TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15922, 7 May 1912, Page 6

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

The Minister of Railways (the Hon A. M. Mvers) has informed the Lyttelton Harbour Board that lie will meet its deputation regarding increased railway facilities at Christchurch, on Friday, at 10.30 a.m. A 'verv interesting euchre tournament was held at the Sumrnerhill School, Gust, on Friday evening, in aid of tho school funds. Sides were picked between married and single players, the former winning by 33 gumes to 26. Tho man who was remanded at tho ! Ashburton Magistrate's Court on Sati rdav on a, charge of behaving in a ' strange manner on the Hinds Road on Friday last was again before the Court vesterdav morning. Mr W. W. White, J.P. aid Mr H. A. Lloyd, J.P., who were' on the Bench, on healing that the man had recovered from his drinking bout, and was in his normal state of miad, dscharged him. The Canterbury Horticultural Society's committee met last evening to make the final arrangements for the chrysanthemum show, winch is to be opened to-morrow in the Alexandra Hall. It was reported that large entries had been received -in all classes, particularly in the fruit section, and that there were many entries for exhibition only. Mr W. Courtier had consented to judge the fruit, Mr A. Cant to judge the cut flowers, and Mr W. Jones the decorative classes, pot plants and vegetables. It was stated that 500 feet of table space would be occupied by the exhibits. At the last meeting of tho Ashburton County Ministers' Association a resolution was passed objecting to band concerts being given on Sunday afternoon, as they interfered with the work of the Sunday schools. At the last meeting of the Borough Council a deputation from the Ministers' Asociation waited on the Council in support of the resolution, with the result that the Mayor gave notice to move at the next meeting of the Council that permission for Sunday concerts should not bo granted in future. A petition to the Mayor and borough councillors is being numerously signed by the Ashburton residents and ratepayers, asking that bands should be permitted to play sacred music in Ashburton on Sundays. The first annual meeting of the North New Brighton Burgeses Association was held on Friday. Mr H. R. Wade (president) was in the chair. Tho report showed that the Association had fully justified its existence. The various 'requirements of tiie district had been discussed and brought under the notice of the proper authorities,, and in, almost overv case the matters had been attended'to. The neod of properly formed streets had been brought before the Council and ratepayers by the Association, with the result that a special loan of £4500 had been almost unanimously sanctioned by j the ratepayers, and the streets were now being formed. The Government had been approached with regard tea telephone bureau and post office. The telephone bureau was now being installed at the tea rooms and would be open for the use of the public in about a week's time. The need of leasing or selling a strip of the reserve fronting the Esplanade, so as to link North and South New Brighton, was now being urged. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—president, Mr J. H. Coates; vice-presidents, Hon G. W. Russell, Hon H. G. Ell, Messrs Burns. J. A. Ftator, • A. Hopkins, H. R.i Wado •» d H»-#A\i ; ' secrotarv and treasurer, Mr &. A. M. Leaver;" executive, M«« s .£• B ""3 | T. Cox, J. Lindlev B. J- Ager, J. H. J Coates and E. A. M. Leave*.

The new clock-tower on the Addington Post Office is now nearing completion. The tower is three storeys in height, and is built of pressed brick with plaster facings. When completed it will contain a triple-dial chiming clock.

With reference to a statement by Wellington newspapers that owing to mail matter having been sent to,Vancouver instead of San Francisco, the Manuka, with English and American mails, could not leave San Francisco before Thursday, the Union Steam Ship Company states that the vessel picked up the mails, which will be landed in New Zealand on the due date. A number of the State schools broke up for the torm holidays on Friday last, and, as a result, the seaside cars' yesterday were filled with youthful picnickers. In connection with the practice of children ringing the bells on trailers standing at the termini, tha Tramway Board has erected stating that children must not play of the trailers or ring tho bells. It is stated that the Passive Registers Union is experiencing some difficulty in procuring a hall for its preposed meeting on Sunday night. Ths King's Theatre had been booked and advertised for the meeting, but it is understood now that permission to hold the meeting will be withdrawn at tha instance of the City Council, and thai the Union will be unable to obtain any ■ other hall.

