NEWS OF THE DAY.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13794, 15 June 1915, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY.

An unoccupied dwelling house in Greenwood street, Motueka, known to older residents as Johanson's, was completely destroyed by fire last week. •

A Now Zealander, writing from Egypt? says: "We are .all very proud of the Maoris. I have never seen either in Africa or out of it marching to equal theirs, and thov are in the pink of ci-i----dition."

"The Wangan'ui Liedertafel" is now a thing of the past, not so'"far as tin organisation is concerned, but me re I v as to the name. It was decided on a recent night that the society be known as "The Wanganui Male Choir." The -eason for the change is obvious. In making the alteration the example, of Dune-din and Auckland is being fol-lowe-ti.—"Warganui Herald."

An • attractive and interesting full column' advertisement, with prices quoted, from "Novelties," 42 Hardy street, will repay perusal.

In -preparation for. - the sick and wounded soldiers who are expected to return to Auckland during tho next few months, the- Auckland Hospital Board recently published a request to citizens who have houses within a reasonable distance of the hospital to offer the use of them for the accommodation of soldiers. One house has already been offered to the board, and several, persons have offered to tako in a few soldiers.

x\.t Auckland recently an unusual contribution to. the Mayor's fund for the equipmentvof the Hospital Ship and the care of the wounded consisted of nine farthings in separate coins, which were forwarded as the contribution of "John Payne's Building.. Society's' Supporters." This, was done (says the "Herald") in accordance with a resolution adopted on the motion of Mr John.Payne, M.P., Auckland, reducing the amount proposed to-'bd donated to the fund from £450 to 2-i-d.

Considerable indignation has been aroused in Auckland-lately among* victims of an impudent and y-xasperatiug trick. Persons "isitim; public places of eintertainment have, .suddenly become perplexed by . the- disagreeable smell continuing to. haunt them, and finally get very angry on: discovering that the source of all the trouble- is a fine powder which -has been thrown on their clothes. Clio effect of this malodorous powder is not. only to render tho clothes uninhabitable and to temporarily ostracise the victim, but also to render the garments practically useless to their wearer for some days.

Mr Massey is quite delighted with the outlook (observes the Oamaru "Mail"). The children are showering in their pennies arc! their parents their pounds so liberally that the Government is up to <ts neck in wealth. What need is there, then, to compel the shirkers to pay their share ? But it is inexcusable in the Government to agitato the people's patriotic instincts by perfervnl appeals which impel them to contribute the uttermost farthing, lest the causo should lack support, and to abuso such generosity by sparing the packets of greedy wealthy colonists, for there aro some such'in our midst. Those, who .glance at the lists which are published-daily will see there announced'the widow's mite and the child's penny. To exact the xittermost farthing from the poor and then to declare that there is nn necessity to tax the rich bocauso the poor have bled so fully is not indicative of supreme loyalty on the part of our administrators, for that is not loyalty which tends only to oppress and rob."

The first whales this season were sighted in the. Straits early last week. Both were killed, but one was subsequently lost through the- snapping of the jino. The other, measuring 46 feet, was towed safely home, ihe season has staited well, and comparatively early, for the first whale "killed last year was on June 22nd.

A touching incident yet one in which considerable enthusiasm was displayed, occurred at the Napier railway station when a j'oung trooper, Driver Stauley Paul, who was married about half an hour before- the train left., departed for Trentham. Tha window of his carriage was draped with a large Union Jack, whilst abo're hung a placard with the words <:A Soldier's Marriage" written on it. About a dozen volunteers were returning to Trentham, and the crowd treated many of them to showers of confetti, . until they discovered the bridegroom. Though there was much good-humoured chaff, the send-off was not without its pathetic element.

