CURRENT TOPICS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIX, Issue 14693, 26 May 1908, Page 6

CURRENT TOPICS.

A GB.BAT

Although n great Scottish exhibition is being held this year in ir>,T.-.,i -.1, ;<- ,v

Edinburgh, it is, of course, cjuite (overshadowed by tho Franco-British Exhibition at' Shepherd's Bush, concerning which some* unfortunate personal difficulties 'have already arisen. Tin's show is to he tho greatest of the. kind ever held in tho Mother Country. It is easily first in rnoro .magnitude, because, it covers .0110 hundred and forty acres, and, as tho "Times'' put.-? it, tho undertaking has been "conceived and earned out in a larger .manner than we have been accustomed to—in a nia.nner more spacious, more dignified, more varied, more joyous and more comfortable." Tho idea originated with tho French Chamber or Commerce, in London, and many of its happiest features tiro duo to French enterprise. "Our neighbours," says the " Times " again, "living in a more .sunny climate-, have a iinor appreciation than ourNclvei; of outdoor effects of architecture and colour. Everyone who knows their towns must be struck by tho difference in their treatment of public places and monuments, by their rnoro spacious and dignified designs, and by the rnoro festal air which they contrive to impart-" Tho Shepherd's Bur-h Exhibition, wo ate told, has gained enormously by tho

free application, -of French ideas. The “Times” thinks, too, that tho exhibition will be more successful than its predecessors were because of its 1 imitations. Ib unquestionably surpasses previous British showo in scale, but the intention of the promoters is to confine its displays to the products and activities of two nations. “Vi e have . had exhibitions for all the, world,” the “Times” observes, “aiming at no lees than a sort of universal inclusion eleven, body in a vast outpouring of brotherly love. These exhibitions .have never been very successful from that point of view; indeed, it has been maintained by some that their effect has been upon the whole precisely the contrary of what was intended.” The exhibition has already been formally opened, though in an incomplete state, but the great demonstrations in connection with it have been reserved until this week, when 'the President of France will bo welcomed to Great Britain. /

Mioirnis.

It is said that there* is no other hobby that has quite, the faseina-

tion of archaeology, and the story of the gradual unfolding of ancient Egyptian history gives colour to the claim. That history is still far from complete, and there ia a whole world of interesting possibilities in the- latest task which Professor Petrio, the great Egyptologist, has set himself. He proposes, as soon as funds are available, to commence the i excavation of Memphis, where lived the builders of the pyramids. The pyramids were the work of the 'Fourth Dynasty of Egyptian kings, whoso capital was at Memphis, and they were built fully 2500 years before the Exodus of the Israelites. Until tho olo.se of the eighteenth , century European scholars drew all their knowledge of ancient Egypt from the classics and from the Bible. Herodotus hnd told stories of,the, fifth century before Christ, and four hundred years earlier Homer had sung of "Egyptian Thebes, where in ' the houses is tho greatest store of wealth, Thebes with a hundred gates, i through each of which pass out two hundred men. with horses and chariots." A , new era opened, howover, when one. of Napoleon's officers discovered at Ilosettia a slab inscribed in .Greek and two styles of Egyptian writing, which furnished a key to the hieroglyphic inscriptions of temples and monuments. Later began the era of excavation, which promises to provide moro than tho baro outlines of Egyptian, history back to the stone age. Cheops, the builder of lb© great pyramid, lived about 3800 years before Christ, and, as we said, his capital was Memphis: The Twelfth .Dynasty, which ruled-from' 1 2778 to 2565 8.C., had its capital at and had commercial relations with Mediterranean countries. Tho Eighteenth Dynasty established about 1700: B.C. a great empire, extending to the Euphrates, The most noticeable gaps in Egyptian history as it is known now precede the Twelfth and the Eighteenth Dynasties, and by his excavations at Memphis Professor Petrio hopes to throw light on, tho earlier of these obscure periods.

