NEWS IN BRIEF.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 592, 3 January 1916, Page 8

NEWS IN BRIEF.

Large anil earnest congregations attended the intercessory services which were held by all denominations in Sydney yesterday.—Press Association. The Telegraph Offices advises that the Waimakariri »"orth, the Opihi, and the Waitaki Rivers are clear, the Wainiakariri South and the Rakaia dirty, and the Rangitata high and dirty. The steamer Moana left Lyttelton last night with over 900 troops on board, who are returning to camp after leave. The ferry wharf was packed with sj>ectators, arui the soldiers re.-eived a very enthusiastic send-off. A 15 pound shell for a breech loading field gun of the New Zealand Artillery is an interesting acquisition to too curios at the Museum. A fine specimen of the roekhopper }»enguin from tho Maequarie Islands, and a lesser redpole found in Riecartou are new additions to the bird case. Owing to the very large shortage of men in connection with the cheese-mak-ing industry, women are being largely employed in the factories iu the Manawatu district. The salaries paid to tho women so employed are practically on a par with those paid to men. Surf riding is becoming a more and more popular sport at Lyall Bay, Wellington. Since the visit of Duke Kahananioku and his swimming partner, Geo. Cunha, and their notable exhibition of the art of riding the surges, many local swimmers have taken up the sport witfc enthusiasm. Now it is an everyday sight to see many bathers, equipped with surf-boards, disporting themselves more or less skilfully in the breakers. A session meeting of the elders of the Rangiora Presbyterian Church yesterday passed the following resolution: —"That whilst appreciating the kindness of the Automobile Association in. arranging the picnic for the soldiers, this session strongly supports the sentiments expressed in a letter addressed to the secretary of the association by the convener of the Christehnreh Presbyterian Sabbath Committee, protesting against the function being held on the Sabbath."

A Balclutha motorist had an unusual experience the ether day while conveying a party from Gore to Warepa (states the " Free Press "). At one part of the road the ear ran into a swarm of bees, and the party had to tuck their coats I round their heads while the car went full speed aheait for a considerable distance before a halt could be called. Even then numbers of bees were found in the ear and adhering to the occupants' clothing, but luckily all wero shaken off without any of the motorists j getting stung. A very peculiar eel, not known to local fishermen, was caught recently near the Rabbit Island by Mr J. A. Grossi (says the Nelson '''Colonist"). Its length is uOin. The tail, unlike that of an ordinary eel, tapers off to a fine point, while certain fins usually found on eels are missing on this one. The eolour of the upper part of its body is pale brown, the under part being almost white, while, a narrow white fin runs the full length of its back. The creature has been preI served in formalin, and placed in the. Nelson Institute Museum.

A Dunedin firm, having made enquiries iii Japan with respect to a supply of machine guns, has received from a Japanese exporter a letter, from which the following is an extract:— "Eegarding machine guns, I regret to inform you that they are only manufactured by the Government arsenals, where orders are placed by the allied countries in such big quantities that they cannot meet the demand by working day and night. One large private enterprise has just been started, but is not yet in working order. Under these conditions, it will be impossible to meet other demands, unless offered through the respective Governments. The Japanese Government mobilised arsenals a long time ago to meet Russian and British orders, and war materials are shipped direct to the battlefields. '' Two boys, each IT> years of a<;e, appeared before Mr II." \V. Bishop, S.M., in the Juvenile Court this morning, on a charge of breaking and entering enclosed premises iu Colombo Street on January 2, and stealing seven pairs of armlets, valued at 3/6, six bunches of tweed samples, valued at £2 '>/-, and one cigarette case, valued at 10/0. The boys pleaded guilty. The Senior Sergeant I said that one of the boys had a very bad [record, having been previously convictled for breaking, entering, and theft, and ;;lso for stealing a horse. His parents i-ould uot control him. The other lad appeared to have been led inlo the trouble. -Mr Bishop said he did not think that the former boy was absolutely bad, hut he thought that, but!. his own and parents' interests, it wout.i be better to send him to the Leyiu Training Farm, where he would be given a good chance. The other lad was severely admonished and discharged. The memory cannot recall the gradual changes of childhood. Have your child photographed now and then by Steffano Webb, 252 High Street. .9 Owing to the increasing demand for the sensational Hurley-Davidson record breakers, we have a number of good second-hand motor cycles, taken in part pavment, including Bradburys, B.S.A's, Douglases, Triumphs, Singers, King Dicks, and New Hudsons. These machines have been put in thorough repair; in fact, some have only been on the road a few months. This is & forced sale, as we require all space for our shipments of TWIN KING DICKS and HABLET-DAVIDSON3. Be early and secure your choice. JONES BEOS, LTD, MOTOB EXPEBT& (Opposite Clock Tower.)