NEWS OF THE DAY.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14864, 11 September 1918, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Mr H. E. Holland, M.P., recently received the following reply from the Act-ing-Prime Minister:—"Your telegram re fixing th,e price of beef and mutton received. I will bring the matter before Cabinet."

Atawhai residents, instead of coming into town on ■-Daffodil ■ Day, will hold a flower show, produce, etc., at tho Clifton Terrace School on Saturday week, of which particulars will be advertised later.

Mr. Hunter-Brown will give his second lecture on "Now Thought" on Friday, at 8 p.m., in the Oddfellows' Hall. This is a subject of world-wide interest to-day, and affords an opportunity of hearing an address by one who has studied under loading teachers in England and America.

A sale of work will be held in the Clvurch of Christ Schoolroom this after•* noon and evening and to-morrow afternoon.

The offices of the Petone Borough Council were broken into on Thursday night, but fortunately tho burglar was unable to take anything of value.

The Salvation Army's Peach and Almond Fair, an entertainment and sale of goods in connection with the annual self-denial appeal, -will bo opened at the Citadel to-night, and will be continued on Thursday and Friday. This evening a programme will be performed by. the boys' section of the Nelson junior Choral Society, and to-morrow night the 12th Regiment Band will play outside the buiiding.

A meeting of the provisional directors of the New Ennerglynn Coal Mining Co., Ltd;, was held at Mercer's rooms yesterday afternoon, Mr W:' S. Snodgrass presiding, when the draft prospectus of the company and tho articles of association were appi-qved. Thej Minister of Finance has given his consent to the flotation of the company, the capital of ■which, is £5000. Slares will be placed on the market at an early date.

A spocial meeting of the Town Schools Committee was held on Monday evening for the purpose of investigating certain statements regarding one of its teachers. After hearing the report of the lady members of the committee, who had gone thoroughly into the matter it was agreed that the rumours referred to had absolutely n o foundation in fact.

At ..tho Arahura (West Coast) stock sales Mr H. Karnbach," a well-known southern farm and meat vendor^ when the price of animals was soaring up and up, called out to the auctioneer: "That will do. I don't want a bigger price." What a different remark (says the Grey "Star") this is from the one that is so frequently heaid at the sales on the West Coast, viz.: "Can't you get another half-a-crcwn ?''

Returns fbr the quarter ended June 30th show that 113 summonses were issued through the local Magistrate's Court, the total amount sued for being £1458 8s 2d. In fifty-six cases judgment was obtained, the total sum recovered amounting to £423 11s sd.

Motueka.—Partly owing to the great difficulty of procuring further stocks, but chiefly' on account 'of the recent enormous rise in prices, and the certainty of further increases, we have no option but to close down our Motueka Branch at an early date. You have a fine opportunity now of securing supplies at our Bargain Sale, which still goes merrily on. A Special Parcel, valued at 12s 6d to 15s, is given to all customers who spend £5 in one day.— Trathen and Co.*

The English public learned witTi surprise that the price of standard suits was to be increased. According to Men's Wear, the price for worsted serge cloth suits to measure will be £4 17s 6d instead of £4 12s 6d.- An extra pair of trousers will be 255, Although standard ready-to-wear suits were announced to be on sale from 15th June, it was some weeks'before tho shops received supplies in'any quantity.

An interesting memento of a memorable event has been presented to the Masonic Dictrict Grand Lodge of Freemasons, E.C., this i3eing the gavel, or officer's, hammer, which was" used by ; Lieutenant-colonel J. N. M'Carroll, of Wangauui, whan he occupied the senior warden's chair at the Masonic meeting of New Zealand soldiers held at Jerusalem, on April 6, in the cavo of the: Dome.of Rock, the reputed site orj King Solomon's temple, in accordance with Colonel M'Carroll's wish, the implement was handed to District Grand Master A. S. Bankart, who intimated that it would for the future be employed in the District Grand -Lod^e as an emblem of the authority of his office.

