GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16213, 16 May 1918, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

The official list of casualties in connexion with the New Zealand Forces up to May Gth gives a total of 45,387, including 12..811 dead.

Mr F. Kibblewhito, who was asked to stand for the Papanui-Xcw Brighton district at the coming Tramway Board elections, has replied that he will be unable to be a candidate.

Throe days have elapsed since ' K»e ©scape of Itobert Dickson "Warden from tho Paparua Prison, but in spito of police vigilance, and the operations of search parties, he is still at large. Although tho prisoner's escape was apparently prompted by opportunity rather than premeditation, it is, of course, possible that he may have friends in tho neigbDoyrhood, in which case it will be a very difficult matter to unearth him- so long as he "lies low."

Mr A. F. Wright, of Messrs 3>uncan and Cotterill, yesterday filed in the Supreme Court a statement of claim at tho suit of the Hon. the AttorneyGeneral, in re tue Mayor of Spreydon v. tlie Christcliurch Tramways Board. The matter is one in which an injunction prayed for. restraining the Board from treating tho Hackthorno road extension as a separate tramway; also for an injunction restraining the Board from making charges against the earnings of the extension for depreciation and _ renewals beforo making charges for interest and sinking fund. The decision in the matter will affect the other special rating areas in connexion with other tramway extensions, with the exception of the St. Martin's extension, and special rating area, which, is on a different basis.

The Supreme Court at Timaru jesterday was occupied with the hearing of a charge against a Dutchman named Willie De Winter, of obtaining about £60 from John S. Rutherford, of Albury, by falsely representing a quantity of cotton materials as Irish linen. Accused was found guilty and was fined £'60.

"It is not every man who will eat porridge," remarked Colonel Potter before the Defence Commission, at Wellington, on Monday, while (iiscussitig tho matter of rations. "But wo had one good man for porridge recently. He was in the habit of consuming the porridgo rations of the six men in his tent. His comrades were not porridge eaters, and he took their share very comfortably."

The new Technical Library department at. the Public Library is situated in the gallery of tho Reference Library, and will be open free to the public from 10 a.m. until 9.30 p.m. daily. Accommodation has been provided for the readers, and already about 100 volumes dealing with commerce, etc., are available for use, and about 200 works of a technical nature are also ready. In due course a large number of new and up-to-date volumes will be placed in-the section.

April was a very successful month in all departments of tho Public Library. Eighty-seven new members wero enrolled, i\nd 10/227 volumes were issued from thb Lending Library, as compared with 8337 for the*same month last year. Tho Reference Library was frequented hv a very_ largo number of people daily, and i!l~2l volumes wero consulted, as against 1613 for April last year. In tho Juvcnilo Library 16(55 volumes were taken out for home reading, and the membership now stands at 069 boys and girls.

Yesterday an energotic sale of art union tickets was pursued in the Square and principal streots of the city by a number of young ladies. Tho tickets were disposed of at ono shilling, a modest sum when it is remembered that tho prizes are eleven racehorses. Yesterday's sales were on behalf of tho Red Cross and Navy League funds. As an inducement to "those who might be embarrassed by winning a racehorse, it. has boen arranged that if desired tho prize will be sold by auction, and tho cash proceeds handed to the winner within fourteen days.

Painful evidence of the condition of some of our returned soldiers was provided by an incident which occurred in "\Villis street, "Wellington, on Monday (says the "Dominion"). A man, who had only recently returned from France, was walking up-town with his wife, when, without any warning, he suddenly collapsed, and jn falling struck his liead severely on the pavement. in an unconscious ..condition ho was car" ried into a refreshment room, where a gentleman who evidently knew what lie was about, attended to the sufferer. Ice was applied to his head, and m about a quarter of an hour tho man camc round, gradually arriving'at an understanding as to what had taken place. It was ascertained that tho man was returned to New Zealand as a sufferer from shell-shock.

"They have a clearing place for German prisoners at , ' says nil extract from a letter received by a Wellington resident from England, "and thoy are drafted from there to nil parts of the country. Von Tirfcntz's son, who was among one draft ot prisoners, passed-a sentry, and in doing so spat at him. The sentry threw down his rifle, went for him, and punched and pommelled him well. Of course he was had up, and given tlu-ee days' C.8., not, he w.as told, because he had struck the German (because le would have been within his rights to bayonet him), but because he had put down his rftle. The sentry told the men who told me the tale that he would have done six days' C.B. for tho pleasure it gave him to thrash the German."

