GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16932, 6 September 1920, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

The Chris tchurch. Boys ancl Girls' High Schools re-open to-day. Owing to the serious illness of LieutColonel D. Cossgrovc, Dominion Commissioner of the Boy Scouts, tho headquarters office here has been temporarily closed. Arrangements have been completed by the executive of the men's branch of the Social Hygiene Society for a public meeting to bo held shortly, when tho ends and aims of tho Society will bo set forth bv three well-known speakers, giving respectively the medical, tho educational, and the moral asx>e=ts of the Society's work. "1 do think that tho universities of the British Empire have dono more than anyone else* in the world to keep up tho fair name of sport," said Professor T. G. It. Blunt at the dinner to the Sydney University team on Saturday night. "Many people are inclined to look upon the 'college man' as a negligible quantity. The contrary is the ea«e. When I sa.w to-day's game, tho test, bar one, I have ever seen in. New Zealand, where -we consider the best Rugby players in tho world come from, 1 thought'that if two such teams could be produced from five Australasian colleges, theu we might well call our universities 'our gentle mothers.' To the end of our days we can never forget our old university."

Mr W. Bushel, a discharged soldier, has taken up his duties as caretaker of Kennedy's Bush, Cooper's and the Ahuriri reserves 011 the Summit road.

Captain Dickson flew from Blenheim to Kaikoura 011 Saturday morning, taking an aerial mail for Christ-church, and a -lady nassenger for Kaikoura. He is exnecteii to return to Sockburn to-dav.

At a meeting of the Christchurch Operative Bootmakers' Society, a motion was carried "heartily endorsing the action of the New .Zealand Labour Party in supporting the decision of the British Labour movement to set up a Council of Action for the purpose of preventing war with Russia, and to bring about peace between Great Britain and the Soviet Government of Russia."

A delegation 'Trom Samoa, consisting of Messrs R. D. Crondace, T. Andrews, and Ernest A. Dobbie Or.to editor of t'ho "Samoa Times"), which is making a tour of New Zealand, is at present visiting Christchurch. Tbe visitors aro staying at the White Hart Hotel, and they will proceed to Dunedin early this week. The delegates are anxious to meet business gentlemen interested in Samoa, as thev believe there is an apathy in New Zealand in regard to the Islands. The delegation hope to meet the Christchurch Chamber of Commorce to discuss certain grievances affecting commcrce and other matters.

Tho provisional executive of . the Famine Fund met on Friday evening, Mr W. H. Rose presiding. A plan of campaign (on the lines of the "Week of Pity" in Otago, when £15,000 was raised for tho fund) was mapped out, and a Publicity Committee was appointed. Canterbury's week will begin on September 20th, and will cover an attack upon the district north of t'ho Rangitata, the help of Ashburton being practically assured. It was dceided' to ask "Mr Denys Hoare, of tho firm of Hoare and Ivingscote, to act as secretary to the Canterbury fund, and to wait upon the Red Cross Committee to enlist that organisation's practical support.

A School of Forestry for Canterbury was advocated by the* chairman of the Ashburton County Council, at the Council's monthly meeting, on Friday. Mr W. T. Lill supported the chairman, and moved: "That the Council uphold the establishment of a Chair of Forestry at Canterbury College, tho Minister for Forestry to be informed of tho Council's resolution." Mr C. Reid, in seconding the motion said there was no plaeo more fitted lor the establishment of a School of Forestry than Canterbury. The Selwyn and Ashburton County Councils had done more_ planting than any other public body in New Zealand, the Government alone excepted. Tho motion was carried unanimously.

At tho monthly meeting of the Ashburton County Council, the South Rakaia Road Board applied for 200 concrete pipes for water-raco crossings. Tho engineer said he understood it was intended to pmt in pipes for 20, 40, and 60ft, and the approximate cost would bo £105. The application involved 120 pipes, covering 14 crossings, all of which were necessary. The present value of tho pipes would be £82 12s in Ashburton. the moment there were only four pipes in the yard, and no prospect of constructing more, owing to tho shortage of cement. One councillor., said it was a question of houses or water-race bridges, and tho former should have the < preference. It was decided to supply pipes as they became available.

"They are all round the country like blowflies," said Mr G. Mitchell (Wellington South), in the House of Representatives on Friday night, in condemning tho operations of land speculators and land agents. He commended . the work of the Minister of Lands and those patriotic men who had assisted tho settlement of soldiers; but s he appealed to the Minister to stop the speculation. The Minister was sincere, and could, he believed, stop tho speculation. If the price of butter went up to 2s 9d a lb there would bo a further orgy of speculation. The farmer not have the benefit, but tho speculator, who was no use to the farmer or the country. Tho Minister (Hon. D. H. Gruthrio) said that ho'was as much against speculation and aggregation as the hon. member. Ho would have no dealings with land agents in the purchase of l.and for soldiers. • • .

