GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16528, 21 May 1919, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

The auction announcements of Jones, McCrostio Co., W. E. Simes and Co., F. P. Claridge, Charles Clark, McKenzro and Co., Harris Bros., Tonks, Norton, and Co., Nelson Farmers' Cc-op., H. B. Sorenson, and New Zealand Loan and M.A. Co. will be found on page 11 of this issue.

As is well-known, house properties are much cheaper in Cliristchurch than in Wellington. A result has been a noticeable movement on tho part of returned soldiers taking advantage of the Government advances scheme to purchase houses in this city in preference to the capital.

Tho white crane wliich was common enough in the 'sixties, is now very rarely seen in Otago. One of these birds, however, landed in a sanctuary lagoon on Mr J. Crawford Anderson's place at Stirling about a fortnight ago, and has remained there since. <Ju Monday afternoon, curiously enough, it was joined by a blue crane, a native of Australia, and practically unknown in these parts. Mr Anderson states that it is 40 years since he has seen a white crane in the district, and that he had not previously seen a biue crane except in a museum. He thinks that both birds camo from tho West Coast on the high wind of a fortnight ago, and that the bluo crane had come across the Tasman fc>ea prior to its flight from the West Coast.

A Wellington telegram states that the Railway Officers' Institute yesterday passed a resolution protesting against the Minister's exercise of his veto in the Longton appeal case.

The condition of John A. Chapman, who received a broken collarbone and other injuries in the tram accident lasr week, was unchanged last night, but all the other patients were improving.

A bv-law making it compulsory for horse-drawn vehicles to carry a tailjicrht is being asked for by the Auckland Tramways Union of T\ orkers. Its request for such a regulation came before the Auckland City Council recently, when the suggestion was referred to the Finance and Legal Committeo.

The New Zealand teachers' organ, "National Education," in its latest issue states: "The maximum penalty for using obsceno language in a public place is twelve months' imprisonment; while under the Education Act, section 157, tho penalty is a fine not excelling two pounds! Surely the use of cbsceno language to a teacher in the of pupils is just as serious an offence, and should carry the same penalty as, if not a greater one, than a breach of the former kind."

The early days of the war -were recalled by the appearance among the bandsmen at General Russell's reception, at Wellington, on Saturday, of several members of the old Trentham Camp Band and the Trumpet Band. Several wero in uniform, and others in "civvies/' but the fact that they were "on deck" when their services were particularly welcome showed that tho proner spirit was there, and reminded many of the strenuous days when camp life was a very serious affair. . Thev acquitted thomselvos well, and the soldiers were glad to see them.

"The practice of sticking pigs and the larger animals without first stunning them is a most barbarous and inhumane ono," said Mr J. H. Parker, at last night's meeting of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The Germans, ho addc*, with all * hat was credited to them, were at least humano onough to stun their rrsimals before slaughtering thom. Members spoko in eulogistic terms of the .ise cf the hammer before slaughtering, as against the "pithing" method, and it was stated that tho compulsory use of the liammor would f, m part of the Bill which it was hoped to nut through Parliament. Mr Parker also remarked that measures for tho prevention of unnecessary cruelty in killing were b::dly needed on tho Statute Book.

A petition to which numerous signatures are being attached in the Wairarapa asks the Government to undertake the doviation of the Kimutaka railway lino. A route has been surveyed, and levols taken for the construction of a line through the ranges, with an outlet nt the Tauheronikau gorge. This route would give an easy grade, but the residents of Wairarapa do not favour it, on the ground that it would not open up any good country. The route most favoured is by moans of a tunnel through the hill into the Wainui-o-mata valley, with an outlet into the "Wairarapa below Feathcrston. The" petitioners intend also to ask tho Government to straighten the Rtiamahunga river by directing its courso through tho Pouawha lagoon. By doing so the Wairarapa lake would he turned into a farming area of 43,000 acres, and the 60,000 acres which surround tho lake, and which are subject to flood .during six months of the year, •would be kept dry.

