NEWS IN BRIEF.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1339, 29 May 1918, Page 3 (Supplement)

NEWS IN BRIEF.

A Wellington telegram states that it had been intended that the executive of the Nowspapcr Proprietors' Association should meet yesterday to select a delegation of five Press representatives to go to England at the invitation of the British Ministry of Information. Two members of the executive, however, found it impossible to be present, and the meeting is to be held today.

An Auckland Press Association message states that the Auckland Provincial Farmers' Association approved of the action of the directors in entering into negotiations for the purchase of the extensive business and promises of Laidlaw Leeds, and authorised an increase in the capital from £IOO,OOO to £OOO,OOO. The negotiations havo not yet bceu completed.

To effect wartime efficiency and economy an important amalgamation of newspaper interests has been brought about in South Auckland and the King Country. The " Waikato "Times " Publishing Company, Hamilton, and Mr W. Thomas, proprietor of the '' Taumarunui Press," havo joined interests and taken over the "King Country Chronicle," To Kuiti. The business of the three papers will be run in the name of the "Waikato and King Country Press.''

A neat but forceful reply was made by a waterside witness before the Wharf Accidents Commission at Lyttelton yesterday afternoon. He had been speaking of the danger of cargo stacks falling upon men at work in the hold unloading a stack for an earlier port. As a remedy, ho suggested that the cargo for the furthermost ports should be ovorstowed. Captain Me-Artlvur replied that often that was not practicable. Just, now, ships were so scarce that evei'y available foot of space had to be utilised. "Yes," admitted the witness, "but men are getting scarce too, sir." Several interesting curios and specimens have been presented to the Canterbury Museum recently, including a valuable collection of rock from Victoria and Tasmania. Mrs Laing, Aka,roa, has given an Indian shawl of the early nineteenth century; Mrs J. Brett, Geraldine, the tibia and femur of a moa; Private J. Withell, a note-book and identification disc found on a German prisoner; and Mr J. Peddie, a spinning wheel used for spinning European flax. Amongst other acquisitions are a copy of the first issue of the "Palestine News," a Kaffir wooden bowl, the skull of a hippopotamus, and a section of an elephant's tooth. x "It is a most remarkable thi\ug," said the Hon. T. M. Wilford, chairman of the Watersides' Accidents Commission, at Lyttelton yesterday, "that ever since this 'Commission has been sitting we have had no evidence of the winch brakes being really effective. Most witnesses say that they are of no use, and ]» as a layman, want to kuow what they are there for." "I'm sure I don't know," confessed a practical wit--1 ness, "in most cases we have to put oil on them to keep them from squeaking." Later in the morning, another said that the brake on the Orepuki would stop the winch and hold a load. "I am glad there is one in New Zealand," said the chairman. The inspection of gear is one of the questions which is exercising' the Waterside Commission sitting at Lyttelton, and in this connection the Hon. T. M. Wilford stated to a representative of The Sun yesterday that some years ago the Government appointed inspecting officers for ships' gear. These officers make an annual overhaul, and the men admit they have done good work, but the officers have no power to inspect the gear in use on hulks or wharves. The whole trend of the evidence to the Commission in the North Island, said Mr Wilford, was to the effect that there should be one Government control of the inspection of all gear used on ships, hulks'and wharves. That was not the law at the present time.

The fact that drink was urged as an extenuating circumstance in a charge against a native youth at tho Supreme Court at Wangamii yesterday led, to some trenchant remarks by the Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout, according to a Press Association telegram. His Honour said that it was evident that drinking was being permitted among the Maoris, and the native race was doomed to destruction if steps were not taken to deal with the matter. He did not think that the Maoris were now half as numerous as when he arrived in the Dominion. "We are stronger than they to bear their burden," proceeded his Honour, "but nothing is being done to prevent the Maori race being destroyed by the evil we have brought amongst them." At a bankruptcy meeting on Monday three of the creditors, each of whom was owed a substantial sum, testified to the honesty of the bankrupt, saying that they were quite convinced that he would have paid if he had the money. In past dealings he had always proved a straight man, anil his present position was only due to unfortunate circumstances. One of those creditors expressed the opinion that he did not think it would bo doing any good to go any further with the proceedings. These jemarks did not please a less magnanimous creditor, who at the conclusion of the meetiug, which was adjourned sine die, said that, he wished to congratulate [ those who could so willingly lose their money. It went against his grain to lose his £2O. If they were prepared • to do their business and lose their! money that way, the only thing he could do was to congratulate them. "To Huia,". the magazine of the cheerful 33rd's, is a thing to comfort all stay-at-home hearts. Nowhere iu its 48 pages is there a doleful or disconsolate line. It bogins with a modest apology, and it runs riotously to a "cheerio" finish, even the winsome wee wifie waiting on page 48 suggesting wistl'ulness rather than tragedy. Tt is true, we have seen better black-and-white illustrations. So, we are sure, had the joint editors, Lieut. Hill and Sgt/Geddi's. But on a troopship you have artists, or you haven't, and—well, "there you be." So, too, with verso. After "Sunset," on page 37, we are convinced that the waste-paper basket of "Tc Huia" is the most fastidious w.p.b. that ever was —or the editors the most generous. But, read the answers to corrospouI dents; read the alterations and amendments to Infantry Training, 1914; read "Hints for the Second Division," and scan with proper caro The prospectus of Massey's Tours, Ltd. (Jim Allen, Geueral Manager), and you will rejoice that your brother is abroad with such exuberant innocents.

