General News.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20273, 26 June 1931, Page 10

General News.

Commercial News appears this mornifag on Page 15. A report from the Hermitage yesterday stated that there had been a fall of snow and good ski-in'g was assured l on the Tasman Glacier, a short distance from the' Hermitage. The Commissioner of Police, in a Gazette notice issued last night, authorrises that ammunition ordinarily used for sporting rifles may be procured or delivered without a permit in any part of the Dominion.—Press Association. In reply to representations made by the Canterbury Chamber of Cornmerco against the proposal, to close the Post Otfico at Lvttelton at 5 p.m. each even- • ing, the Chamber has received a letter from the Postmaster-General (the Hon. J. B. Donald) advising that the present hours, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., will be adhered to. When St. John's Cathedral, Napier, and all it contained was destroyed in the earthquake, on- February 3rd, one of the most serious losses . was undoubtedly the fine three-manual organ, which was installed in 1907, says the Hawke's Bay \ "Tribune." It' will therefore be gratifying news to the parishioners and the citizens generally to learn that the vestry has purchased the fine three-manual Lewis organ at present in Knox Church, Dunedin. "The trouble in the present crisis is j that too many people are waiting fo? j somebody else to do something," said j Mr E. H). S. Hamilton when discuss- . ing the proposal to reduce interest rates yesterday. "There is a tendency toward too much talk. I am reminded of a speech made by Dickens in 1843 'The parrots of'society are more pernicious in their effects than the birds Of'prey.'" ,

Although there Las been a good response to the Mayor's appeal, the Coal and Blanket Fund is still urgently in need of contributions. The demands oil the fund are this year greater than ever before, and donations of money and in kind, however small they may be, would be most welcome at the City Council offices, Manchester street. A Gazette issued last night Contains Beveral new regulations under the Hawke's Bay Earthquake Act, 1931, dealing with the licensing of hotels, the exemption from' stamp duty in certain I cases of receipts and legal | and financial provisions modifying the Hospital and , Charitable Institutions Act, 1926, in their application to the Hawke's Bay, Wairoa, and Waipawa Hospital' districts.—Presi Association. Under the will of Lily Richter, of which the Public Trustee is executor, the residue of the estate is divisible equally among the following institutions: St- Saviour's Guild Society, the Presbyterian Social Service Association, South Ipland Methodist Orphanago Board, and Dr. Barnardo'e Homes. It is estimated that each institution will ultimately benefit to the extent of approximately £4OO. The delegates to the conference of the Beturned Soldiers' Association were entertained by the Wellington Beturned' Soldiers' Association on Wednesday evening. Among those present was his Excellency the Governor-General (Lord Bledisloe), who said that he hoped during the next four years to have'many opportunities of becoming more familiar with individual members of the Assoei-' ation.—Press Association. i Speaking at the Scientific Society's meeting last evening, Professor Saddler told the following story of a famous riiathematician: Professor Hardy, a learned Oxford mathematioian, was entering a cab with the famous Indian, Ramanyan, in London. Professor Hardy remarked that the number of the cab, 1729, was interesting, being 7 multiplied by 13 multiplied by 19. Ramanyan replied : "Oh, no; not n't all? It i s t.he smallest whole number expressible as the eum of two cubes in two different ways." It is said that Ramanyan looked, on positive lmimfotgw m faia flgieMl feiaa4&

When asked to estimate the speed of his motor-cycle at the time of a fatal street accident, a witness at an inquest at Auckland said he was travelling at between 12 and 15 miles an hour. '•'That seems to be the conventional speed for all motor-cycles," remarked the Coroner, Mr F. K. Hunt, As the result of an outbreak of pneumonic influenza at the Auckland Mental Hospital four elderly patients died between two and three weeks ago. There liavo _ been no further oases in tho institution since then. Dr. T. J. Hughes, medical officer of health, for the Central Auckland stated ou Tuesday , that the outbreak had btjen a local one among persons of a class might be deemed moro than usually susceptible to the disease. He was satisfied that tli© cases wero not at all of the virulent 1918 type. A quail that is kept in c&ptivity by a Blenheim resident laid no less than 115 eggs during the past season. With the approval of the Acclimatisation Society Mr E. Keats secured a pair of quail with the object of breeding some in captivity. He gave many sittings of oggs away, but still the energetic hen produced more, until at the 115 mark Mr Keats retained a sitting and permitted the hen to hatch tho.m out. A clutch of 15 chicks was brought ou*, of which 11 were hens. / With tho arrival yesterday by tho Mataroa from England of the final party of 20 domestics, the immigration scheme which lias been operating for some years was brought to an end. The immigrants have been brought out on tho understanding that they comply with certain requirements made by tho Department. From the matron in cliargo of them, Mrs E. Phillips, of Auckland, it was gathered that practically all the girls had situations waiting for them, although there were a few for whom the Government would find positions.—Press Association.

