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Greymouth Evening Star, 20 June 1912, Page 4

The manager of the Greymouth Star desires to acknowledge the sum of LI is from William Tie for the Grey River Hospital. The usuaJ hockey diince will be held in the Cobden Hall to-morrow (Friday) evening. Gents., Is; ladies, plate.—Advt. An old resident of Black water died at Reefton Hospital yesterday, named Patrick Lawler, at a rips- old age. The deceased had been an inmate of the Reefton hospital for the past six years. The funeral will take place to-morrow.

A deputation from the Auckland Sawmillers’ Association recently waited on the Minister of Finance (the Hon. A. M. Myers), regarding the. question of the taxation of standing timber. The Mi ster now states that it is not intended to amend the Act in the direction urged by the deputation. At a meeting of the Greymouth Waterside Workers’ Union, held on Tuesday evening, it was decided to strike a levy for the wives and families of the unemployed miners at Reefton. The levy is to take the form of single men, 2s per week, and married men Is per week till countermanded.

A deadlock has occurred in connection with the construction of the new Wanganui bridge. The specified method of driving piles has proved useless, the river bottom having proved to he gravel, w ereas the borings led the contractors to expect clay. The piles simply will not drive, and work has been suspended. Legal proceedings are probable. The people of Blackball are bestirring themselves in the question of the reopening, of the Paparoa mine. A public meeting will be held in Mark Stevens’ Club Room, Blackball, on Saturday afternoon, 22nd instant, at four o’clock, for the purpose of asking the Government to either take over the mine or to assist the Company to re-start the mine and thereby orovide employment for some 250 men. As the matter is of vital importance to the district, a large attendance is requested. “Patriot” writes suggesting a novel and ingenious method of punishing Territorials who refuse to take up the gun under the compulsory training scheme. Briefly, this idea is that all lads refusing to put in ■wades should be barred from playing football, cricket, golf, hockey, or any form of athletic sport. They should be refused admission: to theatres or boxing matches; and, in fact, should be ostracised from all social functions. If such a course were followed, he contends, it would do more to bring young fellows into line than qll the fines inflicted by Magistrates,

The latest novelty in drawing-room fireworks. Prices, sixpence per box. Obtainable only from A. E. Kilgour, stationer and music dealer, Gieseking Buildings.Advt

W. McKay and Son’s huge clearance sale commences on Thursday next, June 26th. Unparalleled bargains will then be obtainable for four weeks. Save your money for this great event. —Advt. In the report in last evening’s issue of the debate, ‘‘Are moving pictures beneficial ?" at the Methodist: Literary Guild, by iiiadvertance the name of Mr Noble was omitted from the list of those who took a leading part. He favoured the negative view, and in a well-received address practically endorsed what had been brought forward by the leader in the debate.

“I hear a good deal of sneering about New Zealand railways,” said Mr L. M. Isitt, M.P., at Cheviot on Friday, “but I think they are a marvellous evidence of the go-ahead spirit and determination of the people. If you compare New Zealand with Home, railways the comparison is strongly to our advantage.” Mr Isitt explained that the main lines in England and Scotland were everything that good railways should be; but off the main lines the sendee was such as could not be found in New Zealand. He had been particularly disgusted with the service to a Welsh watering-place which he had stayed at. The trains were simply packed on week-ends, and there was not a single lavatory car on the line, while the rate of travelling was very slow. Mr A. W. Rutherford, who was present, corroborated what Mr Isitt had said, and remarked that while in England he had heard endless complaints regarding the railways. • Warner’s Corsets are so perfect in pattern and workmanship that they will fit perfectly, and not become useless until the whole garment is completely worn out. Every pair guaranteed by local drapers not to rust, break or tear. Prices from 6/- to 17/6 per pair.—Advt.

■Watch for our monster winter sale, commencing Saturday, June 22nd, when bargains will reign supreme in all departments'of the trade.—Aitken and Peters, drapers, Mackay Street.-—Advt.

