hpywood and Co., Ltd. Their plant of lioises and vehicles is one of the largest in New Zeahjpd. <j

"Big Ben" still procurable. In spite of difficulty in 'Messrs Hastie, Bull, and Pickering, have secured a limited supply of "Big Ben" and "Sleepmcter' Clocks, which are on sale at their Casliel street warehouso. 207

Special combination mpp outfit, containing 1 dustless mop, 1 dustless duster, 1 oil moj>, 1 bottle oil, only ks 6d the -set. Try Drayton's Emporium, Colombo street. (j Fashions are constantly changing even in wedding rings. The style now is tli-3 curtain ring shape, perfectly round. We can romodel your old ring to the new shape at little expense. Procurable only at Watson's (JcwoUers), Limited. i!

THREE SECOND-HAND CAR, BARGAINS!

Now on. view.—Three fiye-seater touring cars, each newly painted in up-to-date style, and complete frith road equipmentDarraeq (French), £125; Rosal, £145; iSifldoly-Peqsy (British), £2ao. All in running order. Adams, Ltd., Garage, Tuapi stroot. 6