NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLI, Issue 9463, 25 September 1916, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

The Postal authorities advise that the s.s. Riverina, which sailed from Sydney at noon on the 21st inst. for Wellington, is bringing Australian and also English mails via Suez, and is duo here to-day.

Relics of the first Zeppelin brought down in England have been sent out to Mr H. W. Friedman, of the Christchurch Tramway Board’s office staff, bv his brother, who is a member of the aerial branch of the Motor-Boat Reserve.

In the course of a private letter to Hawera. dated July 27th. Mr R. H. Nolan says:—“We have over 3000 wounded and sick New Zealanders in England- Everyone is visred by the War Contingent Association’s official visitors within about twenty-four hours of his arrival. No men are now getting leave from France—this is owing to the great ‘drive’ now on.” The Army has, says a London paper, started to grow its own potatoes. Instructions have been sent, or are being sent, from the War Office to every command, indicating the lines which should be followed. Military requirements are very large, and little more than half the usual supplies of potatoes are coming into the markets, with the result that pre-war prices to the public are yearly doubled. It the Army can supply most of its own needs the situation will be eased. The potatoes are to be planted in rows between the huts. A number of men are being tdld off each day for digging, and others are being asked to help in spare time. It is understood that instructions will soon be issued for the growing of vegetables. An interesting demonstration of the exceeding smallness of the differences which exist between the various “isms” of the Christian Church is at present afforded by the harmonious manner in which Congregationalists and Methodists are worshipping together in the Central Mission Hall, Welsh street. The mission is conducted in the building formerly occupied by the Primitive Methodists until the union of that body with the Wesleyan Methodists. Tire old Courtenay place Congregational Church having been sold for demolition, the Congregationalists were invited to join forces with the Methodist Mission while their own new building was being put up. The invitation was accepted, and the two congregations now worship together, the respective ministers conducting alternate services. This happy state of affairs was referred to yesterday morning by the Rev. G. Knowles Smith, minister in charge of the Central Mission, when conducting the service at the Terrace Congregational Church, He mentioned that the combined Congregational and Central Mission Sunday schools were celebrating their anniversary that day. “If you go along there,” he said, "you would be faced with somewhat of a puzzle. You would see a staging crowded with children, and unless you know the secret of the colours they are wearing, you could not tell which are Congregationalists and which Methodists. There is a Oongregationalist pianist and a Methodist organist, but if you saw them together you could not tell t’other from which.” M*- Smith added that he looked upon this as a happy augury of the Jay when all the “isms” would be merged in one strong, united Church.

The sura of £144 icceived iron th*. sale of refuse (£SI llsi, and privileges ; .63 Is) at Trentham camp has been placed *o the credit of the canteen fund, while £4, received as revenue from Baker’s Circus, has been placed to the credit cf the hand fund.

The Camp Commander at Trentham Camp (Lieutenant-Colonel H. It. Potter) has received and acknowledged the receipt of a case of gramophone records from the Mayor of Christchurch, and seven parcels of magazines from Mi J. Piper, of Petone, for the use of the troops.

A wireless message received last night from the Rivcrina, en rou e from Sydney, reported that the vessel will arrive at Wellington at 9 o’clock th s morning. The Riverina is to berth at No. 1 south (outer tee), Queen s wharf. She is bringing English and Australian mails.

In response to an appeal by the Rev. father Roach, C.SS.R., on behalf of the poor and destitute of Dublin, at St. Gerard’s Church yesterday morning, the sum of £3O was collected. The contribution will be forwarded to the Right Rev. Dr Verdon, Bishop of Dunedin, who is treasurer of the fund, which has as its object the relief of the destitute of Dublin.

Owing to the ban on the export of iron and steel from Great Britain, it is feared in Japan that shipbuilding will be restricted in Japan, consequently speculation in tonnage is rife there just now. Some business men in Osaka and Kobe have organised a corporation for the purpose of speculating in vessels, though ostensibly it is announced to have been initiated to advance money on the security of ships. Individual enterprises are also planned in increasing numbers. Tho fire brigade received a call last evening about 7 o'clock, and it was d scovered that tile Gas Company’s warehouse in Courtenay place was in flames The brigade were speedily on the scene and within an hour had the fire extinguished. The building is one _of three floors, and the fire was limited to the third one, the contents of which were found to he badly damaged. The goods on the other two floors were also affected to some extent by water. The contents of the building were insured by the Gas Company in the Royal Office. The building is rented from Luke and Co.

