GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16212, 15 May 1918, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

The auction announcements of Harris Bros., R. S. McKenzie and Co., and National Mortgage and Agency Co., will be found on page 11 of this issue.

Public meetings for the purpose of discussing hospital matters nave been called by the clerk of the Waipara County Council as follows: Waipara school, Saturday next, at 7.30 p.m.; Scargill Store, "Friday, 24th inst., at 2.30 p.m.; Omihi school, Friday, 24th inst, at 7.30 p.m.; County Council office, Waikari, Thursday, 23rd inst., at 7.30 p.m.

At the annual meeting of the Wellington Town-Planning Association, a resolution- was passed expressing the opinion that New Zealand should bo represented at the Town-Planning Conference to bo held in Brisbane in August, and that the Government should bo asked for a subsidy towards the expense.

"Couldn't we choose light men ,for the brigade?" was the jocular suggestion made by a member of tho Fire Board last night when members were considering a clause in the superintendent's report, which statod that certain bedsteads, obtained five years ago for the single men, had. turned out unsuitable, being too light in construction, and would need to be replaced. As tho brigade is not a "light brigade," the Board decided to consider tho matter when dealing with the estimates for next year.

About 2CO men belonging to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force aro now undergoing training under tho scheme for tiie re-education of limbless soldiers (writes our London correspondent). lhu first difficulties having boon overcome, they are throwing themselves into the work with great keenness. It- is proposed to issue each man with a certificate when ho finishes his course, and is about to leave lingland, setting forth his qualifications. Besides the two men who returned to Now Zealand after receiving training in artificial limb making, four other men are now being trained at Roekampton. Others will follow in due course.

Tho second number of the journal issued bv St. Andrew's College, Christchurch, is a production fully up to the high standard set by the iirst issue. Tho very attractive cover design creates :i good impression from the outset, an impression which is confirmed by a perusal of the magazine. Tlie > contents of the magazines issued by scholastic institutions are usunlly cf more interest to those intimately connected with tho school than to outsiders, and this is the case with "Thistledown," as tho St. Andrew's College publication is named. Xiiero is a large amount of space devoted to College doings in form and on the playing fields, an excellent account of the opening ceremony at Strowan, aiul a very promising section filled with original contributions, including quite a number of "pomes" of varied meiit. The issue is well illustrated with halftone blocks.

The grobloms of daughters who will not help to support their mothers was discussed at the meeting of the Citizens' Benevolent Association yesterday morning. The Rev. Allen Job, who introduced the subject, said that in carrying' on the committee's work amongst tho poor it was often found that a daughter earning good wages and living in the same house as her mother, refused make adequate contribution to her mother's maintenance, and money liad to be provided out of fcho committee's funds. The Mayor, who presided, snid there was no moans of compelling the girls to help their mothers. The public supplied the Benevolent Committee's funds, and it might not approve of any proposal to refuse help unless a daughter did her share. Tho Rev. F. Rule maintained that the only way to make a girl realise her 'duty was to say "unless you pay we can't help your mother." It was ultimately decided to give individual treatment to each case of the character described.

Tno esponial suitability of the Australian soidier for work in tho Flying Corps, on account of iiis open-air lire and initiative, was referred to last week in the Federal House of Reprpsentatives by Mr McGrath (V.) in tfie course of a question addressed to the Assistant Minister of Defence. He asked whethor representations could not bo made to .General Birdwood as to tho vital necessity of allowing Australians in tho infantry to transfer into tho Royal Flying Corps in England. He knew that thousands of Australians wished to got into this corps, and he know that the British authorities considered the Australian to be one of the best men in flying work. They all knew what an important part the Flying Corps had played in the war, and it would play an over more important part in the future. Tho British wero having to put into the corps plumbers and blacksmiths, while tho Australian forces had thousands of skilled mechanics still in infantry battalions. The British had any amount of aeroplanes, and only wanted the men to take charge of them, but General Birdwood would not send any large number of tho mechanics who wanted to go from the infantry. The AssistantMinister .promised to bring tho matter under the notice of the Minister of Defenco.

