GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16211, 14 May 1918, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

At Duncdin .yesterday Arthur Chapman' Smith, solicitor, was fined £11) and costs for failing to cause his trust accounts to Ijo audited. T. E. AVhitfield, 9 Campbell street, Sumner, engineer, Class C, Second Division, enlisted in Chiistchurch yesterday; We have received from Mr and Mrs L. 0. Gardiner, Hinau street, liiccarton, a cheque for £25 for tho Uritj ish Prisoners of War Fund, and one for tho sume amount for tho Melchants Seamen's Fund. . AVe have forwarded the chcqucs to the hon. treasurers of the respective funds. In addition to the reward of £200 offered for information leading to the arrest of Onslow Ma.vhew for the Gemmcll's Crossing murder, a sum of £50 is offered, if he is dead, for tho discovery of his body. In the case of more than one claimant for tho rewards they will be divided at the discretion of the Commissioner of Police. At n meeting called by the Canterbury Trades and Labour Council and held on Saturday evening, the following motion was unanimously carried:— '"Ihis meeting of unionists strongly protests against placing in tho hands of tho present Government the power which any system of industrial con-1 scription would give them." Passengers by the express from the south last evening were surprised to notice a smart girl with the usual telegraph messenger's bag slung over her shoulder passing promptly from car to car at Halclutna. calling tlie names of several passengers for whom she had telegrams (says Saturday's Dunedin' "Star"), It may be added that she was quick in finding the people she wanted, and in this branch of tho service at least she was moat capably filling the requirements of the I oflico as well as any boy could have done.

No fewer tlmp nine applications were made at the opening of the criminal sessions of the Supreme Court yesterday for exemption from service on the common jury. In the majority of cases the ground for asking to be relieved was the shortage of labour. His Honour Mr Justice Herdman, whilst expressing sympathy with these applicants, remarked that if he granted exemption because of shortage of labour, he ought; to exempt every member of the jury Only two exemptions were granted— one in respect of an applicant who produced a doctor's cortilicate, and the other 111 resp«ct of a man who was over age.

At a well-attended meeting of the members of the Canterbury branch nf the New Zealand Society of Accountants held last night, and presided over ¥. v , L - L - Cordery, an address on "British Commerce and Its Outlook " was given by Mr 11. J. Marriner. After the war the greatest problem to be lacecTby the Empire, Mr Marriner said, ■was connected with commerce, and the manner in which the problem -was solved would decide whether or not the future of tho JLnipu'o was to bo one of de* cadence. Ihe present war, from one aspect was being fought for the commercial supremacy of_ the whole world. i ° preparations already made by Germ any to capturo trade after tho war > tfi° British Empire must utilise the whole of its factories to their greatest capacity, jind must see that British ships conveyed the output of such factories to every country in tho worfcl. There must be a greater increase in production than was the case after the Napoleonic wars. The Empire must keep its hold on its raw materials, and on its minerals. They must also grapplo with the question of preferential tariffs throughout the Empire; unless it -was handled properly they would fail. Such a tariff was the " biggesthandle the Empire ever had, and it would be a thousand pities if the Empire did not make use of it. Once preferential tariffs were established throughout the British Emnire, then Germany's commerce of the past would be gone. A vote of thanks was accorded Mr Marriner for his interesting and instructive address.

The Christchurch draft of the 42nd Reinforcements leaves for camp next Monday evening. In connexion ivith the 42nd Reinforcements, the recruiting authorities appeal for 500 recruits. An election to fill the vacancy on the Lyttelton Borough Council, caused by the resignation of Mr C. H. Agar, will be held on June tith. Nominations close at noon on 30th inst. On Thursday morning last it is reported that 200 motor-cars passed ever the Eakaia bridge, and with bne or two exceptions tliey were bound for the Ashburton races. Mr H. M. Cotton, the well-known stock auctioneer for Messrs Dalgetv and Co.. had a very fortunate escape from a serious accident on Papanui road yesterday afternoon. While motoring in from the country the back axle of the car broke, and the off-hind wheel and the contents of the brake drum came completely off. The car skidded along the road, being smartly brought up without anyone being hurt. ° In the sporting pages of the "Weekly Press," published to-day:—Old-time Racing; Sport in Wartime, by Wavfaror; Great Northern Prospects, by •Spectator; Betting Systems, by Antis*thenes; Racing at Ashburton. by Looker-on: Stallion Fees in England • An Australian Racehorse in Russia; Imported Horses in Australia; Racecourse Rows; Trotting at Forbury Park by Searchlight; Ancestral Speed Development as a Breeding Factor • A Sportsman from the Golden Age of' Fox Hunting; Sullivan and Mitchell - Their Prize Ring Match Recalled; Golf: The Importance of Waggling. The shortage of petrol, which is worrying the owners of internal combustion engines just now, was rcs'jonsible for quite a breeze at the meeting of the Wannairi Countv Council yesterday. The motor-boat which works the weed-cutter in the river Styx may probably havo to be laid up * unless petiol can be obtained, and a» serious position might arise if the adjoining farm lands were flooded. Cr. Sisson. hi the course of quite a violent speech alleged that there was a shocking waste of petrol by the Council in running the motor-lorry which was used in connexion with the electric li"-ht maintenance. The lorry used the petrol, and the result was that the weed-cutter had to go short. The effect was that an essential work had to be curtailed for the benefit of a work which lie considered to be anything but necessary. The motorlorry was running about at all hours and much of the work done by it could <T° n0 , b y a hicyclo or a horse and trap. After some lively discussion it was decided that in future the weedcutter should have the' preference over the Jorry. «l»«f? lin § red V , wear y> low-spirited, feh'o' • f' oash y 8 Tonic ami .Blood Jinricher will euro you. 3 Once n year at least, say on your you should be photographed at feteftano Webb's, Petersen's Buildings, High street. Telephone 1989. 4 The delight of thrifty wives! "Golden Rule' soap, 'Golden Rule" candles, Ao Rubbing laundry help. 'Phono your orders—YVardoll Bros, and Co. 2 You can depond upon every thine being done promptly and well if you only hand your shipping documents to J. M. Hcyuood and Co., Ltd, They are recognised as exports at this work lelephones 250, 1241, and 2174. 6 Special combination mop outfit containing 1 dustless mop, l dustkvss duster, 1 oil mo]>, 1 bottle oil, only fcs od the set. Try Drayton's Emporium, Colombo street. J 1 as..ions arc constantly changing oven in wedding rings. The style now is thj curtain ring shape, perfectly round. Wo can remodel your old ring to the new shape at little expense. Procurable only at Watson's (Jcwollors), Limited.

THREE SECOND-HAND CAB BARGAINS.

.Now on view.—Three five-seator toming cars, each nowly painted in up-to-date style, and complete with road equipment:—Darracq (French), £125 • £ . 1 , 45 ; Siddely-Deasy (British),' fr, „ All m runnm g ordor. Adams, Ltd., Garage, Tuam stroet. 6

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)