Matters in connexion with tho extension of the Lake Coleridge scheme to the Peninsula are proceeding apaoe (writes our Akaroa correspondent). Tho chairman of the Banks Peninsula Power Board, Mr A. Goodwin, has been most successful in inducing many of tho larger property owners to render practical assistance in various ways that will lighten considerably the burden of the Board. Just recently' he has received word that the Board'b £100,000 loan has been arranged for. It is reported that the money is being provided by 'the Public Trust Office. Mr J. Templin, electrical engineer in charge of the Peninsula extension, is busy with his assistants in laying out some of the more difficult portions of the line, and it is anticipated that in a few weeks men will be busy with the transport and erection of posts.

A case heard at* Tiraaru by Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., on Saturday,. turned upon the validity of a Cabinet minuto of November 30th, 1916, regarding an agreement made by employers and employees that members of the Drivers' Union should get 6s a week bonus. An employer and employee in the country heard nothing of this. After serving six years (sixty-one weelcs during the war period) the man. left his employment. Coming to town, ho heard of tho bonus, and saw Mr Arnold, the local Inspector of Awards. Mr Arnold looked into the matter, and conchided that the bonus should be paid,_ but that tho section of the Arbitration Act limited payment to three, months. This aJso was tho view of the Department. On Mr Arnold's demand, the employer paid for three months. The employee sued his late employer for the bonus for the balanco of the sixty-one' weeks. Counsel for tho defence contended that the employer was not. bound by the Cabinet minute, which was not issued by the Arbitration or as an Order-in-.Council, or at tho most, it covered only three months. His Worship said he knew of no law authorising the Cabinet merely by minuto to vary an Act or a filed award, and gave judgment for the defendant.

Mr J. McCombs, M.P., in a letter ! to Mr P. R. Climic, organiser of tho . Canterbury Progress League, relative j to State afforestation, states that the report on forest conditions in New Zealand prepared by Mr Macintosh Ellis, Director of Forestry, and presentea to Parliament, is a voluminous one, but, unfortunately, it has not been ordered to be printed. The report unreservedly advises that a forest training centre be established without delay in New Zealand. The expenditure of £3000 a year in establishing and maintaining a Chair of Forest Engineering and a State Ranger School at , Canterbury College (officered by a pror fessor of forestry and an assistant professor) should provide ample facilities for the graduation of five to seven forest technicians a year, and from 10 to' 15 forest rangers. The Canterbury State Ranger School might be moved to the West Coast at a later date, when 1 trained officers are available to carry on I instructional work, it was stated, but I for the first five years there is no reason ! why all forest education work should ' not be carried on in Canterbury. In the scheme of organisation of the timber | . industry (in which thero are 10,000 1 workers) it is proposed to havo workers' representatives on tho Consultative Forest Board. It is proposed, irr the roport to plant 11,520 acres of trees at Hanmer Springs at the rate of SOD acres per year. This project would require about 23 years to complete. It is suggested that debentures be raised for the 1 amount of £35,000 for a five to seven 1 j year programme. j