As :i memorial to ■ soldiers who have made the supreme sacrifice three rows ■of gum trees were- planted along Nepean road, Melbourne, for a distance of nearly half a mile, on a recent Saturday. Ihe street was closed to traffic for two hours, m order that the thousands of people could plant their trees in memory- of fallen relatives and friends. On each tree a copper label was placed with the name, of the fallen, soldier] thereon. In a letter to a local resident, a'relative, who was present at the cere-! moiiy, writes: —"lt was sftd to see the' groups at each tree, yet it was a fine! thing to do, and will be a great! memorial in years to come."■> I

. At the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr. E.,G. Levvey, S.M., a nunV ber of civil cases were called upon, and either adjourned or struck out": In a judgment summons case, W A ' Kenning (Mr. Cheek) v. Charles "Stone, the judgment debtor was ordered to pay the debt of £9 Is forthwith, the order to be suspended so long as he pays £1 per week, in default ten days' imprisonment, in the Nelson police gaol.

"The first case- of triplets we have had," said Mr H. W. Bishop when the military appeal of Oliver James Wakelin (Wainui) came up for consideration at the sitting of the Second Canterbury Military Service Board. The appellant's first two- children had been born in 1912 and 1911, leaving him in Class Cof the Second Division, but on July 20th of this yonr triplets were born and the father found himself in one day taking three classes of the Second Division in one bound. The Board promptly transferred him to Class F } with many congratulations and good wisiics for mother nnd children.

"The Germans destroyed Reims," declared Mr Hurst Seagar during an address at Wellington on Saturday evening, "not from any military necessity, but because of their jealousy of the world-famous Gothic art works of France." He had read in a German magazine years before the war an article .showing how great was that jealousy.

A recent number of "Punch" has a full-pa _;e cartoon inscribed "The Fourth of July, 1776—1918." John Bull and Uncle Sam are shown fraternising over the bringing together of these dates. They are marching shoulder to shoulder, the former bearing the star-spangled banner and the latter the Union Jack. John', with a genial smilo, asks, "Doth not a meeting like this make amends " and Sam with an approving glance, replies, "Sure!"

An interesting _ momento from th_ battlefields of Northern France reached Akaroa last week. It is a Boche steel helmet How the sender became possessed of it he does not stnte. Tha helmet, which weighs no less than 2flb, is of a dull gray-green colour, and is shaped somewhat like the headpieces seen in pictures of Cromwell's Ironsides. The front peak curves outward and slightly downward, about two inches, while at the sides and back it slopes more sharply a little farther. Inside there are, besides the ordinary leather hat band, three substantial pads, to keep the steel from pressing unduly against the head. All tho same, one wonders how the gentle Hun could endure its weight for any length of time. Ventiliation is obtained by means of a small liole in each side, strengthened by a projection shaped like a nut. Motueka Residents! Remember we feel compelled to close down our Motueka. Shop on account of the very serious difficulty of procuring further stock except at almost prohibitive prices. You are well advised to get a good supply while present stock and our genuine Sale lasts.—Trathen and Co.*, The shortage of cotton, produced by war- conditions, has for some, time been engaging the attention of the Commonwealth Government, says tho Melbourne "Age."- Cotton growing might be established in Australia as a profitable and vital industry. Experience has shown that cotton can be readily cultivated in the Commonwealth, and for some time past problems relating to the picking of cotton have been under investigation by scientists, but as yet the industry which might occupy thousands of acres, has received no useful encouragement. There is a prospect, however, that something may at last be done In the matter. It is believed that definite action may shortly be taken by the Commonwealth Government to enamrage the industry. ;