THE AFRICAN SCOURGE.

The British Government has decided to take independent action in

the effort to combat the devastating ravages of sleeping sickness in many parts .of Africa, and a National Sleeping Sickness Bureau is to be former], with headquarters in London. It, vv.is hoped at one time, that the organisation would bo made an international ono, in which all countries with possessions in Africa would participate. The proposal fell through because the countries chiefly concerned could not agree as to where the international bureau (should be placed.' The National Bureau in London will be managed by a committee of .experts, and wil] receive annual grants from tho Imperial and Soudanese Governments. No disease has caused eo great a destruction of human life in Africa in ho short a time «s sleeping sickness. Since it first made its appearance in epidemic form, about seven years ago, it has decimated the natives in. large areas of the Congo Free State. Out of a, total native population of 300,000 in Uganda, it has destroyed 200,000, while it has appeared in the French Congo and the Soudan, and is threatening German East Africa, Rhodesia and the British Central Africa Protectorate. Its cause is a species of tsetse fly. known as the Glossina palpalis, which, in biting <a human being, deposits a parabite. The victim becomes excitable, and then ho lapses into a. lethargy, which is followed by almost continuous sleep.' This may last six months, a year, or even two years, but it always ends fatally. Since 1902 many medical experts have been engaged endeavouring to discover a cure for the disease, but although hopes have been raised on several occasions, tho problem still remains unsolved. International action has not been.abandoned, and Great Britain and Germany a.re concluding a convention on the subject of joint measures for tho prevention of the malady in Uganda and German Jiaet Africa, a.nd this is expected to bo signed at an early date. The amount of study and skill now being devoted to the subjegt should produce some result.

A rigorous movement is on foot at Russell to get the American fleet to call at the Bay of .Islands, when on ita wav to Sydney after the Auckland visit. Tho “ North Otago Times'’ states that a farmer in tno Oama.ru district planted a dry lagoon of large siae with potatoes this season, from which, lie dug seventeen tons to the acre. These he sold at £4 a ton, or at the rate of £6B an acre.

At the Magistrate’s Court at Leeston on Friday Joim Page, for using insulting and abusive language to Samuel Jonnston, in the.hearing of passers-by, and occasioning a breach of the peace, was lined 20s. Messrs John Rennie, and William Halley were on the bench. The new Judgeship of the Native Land Court has been conferred on Mr Eliott ltoocoo Reeve, solicitor, of Auckland. Mr Reeve is a New Zealander by birth, and is about forty years of age. lie wa« educated at the Auckland Grammar School, and was called to the bar in 1897, since which date he has been practising in Auckland.

The “ Otago Daily Times ” says that mutton-birders aro getting back from the islands in Foveaux Strait as fast as they can find opportunities. All the eastern islanders have been brought in, and information rocoived from Half Moon Bay states that the crafts are waiting a slant of weather to get the southern and western islanders back again to their homes. Tho season is spoken of all round as having been a good one.