It was recently stated by Mr ; ! M. E. Wiig, Norwegian Vice-Consul at the Bluff, that 200 farm labourers from Norway could he started for New Zealand by him if sufficient inducement of regular work l.eing supplied could be offered*’ Seen yesterday by a Press reporter, Mr H. B. Sorensen, Consul for Denmark, said that in the main he agreed with the statement-

“I could not - conscientiously recommend clerks and business men to come here from Norway or Denmark,” he said, *‘be-caus-e I do not consider that, there,tire ripenings for them; but I am confident that farm labourers and domestic servants would have no difficulty in finding employment. The other day a young man, who had been accustomed to the hardware business in Denmark, came to me and I could easily have placed him here had he not in the interval accepted a billet, in a country town.” , Ladies’ , and girls’ tweed coats, dress skirts, underskirts, corcets, underclothing, etc., to be sold at half-price at our monster sale, commencing on Saturday, Aitken and Peters.—Advt.

There has been received in Wellington a miniature in stone of the statue of the late Mr Seddon, which has been designed by Sir F. Brock, K.C.8., R.A., the noted British sculptor. The miniature is about three feet in height, and portrays the late Prime Minister, in one of his most characteristic attitudes —his left hand grasping a sheaf of papers, his 1 frock coat thrown back, displaying his massive chest, and his right hand raised aloft, to stress the point that he is making. ‘The sculptor has also effected in the stone a really ‘ excellent likeness, and, cast in bronze and about nine feet high (as it will be), the monument should prove a splendid memorial of one who for so many years occupied the place of honour in the administration of the Dominion; ; . '-t

“France is one of the coming nations of the world,” said Mr T M. Wilford, M.P., in a speech at Wellington on Friday. We had been accustomed' to look upon France as a nation of dilettantes, unstable, restless, of no account in the world’s affairs. . But i n every possible avenue to-day a change was to be found. You find France to-day the wealthiest country in the world.” Mr Wilford related how, while the Germans were sneering at France, a loan of twelve million sovereigns. was raised for making a State railway. The applications began at 10 a.m., and by 5 p.m. the same day no less than 390 million sovereigns had been deposited. In submarines and aviation the French led the world, while in the fields of sport they were no less distinguished. Carpentier, a youth of 19, had obtained the boxing championship against an Englishman. The wealth and enterprise of the French surprised everyone •> The great strides that have been made in the art of photography during the past few years make us wonder where the possibilities of the Camera will stop* Expert photographers have actually succeeded in getting splendid photos of game on the qui vive to escape (he., dogs close at hand. Fine work cannot be done with clumsy tools—-it requires great cate on the operator’s part , and thorough reliability in the camera 'to take- successful photos of any kind. The latest models in cameras are illustrated, described. and priced in a new catalogue published by Harrington’s, N.Z., Ltd. This catalogue should prove an invaluable help to the man who wishes to procure, a high-grade camera for first-class work. Possession of a copy can be obtained by simply sending a halfpenny ■ postal card bearing a request for the required copy, which will be sent free of cost by return mail.' Address post card to Harrington’s, N. 55,, Ltd., Willis street, Wellington.—Advt.

A habit of Mr Stead’s conversation which sometimes shocked the hearers was the terms of familiarity with which he from time to time alluded to his Maker. Sir Win. Robertson Nicoll tells a story which illustrates the peculiarity. Towards the end of his life Mr Stead, for conscientious reasons, resigned a lucrative position held upon the Trass. Asked by a friend whether he could afford ty do this he answered: “Well, you know, I have a very wealthy partner.” “Who is he?” “The Lord Almighty,” replied' Mr Stead, as if he were naming Lord Rothschild or Sir Edgar Speyer. Many years ago, whilst he was still editor of the “Pall Mall Gazette,” under, the of Mr Yates Thompson, lie made. a’iwP'ii mark to me (writes Sir Henry Lucy) much on these startling lines. The converse; tion took place at a period when his crusade against a particular form of vice, had, by its uncompromising frankness, alienated a considerable number of the readers of the paper. There were rumours at, the time that relations between editor and proprietor were growing increasingly strained. Asked how he was getting long in the matter, Mr. Stead answered: “I(can’t say I am on very good terms with rates Thompson. But I know I stand very well with Christ Jesus.” . ■

A winsome little Maori boy of about eleven summers displayed remarkable intelligence as a witness at the Gisborne Magistrate’s Court 'last week, and his" repartee to purposely “catchy” questions was refreshingly smart. After the neatlyclad little fellow, with, only his smiling face peeping over the box, had denied that he had been influenced in his evidence or even spoken to, counsel asked him'who told him to come to Court, the question apparently being a “feeler” as to whether the party he. had been called by, had spoken to him. The interpreter laughingly said that, the boy answered, “A policeman told me. He gave me a blue paper.” Then how did you know what to say? he was asked. “I knew what I would have to say, because I knew What I had seen,” came the terse and telling answer. At another time the boy ignored the interpreter, and replied to a' question by the Magistrate with a decisive “Yes.” “English tliis time, eh?” smilingly noted his Worship. • V-.'

