NEWS OF THE DAY.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14545, 25 October 1917, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY.

It was stated in error yesterday that Major L. J. Ford, killed in action, had left a widow,1 whereas in fact he was unmarried.

There are 28 men in Lyttelton affected by the war regulation prohibiting aliens being employed on overseas steamers.

In the course of his charge at the [opening of the Auckland Anglican Sy- | a°d>- Bishop Averill said the causes which led to international war were but an exaggeration of the causes which led to industrial unrest, and the solution of the industrial problem would undoubtedly make-a real advance in the solution of the international problem. The Church had undoubtedly failed to lend a- sympathetic . ear to the just claims and aspirations of the great wage-earn-ing class. The comradeship of all classes at the front would, lie hoped, break down the'foolish artificial distinctions between man and man and de-1 velop a new sense of mutual resnect! Avhcii the men returned to civil life* I

Three Auckland pupils of the New Zealand Flying School, Jvohimarama, have qualified for their pilots' certificates—Messrs. F. S. Gordon, A. H. Murison, and M. D. Sinclair.

A building situated on Mr B. B. Jones's property on Britannia Heights, and used as a milking shed, -was destroyed by fire yesterday afternoon, under circumstances pointing strongly to incendiarism. The fire evidently startted in some dry gorse beside the building, and when discovered it had too strong a hold for anything to be saved. About a week ago Mr Jones found that a fire had been lighted in the scrub, but it had gone out before_ doing any damage. On further investigation ho discovered that a water tap likely to be of use in such an emergency had been- broken, evidently deliberately. Tho shed was valued at £30, and there was a small insurance in the South British office. The contents were not covered. The police are investigating the matter.

The Minister for Marine was asked by Mr C. H. Poole in the House of Representatives whether an inquiry- had been, held as to the cause of the fire on an overseas vessel in Auckland Harbour recently. The Minister said that two fires had broken out in the bunker coal oi: this ship, .one before and the other after arrival. The superintendent had held a preliminary inquiry, and it appeared that both fires were caused by spontaneous, combustion. The result of the investigation was considered to be so satisfactory that further inquiry was not necessary.

We have been shown a letter written by a young soldier in France to his mother in Nelson, in •which, the work of the V.M.C.A. is highly eulogised. By the same mail the mother received direct from a V.M.C.A. official at the front a letter stating that her son wao one of the men in the section in which he was carrying on the work ot the organisation. He invited the mother to communicate with him if there was any matter in which he could act on behalf of .her son, and referred to several ways in which occasion for the services arose" through the uncertainties inevitably attached to a soldier's life at the front. The letter was much appreciated by and greatly cheered the parents, especially as the son had written in such glowing terms of the V.M.C.A. work and workers.

The jubilee of Lodge Celtic, 447 S.C., was celebrated' in the Masonic Hall, Moray _ place. Dunedin, on the 18th inst., the gathering being largely attended, and the proceedings enthusiastic throughout. Lodge Celtic was formed for the special purpose of initiating into Freemasonry the late Hon. James Macandrew, who at that period occupied the position of Superintendent of Otago, and afterwards became tho Father of the House of Representatives when the dissolution of the provinces took place. The facts connected with the event were: Mr j Macandrew bad expressed a wish to become a member of the Craft. Accordingly he was regularly proposed and seconded in Lodge Kilwimnng, 5.0., but before his election came on it was disvovered that a member of tt at lodge had a grievance (of a political nature) against him, and had expressed his determination to cast a black ball against his name on election night. This caused Mr Macandrew's name to be withdrawn from Kilwinning, and any further procedure was at once stopped. On this becoming known, a number of Scottish Freemasons, unattached to any lodge, called a meeting, and decided to send a petition to the Grand Lodge of Scotland praying for a new lodge fof Dunedin. The petition was i favourably received, and a charter is-i sued for a new lodge, to be called Cel-1 tic. ' I

I "Duty is.tho demand of the tjassins? i hour," and our duty clearly is" to see that so far as in us lies every man, woman, and child has the brightest and best Christmas possible. Let the future hold what.it may, the season's stocks have fully arrived, and now is the time to buy or reserve gifts or toys. This week Christmas cards, patriotic cards, and Christmas postcards will be specially featured. Bargain parcels will be sent to any friend in the country at 25,6 d, 5s 10s. 15s and 20s each, post paid, and so certain are we of <nving satisfaction tbat money iviJl be cheer-j fully returned if .you are not more than pleased. The cards are indeed lovely, and most appropriate for tie times We are m direct touch with tho best British card makers. .Nothing like them in the province. They are quito unique.-—"Novelties," 42 Hardy street, Nelson.*

Described by ilvi police as a danger to the community, Oharies Johnston, a Swede, was sentenced, to 12 months' imprisonment at the. Magistrate's Court, Wellington, for having certain prohibited publications in iiis possession.

