TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15924, 9 May 1912, Page 6

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

A Wellington Press Association message says that the Appeal Court has adjourned till May 22 The directors of I 'the Westport Coal Company have declared a dividend of 9d per ‘share for the half-year ended March 31.

Mr T. N. Brodrick, Commissioner of Crown Lands, visited Waimfjte on Tuesday and met a sub-committee of the local Agricultural and Pastoral Association with a view to inspecting the site for which the Association desires to exchange its present show ground. The sub-committee of the Sydenham Clock Fund Executive met on Monday and appointed Messrs J. T. Forrester and Company to canvas the district for the remaining £l5O required for the erection of a clock costing £6OO in the new Post Office buildings. Other matters were dealt with, of which a report will be submitted to the next general meeting. On Saturday a . collection will be taken up in the streets of Christchurch in aid of the building fund or the British and Foreign sailors Society. For tho past three years the Society has been carrying on work m Lyttelton with growing success, but any great extension has been impossible owing to the lack of suitable accommodation, io meet this need a campaign was started, to raise the sum of £2400, .with which to erect a suitable building m the port. The Lyttelton Borough Council provided a site, and wh.en lus Excellency tlie Governor laid the foundation stone of the building about half the required sum had been received or promised, ine building is. nearing completion, ana a great effort is to bo made to raise tjie balance of the money, so that it may be opened free of debt. Auckland, u ellington and Dunedin all have modem Sailors’ Institutes, and the need foi such a building, tho Society claims, is not less great in Lyttelton- Tt is proposed to provido for religious services on Sundays and recreation for. sailois during the week. The building now being erected is admirably designed to meet the requirements of the voi \. Next Saturday will be Sailors Saturday, and a band of young "omen will be busy in the- main, thoroughfares .ot the city collecting funds t r> h i stitutiou. 1

Mr H. R. Dix was returned uno£i posed yesterday ‘to fill tho vacancy ■ on the Rangiora Borough Council- caused by Councillor Samson 3 election to the mayoralty.

At the Juvenile Court yesterday, before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., a boy of fourteen, charged with! having cycled on a footpath, was convicted and discharged. _ Tho annual competitions in connec* tion with the Christchurch Sheep-dog Trial Club will take place at Cashmere on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, May 23, 24 and 25. - The lion A. Myers, Minister of Railways, will receive a deputation of fruitgrowers at Warner’s Hotel at 12.20 p.m. to-day. Members will meet at il.2o_a.in. The deputation hopes to get either free railage or a reduction in the freight on timber for fruit cases carried on the railways. Mr G. Witty, M.P., will introduce the deputation. A Press Association telegram states that the Prisons Board - has been prosecuting its functions in Auckland during tho last few days, and to-day its members will leave for Rotorua in order to visit the tree-planting farm at Waiotapu, the Waikeria reformatory camp, and the reformatory prison incourse of erection at Tokaanui, near Tt Awamutu.

At the annual meeting of the Nelson Poultry Association it was decided to secede from .the South Islaud Association, mainly on the ground that there was no community of interest with the southern portion of the island. Owing, however,, to the difficulties of nonaffiliated Associations, the Nelson Association has now decided to remain affiliated with the South Island-Asso-ciation.

_ A deputation of two members of the Temuka School Committee waited on the Hon J. Hanan, Minister of Education, when lie passed through Temuka oil Tuesday. The deputation urged that a grant should be made for tha extension of several of tho olass-rooms at the Temuka District High School, ■and for the erection of another schoolroom. Mr Hanan said that he would favourably consider the matter.

