TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17250, 18 August 1916, Page 6

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

In connection with the sum of £3394 collected in North Canterbury in March last on behalf of tho French lied Cross and cabled to Paris, the local French consul (Mr G. Humphreys) has received a letter from tho French Red Cross Society, conveying deep expressions of gratitude .for tho gift. The letter also stated that an account of tho sympathetic wave of feeling for France in North Canterbury had been communicated to tho French Press. Tho Board of Trade continued its inquiry yesterday at Government Buildings, into tho price of wholesale butter, several expert witnesses giving evidence. To-day a deputation of millers from all parts of the South Island will interview the board on the subject of flour and wheat prices. The proceedings will not be open to the Press. On Monday the board will inquire into tho prices for coal, and in tho evening will confer with tho Chamber of Commerce at the latter’s hall. This meeting will be a public one.

The Postmaster-General has furnished the following information regarding telegraph business for Juno, 1916, and, for purposes of comparison, for the corresponding month of 1915: telegrams sent in the whole of the Dominion was 440,711, against 493,133 in June, 1915 a decrease of 52,422. On account of the war tax, however, there was an increase iu revenue from ordinary telegrams of £1637. Tho total number of messages of all kinds, including bureau messages, in June of this vear, was 817,452, against 860,663 last year —a decrease of 43.211—-while the revenue increased by £2891. The net telegraph revenuo in Juno of this year was £31,696, an increase of £2891 over last year. Pains ■in the limbs ; Rheumatism, Sciatica. Liver and Kidney Troubles are cured daily at Loasby’s Pharmacy. Fine Portraits of Children, tho result of patience and experience. St-ef-fano Webb secures the very best effects. Petersen’s Buildings, High Street. X 5

A donation of £l3 10s to tho Soldiers’ Club has been received from the guests at tho Clarendon Hotel.

The lady collectors connected with the O.D.C. Band were out among the crowds in the city on Wednesday, and their persistent efforts resulted in the sum of £l7 11s Id being netted towards tho fund for comforts for soldiers.

At the invitation of Messrs H. and F. Gardiner, Purau, a party, consisting of Messrs P. M’Konzie, R. Harkess, T. M. Dean and others, organised a hare drive on tho slopes of Mount Horbert on Wednesday. Tlio party had a good day’s sport, and the Belgian Fund will bo considerably benefited. *

Early on Wednesday morning a thief entered tlio residence of Mr J. M’llroy, Sumner lload, Lyttelton, by a French window and removed the owner’s trousers from a .bedroom. He took the garments on to tho verandah, abstracted £3 12s, removed tho braces and decamped. The intruder then visited a houso occupied by a constable, and ransacked the safo. He made a hearty meal of the contents, stole a pair of tho constable’s socks from the adjacent clothes-line, and. got away safely. The police are investigating. Ono effect of tho war has been a reduction in tho export of apples to South America, through lack of transport. .Mr T. Horton, the well-known orchardist of Hastings, is confident that very soon after the close of the war, trade with South America will roach big figures. His own firm has an order for 200,000 cases at 6s 6d, f.0.b., Wellington, and for 3000 cases at 8s 6d. At tho Nelson Co-operative Fruit Company’s meeting he spoke confidently of tho proqpect—a confidence based on the evidence which he obtained during his visit to South America not long ago.

Speaking at a meeting at Eastbourne held in June in aid of the Y.M.C.A., the Duke of Devonshire remarked that the Y.M.C.A. could point to a record of roost splendid success. The leaders of the organisation did not wait to soo what would happen or what was to be done. At the outbreak of the war they realised their responsibilities promptly and took action, and from that day to this they had not turned back. “The Red Triangle” had come to bo one of the most familiar signs, and one which sent a thrill of pride and gratitude through people when they looked upon it; it had found a lasting place in the history of England and tho history of the world. The prize Bullock and sheep weightguessing competition held on behalf of the Rod Cross at Messrs Dixon Bros.' shop, Cashel Street, was concluded yesterday. The bullock weighed 15501 b, and the nearest guesses were 15451 bby Dr Downes, 15401 bby H. Gaisford, and 1569£1b by S: Gibbs. The weight of the sheep was 205£1b. Mrs A. Henderson guessed the correct weight, being closely followed by James Gray, W. Duggan. R. H. Chisholm, J. Biggs and P. Wright, with 2051 b each. The prizes are two pictures now on view at tho Red Cross sales depot, Cathedral Square. The funds of the Red Cross Society will benefit to the extent of £35 11s as tho result of the competition.

