GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17414, 27 March 1922, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

Our AVellington correspondent telegraphs that it is now practically certain that the Moa Flat seed farm in Otago will be continued as a national institution.

There appears to be an • unusually large number of young men in Invercargill at present who are out of employment. Within two days an advertiser, who required the,services of a young man to drive a motor-car, received no fewer than 39 applications for tho position;

Thero was a large attendance on Saturday at the exhibition of the Canterbury Society of Arts, which is nowopen daily. I'he results of the members' art union are advertised this morning.

"In ten months' residence in Italy I saw fivo people slightly the worse for liquor " said Mr John Prouse to a "Wellington reporter. It was quite the exception to sec anyone completely under the influence of liquor in Italy, he said ; in this respect the people were much the same as the French. In both countries wine was a national and natural beverage, and the desires of the people, were maintained within tho bounds of necessity.

Mr J. S. Triggs, an old Christ's Collogo boy. who recently retired from tho Eastern Extension Cable Company to start apple-growing at Huapai, near Auckland, took the first nnzo for tho Lest dish of Munro apples at the Rumen .-\ aricultur.il and Pastoral Society's Show, officially opened by the Hon. W. H. Triers. M-L.C. a few days ago. The "New Zealand Herald states that tho fruit entrv at the show was a very large one. The jurlpcs described the quality as splendid, and expressed tho opinion that tho district would shortly take its place onion a: the chief fruit-growing areas of the Dominion.

Some curiosity has been shown bv many visitors to the Dyer's Pass Rest House concerning tho history of tlio takaho, the bird which figures on the sign post. The takahe is a native bird about two feet high, thought to be extinct. Tho first specimen was found bv «omo sealers on .Resolution Island; a second bird was found on Secretary Island, about the same time. There were no,others caught till 1879 when one was taken on Te Anau Downs. A fourth specimen was caught on Lake Te Anau in 1898. This bird is in the Dunedin Museum, two others are in the British Museum, and another in the Berlin .Museum. The sign at the Best House, painted by Mr Nicol, of the .School of Art, is an exact representation of the bird itself. . Tho >»ortn Island name for the bird is tho mono. In the Durham street Methodist Church last evening, tho Bev. T Dent, who at the. recent Centenary Conleronco at Auckland was appointed a missionary to tho Solomon Wands, preached to n largo congregation from the taxt "Except a grain ol wheat tall on to tho ground and die, it remainoth alone but if it die, it bringcth forth much .fruit" (John vii., 21). Mr Dent's subject was self-sacrifice, which. he said, was the Inn- of nature and of the Christian Church. Through that spirit onlv could missionary work bo carried out successfully. Mr Dent also snug the. solo,. "Nearer, My God. to Thee." During tho service the Bev. W- Beady assured Mr Dent that tho prayerful'sympathy of tho congregation would follow him in his work, and the congregation would do its part and support tlio mission liberally. Mr Dent will leave to-night for' tho North Island, and will shortly leave Auckland, with four others, for "the mission field. Tho recent inoroaso in tho cast ol burial was detailed at the Inst meeting of the Auckland Hospital Board by tho member representing the North. Shoro boroughs. At a meeting of tho Belie. Committee a, widow said she had paid sixpence \w week for somo time before her husband died to insure his life, so tlhat at. his death sho might get £oo. This sum eho had obtained, but £4O» ot it had gone in funeral expenses, £1.2 alono being spent in buying a plot of land at Pure.va Cemetery. A few years ago tho plot could have been bought for £4. The chairman said that their contractor's price for funerals "f people -who had no relations was just two pounds, although, tho contractor had recently asked for an increase, as increased fees toad been laid upon him. Half of £4O would have been a high charge for a widow in poor circumstances to pay for the burial of her husband, was the opinion expressed by members, but as the money .had been paid it was now too late to do thing in tho matter.

