NEWS IN BRIEF.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 511, 29 September 1915, Page 5

NEWS IN BRIEF.

On Monday an outbreak of fire occurred in the State Forest Plantation at Hanmer Springs. Residents and visitors successfully fought the flames, and no serious damage was done. A sale of work commences at the Salvation Army Hall, Victoria Street, tonight. A fine assortment of useful articles, clothing, etc., is for sale on behalf of the annual self-denial effort. Interesting programmes -will be rendered each evening prior to the sale. On Thursday, October 7, at St. Paul's Church, Cashel Street, the choir will render Maunder's cantata, "Penitence, Pardon, and Peace." The choir, which consists of 50 voices, has been well trained by Mr Wilfred Coulson, L.R.A.M., F.R.C.O. Well-known artists will also assist. The proceeds are in aid of the second hospital ship. Before commencing business at the meeting of the Sumner Borough Council last evening, the Mayor (Mr J. B. Laurenson) referred to the death at the Dardanelles .of sons of Messrs Senior (an ex-councillor) and Rollett (an ex-Mayor). The council expressed its sympathy in the customary manner. Mr J. J. Graham (Mayor of Woolston) draws attention to what he said was an error appearing in a Sun editorial note yesterday. The passage objected to was a statement '' that it took a tragedy to make Woolston realise the advantages of fire-prevention." Mr Graham points out that the necessity had not only been realised long before the fire occurred, but proposals for the formation of a fire district had been framed and submitted to the people at a loan poll, which had been carried. The fatal fire had occurred during the period that elapsed while waiting for the Government to gazette Woolston a fire district.

The Lyttelton Borough Council received a letter last evening from the secretary of the Poor of Great Britain, Ireland, and Belgium Fund, requesting the council to use its efforts to urge upon noil-contributing bodies tlxe necessity of paying their monthly quota. The Mayor said that local bodies should not be divided on such an important question. He thought, however, that the Patriotic Fund would appeal more to the general public. The letter was discussed at some length, and it was finally decided, on the motion of Cr Foster, to ask the committee to call a meeting of local bodies for the purpose of discussing the matter fully. Cr W. T. Foster stated, at last niglit's meeting of the Lyttelton Borough Council, that, in company with the Mayor and borough engineer, and Messrs Boyd and Opie, of the Education Board, he had paid a visit to Diamond Harbour for the purpose of selecting a site at the suburb for the erection of a school. Cr Foster said a site comprising about four acres, abutting on to the Purai Boad, had been selected. It would probably be some considerable time before a school would be erected, but the board wished to purchase early, .before the price of the property increased. The matter was finally left in the hands of the Estates Committee to go into certain details.

The solemn serenity of the Masterton Supreme Court was suddenly dissipated on Wednesday, when three of Masterton's beautiful helpers of the cause walked into that august assemblage for the purpose of selling'* dainty buttonholes to those willing to buy. Barristers in their wigs and gowns, and witnesses eager and expectant waited for the denouement. They had not long to wait. Hardly had the three graces proceeded more than a few yards past the Press table in the direction of his Honour the Chief Justitee, when a tall, soldier-like member of the Police Force stalked towards ttiiem. Their courage vanished, and they fled from the sacred precincts. At last night's meeting of the Lyttelton Borough Council Cr Toy asked the J Mayor why it was that the meeting had not been held on the previous evening. He went on to say that he believed it had been postponed owing to the Bowling Club having decided to hold its first annual meeting the same evening. The Mayor, in reply, stated that no member of the club had approached him in reference to the meeting, and he had only acted as he did out of consideration for the acting Town Clerk, as all other offices were closed on account of it being Dominion Day. Cr Toy further asked if the council was charging interest on the money it had expended on wages for the laying out of the green. The council had only been paid £7O, out of £240 expended. Cr Hempstalk spoke on similar lines. The Mayor then stated that the club had not yet been rendered an account. Cr Foster said the club should have been rendered a monthly account, and also that the club was quite prepared to pay for the services ibf the borough engineer whilst he was engaged on the work. If the account was rendered and not paid, the council should charge interest on it. The matter was finally left in the hands of the Finance Committee Idor a report.

