NEWS OF THE DAY.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14156, 19 April 1916, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Pftssen-vers will note that there will ho no Lunon Company steamer from rtollintfton to Piot-on and Nelson oa Wicclue.sday tiiid Friday this week It is urged by the London "Times" tliat more liberal terms should be oficred to retain tke • services of timo(•::piied -veterans—professional soldiers ot tlie old Army, who are worth their weight in gold to us just now. The Public Works Department, writing to tho Collinguood County Council regarding-the Jeffries creek bridge, grant £250, stated that in view of circular sent to local bodies tho. usual, offers would not be made this year, and that the Department is carrying out fill bridge work where the Government finds all the money. Air 11. P. Hudson, M.P., has written tc tho Coll ing wood County Council, stating that the ongioeer ;oxp-eets to have plans rendy for Mangaral^au bridge in about 10 days. Mr' Hudson added that he had impressed upon the j.Jiiiistw th,o necessity of immediate attention to this- work. Tho father of one of New Zealand's soldiers, i?i a letter to the Minister of .Ocfonee, mentions that his son has writion in terms of -warm praise of the arrangements made for the delivery of parcels in Egypt. After an absence of some months in GaMipoh jio found that his parcels and books had hwu carofui'y Ifopt, and wore waiting for him.—Press AGSfveiatior:. In the Snpronie Court, in chambers, nt Wellington on the 17th inst., probate of the will of Emma Louisa Drum-. mond was, on the application of Mr E. B. Moore, granted by Sir Itobert Stout. Chief Jvisr.ii'o. to Ellen Cluillies, Emily Ebcu, and Elizabeth Dron, tlie executors named in tho said will.

Entries for the musical theory examinations of the Associated Board, 11.A.M. and R.C.M., closo on Monday, May Ist.

DJKeontonted members of the National llo.scrvo at Wellington, who want to do useful work, have set up a committee to consider the position and report to a future meeting.

'The annual meeting of the Nelson Agricultural and Pastoral Association will be held at Eiclr.riond this afternoon.

The annual meeting of tho Cathedral parishioners will be held in the Shelbourne Street Schoolroom this evening

*. Members of the Nelson Bowling Club wishing to take part in the Easter tournament must enter to-day, to ensure selection.

The London "Times" condemns the class of American cinema films which ■"portray an atmosphere of crimo and intrigue and bac.k-stnirs humour in the crude colours of a shaui romance.-'

The drapers and mercers have decided to-observe the usual Easter holidays-1— Friday, Saturday, and Monday. Following the lead «et by tho Government iv respect of the. public offices, they ivilj- also close their premises from 1 o'clock on Tuesday (Anzac Day).

The Minister for Defence, the Hon. J. Allen, speaking in the South a few days, ago, said that since tho beginning of tho -war 60 prisoners of war had been brought to JSew Zealand from Sam»a. Including these, there are 243 prisoners of war on Somes Island, and 56 interned at Auckland.

We specialise in Furs, Black Foxelino Sets, at 355, 89s 6d, 45s 6d tlie.^t. Many new shapes this season, at Trathen's.*-

In connection with the recruiting scheme, the Obllingwood County Council, resolved,. "That the council notify the secretary, llecruitihg Committee, that the council is agreeable to pa^* its share, according to the rates taken by the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board," and "That the cotincil advance £10 to central committee in Nelson at once, explaining that the amount was being sent, as progress payment, in respect of the councill's obligation to subscribe in the proportion as suggested by. the Waimea County Council, being £4 for every £100 required."

Mr. John Clegg delivered a lecture on, his war-time experiences to a large audience, in the Stoke Hall last night. Tho chair was occupied by Mr. W. M. Bolt, who briefly introduced the leoturer. The interesting and humorous account given by Mr. Clegg of his travels by sea and land —for part of the time in the enforced conipany of Teutonic ocean raiders—was very much appreciated. Mr. H. A. Hobbs kindly lent his magic lantern and screened th» pictures with which the lecture was illustrated. The proceeds go to patriotic purposes. Votes of thanks to the lecturer, the lanternist, and the chairman' were carried by acclamation.

Mr. J. Longton, of the Fruitgrowers' Federation, waited on the Prime Minister with regard to the curtailment of shipments of fruit to South America. >md on behalf of the federation asked that the duty of Id per lb. on fruit should be retained throughout the season. In the ordinary course the duty is reduced to Jd about the middle of ,/iine. Tho position now is that from 60,000 to 70,000 cases of fruit which in normal times would- have been exported "will hnve.dSo be disposed of in the Dominion. The growers therefore a*k this measure of assistance of the Government, m 'order 'to enable them to place their fruit on the local market without too great a loss t® the producers. Mr. Massey expressed himself as favourably inclined to the. proposal,' and requested that the whole..^natter should be placed in writing, so that he could bring the question before Cabinet.—Exchange.

