GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16362, 6 November 1918, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

It is particularly requested that all letters intended for the Editor, or any other matter for publication, shall be addressed to "The Editor of The Press'," and not to any member of the staff by name, as the latter course is likely to lead to delay and inconvenience.

The R.M.S. iloana is expected at Wellington this morning from San Francisco via ports. She is bringing passengers, cargo and mails.

The auction announcements of the X«w Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Harris Bros., Claridge and Smitfi, Jones, McCro6tie and Co., and' Tonks, Norton and Co., will be found on page 11 of this issue.

| All the Canterbury rivers were re- ' ported clear ypsterday, except the south branch of the Waimakanri, which was discoloured.

The annual competition for the Snow Shield between Christ's College and Boys' High School, which was postponed on account of the influenza epidemic, will take place on the 20-h inst.

A Wellington states that the New Zealand University Board of Studies passed a resolution that the present system of external examination should be replaced l - a method that would give more weight to the work of students during their courses.

The Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister of Internal Affairs, has telegraphed the Mayor (Mr H. Holland) that owing to the serious nature of the influenza epidemic in Auckland, he regrets that it will b® impossible for him to bo in Christchurch in time to attend the Progress League's Conference to-morrow.

In connexion with the death of the late Rev. C. l£. Garland, principal of the Methodist Theological Institute, Auckland, a brief memorial service will oe held in the Durham street Methodist Church from noon till half-past twelve to-day, corresponding with the time of the funeral service in Auckland.

Three pupils of the Canterbury Aviation Company passed for thoir tickets yesterday morning, namely, E. J. Parker (Christchurch), G. Purvis (Fa tea), and R. Homo (Morton Mains). Colonel R. A. Chaffey, 0.8. E., Y.D., and Major W. C. Morrison, were tho examining officers. Up to date 170 pupils of the school have gained their tickets.

A bugle competition, open to all buglers in the British forces, took place in France on the 2nd of August. _ Thero were a largo number of entries, including some who had been for twelve years in tho Imperial Army. Tho winner was found in Bugler Leslie Napier, of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, who scored 176 out of 180 points, the next highest being 26 points behind. The successful New Zealander is the son of Mr A. Napier, Mornington, Dunedin, and as a hoy was bugler at the Mornington School.

Legislation :'s to be brought down at this session of Parliament extending tho privileges of the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act to returned soldiers on indefinite leave. The matt"* was brought under the notice of t-ro Dopartmont by Mr W. T. Jennings, M.P. for Taumarunui, who pointed out that although these men were practicilly discharged, they were debarred from the benefit of the Act. The Department has noyv informed Mr Jennings that amending legislation will be brought down to include such soldiers in the list of exemptions mentiohed in Section 3, Sub-section 2, of the Act.

A "Gazette" extraordinary, issued yesterday, contains additional regulations relative to declarations required from persons landing in New Zealand from places beyond the seas, providing that declarations may be required by any officer of the Customs Department or police officer. The definition of "ship" in the regulations is amended to .mean any description of vessel used in navigation, whether seagoing or not, other than a vessel propelled exclusively by oars, and also includes any lighter, barge, _ boat, or other vessel used in connexion -with the loading or unloading of a ship.

October was a very busy month at the Public Library. There were 11,406 volumes issued from the lending library, or 480 more than the total for October last yoar. In the juvenile library 1935 volumes were taken out, and in the reference library 2712 volumes were consulted, as compared with 1857 for the same month last year. A large number of new books were received during the past month, 70 being placed in the lending library, 125 in the reference, and 46 in the juvenile department. Several now and important publications have been added to the technical and commercial library, this section now containing some 600 volumes.

There was only a Bhort sitting of the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning before Mr S. E. McCarthy, S.M. A male first offender was convicted of drunkenness and fined ss, with the usual alternative. M. Brown, a second offender, was fined lCs, or 48 hours' imprisonment. A. L. P. Gibbons, for whom Mr Sargent appeared, came before the Court in connexion with an order that had been cancelled giving him access to his children, who were in an industrial home. His "Worship said the caucellation of tho order could r.ot be disturbed, as he had found that he had no jurisdiction in the matter. The applicant would hive to communicate with the Minister of Education regarding the matter.

