NEWS OF THE DAY.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13778, 15 May 1915, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Seven or eight miles north of Arras (says a writer in the "Lyttelton Times") there is a'little group of villages, of which Souchez is perhaps the most imiportant, since it is astride of the Deule on the main road from Betlmne to Arras. Immediately west of Souchez are Ablain St. Nazaire, Notre Dame de Lorette, and Carency. Tliree miles south of Souchez on this same Bethune-Arras road is La Targette, and a mile or so east of La Targette is Neuville, ' .. ■

A Press Association telegram from Hokitika states that- Fred O'Connor was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence on a charge of theft from dwellings at Ruatupu.

A bookseller was fined .'£lo at the Auckland Police Court yesterday, and three others were fined £3 each, for selling indecent literature.—Press . Association.

The Nelson Freezing Company has decided to double the freezing and storage capacity at the Stoke works,' ~ as well as accommodation for killing cattle.. The company is about to erect a cool store and packing sheds to accommodate about 20,000 cases.

The annual meeting of the Nelson Acclimatisation Society will be held as the Anglers' Club rooms on Thursday, the 27th inst. '

"I am not going to be a party to any kid-glove bus-mess in dealing with short-weight' bread cases at a time like this, when the price is so high aud there is so much poverty about." Such was the declaration of Mr F. V. Frazer, S.M., at the Auckland Magistrate's Court the other day, when bakers were before him on charges of having sold shortweight bread. The maximum fine of £20 was imposed in each case.

The travelling public are notified that Norman Emms has commenced a daily motor car service Nelson-Motueka-Ta-kaka. The cars employed are luxurious 50 h.p. Cadillacs. Patrons can rely on <fureful attention and civility. Book.seats 'phone 39. Private address No. 14 Wainui street, 'phone 527.*

At the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr J. S. Evans, S.M., John Reni, charged with procuring liquor during the currency of a prohibition order, .pleaded guilty by letter, and was convicted and fined 20s.

I say, emphatically we have not yet taken the full measure of our enemy — the most powerful, the most scientifically equipped and organised, and the most ruthless that ever went forth to battle.-^-Mr Austin Harrison.

While taking part in a tent-pegging event at Cambridge, a competitor fell from his horse and the lance he was carrying entered the fleshy part, of his leg below the knee, going right through, and inflicting a painful, though not necessarily dangerous, wound.

Several fine heads have been secured by deer-stalkers this .season in the foothills of the Southern Alps. In the opinion of one sportsman, the red deer of the Southern Alps afford the finest sport in the world.

A picture house in Masterton, run by local residents, has just finished twelve months' working, the result of which is that shareholders are to roreceiye a dividend of 10 per cent. This is a satisfactory result in view of the fact that there are three picture houses in Masterton.

All traces of the missing policeman, Donald Shaw, appear to he lost. Shaw was last seen during the interval of a Napier picture theatre, when he went out for a few moments and never returned. The country has been searched high and low for miles, but without avail.

The advent of the Saturday halfholiday in Wellington has killed Wednesday Rugby in the city. Last season there were live toams in the field — Oriental, Tramways, Butchers, Artillery, and PetonC'—but this season Tramways was the only club able to put a team in the field. Consequently the Wednesday competition was dropped.

A feature of the recruiting at Wanganui is the nunVhor of boys under 16 who sign tlio registration forms and try to deceive the authorities as to their fgc\ Several of those hoys have *ent their papers to the local Defence OfP.ce without putting in an appearance before the officer in charge, ar,d later have heon ordered to report themselves at Trentham. but on arrival there have had to admit that they are under the prescribed ago, with theresult that they have been sent back home.

Count Bernstorff, the German Ambassador in America, who lias made himself famous by foreshadowing the murderous sinking of the Lusitania, hns been mainly responsible for keeping the United States neutral in these feverish times. The Cunard Company, in answer to the threat, suggests an exchange, should have kidnapped the notorious Bernstorff on board the Lusitania, and held him as a. hostage for a safe nassage. In fact, the Ambassador should be kept going to and fro on passenger ships, fi'om New York to .London, as a. kind of safety valve. He would doubtless relish a sea journey in his present frame of mind.

