GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16396, 16 December 1918, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

\ cablo message states that the news, papers in England will not publish on Christmas Day or Boxing Day. The holiday tram timetable will bo in force on the "Cashmere llills-St. Albans. Sumner, and North Beach lines to-day. Cheap excursion tickets will not be sold. ■V Mnsterton fruiterer was advised from Auckland on Saturday that no American apples, Fiji oranges or Rarotonga bananas would bo available until after Christmas. Tt is announced in a London inwsprre published in Australia, that the Foreign Office has leaded an hotel m Paris for the accommodation of the Peace Congress delegates and officials. A staff of 200 officials and clerks, headed by Mr A. J. Balfour, Foreign Secretary, has gone to Paris. A sign of the new times is in the calling of tenders for roofing iron of some In:tments and other material? at the military camps. Portions of 1 rentliam and Fcnthorston Camps are boing dismantled, but sufficient of the buildings will be l?ft for other purposes ol tho Defonce Department. A special meeting of tho City Council will be held to-morrow at 8.30 p.m., to consider, and, if approved, pass a resolution rcvokine the special order made on January 28th, 1916, adopting the provisions of the Local Flections (Proportional Representation) Act, 1014. The ordinary meeting of the Council will bo lickl at 7.30 p.m. oil tho same day. A knot of interested people gathered round a large scvon-scater 12-1G h.p. Bcls'/.e motor-far which stood outside the Central Influenza Dc*pot during the noon hour on Saturday. Under instructions from Mr J. Sutton of tho Dominion Hotel, Mr W. H. Jennings, of Messrs Pyne and Co., auctioned it free of charge on behalf of the Influenza Relief Fund. The bidding started at £70. and the hammer eventually fell at £100, in favour of Mr H. Horner, of Christehurch. A country resident who prided himself on his resourcefulness, not having a clinical thermometer to take the temperature of a patient who was suffering from influenza, attempted to do so with ti dairy thermometer (says tho "Tarauaki llerald"), and rang up. a doctor to report his achievement. "What was his temperature?" asked the medical man. "Two hundred and ton" was the reply. "Oh," said the medico calmly, "What you want is a fire-engine, not a doctor?'

The Undor-Secretnry of Public Works has written to the secretary of tho local Tramwaymen's Union, in continuance of his letter of the 4th inst., the substance of which was published in "The Press," stating that the Ministor had adopted Mr Hunter's suggestion, and issued an additional warrant, authorising Mr S. E. McCarthy, S.M., to enquire and report as to whether or not the accident at New Brighton, a.s the result of which Conductor Owers died, was due to dofeetive equipment'of tho car or cars which caused the injuries.

