CURRENT TOPICS

Southland Times, Issue 17484, 27 July 1915, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS

gki:.m.\n hlla. Tin- claim nf the German Gfuf-rnment (hat the swift sinking of the Lusitania was largely contributed to by ammunition she earned is examined by the Scientific American mi technical grounds. The conclusion reached is that the contention cannot he supported. it the cargo of ammunition carried hy the Lusitania had been set off hy the torpedo which struck her, the enormous expansive force of the gases of file explosion would have blown out the sides of the ship above the waterline and torn open her decks above, folding them hack upon themselves. The- very fact that the ship remained afloat as long as she did proves dial, nothing of the kind happened, and that the ammunition i’a her hold had no paid in the sinking of the ship. So enormous is the charge of explosive carried hy the submarine Torpedo of the Germans that the torpedo which stria k her not only tore a vast opening in the outer skin of the ship, but the disruptive effects of the gases let loose nno-T high pressure within her hull structure were sufficient to wreck the inner wall of the side hunkers and produce an immediate and enormous inrush of water, besides loosening up the frames and bulk-

I beading in the neighbourhood of the explosion to such an extent that m less j than half-an-hour the great ship was below the surface. A battleship ' not j only carries a heavy watertight protev- | live deck, but the underwater portion iof the ship below this deek is divided and subdivided transversely and longitudinally until she contains over separate watertight compartments, big and little. The Lusitania contained below the waterline only ill such comI parturients—and this was all that could be conveniently accommodated within a ship whose primary purpose was lor the uses of commerce, and not to taco the perils of modern submarine warfare. BIT.IAL OK MA.IOH GUAM', An Oamarn resident has received « letter from Gallipoli, in which the writer says;— Yesterday (May 14th> there- was a n hirm is t ice from 7.110 a.in. to 4.1P) p.m,, ; for the burial of dead, some of whom j had laid in front of the trenches since ! April 27th. Our company and one from I the Mounted Hides were the burying party for the New Zealand Division. There was an equal number of Turks. J had charge of our lot. it was an awful day: hunclreds of bodies (Turks more than ten to one) were buried by our party alone. 1 was glad to find the body of Major Grant and one of our sergeants 1 lying together. We did not separate I them, and they lay in a common grave, dug by men of their own company, who did the work with softened hearts. f spent some time personally in improving the mound, throwing it up high, and on top 1 made a large cross of while and at the front placed a large slab, with the names carved out. At the head 1 erected a large wooden cross and put an inscription on it. Later 1 photographed it. Of course, time did not allow anything of this sort in other case-, but we felt this was special, and the Rev. Luxford recited a special service, and offered a special prayer. A haltway line between trenches was marked off by white flag carriers.- equal numbers from each side, and each army had to keep to its own side of Use line. Tbo Turks were seen sketching our position ■and taking ranges from a further hill, but it was to our mutual advantage to get the work done, as each body buried probably meant a life saved.

During " the performance of “Cinderella" in the Municipal Theatre this evening', a.' dag win be offered for sale, the proceeds Of which will be devoted to the furthering of the candidature of the Railway' and Shipping Princess.

At the Police Court yesterday, before Mr J. Crosby Smith, J.P., a first offender was fined 7s 6d for drunkenness. A Dunedin telegram states that th«j Presbyterian Church throughout New Zealand will observe Declaration Day (August 4) as a day of prayer. Special services will be held in all the chief centres.

At the conclusion of a very successful concert and sale of produce at Wajmituku. in aid of the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund, it was decided that the proceeds, about £l3O. be given to augment the funds of the Country Queen of the preaent carnival.

Several councillors of the South Invercargill Borough spoke at length at last night’s meeting with regard to cyclists riding «n the footpath, and the town clerk was authorised to take action wherever possible with the idea of abating the nuisance, and notices of warning are to be erected. Several councillors Cited cases of the abuse of the by-law.

On Wednesday, the 3Sth inst.. a meeting of citizens will be held in the Public Hall, Drummond, for the purpose of considering the formation of a Railways District, under the “Local Railways District Act of 1914.” As this is a most Important step in the advancement of the district, all those who are at all interested in its welfare should make a point of being present and doing their utmost to forward the movement.

At last night’s meeting of the South Invercargill Borough Council Cr. McChesney proposed that the surfaceman who had taken the foreman's place during his fortnight’s leave of absence be paid at the same rate as the foreman, and this was unanimously agreed to. as the works had been carried out most satisfactorily.

