NEWS IN BRIEF.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 253, 28 November 1914, Page 11

NEWS IN BRIEF.

St. Andrew's Day, Monday next, is a statutory bank holiday. The Education Board is inviting applications for a number of positions for teachers.

A sale of work in aid of St. James's Vicarage Fund will be opened at Lower Riccarton on Wednesday next at 2.30 p.m. by Mrs A. Boyle.

No. 6 Unit of the Citizens' Defence Corps will meet in the Avonside Church schoolroom next Monday night at 7.30 for the purpose of electing officers. At a meeting of the Christchurch Liedertafel last evening, it was decided to give a concert in aid of the Poor of Britain and Belgium Fund at an early date.

The river report states that the Waimakariri north, the Opihi, and the Rakaia are clear, the Waimakariri south is dirty, the Rangitata fishable, and the Waitaki discoloured.

Dr Thacker will (by request) address an "indignation meeting" in Cathedral Square this evening at 8 o'clock, dealing with the price of bread. It is advertised that "the Government inaction will be criticised. *'

The Changsha, which has arrived at Sydney, reports that while lying in Hong Kong German agitators caused trouble in the Chinese quarter by fomenting a contempt for British administration. A thousand soldiers, with fixed bayonets, rounded up the rioters and quickly restored order.

A Press Association telegram from Blenheim states that William Chandler, a butcher, aged 35, was getting through a fence at Renwicktown with a pea rifle when it accidentally discharged, the bullet euteriug his temple. Death was instantaneous. Chandler leaves a wife and three children.

As a great number of people were disappointed in their desire to see the children's patriotic carnival, owing to their inability to obtain seats, it has been decided that the carnival shall be repeated next Friday and Saturday, in the Theatre Royal. The box plan will open early next week at the Dresden.

It is stated that so far fifty sections have been dealt with under the Government's scheme for cutting up gum laud in North Auckland, in areas of twentyfive acres, by letting them for development into fruit farms. Tenants are allowed to occupy the sections rent free for five years, at the expiry of which term they Avill have the option of acquiring the' freehold on easy terms. Another block of thirty-five sections is said to be ready, and 22,000 acres will be ready for settlement by March next.

A monster demonstration will be held on Saturday afternoon next, when all supporters "of national prohibition are invited to take part.' The procession will form up in Latimer Square, and move off at 2.15 p.m., headed by bands, marching via Madras Street, High Street, Cashel, Colombo, and Armagh Streets, to Cranmer Square, where addresses will be given by prominent citizens. ' Prizes are offered for various displays and a good turn-out is expected. Men and women of Christchurch are urged to show their practical sympathy in this: and help the little ones, tahojeaniiqi-help themselves. ■' . '; '''".'.■ : .i :^-{i : '-;':: :

The following' -information has been received from the* Defence headquarters, Wellington, by a member of the Women's Patriotic Committee, and may be of interest to those who have sons or brothers or friends in the Expeditionary Forces: —Anyone who sends parcels may be sure-that they will reach the men if sent to.the Defence Headquarters, Wellington, and addressed to the military number of the recipient. This number can be obtained from headquarters if unknown. Letters travel for Id an ounce; parcels, 31b for 1/-, 71b for 2/-, lllb for 3/-. The gifts recommended by the Defence Department as most suitable are any warm woollen garment, such as shirts, socks, singlets, cholera belts, Balaclava helmets. For small luxuries, Christmas puddings, almonds and raisins, figs, chocolate, and of course tobacco are recommended, but it is essential that all these should be packed in tins. The Department will inform friends of wounds or sickness without enquiry. f A frank opinion of the natives of Samoa was given by a member of the Expeditionary Force in a letter to his parents in Wellington. "Physically, the Natives are magnificent,'' he states, "but to quite 99 per cent, of them work it tapu. They arc absolutely the laziest lot of beggars on the face of the earth; and another unpleasant trait is their continuous attempt to take down the fiti litis (soldiers). Now they are up in arms at the suggestion to send Maoris here, and, judging by what one hears, trouble will follow soon after the Maoris land. I don't think the bulk of Samoans are interested, but one or two chiefs and half-castes have been busily engaged stirring up trouble ever since the news about the Maoris was received. Personally, I think the Maoris ought to be sent. Most of them, I take it, are educated men, and from what I know of their character and temperament they would scorn to barney with ! the Samoans. I believe our medical men have advised the Government not to send the Maoris,, but for what I reason I don't know. The Natives here I are not treated like our Maoris. For instance, they arc not allowed to purchase liquor, and are only allowed to play games on Saturday afternoon. Previous to the German occupation, cricket was all the go, and the niggers used to neglect their work in their enthusiasm for play. Village used to play village, and a side sometimes numbered 300. As a result the game often lasted a fortnight, with disastrous consequences to the copra business. Since we landed a few big games have been played, but the principal occupation of the Samoans appears to be sitting down, eating, and sleeping."