OWING to the arrival of a large shipment of HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTOR CYCLES, we are Sacrificing our Secondhand Machines at Very Low Prices. The following are a few that we have in stock: — SECOND-HAND MOTOR CYCLES (TWINS). £ s d 6-7 h.p. King Dick, 1914 Model, 3-speed .. .. 75 0 0 5-6 h.p. King Dick, 1914 Model, 3-speed .. .. 67 10 0 5-6 h.p. King Dick, 1913 Model, free engine .. 50 0 0 5-6 h.p. New Hudson, 1914 Model, 3-speed .. .. 67 10 0 7-9 h.p. Indian, 1914 Model free engine 50 0 0 SINGLES. 4} h.p. 2-spccd Singer, 1914 Model 75 0 0 4 h.p. 3-speed Triumph, 1914 Model 57 10 0 3£ h.p. 3-speed Triumph, 1914 Model, with speedometer 57 10 0 3J h.p. 3-speed King Dick, 1914 Model 65 0 0 3J h.p. 3-speed King Dick, 1914 Model 57 10 0 3J h.p. 3-speed King Dick, 1914 Model 55 0 0' 3J h.p. Ariel, fixed engine. . 40 0 0 4 h.p. 3-speed 8.5.A., 1914 Model 52 10 0 4 h.p. Zenith Gradua Gear.. 45 0 0 h.p. 3-speed Humber and side-car 35 0 0 • h.p. King Dick, free engine, 1914 Model .. .. 40 0 0 Minerva, with magneto .. 12 10 0 A Trial With Every Machine. Full particulars on application to JONES BROS., LTD., Clock Tower.

The Mayor has received the following interesting letter:—''Dear Sir,— We are three little girls who got up a small concert at 15 Walpole Street, Sydenham, to try and get a small donation to help the wounded soldiers. One of the three has a brother at the front. Hoping you will find the small sum of £1 1/- acceptable, as the proceeds of our wee concert, we are asking you to accept it." ' '

With the transportation of so many of our sick and wounded to England instead of to Egypt, the work of the officials connected with the Eecord Office will grow lighter and those of the High Commissioner's staff heavier (says the ''Dominion"). For some time past the replies/to cablegrams of enquiry were answered seriatum, but now answers are being forwarded as soon as the men are located. The average time taken to get a reply to a message of enquiry is, according to the local bureau, about three weeks, but there are times - when a reply is received within four days. With the men scattered about.in hospitals all over England, the task of locating a man is perhaps not so simple as it sefifms from this end.

It has been said that as many strange things are done in the name of patriotism as in the name of religion. Of cases of self-sacrifice amongst Australians for the sake of- their country there is no end, writes a Sydney correspondent. Now we learn that a young Victorian has been sacrificing cows. The animals did not belong to him, but to neighbouring dairy farmers. When brought before the court for having killed some eight cows, the property of others, and worth about £ls each, he pleaded guilty, but explained that he had had no evil motive. He had not killed the cows out of malice, but simply in order to get some hides to sell, so that he might with the proceeds buy himself a decent outfit in which to enlist for the front! The Magistrates ordered that he go to gaol, in default of payment of a fine and the making of restitution to the owners of the slaughtered bovine matrons.

The statement of receipts and expenditure for the Coal and Blanket Fund for the year ending August 31,-1915, is as follows: —Eeceipts, £469 18/3 (including £l6l 14/1 carried, forward from last year); expenditure, £207 17/7. The statement of liabilities and assets shows; assets amounting to £262 0/8, against which there are liabilities totalling £29 14/3. The balance-sheet has been audited by Mr 6. W. Hulme, and may be seen by subscribers at the City Council offices.

Tel. 1989. —A New Photograph Every Birthday. One worthy the occasion by Steffano Webb, 152 High Street. Highclass work at moderate prices. .342 The Sun want advertisements will bring the help or business desired. Two lines (14 words), sixpence; six insertions for 2/6.