A memento of the Hawke's Bay earthquake has come into tho possession of the General Assembly Library as a gift from the Governor-General. After the earthquake, London "Punch" reproduced over the title, "An Empire's Lamentation —Hawke's Bay, February 3rd," a cartoon by Sir Bernard. Partridge, depicting Britannia standing by a half-masted Union Jack and surveying the destruction of Napier. On seoing tho cartoon, Lord Bledisloe got into touch with Sir Bernard and was able to purchase the drawing, which he presented to the General Assembly for its library.—Press Association. High rents in Napier and Hastings, particularly in tho latter town, since the earthquake in February last, have caused a good deal of feeling. The "Tribune" states that the following letter,has been received by the Mayor of Hastings (Mr G. P. Roach) from the Hon. B. Masters:—"As promised in my letter of 27th ult, I had pleasure in making representations, to the Minister for Labour in regard to the restrictions of rents in Hastings. My colleague now informs me that regulations under the Hawke's Bay Earthquake Act, 1931, aro in the course of preparation, and it is hoped they will bo gazetted in tho near future."

I/fc is not without good cause that the confcury-old "Sydney Morning Herald" deviates, if ever so slightly now and again from a broad, unalterable policy pursued by it very successfully right down the long years (writes the Sydney correspondent of The Press). "When, as was the case a few days ago, it announced a new advertising column, "for persons who desire to exchange goods, for which they may have no other further uee, for other articles," it was clear proof of the tendency in Sydney nowadays to adopt a system ,of barter, with a shortage of actual money consequent upon the closing of the State Savings Bank or other causes of financial embarrassment. The owner of a motor-car, for example, knows that a cash buyer for it at a reasonable figure is as far o£F as the millennium, so he exchanges it for something, other than money, that foe needs. At the meeting of the Canterbury Collego Scientific Society last night a letter was read from Lord Rutherford of Nelson, who is now at the Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge. Lord Rutherford is patron of the society and a past member. He thanked the society for its congratulations on his elevation to the peerage, and for its good wishes, and stated that he remembered taking part in the various activities of the society such as the three-yearly conversaziones. At these functions he had helped by demonstrating experiments or by giving short addresses. "When I view in retrospect the old days at Canterbury College, I feel that I owe much to the Scientific Society, in which my old teacher, Professor Bickerton, was such an enthusiastio supporter," stated Lord Rutherford. He expressed his pleasure at the continued success of the society, and at his being honoured by the office of patron.

A uovel suggestion, the carrying out of which ought not only to enhance the interest in the next series of Test thatches but become a source of material gain to Australia, is engaging the attention of travel organisations in London. The chief points aro the chartering of a vessel at "a special faro to carry 600 passengers to Australia in time to witness the 1932 Melbourne Cup and all five Test matches, at which special accommodation migrit bo errnnged. Between Tests it is suggested, the visitors may divide into smaller parties, see the various part® of Australia, according to individual taste, engage in sport themselves, and inspect land on which they may feel disposed to Eettle their sons. Advocates of the scheme say that the allurement of such events as the Test matches and the Melbourne Gup, and a ldng tour in the company of the most desirable type of sportsman, might easily overcome the Englishman's alleged objection to travelling en bloc. It is understood that the Marylebone Cricket Club heartily approves the proposal, oh which work must be begun immediately in order to succeed.'

If anxious or uncertain about your health, write Mail Order Druggists, Box 531,'Christchurch. Advice and lists free. Suppliers of all reliablo remedies and hygienic necessities. 6 Boycott the Gol'd Band Taxis and put them out of business, and then up will go the |ares as they were before, so that nobody could afford a taxi, but if ycu are wise you will keep' on 'phoning for a Gold Band Taxi, and beep the fares down as they are now cheaper than tram fares. Thank, you. —5 The : rough weather has emphasised the need for strong footwear. The James Shoe Stores, 148 Armagh street, next Dominion Motors, offer wonderful values in Ladies' strong calf 1-bar Shoes in Tan, Black,.and Patent at 14s 9ci. Men's working boots 17s'9dalso boys' and girls' samples to \clear at practically wholesale prices. 1 Bridal Couples note that a Bridal Car the most expensive in u se i n New Zealand, will be supplied as a wedding present free, with orders for one or more cars, so cut down your expenses and remember that it was the Gold Band Taxis that brought down the charges "to 7s 6d per hour. 'Phones 34-076 or 35-sp. Thank you. —1