Mr T. W. Kirk explained to representatives of leading potato merchants at Dunedin yesterday the difficulties iu regard to the export of potatoes to Australia. He said that , the Department was doing all it could to obtain a relaxation of the condition’s, but the regulations imposed by the Commonwealth must be adhered to. It was stated by agents that farmers would not assist them in regard to certifying, as required by the regulations, owing to the market having risen and farmers hoping that contracts would be cancelled. Mr Kirk said that he would see in a- few days if anything could be done to bring about an improvement. He denied that he had been responsible for holding up a recent shipment in Sydney. ‘

The annual meeting of the Christchurch Photographic Society was held on Monday evening, Mr W. Robinson, presiding. The election of officers resulted as follows:—Patron, Mr R. C. Bishop; president, Mr W. Robinson; vice-presidents, Messrs Allingliam, Champion and Webb; committee, Messrs W. Biel, L. Boot, E. Harding, F. E. Leigh and W. Murphy; honorary secretary, Mr C. G. Ingall; honorary treasurer, Mr B. Harding. The results of the field day held in Hagley Park during April were reported as follows: —W. Robinson 1, C. G: Ingall 2 and 3. A brief discussion took place on the questions of the formation of a library, the encouragement of record and historical work, and the establishment of a beginners’ section, and these matters were referred to the incoming committee. The championship medal for the past vear was presented to the winner, W. Robinson. Votes of thanks were passed to the retiring secretary,- Mr E. Harding, and the honorary^judge, Mr Hemus. • '

No Chinese furniture factory has been established in Christchurch as far as the Inspector of Factories is aware. Mi Hagger stated yesterday that he had received no application for registration, and a factory owner was liable to a penalty of £5 a day for non-registra-tion. Discussing the, Chinese question generally, Mr Hagger saidothat he had had no experience of administering the Labour laws among Chinamen, as there were only a few Chinese' shops in Christchurch and no Chinese employers of labour. , He admitted that there might be a great deal.of difficulty in enforcing the Act so far as it related to the keeping of books. There was a big probability that a Chinaman newly arrived might be assisted in paying his poll-tax by his employer, with whom he would work in collusion more readily than the average European in the evasion of the law. The employee would be in the position of a serf, dependent wholly on his employer, and he might falsely sign the wages book for - an amount he had never received.'.

The thirty-seventh anniversary of the Ashburton Primitive Methodist Sunday School was further celebrated on Tuesday evening, when a social was held in the church. There was a good attendance, and the Rev T. R. B. Woolloxall presided. A number of anthems were rendered by tlie school children, and the chairman congratulated the scholars and teachers on tlie success of the year’s work. Mr | George Aston, one of the founders of the school, traced its progress since its foundation. The annual report 1 showed that the school had made 1 good headway during the year.- The | number on the roll was ninety-six, . with eleven teachers, and a cradle roll of nineteen. The balance-sheet showed receipts amounting to £35 16s lOd, and an expenditure of £26 19s 4d, leaving a credit halance of £8 17s 6d. A record of the first Sunday .School teachers’ meeting, held on March 1, 1875, was read, and proved interesting to the older members ’of the church. A leugthy programme was carried out., and a vote of thanks was accorded to those .who had helped, to make the anniversary a success. , The improvement of the Colombo Street railway crossing will be urged on tlie Minister of Railways to-day by a deputation from the Burgesses’ Associations, supported by the Mayor (Mr Holland). Mr Holland had'intended to organise a deputation himself on the'subject until he was informed that the Burgesses’. Associations had taken the matter ■in hand. Sneaking to a leporter, Mr Holland remarked that the crossing was very dangerous and should be replaced by a subway or overway. He was aware that the late Mmister of Railways (tho Hon J. A. Milla.r) had more than once offered to do the work if the City Council would pay half tho cost, but he could not seo why the city should have to pay a penny, much less £30,000. Dunedin had had its crossings covered without paying towards tlie cost, Wellington had had the Hutt Road and railway duplicated, and Auckland had received many favours, while Christchurch had received nothing. He was beginning to believe with Mr Massey that the city with the strongest committees and the‘loudest voice got the most public money. Christchurch was too modest and aoathetic-

• When moving, employ J. M. Heywood and Coy., Ltd., as they employ none but careful men to handle your furniture. They have three large pantechnicons, so that no job is too large or too small for them to undertake. 1988

It is a mistaken idea with many people to put off wearing spectacles as long as possible when' they require them. They strain their eyes moro and more and irreparable harm can bo done, which glasses in some cases never entirely overcome spectacles consult John R. Procter, Oculists’ Optician, 200, High Strcos. Christchurch.