Something in the nature of a cyclone struck the central portion of New Plymouth shortly before six o'clock t)ho other afternoon. With a loud, startling roar, the wind came off the sea. in the vicinity of Kawaroa Park and took a narrow course through the town in an easterly direction. It was accompanied by torrential rain,,which for a few minutes made watercourses of the streets. Several dwellings and business premises suffered damage. The verandah roofing was torn completely, away from a house hi Hine street, arid one of the supporting posts was 'hurled on to the roof of a neighbouring house, penetrating the iron. The foof of a garage in King street, occupied by Messrs George and Julian, was also damaged. At the foot of King street the cyolone struck King's Buildings, breaking the glass of several windows and bringing down a brick and iron chimney, which fell on a skylight. Sweeping thence into Devon street, tlia cyclone broke one of the largo plategloss windows in the H.B. building and a window in the Imperial Hotel. The force of the wind seems to have been dissipated as it progressed beyond th'w point. Coincident with the loss to the toxophilites of Regent's Park, I hear of a movement which may portend a revival of archery, not as the jjplite sport of the favoured few, but as a real popular pastime (writes the London correspondent of the Dunedin "Star"). A scoutmaster in the Home Counties was faced, with the problem which perplexes all those who have charge of the young—namely, the primitive desire of the average boy to possess and use some wo«pon of precision, and, as expense alone rules out the miniature rifle, Uiis man had the happy inspiration of, "armiiijr" his troops with bows and arrows. The action was taken up enthusiastically by the Boy Scouts of the neighbourhood, and quit© recently the matter was brought before the Chief SoMiit. Sir Robert Baden-Powell hus always Ikk-u at pains to safeguard his k io.\i movement against any charge of "nnlitaiism"; hence the absence of weapons from the Scouts' but ho was so impressed with tho youn,<; imwmen of this troop that he has given his blessing to the bow as the scout's arm, and this - year trpops all over the coun"try will take up the royal and aui-irnt pastime.

The Akaroa Borough Council has received from the Peninsula Power Board formal notice that a writ wiU be issued in due course ordering the Council to carry out the terms of agreement between the two bodies touching the sale of the municipal electric plant. Some eighteen months ago negotiations between the then Council and the Power Board resulted in an agreement of sale being signed by representatives of both parties, to the effect that on a certain specified date, October 31st of last year, t-hfe sale contract should be completed by the formal handing over of the plant to the Board. Meanwhile the municipal elections came along, and of the nino successful candidates, seven were pledged to oppose the sale and to use every endeavour to upset certain clauses in the agreement. That was nearly a year ago, since when that unfortunate agreement has been the cause of many conferences, much talk, not a few heated discussions, and some very warm newspaper coutroversy (writes our Akaroa correspondent). And now, at last, the Power Board is appealing to iho Supreme Court. The Mayor, Mr Geo. Armstrong, who occupied the position when the sale agreement was approved, and who is also a member of tjio Power Board, found himself in an unenviable position the other night, when a special meeting of the Council was considering the matter. His two supporters in the vain attempt to uphold tho agreement vrcre. absent, and one against seven, he battled hopelessly yet .valiantly against the motion that the Council s solicitors be instructed to dea' with the writ. Ratepayers are naturally awaiting <le-.'elopmems 'Mt'r. wrtuething more than ordinal,} iuk»r«wfc.

Two men were arrested in a Chinese boarding-house in Madras street yesterday on a charge of theft from the person. They will appear at the Magistrate's Court this morning.

The Acting-Medical Officer of Health in Auckland (Dr. Hughes) stated on Friday that an epidemic of infantile paralysis was prevalent throughout the ~nd Province and certain other parts of the Dominion at the present time Thirty-two cases had been reported to the Auckland office since the beginning of the year, ten in January. fifteen in February, and seven to date this' month- Fortunately the disease was in the majority of cases in a mild form, and was well scattered throughout the province. Only one death had been reported. "It is a very nasty disease, and in many cases its effects arc life-long/' said Dr. Hughes, "but T think the people of Auckland are unite nlivo to its effects. As far as I have been able to gather, the disease, in a mild form in the majority of cases, is also prevalent in other parts of the Dominion. It is well scattered throughout the Auckland Province, however, and unless it increases there is no necessity for a scare in my opinion. It will probably decrease, as tho cold weather is now approaching. You will notice that there are fewer case., reported this month than for February."

General approval of tho Government's nominative scheme in connexion with immigration wwi expressed to an Auckland "Star" reporter by an officer eonnected with the Salvation Army's operations in that direction. Ho snid that a very good class of citizen was, on tho whole!" being introduced into the country, and generally they wore very well satisfied with conditions when tllio.v arrived here. Up to the present he had not had any difficulty in placing them, and they were not very long in the city, except in. certain ca.scs. ''So long'nfl tihe Government oan find work'for them, that is what wo want," lie continued. "Up to the present wo havo not had any difficulty, becjauso their friends very soon take them off our hands. It is only in exceptional cases, where the Government has had to come to their assistance." Conditions had been so bad at Homo that tho men were anxious for anv employment, and iho considered that things could not be any worse in the Dominion than they had exl«rionccd in tlio Homeland. What they doMjed was a living wage, and tho right to worlc. That was the attitude, lie concluded, cf tlio average emigrant with whom the Army had come in contact.