The crow of the Orissa, now loading at Now Plymouth, aro Lascars, belonging to a district south of Bengal, called Chittagong, tho home of tho Indian sailor. They are Mohammedans, and, therefore, fatalists (states the "Taranaki News"). They make first-rato sailors, and many thousands are employed on British ships. They did par- , ticularly well during the war, never refusing duty on account of the trials or dangers. "Kismet" guides them always. Thoy are amenable to discipline, so long as the officers respect their religious practices and beliefs. Tho officers do this, of courso, and speak a Hindustani patois that does service with theLnscnrs at sen. as well af; the Indians in the bazaars. Tho men carry on their dut : es well, and give no trouble. Altogether thev are a valuable acquisition to the British merchant service in the East. During the war thoy havo seen a good deal of the colder climes, tho Indian ships being used in conveying foodstuffs to Britain from all parts of the world. Tt is worthy of note tliat the British India Stoam Navigation Company, owners of tb« Orissa, lost by submarine action 250.000 tons of shipping during the war—or nearly a third of the company's total flost. The present overcrowding of trams, which has been. the subject of a protost by the Wellington Tiamways Union, will bo relieved by regulations which .came into forco on Monday. This action is. being taken as a result of representations that something should be dono to relievo the pressure and avoid a danger to the public before the Government regulations aro enforced, on January Ist next. The new regulations <i r<J contained in a bulletin, issued by the traffic manager, and are to be observed by all concerned. The clauses are as follows:—(1) Under no circumstances must passengers bo carried on the front platform. (2) Passengers must not be carried on front or rear platforms of palace cars. (3) No more than eight passengers must be carried on centre platform of palace cars. This number only applies to rush-hour traffic. In ordinary loading centre platform should be kopt as clear as possible. (4) During.rush hours four passengers may be carried on tho rear platforms of airbraked and combination cars. It must be clearly understood that this rule applies only during rush hours or special occasions. WTien there is room inside passengers must not be carried on the platform at any time. Deckers.— No more than eight standing passengers must bo carried on top deck of small decker cars, and the rear platform must bo kept clear. Unrequited love would seem to have contributed largely to tho appearance of a young man, apparently a Belgian, in the Police Court at Dunedin on Monday, charged with having attempted to commit suicide at Port Chalmers by taking poison (says the "Otago Daily Times ). Accused was alleged to have boon on friendly terms with a girl in a northern town, but _ the pair became estranged, and the girl came south and took a position in an hotel at Port Chalmers. Her one-time lover followed her, and discovering her place of employment, proceeded to try and mond matters, but his advances meeting with no success, he tried to communicate with tho girl by letter. This also proved futile, and as a result the Port Chalmers police on Mondav mornin"received a message from tho' boardinghouse where the young man was staving to the effect that he had taken poison. The polico then informed Dr Borrie, who visited the man, but could find no trace of anything doadlv. Ho ! however, testified to the unsoundness of the young man's mind. This neces- I sitated his arrest, and Constables Park- ! hill and Souter wero despatched to ! carry out the duty. Before entering tho room where the young man was lvinc, tho constables were .warned tliat ho had a revolver, and to keep an eve I on him while they searched the room for the weapon. The search did not 1 give promise of success, but when Con- ! stable stooped to look under a wardrobe, tho man leaped from the bed < ' on which he was lying, seized the 1' weapon from its place of concealment 1 and attempted to fire at the searchers' 1 but their alertness prevented any dam- ' •' n"e done, and the weapon \ras 1 secured. It was only after a hard ! struggle, however, that the young man < was placed under arrest and convoyed f 'o the police station. whenr> e he was 1 !arp r sent to Dunedin. The young f man was subsequently remanded for a T week for medical observation. [

