NEWS IN BRIEF.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 250, 25 November 1914, Page 10

NEWS IN BRIEF.

The Defence Department is calling for tenders for supplies and forage to Trentham Camp.

The box plan for the Christchurch Clee and Madrigal Society's concert in the Choral Hall to-morrow (Thursday) is open at Milner aud Thompson's. A very attractive programme has been prepared. Notification is given that the nominations of candidates for Parliamentary honours in the various Christchurch and contiguous electorates must be made by noon 011 November .'SO, and that the elections will take place on December 10. ,

At a meeting of the Board of Management of the Typographical Association held on Saturday it was decided to write to the Canterbury Licensed Victuallers' Association, protesting against their importing printed matter from outside the Dominion. The Auckland Reference Library was the recipient of a valuable gift last week, an anonymous donor presenting to it five letters by Robert Louis Stevenson to his mother, and one from the mother to the son. These will be housed in the literary section of the reference libraiy. The value of the gift is set down at £l5O. At a meeting of the Canterbury Owners and Breeders' Association held on Monday evening it was decided tftat the annual meeting be held on Thursday, December 17. A notice of motion has been given increasing the committee tp 20 members. An invitation is extended to all members and supporters to attend.

The monthly meeting of the Selwyn Street South Band of Hope was held on Monday evening. Rev. W. Harris presided over a large attendance. The programme wps. as follows:—Piano solos, Misses D. Burford and B. Cooper; recitations, Misses Elsie, and Florence Brewing and Mr E. H. Down; vocal solos, Misses M. Down, L. Pounsford, M. Bell, E. Abrahams, and E. Wainscott; violin duet, Miss S. and Mr E. 11. Down; and club drill. .

The Canterbury Acclimatisation Society has received notification that eight deer-stalking licenses will be issued at £5 each, for stalking in the Rakaia, such fee to entitle the stalker to kill two stags of not less than 10 points each. All applications for licenses must be lodged with the secretary (Mr C. W. Hervey) not later than Monday, December 7. Should, more than eight applications be received, a ballot will be held.

The rain that set in during the night will be welcomed by all who are iiiterjested in the growth of vegetation. Al? though light, it was steady and unaccompanied by wind, so that the effect will be more noticeable upon crops. Practically all over the country the crops have been at a standstill or were being forced to premature maturity by the arid conditions. The potato crops which are now showing up will be specially benefited by the showers. «

Evidently the money paid by the Acclimatisation Society for shags' feet is well spent, says the Stratford "Post," and a recent occurrence would seem to suggest that with profit'even a greater sum could be pa:id for tlie feet. A sportsman who was out fishing yesterday surprised a shagj which was unable to rise from the water until it had Vomited up three trout each about seven inches long. Two of the trout *were in a well-digested condition and were left alone, but the third which had only recently been swallowed, was preserved as ocular demonstration of the voracity and destnictiveness of the shag. Taking three trout as an average meal a single shag will account 'for a; good many fisli in a week.

Mr and Mrs Philip Snowden will deliver a series of addresses at various centres during the week. Particulars of times and-places are advertised. The Friendly Societies' picnic, which was to have been held at Arthur's Pass to-day, wan postponed 011 account of the rain. The date fixed will be announced later.

A Press Association cable states that the dates for the next wool sales in London have been fixed for February 10 and March 16. The limits, if any, will be fixed later.

The new "Toric," or curved lenses, in which Mr Walter J. Watson specialises, are the moat comfortable, and efficient glasses made. Their curved form ensures absolutely clear sight, no matter in what direction the eyes are turned—up, down, to left or right—and the lield of view is greatly enlarged. It is a scientific fact that with old-style "flat." lenses, vision is only perfectly clear through the exact centre of the lens, objects seen towards the edges appearing somewhat blurred arid indistinct. With "Tories," however, sight, is perfectly clear through every part of the lens. Considerable interest has already been aroused in Christehurcli in these new and improved spectacle lenses, which have revolutionised the optical world, and Mr Watson wishes to extend, through the columns of this paper, a cordial invitation to all those who are interested, to call at his rooms at W. Watson and Co., Ltd., Jewellers, Colombo Street (near Ivincaid's). He will then be glad to show, by actual demonstration and personal explanation, the great superiority of "Tories" over the old flat form of spectacle lens. .10