Tho centenary of tho British and ■Foreign Sailors' Society is to be celebrated on May wnen it,has been decided, in response to an appeal from .Lady Jellicoe, to have a street collection in aid of the society. A new scheme has boon evolved, which should help considerably towards the success of the collection. A number of business, firms in this city have promised to allow thoir employees to collect outside their premises, guaranteeing to keep the position occupied throughout the day. The spells for each collector should not bo long enough td» fatigue her, but tho length of it could bo divided between tho employees willing to give their • services. Other teams arc being' arranged, and, of course, there is room for any willing helpers. Two hundred collectors are required.

When a British vessel is torpedoed, it does not mean the uud of tne mail matter, as the following letter from the New Zealand Base Army Post Oihce, Mount. Pleasant, ixindon, which has been forwarded to a iady at Kaiapoi, shows: —"I liavo to advise you that a parcel from New Zealand, addressed to you (Private No. O-OUilOl) lias been received hero, after being salved from a torpedoed ship, with the contents, a cake, in such a state it was nccessary to destroy it. A letter, which was enclosed, is forwarded herewith.—Fred Holdsworth, Major, Director Army Postal Service." To another soldier on sorvicc intimation was sent that an empty tin, which was forwarded, had contained a little sugar, which had beon dissolved by tho sea water. The memoranda enclosed in the parcels in both cases were written in ink pcncil, and reached tho sendors in a fairly legible condition.

At yesterday's meeting of the executive of the Canterbury Patriotic Fund, Mr A. C. Maxwell moved: "That this executive of the Canterbury Patriotic Fund urge upon the Government the desirability of providing soldiers who are patients or out-patients of hospitals and similar institutions with suitable hospital uniforms." In, bringing tho motion before the meeting, Mr Aiaxwell stated that soldiers were frequently in hospital who wero not provided with suitable clothing in the way of uniforms. One case was mentioned where a soldier for three weeks was confined to bed because his sole article of attire was a hat. Mr Maxwell stated that in the Old Country soldier-patients were provided with a hospital uniform, and, in his opinion, in some eases a man's chances of recovery would be improved by his being provided with a uniform distinct from the one he wore when he received his injury.. The motion was carried.

The appointment of an official .of the Railway Department to the position of Assistant-Director of Recruiting was criticised by a deputation from the Auckland Returned Soldiers which waited upon the Minister of Defence at Auckland. Mr F. Andrews, secietary of the Association, said that his, executive had passed a resolution to the effect that in view of the fact that there were about 20,000 returned soldiers in the country, and that the Railway Department hod not been able to release all the reservists in its service who had boon drawn in the ballot, this position might have teen filled by an eJJ.cient returned soldier. His executive felt that such a man might have been found, and that the appointment was not in accordance with the policy of giving preference to returned men'. _ Sir James Allen said that the position was a very difficult one, and the Railway Department had not been over-willing to allow the officer in question to take it. It was one requiring office and Departmental experience. It had been filled by the railway officer in the interests of efficiency, and they had tried to select the best man available. Mr J. Melling asked if there was not a great shortage' of men in the Railway Department. The Minister replied thct this Department was cutting down its services, and, therefore, had more men to spare.

Tho secretary of the Canterbury Automobile Association lids received advico from the Dofence Department that a transport conveying 112 invalided soldiers will arrive at Lyttelton to-morrow. About 70 cars will be required. Those members who can assist in conveying tho men to their respective -homes are asked to eommunirate with the secretary; telephones: Business 3170 and 479, private 3916. The approximate time of arrival will be announced later.

Last week, number ono cable across Cool; Strait, which stretches from Oterangi Bay, near Torawhiti, to White's Bay, in Marlborough, parted. Tests have been made by .Mr. Shrimpton, telegraph engineer. Wellington, and it was found that the break was some 300 yards from tho shore in Oterangi Bay, in only five fathoms of water. A Wellington telegram states that a suitablo opportunity will bo seized to repair the. broken cable, which was chafed "through on a ridge of rocks, by moans of a surfboat. It is not expertr-d to be a difficult job in fair weather.

At tho monthly meeting of the Wnitaki High School Board of Governors held yesterday (says an On in am Press Association message), a report from the rector showed the popularity and tho widespread fame of the school. Mr Milner, after mentioning that of tins year's boarders 100 come from the North Island, added: "Three boarders come from Australia, two from the Philippine Islands (one of them being head bov of the school this year), and T have a definite application* for entry for 1919 from Rhodesia. 'Next term a boy enters from Rabaul, New Guinea."