‘ An old and much esteemed resident of Westport, Mr. Timothy Enright, passed away at his residence, Russell Street, on Monday' afternoon. Deceased was 80 years of age. For many years past he was unfitted, by ■ the Hardships of his earlier life, for strenuous work - It was only, however, in thelast few days that his illness took 0, serious form and earned him peacefully across the border. Deceased is survived by two sons, Messrs John and Timothy (Enright s Ltd.), and foifr daughters, two of whom are married, Mrs. C. M. Malfroy (Hokitika) and Mrs- White (Hawke’s Bay), and two, Misses Mary and Nonie Enright, carrying on Russell Street private school. The family have the sympathy of the' oofnmunity in their bereavement. Westport News.

“Was it a music-hall song or Salvation Army hymn I was singing?” questioned Alexander Fraser of a barman, who stated at the Auckland Police Court that. Fraser was disorderly in the Waverley Hotel and was singing, and used obscene’ language when asked to desist, the barman did not claim to have sufficient musical knowledge to distinguish the al--t-_ leged melody. In pursuance of a claim that he was absolutely sober, Fraser cross questioned Constable Gourley : Didn t 1 ask for a doctor at the station? No; you said you would prove it by standing oh one foot, and you attempted it and fell on the floor.” Accused explained that what he failed in was a physical exercise which was a most difficulty test of agility for a sober man, but his failure to accomplish it at the police station went against him, and he was fined £1 and costfl.

According to an interview with a prominent American well acquainted with American affairs, who, in tact, spends part of each year near Milan, but does not wish his name to be made public, it ■would appear that economic conditions in Italy at present are far worse the censored despatches make out. “The Tripoli War,” he said, “comes very near being the ruin of Italy, which, is, in fact, already seething with anxiety and discontent. Silk exports from Como province to the east have dwindled down to almost nothing. Banks are beginning to fall right and left. My own bank at Menaggio and Lecco collapsed last week, causing much alarm and distress. I believe that this is the first drop’ of a heavy shower, and that when the people realise the. comparative worthlessness of the millions of acres of the conquered provinces and the fearful expense involved for many years, even after peace is obtained, we shall see a dangerous reaction. Already the tourist season is affected, and the majority of the hotels are shaky. At a recent meeting of “assembled owners” of a Native block on the Coast a keen struggle took place between the friends of two rival applicants for a particular block of land, divided into three sections. When the merits of tlie applications had been fought and settled in regard to the first two sections there was a remarkable change of front respecting the third block, some twenty or thirty acres. One of the applicants, a lady, intimated her readiness to take the same, and the representative of the Maori Land Board was about to complete the transaction, when the other rival, to the amusement of the gathering, announced that the Government had this block—it had all been washed away by the erosion of the river. In another case the astuteness of the Maoris Was exemplified in regard to the fixing of the rental of a block, which was on the usual conditions —first term 5s per acre, second Bs, and third 10s. The wily Natives hung out for a long time for the terms to be reversed, so that they would get the 10s for the first term They would never live until the third term, they declared, so why should th jy not get the 10s? The ladies are requested to call and inspect the new stocks of fancy art needlework just opened up at B. Dixon’s, Tainui street. A bewildering assortment of the very latest productions are included in this shipment. Come and see them.— Advt. ,

The . continued successes of the young team Of . Australian cricketers in England must be very galling to the recalcitrant Six—-itill, Trumpet, Armstrong ' and Co The colts are being tested, and they are winning on their merits. You cannot test the. merits of Crescent Tea until you try it. .Soldi in three grades at 1/8,..1/10, and 2 /- per lb.—Advt.