'"'Did you get tho man out?-"' asked ' Mr D. G. Sullivan (Avon), amid lighter. as Mr W. D. Lysnar (Gisborne) was expatiating in tho House of Re- ] presentatives on Friday night, on the | difficulty he had in secur- '■ ins the* release from a mental hospital : ot a man he was convinced was sane, 1 though the superintendent held that he was dangerous. Mr Lysnar: I got liim out. Another Labour member: Did he stand for Parliament? (Laughter.) Mr Lysnar: He was quite able to stand for Parliament; and he would bo more reasonable —.(laughter)—but perhaps that would be too. personal. (Loud laughter.) Mr W. Douglass Andrews delivered an interesting address to a large attendance of members of the Workers' Educational Association 011 Saturday nisrht. Tho subject of his lecture was "Literature as Liberator." Tho lecturer read several extracts from English literary classics, and he described how literature broke tho bonds of custom and opened the eyes of thousands of pconlo to wider * visions, bringing in tresli relations, new sympathies, new sources of joy, and finding springs of fresh emotions. Mr Andrews treated j his subject in an entertaining manner, and at tho conclusion of his address answered a number of questions. He was accorded a hearty voto ol* thanks. i "While steaming from Suva for Auckland," said Mr A. Washer, to a "Herald" reporter, 'the vessel was suddenly brought Jo a standstill at 2 o'clock one morning. I went' out on deck to see what was tho matter, and. saw a light, apnarcntly floating on the water and coming towards us from a nearby island. In tinio two natives swam alongside the vessel, ono towing a floating liehc. and, the other a tin box which contained tlie mail. The box was taken 011 board the Mokoia. the island mail was attached and lowered, and the. swimmers thereupon set out for the island through the shark-in-fested sea. This is tho customary ruethn'T of working the mails at .. t is islaud." Tll connexion with tho "Fight tho Famine" campaign a remarkable instance of generosity, under very un-j usual circumstances, came to light during tho week-end. Tho Rev. J. J. North was called up 011 tho telephone by an unknown lady, who desired particulars about tho European need of assistance, and How the moneys raised were disbursed, and, on tho information being supplied, she indicated that she would send a substantial cheque by post to assist tho movement. On Saturday morning cheque for £7CO was received by Mr North by mail. It was an open choquo. and had been issued by the Post Offic© Savings Bank, and was signed by the Bank's controller, and tho dbnor's identity is therefore unknown. Only a perfectly-fitting Truss can be vorn with satisfaction. Having the largest Btock of Trusses in tho Dominion, Loasbv and Co. are in a position of being always able to select and supply the particular Truss required. Loasby and Co., Chemists (opposite Ballantyne's). 6 In view of the brisk demand for our first grade tailored suits from £7 10s to £11 lis. men are urged to order now for carnival week, ajid so avoid the "eleventh hour" rush. An extensivo selection of suitings, including plain clerical greys, awaits selection. F.. W. Young, 151 Manchester street (nerir Clock Tower). 5 Tho friends of the Hon. D. Buddo aro reminded . "of the complimentary , concert, which is being tendered to him this evening, at Rangiora. An excellent programme has been drawn up, most of the performers coming from Christchurch, and tho public are assured of a very enjoyablo ovening. 0 Tho selection of _ suitable hosiery, gloves, ne kweax, veilings, etc., for the approaching sunny days, is usually a difficult problem. But it is a problem easy of solution by those who visit Arm- i strong's, whero special efforts ha.ve been made to import tho very latest, in these necessary adjuncts to a smart frock or costume. Every style and shade that will lie popular this season is now being displayed. Armstrong's always make a point of pricing everything so keenly that competition is defied. 7 With a "True Temper'» wheel hoe,' weeding and cultivating between the rows of a garden can be done as fast as a man c:r>.n walk. Price 21s, obtainable from Hastie, Bull, and Pickering, 113 Cashel street. H5004—201 The best specific for influenza is the Influenza and Cold Mixture, sold by E. Oameron Smith, 96 Worcester street, at 2s 6d a bottle. SB6l9 —202 "Doesn't the floorcloth look lovely after you've polished it with 'Keep Smiling Lino Polish?'" It takes less time, too, and saves backache 1 H4984., 'Swingletrees of a new pattern mado of best selected hardwood securely strapped with steel,' will interost farmers. They are stronger than the old pattern and mpro durable. Swingletrees ha*e been rising to unheard-of prices. Locally a four-horse set 00mpleto is listed at £6 18s. Ivory's prico on this better pattern is £4 17s 6d. Call' and inspect. Ivorys, Ltd., 21 Manchester street. 1 Compare our Lawn Mowers, reliable quality, at last year's prices, 52s 6d, ball-bearing 70s. Try Drayton's, Colombo street north. 31 Pilkington's Motors are now running, Christchurch-Akaroa. at 30s return. 6 Choice Pictures of every description, Artists' Colours, Brushes, Canvas, Drawing Papers, etc., and Picture Framing, at. Gibb's, 105 Cashel street. 5

SPRING SALE OF SECOND-HAND MOTORS—AT WINTER PRICES.

Our "make your own offer"* sale of second-hand motor-cars is proving highly successful, and we anticipate a clearance by the end of tho. week. We invite all interested to inspect the cars that remain, aod to mako an offer for any of them. No reasonable offer will be rejected. The cars for sale include such makes as Studebaker, Hjumber, Daimler, Clement-Bayard, etc. i Every car is in good running order and i s fully equipped and ready for the road. In view of the coming of spring and tho nearness of the usual seasonal increases in prices on the second-hand car market, our sale offers an exceptional opportunity to buy advantageously. Don't delay. Come and see us to-day. Adams, Ltd. Garage, 219 Tuam street. 6