The Southland League has received a very fine sample of wood cut from a »vellingtonia gigantia (American great pine) grown at "Greenwood," Tuturau, by Mr A. G. Clement. The tree was grown from seed planted in 1876 and felled in 1917, so that the age would bo -i years. The height was 80ft, and it was '4ft Bin in diameter at from the ground. As showing the rapidity of growth, several of the annual rings are upwards of three-eighths of an inch. The timber has a nice, straight grain, and is easily worked. As a comparison, another tree of the same species was measured at Queenstown by the Royal Commission on Forestry in 1913, with the following results:—Age of tree 40 years, height 80ft, diameter at sft from the ground 4ft. Another specimen in the Whakarewarewa Plantation, Rotorua, only 14 years of age, was 65ft in height, 3ft sin in diameter at sft from the ground.

"Whon I left England, I was definitely given to understand that I would be granted two weeks' furlough for every year of service," said Lieutenant W* F. Stillwell, M.C., a Main Body soldier, in applying for extension of leave before the Service Board at Auckland. On reaching New Zealand Lieutenant Stillwell said he had learned that he was to have only three weeks' leave. This had been extended by the Defence Department, but he now desired extra time, in order to sit for his law examination next month, and to complete personal arrangements. He had been studying hard ever since he returned, and had not even had time to visit his lelatives. When war broke out he was just about to complete his studies, but had enlisted, and both his prospects and his finances had suffered accordingly. He had been present at both tho landing and evacuation of Gallipoli, was granted his commission in the field, and, having been wounded, was eventually sent home on duty furlough. The Board took a sympathetic -"iew of the application, and granted extension of leave until January.

The longest continuous fence in the world is that which stretches from the South Coast of Western Australia at Starvation Board Harbour, to 'the North Coast at Banningarra, a distance of over 1200 miles. This wonderful fence, of woven wire netting, is designed to stop the inroads of rabbits from the eastern desert and semi-desert regions into the more westerly agricultural districts, which are as yet comparatively free from the pest. The fence, which not only forms an impassable barrier to the rabbits, but which is also sheep and pig proof, runs for hundreds of miles through waterless regions seldom visited by man in the ordinary way, though inspectors, appointed and paid by the patrol its entire length at intervals, in order to seo that everything is all right, and to cany out repairs where necessary. In addition to this main barrier fence, there are also similar fences inside tho agricultural areas it protects, which connect up with the main fence, and with one another, the whole forming a protective network designed to keep the rabbit pest -well within control, tho total length of the entire system being over 2000 miles. Occuprers of land within the fenced districts are compelled by law to destroy all rabbits on their holdings.

A meeting will be held in the Coro- j nation Hall, Spreydon, on Tuesday, 19th inst.. at < ■ to comsiuor the advisability or wmding up the Sprevdon Fire brigade and the disposal of the funds and plant in hand.

Tn +hn li=t of chief mourners at the funeral of the late Mr G. W. Clarkson, the name of Mr Obed Caygill should have been included, and the name of Mr Wincey Clarkscn should have appeared in "the list of those who attended.

The Auckland City Council has accepted an offer of a Iccal fii m to take the fish offal and rejected fish from its fish market, for fertilising purposes, at 10s a ton for offal and 20s a ton for fish, for four years, subject to the offal being handled in accordance with the sanitary by-laws.

Captain Hall Thompson, Naval Adviser to the Government, reports that on the morning of October 31st, in heavy weather, the Anchor Line steamer Waunea. on the way from Wanganui to Greymouth, observed a floating mine off Cape Farewell, and after considerable trouble Miccesded in sinking it.

At the Wellington Supreme Court yesterday, Fanny Mary Allison Mcivenzie and Hilda Martin were charged with abandoning a child in the Convent grounds at Kilbirnie. McKenzie pleaded yjilty, and her case was adjourned to obtain'evidence from Nelson. A verdictof not guilty was returned in the case of Martin.

Considaiation has been given by the Reserves Committer of the Auckland City Council to the Civic League's request tliat tue Council should support the movement to have the Hon. G. W. Russell's Town Planning Bill made mandatory. The ooirmittee is of opinion + hat_ if the oxisting powers granted municipalities were enlarged somewhat there would b® n ° necessity for a separate Town Planning Bill, and it does not favour the mandatory powers proposed in tho Bill as being calculated to iuvolvo local bodies in excessive and burdensome liabilities.