Tho establishment of an up-to-date factory for tho 'manufacture of superphosphate and sulphuric acid is being considered by tho executive of the Auckland Farmers' -"Union. At a meeting the. other afternoon a conference took place with an engineer who has inquired very fully into the proposal. The l?tter pointed out that, in Australia, where-^he facilities were not so good, i fi siniVar factory had been paying dividends of 30 per cent, and still is selling at lowet rates than' those which the farmers.are paying in New Zealand. Options have 'been obtained over sites and sources of supply of phosphate rock. ■

The stcamei' Mahono is in a state of internal eruption, but order is bcins gradually evolved out of apparent cliaos (states the Dnnodin corrcspmulont of the Christchnrcli "Press"). Tho bnlkhonrls between the slate rooms aro removed in >.ho processl or nonverfin^ tbesa into hospital wards-; tho dir;i:iji saloon has been practically gutted out, and the fancy wood fittings a gains!' the sides are being covered with lining boards which will be painted with white ioname.l; in fact, whito enamel will he 1 Iho flominn.ting ffatinv^ of the Hospital •Ship colour scheme. T]ie hull outside is also painted white In the Avards tho p.itionta wil 1 rest in iron cots, so construclfld th.il; the attendants nviy remove tho patients without lifting the/n. Eloctrio lifts are beinc; fitted, so that tho patients may by this moans be removed with the minimum of ir.con;oniencn. When a patient h;:"s to bo ronioved to tho clock above where- he is domiciled, the attendants pratically lift *him bed and all on to the lift. and. without jolt orinconvenienco ho is elevated to the desired lovol. Tho reverse- process is equally simple: Patients by this means will be taken to the operating theatre if nocessarv. or on deck to; enjoy the sunshine. - The \essel when', completed will bo a model hospital ship, j

GencralJabominp; -.york has shown a great falling 'oft" in Napior during the past month, and many employers ar<> shortening hands. There aro a good many men seeking employment.

In the report of the conference between.representatives of local bodies with the .Nelson Education Board on the question of contributing towards tho support of. the Technical School, and country technical classes, it was stated that the deficit on tho working of "the school was £24.0 last year. The authorities desire to correct this statement by pointing out that tho deficit is not on the working of the school alone, but is mainly due to carrying on the country classes. As a matter of fact tne school itself was not carried on at a loss.

An Australian .photographic magazine in its April issue contained three snapshots taken by Miss 11. Atkinson, of. iTairiield, Nelson. The photographs are excellent ones, and Miss Atkinson's skill is recognised in (he fact that th'rce of her pictures should appear in an issue of tho Australian journal.

The Mayor of Blenheim, Mr .. J. J. Corry, at a meeting on Saturday inaugurated a fund for Mailborough wounded and dependents, i'horo v. as a liberal response, and £2600 was promised in tho room.

Wlien two verses of the. National Anthem had be*n_ sung at tho ceremony of laying the-Tbmidation-ston s. in eonnocticn with St-. Paul's C.-ithedral, Dunedin, \ there was a pause, and the music stopped. But Bishop Julius would not permit tho anthem to be concluded- here "G!o on," he- said, "sn»g the verse about 'confound thoir politics.' We must sing that cue." Those present (says tho "Otagc Daily News") accepted the invitation to' the. evident satisfaction of the Bishop, who joined in heartily. /'I. feel better after that." he remarked at* the end of the verso, ■ with', a smile.

A sample rabbitskin waistcoat, as worn by some of the New South -Wales soldiers; was recently , received from Australia and shown- at a meeting of the Nelson committee of the Lady Liverpool Fund. It has since been forwarded by the kcal Defence Office to Headquarters, with a view of obtaining an 'opinion a<3 to its suitability before anything is done in the direction of making similar waistcoats here. A reply is expected from Wellington at an early date. : -,

A general meeting of the Nelson Coim-ing Club wiH be, held in Opie's rooms to-morrow uiglit, to arrange a programme and consider other important matters.

It jjas been said tbat^your home is the mdes of your mind. Now, dees every room- in your houso reflect credit upon you? Ha^e you got all apartments just as you would like ta have them ? Are they invested with the beauty which belongs to them ? Do they radiate charm, taste, and refinement.'' Would not a little addition here and there effect a change, worth to yon many times the airount of the outlay? \Vhethpv you are actively or passively interested in furnishing or •efurnishmg the proprietors ol LOCK'S Furniture Emporium extend to .you a heart? invitation toioonie and inspect their largo stocks. This firm has at the present time an exceptionally fine show of the latest qual-ty furniture; t'lso all kinds of furnishing requisites and accessories.. Besides Hi is th'-v h.v* large resources and every fncnitV and equipment for dr-ing your home highest justice. Let us make yours