GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16273, 25 July 1918, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

"Christchurch and Lyttelton Under Snow' will be the principal subject illustrated in next week's "Weekly Press," which will be a number of exceptional interest for our soldiers and. other friends at a distance. A considerable extra printing of the last three issues has failed each time to satisfy the demand, and already orders are being booked for the paper of July 31st. The management will be glad if other intending purchasers will placo their orders as early as possible, because, owing to the paper shortage, it is undesirable to print more than the actual number of copies ordered. It is hoped that this timely notice will prevent disappointment. The Canterbury and West Coast names drawn in tho last ballot of Class C of the Second Division will bo found on pages 4 and 5. At a meeting of tho New Zealand Hockey Association held last night, it wa3 decided to inaugurate a competition among the schools of the Dominion anad to provide a challenge trophy. An appellant before the Second Canterbury Military Service Board yesterday was Mr C. S. Thomas, the wellknown local solicitor. Mr Thomas, who was drawn in a recent ballot, merely asked for time until October, that ho might place a returned soldier in charge of °his business. Mr Thomas explained that when the war broke out ho was in London, and he enlisted within a few hours, but was rejected. Returning to New Zealand, he had twice volunteered, and each time he had been turned down. He had now been classed CI, and, as he was in solo charge of an extensive business, he asked that ho should be allowed time to make the ariangcments indicated. His request was granted*

Advice has been received that the following mails have been lost at sea:— Auckland to Valparaiso, Auckland to Buenos Ayros, Auckland to Mont© Video. Mail matter posted at Auckland after 8 p.m. on January 3rd up to 10 a.m. on February Bth would bo included in the lost mails. The findings of district courts-martial held at Trenthaui have been confirmed of tho Commandant, Now Zealand M.litarv Forces, and are promulgated as under:—For disobeying a lawful command given by his superior officer, Private W. T. Virtue was sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour f?r two years. For desertion and losing by neglect their accoutrements, Privates A. Bastard and L. A. Mousley wero sentenced to detention for ninety days. In connexion with the Tramway Copper Trail, a violin recital will be given in the Choral Hall on Saturday night by Miss Gladys Viucent, assisted by -Madame Clarice Holgato, Miss Marion Woodhouse, Mr F. C. Penfold, and_ thei Christchureh Lyric Four. Miss Lilian Harper will be the accompanist. Each patron will receive half of tho value or the price of admission in tickets for the Lucky Number Competition, in which the first prize is a war bond for £ICQ. Mr H. Bliss, junr., president of tho Dairymen's Association, states that the Association has received notice from the secretary of the Board of Trade to the effect that the Board does not intend to meet the producers of milk at the present juncture, but may take their evidence at a later date. The price fixed by tho Association, namely, Is 2d per gallon, will thciefore be charged until further notice. Mr Bliss, who has been unwell, has been unable to call a meeting to report the result of the interview between the deputation from the Association and the Board of Trade. The custody of tho badge of the New Zealand Returned Sold.ers' Association is a matter of great importance. .Each returned soldier on joining the organisation receives an issue of tho badge with his regimental number engraved thereon as a mark of his membership, and is the only person authorised to wear it. Any breach of this regulation constitutes an offence, as was illustrated by the committee of the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association at its meeting last week, when a member had his membership suspended for three months for lending his badge to an unauthorised perFon who used it for the purpose of evading his militaiy obligations. An important gathering of the Ngatiwhatua tribe was held at Reweti, in the Kaipara district, t-o discuss Maori matters, and particularly in relation to recruiting. About 2GO Natives from that Jtaori Council district wore present, including Mr Tau Henaro, M.P., who spoke at some length on conscription, pointing out that the tribe was so well represented in the Army that it was excluded from conscription. Over 600 of its young men had enlisted, and tho rocord of the Ngatiwhatua tribe was so worthy of its traditions that tho Government had decided that it had done its share as regards man-power so worthily that conscription would not bo applied in this district. A letter received recently by Sir James Allen conveys tho following resolution of tho Council of the Royal Colonial Institute: "That the Council of the Royal Colonial Institute is of opinion that the separation of the control of Imperial matters from that,of the domestic affairs of the Mother Country is urgently nocessary, and that tho settlement of the future Constitution of the United Kingdom is an essential preliminary to the discussion of the future government of tho Empire at the special Imperial Conference to be summoned at the conclusion of the war." In his reply, Sir James states: "I am in agreement gonerally with tho resolution." . Captain Beere, who has been a dental officer with the N.Z.E.F. during three years and a half, inspected tho' dental clinic at Trent ham recently. In a letter to Sir James Allen, Captain Beere — writing with a personal knowledge of tho dental clinics of England, Canada, and Australia —remarks: —The clinic is not so elaborately fitted up as some of the Canadian arid Australian clinics, but there is ample accommodation and; sufficient equipment for all commonsense purposes. Not only do I consider this to, be the bost organisation, but the system is carried out more thoroughly in every detail than in any other clinic that I have seen. I think that no other dental unit is carrying out its particular system as the Trentham system is being carricd out."