Although some time has now elapsed since the Coronation Memorial bath« house was officially opened at Sumner, the public are not yet able to use the baths, owing to the Sumner Borough Council's inability to secure an attendant. Tho Council decided to let tha bath-house by tender, and applications were called, but none were received. It is hoped that the baths will be available for use shortly.

A "ood deal of shop-lifting goes oa in Auckland, but the testimony, of business people goes to show that it is net increasing to any great extent. The action of some people m prosecuting those thev catch is considered to have a salutary effect. In the case of the thefts which take place inside shops. the delinquents seem generally to be women, while men appear more prone to make a casual selection from wares displayed outside. At the Socialists' meeting in Catte dral Square on Sunday evening, the following resolution was carried unanimously:— "In the event of tho capitalist class bringing about war between, anv two nations, this meeting expresses its' svmpathy with the Hardie-Vaillant proposal that the workers of the world shall call a general strike, especially in those industries which manufacture; munitions of war." Three cheers wert heartily given for the social revolution. Last night, after the Waimairi Court. tv Council had discussed the question of allowing a billiard-saloon at Papanui to remain open till 11 p.m., and, despite some opposition, had granted the extension, it turned its attention to fingerposts for the roads. A letter re- __ eeircd, dealing with tho subject, stated that " two up here would do no harm. A member wilfully misinterpreted this. • as relating to a well-known illegal gome. ,p Wicked place, Papanui," he muttered.

A Napier Press Association telegram says that recently the Postal Department announced the abolition of lljper cent poundage allowed to merchants on rntamatic franking machines. Mr Brown. M.P., at tho request of a deputation.* made representations _to the Postmaster-General on the, subject, but Mr Ell has replied- regretting that h» cannot .see his way to reinstate the poundage, as the expense of making th» collection and allowing credit to the holders is s» heavy as to materially reduce the amount collected for postage.

During the past west Lake Forsyth ha.s been at a very high level, and the Little River load has been practically impassable for most vehicles. Motorists' have had to .send their cars by rail to avoid the flooded portions of the road, and the motor-coach has on several occasions been unable to get through. The-soif-westerly winds have been banking up tho waters, and in some places the road has beer, three to four feet under water. On Saturday efforts to let tho flood waters out wore successful, and yesterday the road was reported by the driver of the motor-coach to be quite passnblo. The water has done but little damage, there being but one landslip, and that not of a serious nature. Following the advance that has occurred during the last year or tw» in the prices of articles and lines in everyday use and consumption, further increase's in the prices of general groceries are probable and in some instances certain, states a Press Association telegram from Auckland. _ A reporter during the course of inquiries learned from one of the largest wholesale distributers in Auckland that prices on finely-cut grocery lines ar» bound to advance very shortly. After careful calculation it has been ascertained that a wholesale importer's business costs at least li per cent more to run now than was the case two of tliroe years ago.

"'Absolutely illegal," said Mr B. J. Rigliton yesterday in reply to a reporter's query concerning the sale of, wild clucks. " Wild ducks are not saleable. Neither native nor imported gain* is allowed to be sold during the shooting season in Canterbury." Mr Rightoii's attention had been drawn to the practice of some shooters who secure huge bags early in the season and dispose of the birds privately at so much per pair, often as low as Is 6d. He remarked that the Society would prosecute if information was given to it in such oases- Regarding the shooting season Mr Righton said that no big hags had been reported,' as the weather had not been " shootable" so far.

The disabilities under _ which local bodies work were the subject of a discussion at a meeting of the Waimairi County Council last night. The chairman, Mr S. A. Staples, states that the ratepayers had sanctioned a number of loans, but the Council could not obtain the money owing to the law forbidding local bodies to borrow more than £SOOO. The Council, being already overdrawn, was unable to borrow any ■ more money to carry out various works. On the motion of Mr W. J. "Walter it was decided that a- deputation, consisting of the chairman and Messrs S. Bullock, W. J. Walter. W. Hall and W. P. Spencer should wait on the Minister of Financo and the Minister of Internal Affairs, and explain the injustica of this position. In connection with the charges of opening telegrams brought against Thomas Henderson in the Supreme Court, at Wellington yesterday, the Grand Jury made a recommendation to Mr Justice Chapman. The foreman (Mr John Mallard) said: "The Grand Jury has asked me to draw your Honor's attention to the lax manner in which tabs for scaling telegram? may be obtained. We aro all business men and all liable to have our packets opened and resoaled. There seems to be no difficulty in the way of telegraph messengers obtaining the seals from the counter and after the message has been opened repealing it. Wo ask vour Honor to bring the matter before the proper authorities.' His Honor: "I thank you for the recommendation. I will ask the Minister of Justice to call the attention of the Postmaster-General to your observations. No doubt the matter will be duly considered."