The l.atost issue of tlio Christchurch Boys' High School Magazine, like most of its immediate predecessors, is essentially a war number, and. it must be said, a most interesting one at that. Though thirteen or fourteen thousand miles away, old boys at the front do not forget their old school, as is amply evidenced by the large number of interesting letters published in the magazine, and the larger number merely acknowledged. Amongst tho many published are typical letters from such -well-known old boys as Dr. A. J. Orchard. A. T. Donnelly, A. O. Ponder (Rhodes Scholar), G. It. Booth, Clive Garsia, and a host of others, and they make interesting reading for present boys, old! boys, masters, and friends auke. In the case of a seliool that has always instilled into its boys the ethics of national honour, as the Boys' High School lias always done, it is natural that there should be hosts of old boys at the front, and consequently large numbers of casualties, and "several nages of the magazine are devoted to brief biographies and photographs of former pupils who have recently made the supreme sacrifice. There is the usual budget of school news, and altogether the magazine is as bright and as interesting as ever. The headmaster,,Mr C. JO. BevanBrown makes a point of seeing that a copy is posted to every old . boy -with the Forces, a fact "which, judging by the acknowledgments received, is very much appreciated in tho trenches* , —- - I

Between six and seven thousand names are iu jiavc i.t-en to the petition for the release of Messrs Hunter, Flood, and Langley. recently imprisoned for making seditious utterances.

The Christchurch Tramway Board is at present experiencing considerable difficulty in obtaining permanent way labourers. With respect to the Board'*s employees who are Second Division reservists, the number accepted from the last ballot was very small in comparison with the numSer called up.

An active and whole-hearted interest in tho Navy has always been a characteristic of the Christchurch Boys' High School. The school magazine chronicles the fact that Lieutenant Rupert Garsia, of H.M.A.S. Syduev an old boy, has seut tho school'a fine engraving of the Battle of Jutland, and has also made the s:hooi a member oi' tho Naval. Ricoius Sociecv the magaziiu tho school .outs forward wifc'i great pleasure k. the books, pamphlets, logs, and journals of great sea captains issued by the Society.

The keeping quality of a certain locally manufactured brand of butter is surelv worth recording (says the •'Oamaru Mail"). In June "just a resident of Hampden bought a box of it. Durincr August he put a pound of it in a cocoa-tin, packed it in with chocolate, a handkerchief, and scraps of flannelette, roiled the two in a towel, and sewed it up in a despatching it to a brother in "France! A few weeks ago he got a letter paying that it had just been received and that the "butter was lovely." To pass the test of the tropics and a nine months' journey speaks well for the purity ot that brand of butter.

The frontispiece of the latest number of the Christchurch. Boys' iligh School magazine is a particulaily interesting one, making as it does a unique record in the Jife of the school. The ambition of every pupil is to become the senior monitor, or captain of the school, and the photograph :e----ferred to is that of father and ;on who have obtained the coveted honour. Mr T. W. Reese, the well-known Canterbury cricketer and general athlete or former days, was the first senior monitor, in 188-5, and his son, D. W. Reese who bids fair to follow in his father's athletic footsteps, is the present head of the school, a position wliich he also held last year.

The different units of tho Now Zealand Expeditionary Force in the United Kingdom were last year specially complimented for tho amount of work they did in connexion with, agriculture (writes our London correspondent under date of March Bth). Foreseeing a probable shortage of iood, tho command here, in co-operation with the -Vow Zealand War Contingent Association, took steps to utilise for cultivation as much ground as possible. As a result vegetables to the value of about £3000 were grown and used for the local messes. This year about 350 acres have been ploughod, and it is hopcxl tlie result will be t 0 treble last year's production.

A resolution passed at the annual meeting ot tiio LuicoJu was cmbodied in a letter read at tno monthly meeting of tho Christchurch Presbytery yesterday morning. Tlie resolution expressed tho disapproval of the Lincoln Church at tho attitude of the Presbytery in tho matter of conscientious objectors, as being harassing to the National Government and heipful to tho onomy at this critical juncture of the lOmpiro s affairs. fc>peaking on tho resolution, u, member or the Presbytery t said that lie was acquainted with the feeling of the Lincoln congregation, and that they were very earnest in their motion, and thought that tho Presbytery was encouraging those who claimed such release lroin their duties to tho State. In his opinion it should not go out to tho people that tho Presbytery stood behind tuese men. There was no further discussion oil tho matter.

As the 5.H0 car was proceeding to ijiigiitou y<_•&leruuy »i juuipeu tlio points at uiu luup.oppoiiiiu x>ngatiiiig s J (1, UtiUtL'Ull XJlti dlicOli uiiU j- avenue, aua iiui a car lengw ana a nun Doiuio Oeuig puueu up. i-iad it travelled a lew yaius iurtiier it would iiavo ciasiieu niui tno turning of tho loutpatii in close proximity u a teiegrapa jjuaL, winch niigut navo 10ouiuju in I lie eup-iiaiiig or mo car v.lui Us living i reign*. At> it was tno car wtuj lying ngut ataman, bom sets or rails aiuu- benig puiiud up. j.hu uanyway roller gang were quickly on tne scene and. commenced jacking opeiaUons, but these were a matter of time ami diilicuity, aud tno result was taut soveral -New uiiguluii, iUcnnioiiu, and iNortli Beacn cms were lioia up. Finally tno waiting passeugeis for ISuiV Brighton wcio IransieriLU lo u Irani winch. had arrived from tno marine suburb, wniisc the JSortn Beach, iiicnHiiond, and in e\v Brigaton cars behind tho derailed one went oack to Cacuodral square and journeyed to their destinations via AVorcestel- streot.