The following applications were granted by his Honour Mr Justice Dennistou in Chambers 011 Tuesday, November 24: Elizabeth Fleming, motion for probate (Mr Helmore); Ilari Ram Sawhney v. A. C, De Renzi, summons for charge of solicitor on the record (Mr Bishop.)'. .At the Lyttelton .Magistrate's Court this morning, before Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., John Thompson and William. Patrick Loader were each fined 40/-, in default one month \s imprisonment, for procuring liquor during the currency of a prohibition order. At the Magistrate's Court this afternoon, Win. John Lawrence, 02 years of age, was charged with indecent assault on a little girl. Mr Rowe appeared for the accused, who, after lengthy evidence had been heard 1 ,, i pleaded not guilty," reserved his defence, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.

The following programme wijll be played by the Ist M.R. Band (C.Y.C.), on the Victoria Square rotunda, on Thursday, November 26, at 8 p.m.—March, ' ' Expeddition" (C. Thom); overture, "Sylvan Glade" (Villiers) ; fantasia, "National Melodies" (Godfrey) ; cornet solo, "Rio Grande," soloist, Band Sergeant F. J. Haughey (C. Thom); two-step, " Noisy Ned" (L. Parkinson); selection, "Wilkie Bard's Songs" (Ord Hume); waltz, "Hurndilla" (Thurley Beale) ; march, '' Our Deferiders'' (Ord Hume). The following programme will be given at the organ recital to be held at His Majesty's Theatre at 8.30 p.m. on Sunday next, the 29th instant: —Two organ pieces (Op. 22), (a) Moderato in I 1 major, (b) Allegvetto in C major (Niels W. Gade) ; Andante from the Symphony in G, "The Surprise" (Haydn); (a) anthem, "Across the Bar," (b) hymn, ''Fierce Raged the Tempest" (W. J. Sampson), St. Albans Methodist Choir; overture, '' The Master-singers of Nuremberg" (for full orchestra) (Wagner); meditation in F major (E. d'Evry) ; tone picture, "On the Coast" (Dudley Buck) ; anthem, "Hymn of Peace" (W. Hutchin'a Cjflcott), the St. Albans . Methodist Choir; " Aiv du Dauphin'' (Roeckel); fantasia in F major (W. T. Best).

Amongst the correspondence before the North Canterbury Farmers' Union executive meeting to-.day was a letter from the manager of the National Mortgage and Agency Company's branch at Methven, asking the union's assistance in an effort to secure private railway sidings at Methven. It appeared that several firms there desire to obtain thes6 sidings, and are prepared to pay the cost of laying them down, and rent for them, but several requests to the Railway Department have been 4 ' turned down.'' The letter pointed out that this refusal meant a shortage of grain trucks at Methven, and emphasised the importance of these sidings during (the grain season. The executive decided to write to the General Manager of Railways and urge . him to provide the facilities asked for. 1

MOTORCYCLES. We . have just landed a Shipment of King Dick and Singer Motor Cycles, finished in dove grey, with several improvements. There is no need to dwell on the quality of these Motors, as recent results can prove; winning every side car trial except one takes a lot of beating. These victories speak for themselves. Sole Agents: JONES BROS., LTD., 122 Manchester Street. Inspection invited. Catalogue free. Note. —We have a few good Secondhand Motors for sale, cheap. 24i>

The sitting of tlie Court of Arbitration fixed for December 10 lias been cancelled, and the Court, will now sit in Christchureh on December 17, 1914, at .10 a.m.

A motor bicycle ami push bicycle collision occurred at the Bank of New Zealand entrance to the Square about 2 o'clock this afternoon. The motor cyclist, who was going out of the Square, turned to the right side of the street to avoid a collision with people on his left. Unfortunately, on the wrong' side, trouble awaited him. The push bicycle was badly damaged and the the cyclist, who was thrown on to the street, had his hand cut.