CURRENT TOPICS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7046, 7 February 1910, Page 7

CURRENT TOPICS

A CLOSE SEASON. ! Sportsmen who hunt will have to lessen, if not entirely .restrain, their activity this year, because the whole of IDIO is a clcee season for imported game (other than deer), and native game. Several acclimatisation societies endeavoured to secure some relaxation of this law. One society asked for an _ open season for everything except pigeon, three urged that all imported game ehould continue to run- tho risk of tho gun, and another suggested a fourteenday season. The remainder of the thirty-two acclimatisation societies did not communicate with the Minister of Internal Affairs upon the subject. They probably rocognised the necessity for this provision of the . law. It lias been decided that the Governor (who has tho power of determining the matter) will be advised by the Government not to withdraw the general prohibition. The next big close season will occur in 1913. AMATEUR ATHLETICS FLOURISH. All true lovers of manly sport must be pleased at the excellent result of the championship meeting of the Wellington Centre of the N.Z. Amateur Athlefcio Association, held on Saturday. The support afforded bv the public was liberal, and the afternoon's sport was first-class. In almost -every championship event the performance of tho winner was far above the average, and in one case it is probable that a New Zealand record will be credited to one of tho competing athletes. W. A. Woodger. Athletics havo made (treat strides of late years in Wellington, a" result duo chiefly to intelligent and careful management on the part of the cont-olling body. After euch an excellent showing on Saturday it 1 remains now for "Wellington athletes only to go to Auckland on February 26th, and wrest back from Canterbury the provincial premiership shield which they lost at Bunedin last year. That good luck attend them, must be the wish of every royal Wellingtonian. THE "ARMY" AND YOUTH. Directions in which the Salvation Airmy's work amongst the young will shortly be extended were indicated by Commissioner Hay when responding to an address of welcome in the Vivian street Citadel on Saturday night. He wore, he said, the first badge of the Australasian Anti-Smoking and Anti-Gam-bling League for Boys which had reached Now Zealand, and he hoped that in a day or two several thousands of these, and of the pledges which the wearers were required to sign, would be available fox the different centres in the Dominion. Another thing in which he was specially interested was holidays for boys and girls. In England and elsewhere the Army organised young people's camps. These afforded boys and girls an o'/portunity of indulging in a fine holiday under canvas and under proper control. The fact that the children were away from their parents was often an advantage—it developed their self-reli-ance. He hoped it would be possible to organise something on these line 9 in New Zealand shortly. A new book for tho children the "Young People's Guide"—was being published. He commended it to those in authority out here. The question of definite teaching in regard to moral purity for boys and girls of fourteen, fifteen or sixteen was one which they were called upon to face. Impure lives were often the result of ignorance. By delegating men and women who could do the thing properly, to impart instruction, someuMng could be, and he hoped would be. done to combat this evil.

NEWS NOTES The Wimmera, with. Australian mails, which left Sydney last Wednesday, arrived at Auckland at 1.45 p.m. yesterday. The southern portion of the mails left Auckland at 9.16 o'clock last night by the Main Trunk express, which is due here at 4.30 o'clock this afternoon. The Brindisi mails left Sydney on Saturday evening by the Moeraki for Wellington, where they are due on Wednesday morning. The "Government Insurance Recorder" for January contains an interesting biographical sketch of the late Mr D. M. Luokie, Government Insurance Commissioner. .

At Dunedin on Saturday Thomas Dicks, who deserted from H.M.S. Encounter on August 16th, was remanaed to appear in Auckland on the 14th inst., states a Press "Association telegram.

A Dnnedin Press Association telegram states that the Kaikorai Band will not take part in the North Island Brass Bands Contest, to be held at Wanganui, as somt of the most competent members of the band find themselves unable to make the trip. "X have been impressed with the children all over Australia and New Zealand," said Commissioner Hay in the Army Citadel on Saturday night, "impressed with their build and with the marvellously free movement of their limbs. Your children are a splendid inheritance."

Por stealing a lady's gold watoh, the property of Angus McDonald, Eugene Zillinbach was sentenced by Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., on Saturday, to three months' imprisonment. Accused denied his guilt, but a witness said that he pawned the watoh on behalf of the accused for £2.

About 8.30 o'clock on Friday njffht an unknown man if ell ofl the Westport wharf just ahead of the Hauroto. Two members of the orow of that vessel jumped overboard and swam around m search of the man. A lifebuoy was thrown over and tho vessel's elactrUi light cluster was srwitched on, but no traces were seen of the man.

"Wonderland" continues to be a source of attraction to many people, Who find a jaunt to Miramar a pleasant change from the city. Saturday's novelties provided by the management caused endless enjoyment to young and old. The fine weather experienced induced large crowds to patronise this popular suburban resort, the cars to Miramax on Saturday being crowded afternoon and evening.

