NEWS IN BRIEF.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 561, 26 November 1915, Page 5

NEWS IN BRIEF.

The Telegraph Office advises that at 9 a.m. to-day the Waimak'ariri (north and south'), Opihi, and Waitaki Rivers were clear, the Eakaia fishable, and the Rangitata dirty.

In compiling his registration schedule a Lakes district ex-hotelkeeper, who is verging on the age of 60, after stating that he would be willing to become a member of the Expeditionary Force, if required, answered the question, "In what arm of the service do you prefer to serve?" as follows;: "Would be very handy in the canteen.''

A Press Association telegram states that yesterday the publisher of the /'Hawera Star" was charged under the War Regulations Aet with publisning matter calculated to interfere wito. recruiting. In the course of correspondence on conscription a letter was published to which the police obfected, and demanded the name of the writer. This net being disclosed, the paper was proceeded against. Defendant expressed regret that certain passages in the litter had not been exeised. The. Court did not regard the case as one\for a heavy penalty, and fined defendant £2.

The weekly meeting of the Avonside Nursing Division of the St. John Am- | bulance Brigade this week took the [form of a demonstration in invalid jcookery by Miss Blackmore, Governj ment Instructor in Cookery. Members, I of' whom there were 41 present, were ? shown how to prepare and cook various dishes suitable for invalids, and were given recipes for same, and general rules to be observed in invalid cookery. Miss Blackmore, who had given her services gratuitously, was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. Members then adjourned to the ambulance rooms, where one new member was proposed, and several members put in some drill practice.

A resident of Oamaru was recently surprised to discover one of the most curious places- on record for birds to build a nest (says the "North. Otago Daily Times"). Oh lighting a, fire in a grate which, had not been in "use for some time, a fluttering was heard, and suddenly a startled blackbird found its way through the flames.. 'A pair of the birds had built their nest at the back of the grate, using the chimney to pass to and fro.

A sarcastic woman ratepayer wrote to the Mount Eden Borough Council in terms of gentle raillery as follows: '' Will you please send as soon as. convenient a squad of men with scythes to mow the grass and weeds on the footpath just outside my front gate? It will repay you to send a full comple"ment of men, as the hay you will be table to stack will amply pay their wages. Please remedy the nuisance at once, as you may also be saddled with thft costs of a big doctor's bill.' * Her grievance is to have satisfaction in due course.

A slight telegraphic blunder has been the indirect means of disposing a clever scheme initiated by the Germans with T;he double purpose of securing trade profit and of disseminating, political ideas in foreign countries (writes a London correspondent). Just before the war the Germans began erecting chocolate and cocoa works. - When war broke out these firms found their markets closed, but by ingeniously copying the trade marks, boxes, and general getup of a number of chocolate manufacturers, they have been , kble to dispose of their chocolate through neutral countries. They have also used these boxes-as a means of circulating proGerman literature.

Progress and invention are steadily reducing the day of the lighthousekeeper (says the "Post"). Yet.another instance of this is to be found at Nelson, where the old lighthouse, which has done good service for many years, is shortly to be replaced by an up-to-date automatic light. This will be an acetone acetylene lamp, of a similar pattern to the Karori Eock light, but less powerful. It will show a flash light every two seconds, and should be visible at a distance of about 13 miles. It is anticipated that the light will show for the first time on December 5. No keepers will be required, and the men at present stationed at Nelson will be transferred elsewhere.-

In an article headed "Heroes from the Dardanelles," the "Daily News" (London), of recent date, gives the following account of the arrival of Australasian wounded: —"Two long trains of wounded soldiers reached London yesterday, and never did train carry a braver load. They were men from the Dardanelles, Australians and New Zealanders, and they had taken part, many of them in the fighting as late as August 8. The date is significant. It was the day when the landing was made at Suvla Bay, the importance of which in the Gallipoli operations will be more fully realised before many days. On the first train there were no fewer than 60 cot cases : —that is, cases where the wound was of such a kind that the patient had to recline in the ambulance cot or on a stretcher. The remainder were able to sit, or stand, or walk. Many of the cases meant the loss of entire limbs, legs or arms blown away or so mutilated that the surgeon's knife had had to complete the work of the shell or bullet. A touching sight—a sight for tears even, if it were not for the magnificent spirit of the injured men. Typical Australians and New Zealanders, these, long of limb and tall of body, thin indeed, but wiry and sup-, pie and muscular, with keen humorous eyes and a pleasant drawl, and a certain picturesqueness of speech."

BEACH RACES. The "KING: DICKS," "HARLEY DAVIDSONS," or "SINGER" Motor Cycles did not not compete in the recent Brighton Beach Races, as Jones Bros, are not members of the newlyformed club. The "KING DICKS" were competitors in the OPEN SIDE-CAR CHAMPIONSHIPS, where they defeated all makes and powers in three successive trials, gaining FIRST HONOURS for both RELIABILITY and PETROL CONSUMPTION. JONES BROS, LIMITED, Agents, CLOCK TOWER. .8

A conference was held between the City Council's special committee and re presentatives of the C.D.C. relative to providing work for returned soldiers. It was decided that the two committees: should work in unison, and to advise that alt,. applications for work should be sent to the C.D.C. Fifteen names have been sent in of soldiers, desiring* employment,* and the Mayor will be glad if employers who have work will communicate as early as possible' with the C.D.C.-

Addressing the Kelburn and Karori section of the National Reserve the other evening (says the '' Dominion ''), Captain Simson urged on the Eeserve to induce the younger men to join their ranks. He pointed out that with the speed reinforcements were being hurried away from New Zealand, they expected to turn out soldiers; in 10 or 12* weeks from men who- had spent the whole of their adult lives in an office, afraid to open a window lest they catch cold, and who only smelt the fresh-.-air. •of the soldier's life at week-ends. It was scarcely possible to effect the radical change in so short a period, and get entire satisfaction, for out'of that time the men got ordinary leave'and'special' leave, all of which cut down the. time for training. It would be. a great help to those young fellows if they were admitted to the National Reserve, and sa. learned to drill and handle a rifle,before they went into camp.

When a body of 400 workers without organisation are in camp together it is not surprising if matters do iot always run smoothly. At present there are about 400 men engaged in camp con r struction work at Featherston under the Public Works Department (says the "Post"). The officers of. the department were anxious to see that conditions were as good as possible, but they found it impossible to attend to all the complaints that were put before th°m. Eecently the secretary of the Welling'ton Carpenters' Society, which has a: number of members at the work, visited the camp. He considered that many of the little troubles arose from the fact that the men had no representatives to sift grievances and see that the genuine complaints received attention. He accordingly arranged for the formation of committees of the various tradesmen, all complaints to be put before these men. Life at the camp has since, it is stated, been much more pleasant, the authorities showing themselyes quite willing to meet the committees and discuss matters calling for alteration.