The Publio Works Department has accepted the tender of Mr Charles Calvert for additions and alterations to the Deaf Mutes’ Institute, Sumner, for '£3445 Ss: The Hon J. Colvin, Minister of Mines, left Wellington yesterday to attend the , funeral of the late Hon James M’Gowan as representative of the Government.

The bazaar, -promoted _by the Leeston Coronation Bath Committee, was very r successful financially, the proceeds amounting to £l3O, which is sufficient to-pay off the debit on the bath. The voting for the election of one member to represent Otago University on the New Zealand University Senate resulted' as. follows:—Dr Marshall .91, Mr Gilray 89, Professor. White 84, Dr • J; Allan Thomson 19. A Press Association telegram from Auckland Btates that the private alienation of the lands comprising the Orakei Reserve has been prohibited by an Order-in-Council for twelve months. The order has been made under Section 363 of the Native Land Act, 1909, - and will be gazetted to-morrow. It prohibits alienation other than in favour of the Crown. The local officers of the Labour Department have not met with any cases recently of bad accommodation for farm' labourers. Replying to an inquiry regarding / the complaints . made recntly on the subject, Mr W. H. Hagger stated that all reported cases had been investigated, but they all referred to threshing millowners, who are not farmers, and whose accommodation for the men was often unsuitable and insufficient. Most of them, however, had agreed to make improvements where the inspectors had suggested them. Boring operations at Hanmer Springs are being continued.. The depth now,reached with the 6inch pipes is 90 feet, and instructions have been given to the contractor to go down another 100 feet with 4inch perforated pipes. \ This bore is 12 feet north of the first bore put down, and shows a flow of six gallons per minute, with abundance of gas. The temperature is 130 degrees. The bore put down near the cola pool was tested on Tuesday, and showed a flow of twenty-four gallons per minute (with pump) eight feet below the -surface. The temperature was 90 degrees.

When seen yesterday the Mayor of Lyttelton, Mr M. J. Miller, stated that he wiw very surprised to learn of the substantial increase in the telephone charges between Lyttelton and Christchurch. After the reply reoeived from the Hon H. G. Ell, Minister of Telegraphs, a few days, ago, he was hoping for a big reduction in the rate, but apparently the Department thought otherwise. It appeared that instead of encouraging subscribers everything was being done to make the use of the telephone * prohibitive. Lyttelton, for years past, had been a heavy sufferer in this respect. It is understood that a number of business firms intendi to approach the Hon H. G. Ell on the matter, during his stay in Christchurch. As. the result of a former deputation, it is stated that instructions have been given to carry out certain alterations to the bureau at Lyttelton, so as to enable residents in the surrounding bays to communicate with the doctors at night. Previously this had to be done by ringing up the local police station.