A wool ease of interest to New Zealand was heard recently at the West Riding Sessions by Mr Justice Bailhache The plaintiffs, Clay and Co., ■woollen manufacturers, of Lu'ddendenfoot, claimed £1102 from W. C. Gaunt, wool, top, and noil merchant, of Bradford, in respect of a contract entered into in 1916 for the supply of noils. Defendants pleaded that owing to tho war emergency action of the New Zealand and British / Governments in commandeering' wool, they were unable to carry out. their •'contract; but: the plaintiffs asserted that at an early date in the transactions defendant had told them he had in the place all the noil necessary to complete the contract. Defendant said that he had placed contracts for 900,0001b of wool in New Zealand. The judge pointed out that the contract was dated April 1916, and the Government regulations did not operate untn tho following Noremoer. A special jury awarded plaintiffs £404 6s. j

An interesting memento from tho given before Chief Price Commissioner Piddington in Sydney the other day. Mr Isaac McKnight (president of the Master Tailors' Association) said that there were some tailoring firms in Sydney who were out for a large profit, and they got eight guineas for a suit wiiich, as a'faet, they did not make themselves, but had made at a factory at a cost of 255. This I was not a statement made on hearsay, J but tho narration of a positive fact, j Customers were also imposed on by be-j ing told that they were paying for handmade suits, when they were rr.achinemade. This, of course, meant unfair competition to genuine tailora. The only way to protect the genuine tailor and the public was for tailors, to state definitely whethei the 'suits' were hand or machine made.

Many a one with a son or relative at the front finds it difficult to decide whether or not to send tobacco, but knowmo; how valuable "the weed" is to the soldier in fche trenches, they usually conclude that no more suitable gift could be sent -'says the i:Press"). According to a letter received by a Fendalton la*.ly from-iier officer son, it is not the most economical thing to send tobacco from the Dominion. Jn fact the soldier referred to strongly ur^es his mother not to send tobacco, as he" is able to get it from the V.M.C.A. can-! teen, almost right up at the firing line I for about half the price that has to be paw-for it in Ne%v Zealand. He refers to one brand the cost of a plug of which m the Dominion is Is Id, and which he can buy at the canteen for ?d. Consequently, lie would be able to buy almost double the quantity for the same money as is paid in the Dominion for it.

"What about the rum that is served out in the trendies?" asked an interjector at the proliibition meeting in the lheatre Royal last night. • Mr James .bimpson, the Canadian lecturer, said that rum was .given to the soldiers against the advice of men who stood at the head of the medical profession in the Mother Country; and he added that no soldier of the United States was permitted to drink rum in the trenches

lii wiring to the Hon. G. W. Russell an expression of pleasure at his approacjnng visit to Nelson next Monday evening, Mr T. A.-.H. Field, M.P asked the Minister 'whether he could arrange to give a little longer time as >he Hospital Board would like him to o- 0 over the site for, the new hospital with them. Mr Russell sent the fallowing veply from Greymouth yesterday:— uAs !_. am not likely to be able to stay in Nelson, owing" to an appointment at Auckland later in the week, I will make a special trip to Nelson ■as early as possiblo,.to discuss the proposed "site! with the board." ,

1 l> ' ■ I 'The lneeting of ratepayers to be held at the City Council Chambers this evening in connection with the wharves purchase loan proposal will bo presided over by Mr T. A. H. Field, U.V.

;Courts-martial prove a strong attraction to a certain section of the feminine portion of the community in Christekurch, and that the sympathies of the Women are with the accused has several, times been made apparent, says a local paper. During a short retirement of the members of the court-mar-tial to consider a point raised during the trial of Noel Goldsb'ury on Friday the prosecutor (Captain Livingstone) was chatting with the Press representatives, when a woman-.stepped up to him and said, "I think you are very rude." To his surprised query she gave the reason:; Whereas he addressed tho officers by their rank, addressing Lieutenant S.. G Bowron as "Mr. " he addressed the. accused as "Goldsbury." Captain Livingstone explained \hm one man was an officer and the other a private, but the woman was unconvinced. When the Court rose for the luncheon adjournment she accosted the president (Major A. E. Loach). A warm discussion ensued between'them and the woman seemed determined upon securing the feminine privilege of having-the last word. Then the major called to a brawny sergeant to put hei out. Suffragette scenes appeared imminent, but before the- sergeant could reach the spot the woman withdrew and aired her opinions about the military when she got outside.