Messrs T. M. Wilford and W. H. Field, M.P.'s., on behalf of the Karori and other rifle cdubs in, the Hutt electorate, are making representations to the Minister for Defence" in reference to defence club regulations. They claim that as strong supporters of the rifle olnb movement, they have always done their best to better the conditions of the clubs, but find that there is a great difference between the Australian, regulations and those of the Dominion. Comparative statements have been forwarded to the Minister showing that rifle clubs in AustraTtia are at least 75 per cent, bettar off than. Now Zealand rifle clubs. The attention of the Minister is drawn to a speech made by Mm some months ago at Upper Hutt, when" he stated he intended to better the conditions of the riflo clubs—a statement which gave great satisfaction throughout the Dominion-. The rifle clubmen are prepared to submit to inspection (which they do not now receive), discipline, drill or other sufficient service to place them in a state of preparedness, and are also willing to provide some personal annual outlay. It is contended that they will never develop unless more encouragement is given, to them,

Mr C. B. Riddle, owner of the Albury coal pits, near Timaru, was on Saturday suffocated by foul air in the mine. The Fcderal-Houldc-r-Shire liner Morayshire bound from Dunedin to Waltara, called in to Worser Bay on Saturday afternoon to pk-k up a narty of stevedores to lead cargo at Waitara, Wanganui roadstead and Picton.

Tho matron of tho hospital acknowledges the following gifts for the use of the patients:—Flowers. St. Thomas s Sunday School and Mrs Hills; deck chairs (for Seddon Shelters), Mrs Johnston and friends; jam (for Victoria Wards), Miss Newton; old linen, Mrs W. H. Williams and Mr Busby; magazines, Mr W. R. Turnbull, Mrs Whitcnmbe; clothes, M"3 Duncan and Mrs Stnwe. Contributions of old linen and clothes will be gratefully received. Fred Thompson, nineteen years of age, residing at SU, Coromandel street, Newtown, received severe injuries at LuKes foundry on Saturday morning, where ho is employed as an engineer he wa= caught in some belting, and before he could free himself was whirled around the crank shaft of an engine He was crushed about the chest and head, ami one of his feet was injured. Ho was unconscious when extracted. Thompson was taken to the hospital, .and late last night was getting on fairly well On Saturday afternoon the fire brigade turned out twice to suppress gorse tires. At 2.45 there was a call from Gorso had been burning on a -high cliil at the back of the bowling green, but it was oxtingushed by tho players before the motor arrived. At 5.11 p.m. a trip !was made to DranEneld street, \ ogeitown, where a fire had been burning on a vacant section, but here again the services of the brigade were not needed, residents of the vicinity having beaten out the flames before the firemen arrived. The five-year-old son 'of William Stevenson a wharf labourer, residing at No. 9, Picton avenue, was knocked down by a tram car in Riddiford street, Newtown, on Saturday night at about haltpast 9. The child was carried into Mr Castle's chemist shop, where it was found that ho had suffered a nasty cut over tno right temple and a bruise on the head. Mr Castle rendered first aid, and i>r Kemp subsequently dressed the wounds, the boy being taken home. Motorman Dunn was in charge of the car. Favoured with an ideal afternoon the Boy Scouts gathered to the number of about 120 at Lyall Bay. In formation they presented an attractive appearance. In View of the inspectional parade by Field-Marshal Lord Kitchener evolutions were practised, which drew the attention of many visitors to the beach. Senior lads were afterwards drafted into signalling, first aid and shelter squads, and useful work was done. Steady practice by the various squads is being undertaken during the short time which remains.

The amJnual (genera! meeting otf the Wellington Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen's Association was held on Friday evening. The statement of accounts showed a surplus of .£10,065 14s lOd, made up as follows: —General account .£8330 14s 2d, relief fund .£1291 lis 6d, mortuary benefit fund 9s 2d. The register showed a total membership of 509. Officers were elected as follows:—President, Mr H. C. Tewsley; secretary, 'Colonel Stuart Newall; treasurer, Mr A. W. VennieU; auditors, Messrs H. Kember and Son; oonimittee, Messrs W. J. Bridson, R. T. Robertson, J. N. Turnbull, R. H. Wakelin (warehousemen), J. G. Chambers, J. R. Coull A. G. Oroll, R. F. Steele, R. Wilson, (travellers).

The Lux Light Company wish it known that the Lux Incandescent Kerosene Gas Lamps give the Cheapest and Most Brilliant Light on Earth. See Te Aro House, Bates and Lees', Wardell Bros.', Leydon and Co., Caterer and Carey, E. Pearce and Co., R. Hannah and Co., Petone Workshops (where Lux replaced the latest devioes in lighting). House Lamps 22s 6d. Lamps up to 2000 candlepower. 85, 37, 39, Old Customhouse street (back of Opera House), Wellington. *