It is reported (says the Wellington "Post") that v/hen tho armistice was declared, evon though it meant defeat for their country, tho majority of tho German prisoners on Somes Island wore greatly overjoyed at the prospect of their release. They donned their best clothes in anticipation, but they were very downcast later when thoy read tho terms of the armistice, which stipulated they were still to be lcept prisoners of war while British prisoners in Germany were to bo repatriated! They, at any rate, immediately appreciated tho difference betwoen defeat and victory, even if their countrymen in Germany do not appear to do so to-day. "Old Go if or'" writes: "Your memoir of the late Mr 10. D. O'liorke omitted to mention that it is largely clue to him that the Christchurcli Golf Club established the present links at Shirley. Tho club, which wanted a course on which it could play all the year round and not only in the winter, as in Hagley Park, tried unsuccessfully to mako a course first at Ferrvmead and then at Russley. Mr O'liorko, then a prominent member of tho club, saw the possibilities of tho Shirley country, and was successful in moving the club to take a lease of the land, which at first was only sufficient for a nine-hole course. To commemorate his connexion with tho move to Shirley one of the holes, guarded by a big natural bunker, was named O'Rorke's Drift." Some interesting sidelights on the influenza onidemic are given in a letter received l>y a Dunedin resident from his brother, who was one of f» party of V.A.D. workers among the Maoris in the Auckland province. The writer states that undoubtedly many of tho Natives died Tiri. of thoir fatalistic ideas. When a few deaths occurred at the commencement of tho onidemic they woro quite convinced that there was no hopo of recovery if attacked by the disease, and the V.A.D.'s experienced groat difficulty in combating this idea. An instance, not without its humorous side, was given bv tho writer of the Maoris' fatalism. When the voluntary workers visited Opotiki they found among the patients a Native lad about nine years of age. and so cortain was the mother that ho must dio' that a carrier had been despatched for a coffin, which arrivod shortly afterwards i'ortunatel.v it was seen by the pakelia worker before tho mother had been informed of its arrival, and she was informed that the carrier had had to return without it. The Maori lad rocovered. The Zoaland Press delegation which went to England, paid a warm tribute to the work ol the women in war 1 ™ ; 8 ' aiJ d Y their efforts meant in J l6 E^Piro - I'i the aro fiirtVi/» rOSS * , comin S out this week aro further pictures of the English w-omen at work that splendidly confirm nthpr Vil -n 01 '? of - tlle d °legation. The other war illustrations are most interesting from the memories they revive n™ -P. artlc : u ' a rlv 60 are those of the hy Queen Alexandra of the W p h? v^ rse Cavell and the opon+fc« - S Urse Cavell memorial home 2 s S ° P Z%r ie Bfitish Labour 6ch es indifferent services. Everywhere m the Dominion the fight against tht S™W e r tk imaiu, at Temuka, and at Ohrkt{J" rc K h . and these picture® will doubtless bo greatly treasured by the stnffo High'cLtLSrlf th l that the following goods th* tion of which into the United Kin °d o m is prohibited, are allowed delivery if imported from British Dominions: A — ?1) inlT S MWftivo of consignee. (1) Sugai and molasses, in quantities not exceeding lib however imported! (-) Other prohibited goods—(a) If sent by parcel post and obviously intend^ to ' f ddl ' l e j lSee f (does not extend to M ticks of gold, Sliver, or jewellery exceeding £l m value per parcel), (b) As bona fide personal effects in passengers baggage in reasonable quanlmif s ( ' imited in t,le "se of tea to 101b, of spirits to one liquid gallon, and of books and periodical publications to one copy of each publication or! issuo per passenger). < e ) Maps and l plans, newspapers, magazines, periodi- j xals, price-lists, and books by parcel' •post, provided each parcel does not exceed <lb in weight. 8.-—Additional concession for goods consigned to oversea troops: (1) Sugar and molasses—j 80-ia fide gifts sent to members of ' oversea contingents or Allied troops. (2) All goods consigned to one of the institutions approved for receiving. dutiable goods duty free. |

The price of gas in Auckland is to be increased from New Year to 6s 10c! per 1000 ft, owing to the increased cost of coal and labour.

\ notice appears in the "Gazetto" conferring on the Wairewa County Council the powers of Borough Councils with respect to lighting and the supply of electricity. Quite a flutter has been caused in Auckland by the announcement of the Auckland Savings Bank that after tho New Year all mortgages not bearing more than 4 per cent, are to bo loaded up to G per cent. A Press Association message from Wellington states that a "Gazetto extraordinary" has been issued revoking the Order-in-Council fixing the maximum prices for oranges, lemons, vegetables, apples, and fish in Wellington city. The cancellation of tho registration of tlio following unions is notified in the "Gazette": Christehurch Export Slaughtermen's, Christchnreh Farriers, Christehurch Ilorse and Commercial Motor Drivers, and South Canterbury Plumbers', Gasfitters, and Sheet-metal Workers. Tho Management Committee of the Otngo Educational Institute has protested against the inadequacy of the increases granted by Parliament to teachers' salaries, pointing out that Cabinet and Parliament have acted in direct opposition to tho opinions expressed by the public throughout New Zealand. Advico has be»n received that, the Union Co.'s cargo steamer Korori, which was due at Sydney last Fridi.v from San Francisco, has on board 100 tons of mail matter. The mail will probably include correspondence from tho United Kingdom and Europe, and a large portion will no 'doubt be for Now Zealand. B-fore Mr S. E. McCarthy S.M.. at the Magistrate's on Saturday, Daniel Bonrlco was fined 20s for drunkenness, in default, seven days' imprisonment, and Frederick Seelen, a man with 12 children, who was charged with drunkenness and a breach of his prohibition order, was remanded till tomorrow to so? if arrangements could bo made for his admission to Roto Roa. At St. Michael's Church last evening, the Rev. Otho Fitzgerald, who is a son of tho first superintendent of the Canterbury province; spoko from the text "While we have tho opportunity," and gave in the course of nis address some interesting sidelights on lifo and conditions in early Canterbury, more particularly with regard to the ecclesiastical conditions.

