NEWS IN BRIEF.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 75, 5 May 1914, Page 10

NEWS IN BRIEF.

Consequent on his win at Forbury Park, Quinaldine lias been penalised 2sec. in. tlie Melrose Trot at the ,Ashburton T.C. meeting. The Chief Postmaster advises that the transmission of mushrooms by post is prohibited unless they are enclosed in liquid-tight tins, and securely packed. A deputation from the executive of the Wellington Wharf Labourers' Union is to wait on the Prime Minister (Right Hon. W. F. Massey), in the near future, with reference to the proposal to form a permanent staff of waterside workers. The Canterbury Rugby Union intends giving Piki, the former Merivale Club half-back who toured Australia with the last Maori, team, a benefit match on June 13. Tickets for selling purposes -.may be obtained from the secretary of the Union or Mr A. Duggan, Cashel Street. Mr A. F. Douglas, of Douglas Bros., owners of Te Mahanga station, Hawke's Bay, and well known in racing circles, died suddenly at his residence in Hastings this afternoon. The deceased had been suffering from heart trouble, which presumably was the cause of death. He was about thirtythree years of age. He leaves a widow, but no family. At the Oddfellows' Conference at Wanganui a sub-committee was set up with a view to the settlement of the dispute which led to the secession of the Fountain of Friendship Lodge, Auckland. Consideration of the report on the consolidation of the sick funds was dropped, it being considered that the time was not ripe for consolidation. — Press Association. Two students at the Greenmeadows Roman Catliqlic Seminary—Messrs B. «J. Ryan and A. Cullen —will be sent to Rome next September with the object of qualifying for the Doctor of Divinity degree, says the Wellington "Times." Both gentlemen are ex-students of St Patrick's College. Mr Ryan is the son of Mr J. Ryan, of Wellington, and Mr Cullen is a nephew of Mr J. Cullen, Commissiou.er of Police, and a son of exSergeant Cullen, of the Police Force. Before leaving New Zealand they will be ordained deacon. The course at Rome lasts for about two years. Speaking to a SUN representative today, Sir Joseph Ward said that he was exceedingly pleased with his meeting last night. It was a magnificent audience, and for an outside meeting it was a gathering which any man in any part of the world might well have been proud of. The wonderful attention of the large audience, and the absence of anything .in the shape of' interruption were distinctly pleasing features to him. Outside meetings were always more difficult than inside ones, but there were no difficulties last night. He was exceedingly pleased with the whole affair. . Yesterday afternoon the members of the Christchurch Tramway Board inspected the Tilling-Stevens petrol-elec-tris 'bus chassis, which has attracted so much attention by its trips about town. After all the working parts had been explained to them, they were taken for a trip, seats being improvised from boxes and kegs. It has been suggested that the board should secure "buses of this type, to be used as "feeders" for the further-out districts, such as Islington and Hornby —the residents in that locality are very keen on the idea. Today the chassis is being inspected by the Spreydon Borough Council. When he retires from active politics, Mr Joseph Chamberlain will be accompanied by an interesting, little band of his colleagues wlio will not seek re-elec-tion. Among them is one who was a member when Mr Chamberlain first went to Westminster—Lord Claud Hamilton, who, if the present Parliament survives till next year, will then celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of his first successful election. Among other Unionists who will withdraw from the House with the dissolution are Mr Laurance Hardy, member for the Ashford division for over twenty years; MiMarshall Hall, K.C., Mr Robert Yerburgli. Mr Hildred Carlile and Sir Reginald Pole-Carew are retiring while the Ministerial side will lose, among others, Sir Thomas R<je, Sir Herbert H. Raphael, Sir John Dcwar, and Sir Hen ry 'Hav eloc k■- All an. All the candidates on the commercial side of the secondary department at the West Christchurch District High School who sat for the annual Gregg shorthand speed test at the end of last year, were successful in gaining speed certificates, which arrived last week from the author of the system, Mr John Gregg, through Mr J. W. Irwin, New Zealand representative. Messrs J. Gaughley, M.A., and A. F. Barrel!, 8.A., acted as examiners, and all the candidates had received a course of two years' training before entering for the test. Following are the successful pupils:—loo words per minute —Grace Blyth, and •Julia Crawley; SH) words per minute — Dolly M'Clurej SO words per minute, Nellie Ingley; 70 words per minute, Mabel Bennett, l'vy Hay; 00 words per minute, Doris Denton, Flossie Brock, Alice Bond, George James, Ernest Read.