The suggestion was made to Sir James Allen by a deputation from Llie Returned Soldiers' Association at Auckland, that legislation might be introduced declaring Anzac Day a close holiday, on which all business promises should be cjpsed. It was stated that there was a strong feeling that the day should be kept as sacred as Good Friday. It was mentioned, says the "Herald," that hardly anv of tile large business places of Auckland had closed on the afternoon of Aj>ril 25th in response to the Mayor's invitation. Sir James Allen said he agreed that Anzac Dav should bo suitably recognised. While he. did not think it should be celebrated as a dny of deep mourning, it certainly should not be regarded as a iestivo holiday. He promised to bring the suggestion before the notice of Cabinet.

Inferring to the proposal to secure the Holnibrnok estato, Southbridge, as j>. training farm for returned soldiers, Mr A. Boyle, chairman of tho Agricultural and Farming Committee, informed tho Patriotic Fund executive yesterday that tho committee had'arrived at the conclusion that it was impossible to carry out the scheme proposed, and they were writing to the Government to that effect, but i hoping that they would secure similar facilities at a later date At a later stage the Mayor (Mr 11. Holland) said he regretted that the offer had not been better taken tin by returned soldiers. The committee thought there would be a better chance in a couple of years' time. Mr A. C. Maxwell raid some returned men seemed to be very much in tho dark as to how they should go about things. The secretary (Mr W. A. Smith} said all the information necessary was contained in tho Soldiers' Handbook.

There was not a single ease of a soldier' being found by -the military authorities in a public bar in Auckland on the day of the recent arrival of a draft of returned men from England, when tho hotels wee placed out of bounds. The officer commanding the district, Colonel G. W. S. Patterson, states, however, that in spite of that fact tho observance of the order depended largely on the hotelkeepers. Colonel Patterson has addressed letters to the various licensees thanking them for their loyal support in tho matter. He has pointed out that,the object of placing the hotels out' of bounds is to uphold tho good name the New Zealand soldiers have made for themselves. "Many of these men are invalids," says Colonel Patterson, in tho course of his letters, ''and have not had liquor for some considerable time, and the previous results have shown that as soon as they partake of liquor, however small tho quantity may be, it has disastrous effects upon them.''

.Evidently tho reservist who shirks his duty by being reported "missing" alter tiie notification reaches him that he has beon called on for service, is not so far to seek in Southland (says the Invercargill "Times"). A party of sportsmen from Invercargill who penetrated inland beyond Mossburn a fow weeks ago, bring back a tafo which smacks faintly of the advontures and lives of the outlaws of tho days of old. It is stated that close to whore the party were camped, no fewor than nine deserters had made their tomporary homo. Supported in their tale by a complete, set of tho required instruments, tho men had stated that they were surveyors. They lived on what they shot (it is said every man had a j'ifle) roinforced by stores purchased from, the nearest settlement. The tale runs that the police got to hoar of tho party, and tho "surveyors" got to henr of the suspicions of the police, so one day they "trekked," it is presumed, to the West Coast.

When a man goes to a tailor in these days to order q sujt of clothes lie is asked to pay anything up to £7 10s, according to the quality of tho material (says the Wanganui "Herald"). As an illustration of the increased cost of material which has' brought about this position, a tailor mentions that his firm in 1914 paid for a certain serge 9s per. yard; now they are paying 18s 3d per yard. Before the war the best sorgo they used for their suits cost 12s Gd or 13s a yard. The average cost of a suit length used to be about 30s, while now it is over £2, and, this being only the average, tho cost of a length of the materials in which the rise of price is highest is considerably bigger. Linings and other finishing materials have undergone corresponding increases in price. As to quality, it is still possible to obtain good materials, according to tho tailor in question. Some cloths, of course, are very inferior and hardly worth the making up, hut others are as good as they ever were. The present price of clothes is a strong incentive to economy, and many a suit which in the old days would have done for gardening is now taken to be renovated and restored to respectability for another term.

All kinds of trusses at Loasby's. Stocks getting short, and no supplies arriving. Purchase now. Loasby. 2

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

.\o one likes moving, but the wor* can be made much lighter if competent men are employed. J M. Heywood and Co., Ltd., havo them, and three up-to-date pantechnicons. Telephones 250, 1241, and 2174. G

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

Speci.il combination mop outfit, containing 1 .dustless mop, 1 dustless duster, 1 oil mop, 1 bottle oil, onlj?' &s lid the set. Try Drayton's Emporium, Colombo street. 6

Fashions are constantly changing oven in wedding rings. Tiic style now is th 3 curtain ring shape, perfectly round. AVe can remodel your old ring to the new shape at little expense. Procurable only at Watson's (Jewellers), Limited. 2 THREE SECOND-HAND CAR BARGAINS. Xow 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 fciddely-Deasy (British), £250. All in running order. Adams, Ltd., Garage, Tuam street, 6