An ideal drink for cold winter evenings—" Gold Star Cocoa," manufactured by special process, which retains all the "nourishment of the cocoa and excludes undesirable elements, making " Gold Star Cocoa" a perfect beverage. Pure, healthful and nutritious. Specially suitable for growing children. As& for "Gold Star Cocoa?' 1766

The new superintendent of the Chmtchurch Fire Brigade will arrive in-tJio City on May 23, and take up his duties from Juno 1.

At the monthly meeting of the Longbeach Boad Board, held on Saturday, it was decided to striko a rate of fiveEixteentbs of a penny in the pound. The chairman (Mr John Grigg) and Mr "W. S. Lill were appointed to sign the rate,book.. ■The Prebbleton branch of the King's Messengers held its quarterly meeting on Saturday afternoon. Correspondence'was Tead from branches in Ceylon and London (All Hallows, Barking-by-the-Tower). It was arranged to give a missionary pageant on the vicarage lawns next summer. Mr Parry, Government hydro-elec-trical engineer in charge of the operation at Lake Coleridge, will arrive in Qhristchurch . to-day, and will confer with the City Council's Electrical Committee in regard to the price for which is to be sold to the Council from the Lake Coleridge plant. ! The Domains Board will meet in the City Council Chamber to-day at 5 p.m., but it is unlikely that any very interesting business will be transacted* The proposal of the Hospital Board to seek further land from the Domain for hosjpital purposes is considered to be dead, owing to the uncompromising objection of the Domains Board.

Sportsmen in Ashburton have had very poor luck since the opening of the shooting season. AH species of duck seem to have sought the protection, of the sanctuaries, and paradise ducks are very scarce. Several Ashburton sportsmen who visited the lakes above Mount Somera for the opening of the season found that grey duck were fairly plentiful, and good bags were secured. The regrassing of Central Otago and other portions of the country devastated >'by the grass grub is _ still the subject of persistent experiment by the Agricultural Department. Mr A. Macpherson, director of field experiments for the South Island, left Christchurch on Saturday with Mr J. Dicker for Malvern, Hills, in Central Otago, to carry out regrassing experiments on a large area that Las been set aside for the purpose.

/ Forty-six acres of the Orakei Estate, which the Auckland City Council purposed to acquire for suburban homes, were sold last month for £4500. Appli- •' cation has been made to the Maori Land Board for confirmation of the transaction. The Mayor states that steps will be taken to oppose the application on the grounds that it was not in the best interests of. the Natives. It is believed that the sales have been completed, but details are not ascertainable. '"As some doubt appears to exist as to whether native pigeons may be shot this season," says the "Under-Secre-tary of Internal Affairs in a telegram to the Acclimatisation Society yesterday, "I have to inform yen that the Government has decided that a close season shall be observed in all districts this year for native pigeons." The ukase does not affect Canterbury very much, for the only native pigeons in the province are a few in the bush at Glentui and near Oxford.

The financial results of the Bell bazaar at Prebbleton were most satisfactory. The results of the various stalls were as follow:—Plain work stall, £B6 17s lid; farm produce, £35 17s sd; produce stall, £25 2s Id; fancy stall, £22 16s 6d; Church of England Missionary Society's stall, £ls 6s 3d; sweets stall, £l4 7s; flower stall, £l2 17s 6d; Christmas-tree, £8 6s 9d; tea room, £8 3s sd; fish pond, £6 16s 3d; weight-guessing, £6 8s 6d; book stall, £6 4s od: shooting gallery, £1 Os 3d. Total, £2OO 3s sd. Mr J. W. Pateheit was secretary of the bazaar, Mr F. W. Carpenter treasurer, and, Mrs Hartnell acted as secretary of the sewing parties which prepared the goods for the work stalls. ,

At the meeting of theWakanui Road Board on Saturday, Mr W. J. Silcock (chairman of the Hampstead Town Board) waited on the Board regarding an account existing between the two Boards in respect to the erection of Marksy's Bridge, on the Main South Road, between Ashburton and the saleyards. Mr G.W. Leadley (chairman) said that the Wakamii Board had agreed to pay only a fifth of the cost of the Bridge, less contributions paid by interested local bodies. Mr "Silcock contended that the Wakanui. Board should pay £39 2s 6d, instead of £l9 2s 6d. B 8 was proposed. Mr Leadley stated that he would agree to a compromise, and would recommend such a step to the Board.