In the days before the war Marshal Foch was an enthusiastic golfer, and took spocial lessons from a professional. He played a slow and cautious game, with a very useful handicap of 12. He had (says tho "Daily Express") a quite amusing hatred of losing balls, and in the evening, after dinner, would stroll out with a string bag and collect any ho could find. Once he cam© in triumphant after a long walk in the dusk with quito a collection, found with the aid of an eloctric flashlight. He used to express regret that his countrymen did not take to the game with any enthusiasm.

In the course of his address to the Grand Jury at the Supreme Court at Wellington on Monday, his Honour Mr Justice Chapman referred to a series of charges against an auctioneer —charges of having failed to account for moneys. "I presume," said his Hoa"> ir, "that the defence of a contra account or semething of that sort will be put up. It is, however, the duty of a man who obtains a liconse and sots up as « n auctioneer when he sells an article to account for it. Should there l-o any cause of delay he should pay it into a special account, a trust ac;o-mt. Ihe Legislature rightly insists on that.

There is great rojoicing amongst the Syrians of Wellington, and throughout the Dominion, at the Turkish collapse, and at a hastily convened meeting of tho Syrian community of Wellington, held at the week end, a motion was carried rejoicing at the defeat aand surrender of the Sultan's forces, and congratulating the Allies on the achievement of a victory which involved Jie emancipation of tne Eastern Christians, who have for centuries been under the domination of Turkey. It was decided to forward a copy of the resolution to the Premier, and to ask him to communicate it to the Governor-General.

Yesterday morning the scholars of the School for the Deaf, together with the children from the bumner Borougn School, formed up in procession and marclied thiough tbo various streets or the borough, waving flags to the tune of the beating of keiosene tins and other instruments, musical and otherwise. Tho whole of the children, together with their teachers and a large gathering of the public, assembled outside the Council Chambers, where the Mayor, the Hon. John Barr, M.L.C., in a short speech, referred to the position tho Empire had reached in supporting freedom and liberty—our boys had fought and defended freedom. There was one more step to make, but the fight was practically at the finish. The- destruction of homes in Europe would soon be over, and stopped for many generations to come. He hoped they would soon all meet together again for the declaration of peace. (Applause.) The proceedings terminated with the singing .of the National Anthem, and cheers being given for the boys at tho front and the Allied armies. Afterwards the school children all marched to St. Leonards square, where a programme of sports was carried out.

It is stated that the four military jeserters from Christchurch who were recently arrested in the Lakes district went into hiding with about £50 wortfc. of food in their possession, and that supplies having fallen short, they were on their way to replenish their larder ;f possible when taken into custody (says the "Southland Times"). They had no firearms in their possession, and were reduced to snaring rabbits and catching fish, presumably trout, from Lake Mavora, to eke out an existence. They wore very careful about lighting fires, and when they did so they made tea in large quantities and smoked fish for future use. It is stated that when they visited outlying shepherds' huts they wero very careful not to take flour and other necessaries in anything like noticeable quantities, hence their raids passed unnoticed. On one occasion a party in search of the men were very close to their quarry, but neither party had any suspicion of the proximity of tho other. The boots of the wanderers had given out at the time of their capture, but they had ample funds with which to replace them if they could have done so safely, as tliey possessed funds to tho amount of £4tj when they fell into the hands of th© authorities.

Loasby and Co., chemists, announce that business is now being conducted in their new and up-to-date pharmacy, cr. Cashel and Colombo streets (opp. Ballantyne's.) 1

Armstrong's, th© leading Cash Drapers, will remain open until 9 o'clock to-morrow, Thursday jiight, and close all day Friday. Show uay. I

The Retail Grocers of Christchurch announce that they wili be open for business until: —Nine o'clock Thursday nkrht, Closed all day Friday (Show B-ay), Closed as usual 1 o'clock Saturday. 1

Record breaking business done at Stewart Robinson's. General satisfaction expressed with the high quality and low prices of goods sold. hundreds of bargains still loft. Call and secure yours to-day, at Stewart Robinson's, Cashel Etreet "West. 5