The decision of the Government to have no lady inspectors of factories in future does not meet with favour in labour circles in Dunedin. The “Star” says that it is contended that instead of the inspectors being abolished, their number should be increased. The Otago Society for the protection of Women and Children has decided to bring the matter before tho Minister of Labour, and it is also likely that a deputation from tho Trades and Labour Council will interview the Minister on the same subject. According to Mr R. C. Bruce, of Rangitikoi, nats are the real enemy of feathered game, and the weasel is the enemy of tlio rat. Ho expressed these views at the meeting of the Wellington Aclimatisation Society on Wednesday night, and quoted specific instances to show that the rat gave place to the weasel, which, in his district, at any rate, never touched feathered game. In Rangitikei, he added, pheasants were holding their own, . hut French partridges, which thrived for a time, had disappeared. A covey of Virginian ■quail had lately been seen, in his vicinity, and he had reason to believe that there were some native quail, which were supposed to he extinct. “ The Department has improved the laying capabilities of the birds in its charge by fifty per cent in three years,” said Mr D. D. Hyde, chief of the Poultry Department to a “ New Zealand Herald ” representative. “ V 7 e had a big demand for our stock last season, and a bigger demand for eggs—in fact our stock of pullets is almost depleted. W’e keep the best for breeding purposes, but unless they give us 100 eggs for the first six months they are cast aside. A few years ago birds that laid 100 eggs in a year would have been considered good enough to hold to breed from.” Questioned as to what was being done in experimenting with tho birds at the Department's farms, Mr Hyde mentioned that a good deal was being attempted in feeding and other directions, and that lie was very hopeful of the result. A correspondent writes to say that in view of the fact that pipes for tho high-pressure water supply will soon be laid in Christchurch, it will be well to remember that there were difficulties in connection with the laying of pipes to convoy the Wainui-o-Mata supply to Wellington. The pipes were telescoped into one another like drain, pipes, and the joints filled with cement, and as soon as the high pressure supply was turned in many of the joints in. the main hurst. The trouble is still recurrent, and when a- joint gives way the water has to ho turned off to allow of repairs being made. The writer urges that tho pipes should be screwed together like steam-pipes, or, failing that, the joints should be bedded in a solid foundation that will not settle after laying. The question of providing a. system for conveying salt water from the harbour to permanent positions about Wellington city for use in eases of emergency for fire prevention purposes has been discussed by the City Council. It is estimated that the cost would be £7OOO. Against this the committee considered whether such, a course would bo necessary if the main from Wairiuiomata .(the city's chief water supply) was duplicated. The committee was strongly of opinion That the duplication of tho Wainuiomata main should be proceeded with as soon as possible. If the latter proposal was adopted, the estimated cost would he £140,000. Tho Mayor and councillors stated that there was no cause for alarm as to tho city water supply, as the Karori dams could hold sufficient, to supply the city for many days. The Wellington correspondent of the “ Lyttelton Times ” writes that small hoys with firearms are making themselves a nuisance on the Town Belt on Sundays. A couple of youngsters with pea-rifles made Sunday afternoon unpleasant for walkers on the northern slopes of Mount Victoria. They were petting away indiscriminately, ’and greatly alarmed ladies strolling 'on the paths near tho haunts of the juvenile sharpshooters. One observer expected every moment to see one of the irresponsible “'sports” knock the other out of action, for they did not seem to be very particular lupw they pointed their weapons. Recently on a Sunday afternoon a couple of youths brought revolvers to a frequented portion of the belt and put the fear of lead into more than one passer-by. Wellington is not blessed with many birds apart from the common sparrow, and the few that do flit about on the open spaces are mercilessly persecuted by urchins with firearms. Even the pretty little waxeye, the nimble little green bird which is such a diligent destroyer of blight and grubs ill. tvees and shrubs, is nob spared. Defective eyesight and how to preserve it. If you have any trouble with your eyes, no matter how slight, consult Walter J. Watson, F.1.0.C., D.8.0.A., London, Eyesight Specialist and Optician. Ten years London and colonial experience. My rooms aro fitted with all the latest appliances, and patrons can rely on getting the best advice, and in no case are glasses recommended if they are not required. Doctom’ prescriptions for glasses prepared. Rooms above 'Watson, Jeweller, 230, Colombo Street, two doors from Armagh Street .Telephone 1640. 1988 Humanised milk is now used, largely as food for infants. In preparing it a thermometer has to he used to record the degrees of' temperature. Thermometers for this and other purposes are largely stocked at. John R. Procter’s, Oculist’s Optician, ISO, High Street, Christchurch, and the prices of these instruments, which are of the best quality, range from the low figure of one shilling upwards. 1988

Dinner and Tea Sets.—Fletcher Bros, have just opened up a fin© assortment, good value, 20-piece dinner sets from 16s 9d. Tea sets, 21-piece, 7s 9d to 17s 6d, 40-piece from 2os; w. and g. China cups and saucers 2s 9d and 2s lid, pink eelcito 3s 3d, 3s 9d ; earthenware In lid, all per half dor,en —Fletcher Bros.. Lower High Street 1