An extraordinary vacancy having occurred in the.Dargaville Borough Council." Mr F. Jones, proprietor _of tho "Times," was returned against two other candidates. Tho return was questioned owing to a printing and. advertising contract with the Council, and tho manager of the "Times" asked for the withdrawal of the contract. Legal opinion was obtained, which stated that Mr Jones was disqualified and also ineligible to stand again unless the Council agreed to the cancellation of the contract. Meanwhile Mr Jones offered to insert the borough advertisements the contract was cancelled. A majority of the Council agreed, and Mr Jones is now considered eligible to stand.

The practice of the dominion rally and circular rally by the Christchurch troops of Boy Scouts on Saturday was attended by a handful of small boys of the city, about twenty from Lyttelten, under Scoutmaster Guy, and a patrol of Maori boys from Tuahiwi under Scoutmaster Te Aika. The parade, which was held at Cranmer Square, was under the command of Commissioner Captain Inglis. x and the instruction was given by Colonel Cossgrove. The circles were reduced in diameter to suit the small number present, and a good grasp of the movement was obtained by the boys and officers. Tho officers on parade were Colonel Cress*well, V.D., Captain Inglis, the Rev |W. H. Orbell, H.S.W., and Scoutmasters Money, Carrington, Foam, •Te Aika, Bastion and Guv. It was stated that the Saturday sports were responsible for thcr poor turn-out, and Captain Inglis announced that another practice would be held on the following Thursday afternoon at Cranmer Square.

The exact mode of procedure in connection with the erection of the wire- ! lees telegraph station at Bluff lias not been clearly denned, but it is stated, eays the Southland Times," that the installation will probably bo commenced at an early date. Already one hundred and twenty cases of material required for the station are to hand, the latest consignment of forty cases having arrived at Bluff by the Moeraki on Monday. This is said to comprise the bulk of the material "to b e used, and only another small consignment is necessary to complete the outfit. Of the first fifty cases the majority remains in store at Bluff, and a small number has reached Invercargill. These should, it is stated, never have gone there, but were taken in accordance with the Union Steam Ship Company's rule in not allowing cargo to be intercepted at the Bluff. As the position stands at present the intentions of those in authority have not been stated, but it is understood that a. start will be made on the installation of the plant directly on the completion of the Auckland station. In this connection the explanation is put forward that a number of the men employed on thf Auckland installation, including the experts, will of necessity have to be present at the erection of the Bluff station. J. M. Heywood and Coy., Limited, have been established for over sixty rears as Custom House Agents. Their 'large and varied experience is at the tiervice of all importers and the general fubli* IQRfI

The number of factories registered in Ashburton this year totals 135, as against 127 for 1911. The number of shops is 162, as against 157 the previous year.

At the Magistrate's Court at Wellington yesterday, Homy M'Ledon and John Danks, trading as M'Ledon and Danks, were ea:cli lined 40s and costs for having sold milk adulterated with water.

The members of tho Ashburton Loyal Orange Lodge attended servico at the Church'of Christ on Sunday evening,' when P.G.M. Brother J. M. Lines occupied the pulpit. Mr Innes spoke on ""Orangoism: Its Origin and Growth."

Rapid progress is being mado with the formation of Page's Road, which will link up New Brighton with the city. The road has now been levelled, and at the city end the surface has been top-dressed with large quantities of heavy metal.

