THE COLONIST. SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 1916. NEWS OF THE DAY.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13997, 29 January 1916, Page 4

THE COLONIST. SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 1916. NEWS OF THE DAY.

Miss H. Reeves will resume tho teaching of pianoforte and singing on Wednesday, February 2nd.

. The Sacred Heart High School will reopen on Wednesday, Fobruary 2nd.

The newly-formed Academy of Music will commence its first term on Wednesday, February 2nd. Arrangements regarding the enrolment of pupils are advertised..

The Anchor Co. notify passengers ami snippers that they will not have any steanier sailing for Wellington on Tuesday. The s.s. Kaitoa, which sails for Wellington to-morrow morning, will-remain in Wellington until Wednesday, for tho purpose of being cleaned an'l painted on the patent slip.

Considerable amusement was caused in Burnett street, Ashburton, on Saturday, states the "Ashburton Guardian," by' the appearance of a dog running along trailing an office drawer attached 'to ite neck by a length of string. It 1 appears that the occupant of an office in the Arcade, wishing to go out, tied the dog to the handle of the drawer. J IHe had not been gone long when the 'animal managed to pull the drawer, from the call net, and made off up tho street, distributing the papers and; documents in the drawer in all direc-j tions. iNavy Blue Serge Costumes, usual prices 4 to 5 auineas. Stocktaking Sale prices 20s 30s, 39s 6d.—Trathen's Sale.*

Arrangements were made last week for men on leave from Tauherenikau who ar o due back in camp to-morrow to leave by the- Kaitoa to-day, but owing to the number of passengers desirous of tra-v ellir-.g it was found necessary to make a dayiight trip to Wellington, leaving here,to-morrow. As this would noli suit th,3 soldiers' leave, Mr W.S. Snqdgrass wired to the Camp Commandant at Tauheremkau, asking for an extension of their leave until the first train on Monday morning, and he has received a reply granting the ox tension.

The danger of running a motor car in a closed garage or shed is insufficiently realised by many motorists. In England recently two drivers started up a cox in a garage, the doors and windows being closed owing to the bad weather. Both were later on found dead from the effects of carbon-monox-ide poisoning. A peculiar thing about this gas is that the victim hard]} notices its effects, the first symptom being a tired feeling, followed by insensibility.

A fmsh lot of bargains in Blouses, Dresses Costumes, Millinery, tomorrow at> Tnithen's Sale. These must bo cleared at an early date.*

"it is no good mincing matters," said Mr. H. G. Hill at the meeting of growers at Stoke last night in a reference to' the commercial end of the fruit industry. ''You have to be prepared to remain growers ; and you have to have a commercial man or commercial men to control the commercial end of the business."

The Kaitoa was to have sailed for Wellington this evening, buzz o\\ ing t<o the large number of passengers offering, and the limited sleeping accommodation on the vessel, the Anchor Company have arranged to run a daylight trip, leaving here on Sunday at y :i m. Intending passengers ere notiiied that paswigcs must be booked at the office ' tf

The Christ Clurrch Ladies' Guild have mad 3 it a practice to hold on Mondays a "war"' working bee, the results of their effort* being applied to relieve* (Jis,+iro,3,s rx-easioned by the war. Work will be resumed on Monday aiternooti, anal contributions of either cash or material will bt> acceptable.

The va?ied progi'amme for the Aquatic Carnival at the Port on Tuesday, February Ist (Anniversary Day) should draw a large concourse. of people. Thore will be immerons events of interest ashore as. well .as afloat, with launch trips and other attractions. In the evening the trading and pleasure craft, large and small, will be illu-j minated; and the festivities \yil' conclude with a ball.

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

Four and eleven pence for a highly I finished Japanese fire screen strikes one as being-distinctly reasonable! 5s 6d buys a good watch, or if your pocket permits you oan go up to 70s (all prices in and between), and every watch guaranteed a genuine bargain. Field glasses sell from 15s 6d to 32s 6d—fine instruments at long range. Is buys ; 2

good combs or aSamoan fruit basket;' or o.cakes of .choice, toilet: soaps. There is no limit to tho stocks held at "No-

velties," and tiie very low prices are '■'oye-.orieriers,'■ especially to people in the back-blocks whodepend on stores,

A big summer sale is mow

proceeding-: The bargains are genuine' and all Should share. Write for price lists t«. ''Ncivel^es," Nelson.*

The executive of- the Auckland Patriotic Society has decided not tq, be represented at the conference of patriotic societies called by the Minister of Internal Affairs.

