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North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13662, 2 September 1916, Page 4

In addition to the .Market at flic Monument, which will be open as usual today, there will also be a flower sale under, the auspices of the North Olago Red Cross (Society, the proceeds from which will be devoted, to the fund'for the British Red Cross in response toithc, appeal of Lord' Lansdowne', ' The display and sale'will take place in the old Polytechnic buildings, A large supply of violets and primroses has been received which make an incomparable display, and these may be further supplemented iby additional gifts which the committee is still prepard to accept.

Last night at the. Church of Christ, Mr Gilford Gordon,., of Parhan (Melbourne) who is' visiting. New Zealand for the benefit of his health, gave a very inspiriting address to a large 'congregation that had gathered to hear him. Mr Gordon who is a very fluent speaker based his address on the question of Christ to His disciples; "But whom say men that I am," and in the course of his exhortation urged his hearers to •fidelity in daily life and conduct as of greater importance than creeds and ordinances. The address, was -much appreciated by those who heard it. Mr Gordon leaves for Dunedin by the first express to-day.

A display of early narcissi blooms from Bradbury's well-known Christchurch nurseries will be on view to-day and for several' days in the shop of J. Edgar Ewing, Tees street, Mr Ewing has received a parcel of about twenty varieties, and though they are .exceedingly early are still very attractive specimens, Amongst the most conspicuous of the selection are the. King Alfred and the Graniaphohe, two of the largest and at present leading representatives of the narcissi family, A visit to Mr Ewing's promises will repay all lovers of these spring-time favourites.

The executive of the North- Otago Rugby Football Sub-Union ra'et last night, Mr V. E. Doran.presided and there were present: Messrs (J. V. Her-

Bert, W. Couper, T, Nightingale, ,|. W. Eadie, J. Reid, V. .Holland, M. K. MiCulloch, R. J. Hinkley, and .J. (lerrie (secretary), As the Athletic Club had complied with the request for the names and ages of its players the suspension was removed. It was derided to ask for Die names and ages of several players who had not been included in those supplied, to be sent in by ,1 p.m. on Tuesday next. A mntrli.'was arranged for Athletic with Old Boys for Thursday afternoon to be played at 'King (icorgcY Park at 1.45,: Mr A. King to be the referee, The secretary was instructed to write to the' South (jaiiterhury Rugby Union asking that an effort be made to arrange for a junior representative team to visit Oamaru during the present season, . ■ .'

The He v. liapala Tahn Pofilti IJaddt.n, ivho comes as 'Maori and Home. Mission deputation to I lie Methodist Church Circuit, Is a fine specimen, physically and nientaily, of the rangatir'a. Standing over six feet, and otherwise well proportioned, he is a commanding figure. Some lime since, Offinjr to his great inllueiice with his own people, and his powers as an orator both in Maori and l'lnglish. much influence was brought to bear upon him to secure his ('anilidatiiro for one of tin. Marwl Parliamentary seats. Such a request was not to be lightly ilismissed, but after well. weighing the matter and taking council, he elected to remain in the Maori Mission work, us he couriered 4jat by the end of the day more would lie accomplished for the'upliftin? of his people, Certainly much has been done by him and his fellow workere. Tie is in close touch with the Young .Maori Party, ami largely ennorscs their aspirations, lie preaches in Wesley (.'hiireli mi Sunday morning ami proceeds to Wainiate by motor car for the afternoon and evening services, and lclurns and lectures in Wesley Church oft Wednesday.

A requisition is being circulated, am . largely wgued, with the object of bring ing pressure to boar on Mr James Mit chell to allow himself to be nomiuatei as a candidate for the vacant seat 01 the Oainaru Borough Council,

The vital statistics lor tin- borough of Oamaru mid surrounding districts for the month of August are as follow: Births-Oainani; lwo males, nine females; country districts, five males, males, four females; country, districts, throo females. Ten marriage licenses were issued during the month.

Attention is called to the first practice of the "Messiah," to be held in St Luke's Hall on Tuesday evening, 12th inst, at 8 p.m. Those willing to assist are asked to kindly notify Mr j. T. Oakden, and to bring their copies to the practices, as only a limited number are available. The performance will be given for patriotic purposes, and a largo chorus is anticipated. Mr C. W. Naylor has kindly consented to preside- at the organ and Mr F. .ft Burry will conduct.

