NEWS IN BRIEF.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 867, 20 November 1916, Page 5

NEWS IN BRIEF.

The Telegraph Office reported to-day that the Waimakariri North and Rangitata Rivers were clear, the Opihi and Bakaia lishable, the Waimakariri South discoloured, and the Waitaki dirty. The jumble sale, which was promoted by the Linwood Congregational Church, and held in the Leyden Street Hall on Saturday afternoon, resulted in £l3 7s fid being- received. The expenses were 7/0, leaving £l3 for the Y.M.C.A. Hutment Fund.

A great deal of complaint is made by business people in Colombo Street, Sydenham, at the manner in which the sumps that carry oft' the water from the side channels are cleaned. This operation is carried out once every four weeks, and, as is usual, everywhere it is a smcllful and unpleasant operation. The shopkeepers in the vicinity of the sumps consider that the putrescent con tent of the sumps is left too long lying on the road before being removed, and that they are thereby subjected to unnecessary annoyance.

Considering the nature of the ground and the difficulty in obtaining materials and men, good progress has been made with the driving of the Otira tunnel of late. The headings are now fiee chains off the last mile. There remains about a mile and a-half to complete, with linings, etc. Up to the present, the work has progressed a mile from the Canterbury end, and three and a-half miles from the western end. The ground which is being worked on now is soft and wet, with much slate, and has all to be timbered. "The Americans are the most hospitable people in the world, and their lavishness in enteraining becomes at. times positively embarrassing," stated Mr B. E. H. Whiteombo, who has just returned to New Zealand, in the course of an interview with a "Post" reporter. "The great majority of Americans are pro-Ally, and privately are eonrtibuting millions to the Red Cross and ambulance funds of the Allies —that is to French and Serbian funds, but. not to the British. The American women are nearly as busy making comforts for the French soldiers as the English women are in making them for our soldiers." A young innkeeper who measures Bft 2*in, and is still growing, is proving a problem to the Wiltshire military authorities. The youth, who is 22 years of age, and was born in London, turns the scale at over 20 stone,'and when it is essential that he should take a railway journey the company considerately permit him to travel in the guard's van, the available space in an ordinary coach being too restricted for comfort. As the military authorities are exercised as to what they could possibly do with him if they had him in the Army, he, for the time being, remains peacefully at home in his village inn near Devizes. He wears size 22J in boots, and a penny can be dropped through his finger-ring. The concert to be given by the Glee and Madrigal Society at the Choral Hall on Thursday next, the 23rd inst., promises to Vie well up to the high standard already attained by the society, which, it will lie remembered, so successfully staged "H.M.S. Pinafore" some few months ago. Amongst the many and varied numbers are I'insuti's "Tell me Flora," "In Silent Night" (Brahms), "Strike the Lyre" (Cooke), and ladies' part songs, including "The Snow" (Elgar). The vocalists are Miss Adeline Goodwin (contralto) and Mr L. Bowron (tenor). The plan is at Milnet and Thompson's, where If- seats may be reserved on payment of fid extra. A number of 1/- tickets are also available. The proceeds are Pfjain in aid of the Red Cross Funds.

During his stay in Canton, Mr .1. Flock ton, of Wellington, saw a curious old-time dock, about 1500 roars old. which forms one of the most sacred relics of the province of Kwong Tung. This is made of four large bronze jars, oue on top of the other. A man in charge fills the top jar with water at 5 o'clock every morning. This trickles into the jar below, and so on until it reaches the bottom jar. Above the latter is a bamboo float, which is pushed up by the action of the water. On this the hours are recorded in Chinese characters. Thus the clock, as well as the mariner's compass, the printing press, and the newspaper were known to China long before they were invent ed by the European. This old-time clock, which is nine or ton feet. high, was constructed to keep the faithful subjects of the Chinese Emperor informed of the time of day, so that they could go and pay their respects to the Son of Heaven.

The following letter may not be an iudcx to Japanese trading methods, but its genuineness is vouched for. It. was received by a firm in London from a business correspondent in Japan:—"Regarding the matter of escaping penalty for non-delivery of Ihe bar machine, there is a way to creep round same by diplomat, and we must make statement of a strike in our factory (of course a big untrue), l'lease address my firm on enclosed form of letter, and believe this will avoid penalty of case. As Mr B. is most religious and competent man, and also heavily upright and godly, it j fears me that useless ripply for his signature, l'lease attach same by Yokohama office making forge, but no cause ■ to fear prison happening, as this is often operated by other merchant of highest integrity. It is highest unfortunate to Mr 8., so godlike, and excessive awkward for business purposes. 1 think much better add little serpentlike wisdom to upright manhood and thus j found a good business edifice.'' The rector of the Waitaki High School has been informed by Mr Justice Chap man that bv the terms of the will of his eldest son, the late Mr 11. A. Chapman, who died at sea on October 30, a valuable challenge trophy lias been bequeathed to the school (says the "Oamaru Mail''). The following are] the terms of the bequest: —"I direct my trustee to purchase a silver challenge cup of an approximate value of I £oo, and present the same to the head-; master for the time being of the Waitaki Boys' High School as a challenge! cup, to bo held annually by the winner of the senior one mile swimming j championship, to be swum over a mile j course in the school baths at such time of the year as the said headmaster I shall think fit, but upon the conditions that there shall be at least three competitors in the said race and each competitor shall be a full-time scholar ! of the said school." The late Mr Chapman was a very devoted ex-Wai-takian, and at the time of his death was I engaged on Ihe compilation of an Old! Boys' Register for the school.

SECOND-HAND MOTOR CYCLES. Wo have in Stock at present several good Motors, taken in part payment for Harley Davidsons, which wo are prepared to soil at reasonable prices for quick sale. Call and inspect, or write for full particulars.—JONES BROS., Ltd., 122 Manchester Street. Sole Agents for King Dick and Harley Davidson Motor Cvcles.

A Press Association cablegram from ! London states that in tin. ivy Council : case Gane v. tlie Gi'lies Milking Machine Company, the appeal was (lis-' missed. i

At about 11.30 this morning, at the Hank of New Zealand corner, a young man was suddenly seized with a fit, and fell heavily to the pavement, striking his face. He was taken into Barnett's chemist shop, where he was attended to by a doctor, and was later able to proceed to his place of residence. An excellent example was set by a man who had enlisted, but had been rejected as medically unfit, and who called at the Citizens' Defence Corps oflice this morning, and handed over the five shillings recruiting fee which he had received, for the benefit of one of the funds for soldiers. A fiie in a macrocarpa hedge, which forms the dividing fence between three properties at the corner of Ollivier's Road and Cashel Street, Linwood, led lo the Christ church Fire Brigade being called out at about >!.2fi a.m. yesterday. The only damage done was the destruction of about 20ft of the hedge and a packing case used as a small shed.

If your electric light, lilt, motor, telephones, bells, car-lighting and starting set, or anything else electrical, requires attention, ring up Turnbull and Jones, Ltd., 421, who will give you the best and prompt service. 9187