The evidence adduced at the hearing of a charge of breaking and entering and theft, which was investigated at the? Dunedin Juvenile Court, revealed some strange features in the conduct of the accused, aged fifteen and seventon. respectively. It appeared that on Easter Monday the younger boy was .... out of oigarette tobacco, and broke ,a shop window ito get some. Probably frightened for the consequences, having admitted the theft,on being taxed by the police with it, they left their homes, and. subsisting on turnins and, biscuits, trudged as far ns Oamaru, about 80 miles, sleeping under stacks. They had also subsequently annexed nt Seacliff a boot brush and a cake of soap,.with the' intention of cleaning 'v themselves up and getting billets. They had actually. started work at a mill in Oamaru when traced and bfought back. Both lads were given good characters, the younger boy having won a junior free place and at- • tended the technical school. The Magistrate , said the worst feature of the whole case, to his mind, was the theft of wine from an Oamaru church. The father of the younger boy undertooktor bring(the matter home to the errant one. by a sound thrashing, the elder lad to be sent to the country, the father to enter into recognisances for his good behaviour for twelve months. . At the Oxford Terrace Baptist Church last evening, the Rev Alfred North, organising secretary to the Home and Foreign Missions of the Baptist Union in New Zealand, addressed a large and interested gathering, over which the Rev R. S. Gray presided. Mr North dealt .mission undertaken by the denomination, in Eastern Bengal, where a thoroughly equipped hospital, under the supervision of Dr Pettit, was carried on at Chandpur. With Dr Pettit, he said, there was another missionary. At Brahminbaria, In the same district, a dispensary was controlled by Miss Beckipgsale, who was at present in the dominion on furlough. General mission work was carried on by the Rev John Takle and two lady,. missionaries. In the district Ibere was a population of 1,300,000, for which , the Baptist Union in -New Zealand was responsible. Mr North exhibited a number of “magical” devices used by village doctors in India toy effect cures., many of which, he said, entailed considerable suffering by the pa- . .tient. He urged the need of increased support to . the mission. He then referred. to the work of the Home Mission in the North of Auckland districts, and in conclusion declared that anything done by the Union in New Zealand was done as part of a church, the members and adherents of which, it was estimated, numbered thirty millions. ; ' The card room at the Fire Brigade , Station will probably be soon put to .its originally-intended use, - says the Dunedin “ Star.” For many weeks past it. "has served as a kindi of biological laboratory, where experiments m the life-tenacity of a species of minute insect have been carried out. The discoloured floor and reek of chemicals bear witness to the intensity of the fight; but the battle-field is no longer strewn with the dead and reinforcements no longer arrive. In other words, the firemen have won. Jeyes’ fluid, sheep dip, Mortein, a residue of gas, fumigating with sulphur and plumbers’ brazing lamps were the weapons they used, and” though the invaders died in their thousands the invasion was not stopped. Scientists identified the nest as a species of mite and declared with some posjtiveness that the insects came from beneath tho ' floor, where they . were breeding in the.residue from the old stables which once occupied the site. The exact contrary has proved to be the case. The Insects were coming from the room above, where the horse-feed is stored. As soon as these headquarters were discovered a coat of plaster was ap- " plied round the edges of the floor, and this has confined them to this room. It seems,that these insects have long been known in several grain stores in Dunedin. Though not regarded as desirable, they are not considered a very harmful pest. Those who have known ■ them longest call them ants. An ideal drink for cold winter evenGold 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. SpeciI* ally suitable for growing children. Asa Star-Cocoa.” . ”56

. The steamer Wnrrimoo was fitted with wireless telegraphing apparatus while in Sydney. An, operator will join the vessel in Wellington, so that from this date she will be equipped with means of communication on the lines of tho Union Company’s other intercolonial steamers. Tho Christchurch ’Pigeon and Canary Club lias definitely fixed its dates for holding its annual show as August 15, 16 and 17, Grand National week, and has elected Mr J. H. Hemsworth, the noted Sydney fancier and judge, to adjudicate in a number of tlio classes in tho poultry section. The Sisters of Nazareth acknowledge with thanks the receipt of a cheque for £IOO from the Very Rev Father Price, Administrator, being the net proceeds of the National Entertainment given in celebration of St. Patrick’s Dav, and for the benefit of Nazareth Home. They also express their gratitude to all who assisted' to make the entertainment a success.

'On Tuesday evening a deputation waited on Mr G. E,, Good and presented a numerously signed requisition that he would accept nomination as a candidate for the coming Tramway Board election. The requisition was signed by electors in the sub-central, district, namely, St Albans, Christchurch and Sydenham. Mr Good thanked the deputation. He stated that he would fully consider the request and give his reply in conjunction with the Sydenham Burgesses’ Association’s request of a similar nature, in the course of the next few days. There was a large attendance of members at the meeting-of the "Women’s Christian Temperance Union yesterday afternoon. The president, Mrs Cole, was in the chair. A discussion took place on “ How best to work Departments.” Matters affecting the visiting committee were discussed, and a motion was carried instituting a roll at every meeting The evangelistic department’s work was explained by Mrs David M’Kee. Work among young people was freely discussed and the importance of having a matron in charge of all young women immigrants was urged by Mrs Wise. It was arranged that Mrs Cunnington should address the next meeting. A deputation waited on the Prebbleton School committee on Tuesday night and presented: a petition, signed by 64 parents of children attending the school, asking that last winter’s plan should be followed and the school opened at 9.30 instead of at 9 o’clock. There was also presented a second pa-' per which had been signed by 19 parents who wished the school to open at the earlier hour. The committee refused to grant the request, whereupon three members, Messrs W. Witte, J. Hartnell and A. Gabbatis, resigned. They gave, as their yeason for resigning their unwillingness to remain upon a committee which so flagrantly neglected the wishes of the parents.

