General News.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18508, 9 October 1925, Page 10

General News.

——4 —— Andrew Ronton, thirty-five, single, was accidentally shot in the chest while getting through a fence at Kaitangata. A boy named Morrison, aged six, who has been missing since Sunday in the Otepopo district, North Otago, was found alive yesterday morning by a search party. An Auckland message says that at a meeting of the Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society, after a discussion on picture censorship, it was decided to ask for an assistant : cenßor, as it was impossible for one censor to see all the pictures, and also that there should be a woman censor, i ,

The final meeting of tho New Zealand Council of the Royal Life-Saving Society was called'last night to consider the refusal of the Central Executive, London, to recognise the New Zealand Head Centre. However, as there was no quorum, tho meeting lapsed.

The twisting of the noun "feature" so that it became the Yankee verb "featured," meaning the giving of prominence to some object or article, called forth rebuke from Mr Justice Alpers in the Supreme Court at New Plymouth. "Does not the good old English language contain sufficient words to describe what you mean without importing a Yankee movie expression," he asked counsel who had used the term.

Authority to private lino circuits far direct communication between places of business has been gazetted. At any place where, in the opinion of the chief telegraph engineer, departmental circuits on existing poles or in telephone cables can conveniently be provided lor the purpose of establishing direct communication without obtaining connexion through a telephone exchange, such circuits can be leased and maintained by the Department at annual rates based on the nature and composition of the circuit. The New Zealand Government Publicity Officer in England (Mr H. T. B. Drew) has arranged with the British Broadcasting Company to broadcast some interesting references on New Zealand to Scotland. In rosponse to a request from the broadcasting company, the Prime Minister (Hon. J. G. CJoat&s) has cabled the following message to 1)6 broadcasted: —"New Zealanders send cordial greetings to their kinsfolk in Scotland. We are prond of the splendid work of our sturdy Scottish pioneers in helping to lay the foundation of our colonisation and development. New Zealand offers ample opportunity for industrious, thrifty, and patriotic settlors, and these being national characteristics of the Scot, we will cordially welcome those who desire to make honies for themselves and their families ,ja thia fair British, land,"

The Drainage Board recently called tenders\ for the supply and installation of three A.C. vertical type electrical motors for pumping stations. The successful tenderers were Messrs Brown Bros., at £lO7.

"It's up to lis to do this, t"v set a high standard in everything, a high standard or! living, and to force it upon our fellow-citizens.''"—Mr G. "1". "Weston, speaking at last evening's general meeting of the Christ's College Old Bovs' Association.

Twenty-six photographs of iii«> successive Prime Ministers of New /Zealand are being hung along the walls <>f the main corridor in the new Parliament buildings, near the Speaker's quarters. The pictures, which are handsome enlargements, measuring about 2ft 6in by '2ft, will bo hung in chronological order Jong both waLU of the corridor.

It was reported .if last night's meeting of the Council of the Canterbury Automobile Association that gifts of armchairs to the new club rooms had been made by Messrs H. F. Wigram. 11. M. Macdonald, and A. If. V. Morten, past-presidents, and bv Messrs "Watkinson and Kennctt. Mr P. J. Tattle had made a donation of ill 1"' toward,!? the furnishing fund, and Mr P. if. Yickery had presented the Association with a mounted stag's head.

The Mayor ('Mr J. K. Archer') yesterday received a letter from Pe.tty-OfGccr F. Hennig, of the U.S.S. Altair, the tender-ship of the American Destroyer Squadron lately at Lyt.teltou, written on the passage from Pa fro Pago to Pearl Harbour, Hawaii. The writer expressed, on behalf of himself and his shipmates, appreciation of the unstinted hospitality extended to them by the people of Christehureh and near-by towns. The men would shortly be going on furlough to their homes, and they would all speak well of their stay in ChristchuTch.

■When replying to the toast of "The School," at'last evening's meeting of the Christ's College Old Boys' Association, the Rev. E. C. Crosse said he was sure that when the year 1025 in the history of the College came to be written, it would he the most momentous of all. One thing was the building of the Memorial Hall, but even a greater thing was the formation of the Old Collegians' Sports Club. This would be tho means of impinging the influence of tho school upon the public, and of making it even more of a force than it was at tho present time.