Rendezvous Tea Rooms, which were not able to bo opened on Tuesday, wnl b- opened to-dav at 10.30 a.m. by his Worship the Mayor. _ The day's proceeds will go to the Navy League. 1

Efficiency Plough Lift. —A demonstration of* this clever invention will be given to-day and to-morrow (Thursday), between and 11 a.m.. on the old Exhibition Grounds ni :h.o North Park. We have seen this "lift operated with consummate ease on a throe-furrow plough by ti schoolgirl feniteon vears cf 1? urmers and others wilo are being inconvenienced bv the laok of strong, able-bodiifd ploughmen can by means of this simple attachment cut their ploughing cost -.n half, and at the same time secure increased efficiency. Wherever' this lift has boon used it has secured the highest commendation. _ "We earnestly advise our firmer friends to visit the North Park to-day. 6

The most efficient way to meet the influenza epidemic is to place a B.D.L. "Cubetto" in the lavatory, and hang one up in the living room or schoolroom.* Sprinkle a little "Brittol" in sinks and drains. Manufactured by the British Distillate., Ltd., Sockburn. Sold everywhere. 1

To-day and to-morrow Armstrong, Ltd., make special showing of millinery, costumes, blouses, gloves, and neckware, for the present season. 3

An engagement ring is the symbol of so much sentiment that it should be chosen with care and discrimination. If you have a ring purchase in view consult Watson's, Jewellers, Ltd., who have one of the finest selection of diamond rings in the Dominion. Any design made to order. Watson's, Jewellers, Ltd., Colombo street. Christchurch.

My wife is a tiger for '"NO RUBBlXtr" Laundry Help. She makes a terrible noise if Kincaid's, Ltd., run out of it. Christchurch Husband. 3

First-class Cutlery, A 1 quality; Old English design Teaspoons, lis t3d the half-dozen: Desserts, 17s Gd; Tables, 22s 6d. Housekeepers requiring liigaciass goods should try Drayton s, Colombo street. "

The after-effects of Influenza are tho worst. Much present and future sufferin" may be avoided with a few doses of our Special Influenza Mixture, 2s 6cl bottle. E. Cameron Smith, Chemist, 9o "Worcester street (just off Square). 6

Famine in Hard ware_ Trade. —The following lines which aro in veiy short supply, may still be had at Messrs Hastie, Bull and Pickering's Cashel street: Scythes, Scythe Handles. Axes, "One Man" Saws, Screwing and Boring Tcols and all Engineers' Tools, Lathe Chucks, Screws for Metal and Fowl Netting, Roofing Material, Cutlery, Scissors of all kinds, etc. 1

Armstrong's, the_ leading Cash Drapers, will remain open until 0 o'clock to-morrow, Thursday night, and close all day Friday, Show Day. 2 Fordson Tractors—The Farm Tractor of proved ability. First shipment to arrive in New Zealand early in November. Anticipated price £320, f.0.b., Timaru. Full particulars, Canterbury Motor Co., Ltd. 1 The brilliancy and beauty of the Diamond Rings showing in Cyril K. Whale's window in Cashel street commands the attention of all prospective purchasers. For the quality in evidence the values are exceptional. 6 FOR SALE —LATEST MODEL ROVER, £430. Now on view at garage, latest model Overseas Rover, 3-seater, electiio lamps, 5 detachable wheels, full road equipment. Has had very careful usage, and is in excellent condition. An exceptional opportunity to secure a high-grade English car. Adams, Ltd., Uarage, 219 Tuam street. 6 BARGAINS IN SECOND-HAND MOTOR CARS. Now on view and ready for fiale: — Sunbeam 5-seater, exceptionally good condition. Driven only by one v owner, Mr J. Matson. Five detachable wheels and tyres; 4-speed gear-box. magneto, full equipment, £350. 20 h.p. Flanders, 5-seater, just overhauled and re-painted, five new tyres, full equipment. Call and arrange for trial run, £150. Wolseley motor delivery van, 12-16 h.p., capacity about 15cwt., complete with tools, screen, etc. Free driving tuition given, £210. K.R.I .T 3-seater, re-modelled, very cosy body; 5 wire wheels. Price for quick sa.e, £150. Adams, Ltd., 219 Tuam street. 0