TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17711, 11 February 1918, Page 4

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Tlie Chief Postmaster, Christchurch, advises that nine bags of letters, twenty bags of newspapers aud seventyeight registered parcels for Christchurch were lost in. the Andania off the Irish coast. The mail contained) correspondence posted between January 23 and 25.

The report of the military inquiry into Dr Thacker’s charges is not available. Sir James Allen, Minister of Defence, was questioned on the subject on Saturday. He said that it had been submitted to.him, but he wished to consider some items again. Ho thought it might be published in a few days.

On Saturday evening an entertainment was given in the Sumner Town Hall by the Grand Picture Company, in aid of the Burv Street School picnic fund. The building was packed to the doors. Mr G. F. Allen, on behalf of the committee, thanked the audience for their attendance and the conipanv for their splendid programme, and stated that an anonymous donor had promised £l-to the funds if another £4 could be raised. The committee, ho said, were experiencing difficulties in promoting the picnic this year, but it was expected that the funds would be forthcoming.

Just ill? Want to get better? Come and ask Loashy about it. Adults 3s 6d, children 2s. X2

Sun-bathing on the sands at Sumner or New Brigton is trying’ /to somb skin 3, but it has little effect on ’the “Glycerose” girl. “Glycerose” is a real skin food, cleansing’ the pores and allaying irritation caused by exposure. It is lion-greasy, and does Pot grow hair. Sold by Cook and Ross, Ltd-, Chemists. 1

Regulations for netting in Lake Ellesmere are gazetted. Ten per cent additional charge will bo imposed on all rates owing to the City Council not paid on or before March 4.

A return of the estimated nomilntion of the Dominion on December .11, IJI7, gives a total of 1,097,61«. exclusive of Maoris, 49,77(5, and population of Cook and other Pacific islands. 12. uL. The criminal ,sessions of the Supreme Court will be opened at H a.m, today. It is probable that the first caso on the list will be that ot William Eggers M’Mahon, charged with murder.

At an early hour on Saturday morning two lads named C. Eastwood and B. Ward discovered a bottle-nose whale floundering in shallow water about sixteen chains south of the New Brighton pier. Tho whale is 18ft long and has a girth of*nearly 12ft. As a relief from the heat of yesterday an exceptionally large number of visitors patronised Sumner, a great number, throughout the length of the beach, bathing in the surf for a great part of the day. With the exception of one or two local currents, which certainly could not be treated with contempt, the bathing was particularly good.

A Press Association telegram from Hokitika states that the coronial inquiry into the Bello View Hotel fire on the morning of December 1 was concluded on Saturday, lengthy evidence having been taken. The Coroner, Mr T. Hutchison, S.M., returned a verdict that the fire was wilfully caused, but that there was not sufficient evidence to enable him to say by whom.

Air C. Branigan, fields inspector, Ashburton, recently sent some' specimens of blighted wheat to the Government Biologist, Wellington, who reports that they are affected with ear blight (Cladosporium herbarum), and also badly rusted. Both these diseases can account for the shrivelled condition of the grain. Air Branigan, who is collecting the threshing yields, states that the wheat crops are threshing out much below expectations. Replying- to a deputation at Auckland, urging the importance if various railway works, .Sir William Fraser said that his problem was one of labour more than money. There would be a great scarcity of such labour during the war, and he (the Alinister) was determined not to pay men more than 11s per day. It was, he said, the Government’s duty to find employment for soldiers who returned. He could employ 10,000 men now on public works if they were available. The number now obtainable was only 1600 to 1700, compared with 4000 to 5000 usually employed at this time of tlie year..

.The Papamii School held its annual picnici at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s grounds on Saturday. The weather was favourable, the little rain that fell in the evening not interfering with the children’s pleasure. About 300 children and parents 6pent a very pleasant and enjoyable day. Tlie children were well provided for in the way of sports and refreshments, and races were organised for the adults. A large number of prizes were available, donated by the committee and residents of Pnpanui. An enlarged; photograph of the school’s queen was to have been presented to Miss Hilda Yeoman, but as it was not ready the ceremony of presentation will take place at the school on a day to be appointed. The Discharged Soldiers’ Information Department lias issued a little booklet) explanatory of the work which the Department is carrying out on behalf of returned soldiers. The Department in January last had 14,240 men on its register, and of these 10,195 had either returned to their old employment, left the Dominion, or had been found employment. The remainder includes 2408 men not yet discharged, 1420 who have just passed into" the hands of the Department, and 219, chiefly men just discharged, are awaiting employment. The book contains many photographs showing men in the course of vocational training in various skilled occupations, and gives a brief summary of tho more important regulations affecting discharged soldiers and the facilities afforded them by the Department. Quite recently an Ashburton farmer discovered a variety of thistle growing in a neighbour’s section which lie mistook for the noted Californian thistle. The resident took exception to the thistle growing so near Ins property, and taking a sample it was referred to Mr C. Branigan, Government Fields Inspector at Ashburton, who diagnosed it as the Silybum Alarianum variety. It is also known as the milk thistle, variegated, blessed. Holy Maria or lady’s thistle. Besides being found iu various parts of New Zealand it grows in Europe, South Africa and south-west Asia.. The thistle apparently has its uses as a vegetable, and its nutritious qualities are spoken very highly of by authorities. The author of “ Flora Dietetion.” mentions that the young shoots, in the spring, if cut close to tho root, with part of the stalk on, foimi one of tho best boiling salads, and surpasses the finest cabbage. Tho roots may also be eaten before the flower develops. The floral receptacle makes a good substitute for glove artichoke. The thistle is growing in several parts of Ashburton.