The New- Zealand hospital ship Mahenp, after being delayed in the stream for 24 hours owing to a shortage of firemen, left Wellington for Suez on' Wednesday evening.

The Taranaki (New Zealand) Oil Wells,, Ltd., has won the final bonus offered by the Government, over one million gallons of oil having been taken from its bores at Moturoa.

The following sick details of . the Ninth Reinforcements are returning in the Tofua, duo at Dunedin next Tuesday—R. T. E: Robinson (next-rif-kirf at Blenheim), J. W. ■ Olsen (Auckland), W. C. Dockerv (Mataroa), and D. M. Campbell (Ashburton).

An epidemic k>f infantile paralysis at Auckland is assuming sei-ious proportions. Thirty-four cases have ..been notified and two deaths have occurred. During the year 1914 only 50 cases were admitted to the whole of the hospitals of New Zealand.

A Wairarapa farmer writes to the treasurer of his local Patriotic Fund: "My wool returns for season 1914-15 came to £2700; owing to the war returns for season 1915-16 came to 23200; ba.lance in my favour, £500, for which please find cheque enclosed."

At Khyber Pass, Auckland, on Wednesday, a violent collision occurred between a van driven by Ernest Neal and a tramear. Neal was thrown heavily to the ground, and died within an hour from a fractured skull. Both horses in the. van were severely cut, and one had to be destroyed.

The first prize in the Golden Coast Art Union, held ii* conjunction with the West Coast carnival, was won by Mr. 'F. Greenslade, of Nelson. The second prize went to Greymouth, and the third to Christchurch. The art union was not fully subscribed, and the prizes were reduced pro rata, the first being £500.

Speaking of the expansion of New Zealand's fruit export trade, the Prime Minister said at Levin this week that, while in 1909 161 cases were exported, last year's exports totalled .62,164 cases. New Zealand had got the market, and it did not need a prophet to predict a further increase.

Few records can beat that of the New Zealand Rugby football tenm which visited Australia in 1913. There U ere- eighteen in the party, including the manager, and fourteen are already at the.'front or on their way there. The manager proposes to make the full team—fifteen. The remaining three are said to be likely to be wearing khaki very soon.,

"This is one of the worst, forms of cruelty I know of/ stated the Inspector (Captain J. Henry) when referring at a meeting of the Wellington Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, to the practice of cutting the .manes and. tails of horses sent by the Defence Department to Egypt and elsewhere. He pointed out that a lonja, tail was requisite as a protection against flies. The Inspector was deputed to visit the camp in order to ascertain the true position.

The nurder of the yoting waterside worker, Horatio . Ramsden, who was stabbe,d to death near the upper end of Hillside Crescent, Mount Edeiij on Saturday evening, is still surrounded ,in mystery (says Wednesday's Auckland "Star"). Although they are on a hot chase the police are not yet in a position to intimate success. The conviction is growing more and more that a woman was in some way concerned in the affair.

A first offender for drunkenness was brought before Mr. J. S. Evans, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, and remanded for one week for medical treatment. The man was in such a bad state that the Magistrate asked the police if they knew where he had been obtaining liquor from. Sergeant Barrett replied,that he had been drinking off and on since the holidays, and frequently the stoppage of liquor duiing a night in the cells made a man very shaky. "Probably," added the sergeant, amidst laughter, "a whisky would nick him un."

The unusually hot weather which has been experienced in Wellington of late has £aused some people to revert to almost primitive conditions at night time (says the "Post"). In one quarter of the city at least several young men havej)een sleeping under the stars ' m - paddocks adjacent to their residences, many others have been sleep,,ig on verandahs and balconies, and all the inhabitants have felt the heat to a considerable degree. A man who has resided for years m Australia told a "Post" reporter that Wellington in warm weather is worse than Sydney, and took far more out of him. Others compared it to Auckland —with the advautage on the side of Auckland.

