General News.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18545, 21 November 1925, Page 14

General News.

The auction announcements °f Kenzie and Willis, Tonks, Norton and Co., Ltd., Lawrio and Dalton, H. G. Livingstone and Co., 11. Matsop and Co., National Mortgage and Agency Co. Ltd., P. S. Nicholls and Co. Ltd., N.Z. Farmers' Co-op. Assn. Ltd., I>algety and Co. Ltd., and H. C. Smith appear on page 21 of this issue. There are now in circulation in Wellington quite a number of 1925 coins. The silver ones, especially tho sixpenny pieces, seem to have a different amount of alloy in them from those of former years. The sixpenny pieces do not appear to have the true ring that one expects from a silver coin. The ring is much duller than is usually the case. The coin also seems to be lighter.

Bi°- fisli aro still being taken in the AuclTland Harbour, despite its continuous growth as a port. From oft .tho Hern© Kay AVharf on Saturday, quite close to the inner harbour, a resident or l*rey Lynn landed a kingfisli which, when cleaned, weighed 201b. On Monday a lrWfi.oh and a kahawai were captured from off the san]c wharf, both fish being over 81b in weight. Alphabetical precedence in New Zealand would appear to belong to Jakob Aab, of Waitawheta. H's name certainly appears first on tho Ohinemuri electoral roll, and he would take precedence over the first name, Aagaard, in the New Zealand postal directory. Aagard is the first name listed in tho London telephone directory, and in the British post office directory, Stephen Aal heads the list. A rival to theso, is Dr. Sijnon Van der Aa, a speaker at the International Prison Congresfc held in London. With Dr. Aa however, Jakob Aab, of Waitawheta, leads all tho others. I The effort to recover fees for treatment of patients in the Auckland Hos- j pital brings cases of a widely-varying, nature into prominence. At the last* meeting of the Fees Committee of the Hospital Board, several single young Hien and women failed to appear to explain their reasons for non-payment of their hospital account. One man who was sent to the infirmary penniless left a bill of £217. Another man, who was in hospital for three years, died, leavi ing a bill of £533 to be faced by his widow and five children. There was no hope of settlement in theso cases, and the accounts were written off. Terseness is one of the | tics of those who liairfrom north of the Tweed,-and more particularly those who ! claim to be sons of the Granite City. A | well-known Auckland minister who is : attending tho Assembly meetings at Dunedin, and who is visiting the south- ; era city for tho first time, was. asked to j send his impressions of the place, and the following is what he has written: ■ | "This is somo town, as cold and substantial as Aberdeen, my native town, j This morning the wind went clean through me, so I felt quite at home., There is a tonic in the air, however, and after some of the Assembly speeches a tonic is welcomo." "It is not charity" was emphasised by Mr Clutha Mackenzie in his address at the gathering of the blind yesterday afternoon when refernng to the assistance given those afflicted with the loss of sight from the Sir Arthur Pearson Memorial Fund. Tho Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer), who presided, took up a> similar attitude respecting what used to be designated "charitable aid." Ho said that the Board was formerly known as the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, but "charitable" had dropped out. Those who wete administering the Board's funds were adminstering them to those in need and were only rrrantina to them what the country provided for them. "As long as they can satisfy the committee that their needs are nctual," Mr Archer added; "they have a right to assistance, awl what they not is not charity, but mutual aid on the part of society." Thermal activity in the neighbourhood of Whakarewarewa is very'considerable) says the Rotorua "Chronicle." Ou Saturday somfewhere about midnight, the "big mud geyser in the reseryo adjacent to tho golf course had ? half-hour of dissipation. This geyser makes a tremendous noise, burling big lumps of stiff mud high into the air, which fall back with a resounding smack that can be heard at a great distance. A peculiar feature is that it erupts only on cold snaps, and always at night. The Twin Geysers in the reserve had a little diversion. A new blowout between the two cracked out a square yard of sinter and gave a little extra to the spectators on Saturday afternoon. The activity,of Pohutu is a biff source of attraction to visitors, and Whnka is being well patronised on the Sabbath.