The police are taking proceedings against several shopkeepers and board-inghouse-keepers of Invercargill for selling ginger wine which is above alcoholic standard. Proceedings will be taken against the manufacturers. The Cabinet has decided to take steps to protect the scenery along the Wanganui River, which .is endangered by throwing open additional lands for settlement. An area of, 26,000 acres of bush along both banks' of the river will be preserved. Girls who use. the State Registry Office in Christchurch as a means of obtaining employment will be given the same. concessions on' the railways as arc given to men whom the Labour Department sends to work. They will be allowed twenty-five per cent reduction in their fares.

The s.s. Athenic brought three Romney Marsh stud rams to Lyttelton from London. They are from the farm of Mr Charles File, Eltham, Kent, and’ are consigned to Messrs Murray,' Roberts and Co., Dunedin. The animals arrived in very good condition, and will undergo their period of quarantine on Quail Island.

At the Juvenile Court yesterday, a boy, aged fifteen years and eight months, was charged with having stolen a cheque for £8 13s 3d from Mason, Strutters and Co. The polioe stated that the boy had been employed for two months and a half, during which he had taken postal-notes and money. He had torn up letters and interfered greatly with the business of the firm. By some means he obtained possession of the cheque, and, after initialling it, lie placed on it the firm’s stamp and then cashed it, using £6 for the purchase of a bicycle that lie afterwards sold for £4 10s. He was committed to Burnham by Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., who heard the case.

Mr D. H. Fawcett, acting secretary, was in the chair at the Young Mens’ Christian Association men’s meeting on Sunday afternoon, and a stirring address was delivered by the Rev W. Ready. He spoke of the frequent condemnation of the biblo, the churches and many organisations as too theoretical, and said that the cry of the multitude was for a Socialism that taught the brotherhood of man and equality of opportunity. The bible, he asserted, taught those great lessons from cover to cover and the gospel of Christ was a thoroughly practical one. The time was coming when people would sift the dross and find the gold; when they would reject error and accept the truth; and God was the truth.

Captain Linn, secretary for the Royal Humane Society of' New Zealand' has received two applications for recognition of bravery. In one case, R. Proctor risked his life in rescuing R. Rush from drowning at Dunedin on January 12. Proctor is thirty-eight years of age, and he rescued Rush in the Otago Harbour by swimming out and securing an unseawprtliy punt, which he rowed about half a mile in the face of a strong gale to where Rueh was in tho water. In the. other ease, Frank Perham, a farmer at, Wainui, Banks Peninsula, rescued a, schoolboy named Cyril J. S. Moore from drowning at tho Akaroa wharf- in December last.

An elderly lady, who refused to divulge her name on the grounds that she did not court publicity, fell into the harbour while attempting, to board tho ferry steamer Kestrel when that vessel, was leaving ‘ one of the Auckland wharves for Devonport bno niglit this week. The steamer had just started when the woman made her. appearance on the wharf, panting and out of breath. She ran to the edge of tho wharf, where a young mail grasped her hands. She thereupon stepped suddenly, which caused the young man to lose his hold, and tho woman fell forward into the water. An alarm was immediately raised. The steamer put back, and in the meantime a young mail named Robert Hamilton, in the employ of the Ferry Company, jumped into the water and held the woman up until n. number of passengers' on tho steamer were able to lift her on board. The woman treated the affair lightly, and laughed about it to the passengers. A Press Association telegram from New Plymouth states:—About a year 'ago Mho discovery of kaolin, clay deposit was made on a Smart Road farm. Recently a foreign syndicate purchased the property and placed a strong gang of men on, to ascertain by driving the extent of tho deposit. The result of three weeks’ work shows that the deposits are much more extensive than was anticipated. Six drives have been made, each' 6ft square. One at the low level.is in 108 ft without getting out of pure white clay. 1 Another drive loft higher is in 88ft, with the floor, walls and roof still of white, clay, Here a shaft lias been sunk 26ft still in the flame clay, but improving in quality with each foot sunk., Another drive of 71ft still shows nothing hut kaolin. In the fourth drive, now 62ft, yellow and blue and white clays were first met with, but they are now in white kaolin. The fifth drive is in 50ft in similar country, and in the sixth drive crude lignite has been encountered. and.' a shaft is to be sunk to ascertain whether kaolin underlies it.

