NEWS OF THE DAY.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14588, 17 December 1917, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY.

With a. viow to lightening the new financial Wclen.s. restin<z on hotelkeepers the Wairau Licensing Committee decitle<l at its.qucarterly meeting that the requirement to keen'a light burning oxitside licensed premises he dispensed Avith for the period of the war and for six months after.

hrSf i\ r 1? Wellington on Saturday ' brought 5d per peck. The'price locally ' 'peek y WaS °m lOd t0 ls 2d P** Of a local hotel informed an Otaki Mail" representative tfcat, the restricted hours for hotel bars tad! made a difference of fully £40 per week ' m the takings of the hotel in which he is employed. Intending. passengers are notified that. tho s.JS. Nikau will le^i/e here for \Vellington at o p.m. to-day, instead of 7 p.m., as .originally advertised )

Writing to Mr. D. Buick, M.P., from Palestine on September 9th,. Trooper W McKay (6th Mounted Rifles) says: Good luck, Mr. Buick. The boy 8 out Here m Palestine will stand by you at election time Let them have a drink •if they want it before leaving New Zealand When they arrive out here they will find things dry enough."

The Motueka Borough Council has, decided, >on the casting vote of the Mayor to gl ve a trial test of Dreadnought gas, with 150 burners, a* soon as the necessary fittings can be procured and if it is satisfactory, to install the gas immediately. This step has been-rendered necessary owing to the scarcity of carbide

The news of the fall of Jerusalem was celebrated at Dunedin by a public gathering at the King's Theatre. In spite of the short notice the building was packed. Speeches were Hiade by ihe ,rMar r (? Ir" J" J- Clark>> Professoi Bedford, and the Rev. R. S. Gray,-and patriotic songs were contributed "by leading vaealists.

The medical superintendent of the Mental Hospital invites contributions towards the entertainment of the patients during the Cnnsimas , season. Ihe public have always responded generously to this appeal in past years, and the authorities of the institution have m consequence. been able to make Christmas a bright spot in the lives of their charges.

A meeting of the Empire Service League will bo held at the Oddfellows' Hail to-night. The subject for discussion is "Education for Citizenship," and addresses will be delivered by the Key Father McGrath and Messrs T. AH. Field, M.P., and F. Coleman, secretary or the Nelson Educational Institute. A special invitation is extended to ladies.

Ihe Helping Hand Shop advertises that contributors at Happy Valley, Atawhai, and Wakapuaka are asked to give this week instead of later in the month the gifts to be collected on Wednesday afternoon Gifts from both the Port and the Wood will be collected on Thursday morning. Brightwater friends are reminded to send to Mrs Rutherford's. After this week the shop will 'be closed for a iortmght, so Thursday will be the last opportunity for giving and buying this year Business will be resumed on

At a sitting of the Justices' Court, (Takaka, Messrs A. Whelham and T joymes, J.P.s presiding, a case of rather exceptional cruelty'to a doo- was disclosed in the evidence produced by Constable Edwards (says the "Golden B, a?sW"> A dog had been tied up at Motupipi, and was reduced to a skeleton for want of food and water, the owner (Frank Keynolds) bein<* a workman at Tarakohe. When the doe was given water by the constable, its condition, as described by the officer, was bones'with a skin over them." lne .Bench inflicted a tine of 50s withcosts 9s 6d. ' I

Ihrough a mishap to the 1.30 p.m. .bus to the Port on Saturday, a lady passenger was injured. There were two passengers, one of them a girl and the other Mrs Hogan, of Pangatotara, who is visiting her son, Mr J. Hogan of Russel street. It appears that Airs Hogan asked the driver to stop at itussell street, and while he was turning rp°u ge T the messa S© his hat blew off lhe driver made the reins secure, and ran back ior his hat. The horses became restive and started off without the driver. made almost straight tor the footpath, crossing on to the grass among the trees. The 'bus was brought to a standstill by a wheel becoming caught by a large tree. The Passengers'.endeavoured to get out and the girl did so safely. Mrs Hogan.W ever suffered painful injuries, which ne-l cessitated j her removal to the Hospital i he; vehicle was considerably damaged, but the horses were unhurt