Under the auspices 'of the. Nelson branch of tho Mothers' Union a public meeting of women w.is hold on Monday afternoon in the Shelbourne street schoolroom to further tiie cause of temperance. The Bishop of Nelson gave an inspiring address on tho subject, emphasising the face that clubs should be included in the request for the restriction of hours at which intoxicating liquors should be sold. The following resolution was carried:—"That this meeting of the Nekon Mothers' Union respectfully invii.es the attention of the Right Hon. the Prime Minister to the evils caused to our soldiers by the misuse of alcoholic drink, ;i.nd is strongly frf opinion that the welfare of all classes would be promoted if the supply of intoxicating drinks were stopped between the hours of 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. ; also that the drink evil would bo greatly mitigated if the practice of 'treating' or 'shouting' were made illegal and a heavy, fine, imposed on all offenders." Open all day Wednesday. Come to us for Ladies' Costumes, Furs, MiJliuery, Yvinter Coats, Underskirts, Gloves. Knitted Scarves, etc. Assortmc-nt good. Price moderate. Discount for cash — Trathen and Co.* ! "Against a system of conscription," says Sir Henry lilako in the "Nineteenth Century." "there, is a, strong and natural feeling. England aloce of tho European Powers has rejected the system as a means of raising and supporting an army, and in this England lias shown her wisdom, for while compulsory service secures a ready command of mo;: it presses severely upon I the.'country in many ways. It wa-s first adopted by Napoleon it 1708, in which year his levies abvoi'beiJ l,i?00,0u() young men. His conscript armies enabled, him to 'overrun.Eurona, to his o>vn vM\mato destruction. The effect upon the Frcjic'i population was disastrous, iy is shown by an essay quoted by Allison, in which it is stated that from the years 1325 to 18-33' nearly one-half the persons drawn or recruited for tho army were rejected for smallness of stature <■:;• ;>hys!cnl defects, though the stßivbrd was'thru only o?fc 2:n, sh'j.viMg how fearfully tho " dreadful wars from ISOo to ]'Rl3, when they wore born; had operated on the vigour and population of the Frcrch Empire."

I*^?™ 3' .message says that tho third, child ol- Mi- Connell Havos of Mokai, LiHdsay, aged 2} years, died, it is supposed of iungus poisoning. Hope was entertained tor the recovery of oo out of danger.

An Australian soldier, who is at present nt Gißborne on Jinal leave, mentioned a few days, ago that in tho Ausliahan camps ■preference in promotions to noncommissioned rank is given to returned "soldiers again preparing for the front. Be- stated that all noncommissioned officers who had not seen active service were deprived of their rank soiu© weeks ago, and replaced by the veterans of Galhpoli. y-

MrT. A. H. Fiold, M.P., has received the following -letter from the Minister for Railways under date Wellington, the 17 th inst. :—"I have your letter of the Bth inst., forwarding newspaper extract containing report of the 'discussion at the. Waimea County Council's meeting respecting/, the Annesbrook railway crossing; and your representations in support of an' overhead bridge at the crossing aro noted."

Whether a man who hires a horse■should bo responsible for the value of tjhe animal should it die of •iisoaso- contracted prior to his'diking possession pi. it was a question definitely decided i.n invour of the hirer. b y Mr F. V J'razer, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court at Auckland last week. The evidence showed that the animal had contractor! lockjaw twelve days before it became )ll and eight days before it was hired by the defendants in the case.

At tno Patoa Magistrate's Court, F. T. Symes, proprietor of the Tirimoaoia Dairy Factory, was fined £2 and costs for' forwarding to the Government grading stores" at Rata one bo* of butter containing more than 16 percent, of water. Defendant pleaded guilty, blit said he instructed the.'secretary of the company to withdraw tho butter from tho grading store, and forward it itb the factory to be reworked. Andrew Dunlop, manager of the Hawerj. Dairy Factory, wa-s similarly charged, and fined £2 and costs.