The State Registry for Female Servants was opened in rooms next the offices of the Labour Department, in Worcester Street, yesterday morning, by .Mr J. Lomas. Chief Inspector of Factories. There were not many applications yesterday, as the day was re- 1 garded as a general holiday, but it is expected that the new department will be kept, busy all this week. Several communications have been received from employers in the country. Mr Lomas told a reporter that arrangements had been made to Have comfortable rooms, which would be neatly furnished. There was an inner room, which would he used by employers and employees who wished to confer in private in regard to terms and conditions, and facilities would bo offered to bring about agreements that would be satisfactory to both parties. There would bo no counter and no clerks as in tho men’s bureau, and formalities would be done aivay with os far as possible. Miss Morrison, who has been lady inspector of factories in the South Island will be in charge of the Christchurch registry. The Labour Department intends to issue from ten to twelve thousand circulars to employers of domestic help in all parts of the dominion, giving the addresses of the registries in the four centres. It is expected that by this means those who need household assistance will he able to draw upon the Whole supply. If a la.dv in Christchurch, for instance, is not supplied from this registry, silo may. communicate with Dunedin or Wellington. The ladies in "charge of the registries will prepare periodical reports, which will ho published in the “Labour Journal.” In this way tho department and the public will he kept closely in touch with the conditions of tho market in this branch of labour.

Eyestrain—Headaches.—Mr E. M: Sandsteiu, F.S.M.C., D.8.0.A., Oph thalmic Optician, may be consulted on all cases of defective eyesight. Fifteen years’ special study and experience. Tho most up-to-date and completelyequipped option! parlours in the colonies. Cashel Street W. (next BalJan•cvnp’s). Hours, 9.30 to 6. Telephone 397. ' 1898

Having now been established in the city of Christchurch for over half a century, and during the whole of this period we have' manufactured all our own Engagement and Wedding Rings, wo are now offering the very best value obtainable in the dominion, and, taking quality for quality, we defy competition. B. Peterson and Co., 222 High Street, 1

The coldest weather, of the season avis experienced at Ashburton, on Sunday night, eight degrees of frost being recorded. ’ Ice was visible on still water.

Between Friday and Saturday evening a room in tho Prince Albert hoard-ing-house at Ashburton was entered, and the sum of £5 contained in a box was taken, tho lock having been prized open.

The question of slaughtering methods will be further considered at the next meeting of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The secretary has received a letter from tho American Society, New York, requesting that the prevailing methods in Christchurch should bo reported upon to the American body, which is interesting itself in tho humaneness of the practices in vogue. The letter states that the society has made a standing offer of 590 dollars for any slaughtering instrument or method of utility, not now in general use, and more humane than those now need.

Owing to the fact that the high schools aro not in session just now, Canterbury College did not take a- part.' in the patriotic demonstrations in Christchurch yesterday. It will take • an opportunity to display its patriotism j on June 3, when a function will be held in the College Hall. This will commence at- 10.30 a.m., and one' of the features will bo a tableau representing the whole Empire. Air G. W. Russell,chairman of the Board of Governors, will preside, and representatives of tho Graduates’ Association, tho Students’ Association and the Professorial Board, will bo on the platform. > ' '

The Reserves Committee of tho "Wellington City Council report* favourably on tho acquisition o! tho Athletic Park, Rintonl Street, by the Council. The area is eight and three-quarter acres of Native reserve, and the lease is granted for sixty-threo years from 1893, with revaluation every twenty-one years. The Athletic Park Company offered their interests for the sum of £4550. The earning power of the company last year, mainly from the Football Union, was £l7lß, from which, has to be deducted the cost of maintenance. The,, report was adopted, and steps are to bo taken, to ascertain whether the’Council can secure the property as a freehold. The present rental of the ground i«< £163. per annum, and tho rates last year amounted to £247.