I, A new archdeaconry, to be known as ' the archdeaconry of the Wairarapa. has been created by the Bishop of "Wellington. The Rev. H. Watson, M.A., formerly of Masterton, has been appointed* archdeacon. At the mooting of the Riccarton Borough Council last night, a special vote of thanks was passed to ; so C'pn- # | terbury Automobile Association for the i splendid work it had carried out in j ; transporting returned soldiers to their ; homes. j The cult of the motor-tyro boot ap- ! pears to be extending, and various Government institutions are effecting a considerable saving by this means. At the Otekaiko special school boots aro mado almost entirely of old tyres, tho canvas being used for the uppers and tho rubber for the soles. Similar boots are made at Wereroa and Stoke. It is stated that the Government contemplates c'osing the special school for the education of mentally defective children at Otckaike,_ sending some inmates to mental hospitals, some out to work, and others to their homes. The institution, the addition of somo acres from a neighbouring estate, will then (so it is stated) be used as an experimental farm for North Otago. At .present work at tho school is at a standstill owing to an outbreak of diphtheria. A year or two ago "discussion centres" were established by tho toac!i?rs of Canterbury, at which matters connected with the actual work of the schoolroom wero discussed. These wero much appreciated bjr those able to attend, but from various causes, no discussions have been held for some time. An effort is now being mado to revive the meetings, and Mr W. Brock, Chief Inspector, has been asked to open a discussion on some educational topic. "I believe that on account of its fertility New Zealand is destined to be the dairy farm of the British Empire," said tho Hon. G. W. Russell, at tho luncheon to General Russell, at Wellington, on Saturday. Already the Dominion was sending half of the cheese imported by the Mother Country. By virtue of hydro-elortric power it would advance to be tho workshop of tho Pacific and the dairy farm of the Empire. The finding of a district court-mnr-tial, hold at Fcatherston military camp, having been confirmed by tho Commandant of tho New Zealand Forces, is now promulgated. Private G. V. H. Sandiford, Detnils F.M.C., who was found guilty of deserting his Majesty's service and losing, by neglect, his clothing and regimental necessaries, was sentenced to sixty days' detention, and is also to suffer tho stoppage of pay until ho has mado good the sum of £8 7s lOd. In preparation for repair work on the Summit road between Dyer's Pass and Kennedy's Bush the Public Works Department's plant has been removed to Kennedy's Bush. It is hoped that a small gang will be put on at once to continuo the construction of the track from Kennedy's Bush towards Akaroa, and that sufficient funds will be available to keep it continuously at work. The Rest Houso at Parkinson's Bush, Knituna. will be finished this week, and will prove another attraction to visitors to tho hills. The meeting of tho executive of tho . Peace Celebrations Committee, to have ' been hold to-morrow, has been postponed to a dato which will be duly notified. To date, the Procession Commit- i teo has received no fewer than sixty en-