The sea snake caught recently at Mokau is identical with another specimen captured at Te Henui the other week, writes a Taranaki correspondent.. The latter was sent to the Dominion Museum at Wellington, and vr&s identified by Dr. Thomson, the director, as. a true snake. The cause of their migration to our shores at rare intetyals, in not clearly, known. One .authority suggests that they are inhabitants oi: warmer :seas, and possibly the mticliincreaaod temperature of tho New Zealand seas — 5 to 7 degrees—during the lfite hot summer, may have drawn them to our. shores. -

Tlae voluntary dental officer at-tho-Auckland Town Hall recruiting office, Mr Alfred Atkinson, referring to tho examination of recruits' teeth, says it is a remarkable thing that of .ill iiui men he haft examined[■■during the last thrty> months, totalling over ,700, only. twb->w.ere found.to..bo dentally sound, that is, possessed of a full Gtvt of sound1 teeth. One was nn Englishman and tho fjtho.r..,-a Hindoo. The lattor's teeth M-ero filthy, and he said he had never cleaned them in his life. "What do you think of that," said Mr Atkinson, "it serves to show how little we reilly know about the preservation 'of our teeth. The Hindoo said that he smoked, ate anything, and drank tea. and beer without thought, of his Uyfch."

How America is helping the Allies i*shown by a statement recently m;idc by Mr W. *E. Humphry in Conyrcs--. ifwhich he said: "Go to Europe: visit, the front. Yon rido- in an Aiaorieaa-auto-to'" trenches : dug with American tools, lined with American timber, protected bj* American barb^d-wiro, maiinecl with American guns, lilted vntk Aniorican ammunition, cUifeiiclyci by men clothed and fed with American products. AmericfiN. ;uv."o|iir.rit'is are scouting overhead, the c:iv;dry dashes to t::^ front on American h-orteH, tho iight, artillery is bms^ht up <;:• AmericaI * mules.''' A tiuHkhffi list <>\ American supplies to tko Allies runs into 1,408,000,00^ m-.ji-n-, -nad i:<'!u<Jos explosives, shells. l)hvnl?.et-s. rifles, forginjis, v:\iU, itßrness, vci:icl..-s, boats,. r.nd aeroplane.-..

Many handsome Sets of Rich Furs are showing at Trathen's, including Fox, Wolf, Natural Fitch, Bear, Monflon. Puma, etc., etc. We give'the best value and Is in 'each '£ discount for cash.—Trat'hen and Co.*

"It is probable that a recurrence of the cerebro-spinal meningitis outbreak will make itself felt in Victoria as soon as the cold comes," said the chairman of the Victorian Board of Public Health (Dr. Robertson) ')recontly. "I do not ■say that there will necessarily ho a, recrudescence, hut it is extremely probable, and everyone should, know, of Vi'.e risk. 1 do r.ot anticipate that tlit> -•»■mir^! will in any <*ircniest.nnces manifest itself in .<:;> virulent a form as last y<\'M\ but a groat deal will depenJ :n-.o'i the precautions taken t-o block-it. Ao 'far as we arc concerned everything is being done- to impress upon public bodies the seriousness ot tho situation, md wo arc- ready to deal with any emergency, but neglect in any snheromay lead to endless trouble and unhappiness. It is the duty of all municipal councils to take immediate steps to dtoil with c;i«es tl'fit mi edit occur. It is well to he. ready for tho probability, although it is just possible, that if we nre very careful T. fresh outbreak will not eomc at all." The death of ftichard Harding Davis ! vas entirely unexpected. sir.cc only a few weeks ago he, was acting as special war correspondent in France for a syndicate of American papers., and had just returned from .' 8-alonika, after nidi7ons >"xporie:ico.s during the Serbian retreat. He was one of the most popular- >}\- Ai.u's-iean -Aiit.ers. ar.d dos>M-y(>dly so, !';;!■ !:e v.roii> with n- vigorous and mV-tuJ'K-qn:^ :-tyle. Richard Wardinp; Op i--. warA h<-.vr. ."2 yonvs n.qo in Ph'ila--leiniMa, :i.vifj r-ai'iv mr.'.h-- a reputation. n.:. ■: novelist. ::nd later :,s a war cor-. io^jKKider,fc ]hi. '.vt.s s]>eoi-il ccrrosi>o:idpnT i'or t!;,> "London 'I.'inujrs1' and Now Voi\ "M«i-a3d" .in tlio TurcqG ri^ck, Spa n i p-i -A ra p. n"<?nn, Sou ti i Ai'ricMn, and R.»<!so-Jai>ji,noso wars, and was on mav.y fronts fi-otn tho commencement of tho TH'OKent wur. Roiao of l)is best desci'iptivo work v,<;> doan dv.rin^; the tragic Serbian retreat, and at Salonika. Ho hes written some 33 books, including novels, stories oi adventure, descriptions of his campaign:-;, and studies of difforont notions and out-oi;-th<vway places ami episodes. He has also writton five play.3. An interesting reference tc tho medically educative value of post-mortem examinations is contained in the annual report of tho Adelaide Hospital, just issued. It is stated tha.t physicians have more than once pointed out that I difficulties arc constantly arising jn connection with and objections beiny raised to the holding of post-mortem examinations. "We must bring the authorities and the public," concluded tho report, "to the realisation that the interests of the Irving, as well as those of the physicians and medical students, who are to be our future doctors, are identical. The idea, that the autopsy is hold to .satisfy the interests of the* pathologist only is wrong —it is an absolute necessity. This has been demonstrated on many occasions by the knowledge gained in the pathological departments."