The Rev W. Hewiteon, of Dunedin, is a believer in athletics for boys and girls, and on Sunday morning lie told his congregation in Knox Church jthafc lie regretted tho small amount' of ground for recreative purposes there, was around Dunedin’s public schools: Even Otago University, of which all were so justly proud, lio said, had only •a very limited area of ground, available now for the students, and within tho next sixty yea-re that ground,, too, would be crowded with buildings. Ho believed that, it was necessary for the health and oven the morality of tho young men that they should have opportunity for playing cricket and football and other sports on grounds specially set apart tor such purposes, and there should be also, he said, similar recreation grounds for .the women, who formed such a large part in connection with the University.

At the quarterly general meeting of the Canterbury branch of the Amalgamated Society pf Railway Servants, held on Sunday, a deputation consisting of several of those who were called out on strike in 1890 attended, and requested the-branch to further their claims for their prior service to count for superannuation purposes. The following resolution was carried unanimously:—“That this branch urge the executive council to take steps at once to have the prior time of those called out on strike by the Union in 1890 counted for superannuation purposes, by offering to buy the said timo in at the rate of three per cent on the wages that the men were receiving at the time the strike took place, half to be paid by tho Government and half by the union.” The mover -of the motion said, that the Society had been urging the strike men’s claim oil the Government for some timo without result and the time had arrived when a definite proposal should be made. The Canterbury branch will try to secure the assistance of'all members of Parliament, so that the Premier j who, it is understood, has expressed his willingness to support ascheme on the lines of ,the resolution, j will bo able to give effect to.'the wishes of the Society. : ." , *

A rather remarkable kind of shark was caught on Sunday afternoon in. the sea about fourteen miles south-east of Timaru, by Messrs Oddie and M’Corrnaek, who were fishing for groper with’ an oil launch. > The shark made a great fight; and the two men had to spend a couple; of hours over it before getting it into the boat, and it waa squirming for a long timo after that. The capture appeared, .to/be worth the trouble, as it was quite - a novelty to them, being as much like a porpoise as, a shark. Its, form and colour generally resemble those. of a porpoise, and,more remarkable still, its tail is fluked, horizontally instead of vertically, and; the flukes are nearly of equal length. The “Timaru HeraldU cays that any. fisherman glancing at it from a little distance would declare it to be a port, poise. Large eyes, gill slits, ' and. shagreen skin, however, “give it away” as a shark on close examination*. The tail is perhaps the most remarkable thing about this fish, for it i» twisted from the perpendicular to the. horizontal position. The flukes are nearly of the same length instead of one being very much longer than the other, and they measure about loin from tip to tip.

Asked by on “Otago Daily Times” reporter whether t.lie Otago Employers” Association intended to. take any Notion or express any opinion in connection with tho abolition of’ female in*; specters of factories, Mr W. Scott, president of Association, replied in tha, negative. Ho said that he had. dis- - cussed the matter with some of tho members of the executive, not one of whom was opposed in any way to female inspection. It was ■ generally recognised among employers that thero were, many matters in connection with factories and regarding the conditions of; work that women wore specially quail-' lied to inquire into. The principle waa, a sound one. He thought, however,; that in the past some'of the women inspectors had been too meddlesome, and had not only caused unnecessary friction between employers and the Department., but had also caused friction between tho officers of the Department and headquarters. This, however, did not. alter the principle, but reduced it to a question of the suitability of the appointees. If suitable persons wo.ro selected, the employers would not dppose their appointment, but rather favour it.