The following instance of canine fidelity is related by a townsman (states the "Waitara Mail"). Wishing to "dispose" of a dog, he took it in a boat towards the mouth of the-river, and having attached it to a heavy stone in the usual fashion, he stood up in the boat and threw the stone and dog overboard. He had failed to notice, however, that the rope was round his leg, and the pull of the weight caused him to over-balance, and he followed the dog iinto the water, the rope at tlie same time breaking. The dog reached the shore, and then the owner of the dog also reached the bank. The dog was in a state of great agitation with the man's hat in his mouth. Needless to say the dog received a reprieve.

Two individuals were charged at the Magistrate's Court yesterdaj.,' before Mr. J. S. Evans, S'.M.j with breaches of prohibition orders. Frank Shea did not appear, but pleaded guilty by letter to having entered the Royal Hotel, Nelson, during the currency of a prohibition order. Sergeant Barrett said that ' defendant, who resides at Mur. chiton, came to Nelson and stayed at fche hotel for ,a week. There -was no evidence, that he procured liquor. Defendant was convicted and fined. 10s. with costs 7s. Edward Morris pleaded guilty to two charges—(l) of having entered tlle Pier "-"Hotel during the ?i\ rren.^7 of a prohibition order, and w wltn procuring liquor during the currency of the said order. It was defendant's second breach of the order, ? nd le Magistrate convicted him and imposed a fine of 40s, with 9s costs'

A waterspout burst, on tlie hills' to the south of Waipahi, Southland^ last week, and within "three hours the river .was running bank high. Trees and fences in the vicinity of the smaller streams were swept away. Stock bridges were also, carried away. South of the main south road very little rain fell, and the river was not affected.

The British War Office has notified that owing to the demand for benzol and toluol for the manufacture of explosives, it has been found necessary to require gas undertakings throughout the kingdom to extract these constituents from their gas. This in some cases will affect the illuminating power of the gas and its heating power.

Recently the solicitors to the Otago Education Board gave the opinion that it would not be legal to hold the elections for the new education district this year, because the sections of the Act setting up the districts d^. not come into force until August, and tht> elections had to be held in July. The Solicitor-General has, however, given the opinion that the Minister may alter the Act by regulation, and hold tho elections in July.

Special Purchase of large sizo, heavyu'oizht lowels. worth 3s 6d. Sale price 2s 6d per pair.—Trathen's Sale.*

"The leaders of the two prinicpal political parties in tlie Dominion are working whole-heartedly together for tlie purposes of the war," remarked Mr. G. J. Anderson at Glencoc. His hearers, he said, might at times be inclined to criticise the actions of the Government. When they felt this inclination he would suggest to them to remember that they did not know all the difficulties the Government had to contend with, nor the limitations to which it was subject. The Imperial Government was naturally the leader in the present crisis, and all the dependencies must loyally acquiesce with the "suggestions" from headquarters. They- would be well advised to accept the united "wisdom of the Imperial and

Dominion National Governments, and work for the success of our arms as far as they, as -individuals, could by accepting willingly whatever was deemed advisable by their leaders in the way of taxation, trade restrictions or compulsory military service.

For the hot weather. Cool White Voile ready-to-wear Dresses at Trathon's Sale; prices 8s lid, 12s 6d, 15s lid, i.9s (3d ;"all neiv season's goods.*

A further indication as to the difficulty in obtaining tyres for motor vehicles in Germany is given by an announcement recently issued by oiwur-of the German military Governor of Antwerp, that all motor car or motor cycle tyres and inner tubes, had to be surrendered by a certain date. The tyres delivered were to be paid for up to a certain date —afterwards they would be confiscated.

A somewhat unusual accident occurred at Cobden on Saturday. Two men were being given "a lift" home in a cart. They both-were standing up, when the horse shied and caused one of them to lose his balance. He made a grab for the other man and both fell out of the cart, striking the hard metal road with their heads. Both men were rendered unconscious, but soon recovered after receiving medical attention.

A case before the InvercaTgill Court recently goes to show that the practice of throwing stones at houses cannot be indulged in with impunity. A young lady, who did not appear, was charged with throwing stones at. a house on Kelvin road, occupied by a woman with a German-sounding name. In a letter the girl expressed sorrow at what she had done, and, as the offence has not been committed since, the magistrate said he would convict and. dischargt her. '......■

Tratlvm'.s Rale. Pure Silk Ribbons, 4 to 6 inches wide, usually Is to 2s 6d; nov 6d yard.*

Police Inspector Cruickshank has apparently a very poor opinion of the way licensed houses on the West Coast are conducted (says a Greymouth paper). In the S.M. Court, Greyn;outh. he said the licensed houses in that district were the worst conducted in the Dominion. He had never been in any part of New Zealand wnere hotels were so badly managed. He referred, he said, more particularly to country hotels. "A man applies for s license for an hotel, gets it, and never goes there; and even children run hotels in some parts of the district," said the Inspector.