Tho North Canterbury Goal Merchants' Association annouucctl recently that a proposal was being considered to close the coal yards from December 24th to January 3rd. A local merchant stated on Saturday that a similar proposal had been put forward last year, and it was hoped this year to carry it into effect, and perhaps make it annual, so as to provido a suitable holiday for employees. The Auckland Post and Telegraph Association has forwarded a protest to tho Postmaster-General against the de-

cision of Cabinet not to pay the war ' bonus before the end of January. It is L stated (says a Press Association mesJ sage) that Sir Joseph Ward promised j th© delegates of the Association that the bonus would be doubled this year, and j that the first of two instalments would t bo paid before Christmas. i We have received' from Miss M. J. ( Hood, matron, Christehurch Trained j Nurses' Club, £1 towards St. Savi iour's Orphanage, which we are for- . warding to the Bishop of Christ- . church. Wo willingly published the . Bishop's appeal, but regret that, in ■ view of pressure on our space and tho • numerous anpeals before the public, we cannot undertake to receive and acknowledge subscriptions. ! It is really delightful (says tho "Wai- , rarapa Times") to see the confidence , some men have in their wives. In the Magistrate's Court on Thursday, reply- ( ing to counsel as to whether it was not possible that a wife had received certain money and not told the husband about it, the husband said: "I have I fteon married to my wife for thirty yenrs, and she has never done anything unboknown to mo, and I don't believe sha wo aid do such a thing." The "New Zealand Free Lance Christmas Annual" for 1918 is bright i and entertaining and is thoroughly redolcnfc of tho Christmas season. Its 56 pages are profusely illustrated with amusing cartoons by leading artists and various stories and verse from the pens of Well-known New Zealand writers. Amongst the pictures is a double-page drawing in half-tone, entitled "The Roturn of the Second Division: Daddy's Welcome Home," by D. H. Souter, the well-known Sydney "Bulletin" artist. At a meeting of the Canterbury branch of tho Now Zealand Locomotive Engineers, Firemen, and Cleaners' Association, hold yesterday,. the following resolution was carried:—"That wo desire to thank the Miners' Unions and members of the A.S.R.S. (particularly the traffic men) for their expressions of loyalty to the locomotive men in tho fight they are waging for improved conditions; etc. Wo feel pleased to know that any expression appearing in tho Wellington papers to the contrary is not an expression of tho rank and file of the A.S.R.S." The prevailing opinion of the "man. in the street," that tho prices of things aro going to "come down with a run,'' now that tho war is over, is causing not a little concern among commercial houses, reports the "Wanganui Chronicle." The matter is a 6erious one for them, but from the buyer's point of view tho policy is unwise. The consensus of opinion of business men is that the prospects of a reduction in prices are not very bright, but in order to restore the confidenco of tho public the Chamber of Commerce proposes to secure the unbiased opinion of the best independent authorities in New Zealand and at Home that it can obtain. A medical correspondent who worked at his profession in London during tho last great influenza pandemic in the 'nineties, told the "Dominion" that in tho gastro-intestinal typo of influenza; the appendix is often acutely involved, and some medical authorities explained! the increased frequency of appendicitis in these years by the theory that it is a complication or sequela of influenza. The correspondent adds: "Inot-e in your columns that appendicitis is following influenza in the present pandemic. Tho respiratory type of influenza frequently 'lights up' tuberculosis of the lungs ■which has remained quiescent for years, hence the reason for special car© in. convalescing after influenza." Some discussion took place at this week'B meeting of the Taranaki Education Board on the question of the salary of teachers returning from military service who are given leave without pay. The chairman pointed out that some of the men who had been released from camp were in the position of losing th© holiday pay that would be received by tcacliers wno had not been to camp, because their military pay would cease, and they would not bo able to take up their positions under the Board before January 21st. This, he thought, was not fair to the men who had made sacrifices on behalf of their country, and he thought the Department should at least pay their salaries from the time of their discharge until they took up their old or other appointments under the Board. Other members supported the chairman's view, but it was jpointcd out that some difficulty might arise over I delay on the part of "men in taking up appointments. Ultimately it was re- ' solved that representations be made to the Department, with reference to th© payment of salaries of so!d : ers who havo recently returned from military duties, during the interval between the date of their military pay ceasirg, and the dat© of resuming or being offered their previous appointments or similar appomtments, this to apply also to any soldier returning to New Zealand in the future. I