( tries, and it is estimated that the procession will be at least three miles long. It is understood that representatives of ; tho different local bodies at present in ■ Wellington attending the Town-Plan-l ning Conference intend waiting on the 1 Minister of Internal Affairs on the subject of tho date upon which the celebrations are to bo held. In at least one respect Saturday's welcome to General Sir Andrew llussell was unique in the liistory of Wellington (says the "Dominion"). For tho first time in the history of the city there were four Generals on the platform of the Town Hall at the sanib time, three of whom gained the high distinction during tho present war. The" four were: Major-General Sir Alfred Robin, C.8., C.M.G., Major-General Sir Andrew Russell (who commanded the New Zealand Division in France), Brigadier-General G. S. Richardson (who commanded the New Zealand Forces in England), and BrigadierGeneral Hart, of Masterton. The Mayor's proposal to sot up a campaign against stray dogs was remarked upon at last night's meeting of tho S.P.C.A. by Mr J. H. Parker, who expressed the opinion that Christchurch nad never been so free of such dogs as at tho present time. Since he had seen the announcement of Dr. Thacker's intention he had looked about, but had not seen a single stray dog about the city. If there -were to be an indiscriminate catching' of dogs with a view to their destruction. Mr Parker was afraid that there would be many citizens who would lose valuable and much-prized pets. Personally, ho was of the opinion that there was no occasion for any action such as that proposed. It was remarked that the smallness of the number of stray dogs at present was due very largely to the activities of the Society's inspector. . Evidence . for the prosecution in a bicycle-stealing case came to an abrupt end at the Magistrate's Court yesterday. The principal witness, John Frew, -who was purported to be the owner of tho bicycle stolen, was being snvorely cross-examined by Mr C. S. Thomas as to his relations'with tho accused on tho day of the alleged theft. Witness denied that ho had told the accused to take the bicycle away to bo sold, so that both of them might spend the money on drink. Examination on this point was pressed, and witness «iid that he might have agreed to the sale if the bic.vclo had been his own, but under the circumstances he had no authority to authorise the sale of tho bicycle, as he had only paid £1 on it. .Crossexamination was warmincr when witness suddenly collapsed, and" fallinc backward out of the witness-box, struck the floor with his head. Ho was carricd out of the court-room in an insensible state. Later in the day, on reooverinc he again appeared in the Court but as soon as ho caught sight of the brass rails of the witness-box ho again collapsed, and tho polico proceeded W't-h the case without callinrt further on this witness for evidenoo. The case was dismissed. "This is ono of the saddest cases that the Court could be asked to deal with, ' said Mr M. F. Luckie, who appeared at the Wellington Suprenu Court on Saturday on behalf of Reginald Joseph Devonshire, a respectable looking young man. who had admitted theft of moneys belonging to the Bank °£ -Australasia. Counsel explained that the prisoner was a married man with a delicate wife and three childTi en 't ? e * en employed in the Bank of Australasia for eleven yearf*. and for some time past, while stationed at Featherston, he had been straggling hopelessly to make ends meet. His salary was totally inadequate, even including the bonus paid, to keep in a decent state a_ delicate wife and family, and with the hope of big gains Devonshire had indulged in betting on horses. He found himself getting more deeply in the mire, and had taken the money to pay his He had been compelled to accept the position of clerk to a bookmaker to augment his income. This was done with the knowledge of the bank. His Honour commented very severplv on the lack . of public conscience with regard to gambling. Betting on horse races all over the country wa* an evil that was spreadiirr. but what could anyone expect when the Government allowed p-imblinT machines. He could not un- ■ derstand a bank consentinz to Devonshire acting as a clerk to n bookmaker. However he would take all the circum- ] stances into consideration and let the 1 prisoner off with 18 months' reformative treatment.

Common jurors summoned to attend th«= Supreme Court sittings on Monday next will not bo required, and aro discharged from attendance. The tramway appeal case, E. Snow versus the Tramway Board, set down for 10 a.m. to-day. lias been further adjourned till the 2Sth inst., on account 'of appellant's solicitor being engaged in tho Supremo Court. I At the mooting 0 f the Riccarton Borough Council last night. Cr. Stol-es said he hoped tliat at any future local body elections no one but returned soldiers would be employed as returning officers, deputies, and" poll clerks. "I hope at tho next election," -eiu.ir'vcd another councillor, "that there "vill to no returned soldiers in such a position that they will want a job of that kind!" The regulations governing the regrading oj teachers have been amended so that teachers' appeals must now bo submitted bcforo May 31st, instead of before tho end of July, as formerly. The reason of tho alteration is t it "it has been found possible to got out the grading list earlier in the year, :;iid so it will be possible to have the appeals dealt with correspondingly earlier. Next year it is anticipated that tho grading will be completod still earlier. Mr H. L. Tapley (chairman of the Otago Harbour Board) is at present in Wellington for the purpose of explaining to tho naval authorities that there is no reason why H.M.S. Xew Zealand should not be brought up to Port Chalmers on the occasion of her visit to Otago. It is understood that Pilot Duncan is quite satisfied that there is a sufficient depth of water in the lowei harbour to allow the war vessel to steam easily to Port Chalmers. and lie against the wharf at low tide. The last timo the New Zealand visited Otago harbour she was anchored outside the heads, off Hayward's Point. At tho annual meeting of the United Friendly Societies' Council, it was resolved that tho Council invite the heads of all orders in Canterbury to discuss a proposal brought forward by the Grand Lodge of Druids to erect a memorial in honour of fallen soldier members. As a result a conference was held in the Board room of the U.F.S. Dispensary, when the president, Bro. &. W. H. Francis, and the executive of the Council, met the following representatives : Bros. F. George. U.A.0.D., J. McCullough, 1.0.0. F., F,. Rudkin, A.1.F., J. Ford. S. and D. Temperance. E. J. Bell. P.A. After a general discussion, during which various opinions were expressed, Bro. F. George moved that the Council proceed no further with anything in the nature of a memorial, as" the'whole of the Orders were not prepared to act in un'ty, but he offered his thanks to the Council and the delegates for the consideration shown in the matter. Bro. H. H. McCaw seconded the motion, which was carried. The sooner a cough or cold is treated the hotter, and tho sooner it is treated with Loasby's "Stop It" the quicker it will bo cured. "Stop It" is always successful—don't wait until a cold snap catcnes you—got a bottle to-day. Loasby and Co., Chemists, (opposite Ballantyne's). 6 Extension of premises and new windows, Drayton's China and Hardware Store. Forging ahead. Alterations now on. 761-5 Colombo stroet. 6 There closes on Saturday a phenomenal boot sale. About a month ago Stewart llobinson set out to reduce his huge stocks before stocktaking. The

