NEWS OF THE DAY.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14859, 5 September 1918, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY.

A good downstairs audience attended the matinee performance of-"Peg o' Mv Heart" at the Theatre Royal yesterday afternoon.

During a recent advance the Australians captured a- box of iron crosses, which caused great sport (writes Mr Keith Murdoch, correspondent at Australian _ headquarters). Hundreds of Australians and 'Tommies now are wearing first and second-class crosses.

J wo milk vendors, at Christchureli on Saturday vrero fined £50 each-for selling milk adulterated-with water.

Ninety recruits were obtained in tho Urewcra territory by the Native Minister- (Mi- Merries) and Dr Pomra-e, Sir James Carroll, and Mr Ngata. fc-on'O 50 of the recruits were brought in by Rna. in person.

The other day three maidens were noticedm the vicinity of P-uerua. cutting a gorse hedge that would have taxed the powers of some men (says the Cluth:i "Lersder"). Good progress was mado at the work.

While.a young man named Theodore Kenning^ employed by his brother, Mr W. A. Kenning, garage proprietor, was cranking a motor car in Trafalgar street at about 5 o'clock yesterday evening, it back-fired. Kenning's arm was struck by the handle and both bones were broken. Mr J. Baird drove the sufferer to Dr. Lucas's surgery, where he received attention.

"I'l-e been in every scrap in Gallipoh and in France since 'The Landing,' and I've never had one day's illness—never been off duty once up to last February, when I got trench fever," said one- of thirty long-service men who returned to Australia by-the last transport. It was one of the original Anzacs speaking, ono of a half-dozen heroes granted six months' furlough from the iiringline on account of tlieir four years' spell of duty.

At a recent sale of horses at Eakaia ooiupetirion for utility horse? was anything but keen. A quartet of xusehillooking animals which had just completed ploughing 100 acres were sold for £3 % Tho sale included collar, names and winkers.

A reminder is given of the Red Cross entertainment to be given at the Theatre Royal to-night, when there will be an amusing curtain-raiser, ballet dances, and a musical programme.

The Masterton Returned Soldiers' Association has decided to adopt a noncommittal attitude on the liquor question.

Forty whales have been captured by the Te Awaite whalers this season, to date, which eclipses all previous records (says the Pieton "Press"). Last season's total was 86. -The present season is approaching its close, so far as humu•backs are concerned, but a sharp "lookout will now be kept for "right" whales which generally make their appearance at this time of the year.

Iremendous damage was caused -xt Montreal on the afternoon of June 25 when nearly 10 tons of dynamite exploded at the western portal of the Canadian Northern -Railway tunnel at the north end of the, city, the other side of Mount Royal. The shock of the explosion was felt ten milos away. Hundreds of thousands of windows were broken within a radius of two miles of the scene, and the whole city was shaken to such an extent that"' many people thought it was an earthquake. Iho explosion was caused by a broken power wire firing a magazine where, dynamite was stored. Fortunately no one was near at the time, which averted a- loss of life, and none of the employees were injured. The property loss is heavy 5 and consists chiefly in injuries to buildings within the radius of the concussion. A military inquiry was immediately held, when 'it was decided that the occurrence was purely acciden-

On Saturday afternoon the Christ-; church police arrested Noel Goldsbury, one of the staff of the Christ-church Technical College, who, owing to his conscientious objections, refused somo time ago to comply with his obligations under the Military Service Act. The reservist was handed over fo the military police and was placed in custody at the Barracks.

A cablegram was received from Sir Joseph Ward recently advising that the British -Treasury has agreed to pay 75 per cent on all meat after three months ■in store. The Hon. Arthur Myers has now received, a further cable "message from Sir Joseph Ward intimating that he has arranged with the British Treasury ior 75 per cent advances to be madp,ap.ainst frozen meat purchased on Imperial account six 'weeks after delivery in the store, instead of three months -as recently announced.

It is interesting to learn that Japanese soldiers iise kettles made of paper. When the kettle is needed for boiling it is filled with water and then water is poured over it. It is then hnng over the fire and the water is boiling in ten minutes These kettles can be used eight or ten times.

The annual' missionary luncheon in connection with the meeting of the Anglican Synod will bo held at All Saints' Schoolroom to-day, and will be followed by a meeting at which addresses will be delivered by the Rev. V. Long (a missionary with considerable experience of work in India) and the Rev. J. F. Coursey. A collection in aid of missions will bo made.