Mr G. M. Thomson is engaged in a controversy in the Dunedin newspapers in favour of a better system of nature study in public .schools. "The modern syllabus of the primary schools/ he says, "is so overloaded with frills, which the students have to be instructed in, that the essential things—of which natural observational work is one—are hampered and crowded. It is the system which is to blame for this. It would not be so bad if the 'itudents got adequate preliminary training in the subject in the primary schools, but that is where X assert they' are weak." " ]

A. seldier from Timaru returned by the Maheno with an attenuated leg and shrunken form, caused by an attack of anthrax. His case is a singular one, for he is supposed to have contracted this dread disease from contact with mules 'which were used for transport purposes. When he went into hospital his case was considered hopeless—most anthrax cases result fatally —but he has managed to null through, a?ic> he is in hopes that in course 01 time his shrunken limb will gradually assume normal dimensions. At any rate, his demeanour is eminently suggestive of the popular "Tommy" query: "Are we downhearted!" In this case the reply is unequivocally "No; certainly, not." A lady in Hawera last week received a letter from a friend in Florence, which contains an interesting paragraph throwing light on the conditions now prevailing in Italian life. The writer soys: "In Italy we are reduced to-the simple life indeed. The horses are taken, petrol is too dear for one to be able to use a motor much, and there' is no coal to be had. The' men are already all called up or waiting to be. So we just shut iro half the house and ramn, hoping it will not be a' Revere winter. Several of the Australian pud English officers wounded a* the Dai-danelles are in Florence for their convalescence, and there is to he a big convalescent camp in Sicily. There are so many sick at Malta that they are almost falling over tb,e coast of the island."

\ "Business as Usiu;l" lher.« stirring Hraes t^liould be a T>leasa-nt sensation. We are finding "More Business than t:'f?ual.'' and hai7© increased tho ,<jtaff of our boot impairing and hand-sewn m akin a; department. Clients who desifo their boots repaired with tho best of materials and returned promptly. are wise if they ring 'phone 37. ; If you aro hard to- fit onr> expert will ma.ko you a pair. . Wo standiaf the back of nil work turned oiit.-^-Lignt-band and Co., Nelson.* . .

The following letter received by a business man in Christchurch gives aw indication of the sacrifices being made by those who are responding to the cajl for men for the front; "Is there any way you can suggest of realising my property? As there is such a shortage of niou for the reinforcements, my son is very anxious to enlist. He is. my only child, and I am entirely dependent upon him. Therefore, I should have to get away to relatives. We are making a .groat,sacrifice. My son will be giving up £6'nor week, but ho feels that every man is needed."

The enthusiasm of some of the young men for hitting a ball about on "a certain country tennis court has given rise to the impression that they have not yet been made acquainted with the iact that a war is in progress. Some of the settlers in this district" were far too polite to offend the susceptibilities of tho budding manhooa thereabouts _ by suggesting such a thing as .enlistment^ but with a sincere endeavour to do something in that de* eirable direction, they resolved on a unique plan (according to an exchange). It so happened that on a recent afternoon, when sundry young men turned.up in flannels and carrying their racquets, they found the netposts pulled u» and a rather conspicuous notice-board on the court, which stated: "Closed until after the war." This gentle and courteous hint rfiayi possibly bear good fruit.

Attention was drawn recently in the House of Commons by Mr. Will Thome, to the case of Messrs. Levensteins, of Manchester, "who have made a profit of £80J343 on a capital of £90,000, enabling the company to pay fourteen and a half years of preference dividend, to distribute 30 per cent. on. the ordinary, to write £21,728 off iron) the assets side of the balancesheet, and also to wipe out. the patent and library fund." Mr. McKenna: The circumstances of the case referred1 to, m common with all other cases, will receive due consideration in connection with the question of liability to pay, taxes imposed by Parliament. MrTheodore Taylor: Is not this one of the very few firms that have been making dyes in competition with Germany, and is it not fair that they should have the profits?