After three years of hurricanes, the islands of the Tongan group are experiencing a quiet time. Mr H. 11. Wright, who is on a visit to Auckland, states that the indications for tho coming season aro favourablo. He regards tho activity of New Zealand business men in' the "islands as a good sign, •and expresses the belief that the trading interests of the Germans have been permanently settled. Speaking of the copra industry, Mr Wright referred to the congestion which has occurred in the Sydney copra stores owing to the excessive freights and difficulty in securing shipping space. This means that the demand for copra has fallen off, and as the islanders are largely dependent upon this industry, it is serious for them. The unique sight of the Prime Minister driving a traction engine was. furnished at the opening of the uew ferroconcreto bridge over the Tamaki River, near Panmure, on Monday, says the “ New Zealand Herald.” At the conclusion of the ceremony, the chairman of tho proceedings, Mr HI R. Mackenzie, called upon Mr Massey to drive the engine over the bridge. He said that Mr Massey had driven engines across tho old wooden bridgo several timos in tho days of his youth. Mr Massey promptly acceded to the request, and piloted the ponderous machine across the bridge with ease, showing that after tho lapse of over a couple of decades his hand had not lost its skill. Mr Massey’s action was loudly cheered, and the impromptu conclusion to the-ceremony was greatly appreciated by the crowd. The Alexandra correspondent of the Dunedin "Star” writes:—‘‘Not. long ago Mr John M’Q*aeeu, of Invercargill, who had many years’ experience in tho early sixties up this way, remarked that weeds had never ruined any country yet. If Mr M’Queen could revisit the Central now he would find that one of the finest standbys we have on our pastoral country is the sta~ thistle, which, grows on the hare hillsides, where nothing else can exist, and makes a first-class pasture for all kinds of stock. It is safe to say that this thistle is of immense value up in this country, and that it is largely because of its having overspread the rough country that was denuded of "rass that such country is now able to carry considerable stock. Indeed, to look" up at the heights from tlio lower flats one would almost think' the higher reaches of the grazing country were laid down in lucerne, and it is very fattening.” Bandsman Gills, of Granity, Westport, who was wounded on May 29 and is now in hospital in England, writes to his friends You will know, Jsuppose, they have got me at last, t said, when wo left Egypt, yen should not bo surprised if my luck changed when wo came to Franco. I could hardly expect to escape, as I did on tho peninsula. I was standing on tho pavement, a few hundred yards awav from our billet, when a big shell burst inside a building near. I could seo nothing for dust and bricks flying. I Aid not think I was much hurt at first and started Winning for home, as the’shells were-still falling fast. An officer grabbed hold of me and took me off to hospital, which was only 600 vards away. In a short time I was in bed and had my wounds dressed. Afterwards the pain set m and it was just awful for two days and nights, Tho nurses extracted a large piece of metal and several smaller pieces and bits of clothing. They cay. I am luclcv as some wounds are just an inch from the backbone. One wound is in the aim, one in tho leg, and the rest In the back. You would be inclined to laugh if you saw mo bandaged This hospital has splendid beds, also doctors and nurses. I wonder how the nurses keep up the pace, and they aro always cheerful and jolly. Knitting Wools at Armstrong’s—3-ply Knittino* 4s lid, Wearwoll Wheeling os Cd “White Heather” Wheeling 6s 6d, 3-ply Iloslyn 5s 3d per head. 1875

Pleasure in graceful line and wellbalanced form are universally inborn. My portraits aro based on simple, natural lines, yet with full appreciation of the artistic responsibilities they entail. H- H- Clifford. Studio, 153, Cashel Street. ' X “ He lives long that lives well.” Neglect of a simplo cold will frequently curtail years from one’s life. Taking Baxter’s Lung Preserver at tho first warning clears such risks. Is lOd Buys big bottlo anywhere. 6240 The smartest and largest display of Model Millinery in tho city may be seen at Armstrong’s, all hearing tho firm’s famous low prices. * 1874

There seems no probability of the price of butter being reduced for some' time to come (says the “ Taranaki ' Daily News ”).. The Inglewood Dairy j Company has just refused an offer of , 17d F.o.b. trucks at railway station, for, its next three months’ butter. An offer of 17Jd has been accepted for. one month’s butter. At the meeting, of suppliers of the Lepperton Dairy ! Company, the chairman stated than the company had sold its local butter j at 17$d in New Plymouth.