Some forty couples assembled at the Druids' Hall on Thursday evening for the social and dance arranged by the Railway Social Committee in. aid of the lted Cross. Messrs Muirhead. and McLcod were the MXV's, and the music was supplied gratituously by Mr H, Brown. Songs wore, sung by Messrs McCnlloch and llinkley. A most enjoyable evening was spent, the thorough and satisfactory arrangements for the dance giving general satisfaction.

lie was such a small boy (says the Dominion) ami looked so pinched with the coht that the good lady of the house, after taking her quart of milk from the boy's wee can, called him into the kitchen and insisted on him drinking a cup 0 f hot tea. " You're a very small boy to be working, aren't you?" she said kindly. "How old are you'J" "Eleven ye&rs, please,'.! stammered the boy, made awkward by his surroundings, "Ami don't you go to school'!" asked tlm -luily. "Oh;'yen," said the boy, "but I'm not allowed to now 'cos my two sisters are ill with the measles!" And he was delivering milk. Here is one of the risks the public will rim even after a clearing house is provided.

■At the. conclusion of the concert given in Columlni Sunday School on Thursday evening the concert party assembled in the suppeis room to say farewell and .-make n presentation to Mr V. J. Turner, who left' yesterday for Wellington. Mr U. 11, Thomson, in present!up Mr Turner with ;i 'fountain lien nu behalf! of the party, referred to the regret occasioned by the departure of one whose assistance and co-operation in all musical functions was freely mid ungrudging!v given. Mr Turner had been a real "live wire," and from a musical as well, as a sporting point of view his departure was a loss to the community. They all wished Mr Turner the best of luck and prosperity in his new sphere of work, The TCcv. J. L. 'Roliinsoii also spoke, and Mr Turner suitably replied. ~

I The Iliwiroa football learn frnmWaimate was entertained on Thursday evening liv Ihe North Otago Rugby I''notball Union at Hie Northern Hotel. Mr V. E. Dornn, president of the union, who was in the chair, extended a: hearty welcome to tlm". visiter? on. behalf of tin; union, and hpp'e'il jii'af at some future dale, this seasoiv.if,possible, a return i«nte)i" in'. Waihiate.' wouid he 'arranged'. Mr Graingpr''re|lflell 'for the Iliwiroa team, who hail'"been pleased to come tn Onmaru. and also honed for a return match. The hospitalitv of Hie Oamarnvians had been highly appreciated, and the'members of 'lie team looked forward with keen interest to another match with Oamaru. Cheers were exchanged by the .teams, and the narly adjourned'to the Oddfellows' IJall, where an impromptu smoke concert successfully terminated the evening,

New Zealand's Government expects that every man of military age will do his duty muler the Military Service Act between now and the 16th September, The law provides that men who are not registered under the National Eegistration Act of last year must enrol by the 16th September, and that men who are already registered must inform the Government Statistician if they have changed their abode since registration. Neglect to report such a change may make the Reservist liable to a charge of desertion, The' authorities are giving Reservists all possible encouragement, ami facilities (at any and every post office) lo do their duty voluntarily, but it is important for men to remember that. Hie Act provides heavy penalties for a breach, In every ease under the Act onus of proof is on the defendant, A plea of ignorance will net be abailable as au excuse, because elaborate precautions are being taken, by posters, placards, and lantern-slides, advertisements and other statements in the jjreHS, to explain the position thoroughly. j

In order to create a wider and keener interest in its work, and to give the public a more intimate knowledge of the scope 1 of its activities, the Women's Branch of the Overseas Club yesterday gave a, display of gifts and garments gathered and made up by its members. Tho idea was an excellent One ami the results were most gratifying, All the afternoon there was a steady stream of visitors, both ladies and gentlemen, and the thoiightfuluess of the committee;in ■providing ils patrons with afternoon tea added greatly to the pleasure of viewing the work. The.-articles displayed were a revelation of industry and thrift, and demonstrated how well the odd pieces of materials, and old garments, by many people destroyed, could still be put to most useful purposes. Garments of every' description were on view, made from every conceivable kind of oddment, but which in no sense betrayed any ' incongruity. One feature of the display was tlie'contributions of garments made by the children of the local schools, which disclosed a deftness hitherto unrealised; and in each little, garment was slipped a'piece of paper with the inscription "For a soldier's or sailor's baby.'-' The branch of the committee's work which undertakes to supply a complement of comforts for every soldier leaving Oamaru is ; a most important work. In this connection every month there are sent away thirtysix bags of these comforts—including balaclava cap. cholera belt, sox, handkerchiefs, mittens, hold-alls, and other useful articles—which are put aboard the transport and are distributed to the men' when they disembark at the port of their destination. The committee also collects gifts and forwards parcels in connection with the Lady Liverpool Gift Fund. These include little luxuries for the men, ami are forwarded direct to the biisc at the front, from which they are distributed amongst the men in the trenches. All this entails a vast amount of time and work, and yesterday's display was for the purpose'of enlisting further support for such worthy work. Those who can give gifts o'r assist in milking up material will be gladly welcomed at the committee's room in the Haul; of New Zealand buildings, at the corner of Thames and Ttchen streets, access to which is bethel tchen street entrance.