Teddy_bears are more popular than tJrl ? }Z fiti "pities," 42 Hardy .street hold the prck of the very best British productions.. .Prices range from 2s lid, 3s Gd; 4s 6d, 5s 6d, 7s 6d, lS (20S Par Cds °f i°>*>

Iho reason second-hand pianos are L + Ul^f^ C 6' S^ h -orice« » England is that the English production- of new mst r u ment ;isjily .w vvar output; j Four. year,3^ago 126^) pianos wereraade in Bngland! But'the warhas made copper scarce, and some tor t£ n° trade wks ratS tor three months on a basis wliich would allow of themakino o f 12500 S33SM-??' tho Edition was SSf^ of the pianos i ftWpl? f P°rtod, or 6 u P pP hed nfthfiJ' M-C' A: huts or the canteens of .the Jyayx and;; Army Canteen Board.!

. Prize money/ in connection -with the fo JT ?£ ow was Pai4 out on Saturday last by the seeret.aryVMr.'vr-.^en The princ iP AI Winning exhibitors and the tei°e Ua fnfl CeiVCd $* 4*Wm Jni n olIows:—Leo. Berkett, £15 7s i B^ ton and! CoiV ..speciai prize value £2 2s;.J. Berkett, £7 15s ■ £ G IJerryman, £10 16s 6d, Mr A p au! £R £' 5 n' £1V Os'> John Jeliyman v ' ~ Fairey's cup value £8 8s • (Spring CW £6 ei^'Jr *t£ €6% CIJ t!Tr Mental HosP^ ti V W-. L- -Palmer, £6 Us and fl iJo '> ?f rs Trathen, £6 2s r W Wells £5 13s 6d; E. W. \v*in £8 8a - * Mrt ' Windelbourn, £5 ss , aid Mes-rfGrtf-' w- Sons special value £1 10s • L St £4 Us* 9 &; iIK J°S- W^:

Christmas Presents—Ladies appreciate our Japanese Dress Silks, Silk Blouses Shawls, and Handkerchiefs.— It. Snodgrass and Sons.*

The Thermometer .—At 3 o'clock this morning the temperature oiitside this office registered 46 degrees

■ Where to stay when in Westnni-f, GRAND HOTEL, opposite fiSHI New Zealand.*

On and after January i s t 1917 ™mf s mail cars will leave Kelson for Takaka at 8.15 a.m. (instead of 10 a.m.), arrmng in Takaka at 1 p.m Leaving Takaka for Nfilsoa at 8 am arriving in Nelson atl p.m. Cars will meet at Motueka for siornitur tea ftt

Fines ranging from £2 to £3.havel been inflicted; in the Auckland. Magis-1 trate's Court in cases in which xper-; sons were charged with cruelty to fowls and turkeys by keeping them in boxes and sacks that were not sufficiently ventilated. The New Plymouth Borough Council has decided to dispense with the poll of I iatenavers to determine whether a loan! shall be. raised for the purpose of pur- ■ chasing a motor omnibus for a' suburban service. The delay that has taken place will probably postpone the installation of the service considerably.?

Instructions have been cabled to the rfi™, A?y headquarters to name a hut "The Ormondviile Hut," Mrs J D Ormond having sent a handsome bequest ior the hut to be given to the soldiers m memory of the late Hon. J. JL> Ormond,. whose pioneer work for the colony is kept in mind by the name of the town "Ormondviile."

Since 191-1 the cost of living, dni<r S and petrol has advanced 100 per cent' We therefore request that our salaries be increased by the same proportion " In this manner the three medical ™-f!% -m v^ e service of the Cricklade {Wiltshire) Board of Guardians applied ior an increase in their salaries.