An interesting discovery was made when the sluice gun was recently turned on tho work of removing a deposit of soil and sand on tho old river bod of the "Waikato at Arapuni Gorge in order to lower the level necessary to a.llow the river to flow under the ■Te Awamutu-Arapuni road bridge. A standing submerged forest was discovered, tho wood being in good order and tho tree trunks to the height of about 3ft standing in the original • position with roots attached. This is considered a further proof of the statement by Dr. Henderson, Government Geologist, that old land surface prevailed throughout tlte Southern Waikato ha&in about 150 ft abovo tho level of tho Waikato River to-dav.

The first mission of any picture was to please the eye by its decorative quality, said Mr A. S. Boyd when lecturing on "Art Criticism" in Auckland. If it did not possess this quality then it was a failure. It might hold historic or other interest, but if it was not beautiful in- composition and drawing it failed in its chief purpose. An artist should not seek to appeal to the initiated only, but to mankind as a whole, and an attitude of adverse criticism should not be too lightly adopted. The importance of the cultivation of a true art sense in individuals and communities was emphasised by the speaker, who declared that there was no surer means by which this could be developed than by the contemplation of true works of art For this reason a gallery committee could not be too particular iti its selection of pictures and the use of the funds entrusted to it.

One was frequently asked for criticism, said Mr A. S. Boyd, in (be course of an address on "Art Criticism" before the Auckland Kotary Club, when only adulation was wanted, and this often made the position of the critic very difficult. They were called upon frequently to give an opinion of a picture they could not possibly praise, while to condemn it as it deserved required more courage than the average man possessed. In any just and fair criticism the critic should point out first of .ill whatever was good in a picture. "We have people who sneer at our little home collections in a lump," said Mr Boyd, "who patronise us as innocents for tho pleasure we take in our little collection. The critic thinks his mission is to find fault only, but any fool can find fault! It takes a wise critic to point out tho merits."

We have been supplied with a copy of the receipts and expenditure of the Federated Cooks', ami Stewards' Union for tho half-Year ended December 31st, 1924. The receipts for tho half-year, exclusive of £-11 interest from investments, amounted to £1324 contributed by members. Tho actual expenditures involved in running the Union's affairs amounted to about £1055. The Union has acquired assets over liabilities amounting to £5247. It is noteworthy that of the expenditure of £IOSO for the half-year, over £B3O went in salaries. and payments to tho Federation and L.TI.C. It is not clear what the cooks and stewards got out of all this, but Balance, wages, and commissions for the half-year amount to £575. More than; half the expenditure goes in this way, and half the rest in payments to tho Federation and L.R.C. It would seenn therefore that the great bulk of the contributions of members is absorbed in. payments to local officials.

In his lecture before the Wellington W.E.A. at the end of last week, Dr. C. E. Adams, Government Seismologist, gave some interesting views and incidents with regard to the prediction of earthquakes. In any scientific subject, said Dr. Adams, prediction of phenomena wa's one of the best tests which could be applied, and seismologists always tried to apply that test in, their efforts to formulate or sustain any theory as to the mechanics of the world. Testing the truth of a hypothesis by predicting its consequences was one thing, but to publish a prediction of an impending calamity, affecting possibly millions of people, was another. In the case ejf earthquakes even if the hypothesis were proved to be true and the limits of strain could be determined •with accuracy, it was doubtful on grounds of public policy whether earthquake predictions should be undertaken.

There's a hot summer ahead—don't wait till you are run down—start building up your strength right away by taking McArthur's Nerve Tonic and Blood Enricher —it makes rich red blood and strengthens the nerves. 3s 6d and 6s Gd a bottle at McArthur's, Ltd., Chemists, 675 Colombo street (McArthur's Corner). —6 Ladies are taking an unusual interest in Armstrongs' special display of spring millinery. These beautiful hats were .specially selected by our overseas buyer and embody the latest stylo ideas, Exclusive, model hate and smart ready-to-wears, all at Armstrongs' famous low price*. Indies are cordially invited to inspect this special showing. —6 "Reid and Gray" Tractor Ploughs, new Drill, Lime Sower, all best Farm Implements, and spare parts, consult Mr Harry Anderson, l') 3 Oaslul street, Christchurch, and Reid and Gray, Ltd. .Ashburtoo, —2