On arrival of the Pateena on Saturday morning from Lyttelton a flag flying at half-mast attracted attention, and on inquiry being made it was found that a soldier, Sergeant John Wood, NZ.M.C., had been found dead on the deck about 6.80 a.m. The soldier, who had been attached for duty at Hammer, was in the best of spirits on the previous evening, and he was coming to Wellington on leave. After he had retired for some time he complained of not feeling well, and caino on deck. Captain Vine, of the Defence Department, met the Pateena on arrival, and the body was removed to the morgue by the police. The deceased’s next-of-kin is Mrs M. Wood, of Glen road, Mornington, Dunedin.

The following letter convoys the British Premier’s recommendations to Mr J J Virgo, in the tour he has undertaken of the British Empire:—“l am very glad to hear of the journey you are undertaking in order to stimulate and extend throughout the Dominions the work of the Young Men’s Christian Association, which yon have served so long and faithfully. ' You will have a moving tale to tell wherever you go of the benefits which the associations have conferred upon the Army at the front and in this country, by providing soldiers with comforts and recreation, and something of the atmosphere of a home. I take real pleasure in contributing my testimony to the high estimation in which their efforts are held by His Majesty’s Government. Believe me, with all good wishes for the complete success of your mission Yours respectfully, H. Asquith.

A “Jimmy Woodser” of a most aggravated type created an extraordinary scene on Lambton quay on Saturday morning, just before noon. Ho had been evidently imbibing heavily free from companionship, and there was no one to look after him when he rolled into the street in a perfectly helpless condition. He was gloriously drunk “on his own.” He was first noticed at the intersection with Johnston street, rolling about in the midst of the traffic, perfectly oblivious of the narrow escapes he was undergoing. His extraordinary antics attracted the attention of lines of spectators on both sides of the .Quay, and more than once he was helped to the footpath by bystanders, but he insisted upon sailing into the centre of the main thoroughfare and depositing himself in all sorts of attitudes before motor-cars, bicycles, and vehicles of all kinds. People began wondering bow long he would last before the arrival of a policeman, and by a strange coincidence no officer of the law was about the locality at the time. Some kindly-disposed person placed him on a tramcar, but ho very speedily rolled off, however without injury. This “Jimmy Woodser,” for the space of a quarter of an hour, led a charmed life, to the amazement of all who beheld him. Ultimately he was taken into custody, and turned out to be an old offender.

A young Napier man who works on a station at Kirikau, in the heart of che King Country, had an unenviable experience there several days ago. It happened that the telephone at the station got out of order, and in endeavouring to find the material necessary to effect repairs, the youth came across an old Maori canoe stranded by a river bank, and apparently hopelessly beyond repair. It was found that a paling of the canoe would just answer the required purpose, and without second thought the young man broke up the canoe and went back to the station with the repairing material. About night time the people on the station were startled to hear fierce shouting and the clattering of hoofs. To their horror they discovered a hand of Maoris gathered round the station, crying that they wanted the young man who had violated their tabooed canoe. It dawned on the Napier lad that he had unwittingly committed an unpardonable crime against Maori traditions. He told the manager of the station, who went up to the Maoris and endeavoured to explain the mistake. The Maoris would not listen, and continued to shout out that they wanted to kill the boy and throw his body in the river. The position was a desperate one, and while the natives howled and danced round the station the now much-frightened lad was hid in an outhouse. It was only after some considerable time that the Maoris were at last pacified and prevailed upon to accept the sacrilege as an unfortunate mistake. Infinite relief was felt at the station when the band of natives mounted their horses and rode away once more. Donnelly’s Hair Restorer.—A Hair tonic for dry and oily hair. Chemists, stores, hairdressers, 2s fid. *

TTith reference to a paragraph appearing in our issue of Saturday, stating that the silk hat and walkingstick were taken from one of the ‘‘Dr Bill” Comedy Club, it is explained that the jokers have now duly returned them.

At a n eeting of the Wellington Headmasters’ Association on Saturday it was unanimously resalvcd: “That in tho best interests of the children, the headmasters feel it is their duty to decline to take any further part in orgnaising or supporting street or house-to-house collections by children for any purpose whatever,”

The Postmaster-General announces that uniform rates of one shilling, two shillings, and three shillings for three, seven and eleven pounds’ weight respectively have been fixed for all parcels uklrpsscd to New Zealand soldiers on ictive service, whether in Egypt, France, or Mesopotamia, the same rates also applying to parcels addressed to New Zealand sailors on board the Philomel or. other warships manned by New Zealand crews.

