NEWS IN BRIEF.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 869, 22 November 1916, Page 5

NEWS IN BRIEF.

' Henry Hustler was charged at the [Lytteltou Magistrate's Court this mornI ing before Mr L. A. Stringer, J.P., with I being absent without leave from the | barque Louisa Craig on November 21, I He was convicted and ordered to pay ' 7/- costs. i It was reported to the North C'anj tcrbury Hospital and Charitable Aid , Board this morning, that the robberies which took place at. the Sanatorium and Coronation Hospital recently, had been I thoroughly investigated by the police I but without any result. | The foundation stone of the new stone J tea house on the top of Dyer's Pass I Road will be laid on Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock. The ceremony will be performed by Mr W. H. Skinner, Commissioner or Crown Lands and Chairman of the Summit Reserves Committee. For some time past the applications 1 for admission to the old people's homes | at Woolston and Ashburton, under the | control of the North Canterbury HosIpital and Charitable Aid Board, have | been considerably in excess of the accommodation available. A garden ieto, will be held in thebeaui tiful grounds of Lincoln College on Saturday, November 25, commencing at 2.30 p.m. The function will be opened by the Hon. Colonel R. Hcaton Rhodes, and the proceeds a.re to be given to the Bed Cross funds. ' There will be sales of produce, etc., all kinds of amusements have been provided for, and visitors are, sure of spending a pleasant afternoon. There will be no charge for admission, and the Rink Stables are arranging to carry visitors to Lincoln and back at a cheap rate. The kauri gum obtaiued in past years has been dug from the ground, but a considerable quantity is now being collected in a different manner. Experts, by means of ropes, scale the trees with the practised hand of a professional, and swing about in mid-air at times like high trapeze performers. The gum is found in the forks of the branches, and some trees produce as much as one or two hundredweight. It is easier work ' than digging iu old forest ground, ami I therefore preferable to many of the j gumdiggers. ' I

It was pointed out by Mr W. 11. Cooper this morning that the percentages of attendances of councillors at committee meetings, published yesterday, was liable to convoy a wrong impression. Mr Cooper, according to the return, attended 38 per cent, of the meetings. He points out, however, that he represents the council on the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, the Fire Board, Technical College Board of Governors, and the Domains Board. The Fire Board was attended 20 times, the Domain Board 10, the Board of Governors 30, and the Hospital Board 24 times. Adding these to the council and committee meetings, it will be seen that Mr Cooper has not been at all sparing in the time he has given to public affairs. A good joke was carried out at the fancy dress function in Masterton on Friday night, at the expense of a popular lieutenant from Featherston Camp. One of Masterton's Veil-known young gentlemen made-up as a girl, and was such a good imitation that many present—including the gallant soldier—paid great attention to the demure one. So taking was the young "lad}'" that the Soldier of the King offered to escort her home. The offer"was coquettishly accepted, and the happy couple doparted. The remainder of the story is a blank. Suffice it to say that the gallant soldier discovered.that his charmer was not a lady. The lieutenant is now busy explaining to inquirers that he knew all the time his fascinator was not a girl, but his friends only smile goodnatured I v.

The following extract from a paper read at a recent conference in London, under the auspices of the Eoyal Sanitary Institute, and as reported in its "Journal," was read at the Drainage Board's meeting last evening:—"Where there is a sewage farm, or laud in reserve, this might be fully utilised for the growth of fodder, and even market produce. The idea that vegetables grown on a sewage farm are unfit for food has long since been exploded, and if further use of such land could be made, it should prove a good source of revenue under the present price of such produce. Withies and oziers can be grown very profitably on the wettest portions of all sewage farms, and more use should be made for the sludge and screenings as fertilisers.''

The "Bulletin'' reprints the following from an Anzae \s letter to his lady: "Last week I wont to Buckingham Palace for ray Military Cross. First I got a telegram ordering me to be in attendance at 10.15 on Tuesday morning, so I turned up resplendent with polished buttons, brilliant, long-boots, spurs, ami a borrowed sword-—the last causing me a deal of anxiety. I took a taxi to the Palace. As soon as I arrived, to ray great relief, the sword was taken from me and I was put into a large room with, about a dozen others who were also to receive the decorations. We were lined up, and as I was the second senior I was given the second place. Then a colonel came and told us exactly what we were to do. lie was followed by a man who stack a sort of meathook into each man's coat just over the left-hand top pocket. After the usual delay a door was opened in the end of the room find we had to go in one at a time. The King was standing, dressed in field-mar-shal \s uniform, in the middle of a second room and rather to the left. I had been told to walk straight ahead into this room until I was level with the King, then turn to my left, bow and advance' two paces towards him. I did it all quite successfully. Then the King steppod forward and, taking the medal from a cushion on which it was handed to him, placed it, on the hook on my chest, lie said, "I congratulate you," and shook hands with me. After that I had to take two paces to the rear, bow again, and leave the room. As soon as I wa:i outside a flunkey removed the medal ami the hook, put the medal in a case, and handed it to me. Then came the part which 1 had funked most —leaving the Palace and fighting through a < rowil of people and Press photographers. Outside the Palace itself there is a large courtyard, into which the people are not allowed. Luckily, as I came from the Palace entrance, I saw a little side-gate out of this courtyard with no crowd round it. Through this 1 bolted, and had the luck to find a taxi just outside. I hopped in and (led.

SECOND-HAND MOTOR CYCLES

We have in Stock at present several good Motors, taken in part payment for Ilarley Davidsons, which we are prepared to sell 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 Ilarley Davidson Motor Cycles.

All the rivers of Canterbury tvero reported clear this morning, with the exception of the Rakaia, which vvaa reported fish able.

At the recent sessions of the Supreme Court in Wellington a serious charge was made against Donald Polson. Ir should be stated that a verdict of "not guilty" was returned, the jury arriving at its derision without leaving the box.

The final meeting or this year's session of the Sydenham United Hand of Hope was held in the Methodist Sehoolroom on Monday evening. There was only a fair attendance, presided over by Mr W. Bartlett. A lengthy programme of recitations and vocal and pianoforte solos was preesnted, and an address was given by Mr W. Goodman, the president of the Band of Hope Union.

It is not often that a seaman who has lost his boat will walk 80 miles to the next port to rejoin (remarks the "Evening Star"). This happened, however, in respect to two sailors on the s.s. Somerset, who,-having missed the ship at Dunedin, set out and walked to Oamaru. On reaching there the men found the ship had gone on to Timaru, so, not relishing another 50-mile walk, they gave themselves up to the police, wdio sent them on to the Canterbury port.

, If-you knew that a shilling at present in your pocket would afford a moment's eomfort to a friend of yours, j wounded and suffering, in hospital in France, would you withhold it' The j thought is ridiculous. There are only .two things essential to giving. The | first is a conviction of the need and the second is a chance to deposit the coin in the right quarter. Let the daily casualty list and that private advice of your friend's wound convince you of the need, and the Wilding Memorial Art Union (tickets 1/-) afford you the oportunity of helping the greatest humanitarian agency of the war, the Red Cross Society. Every shilling paid into this fund goes undiminished to supply a soldier's need, the secretary of the art union, Mr E. Nordon, having given a full assurance to that effect. The drawing for the four handsome prizes (all reminiscent of the late Captain Anthony Wilding), will take place on No- ! vember 30, and the sale of tickets must ! accordingly cease on Saturday evening next. It is opportunity which makes good deeds done as well as bad ones, so when the request is made, "loosen up on the ' bob.' '' 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