Latest Model 5 h.p. Indian Cear Box, ,'i-speed, fitted with speedometer, £OS, Reading Standard 7 h.p. 3-speed Gear Box, £SO. 7-9 h.p. Big X 3-spced Gear Box, late Model, £SO. All taken in is. part payment on the famous Harlcy Davidson. JONES BROS., LTD.. Olock Tower, 122 Manchester Street.

Six conscientious objectors who have been recently sentenced to terms of imprisonment in Wellington, arrived by the Mararba this morning, and were sent on to Paparua prison by the 11.20 train.

A Masterton Press Association message states that the Fanners' Union Conference approved of the Land Purchase Board acquiring areas of various qualities aud size for returned men, so that they may be able to take up holdings on which they are likely to be successful.

Revenge is sweet and so, on occasions, is gratitude. As some slight token of their appreciation of British help at home, the Italian market gardeners of Australia are rushing to the assistance of Queensland's sugar-men, groaning, so many of them, under the feet of the tyrant trades-unionist. Farm after farm has been taken over—on terms — by the Latins, and Lombardy never lots go.

In conversation with a Sun representative this morning, Mr E. E. Langley, one of the three prisoners who were recently set at liberty while serving sentences for sedition, expressed fear that Labour people might consider that there had been undue prolongation about the process of release. Mr Langley said that he was perfectly satisfied that the machinery of the law had been worked at its hardest. The delay was due to the absence froth Wellington of the Governor-General.

Lucky Lloyd -George. At the conclusion of the Victoria League lecture last Friday in the Auckland Town Hall, Mr W. .1. Napier being stimulator-in* chief, the following message was cabled bv unanimous resolution:—

"Hearty Empire Day greetings. We hail you as the Empire's organiser of victory, its only possible leader. The German beasts must be beaten. Falter not! Heed not the purblind Lansdowne, nor Asquith's crude inanities. Roo out all traitors. God save the King aid united Empire." No greater honour can have come to him than that —unless perhaps at a spiritualistic lecture in Dunedin recently, when he was hailed bv the speaker as our present-day Christ.

Persons in the habit of deriding the CI Camp will be interested to learn, says the "Evening Post," that, if the recruits from this particular military institution cannot walk (one politician has asserted that they do a short route march in ambulance vans and ammunition wagons), at any rate they can box; aud on performances they box better than the average of their comrades who are in the first instance more fit physically. The winning company in the boxing tournament conducted by the 38th' Reinforcement was the one which has been recruited to a great extent from the CI Camp, and two of its representatives, who won the heavyweight, and welter-weight events, were ex-Cl men.

NAZOL, though imitated, has no equal as a remedy for coughs and colds. Get genuine NAZOL —better than any mixture or syrup. Sixty doses 1/6. . . .4

If the sitting of the Wharf Accidents Commission of Inquiry concludes in time this evening, the Hon. T. M. Wilford will receive a deputation of Lyttelton railwaymen, who have some complaints that they wish handed on to their Minister.

At a sitting of the Lyttelton M-igis-trate's Court to-day, before M is W. T. Lester and F. Knights, JJP.'a, Henry Hellbey was convicted and discharged on a charge of drunkenness, and fined 50/- for casting offensive matter on the footpath. Carl Ohgren was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment, with the forfeiture of two days' pay, for bekig absent without leave from his vessel The new Education Board offices in Oxford Terrace are now completed, and the removal of the staff and office fitt.iugs from the Normal School buildings in Cranmer Square was made to-day. The board's new location is conveniently situated near the centre of the city, and the modern building will be greatly appreciated by the staff, and should considerably facilitate the work.

The opening ceremony of the new wing of the Christchureh Technical College will be performed on Saturday afternoon by the Hon. J. A. Hanan, Minister of Education. Addresses will also be delivered by Mr J. C. Adams (chairman bf the Canterbury College Board of Governors), Mr C. H. Opie (chairman of the Education Boaxd), and Mr C. T. Aschmau (president of the Canterbury Educational Institute). The college buildings and workshops will be open for inspection after the ceremony. An amusing case was heard at the Lithgow (New South Wales) Police Court recently, when a constable charged a youth with usiug insulting language. The evidence showed that as the officer was passing the offending boy the latter remarked: "Give me a kiss," and he suggested that it should bo sent by wireless. For defence the boy stated that he was singing the words of a Hawaiian song. The song, which was produced in Court, was found to contain the words mentioned. The boy was discharged. Before the '' annual cold'' grips you get NAZOL. Take it on sugar, or by inhalation—either way it is a splendid safeguard. 1/6 buys GO doses. .4

The death occurred at the Hospital this morning of Joha Jamea Ritson, who was found in bed at the Oxford Hotel yesterday morning with his throat cut. An inquest will be held at the Hospital at 5.30 p.m. to-day. At the monthly meeting of the Woolston School Committee it was decided to commence beautifying the grounds by thoroughly preparing-the front for the planting of shrubs and other suitable plants. The chairman (Mr D. Rowse), Mrs A. Newton, and Mr A. Hooper were appointed delegates to the School Committees' Association. The headmaster (Mr W. West) reported the attendance on reopening to be 573, out of a roll of 640. This low attendance is' accounted for by the number of minor ailments prevalent at this period of the vear.