The sixty-third anniversary of St. Matthew’s Church. Auckland, was celebrated on Thursday St. Matthew's Day (says the “New Zealand Herald”). Since the parish was formed in 1563 the parishioners have builti three churches. The first was erected in Bishop Selwyn’s time, when the Rev. T. Thatcher was .vicaf. Many of the older citizens will remember this building, which, with tho vicarage, stood under tho shelter of the tall fir trees. Afterwards came the larger church — now used as a parish hall—-which was built -during the incumbency of the Rev. David Jones. Mr Jones was a popular preacher, and attracted large congregations. At that time Hobson street and Grey streot contained the residences of most of the well-to-do people of the city. The present edifice, which took three years to build, was opened in March, 1905.

The name of Mi - John J. Virgo is a name to conjure with in the Y.M.C.A. circles. As general secretary of the largest Y-M.C.A. in England, the Sir George William Memorial Building m Tottenham road, London, he accomplished a work suflicient to earn for him a perpetual place in the. Y.M.C.A. hall of fame. Butsince the war began he has done a much greater work As national Y.M.C.A. and secretary cf the British National Council he has contributed largely to the marvellous success of the Y.M.C.A. As an organiser he has achieved unique success and as an orator, Mr W. H. George recently cabled. “He i§ an orator of the first water.” Mr Virgo is on a visit to New Zealand at 'the. time with a special commission front the British National Council. He will deliver an address in the Town Hall on Sunday next. October J.st. at 3 p.m., when ho will tell the thrilling story of Y.M.C.A. war work in France. Egypt, Great Britain, etc.

The Labour Department officials had their attention drawn to the criticism of the methods of the department in connection with breaches of the award, hv a “Times” reporter on SaturdayThe officials stated that the criticism was of so general a nature that no reply could be made to it except a genoraj denial that the departn. ent had been dilatory in taking proceedings. As regards the charge of “protecting the employer at the expense of the employee,” it. was pointed out that employers aro of a reverse opinion, and the fact was there was no justification fo- the criticism indulged in by employees and employers. It was only last week that a complaint, was -received from the employers, .alleg ng a bias in favour of employees.' 1 The department on ploys four men in the work of ■wlministerinir the Labour laws. Should the Trades Council desire a more detailed reoly to its statements, it will bj necessary to furnish particulars of the oases upon which the complaints are founded-

The work of No. 3 Field Ambulance, with which the late Dr A- A■ .Martin went away to the front, was .referred to by Surgeon-General Henderson when speaking at a camp concert at Awapuni Inst week. General Henderson said that he had a letter quite recently from Colonel Hardie-Neil, written from near Armenticres. Colonel Hardie-Neil had gone away in charge of No ; 3 New Zealand Field Ambulance, which had been trained at Awapuni. It was the onlv field ambulance properly trained ;n New Zealand, and was selected to go with the First Brigade. It had been m a position from w-hich it Vas seeing most of the fighting going on. General Henderson feelingly referred to the death of Dr Martin from wounds received in action. “I regret to say ih.it we have lost one of our brightest officers,” he said. “Major Martin was a member of No. 3 Field Ambulance, and bis duty was to take charge of the main dressing station, to which he attended so ably and performed the surgical work he was so capable of doing, ft was a tremendous shock to hear o' nis death, hut he has died as he would wish —for his country at the front.”

In connection with the prospectus ol the Canterbury Aviation Co.. Ltd., it *s stated that the Hon. H. F- Wigrara has ordered two Caudron single-seater biplanes with Anzani engines at a cost of £550 each at the works, and it is anticipated t.ley will be shinned in the Athen e. He has also ordered a dual control two-seater Caudron aeroplane, 60 horse-power, 6 cylinders, for £660 at the works. Various extras, altimeters, spare ribs, propellers, and other accessories have been ordered, Mr W.g:am places these machines and accessories under offer to the company at cost price. The Caudron aeroplanes are recognised as very suitable for tuition purposes. They are used at Hendon. and a Caudron aeroplane converted into a hydroplane is in use at the Auckland school, and is giving satisfaction. It is prc.posed to increase the fleet as the company’s finances permit. With three machines it is estimated 15 pUpils can be under tuition at one time, and the period of tuition is usually about six or eight weeks. The fee charced in Auckland is £IOO. and if the British aerial authorities treat the Canterbury pupils as thev have done the Auckland ones, £75 should be refunded to any qualified and finallypassed airman. From tuition; fees alone, therefore, there should be a good net income if, as is anticipated, sufficient pupils are available. There are other sources of revenue derivable from- exbib'tions, passenger fares, agencies and repairing. The future possibilities in a country like this are boundless. Christchurch can he rescued from Wellington in two or three hours, and very general use of aeroplanes for mail and other purposes between these two centres is possible