In the annual report of the chairman of the Technical College Board of Managers, the Southland Employers' Association was omitted from the list of contributing bodies. This Association was the first to respond to the invitation of the Education Board to contribute to the funds of the College, and share in Us management, and it has been represented on the Board of Managers by Mr W. R. Riddell. The secretary of the Patriotic Committee desires to thank the boys of the Drummond public school for their activities in connection with the collection hand disposal of rabbit skins in aid of the Belgian Relief Fund. . Something like 400 skins have been collected by these lads, and the return made from the sale of them is something actually earned by the boys, and not, as in most cases of children's contributions, an indirect gift from their parents. The members of the South Invercargill Borough Council had an enjoyable surprise last evening when the town clerk read a letter of thanks from a resident in winch the appreciation of the latter for the manner in which the Council had carried out certain works was contained. The Mayor (Mr Mitchell) said that the letter in question was the first he had ever seen during the period of eight years he had been a member of the Council. The Gas Department are making considerable improvement in the lighting of the east end of Tay street. It has been recognised for some time that travellers proceeding out of town by way of the East Road after leaving the glare of the electric lights, apparently plunge into darkness, tiie result of •which is distinctly discomfiting. This is about to he remedied as the Gas Department are fixing up eight lights between Conon and Doon streets. each ■with an illuminant power of 800 candle power. A suggestion was put forward at the South Invercargill Council meeting last

night by Or. McChesney that the borough employees be paid fortnightly instead of monthly, as is now the case. He said that the cash system was becoming more general and it would be more convenient for men who worked broken time if they were paid twice monthly instead of having to wait until the end of the month. This would, however, entail a fortnightly meeting of the finance committee, and the motion lapsed for want of a seconder. Mrs F. E. Annan, of Koslyn Bush, who •forwarded a consignment of clothing for tiie Belgians on behalf of trie ladies of Roslyn Bush fwho formed a club to work in tiiat interest i has received a letter of acknowledgment from I.ondon, in which the writer states: —"Vour cases of clothing, which you so generously sent, have been safely received. and have been handed over to me for distribution. They are being distributed amongst the outlying districts of London, I wish to express my thanks to you and your New Zealand friends for their splendid generosity in sending such r. quantity of good and useful clothes. — 1 am. etc., —Frederick W. Barnett..

A little-known writer. .1. M. Syiigo, formed the theme of Mr O. ‘Duffs tutorial lecture at the last meeting of the literature class of the W. I*l.A. The work of ?ynse was unlike anything’ else in modern letters. It hail nothing to do with problems, it was not argumentative or controversial: but it took the jovs and sorrows of simple men and women, and gave them a setting in the silver and gold of period literary - art. 3n his absolute detachment from the work Synge could only be compared with Shakespeare. Tt was impossible from any of ids writings to git the slightest idea of It is political or religious learnings, though it was known that he held strong opinions in both of these spheres fit thought. Hail It e not died at tin earlv age his work must have gained for him a very prominent place, and, as it itas, the lecturer regarded his '"Riders to the Sea,” as the most arresting piece of work in the whole range of modern English literature. .Vest evening Mill be devote,] i,. liasetiehi. til--- author of the rugged but pou erful "Everlasting Mercy."

At t.;e monthly meeting of the Invercargill Minister.-' Association yesterday the foiloMlng resolution M’as carried unanimously; —"That the 1 nvercargill Ministers' Association, believing that the riot of gambling with which the present carnival movement is becoming associated. will have prejudicial effects on the community, and considering that the implication that the people of tins district require the inducement of possible personal gain before they will give to the Wounded Soldiers' Fund is a direct insult to the majority of Southlanders. and also that such a method of raising funds is utterly unv.’ortiiy of the splendid spirit of sacrifice manifested throughout the war by every part of the Umpire, and mt least by our own s"l*TVrs at ihe Dardanelles. records its emphatic protest against the dishonouring of so noble a cause by such unworthy methods of raising money, and urges that contributions to the Carniial funds be made by direct giving, or lie raised by legitimate methods such tire being provided in