The n-.ctliod of tlio appointment of J.'L'.'s was the subject of some remarks by Mr .1. Said; r.t Die annual meeting of the Justices' Association at Wellington lass week. The- Association, he said, had made overtures to tho Government that it should be allowed to' report upon candidates for the office. Tlio procedure, he understood, was that names were handed by members of Parliament to the Government, and these were afterwards passed on to a magistrate and the police for them to report on. Tho Council was of.opinion that it could render a report of a 9 great a value as, if not greater, than that of the police. The appointees were drawn from the commercial classes, and it stood to reason that they were in a better position to know the characteristics of a candidate. He thought this a matter of convenience; they would not raise an objection unless on very strong grounds, and the Government cou'Jd surely trust them in this matter. The Government, 1 he understood, was not very anxious to accede to this request. They considered that tho question involved a good deal of principle. Still, the Council would be in a better position to renort on the financial position, the business reputation, and general character of the" man than either magistrate or police. A neglected cough or cold at this time of the year is liable to continue all the winter. Don't allow the present warm weather to cause neglect, but take "Stop-It," the successful remedy, right away. "Stop-It" is sold by all chemists and stores, Is 9d and 3s a bottle. Loasby and Co., chemists (opp. Ballantyne's). 6

A sensational purchase of a manufacturer's stock of Waterproof Overcoats and Cycle Capes for men, has been made by Armstrong's, who are now offering these goods at much under half price. No man need get wet this winter if he has) one of these coats, which are selling at 29s 6d, and in a hea/ier quality at Sds 6d. The cycle c-iprs are being sold at 9s lid and 10s .61, and as these goods are sure to sell reacWy at the exceptionally low prices asked, we advise nn e irlv visit to utki;- of Armstrong's two shops, Colombo and High streets. —fl—

"The gloiy of the garden." Prepare for early Sweet Pea blooms by sowing Bradbury's Famous Seeds now. Full stocks of new season's seeds in great variety, are now available at Hastie, Bull, and Pickering's, Cashel street. Ask or send for free catalogue. 1437

Pilkington's motors run twice daily between Cliristchurch and Akaroa. 6

Disc Harrows, heavy colonial type, made by Howards, of Bedford, 6ft (12-18 in blades), reduced from £34 to £2O for cash orders only, before March 31st. Nearly £lO less than even Ameri. can or Canadian discs. Quality unsurpassed, and,fully guaranteed. Ivorys, Ltd., 21 Manchester street. 15823-8801

A long and careful study of the properties of drugs by Mr E. Cameron Smith, Chemist, 96 Worcester Btreet, is allied with most careful dispensing by him. 89112-1331

Miss Jinks: How young you are looking now! Do tell me your secret. Mrs Binks: Well, I always uso "No-Rubbing'- Laundry Help, and rest while it works. 7

Implements at cost price! To quit large stocks of implements and raw material we have again reduced prices. Before purchasing elsewhere be sure you get our No. 36 March Ist, 1922, price list. P. and D. Duncan, Ltd , Tuam street, P.O. Box 124, Christ-, church. —5

BUY STUDEBAKER CARS AT PRiCES BASED ON A FAVOURABLE EXCHANGE RATE. Motor-caw imported from America become dearer or cheaper, to those wito import them according to the fluctuations of tho exchange rate. Recently there hts been a recovery in American exchange which has been very advantageous to New Zealand importers, but later advices show that tho position is growing less favourable. Adams, Ltd., were fortunate enough to import a shipment of Stuuebaker Cars at a very favourable rate, and they have accordingly reduced prices, temporarily, to give purchasers the advantage. Tho 3icst shipment may cost more, and :>ricej in that case must be raised. Therefore the prospective purchaser si:ouli buy now, while tllie latest shipment lasts. The present reductions in prices are: — Economy Light Six-cylinder Cars: — snseater Touring, reduced from £595 to £550; 3-seater Roadster (Christchurchbuilt body)*, reduced from £625 to £575; The towing mode! weighs under 23cwt, and runs 1-2,000 to 15.000 miles on the 32 x 4 cord tyres fitted. Magneto ignition. Special Six-cylinder Cars:—o-seater Touring, reduced from £725 to £695; 2-3-seater Roadster (with dickey seat for two passengers), reduced from £<.25 to £695; 4-seater Speedster, ieduced from £725 to £695. These cam aro light and powerful, and run about 8000 miles on the 32 x 4 Cord tyres fitted. Magneto ignition. Big Sis-cylinder Cars:—<-scat*r Touring, reduced from £Bl5 to £795. These magnificent cars run about 8000 miles on the 33 x4i Cord tyres fitted. Magneto ijniitiou. Inspection is cordially invited. A damn, Ltd. Showroonus, 152-154 High street, Garage, 219 Tuam street, 0