Speaking at a meeting of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, Mr J A oung, M.P , referred to the Arapuni scheme, tor the developing 0; hydroelectric power, and said he had seen the Minister lor Public Works, who had assured him that Auckland and Wellington would receive first considerationin connection with power development

An outbreak of fire occurred at llatawai Poverty Bay, as the result of winch a <stor<j and iive-roomed dwelling was partially destroyed. The premises were.occupied by Mr Edward Connolly who estimates Ms loss to be in th« vicinity of £500. The building was inSSf for n£3S). N"V ZeSland lD6Uranco "The matter of fires ir. flax swamps caused by sparks from railway engines received tlio close attention of the Chamber. The Department disclaimed any responsibility, yet it was a significant fact that after' attention JadiSn called to the matter there was a marke.d dimmution in flax swamp fires " stated the annual report presented to the Palmerscon North Chamber of Commerce meeting. , Dolls l .Wise buyers Who want a wide', choice arid who want moneys worth I and who appreciate their children's' pleasure /before- "splosh," will go to: '•Novelties." . Here you behold' not a! tew--mean,-isolated,- desolate, and battered fragments, but a full, fresh, and a: really worthy range, -Prices Is to 555; at "rsovelties.'*:-•■

Ihe South Island- selling, merchants recently resolved-on new-terms of sale lor grain and produce'which halve not met the approval-of- North Island buyers. In conjunction- with the latter, the council of the V» ranganni eham.ber of Commerce considered the new terms and made various recommendations, which have been forwarded v, Paimerston Aorth, where a conference is to be ijeld to agree upon objections to the iiew terms, in order to submit their views to sellers.

} General business continues very heavy, (says the Auckland "Herald"), with a good all-rou-nd demand in nearly all departments.- Money is plentiful, ana buyers are operating" heavily as a good producing season is expected, with an increased spending power accordingly. Shipment is tho difficulty, as products are steadily piling up, awaiting ?hS nt -+r >Jule -"ward'- dipping is limited, wit'i a consequent reduction in imports. Imported «oods are steadily getting into smaller compass, and buyers often have to take fust what they can get. Retail trade is now more active, and a big season is expected right up to Christmas. •*• A serious and painful accident occurred at Spring Grove on Thursday afterno?.n- Jt appears that Mrs William Arnold, with her son Louis, was driving to Waimea uv est and when oppositethe residence of Mrs ilansen the hoSS fifrt 1? 1^ that Alrs wll S-?t • h + t ad *o?? most out-of the-trap, puking the shaft and breaking one of her ribs, and also striking her head iorce that the side of the head from over the. eye to the ear was terrtbS laoerdted. Unfortunately her son owimg to severe injuries received in Fr'ancl ffi hp£? ble to gefc out of the yeS; lady «J S°°n IVed' The -unfortunate lady was carried into Mrs Hansen's and attended to until the arrival of &, Fearless, who, after doing what was ne^ the. Sar& o at-;T e o^ ed her removal £' the Hospital. Mr Higgins kindlvi brought out his car and ctnveyed SS Arno d to the Hospital, w££2rt wS found that an operation was Pessary

qtelS^J V? ml w under control °f«»» 3 l jV^Jfnd. Instead of ordering supplies direct from the manufacturers nni r°maa t dealers in etches Ire nZ f^r^?. t°, Bend their orders bj post to the Match Control Office. Every WntfrVlol^.* of S; esSL by cbe *dealer * «upphe S will be! regulated as far as possible by pur-j chases made during 1915, having regard to subsequent displacement of popula-

jnd concentrated at •^SSS!!