\ Ship canals, as well as shipping, seem to profit by tho war: '-At-all-'events, the ordinary shareholders, who number many thousands, of tho Manchester Ship* Canal Company, were to receive this : ", veal; a dividend of eightconpence. per snare—rtlio first dividend; paid to those shareholders out of profits earned by tho canal sine© it was opened more than a quarter of a century ago. ■ i

"A German..-.disloyalist," says the South Australian "Public Service Review," ''who indiscretoly made known his secret wishes regarding the war, was recently asked to resign from the service. He most generously consented to do so, whereat the Government mind was so relieved that he was very nearly" re-engaged on. the spot at an increase of salary. It is •said that there are other Germans iv ■the South Australian public service who ore not suspected of loyalty to the British Crown, but they don't intend losing their billets by a lapsus linguae. 411 that is required of them is a still tongue and they will receive their salary, leave, and increases. And our boys at the front receive no more —not

a single solitary privilege. Moreover, many of the brave young public servants at the front will, if German bullets spare thorn, return to find that .-clerical marauders who were not even

temporarily in the servico at the time of their departure, have'been ■ slipped into permanent billets senior to their own. A nice encouragement io recruiting!"

A further lot of smart New Shapes in Ladies' Felt and Velour Hate Prices 3s lid. 4s lid, os 6d, 7s. M, to 15s 6d.—Trathett and Co. for Millinery.*

After tho evening preceding Good Friday the present Dunedin Post Office will cease tp,syxist as a post offipe. jDn that date work will be commenced to shift the ttings from the old building to i-he Garrison Hall in readiness for the continuation of mail business on the Sat.urd.uy morning, and ef niowy order business on the Tuesday, morninc;. Oiilv the post office department will be shifted in the meantime, tho lend, pensions, deeds, and registrar's offices remaining where they are until the police employee/* remove from their ilmikung to the gaol building. When tbat removal is effected the departments mentioned will transfer their offices to the vacated police station. It is not expected (says the "Times' J) that the new post office, which will be erected on the site of the old building at the cornea- of Princes street and Liverpool street, will bo completed toll the expiry of four years at the earliest. The new building will have a very ornate appearance, and the amount set down oh tlie Estimates for its cost is £-iO,OOO. The pulling down of the old post office and the putting in of new foundations is expected to occupy 12 months, and the alterations to the police station, to enable the depart-, inents left in the post office to wycure accommodation there, will also occupy several months. A momte of the Sixth Haurakis, writing to his friend at Wailii from .England, touches upon several matters which should prove of interest to New Zealanders. "Don't worry about how the- war will end; we'll give the ginger, this coining six months, I think. There are a■• terrific lot of shells, 'aeroplanes, etc., in England in readiness. Thore will be f* most appalling flare-up soon, I think., guns, and big gun? too. Gee there will be a smacking up. Don t you worry about it at all. I am very confident about it. The guns will do some talking. There are thousands and thousands of guns. ; Of tins I nm sure. Don't think Britain is not getting down to business. I don't tuinK a nation lias ever got so set- and deter- ■■>• -: :ui •,l_v.i!t n war. They talk about shirkers, but I d© not see any, except ■-.. .....i ui'i* of two. Britishers all seem to think that Now .Zealand has done so v«ll .-vid so she has, but tho crowd in Ne\v Zealand does not realise it in the same way .as the crowd here. V our ■'National Register says-you have 34 UW men of military age who wont help either by civil or military means. Is this right? Surely it cannot be. If it is, well, God strafo them. They surely cannot realise this war «t f'ji. It tlio Germans wore to win, why v* tlie <>mi of" all things. Where is freedom, loirr>lav and civilisation, as we kno->\ it, going to? To Hades, of course or anywhere up in - tho flames—34,ooo? it m't bePright. I should like to lead this Wftssod" 34,000 by the hand gently throudi some Belgian pillage or through snmo hospital ; or . blind soldiors" blinded not by lair war buo by tint -lipstly gas, or ruined m lical'-Ii by it." Bal.-. they make me sick, inoy are not men."