Specially attract ive to ladies and girls are this week’s bargains at the Fire Sale. Every pair of boots 'or shoes, no matter how low the price, is of good, reliable quality, and your visit to this sale will prove most profitable. Fred Smith (almost opposite Broaclwav’s), 19S8. Recognising that there are a greatcamber of ladies to whom only the.best appeals, and who hold that the best is, really the cheapest in the. end, they will, no doubt, be glad to know that Eugene Spitz, . Ladies’ Tailor, .103,, Cashel Street, will provide them with costumes equally as well fitted as those made by the best West End tailors iiv London, 1398 ,

Mr Thomas Stevens, an old and wellknown'miner on the ‘West Coast, -who (has been in the Maori Greek district for over a, quarter of a century, had hisi tailraeo “ washed-up ’ for him one night last week by midnight thieves. They robbed him of six months’ hard earnings. It is tho only payable piece of ground he had struck for some years.

Mr A. E. Inder, a mining engineer, of Dunedin, lias-received information from his brother, Mr C. J. Inder. who is in French West Africa, that he'and two other New Zealanders have recently executed a commission to examine, prospect and, report on the potentialities of a gold-bearing field on the Gambia River, where, if conditions are favourable, dredging will be introduced. The three Now Zealanders traversed much virgin country, and in the course of their adventurous travels they had the rare pleasure of testing their shooting skill on elephants. Dredging continues to make progress on the Gold Coast, where several New Zealanders are engaged. / The Ashburton “Guardian”, says that in view of the many complaints made through several newspapers regarding drinking and rowdyism on trains, it is understood that tho Department has appointed an officer to collect information bearing on this point, presumably jmith a view to enabling it to decide what course of action is necessary ,to adopt in tile interest of the travelling public to abate this undesirable practice and hooliganism. Some, days ago, tho officer appointed was in Ashburton, and it is understood that he took note of complaints made by persons '"•horn he interviewed on the subject. the authorities in Christchurch say that they have no knowledge of the appointment of such an officer.

RELICS OF CAPTAIN COOK. . A correpondent of “ limes, in ft letter dated Honolulu, February 24, tells of some, recently-discovered relics .of Captain Cook. He says that Prolessor Vladimir Sviatlovsky,. of the University of St Petersburg, is now in Honolulu on a mission connected with the recent discovery m fat letcrsbui„ of a collection of Hawaiian feather-work which was given by one* of tho Hawaiian chiefs to Captain Cook. After the death of Captain Cook the Resolution and Discovery proceeded to Potropavlovsk in Siberia, where a quantity or the feather work seems to have been presented to the Russian commander ;there in recognition of bis kindness to the expedition. The collection remained there boxed up and forgotten for many years and was afterwards sent to St Petersburg, where it was equally neglected until a year ol‘ so ago, when, by accident it was discovered and presented to the University of St Petersburg. Its ethnological importance seems to have stimulated a desire on the part of the -university authorities for a larger and more comprehensive collection of Hawaiian work, and Professor Sviatlovsky has been sent out for that purpose. He has proposed to the trustees of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum of Polynesian >Antiquities to exchange some of the articles of •which there are duplicates in this strangely preserved collection for articles 'in which it is wanting. This ‘.will be done.

CHEAP BICYCLES

We are making a special show in our Window, 138-140, High Street, of cheap bicycles. Good, reliable machines arefill own, prices from £3 to £lO. Ladies End gentlemen contemplating purchasing bicycles should certainly inspect our windows, as a considerable saving ban be made. Our prices are certainly the lowest in tho town for reliable goods. We have got a special line of 12 second-hand' bicycles, which we are selling at 40s each. Workmen and others should save tram fares by purchasing one of- these cheap bicycles. Call and inspect. Adams Limited, late Adams Star Cycle Co., 138-140, High Street, Christchurch.. 1706