Our Akaroa correspondent writes:— In years gone by, besides its cheese and cocksfoot, tho Peninsula was noted, and justly so, for its large thriving families. The rocord number of "olive branches" in one household, was, ono is credibly informed, no fewer than 28! One almost hears the horrified exclamation of many of the matrons of those times as the simple fact is stated. Still, the youngsters of two or . three generations ago lived and waxed strong, and have become a power in the land. All this is 'brought to mind by "an interesting ovent" that occurred in a Peninsula family not fifty miles from Akaroa, towards the end of last week. Tho "interesting event" was not a singlo, nor yet a doublo arrival. It was verily a case of trinlets!!! At last advice mother and babies were doing well. The recent iire at the Waltham Orphanage, while it did not do much damage to tho building, resulted in a rather serious loss to tho inmates. Tho portion of the building in which, the fire occurred contained tne children's little library of picture books, which was completely destroyed. It is thought that in many homes there are many books of tho description that delight youngsters. Having been finished with, it is suggested that tho loss by the fire might be repaired if these, or books from other sources, were forwarded to the matron. Doubtless gifts of suitable books would be groatly appreciated by the little ones in the Orphanage. At yesterday's meeting of the Hospital Board, the chairman (Mr F. Horrell) said lie hoped that mombers would bring the matter to the attention of their friends. Following on a recent statement that emp oyment is extremely scarce just now, a "New Zealand Times'' reporter ascertained. on Monday that the position in Wellington shows no sign of improving. Day after day the official in charge of tho Government Labour Bureau is bombarded with applications from able-bodied men seeking a livelihood, and his answer invariably is, "Nothing doing." Practically all that can be offered is work in tho West Coast coal mines, and it is very difficult to induce the average worker to become a miner. On the other hand, some unscrupulous individuals apply to the Department and are asked to travel some distance, in many cases to tho South Island. The question of transit is arranged by tho Department, which, however, learns subsequently that the men have never put in an appearance on the job.

To the surprise of tho military authorities, a battle-scarrod tank, fresh from many encounters on the battlofields of France, was landed in Melbourne a few days ago from a steamer which had arrived from Great Britain. Somo time ago news was received tlxat a tank, the gift of tho Imperial authorities. which was being sent to Australia to bo employed in connexion with recruiting and patriotic appeals, had been lost at sea. The military authorities cabled to the British War Office requesting that another tank should be sent to replace the one which was lost, and as it was impossible for a vessol to have completed a trip from Great Britain since the despatch of tho message, the arrival of this particular tank has given rise to considerable speculation (says the "Argus"). The probabilities are either that the reported loss of the original tank was incorrect. or that the British War Office, on learning that the first tank had been lost, had immediately sent one to replace it.

Three false alarms within an hour were sent in to the Central Fire Station last night.

The badges of rank, as announced some time ago, are to disappear from, the sleeves of officers' tunics. It is statod in General Orders this week that, "in pursuance of Army Council's instructions, badges of rank should be worn by officers only on the shoulderstraps of field service jackets. Officers in possession of service jackets with badges (and braid) on tho cuffs may continue wearing them in this manner until the jacket is worn out, as it is considered impracticable to suitably alter the cuffs to give effect to the instructions of tho Army Council in the matter, owing to shortage of necessary materials, etc. All new jackets will, however, require to conform with_ the Army Council's instructions by having badges of rank on the shoulder-straps only.'

Tho exceptionally rigorous weather experienced recontiy suggested to Mr W. H. Cooper the desirableness of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board increasing the allowances to recipients of cbaritaole aid, and at yesterday's meeting of the Board he moved that widows with families of four should receive at loafct £1 per head; los to deserted wives with children dependent oil them, and 10s to other families. Mr H; B. Sorensen seconded the motion, but ho and other speakers raised objection to any statod sum being fixed, preferring to leave the measure of assistance to tho discretion of tho Charitable Aid Committee. Ultimately it was docided to authorise tha Charitable Aid Committoe to grant additional assistance at once to recipients of charitable aid. Mr Cooper stated that the Board had under its care: —22 widows, representing 100 persons; 8 deserted wives, 26 persons; and 41 cases of sickness and old age, 93 persons; total 224 persons. Thero wero also 20 cases in tno country, representing 69 persons.