Th<- amm.il meeting of the Malaura Kilim.-' Band was 1;eI<I last week, Mr T. Taylm- nre.-iding. Tiie balance-sheet tliown! that the year had commenced v. irh an overdraft of £l!> Ids a cl, which hud been reduced, and now stands at !<s I Id. The annual report stated that the band had given every assistance to all patriotic functions. There are fourteen playing and t’h honorary members. A minute of regret and sympathy to the relatives of the late Mr H. Cameron, an honorary member, and Mr C. J. Ross, their late drummer, who was killed in action at the Dardanelles, was recorded. Tilt election of officers for the ensuing year were as follows; President, Mr Jas. McAllister, senior: -vice-presidents, Messrs John Waddell, .J. Ashley, A. Balneares, I’. McKay, senior D. j. Slierwood. C. D. McConnell, T. F. Quilter, P. Rankin, A. Cameron. F. w. Thrown, W. Stewart, J- Stewart. .J. Ilastie, Jas. Mitciiel, W. F. Cameron, 1,. 'Robinson, J. C. Abernethy, A. Anderson. J. Taylor. .1. Croker. Murray, T. !’. Fab-oner, W. W. Frown; drum-major, Mr J. \V. Aitken: pipe-major. -Mr R. Glover: sergeant. -Mr c. n. Smith: corporal, Mr .1. A. McDona'd: seci-etary, Air V.'. Mowat; treasurer, -Mr .1. W. Aitken; executive committee, Messrs J. McAllister, .Mowat, Taylor, Falneares. -V. X. -Mac-Gibbon: management committee, Messrs Aitken, Glover,. Smith, .McPonald, McKay and Mowat. The following new playing members ■were elected: Messrs M. ilastie, J. Ilastie G. Sutherland, K. Murray, and K. Parker. After the usual votes of thanks to the retiring officers a short toast list was gone through, interspersed with musical numbers. Songs were contributed by Messrs Abernethy, Rankin. .McDowell, and Mowat: a pipe selection by Mr R. Glover; a liaka by M • Robertson; and an Irish jig by Mr Ti os. Carrol!. The meeting closed with c.ld Lang Syne" and the National An them-

The best verse competition in furtherance of Nurse O’Shea's candidature in the Queen Carnival has been to noon on Saturday, 31st inst., IVhen *the question of footpath construction was raised at the meeting of the South Invercargill Borough Council last night, Cr. Thomas stated that, ho had seen eight cows tramping down a new footpath in the borough and lie thought that that was most unfair to those ratepayers who had to push perambulators. A very interesting exhibit is at present on view in the window of Macalister and Co., chemists. The object of ■attraction is a group of fragments of burst 18-pound shells. Identical with those being used by out* boys at the Dardanelles. The high explosive force of this shrapnel is plainly demonstrated in life shapes assumed by the hurst steel cases. At a meeting of the Half Holiday Association at Dunedin last night a resolution was carried protesting against the attempts being made to defeat the decision of the electors of the combined districts of Dunedin, Christchurch. Wellington and Auckland, in favour of the Saturday half-holiday, regretting the action of -Mr A. M. .Myers in introducing a Bill to defeat the people's expressed wish in this matter, and urging the Government and Parliament to honour the electors' decision and oppose any legislation in opposition to the recent vote in favour of Saturday. In Wellington recently Mr Barry Lupino. of -the J. C. Williamson Pantomime Company, was the main figure in a. performance in aid of the Wounded Soldiers’ fund, which realised close on £4OO. In some of the smaller centres he raised through auction sales, etc., considerable sums, and in Auckland recently the members of the company held a mock court, which ended in £IOOO being raised. Much as the members would like to assist the local fund the efforts of a street parade after their very tiring travelling recently, would be, they feel, too big a task, but Mr Lupino is willing to help the fund in any way he can, and during to-night's performance of the pantomime “Cinderella” will sell flags or other suitable articles by auction. Mr Lupino has been instrumental in collecting £IO,OOO for various patriotic funds by this and other means since the outbreak of the war.