-■ General Birdwood i told, the Commonwealth Minister i'or Defence, in his latest communication from the iront.> that any one of the Australian soldiers was betertian-a dozen Germans.

"Somehow" Irishmen always do get to the top," declared Bishop "julius at a missionary meeting in Christchurch (says the "Press"), when referring tr. the fact that his Irish brother at his side—bishop Sadlier—- had been . appointed secretary of the Board of Missions set up b\ Goner;.;! Synod.

One of the soldiers who appealed to tho Military Scrvico Board for leave at Wellington said he was part-owner of some land in Southland. "How much?" was asked. "Sixty-five thousand acres," he said.

A simple formula for the- formation of a co-operative society in the matter of potatoes was suggested by Mr H. D. Aeland to the Workers' Educational Association (says the "Lyttelton Times"). He said that potatoes recently had been quoted' at 50s a ton at country stations,, equal to 4s 6d a sack, to the farmer, but he challenged anybody to buy a sack in Christchurch for less than 8s or. 9s. Yet. if a hundred persons .in Christchurch banded together to purchase potatoes in given lots from a farmer they could procure them at wholesale rates, with only one cost for cartage.

"Of all the dullest things on God's earth, I think the General Synod the dullest," was an unexpected remark by Bishop Julius at a recent missionary meeting (says " the Christchurch "Pi'ess!')- His Lordship went on to explain that General Synod was composed of most liighly respected men, the like of whom as regards ability, power, and spiritual life cquld not be found any where, "but get'them togeter in General Synod, and you wish you were dead!" The reason was that hitherto General Synod spent much time in discussing small matters of detail which were now dealt with by the Standing Committee of General Synod.

In the report of the quarterly meeting of the Shipwreck Society of JSW Zealand it was shown that during the past quarter the sum of £350 had been expended, witli the possibility of another £30 being required. While the society is very pleased to be able to render immediate relief in the case of shipwreck or other disasters at sea, the feeling was expressed that more' support should be accorded the society by citizens and fcmß-«utßide--Dunedin;aiid. as with very few,exceptions, the funds of the society are expended in cities in the north, it is felt that firms in the north should at least subscribe to the society, it is felt that when the objects of the society are properly known they must appeal strongly to citizens throughout J\:ew Zealand. An effort was1 made last year to augment the Shipwreck .Relief Society's membership list by circularising the prominent firms throughout New Zealand, but tfte response was very disappointing

notes ™&eZtoo? Z«t to?"?- £l° en OU J? to rer lZ ft bee^ tortunate £SX*n\™,tf $*V* hv*i theiiu a fedX "IS/ tL nth " <BaJ B the farmer m Silli" dF a fS^S) Sd-S&? o Cashe?- a' cheqllS v - t hh/s Sent ™«° n P y + hIS a?°^ t ircade en foute' ?1 f° CoSfbt ff>ij "I mm^ s ia*er l vin t on ttHonSSt + ° + f lO n° + teS Stfon of the 4,J?H H *hf f^ tTSv^^en? h^hfl^? 1 J*"* 6*' teethe Poli^t^S^* J c uar^ r nroved owno^hfn fl' and. when he had turaedHo snt%^ ? 6l' e X"c" do kf station as s^fiJf? 1 * T Ve & It should bo T ?£* man' tinned behind Si tn?-™ * • !° me" g d m tokon oi Weciation.

thSf^ 3 J^P' 1 Carroll, one of., .the thiee Carroll brothers who were called up last June, but subsequently disappeared, was arrested last week at Awanui Kaitaia, in the extreme north or the Auckland province (reports the Manawatu Standard"). He had taken an assumed iiame, and was -passinohimself off as an American citizen. The arrest was made by Constable Martin, ot Kaitaia. Carroll was brought through to Palmcrston North by the Auckland express and hanled over to uhe military authorities, by whom he mil be dealt The case of the Carroll brothers attracted more than usual attention some months aira on account of the defiant attitude taken up by them when before the Appeal Board, iwo were ordered into camu and _ another was given leave for a month or so. Tho first two. disappeared and the remaining brother was then ordered to camp, but prior to the date cv his taking up military training ■•he too, left for parts unknown. The a,-, rest just ma^e is the first that has been .ieard of the absentees since their digappearance.