"There is no doubt about it, it is a harassing business this going through the Customs!" said a much-travelled passenger from England, who arrived in Wellington by the lonic. "I wouldn't mind it so much if the process were the same the world over. Then onfe would know what to expect, and be ready for it. I think an International Customs Congress would make it a lot easier for travellers. It's never the same in two places, you know. There arc some places I go to that I never have to show up at all, and then, at others, they want to seo everything, even to the bottom of your toothbrush ease. In soino places they take a man's word that he is not a smuggler; in other places your word doesn't count a straw. In some places .they are polite to the point of sweetness; in others you arc regarded as an expert diamond smuggler before you leave the gangway."

The Secretary- of the Post and Telegraph Office has received a nicssagc stating that the steamer Awarua, concerning the safety of which anxiety was felt, is sheltering at Whenearua Bay, Chatham Islands, owing to rough weather. The Honolulu excursions are proving more and more popular with vacationists, and the Niagara, December 22nd. Ib filling up licr passenger list. School tiWchers especially are coming along singly and in parties for the special sec-ond-class tour provided by the Canad-ian-Australasian Line. A Wellington message says the executive of the Post and Telegraph Association waited on Sir James Parr, Post-master-General, urging that tho maximum. salary of tli© rank and file be increased proportionately with the rise in the cost of living. Sir James Parr said he would reply after liis return from Auckland. A Nelson message says tho scene of the fire in the Pine Tree Plantation on Moutere Hills, was visited by Mr I/. M. Ell's, Director of Forestry. Ho expressed tho opinion that the dam ago was much less was formerly thought, the crowns of the trees not being destroyed. He expects that about sixty per cent, will recover. Now that last session's legislation has enabled the Invercargill prison to be used as a Borstal institution, offenders between 20 and 25 years of age will be drafted to Waikeria in Waikato, those from 16 to 20 to Invercargill. and females to the new prison at Wellington. The great majority of tho Borstal inmates are empioved on agricultural work, but owing to tho discovery that many youthful prisoners apparently have never been educated ordinary teachers aro to bo attached to these institutions. A garden fete will be held at the Jubilee Home, Woolston, on December sth. The committee is anxious to raise money to provide extra comforts and Christmas gifts for the old folks at the Jubilee Home, and the Tuarangi noine, Ashburton. One of the aims is to furnish a lounge room with easy chairs and sofas to make the patients in the infirmary at Tuarangi more comfortable. The committee ask especially for books, for reading for the old folks, as well as for gifts of juouey or goods for the various stalls. The attitude adopted by those with sischt towards the blind was tho subject of two good stories told by Mr Clutha Mackenzie at the gathering of the blind in Christchurcli yesterday. After acknowedging the assistance of those with sight for their individual help to those not similarly blessed, Mr Mackenzie narrated the story of tho barber who was fixing up Mr Mackenzie's secretary while Mr Mackenzie) waited for him in the saloon. Tliei barber, unconscious of the other occupant of the saloon, discussed election, .possibilities and remarked: "Yes, there's that poor young chap, Mackenzie. Isn't it sad? I've been thinking about that chap, and I think that if he hadn't lost his sight ho would have had brains!" The other story referred, to his arrival, somewhat weary, a.t Opunake, and, lying down cm tho bed in his, room at the hotel for a nap. About 0 o'clock one of the girl servants "blew into" hia room and asked if lie didn't want some dinner. Mr Mackenzie said that he did want that meal, 2nd added: "Do you mind showing mei the way to the dining-room?" The girl, unaware of his sightlessness, promptly answered: "Gam! Not on, I'our life! You shouldn't drink so much!" Something for toilet use, is ever acj ceptable by womenfolk. For Christmas Gifts, new stocks of tho latest Perfumes, Bath Salts, Cremes, Powders, Toilet Brushware, Manicure sets, etc., aro now shown in great variety at McArthur's, Ltd., Chemists, "McArthurV Corner," Colombo street. —6 "JRcid and Gray" Farm Implements and spare parts obtainable from Mr Harry Anderson, Engineer, 193 Cashel street, Christchurch, and Reid and Gray, Ltd., Burnett street, Ashburton. Enquiries invited. —1 J. M. Heywood and Co., Ltd., aro general carriers, they will move your luggage, furniture, or anything that you require moving. Why not give your'next job to them? —0 Before ordering elsewhere be sure you sec our Tractor Tandem Disc Harrow fitted to pack up for transport, our improved Brooker pattern rear drum Crass Seed Stripper, and our folding rear hitch Ilay /Sweep. Each the very best there is. P. and. D. Duncau, Ltd., 190'. Tuam street, Christchurch. D 2069