Complaint is made that coupons re-i presenting certain values in money have [been taken from letters coming back lirom the front through-the dead-letter f oftice. A Wellington lady, whcse ! brother was Killed at the front some .time back, told a "Now Zealand Times" reporter that several letters she had written to him in which she had enclosed these coupons had been returned to her alter her brother's.death, but) without rhe coupons. In coses books of coupons have been lost or stolen in this j way ■ J.he informant states that this has been the experience of some of her mends. An odd case could be put down as accidental, but the continued disappearance of the coupons surest., that .something is seriously amiss. Motuekrf.—All showroom goods must be sold this week. Balance of Ladies 3 Hats to be cleared on or before Saturday ; pricey are absolutely low, clearing at Is, Is lid, 2s lid, and 3s lid each" Spend a few shillings now and save yourself pounds later on.—Trathen's Sale of Jas. A. Wallace's stock.* The monthly meeting of the Red Cross Committee will be held this afternoon at the li.B. rooms, Trafalgar street, at 3.30. Sapper A. G. Sparrow, of Takaka, who is on active service in Palestine, is in possession of a medal which was struck by tho Turkish Government to commemorate the evacuation of Gallipoli. At a meeting held, last evening in the Academy of Music rooms, for the purpose of deciding the future of Mr Tait's Madrigal Choir, it was resolved that the choir be now known as the Nelson Choral Society and its membership increased. The work chosen for rehearsal was Handel's popular oratorio, "The Messiah," a performance of which is to be given in December. An effort is to be made to enlist the services of an efficient orchestra. Further particulars are to be advertised. For nearly three years a box of vegetables and other gifts has been tent each week from Nelson to the Lowry Bay hospital for returned soldiers, but latterly contributions haivo fallen off to such an extent that there is a risk of their ceasing altogether. Those in charge call attention to the shortage of supply in the hope that contributions will continue,to flow in again. The ' box is packed at Messrs Usher and Son's immediately after- midday .-eachv-Tlrars-' day. ■ ■■,

Motueka —Hats, Coats, Skirta, Costumes, Children's Dresses, Sports Coats, Feather Mounts, and all Showroom boods must be cleared this week Special Bargain Days: Thursday, Fril day, and Saturday.—Trathen and Co.'s Sale of Jas. A. Wallace's Stock.-

I.M.C^A. .will be held-., m the Public Hall, Dovedale, on Friday, the 13th inst.

The ceremony of opening the new wharf at Collingwood will take place on Saturday afternoon, the 14th inst.

FH. Stagg, of Hope, pleaded guilty at the Magistrate's Court yesterday to a charge of having failed to send his daughter, Gladys Stagg, to school during the week ending August 23rd. Mr ; Moore, for the defendant, said that i defendant had a family of seven children, and his wife -was in delicate health. His eldest girl had been kept at home to help her mother. The Magistrate (Mr. E. C. -Lewey) said that the child's future must be looked to, and her education was most important. He, however, took a lenient view of the case and imposed a fine of ss, with 7s costs.

An action for the return of certain furniture of the estimated value of £60 and £20 damages, and a counter claim for £53 6s, for storage was partially heard by Mr. E. C. Levvey, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, and adjourned until October Bth for further evidence. The plaintiff was Sophia Pickard, of Dunedin (fjor whom Mr. Hayes appeared), and the defendant was Louise Grace Nesbitt (who was represented bj E. B. Moore). It was alleged that tho furniture was being detained by defendant, who is a.daughter of the plaintiff, and in support of the statement Mr. Hayes in an admission by the denfendant that she had the furniture and refused to give it up. For the defence it was alleged that plaintiff had offered to pay defendant for the storage of her furniture at the same rate, viz., 3s per week, as she was paying to have fur- ' nitiye stored elsewhere, and hence the! counter claim. I