Tho alluring prices of mutton and 1 wool are tempting many agricultural farmers who can afford to do so to make tho plunge into pastoral farming It is no easy thing to change th© habits of a lifetime, and ono would j imagine that the stocking of even small run just now would entail ex-, penditure the speedy return of which, was problematical, but the fact remains that no less than four properties in the Mid-Waitaki district devoted to agriculture have changed hands recently (says the “Gamaru Mail”). Their quondam owners are going into sliecpfaiming. It i 3 not improbable that tho discouraging wheat outlook is responsible.

The forethought of the pioneers of Canterbury was brought before th© House of Representatives- last session, when a question arose as to the sale or a piece of the foreshore in Wellington harbour. Mr 11. G. Ell, M.P. stated that in the early days of the Wellington district, the foreshore was thoughtlessly sold to private persons, but pub-lic-spirited men in Canterbury provided for the reservation of a chain above high-water mark all along the Canterbury coast. When he visited Napieb last year, ho said, he was surprised to learn that, when the tide was in, h© had no means of goiner along the coast unless ho went on private property. He urged tliat now, while land is cheap, and while tlio values, of foreshore rights in many places are low, reserves should be made on parts of tho coast above high-water mark. This should be dona for the s%ko of future generations, aa it was a matter of very great importance to them.

Evidence of the impetus given by the war to the barytes mining industry in Britain was given a few weeks ago before the Chirbury Rural Tribunal, in whose district, along. tho Salop and Welsh borders, several old mines have been reopened and new shafts sunk. In the course of appeals it transpired that some mines had increased their labour since prewar days by 100 per cent, and fanners on the tribunal complained that this had been injurious to agriculture. Tho manager of the Cliff Dale Mine, Pontes bury, said tho industry was entitled to consideration, as those concerned were doing all they could to develop the mines in order to hold the trade that had come to them on account of the war. In the trade groups in which barytes and allied products were used, three-fourths of the products used before tbe war came from Germany, hut now all was supplied by British labour. The Government had sent around surveyors to take stock of the deposits and to report on their development. So great was tho demand for barytes that they had to get labour bv hook or by crook. Government contractors were taking every, ounce they could raise.

Gents’ Hats, in new shapes, at Sal©' Prices aro a strong line nt Armstrong’s Sale. Price 2s lid, 3s lid, 5s lid,

7s lid, in all colours. 1872 New Style Palm Bowls in Majolica Ware, self-colours, pink, heliotrope, green, etc., only is, large size 5s 9d. Wonderful value. Drayton’s Emporium, Colombo Street. 1871

For Tweed Overcoats visit Armstrong’s Sale. Splendid cloths, new designs, 19s 6d, 25s 6d, 35s Gd, 39s 6d. 1873

That sterling specific for coughs, colds and sore throats, NAZOL,” can be bought only.asNAZOL.” Look for the name on carton and bottle. Refuse substitutes. Xl(?

THE BEST BICYCLES AT THE LOWEST PRICES. The highest quality bicycle in. th© world, at any price, is tlio English-built “Swift.” Royal Supcrbo grade, -tha easiest running and most durable bicycle ever placed on the market. Although the “ Swift ” is under Royal patronage, and is the favourite wheel of the aristocracy of Britain, the price is not a fancy one. The Royal Superb© “Swift” roadster, men’s or ladies’, equipped with mudguards, tree-wheel, two powerful rim-brakes. lamp, bell and* tyre infiator. sells at £l2 10s. Terms can be arranged as low ns £1 deposit and £1 nor month. Another highgrade bicycle, specially designed for New Zealand-conditions, is the “ Star, ’ a smart-looking, absolutely reliable bicycle. which has twenty-seven years of good reputation behind it. The “-Star” roadster, with similar equipment to that of th? “Swift” roadster, sells at £B. Wo honestly believe these two lines of bicvclo to be the best value ever offered in New Zealand. Call and sea the' latest models. Adams, Ltd.. Headquarters ‘ Showrooms. High Street, Christchurch. (C. S. Orr. Bicycle Department Representative.) 1950