NEWS IN BRIEF.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1507, 11 December 1918, Page 9

NEWS IN BRIEF.

Mrs McGillivray, wife of a stock inspector at Tapanui, was lost yesterday afternoon in the bush while deer-shoot-ing with her husband. A search party was out all night. The body was found at daylight, the woman having fallen into a ilooded creek, where she was drowned. The secretary of the Tramway Employees' Union (Mr H. Hunter) has received a letter from the general manager of the tramways (Mr F. Thompson), stating that, owing to the fact that the chairman of the board (me Hon. J. Barr) has not yet returned to Christchurch, the conference between representatives of the board and the union cannot be held to-day. as arranged. The conference will take place at 4 p.m. to-morrow. The tale of a series of domestic disputes was unfolded to Mr S. E. McCarthy, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court this morning, when Minnie Brown (.Mr A. J. Malley) applied for sureties of the peace against her neighbour, Adelaide Moore (Mr L. W. Gee). The evidence told of stone-throwing episodes, weird noises at midnight, etc. Eventually, the Magistrate decided that the honours were about even, and dismissed the case. The Presbyterian Church of New Zealand set. on foot some'months ago a scheme for the improvement of the position of the Aged and Infirm Ministers' fund, and placed the matter in the hands of Mr W. 11. Rose. A special appeal was made to members of the Church throughout the Dominion, and has resulted in the satisfactory sum of over £25,000 being raised, which will be added to capital. The income from this sum will provide an acceptable increase in the allowances to all beneficiaries. The monthly meeting of the Burwood Burgesses' Association was held last night, Mr S. C. Thompson presiding over a good attendance. It was resolved to ask the Waimairi County Council to erect name-plates on streets at. present without them, and also to supply a lamp at the Queen Street tram stop. A motion was carried asking the council to re-name River Road Loc.kley Avenue, as there are several River Roads round Christchurch. The Tramway Board is to be asked to improve the" lav-out at the Vicarage Corner, as although the trees have been cut down, it is still an extremely dangerous corner. The Government's legislation, as contained in the Repatriation Bill came in for some severe criticism at a meeting last evening of the executive of the Returned Soldiers' Association, as did the action of the Government in rushing the measure through. In addition, the action of Messrs G. Witty, L. M. Isitt, and 11. G. Ell, M.P.'s, in supporting the association's policy in the debate, and in voting with the Government on its proposal of a board of four Ministers was commented on. The following resolution was adopted: —"That the Christchurch Returned Soldiers' Association strongly resents, and records its emphatic protest, at the haste with which the Government has seen fit to pass the Repatriation Bill in all its stages, and reiterates its protest that the Government has not given due consideration to the request of the Returned Soldiers' Association that one Minister be appointed in charge. It further notes with disapproval the action of certain members who, in the debate, supported the association's policy, but who, on the division being taken, recorded their votes iu favour of a board of four Ministers. This association further insists that due consideration be given to its request that a civilian director of repatriation be appointed (who shall be one of the best men obtainable); and, further, that local committees be set up in each centre forthwith, they to appoint delegates, who shall meet in conference and submit to the Government a comprehensive scheme for the repatriation of returning soldiers under the broad empowering clauses of the Bill." HARLEY-DAVIE-SONS TO ARRIVE SHORTLY. Cable advice has been received that deliveries cf the " Harley-Davidson" Motor-cycle will be resumed immediately. Intending purchasers will be well advised to book their orders early. JONES BROS., LTD., Sole New Zealand Agents, Manchester and Lichfield Streets.