Tho anniversary services in connection with the Primitive Methodist Church at Ashburton were held on Sunday, when the Rev H. Sharp, of Gerakline, occupied the pulpit. The services, despite tho unfavourable weather, were largely attended and special hymns were sung by the choir. Mr J. H. Forrest, who will superintend the erection of the tower and wireless apparatus at Awanui station, and other wireless experts arrived , at Auckland from Sydney on Sunday. The preliminary work has > already been completed, and Awanui will be the first wireless station of the first class in the dominion. t On Friday evening the Library Hall, Waiau, was crowded on the occasion of the monthly meeting of the Band of Hope. A good programme of songs and recitations had been drawn up by the energetic secretary; and the audience showed their appreciation of the efforts of the performers ; In the course of the evening officers were elected and refreshments were handed round.

A Press Association telegram from Dunedui states that the'Wairoa was expected tr. leave for the Auckland Islands jesterday in search of tho General Grant's treasure, but apparently successive coats of paint have obliterated, her Plimsoll mark and another will have to be placed on her before she can sail. It may be necessary to dock the vessel before the Plimsoll mark can be located.

The members of the Anglican Church at Ashburton, shortly after the commencement of the great coal strike in Great Britain, collected the sum of £2O, which was forwarded to the Rev Prebendary H. V. Stuart, rector of Stoke-on-Trent. A letter acknowledging tho gift has just been received from the rector, who states that tho authorities are feeding about 10,000 6chool children every day, about 1200 in Stoko alone, independent of infants, which the mothers bring.

In a sermon at St Mary's Cathedral, Auckland, on Sunday, Bishop Crossley said that he had long held that the view of the Church of God was that heaven and hell wero not existent for people till the Day of Judgment. They would pass into a stage after death with their character, personality and memory. Paradise wa3 what was described in the Creed as the descent into hell. In the Revised Version the word used was " Hades." Hades meant the unknown, the unseen place, the place of rest, of peace, of of memory.

At a meeting of the Socialist Party held at the Socialist Hall on Sunday evening, Mrs Cunnington gave an address entitled " The Social Unit." Mrs Cunnington showed the organic nature of human society in which the individuals constituted the cells. As disease among any of the constituent cells was detrimental and often fatal to the health of the organism, the speaker stated, so with human society; the social ills, which were well known, were diseases which had to be dealt with, or society would be destroyed. _ The only remedy to adopt was Socialism. ihe lecture was well attended and was highly appreciated by the audience. A meeting of the Housewives' Union was held on Friday, Mrs A. Wells presiding over a small attendance. Mrs T. E. Taylor and Mrs Green reported on the proceedings of the Wellington Conference, which they had attended as the Union's delegates. The proposal to reduce the membership fee was deferred with the consideration of the caucus'and constitution of the league. Mrs Hunter's resignation of the secretaryship was accepted with regret. Mrs Taylor, national secretary, and Mrs M'Combs, general secretary, also announced .their resignation. It was agreed that pending the arrival of Mrs Harrison Lee Cowio little could be done in the wav of extending the work of organisation. Mrs W. H. Zouch was elected honorary secretary to the Union. Votes of thanks were tendered to the retiring officers. The meeting adjourned until 3 p.m. on Thursday at the Young Women's Christian Association rooms where a paper will be read by Mrs M'Combs on the " Constitution and Rule 3 of tho United Labour Party. ' Residents up the Leader River Have always suffered under a severe disability in the matter of road access to thenproperties. The present road, which is not even public property but part of tho Mendip Hills estate, follows along the river-bed, crossing the stream some ten or eleven times. The difficulty in driving sheep along this track when there is much water in the stream is considerable, and fat stock suffer great loss. A move is now being made to have a road constructed along the route of the railway lino as far as the Leader crossing and thence along the south bank of the river. With this object in view, Mr T. Stevenson, chairman of the Cheviot County Council, and Mr W; M. Cottrelh county engineer, met a deputation of the residents interested on Saturday and went over the proposed route of the road. To facilitate matters, one resident, through whoso property most of the road will run, has offered to exchange the "paper" reads on his property for the land required for the new route. - The Lord Howe Island residents are dissatisfied with the returns from tho Kentia palm seed industry. Although the State Government appointed a Royal Commission some time ago to inquire, into the export of this product, and the Commission made recommendations, the islanders still complain of tho position of affairs. Mr William Whiting, who is a resident of the island, now on a visit to Sydney, says that its population totals ninety. He also says that some of tho residents consider they are not getting a fair deal from tho Government. Tho position to-day was that there was no one looking after tho island since Mr Farnell had left the State, and things were in a very unsatisfactory condition. The Kentia Palm Seed and Plant Co-opera-tive Compiuy alone held n permit to collect the seeds, and thus had an absolute monopoly of the business, as in no other part of the world was the seed produced. Last year over 3000 bushels of seed were produced, and about 100,000 palms were exported, and for this only about £ISOO net had come to tho islands, distributed over an adult population of about fifty. Some of tho Islanders were interested to a mudi larger extent than others i n the company, and another of the. complaints was that the bigger shareholders ™ Clsionally imported labour from Sydney and thus deprived the men on the t land of employment. IS It is a mistaken idea with manv people to put. off wearing spectael-x '- bug as possible when they requi j£ them. They strain their s e ™ and more and irreparable l iarm c ™ done, which glasses in some ea S e 3 „ ev ,: entirely overcome For spectacles c onBult John R. Prober; Ocul fe> 0 l ™ cian, 200. High Street. ChristclHiroli