The rainfall in. Oamaru for the mo'ntn of August, as recorded by Mr G. McGhie, was 2.1!9in, as compared with o.2Biu.for the corresponding mouth, of last year, Kain foil on eleven days, with a maximum fall of o.Bom on the 13th. For the eight months of the year now past the total rainfall had been 18.60iu, as against 9.57iu for ilie same period of last year. ' ■'

The responsibility incurred by permitting men with large families to proceed to the front has been recognised by the Defence cirgulars have been issued ffi a\l married iueii over twenty-fire who have volunteered notifying them'that if they have over three, children they will, not be -allowed to proceed to camp. Exceptions will'bo made only in cases bearing

An unusual record was achieved bv the Engineers' draft which loft with the Sixteenth says the Dominidn. Duriiig'fhe whole time that these troops were in camp none of them was guilty of any offences, or "crimes," as they are known in camp. No draft has ever achieved this record before, though, of late the number.of offenders who have faced the Commandant's Orderly Room at both camps has been remarkably low.

•In the course of a case in the Auckland Police Cpiirt, in which «• bookmaker | was' litied, it was stated that the constable who had made the bets had mauaged to secure three wins out of four bets. This led the Magistrate to. remark that, the constable "must have known something." As a fact'the constable was ( (|ii.itL'.' ignorant of .any of the horses, and as he was supplied with Government money to make .the bets the winnings have to go into the State Treasury.

A very bloodstained shirt was an important' exhibit in; the trial of a Maori on a charge of stabbing; at the Auckland Supreme Court on Thursday mowing, says the Star. The Grown*/, doiivourcd to prove that the sbht, whjfch belonged to the. accused, was marked with the blood of one of the men who had been stabbed, but the accused him* self swore that the blood came from his, own nose, which had received a blow in the struggle. The Crown Pro* secutor remarked that it was a curious thing that the stains wore thick oh the back of the sleeves near the shoulder. "I wonder if they .wear their shirts fore-end-nft," . said;' : -Mr Justice HosIcings; "perhaps that may be the Maori way of changing a shirt." (General laughter.) , .

A New Zealand business man who is visiting England, and who has made a point of visiting the different hospitals in which New 1 Zealand wounded and sick soldiers arc located,' writing to a friend in Wellington, says' the New Zealand War Contingent Association is doing splendid-work'and is really the New Zealand Red Cross. There is ,no New Zealand soldier in the hospital that the Association has not full particulars of, and it sees that he is looked after. The' writer also states that the organisation* is good, and he cannot speak, too highly of General Richardson. He adds: "The New Zealand stores at Southampton are in charge of Captain Greene, and I am sure there could not be a better man to look after the NewZealand Red Cross goods and Liverpool Fund goods." • '

Ladies' bag-switchers are operating in Wellington at present (says a northern correspondent). ... A case of a par'ticiilarh': -.Jariiig .character oceured on .tliC'Kilbirnic,:r.oad -about mid-day on, Thursday. •A\ young, lady and her valid mother were Walking leisurely up. 1 the hill, when a man dashed out from behind a tree on the roadside plantation, snatched the lady's bag and made off with it. The bag contained only 2s, the key of a house, and some Auzao art union tickets, On'a recent Sunday; morning a gentleman saw a man snatch a bag out of a girl's hand at the'top of Kilbirnie road, • ami watched him make off across the top of the hills. A few evenings ago a young girl in Upper, Elizabeth street had a bag snatched' from her hand .by a man who dashed' out from the shadow,of a tree.

Writing to.a friend' in an Auzae artilleryman now in France gave a graphic description of the. effects of the poisoned gas used by the Huns. He described how the ■ men

were awakened by the awful din, the alarm being given •by the ringing of bells. "The men hastily donned their respirators," he continued, "and stood by the horses. Within about five minutes the gas reached the men, but had little effect on them, thanks to the precautions taken, The next day the effects of the gas on the near crops of peas and onions were plainly seen, the vegetables being quite' blackened and the peas also laid Hat. Tho harness on the horses, too, which had previously been as bright as silver, was covered with black rust. Yet, strange to say, Hie horses were not apparently affected in the least."

Stoats and . weasels, are giving a good deal of trouble' to residents of Wadestown (Wellington), particularly those people who go in for poultry. As a skilled despoiJcr of the henhouse, the stoat is not a guest, to-be encouraged, and as an egg thief he is very export. It is difficult to imagine a four-footed creature making 0 li ! ; .with whole eggs and storing them up, but one Wadestown watcher has seen a stoat hop'put of a. nest cuddling an-Cgg betweeiNkf two forepaws, ami in that manner coiivcying it to its hiding-place. One shrewd amateur poultry-former, who thought he would get a, sly one on'to a stoat, planted a number of china eggs ill an olii nest, but toliis great surprise he found that these, too, disappeared as readily as the genuine article, Searching one day underneath 'an old case, he found ipiitc a store of eggs, china and otherwise, neatly stored- there by the stoat against a rainy day.