Yesterday and tho day before the Hon. U. W r . Kusseli, Aiinistor oi Internal Affairs, accompanied by Mr u. IJ.1 J . Mowum, assistant under secretary of tho department, was engaged in c-outh Canterbury going iiuo river board questions. 'me riouth (Jrari ltiver Board wishes to extend its district. At present the district is bounded by tho river and tho Board is experiencing quite a number of difficulties in dealing with the river, winch it considers can only be obviated by it assuming tho control of a further area. It accordingly petitioned the •Minister to liavo included in its district both sides of the river. Flooding is stated to have resulted from consolidation work on the river banks. The willows have not been cut in some cases in the most careful manner, and the branches and roots have been allowed to iioat abotit in all places, and in some cases have blocked the river, resulting in the neighbouring area being flooded. At tho Rangitata the proposal is to constitute a new district to be called tho Rangitata river district. There is already one district known as the Rangitata island. Tho Minister went into both matters very fully and submitted certain proposals to the deputations, which he proposes to go into immediately on his return to Wellington, with a view of arriving at some solution of the difficulty.

At tho Essendon (Melbourne) Police Court a few days ago, Harry Christian Watson was charged with having pretended at Moonee Ponds, on April 14th, to be a medical practitioner, he not being registered under the Medical Act, ISIS. Tho prosecution was launched at tho instigation of the secretary of the British Medical Association. Dofendant swore that he was a medical practitioner, that he had qualilied for the degrees of medicine at Queen's College, Belfast, and had reI ceived his diploma from the Royal University of Ireland. He left England on iSeptember 11th, 15)13, as ship's surgeon on the Corinthic, a White Star liner, but on landing in Wellington he was released from his appointment, as liis wife was seriously ill. Later ho went to New South Wales and took up lodge -work at Burwood, was a mine doctor at Mudgee, and medical superintendent at the Waratah Hospital. Ho also had held a position under the Government. On arrival in Victoria he was offered a certain appointment, and he went to tho Medical Board and paid a fee for registration He then commenced practising, as at the. time he did not tiiiuk anything further was required. When he heard that the Medical Board had raised objections he immediately took down his name plat© and ceased practising. He swore that he was the man described in the diplon>as; but admitted that the seal on tho diploma was n"ot the correct seal of the university. Tho Bench found that j there had been a contravention of the Act, and that "the charge had been | proved to the hilt." Watson was fined i £50, with, £9 13s ooste, J

The annual reunion of tho New Brighton Red Cross Sociotv will he held in the Pier Hall to-night at 3 o'clock.

A Wellington telegram states thai Cabinet lias offered Mrs Hall, wife of one of the victims of tho Runanga murder, £1000 as a compassionate allowance.

We congratulato our local evening contemporary, the "Star," on the <-ttaiunient yesterday of its jubilee, which it has celebrated by issuing an interesting illustrated supplement to its readers.

The National Executive of the United Federation of Labour, on the application of fifty Auckland unions, has decided to call an open congress of all unions, affiliated and unaffiliated, to be held in Wellington in July, to study_ the question ot industrial conscription as recently brought down in tho Finance Bill.

Lnder date of March Stli, our London .correspondent writes:—The need ot a hostel in London to accommodate New Zealand officers on leave lias been felt with increasing insistency. Miss Close, an liuglish lady, some time ago made a donation of £1000 to equip tho A.I.F. and N.Z.E.F. Officers' Club, at Marble Arch. She is now making a further contribution towards tho extension of tho club, which will be renamed the Now Zealand Officers' Club, and will accommodate 60 officers.

An extraordinary operation was performed upon Private W. Rock, a returned soldier, of Tenterfield (X.S.W.), by a Sydney surgeon (says tho Sydney "'Sun Rock was severely wounded in the head and leg, and invalided homo. The injury to his head was so severe that a silver plato w.'is placed over the bullet hole, but proved altogether unsatisfactory. In tho operation, which was performed in Sydney, the, plate was removed from his head, and the whole of one rib and portion of another taken out and grafted on to the head. The operation was an unqualified success.