The question of the treatment of enemy aliens was discussed at a meeting of the executive of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association on Saturday,. and it was decided to make strong recommendations to the Minister for Defence that men called up for military service for "whom exemption lias been claimed on the ground of enemy sympathy should bo either immediately interned or enrolled for purposes of national service.

In his despatch relative to the parti- ' cipatiou of the New Zealanders in tliej general British attack 'eastward of Hebuterne and Gonimecourt on August 21, Mr Gordon Gilmour, representing the Australian Press Asociation, men-: 'turns-that after reaching the. final line1 of their objective on that day the New Zealand troops discovered German ma-chine-gunners in the vicinity, and an officer from Nelson led a party of 30, which worked round a post, and took prisoner a yo\mg German, whom they sent in to T-he post for Ihe purpose of bringing out the others. Theyoungster emerged stealthily, and fired, killing a New Zealander. " This -was the first casualty in this party, who imediately rushed, capturing the post and garrison. Two comrades of the dead New Zealander tossed up whether they should shoot tho German lad for his treachery. The spin went in the German's favour. The lad ■ was sent back with the other prisoners.

•'Oniy . last week at Wellington, a man was fined £50 for watering the milk!" declared the Hon. G. W. Russeli, when speaking of the manner in which the Government intended to deal with the individual who put his own pocket before the public weal. "Then when are you going to start on the coal man?" enquired an ironical voice from the hall. "I can't say anything about coal," replied the Minister, "except that, thank goodness we don't have to eat it!"

Speaking at the Dunediri 'Technical; College recently tho Hon. J. A. Hanan,! Minister of Education, said that during the first eighteen years of their lives many of the Dominion's young people grew up under home and school conditions which were comparatively easy, and they expected a continuance of such times for the vest of their lives, believing that the world owed them a living. He was not prepared to say that parents were not in some instances resDonsible for this state of affairs by reason of the easygoing influence of the home and the desire of some parents to see their boys and gi.yta living without soiling their hands. Some youths were growing up under the belief that to labour with the hands was the other fellow's misfortune. The Minister said there were differences in aptitudes and capacities. among young people. He was a strong believer in higher education at State institutions for those who Mould profit by it, and for full provision being made for free education for the training- of the bright intellects (whether found in the cottage or /the mansion) for the service of the State. He did not wish to see so many youths of average minds, who had aptitudes for trades or farming pursuits in which they would attain a high standard of skill and efficiency, influenced away from industrial work'and taking up clerical, unskilled work or misfit occupations. He was anxious that, this type should take advantage of the facilities offered for obtaining suitable training and instruction at technical schools.

The Premier of British Columbia adds his testimony to National Prohibition in these words:—"Since the prohibition of the liquor traffic within the Province of British Columbia tv« o of our large provncial gaols have been closed. The working out of the Act has proved of great public benefit, and vastly increased the comfort of a large number of homes in the province." To bring about a similar condition of things in New Zealand is the mission of the Alliance Monster Petition now being compiled. Bo sure you sign it, and thus have a hand in the good work of abolishing the liquor traffic. Be sure "you sign the right Petition! Look carefully, or you may be induced to support a proposal, asking for nationalisation of the Brink Traffic "with aliits attendant evils. The Alliance Monster Petition is the ono that every patriotic citizen should snyi port. Sign it and no other.*

The Nelson Anglican Synod yesterday I carried a resolution instructing its mem-' bcrs of Genera^ Synod to support and if necessary introduce a Bill to give \vdmen of the Church the franchise.

A -German, Frank Louis Johann Conrad, who had worked at liivcrpool docks since 1901, representing hiriiself as an Irishman, was lately sentencecl to six months' hard labour on charges- of being an enemy alien, failing to register, altering an Army discharge .certificate, axnd being drunk and disorderly. Known as '"'Frank Connor " ho was arrested for drunkenness, and gave himself away in tho cells by speaking in German. He had altered his place of birth, from Canada to Sligo (which ho spelt" "Schligo.")