At the Police Court at Dunedin yesterday, before Mr Bartholomew, S.M., two brothers named James Alexander Greig and Peter Henry Greig, carters, were charged with the theft of timber valued at £5, the property of Messrs Hogg and Co. Peter Greig was further charged with the theft of timber valued at £B4 17s, the property of Messrs Hogg and Co. Evidence for the prosecution was that accused loaded timber at the wharf, but instead of delivering it in Messrs Hogg and Co.’s yard, sold it to various people. Both accused reserved their defence, and were committed for trial. Bair was allowed James Greig in'his otvn recognisance of £IOO and two sureties of £SO each. Peter Greig was allowed bail in his own recognisance of. £2OO on the first charge and £2OO, with the addition of two sureties of £IOO each, pn the second. Bome time ago, states a Press Association telegram from Auckland, the Government ordered a number of ferro-concrete pillar boxes from the New Zealand Ferro-concrete Structural and Engineering Company. Boxes to the number of fourteen are now completed. One of them, a dOublerized box', has been sent to Wellington for erection at .Newtown. Provision is made for posting newspapers in this box as well as letters. The other boxes are at present in the Auckland yards of the company. Instructions have not yet been received from the Government as to their proposed destination. The order had been given as an experiment,, and it had been intended to distribute boxes in the four chief centres of the dominion. It is understood now, however, that the thirteen boxes will all be placed in various parts of the, city of Auckland and suburbs. It is claimed that the new boxes are practically everlasting. Complaints have recently been, made in regard to the difficulty of obtaining sufficient space on Home steamers for the export of produce. It was stated that wool and frozen meat were receiving preference and grain was being shut out. Yesterday .the matter was referred to a member of a local shipping firm, who stated that 'he was not in the least perturbed by the complaint. This year there were big cargoes of frozen meat and wool offering and as such cargoes provided the best" freight, it was unlikely that the companies would shut them out in order to receive lower freight. It bad been suggested that tramp steamers should be chartered, but the question arose as to whether the farmer or the shipper would be prepared to pay about thirty shillings per ton freight on his grain, which was double the existing freight on Home steamers. In Australia as much as tkirtv-three shillings per ton was being paid on cargoes. The companies at tho present time wero doing what -they could to maintain a steady export of produce, but this year the harvest had been phenomenal and the space on vessels was severely taxed. The monthly meeting of the St Martin’s Burgesses’ Association was held at Mr A. W. Buxton’s premises on Monday evening. There was a good attendance of 'members, and Mr C. S. Howell was in tho chair. The secretary read the report supplied by the Tramway Board’s officers regarding tho proposed electric tramway to St Martin’s by way of. Colombo Street, Wordsworth Street, Waltham Road, and Wilson’s Road to the foot of the hills near White's Road. A report was also submitted by tho president of tho Association (Mr J. Lougton) traversing the figures and arrived at by the general manager of the tramways', and showing that instead of a deficiency, as estimated by the officials of the Tramway Board, there would probably be a surplus of about £3OO per annum. After considering one of the schemes outlined by tho tramway officials it was approved, and it was decided to send a denutation to wait on the Board. The "deputation will consist of the following members .-—Messrs C. Ferrier F. Wilding, R- Malcolm, G. Bowron, g’ Clarkson. C. S. Howell, C. J. Cooksley, I. Parsons, sen.; A. W. Buxton, T. Pratt, P. Archer, F. A. Anderson, jun. W’ Ross, J. Longton, M. Olliviar" and the Hon G. J. Smith. In roferenco to the widening of \vilsons Road from the bridgo to the railway crossing over Shakespeare Road, it was .stated that tho matter was under consideration by the City Council, the Heathcote County Council. Mr G. Scott, chairman of the Heathcote County Council, gave some interesting Information regarding the works now in progress in the district. Tho Council proposed to spend about £/ 00 on the roads at tho foot ofi the hills nefn M lute s Road but the work could not.be undertaken this winter. 1 11 reference to tho applications of the Association to have a dual daily delivery of postal matter in tho St Martin’s district, it was decided to communicate wmh the Hon g, q 17.11 Potttmflfitar-Ganeral, on the matter!