The Christchurch Boys' High School opened this year with a record roll of 340, nearly 100 more than last year, necessitating the addition to the staff of tivo new teachers. The latest magazine of the school remarks: "This increase in numbers has not only necessitated ji larger staff, but has raised the question of adding to, or ro-building, the school. It has not yet been settled what is to be done, but we have heard* that it has Leon proposed by tho authorities to shift the school out into one of the suburbs. How far this is advisable is u very debatable matter, and whether it will come to pass is still in tlie 'lap of the gods.' "

Speaking at a patriotic function in Melbourne last \voek 3 tho GovernorGeneral of Australia, Sir • Itonald Munro Ferguson, said the duty of a nation now was to be trained in mind, in hand, and in eye. Tho nation, said his Excellecy, that acquirod such training would come to the front. He had no greater interest than in seeing a ladder provided from tho primary schools to the universities. There should be such a linking-up in the school system as would lead from tho lowest grade to the highest, and make it possible for any competent child to vise without hindrance to the highest position in learning or in the State.

The Christchurch Boys' High School t old hoys of all ages and periods at the front, from boys who were at school in the 'eighties to those who were there last year. One of them IT. P. Seymour, writes as follows, and his letter is in the latest number of the school magazine:—"l am probably the oldest scholar or your school fighting, as I entered it the first day it was opened in the eighties. J have been 'over the on two occasions, once at Messincs and once at Basseville, and in the h'eavv nghting at J asschendaele. ... On account of niv age (51), I hnvo now been put on traffic control, which keeps us constantly under shell-fire, but wo get much better quarters.''

There were only two offenders brought Lcfore Mr T. A. B. Bailey, 0.M., at tlic sitting ol the Juvenile Court yesterday. Those wore two small boys ;igod 14 and 12A respectively, who were charged with stealing a iady's handbag, the contents of which were valued at Ji9s. The boys had taken the bag, which liad been left behind by a lady sitting beside them in a picture show, and liad purchased with the money a toy revolver and several electric torches. Both lad.3 admitted their guilt. The elder was committed to U'eraroa and the younger to Stoke, the sentences to bo suspended while they bohaved themselves and were not seen in fcach otiler's company.

There was considerable excitement in some portions of. Mosman (Sydney) a few days ago when a report circulated through the district thut a naval engagement was in progress some distance from Sydney Heads. Explosions could be heard frequently, and soon the headlands were dotted with people, many of whom carried telescopes and fieldglasses. They scanned the horizon with these, but could find no trace of the "combatants." A number of women locked up their houses and left hurriedly for the city, where they thought they would be sale. Military officials stated that 110 phots had been fired from any of the forts, and the officers were at a loss to understand how the excitement was occasioned. It was subsequently ascertained that extensive blasting operations were being carricd out at Manly, and apparently these explosions were mistaken for gunfire.

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

Great business is being done in Ladies' French Velour Hats at Armstrong's, their values being very pronounced—also in the new American "Henderson" hat, lor which the firm are sole agents. - 1

Stewart Robinson's Boot Emporium, Cashel street.—Commencing to-day, a stock-taking boot sale, when sdmo oOl) pairs boots and shoes will be cleared out regardless of cost. 1

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

For progressive people! "No Rubbing" laundry help, "Golden Ruie" soap, "Golden Rule" candles. Kincaids, Ltd. 3

A special purchase made of gents' double-breasted Tweed Overcoats orovides Aimstrong's, Ltd.. a further'opportunity of demonstrating their famous values. _ Handsome coats 35s 6d, 455, 555, 67s 6d. 2

There's Cold Weather Ahe.'id. —Our Sales have already commenced for the new season's Hot Water Bags, the product of England's largest and best rubber factories. Clean, fresh stock, just opened at Ashbv, Bergh and Co., Ltd., High street. 2

"Big Ben" still procurable. In spito of difficulty in shipping, Messrs Hastie, Bull, and Pickering, hare secured a limited supply of "Big Ben" and "Sleepmeter" Clocks, which aro on salo at their Cashel street warehouse. 207

Hats for men; now shapes find shades in felts, 4s lid, 5s lid, 8s lid, 12s 6d. at Armstrong's. 3

Oculists' Prescriptions. —Having our own machinery and a largo stock of lenses and spectacle fittings, you can safely trust your prescription work to us. Charges moderate. Repairs to frames and broken lenses matched Walter J. Watson, D.8.0.A., London, Optical Specialist, 095 Colombo street. 1

THREE SECOND-HAND CAR BARGAINS. Now on view.—Three five-seator touring cars, each neivly painted in up-to-date stvle, and complete with road equipment":—Darracq (French), £125; £145; (British), 250 ' All in running order. Adams, Ltd., Garage, Tuam fitroot, fl