structed that the alcoholic liquors cSd .Kelly said he would object to sula proceeding. He remarked that the police could not be satisfied as to what drinks would be served in the bar S* ess they were constantly present during the sales on the look-out for-a breach of the Act providing f or 6 ;J o'clock closing. In discussion, the chairman pointed out that it did not come withm the functions of the com i mittee to interpret the law for a i licensee s guidance. It would be for i the Magistrate to interpret it if the ' licensee chose to adopt the plan he had ' m mind and he were prosecuted It! SoStly" 1 t0 "^ t0 Mr' K"-k™<* j

While he regretted the fact that the weather was unfavourable for the Opawa bridge ■ opening ceremony said the Minister, for Internal Affairs he was glad to know that the district'was benefiting so largely from the downpour of ram Mr Seddon used to claim that Ihe could bring to a district whatever •particular brand of weather it wanted In this case he thought that some" credit was due to himself. He had been I told the "Express") that the' ram. was worth £10,000 an hour to Marlborough He had been talking £ a Blenheim banker on the subieet He thought he ivas entitled to go along to that banker and claim a commission. (Laughter.) . . ■■--" ' *

Among seven; hundred wounded soldiers who(returned to Australia recently was Private J. Lewis, a New Zealander, who enlisted in Sydney Alter being nearly, two years awayV he Has been sent home • suffering /from trench feet. He. was wounded in the throat and .legs'at Louvebai just after the Ger man retreat from tho Somme. At .Lou" vcbai, Jio says, his unit had their first "stunt" in open country. About 4 3() a.m. a little dog—a kelpie— got away iroin the Fritzes and joined them. Ho started barking furiously, and immediately the Germans turned the machineguns on them, and wiped out half their battalion, 'ihe Germans, he says, train, dogs to act as spies, and when they bark they know they have come across a party.

It is gratifying to know that a change is coming over high officials with regard to the much despised middleman (writes a Bradford correspondent). It. is being realised that a mistake has been made in trying to iorce him out of existence. Even yet it would be possible to give diametricaJJy opposite impressions of the Government's attitude, this all depending upon the individuals from whom the impressions are obtained. Yet a straw will indicate the direction of the current, and even after due recognition to any revolutionary theories which, may still remain in the minds of some, «an J ßil! l' bo truly and emphatically affirmed that a better tendency is showing itself. It is being grasped that the middleman cannot be wiped off tho s ate entirely, and that as a factor in tne wool trade he is something to be reckoned with and recognised. •

By pressing cigarettes upon woundancl convalescent soldiers in such quantities a generous public is unconsciously making it more difficult for us to <*©fc them well," said an officer sitting oS a medical board of the over-seas contingent to a. representative of the "Daily Mail. Yt ,ien you get these lads just out of hospital suffering from shock, heart trouble and all manner of nervous disorders, smoking, and particularly Cigarette-smoking, is as bad for them as-drink; in fact, we should like to see it controlled in the same wa v as liquor il it were possible, in a normal, case the smokrag of a cigar will send up the pulse 13 to 20 beats a minute, so the cftect Q f 20 to SO cigarettes a da.y on a man m a weak condition may bo easily gauged. AYe do not want to stop smoking, but we ask for something m moderation. A pipe is the healthiest smoKe.' miThf hUf? e- Whe^ KUrplus in Australia, Hw a have keen expected (says an Auckland paper) as the quantity sent away caused very Jit tie impression to be made on the enormous harvests of IQIA i- \u W2 -ve^- TllG harvest ofc* iyl4-li), the first during tho wav, was a failure, but the next was a record and -there is still some of it left, exposed to weather and vermin, in addition to the whole of 1916-17 harvest. The financial, obligations incurred from this unfortunate position may bo gathered from the- fact that Australia still has wheat cd' J fco- tho value of ab°ut £40,----000,000. and m a week or two another big harvest wilt commence. The problem is what they are going to do with it and there xs very strong feeling on lhe ,o* h« Sl'-Je that a different policy should be and instead, of restiictlngthe sale every effort should bo made to get it sold or milled, anything to turn it into money and save it from tiie hordes of mice now in possess-on