Keas are reported to be very plentiful in the hill, country. On Mr W. Anderson’s Stroachrobie run about thirty-six miles' from Mount Somers, forty-five Iccas were shot in two days.

The Mayor last evening received a telegram from tho Minister of Railways consenting to. receive a deputation from tho City Council in regard to the Colombo Street railway crossing at 11.15 a.m. cn Friday. The amount received for sales of eggs in connection with the •UtilityPoultry Club’s last egg-laying competitions totalled £407 10s 3d. The cost of fodder and meat to produce the eggs amounted to £163 Is 2d. Improved telephone communication with the outlying'suburbs of Christchurch will be the request of a deputation that will wait on tho PostmasterGeneral (the Hon H. G. Ell) this morning. The deputation, which will be introduced by Mr R. H.. Rhodes, M.P:, will represent Lyttelton, Sumner, Cashmere Hills and Now Brighton.

The Passive Resisters’ Union was granted permission by the By-laws Committee of the City Council last evening to hold a demonstration on Sunday. The speakers will be Messrs J. M’Corabs, G. R. Whiting, H. Hunter, E. Howard, J. A. M’Cullough, F. Cook, J. N. Harle, D. G. Sullivan and S. Roscoe.

A large audience assembled in the Scottish Society’s Hall last night to hear an address by Mr C. H. Hinman. The speaker gave an interesting description of tho Temple area and the rock foundation cf Solomon’s Temple at Jerusalem. His visit there was very fully detailed, and a very graphic account given of its present condition, and the quarries from which its stones were taken. Tho address will 'be continued to-night and on Sunday.

At the Magistrate’s Court,. Waimate, on Tuesday, A. B. Andrews claimed £2l 18s from Blair Bros, for damages. Plaintiff bought a bakery business from defendants and included in the stock were two tins of egg-preserver. Plaintiff used tho contents as described but found later that all the eggs, had gone bad. It was stated_ that the tins conr tamed binder-oil ana not egg-preserver. Judgment was given for plaintiff for £lB 18s and costs. Willian Quinn sued G. S. Meredith and Company for £l7O for vehicles and damages, it was stated that plaintiff had agreed' to take £5 in full settlement and judgment was given for that amount by consent. At the Darfield Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., Edgar Bushly, licensee of the Coalgate Hotel, was charged with permitting drunkenness on licensed premises; and further with supplying liquor tp a person already in a state of intoxication. Mr Hunter appeared for the defence, and Sergeant Fouhy, Ashburton, for the prosecution. After hearing the evidence, the Magistrate said that there . was no doubt that drunkenness had been permitted on the hotel premises. Mr Hunter pleaded for mitigation, as arrangements had been completed for another person to take over the license, and the new licensee would enter at onoe. The Magistrate said that defendant had been licensee of the Coalgate Hotel since February last, and had received a caution from the.SelTryn Licensing Committee at the March meeting as to the conduct of the . hotel. He would bo fined £lO and costs, but as ho was leaving the hotel at once his license would not be endorsed. Tho second charge was withdrawn.

. An exceedingly hard case, under the immigration restriction law, was brought to light on the arrival of the Warrimoo atjVellington from Sydney. Mrs Norah Williams, aged sixty-four years, whose husband died many years ago, came to New Zealand some five years ago from Johannesburg, . on a visit to; relatives. For a time she stayed at Lyttelton, but circumstances led her to take up her residence for twelve months with the Sisters of the Poor in Auckland. Subsequently she lived in Wanganui. Her daughter in Johannesburg having written offering her mother a heme, Mrs Williams raised £l4 to pay her passage back to South Africa. Accordingly she ' left Wellington for Sydney by the Maunganui about three weeks ago. On arrival at Sydney, Mrs Williams informed a “New 1 Zealand Times” reporter, the agents for the Marathon—she had booked through Cook’s Agency—asked her if anybody had guaranteed the requisite £2O for her maintenance on landing at Durban. No one had done so, only her passage money had been Eaid. All she could reply was' that er daughter would give her a home in Johannesburg. That was not sufficient for the Shipping Company. Mrs Williams was ordered back to New Zealand and arrived in Wellington yesterday practically destitute and with nowhere to go. The passengers by the Warrimoo relieved lier temporary wants by means of a subscription raised for her on the voyage from Sydney.