amount aimed at was a big one, and great price concessions had to bo made in order to bring in the enormous amount of extra business in the time allowed. Time's up on Saturday, at one o'clock. Up to that time the price concessions will rule. The opportunity is as unusual'as it is timely. At this season of the year boots sell well and quickly, and they are good property for the seller. Wet weather is coming, and unless you have ypur winter footwear you are courting colds and trouble. The best chest protection is a good boot—the reliable footwear that Stewart ltobinson sells, at prices that are tho talk of the town. This is the • shop that keeps down prices. Note that this sale definitely closes on Saturday. 1 Down quilts in sateen and satin are being featured by Armstrong's as the finest collection at tho lowest prices. 1 No shop in Christchurch can show a bettor range of Face Powders, Perfumes, and Bath Salts than E. Cameron Smiths. They are specially selected from Mornoy, Piver, Atkinson, Roger and Gallet, and Yardley. E. Cameron Smith, chemist, 96 Worcester street (off Square). 6 Very strong school knickers for boys may be obtained at Armstrong's—-size for boys of ten or eleven being 6s 9d to 7s 3d. smaller size less—these are in nice greys, and the cloth of wondrous strength. 2 "A morning call" at the right moment, and accurate time day and night, is afforded by "Big Ben" 17s Cd, "Sleepmetcr" 10s 6d, "America" 7s 6d, and the wonderful "Simplex" eightday alarm clocks. All at Hastie, Bull, and Pickering's, Cashel street. 6 Never let a day pass without telling someone about the wonderful laboursaving and perfect cleansing qualities of "No Rubbing" Laundry Help. Price Is. KincauTs, Ltd. 012 Soldiers getting out of khaki are finding the best variety and best-fit-ting suits at Armstrong's, whilst their suits to measure save buyers pounds. 3 FORJ> LIGHT DELIVERY VAN— £175. Now on view—N cat-looking Ford delivery van; {Special covered body, full protection for driver, and shelves for small goods. Finished newly in French grey; four good tyres; Bosch magneto; I'aybold carburetter; ready for tho road. Would suit country storekeeper or city baker. Price £175. Adams, Ltd., Garage, 219 Tuam street. 0 LUXURIOUS STUDEBAKER ROADSTER—£37S. For Sale —Well-equipped 4-cylinder, Series 17, Studobaker Roadster (2-3 seater), electric light and self-startor; magneto ignition; five detachable rims and tyros; finished in dark grey. Only run SCOO mil 0.5 on Christchurch roads. lAt especially attractive bargain at £375. Adams, Ltd., Garage, 219 Tuam street. fj STUDEBAKER COimiERCIAL VAN —£315. Ready for sale—;Studebaker 4-cvl. Commercial Van, will accommodate-'lO passengers, or 2-ton of poods. Complete with canopy top, five detachable rims and tyres (two new covers and three in good order), storm-proof curtains, adjustable wind screen. Finished in French grey. This type of vehicle is a favourite for mail and passenger services on the roughest routes in New Zealand. Price. £345. Adams, Ltd. Garage, 219 Tuam street. G