GREYMOUTH ORPHEUS SOCIETY

Grey River Argus, 11 June 1915, Page 5

GREYMOUTH ORPHEUS SOCIETY

The above heading does not introduce to Greymouth the birth of a new Society, for the musical public will have the opportunty of attending, at the Town. Hall next Thursday night, June 17th, when the subscribers' second concert of the sixth season will be given by the members of the late Liedertafel. In view of the anti-German spirit which has naturally developed throughout our Empire, an unanimous desire has been expressed that these Societies should discard their objectionable German title, and with this end in view the premier society of the Dominion — Dunedin — has decided to communicate -with others in order that a universal name may be substituted. In selecting many patriotic numbers for the approaching concert, the committee has deemed it consistent that in the meantime the Greymouth Society should assume the title of "Orpheus," pending communication from Dunedin. The members, who are still under the conductorship of "Mr Chas. Staffan, have been practising assiduously since last concert, and have prepared a specially good programme. To appropriately make the concert patriotic' new numbers which were recently received direct from England have been included. These are: — "La Brabanconne" (Belgian National Song), by F. Van Campenhout; Russian National Anthem (Woff); "The Destruction of Gaza" (L. de Rille), and the soldiers' chorus "Follow the Colours," a marching song, which, has been popularly adopted by the Britsh troops on the Continent. The other choruses are: — "Excelsior," "Gentle Sounds Are Floating," "A Village Wedding," "Banish, O Maiden," and "A Wet Sheet and a Flowing Sea." The Society will be ably assisted by Miss Alice Castle (who is making her first appearance before a Greymouth audience), Messrs J. C. Stubbs, Erie Moss. and S. V. Croft. The Orpheus quartette party will give two items. The box plan is now open at Messrs Harley's, Ltd., and is rapidly filling.

Tor Chronitf Chest Complaints. Wood's Great Peppermint Cure, xs 6d, 2s 6d.

A touching incident which occurred during a hospital ship canvas in the suburbs, is recorded by the Auckland "Star." A lady canvasser in the Ellerslie district was waiting at the door while the lady of the house went for her purse to give a donation, when from the side door there came a crippled girl who had overheard the canvasser's appeal on behalf of the wounded soldiers. "Take this," she said, handing out a pound note, ' ' as my contribution to the poor boys at the front, 1 and no name please! " This can be taken as a good illustration of how the mat ter appeals — or should appeal — to every individual in the community. The trawler Gosford has just arrived back from a trip up the coast with a heavy catch of fish (says the Gisborne "Times"). She also landed a hammerheaded shark. This shark, which is the exact replica in shape of a sledge hammer, seems to be caught only in .^•extremely bad weather, and Mr. Franks, the proprietor, states that only once in his whole experience of fishing has he seen such a one. It is 4ft long and its eyes are situated on^ the very tips of its hammer-shaped head. It appears that a certain number 0^ money prizes have been offered by the Russian Government for utilising alcohol in various forms for heating, lighting, interned combustion for motors, improvements in denaturation, and for other purposes. The speeificatons of the inventions cr improvements must be filed in Petrograd by January 1, 1916, and the awards will be made not later than July lfollowing. The conditions of submission are set out in the offir.al. ui.!;-.;:«".ation, and it is stated that there are several awards under each section of considerable value ranging from £541 13s 4<l, up to £5125. In normal times (reports an AusI tralinn paper) 200,000 notes a month iuiu returned to the Federal Treasury for destruction, o%ying to their worn and unclean condition. Since the war, and the consequence increase in circulation of the Australan notes the total is now about SOO,OOO, and .still rising. The total face value of old notes destroyed since November, 1910, when the Act came into operation, is just upon £ir>,500,000. Many of the returned notes have had advertisements stamped on them. Treasury officials point out that this is contrary to the law, the penalty on conviction being- as high as £20. A staff of 100 women is employed in sorting out dilapidated notes. In normal times a staff of 20 was sufficient for this purpose. The conclusions arrived at by a conference in Melbourne of municipalities convened to inquire into the question of motor traffic mainly in relation to the damage to roads wer? as follows: — The committee is of opinion that special taxation should be imposed in varying degree on motor omnibus traffic and other motor vehicles carrying heavy loads; ana t"hat in fixng it full regard must be had to prospective development of all heavy and fast (in combination) motor traffic. ( The most equitable proposition, in the committee 's opinion would be the imposition of a charge on all classes of vehicles to be included in the scheme, based on car mileage run. ' ' This, ' ' it says "is the proposal strongly advocated in the Old Country at the present time. . A young manapplying for enlistment at Christchurch was rejected at a medical examination recently because his chest expansion was not great enough. ! He informed the officials of this, and j they explained to him how to breathe properly, and within 19 days he w*nt up for another medic 1 examination, ard was passed with an increased chest expansion of 3Vn. Another story is told of a Christchurch man who was rejected because of a complaint requir- , ing a minor operation. Ho proceeded to the hospital, but found that he would have to wait some time before he could be operated on, and if he did not immediately take a bed he might have to wait indefinitely. Remarking that he would "go through anything to get to the front," he took a bed, and lay between the sheets for a week afterwards awaiting the surgeon. Prices cut in half at Wade's Golf Sale.— Advt. The shopping centre for Ladies Rainproofs is W. McKay and Sons, Hydrotite, heavy and lightweights in A new stock just landed in Ever-dry, good winter Cravenete, first-class from 30s, 40s, 455, 55S up to 105s each. Eree post and rail to all parts. W. McKay and Son, tie Leading Mail Order House, Greymouth and Hokitika. — j Ad\t. Have you a copy of the latest Patriotic Song, viz., "Are We Downhearted? No!" Secure one now, price 2s, posted 2s id, from B. Dixon, Tainui Street. — Advt. Lay in a stock of Golf Balls at whole sale prices— Wade's Special Golf Sale. —Advt.