Having been judged an by a New Zealand Court, Charles H. Schulz, hairdresser, Norwich street, appealed on these grounds to the Second Canterbury Military Service Board yesterday. The chairman, Mr H. W. Bishop, remarked that he remembered tho appellant, whom he had had occasion to fine for endeavouring to change his name. It was stated that appellant was of German parentage, though ho had been born in London. Mr Bishop thereupon emphatically stated that New Zealand wanted no Germans to fight for her. Personally, he would not trust a German further than he could see him. Even titled Germans at Homo had shown themselves the greatest traitors. He was not, he said, reflecting on the appellant personally, but on Germans as a whole, and, as had happened in former cases, if the Board passed tho man on. the military authorities would not ha,vo him. It was tho man's misfortune that he had German blood in him, and in conclusion Mr Bishop stated that his feelings with regard to Germans were not likely to be altered as long as he lived. The appeal was eventually dismissed, and any further proceedings will therefore lio with the military authorities. Tuero was a large congregation in the Trinity Congregational Church last nignt, when tiie "Recognition tier vice" ior tne new pastor, tne lie v. George E. .Moore, M.A., was held. • The Rev. H. Ahen Job presided, and made a statement of church principles, and otners who assisted in the service were tho Rev. W. Tanner, who delivered tho Recognition prayer, and tho Rev. A. E. Hunt, of Wellington, secretary of tho Congregational Union, who addressed tho now minister and people. Tho Rev. A. T. Thompson welcomed Mr Moore on behalf of the Christehurch Ministers' Association, and the Rev. G. E. Moore gavo his statement. In this ho referred to a recent cartoon in "Punch," which depicted th© Kaiser by a roadside calvary, and the speaker explained its significance. Choice was given of tho two roads, tho road of temporal power and the spiritual path, and it would bo shown that the latter must prevail. Mr Moore said ho hoped to make his church a factor in tho community, and to work for social salvation rather than individual .salvation. At the conclusion of the service a social gathering was held in tho hall, supper being served by the ladies of the congregation.

Feeling tired, weary, low-spirited, sleepless." Loasby's Nerve Tonic and Blood Enricher will cure you. 3 The week-end sale of homemade food supplies at the Red Cross Sales I>epot, Cathedral square, will bo in charge of the ( Women's National Reserve, who will hav© on offer the usual supply of country produce and delicacies. 1 No me likes moving, but the wor* can be made n-uch lighter if competent men are employed. J. M. Heywood and Co., Ltd., have them, and three up-to-date pantechnicons. Telephones 250, 1241, and 2174. ' 6 There are a good many photographic obligations you have never paid. Call on Steffano Webb at once, 252 High street, Christchurch. Telephone 1989. 6 Quick Optical Repairs—When your eyeglasses get broken, it is most important that you should got the correct lenses fitted again. We have the machinery and large stock essential for correct optical repairs. Walter J. Watson, D.8.0.A. (London), Expert Optician. 3 "No Rubbing" Laundry Help does tho washing while you rest! Is 3d packet sufficient for seven large family washings. Kincaid's, Ltd. 3 Drayton's Specials.—Coal buckets, 2s 3d; cinder sieves, 4s 6d; Thermos flasks, 6s 6d; English-made wringers, 27s Gd. Guaranteod one year. Try Colombo street (North). 3 Electric Pocket Lamps. If in search of a useful Electric Torch, you will find the latest improved kind at Ash by, Bergh's. They are simple, satisfactoiy, and cheap. A real boon to motorists. Ashby, Bergh, and Co., Ltd., High street. 1 For Departing Soldiers. —Tho New "Gillette" Safety Razor, with, unbreakable mirror completej 255; Autostrop Razors, "Seven o'Clock" Razors, Wristlet Watcho3, Money Belts, Wallets, Knives, etc. Hastie, Bull, and Pickering, Ltd., Cashol stroet. 6 Stewart Robinson announces to-day a special sale of goloshes and gum boots, and hundreds of pairs are now available at reduced prices. 6

STUDEBAKER DELIVERS MAILS ON TIME THROUGH SNOW. The great snowstorm of Sunday, July 21st, disorganised a good many mail and other delivery services, but r.no district of Tai Tapu, which had its lull share of snow, was fortunate in having a district mail contractor, Mr C. Suckling, who possesses a 4-cylinder Studebaker car. Tliis car left Tai Tapu nt schedule time, 8.15 a.m., on the Monday morning, and, loaded with nine adult passengers, luggage, and mails, bowled gaily off to Clnistchurch on top gear, averaging 20 miles an hour. 'J ne Sunnysido tram service being disorganised, " the car came right in to the Christchurch Post Office, and Dia''s were delivered on schedule time. Ln returning to Tai Tapu the car .vas loaded with bread, and made deliveries all round the district. Through the staunchness of this Studebaker car residents of Tai Tapu have also received their city newspapers regularly each morning since the storm. Mr Suckling, who has had experience of several other famous makes of car, says in a letter to Adams, Ltd.: ''The Studebaker is the best proposition I have ever handled for work in suowv weather.''