a /.ntunlimentsry social -will bo ten*JL&[To the Hon H. G. Ell, Postmas•+nr General, in St Saviour's schoolroom, Sydenham, on .Thursday, at 7.45 p.m. The sum of 303, which was collected n + the recent service in memory of tho Into Mr W. T. Stead, has been forwarded to the Lord Mayor of London i.for the Titanic Relief l'und. An election to fill throe vacancies on tho Akaroa and Wainui Road Board was held on Friday, and the three retiring members, Messrs Armstrong, Pettigrcw and Mulcock, were re-elec-ted by substantial majorities. On Thursday evening the newly-form-ed Governor's Bay Tennis Club held the first of a series of entertainments. The local hall was crowded with an appreciative audience. The entertainment was given by Christchurch friends, under the direction of Mr E. J. Johnson. Tho programme included instrumental and vocal items, and Mrs Hartwell Bagrio was most successful with several humorous recitations. Encores were, numerous and liberally responded to. At tho conclusion Mr W. A. Carpenter thanked tho visitors on behalf of the tennis club for the excellent entertainment they had provided. The hall was then cleared and a dance was held. The annual mooting of the Rangiora United Band of Hopo was held on Thursday evening. The report stated that the attendance at all meetings held last year was good, and tho balance sheet showed a credit of £B. Officers for the year wero elected as follow :—President the Rev T/ Miller; vice-presidents, Revs F. P. Fendall and C. Abernethy, Ensign Smith, Captain Morgan, Mrs Darling, Messrs F. B. Lane, J. Lewis, A. Worsfold and C. I. Jennings; secretary and treasurer, Mr H. G. Ayers; asistant secretary, Mr H. Chinn ; organist. Miss Breach; committee, Mesdames C. S. Ayers, E. Cross, S. Ayers, J. Moore, R. Darling, H. L. Rogers, Misses N. Allen, Lewis, E. Withers, E. Cross, Cobden-Cox and W. Mathews. It was decided to open the session on May 23. A hearty voto of thanks was accorded tho Rev F. P. Fendall for his services as president during the past year. A motion was also passed congratulating the Good Templars for the success of their work among the young people in Rangiora.

A NEW THEATRE PROBLEM

The head-dresses of the women of the audience are again causing trouble in the Paris theatre. No hats are worn by women now in the stalls or the dress circle, states the Paris correspondent of a London journal, but the craze for aigrettes and tho abundance of added hair worn by fashionable women in the evening now are making it as difficult for the audience to see tho stago as it was when hats were worn. At tho dress rehearsal of MM. Capu6 and Veber's new play, "On Guard," at the Renaissance, numbers of protests against Women's headgear were heard. Ono prominent dramatic critic caused much amusement by rising in tho stalls after the first act and calling on the masculine members of the -audience to " scalp the feathered heads which obstructed their view." There was nothing in the nature of a riot. Everybody knows everybody else at these dress rehearsals, and the matter was treated as a joke. But the aigrette and high head-dress question is becoming serious in Paris, and before long perhaps a daring manager will put up a notice, "Women admitted in their own hair only."

MARRIAGE-MAKING JUDGE.