The superintendent of the Cliristclnirch Telegraph Office notifies that all telephone exchange connexions for •.vhich subscriptions are ilot paid at noon to-morrow, will be cut off.

Superior perfumery at Loasby'smnke splondid Xmas gifts. Atkinson aud Yardlcy's perfumes in cut glass bottles and presentation caskets. Old Engl sh Lavender Water and Kau do C-ologue. Best English and French hair brushes for ladies and gentlemen, and manicure sets in unexcelled variety and value at Lonsbv's, Chemists. 1

The Rod Cross Sales Depot, Cathedral souarc, will re-open on Tuesday next, when- the committee will be pleased to receive donations of fruit, vegetables, dairy produce, or anything saleable, for the benefit of the sick and wounded. 1

"Quality'' gcnd>! for Yuletide gifts. Messrs Hastie, Bull and Pickering are again offering a very tine selection of unique gifts, combining beauty, utility, and sterling value. H4752-SGI

Eyes Right! Are they? If not, ennio along at once to "Watsons, Jewellers and Opticians, and let our expert optometrists examine your eyes. "We can tell you what- is wrong and make it right. Eyesight tested by latest scientific methods, and the right glasses supplied at shortest notice. "Watsons, "Jewellers," Limited, 605 Colombo street, Christehurch (next IlineaidsV 2

Every fancy and wliim is anticipated, and cacli person's buying capacity catcrcd for at the Gift Goods Exhibition at Armstrong's. 1

The more you uso "No Rubbing" Laundry ITelp* the better yon like it. Is packet sufficient for seven weekly family washings. N.Z. Farmers' Coop. 1

Royal Doulton "Ware just arrived. Have first choice for Christmas. Plaquoa 4s Gd, jugs 4s Gd, teapots, salads in Dickens, Shakespeare, coach scenes, etc., on view at Drayton's, 765 Colombo street. 6

Opened yesterday for Chrstmos T ade —150 Gent's Tweed Suits, nice browns and greys, oos Gd, G9s Gd. 7os; also full ranges of Boys' Suits, si:'.es 4 to 18— strong cloths* at low to medium prices. Armstrong's, Limited. 2

Nowadays a sovereign doesn't go far, wn<l one is set a rare task in choosing Christmar gifts. Dainty porfumes, soans, bath salts, and face powders make pleasing and inexpensive gifts. See our stocks. E. Cameron Smith, Chemist, 9G "Worcester streot (just off Square). SB4G4-513 New Ranges Gent's Raincoats, for holiday or any wear, all sizes, nice shades', 39s Od, 49s Gd, 57s Gd, G9s 6d. Groat goods. At Armstrong's. 3 1 INVITATION~TO INSPECT THE NEW FISK TYRES. We have to announce that we have just received a shipment of the new Fisk tyres, and wo invite all motorists to call at our garage and inspect the most popular American tyre. Wo have thoroughly tested the Fisk, and can recommend it as especially suited to Now Zealand It is the tyre with a pure rubber cushion below the tread. Prices—Ford size, 30 x 3}in, rubber non-skid, £6 10s; Studebaker Bize, 875 x 105, £9 18s 6d. Five per cent, discount for cash. Adams, Ltd. Garago, 219 Tuam street. 6

TWO-SEATER FORD, £140. (•For sale, two-seater Ford, finished in dove grey, electric lights; tyres in goodcondition. . Suitable for traveller or commercial man. £140. Adams, Ltd., Tuam street. " o