Speaking at Wellington the Rev. J. W. Burton said: One of the -great problems of the Pacific was the decreasing population. In Tonga there was now ( an increase, and Fiji had almost turned; but in the Western Pacific the decrease was alarming. Several com-, mission's' had investigated, and a number of causes had been revealed. These were of an intricate character; bub there was one.he would mention. The peoples had inbred. Communities' were isolated and cut cit from intercourse. This resulted in a weakening of the race. They had come to see that by Judicious intermixing a very strong type could be produced. It had been disi covered that the offspring of a union of : the Tongan and the Samoan or of the j Saman and the Fijian, was an improvement on any one type. There were j new types in formation. To the north lof Fiji was a little island whose people 1 had been isolated for centuries. A ■ Chinese vessel Was wrecked there. The ; survivors intermarried with the islanders. A fine new type was produced. llt was found that to mix types of very J different leveys, say English and Fijian, was not good. Good types could be procured only by the mixing of similar (types. Thus they could see the function lof commerce m't-he Pacific. Ulnmately ; there would arise a great Pacific race.

For people to talk of a premature peace was the greatest humbug ever kmnviij said; Archdeacon Evans at a gathering at New Plymouth. ■ It -would mean a victory for Germany; that she would retain most of the area she iiad invaded and would only prepare for another greater and move terrible war in the future. And the little boys now going to school would have in turn to shed their blood and sacrificed their lives in to shed 'blood and sacrifice their lives in order to, if possible, right the- crime which we would commit in making a preWhatever the cause, the greater, pre- mature peace, "it makes me SLck when valence oi! cigarette smoking or the I hear people saying we ouaht to pray more geueral practice of smokers niak- for our enemies'. What is the only ing their own cigarettes, the demand for I prayer we can offer up for our enemies'? papers, particularly the gummed-edgeiThat they may repent of their crimes." variety, has greatly increased {says the1 Archdeacon said further that he "Post"). Sin^e the war the prices of a had the other day heard a prominent prominent brand of papers has advanced churchman say we ought to think kind--100 per cent. There has just been an l y of the rulers and people of Germany advance of 25 per cent., which is in- Imt the only time for that was when eluded. Notwithstanding the high they might* begin to think they had prices, however, manufacturers' agents done a wrong and were prepared to refuse to accept orders, as it is quite! make reparation. Til? war could never impossible for manufacturers to give any jbe ended, properly until these people promise of delivery. They are- so rush-!were prepared to make reparation. He ed with orders that new business is not j hoped to see the day when the Kaiser wanted at the moment j anc i t ] l;3 ■-^ military command of Germany rx«!:ld meet the desserts that their hombio list of crimes called for.

in the course of an address at the Dimediu Technical College on Friday, the Hon. J. A. Hanan, Minister of Education, said that JNevv Zealand had greatly prospered because of her natural resources. In some respects the conditions tjj.it made for prosperity' were gradually coming to an end. .Forests were being cut out, coalfields were being depleted, and from what he had been told by those in a position to express an opinion, some farms were being impoverished by bad husbandry. There was necessity for conserving and making;the most, oil natural resources. It was imperative that they should develop and make the most of the human resources of the country, so that people would be able to .understand the natural resources and be ablo to use them economically, and to the best advarf&age. It was of , supreme importance that the authorities ; should promote education and all otiier | necessary factors which would develop j the mental, physical and moral pdwers iof the coming generation. Tiie aim j should be economic efficiency and .social efficiency.

To-day a ?nan looking at the Molyneux River rushing out to sea by its Matau outlet would hardly credit that the mouth there was made with a walking stick. Nevertheless,., it is a fact. Mr D. Boyd gave some interesting river history hist week (says the "Clutha Leader"), when a party of county councillors, engineers, and Pressmen were strolling over the Spit. He related that prior to the 1878 Hood, the Matau Mowed west from Coal Point along the Spit till it reached the Koau, and both ran out to tea at the one mouth at Port Molvneux, which was then a thriving little river port. But at the time of the memorable flood a man traced a line over the sand at Coal Point with his walking stick —md ran for his life. Since then the main outlet of the Molyneux has been at Coal Point, and Port Molyneux was left with shattered dreams and a, memory of better dayis.

Messrs Dalgety and Co., Ltd;, will hold a land sale on Saturday, September 7th, at 12 o'clock, in the room above Hunter's, jeweller, Hardy street.

Owing to a new system of book-keep-ing, customers who have goods booked, .are requested to retain counter dockets for reference. Detailed accounts will not be supplied except on special request; the date and amount of purchase only will appear on monthly statements. —iVathen and Co.*