FASHIONABLE GAMBLING DENS. Under the guise of clubs fashionable gambling dens continue to operate in the aristocratic quarters of Mayfair and Belgravia, states a cable" message received from London a few days ago , by . the Independent Press Association. A dress suit and a roll of bank notes are the only essentials for membership, and no serious effort seems to be made by the police to suppress these dens. In the meantime the authorities. are as busy ns ever raiding the Chinese fan-tail shops in the East End. Stories of play for high stakes and of immense sums lost and won at these fashionable gambling resorts are finding their way into the newspapers. GIVING UP LUXURY. A new scheme to push forward tho women’s suffrage movement has been planned by Mrs Chapman, the president of the New Constitutional Society, savs a London cablegram that was published in Sydney last week. Circulars are being spread broadcast, inviting women to sign a pledge, undertaking to spend the least possible amount of money on clothing and on personal expenses of all sorts, and to use all the money saved towards the promotion of tho movement, until the vote, has been granted. Women are cutting down their dress bills, and saving up their allowances towards the cause. Many of them have given up playing bridge and are devoting the money to the fund, while others declare that they will do away with the expense of “At Homo' afternoons and many other little social functions so that votes for women may be obtained.

DIVER’S PLUCKY FEAT. Ono of the most remarkable feats ever performed by a diver is related by the crew of tho British, sloop-qf-war Shearwater, now undergoing repairs at the Union Iron Works, San Francisco. J. P. Lingan, a young English shipwright. boarded up the propeller well while the vessel was rolling m heavy seas, and so ejiabled her to minketm voyage to San Francisco.' The Shearwater was cruising off the • Mexico when, in a storm, sho propeller. Resort was ■ immediately had to the sails, but it -n----that steering was nlmoso imp , > because tho big arch, or 'y e i „.i the stern, in which the prope . revolved, made the rudder s i ~ effective. The officers decided * they.were to bring tho ship •{ ’ this well must be boarded up. , was sent down to do the '«>«*• l h °3 hampered by a heavy (living 8 .V , b.v the weight of water, ho wa . je adjust himself to tho bad rolling ers ship and handle the heavy , ,j lo passed to him. Ho faste - q boards so securely that they c , _ .he shifted in one place when

water reached port, even though she had been battered by heavy . 8611 ®.” tho way. Naval men give high praise to tho young mail, and a special repoi t lias been sent to tko British Admiralty. A special -trial to the nerves or the diver while he was at. work was. the presence of sharks, which at times came close to him. Armed men on the warship, however, kept them from attacking him.

A STRAIGHT DEAL FOR PETROL

USERS. As the result of our announcementyesterday that we would sell petrol at £1 per case, a large number of motorists wero able to fill their present requirements at . a reasonable figure. But there were others who desired to take advantage of our policy for speculative purposes. As the object wo have in view. i 3 to bring the speculators’ supplies on to the market, not to increase the amount of petrol stowed away to inflate prices, we have now decided that those requiring to purchase motor-spirit from us must bring along their car or motor bioycle, and we will put the petrol in their tanks, charging 2s 6d per gallon, the same rate as we quoted yesterday. We have sold thousands of motor bicycles and hundreds of motor cars, and we feel that we are under a moral obligation to tho purchasers to help them out of the present difficulty and keep the wheels turning. There are rumours that we cannot continue long to sell petrol at tho price wo are quoting. These rumours are quite unfounded. We will, if. necessary, draw upon those of our many branches that are holding stocks, in order to prevent speculators and dealers exploiting motorists in this city. Our resources are quite equal -to the present emergency, and we are' determined to give the motoring publio a straight deal. Adams. Ltd., Motor Importers. Garage, Tuam Street, near ffigli Street shop. 1988