M. and Madam© Lebrun were divorced eight years ago, writes the Paris correspondent of the " Daily Telegraph." Mdlle Lebrun, now seventeen, was entrusted to her mother's care, and she has just got engaged to a clerk ten years her senior. Her mother gave her consent. Her father refused his, on the ground that she is over-young to marry yet. The result was a lawsuit What could the judge do better than interview the girl. He did so, and this is the paternal report:—"Whereas tho information concerning the prospective bridegroom, as" regards his constitution, his morals and his worldly position is excellent; whereas the information regarding the prospective bride is equally comforting; whereas the Court has been ennblod by a personal interview with the latter in Chambers to ascertain that tho prospective bride possesses every appearance of robust health, as also a maturity of mind quite exceptional for her age; whereas, finally, in these circumstances the father's scruples, howover worthy of respect they may be, are not justified, his opposition must be rejected." Therefore, the Court havinr satisfied itself that Mdlle Lebrun is not over-young to marry, M dlle Lebrun may marry her sweetheart forthwith.

PATRIOTISM AND AVIATION. A wave of patriotism is spreading over France, and has communicated itself to the women of the nation. They are contributing liberally to the fund which is being raised by public subscription to give France tlie first military aeroplane fleet. Hospital nurses, girl students, actresses and women societies of all kinds are combining to further the movement. An animated controversy has taken place as to the manner in which French women shall salute the fla<r when it is borne past them. The general opinion of the women themselves is that they should raise their hands in prayer to salute the flag, " in order that our little ones may come to regard this emblem as something sacred." There is a feeling throughout tho French nation that France is entering on a new .and glorious stage of her historv. and that as mistress of the air she will win back some of tho glories of the past. An indication of tho spirit which is animating the people is supplied in the action of Dr Le Maguet, an army (Surgeon, iris brother, who was a captain in tho army, was killed when flying in an aeroplane at Cyr, and tho doctor has offered to enlist in the aviation corps, so that, if need be, ho mav sacrifice his life for I ranee.

A WOMAN BOOT-BLACK. A woman boot-black will shortly start in business at one of the street corners in tho busiest part of the West End of London, where she will do for women, says the "Daily Express," the work that tho boy boot-black has so long done for men. In an interview with an " Express " representative this nioneer said:— I think it is high time that women should be able to ret a quick shine in the street. As things aro now, unless women resort to the usual trick of cleaning the toecaps of their shoes by friction on their stockings, they are often compelled to go about with muddy shoes 1 have already bought my outfit, and shall begin work very noon. I shall wear no uniform, but a long holland overall co preserve my dress, a pair of goves. and a becoming toque. Of course, I shall not accept men customers, so that those who are already in the business need not be afraid of my competition, I shall only work for women, children and hoys up. to tho ; a#> of ten if they aro with their mothei oi then nur'e It will be an honest, clean, and useful career, which shoulc be gradually taken up in tune; ux fact I think its development will en* tie me to bo considered a public benelactiess.

RELIABLE SECOND-HAM) OARSLOW I'RICES FOR QUO* oALES. A second-hand to S carj, a fust class maker guaranteed l> and reliable firm, is ono ot vestments possible tor W " Uer m capital, the comraoroia ti the farmer. Used tor - industrious Bunb n car will return to an inc f} } driver a .toady income of £1« PJ ■_ or more, after paying '« nm " g od Cill . pauses, while the "« trato the agriculturist ■ m com" veller is obvious. e g ° ins tructiona on sola lor clients, witn »«<>

to realise quickly, two. 15-28 h.p. Tal- , bot cars, one finished in Talbot, gieen , with red chassis, and tho other in iieh wine colour: Both aro in tip-y<>p oiclci, and are offered complete with windshields, Capo hoods, full equipment ot five lamps each, spare wheel, etc. ino prices aro very low, £350 and fiß/o respectively. We have also a 10-i-a a-p----four-cylinder two-seater doctor s number, a neat little car with tyres and everything else in the best of condition, and an equipment of four lamps, hood, windshield, and spare wheel. Price £225. A3O h.p. "E.M.F. fiveseater, complete with windshield, hye lamps, and spare wheel, finished in French grev, is offered at £250, and a 12-14 h.p. Zedel, threc-seater, an ideal littlo car for a traveller, is offered at £350. These cars are now on view at our garage, and any reasonably trial will bo allowed intending purchasers. Adams Ltd., Motor Importers, Garage, | Tuam Street, Christchurch. 19o» j