At last night's meeting of the .South Invercargill .Corough Council Cr. MeChesney moved that borough employees be' prevented from taking an active part in the forthcoming election caused by the retirement of Cr. Ronan. He said he was minded to move in this strain on account of the trouble that had been experienced at the last council election. He did not wish to take away the rights of the employees, whom ho thought should not be actively engaged in the election. —Cr. Holloway spoke strongly against the motion, and tic was supported by the majority of his colleagues and the motion was lost. Urge every voter to work for 6 o'clock closing of liquor bars, tiring this trade in line with all others. — (Advt.) • Reorganisation sale at Undrill's, opposite Post Office. Quality goods at cheap prices. * THOMSON & BEATTIE'S End-of-Season Sale starts on Saturday morning, and until Saturday there will be a great number of special bargains going in all departments. Call and have a- look round, there is sure to be something that will be useful to you. x Groceries. —People in town and country require good groceries, and at low rates. .1. S. HATER, exporter, supplies the very best Groceries at remarkably low rates for prompt cash. The effect of the cash system is to cut out the cost of books, book-keeping, bad debts and other expenses, which buyers in the credit system have to pay for. x Troopers leaving for camp and the front should each take a small outfit of Tablet medicines for emergencies. Macalister and Co. the well-known chemists in Deo street, have arranged small pocket outfits. The sudden changes in diet, mode of living and climate frequently call for slight attention to the health, and this is where the small bottle of Tablets comes in useful. Some of the boys have the above mentioned outfits with them in Egypt. The price per outtit is live shillings. x

Tho cold weather has brought about an increased demand for warm Underwear. Ladies would do well to inspect the cheap lines that arc now showing at PRICE & BULLEID’S. A. special feature may be noted, viz., the heavy knitted Bloomers in Navy. These goods arc in great demand, and wool is getting scarcer every day. Our cheap sale prices for these are from 11.11, 4/11, 5/11, 6/6, to II 0. The Grey Woven Fleeced Garments are very difficult to obtain. Wc have a few dozen left at f. 11 to 9/6. Grand value. Ladies’ Winter Weight Natural Wool Combinations 4/11, 5/6, 6/11. 7/11 to 111/9. Winter Vests, Spencer's Woven Nightdresses, in Natural, White, and Pink. During the sale wo are clearing out all odd makes and sizes in our Corset Department. All new shapes, but oddments. These are very cheap. PRICE & BULLEID. x

, During illness your own life or deall i may depend at some crisis on the qualit; .1 of the medicine dispensed. Keen in les: serious cases you want strict accuracy Mr R. SOMiIKhViLLK, pharmaceutica chemist. Dee street, Invercargill, assure; us that lie treats every prescription a; if lie knew that it meant the turninj point iu some desperate case. lie treat; every prescription as equally important and lie could no give better drugs, close: attention, or greater promptitude, if lu were dispensing for due King. Yot may place implicit reliance in his phar niacy. Doctors .will tell you so. Hi leaves nothing to chance. He supervise; every tiling. You will be wise to taki your prescriptions to him. Prices an always reasonable. — (Advt.) There is nothing so bad for a cougl as coughing. It irritates and inflames ! the surfaces of the mucous rnembrant I caused by a cold. We have every con- | fidence in recommending our mixture 9S as a reliable cure if you are suffering from a cold or influenza. GHO. I. MOFFETT, pharmacist. Dee street. s SYNOPSIS NEW ADVERT ISKMKNTS On page 1— Wanted, man for cart. i Wanted, young lady. I i-'or sale, town sections I Wanted, tailer-out, etc. 1 Wanted, manager for dairy faun. | To let, up-to-date premises. ' Woman wants work by the day. > Wanted, secretary for In’gill Dairy I Association. j Sale of work, Jubilee Hall, to-morroM'. 1 Wanted, married couples, farm youths, etc. Vacancies for competent teachers. On page 3 The inexperienced can get great results from Armour Johnston's hatcher. On page 4 Air ami Mrs Robert Grant, jun., thank their manv friends for messages of sympathy. On page 6 fullers’ Pictures at S. i-yceum Pictures at S. Continuous Pictures at J and 7. •’Cinderella" in Theatre to-night. Country Queen Carnival meetings. Hectare by Mr John Clegg in theatre on Friday. industrial and Retailers' Princess meeting on Thursday. Vacancy for Councillor for North Ward. Southland National Reserve meets tomorroM’. Estate late Jams or Jons Peter Petersen. Galbraith Final to-morroM’. Bowling meeting in Allen's Hail tuniorroM’. Position of secretary for Army and Navy Princess has been filled. Special demonstration Aug. 4 at Rugby Park for Army and Navy Princess. Retailers' day and night at the Popular Picture Palace —so roll up. Henderson & Co., Ltd., have farm and stock for sale at Otara.