Since; the outbreak of the war, Now Zealand has responded to the Empire's call by despatching 1(5,000 Troops to co-operate with the military forces of Great Britain and hor allies, and during the next few months will send another 16.000. In this struggle for national existence, there should be no difficulty in obtaining this number, as the official year book shows that at the last census there were in the Dominion, 193,254 males between the aaps of 9,0 and 40 rears. \t least 150.000. of these should be capable of bearing arms. Many of them are required for the conduct, of the nrimary and secondary industries of the Dominion. But. j rf it came to a pinch, those under 20j and over 40 years of age, with the assistance of women folk, could carry on a great deal of the work of the country. . I

A list of forthcoming musical events under the direction of Mr John Tait is advertised.

Mr H, G. Stringer, secretary of the Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company, seen by a "Star" representative, said the company had never previously been called upon to provide large storage accommodation, and it was never anticipated that a big aggregation of frozen meat would ever be on its hands. The company at present had in store between 70,000 and 80,000 carcases. When $ was remembered that in previous years from ..-90,000 to 110,000 represented the total operations of the season, it would be realised that the company was to some extent justified in never anticipating the necessity for holding such a large accumulation of frozen meat. "Canterbury shippers," added Mr Stringer, "aro making a-great deal of complaint about the treatment they are receiving because of the shortage of ships. Auckland's position is infinitely worst?.. in- February we were able to kill on thirteen days only, in April nine days, and this month we will only be able to kill on two and a-half days."

The largo private residene© in Brougham street,' known as "Warwick House/ occupied by Mr and Mrs 0. B. -Pharazyn, narrowly escaped destruction by fin; yesterday morning, and it was only the prompt use of a Miniinax fire extinguisher by some workmen engaged in effecting alterations which saved the building. The outbreak occurred in a cupboard close to the hot water cistern, and is attributed to a defective chimney. Slight damage was dorie.

At Ashburton yesterday Martha Bull was fined £50 and costs for sly grogsellirg.—Press Association.

A .veil-attended meeting of the. Nelson Poultry Association was held in the Co-operative rooms last evening. Mr F. Plum presided, in the absence of the president (Mr H Baigent). After considerable discussion it was carried with enthusiasm that the whole of the net profits of the- coming show be devoted to the Belgian Relief and Red Cross Funds. A strong committee was formed to place the art union tickets before the public. With the liberal prizes offered, tho association is sanguine of raising at least £150 for the above funds A motion of sympathy with Mr A. G. Betts, one of the -vicepresidents, in the accident to his daughter was passed- It was resolved that n, letter of thanks be forwarded to Mrs Beirne for her donation of a cup, which was allotted to Old English Black Red Bantams, for most points, in three, years, Several other special prizes were announced.

At the suggestion of a number of citizens who have been unable to attend tho recitals given previously on Saturday evenings', Mr Tait has arranged to give a special recital in the School of Music on Wednesday evening, the 26th in-st, at which ho will introduce his re-cently-formed Madrigal Choir. The collection on this occasion will be given to Mr Tait by way of acknowledgment for gratuitous services in the past, and to cover some outlay in connection with the formation of his choir.

The Chief Postmaster 'Mr W. T. Ward)notifies that the Nelson telephone exchange (as already stated by the Minister) will open at 6 a.m. on weeK days, commencing on Monday next. These- hours- will not apply to Sundays or holidays.

The New Zealand Shipping Comvrnnv's steamer Turakina will leave Wellington for London on the 28th inst. (not on the 2oth, as previously advertised).

The annual meeting of thy Nelson branch of tho Society for the Health nf Women and Children, known as the Plunket -Society, will be held in the City Council Chambers on the afternoon of Tuesday, the 18th inst. There will bo a display of babies' on tilt;, which are being given for wives of solilinrs and sailors of the. United Kingdom. Tho good work that is being done by the society in this district in the care of infants is well known, and no doubt there will be a good response to the invitation extended to members and friends to be present at the meeting.

The Thornometer. —At 3 o'clock this morning the Ihermometer outside tin's office registered 45 degrees.