Gruel and biscuits made from DOCTORS’ CREAM O’ GROATS nourish the children. Insist on this New Zealand brand. 11

Beautiful Silk Ties, Is, Is 6d; New Soft Shirts, 3s 11(1, 4s 6d, extra quality 4s lid; Soft Collars, 6d; Silk Collars, lOd. Armstrong’s Sale to-day. 2 Shoe bargains are plentiful to-day. A great Sale of Oddments in Boots and Shoes now in full force at Stewart. Robinson’s, Cashel Street. X 135 Taylor and Oakley are offering various lines of Kitchen Sinks, all in sound condition, from 5s upwards- This is a rare chance to secure a good kitfchen sink cheap. 643, Colombo Streot. Tennis goods. New. stocks of rackets just opened—Driva, S.N.D., Tate, Ruby. A.D.P. and Slazenger’s. All best grade goods. Also few new tennis balls. Lewis and Anderson, Ltd-. Cashel Street. 1898 Did. your razor “ pull ” tliis morning? For fiiteenpence ’we can give you months of shaving comfort. We have an expert who really knows how to sharpen a razor. Send the blunt offender to Hastie, Bull and Pickering. 1890

Best Quality Buckskin Trousers 8s 9d, Grey Moles 7s lid, Overalls 4s lid, Working Shirts 2s lid, 3s 6d, 3s lid, extra values. Armstrong’s Sale today. 3

Crockery Specials.—White and Gold odd Cups, no saucers, 3s 6d the halfdozen ; saucers to match, Is 3d the half-dozen; Plates sold separately. Drayton’s, Colombo Street. Tel. 2004. 1860

Some very impressive lines for men’s consideration:— Celullar underwear, also dark grey cdftton ditto, pants and shirts, Is each; Cashmere finished, Is lid; medium weight 2s 6d; Cashmere Sox, Is pair, at Armstrong’s Sale today. 1 The week-end sale of home-made food supplies at the Red Cross Sales Depot, Cathedral Square, was in chargo of Airs H. Wood, Airs J. Stevenson and Mrs E. Harper, and resulted in the sum of £‘l2 being added to the Red Cross Funds- Mrs Brittan won the ham last week, and donated it to the Soldiers’ Ward. Donations received i—A.C.N. £6, Cashmere Hills (per Airs Brosdway) £l, W. Montgomery and Co. (sale of scrap iron) £2 12|i 2d, Mr T- Danlcs 60s, sale of buttonholes in tlie Square £lB 16s 3d, Airs G. Hutton 17s 6d, Mrs F. Andrews £2, ladies of the Telephone Exchange £1 15s. 1898’

The annual distribution of prizes and exhibition of students’ work in connect tion with tin* Canterbury School oi Art will toko place at 7.30 p.m.. to-mor-row. Classes will resume on February 15.

The concert given by the Christchurch Male Voice Choir on December 20. on behalf of the Y.M.C'.A. Trench Comforts Fund, yielded a net, profit of £59 Is. A cheque for this amount (less amusements tax) lias been handed to the Y.M.C'.A. by the honorary treasurer of the choir (Mr K. More). A new record from Christchurch to Ha nicer and return has been established on a spring-frame Indian motorcycle, by a 15 stone rider, with sidechair and passenger, the whole distance being covered in the phenomenal time of 41rr 37imin. The mnehine was purchased from the Bell Cycle and Motor Company, 182, High Street, Christchurch, sole agents. 8044

Sit for those New Year portraits today. Do not put it off any longer—and be sure they are made by Steffano Webb, Petersen’s Buildings, High Street. Telephone 1989. 1890

CLEMENT-BAYARD 3-SEATER, 10-16 H.P., FOR SALE, £225.

We have for immediate sale a Highgrade 3-seater 10-16 h.p. Clement-Bay-ard, nicely painted rich khaki, condition equal to new, very economical; lias full road equipment, including upholstery covers, spare rim, clock and speedometer. Price £225. Adams, Ltd., 219, Tuam Street. X