MOTOR CYCLES. 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 EROS., LTD., 122 Manchester otreet. Inspection invited. Catalogue free. Note. —We have a few good Secondhand Motors for sale, cheap. 243

Mr H. G. Ell will address the electors 011 Monday at the corner of Norwood and Fisher Streets, Beekenham, at 7.15, and at the corner of Montrose and King Streets, Sydenham, at 8 p.m. "In the battles of to-day," says a military writer in an American review, "their beginning is marked by many engagements as large as the greatest battle of bygone generations were. These lights gradually merge into one great battle in which all become involved. They cease very much as they began, being broken off by a series of engagements of gradually lessening size. When frontal attacks are made the winner is almost as tired at the end as the loser.''

The anniversary tea meeting and concert in aid of the Dunsandel Methodist Church was held in the hall on Thursday night. The Eev. Gregg presided over a large audience. In the absence of the treasurer, Mr G. H. Sheat stated that the finances of the church were in a very satisfactory condition, and the new building was now practically free of debt. A good programme of items was rendered by the folio ving:—Mesdames Hensley and F. Barnett, Misses Gregg, Kebble, and M. Henderson, and Mr P. Chamberlain. The accompanists were Misses Gregg, F. Henderson, and Mrs F. Barnett. The war spirit has evidently caught the Maoris, according to the following which appeared in the "Bay of Plenty Times," Tauranga:—"Should any of his Majesty's enemies -contemplate landing in the Bay of Plenty they are likely to meet with a warm reception from the Maoris, judging by the following letter which has been received by Major Bennett from a Native in this county:—'l and my friends wish you to supply us with seven Government guns and with 700 rounds of ammunition, as we are desirous of being ready and useful for defence. Kia ora koe toe Kingi.'" An explosion of 151b of gelignite at Underwood on Monday morning was accompanied by a miraculous escape of Mrs Mullen, the wife of a settler. Her husband had the explosive stored in a hut near the fowl run, and about 20yds from the house. Mrs Mullen was feeding the fowls when a terrific explosion occurred. The hut was shattered to pieces, those inside the house were knocked down, and portion of that building was wrecked. Mrs Mullen, who was within a few feet of the explosion, escaped unscathed. Some idea of the force of the explosion may be formed when it is stated that bottles were shaken from the shelves in the Wallacetown Hotel, which is situated a long distance from the scene, the proprietor thinking it was the effect of an earthquake. Probably there is only one Englishwoman now alive who has boxed the ears of the Kaiser. That lady, the widow of Sir Hugh Macdonell, the distinguished diplomatist, described the affair in her book of reminiscences, published last year. It happened when Lady Macdonell was living in Berlin, and the Kaiser (then Crown Prince) was one of her frequent visitors. She writes: "He liked our English teas, and afterwards used to claim me for a game of draughts. In the salon there was a big window with a deep seat that he especially favoured; to this a small table was drawn up, and fine battles ensued over the board. I shall never forget, one occasion when he accused me of cheating. He was so apparent! v serious that I became infuriated, and," unmindful of his high estate*;; and my duty as hostess, I leaned across the table and boxed -hits ears!" :'■■'■' :