LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10769, 15 May 1913, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tlie net result of the Wellington citizens' carnival towards creating a fund for the purpose of beautifying the city, will be £IBSO odd. At Wellington last night the Mayor presided at a preliminary meeting in connection with the formation of a New Zealand branch of the Imperial Air League. It was decided to call a publio meeting. The following vessels are expected to be within range of the radio stations to-night:-Auckland—Victoria, Pakeha, Navua, Tofua, Maungamii and Maitai. Wellington—Moeraki, Victoriaj Maunganui, lonio and Pakeha.

Fine weather was experienced throughout the North Island this morning, but in the South there was a recurrence of the southerlies which were iii evidence recently. Rain was reported • from Greymouth, Bealey, Dunedin, x Nuggets and Bluff. s A Palmerston telegram says that Grove, one of the two escapees from '. the Palmerston Gaol, was recaptured * last night, after ten days' liberty. 3 Gaoler Gleeson, accompanied by two a detectives and a constable, effected the l capture in a house at Terrace End, 3 Grove was found under a bed. He. gave no trouble. In connection with the scheme for , the transmission of fruit by parcel post, 3 the Postal Department has decided, 5 with a view to giving the widest pbs- - sible publicity to the advantages of the ■ scheme, to distribute free to all post [ offices price lists of fruit supplied by . fruitgrowers and the Fruitgrowers'

L Association. The price lists will be k available for reference by the publio i on application at any Savings Bank j counter after their receipt from the growers. ' At the conference of the Agricultural > and Pastoral Associations, which is to . be held in the Metropolitan Agriculi tural and Pastoral Association's rooms, . Ohrisbchurch, on Tuesday next, one of the features will be the "Question -, Box." Questions pertaining to agncul- , tural and pastoral matters should be . sent in to the secretary on or before ' Saturday, so that time may be given for those persons appointed to answer ' the questions to consider them before the date of tTie conference. The Literary and Debating Society of the Young Men's Christian Association met on Monday evening. There was a large attendance, Dr Whetter occupying the chair. The subject of the debate was: " Does New Zealand produce a Better Type of Humanity than the Homeland?" The affirmative was . taken by Messrs Brown and. Sykes, and the negative by Messrs Reid, Conybearo and Dobbs. The subject was well handled, several other members taking part. The members' decision was in favour of the Homeland, and in favour of Messrs Brown and Sykes for presentation of the case. The monthly meeting of the Linwood North School Committee was held on Wednesday; present—Messrs W. H. Denton (chairman), G. Gundry, J. H. . Jenkins, G. Phillips, H. J. Janueson, H. F. Herbert (secretary). The headmaster reported that the average attendance was 487 and the average roll was 527. The highest attendance was 500, and the roll at present was 582. The sum of £ll 9s 6d had been collected in aid of the school library. Arrangements were made for a concert to be given by Mr G. W. Russell, M.P., in aid of the library, to be held on May 30. It was decided to have a telephone connected with the school. A publjo meeting was decided upon to make arrangements for holding a fancy fair during the present year. A little lega-1 point of interest came up in the Magistrate's Court this morning. A solicitor who appeared in a judgment summons case said that the judgment debtor had sent a letter consenting to an order being made for payment at the rate of nalf-a-crown a week. He asked that the order should be made in the usual manner. The presiding Magistrate, Mr V. G. Day, said that he did not altogether hold with the custom followed in Christchurch. He would make an order for the payment weekly of the amount stated, but would fix no default. If the debtor got into arrears with his payments, plam- ! tiff could proceed for their recovery in the usual manner. Speaking to a solicitor, a reporter learned that the orders were generally made in two ways, as follows:—"Order that the amount shall be paid forthwith or in default so many days' imprisonment. Warrant to be suspended a,s long as debtor pays so much per week " ; or ■'order that the amount shall be paid at the rate of f : o much per week, or in default so many days' imprisonment." The Magistrate had followed the second course, but imposed no penalty in the event of default of payment. Wind hurts your eyes? Sovere frontal headache? Stearns' Headache Cure drives it out. Take one wafer in a little water—cures quickly. 38 Free Offer.—We promise to pay £'o for the best answer: Why is the White Sewing Machine like the Battleship New Zealand? Can you guest. Address letters, T. James and Co., Sole Agents, 536, Colombo Street. Competition closes May 22. Winner published in " Times," Monday. May 26. TM decision of a special committee will 0 final. 7999 X When Mr Webster wrote of Woods He said, with graphic ease: That Woods .were mostly timber, And were all composed of trees. But if Mr Webster lived to-day He'd find a meaning newer. For "Woods" to millions simply mea*.^" The Woods' Great Peppermint Cn@ i;

R. "Williams, a Passive Resister. waa •.rrested to-dav in default of distress on account of a fine imposed for obstructing traffic by addressing a meeting at Rangiora. Included amongst the passengers on board the ferry steamer Maori this morning were 'eighty-five immigrants. The newcomers arrived in Wellington yesterday by the Shaw, Savill and Albion liner Athenic. A peculiar fish., unknown to local fishermen, was caught by Mr L. Scrra near the lower breastwork at Dampier's Bay, Lyttelton Harbour, a few days ago. It was submitted to Mr E. H. "Waite, Curator of Canterbury Museum, who identified it as a species of the porcupine fish. It is about seven inches long and three inches broad, and Mr ■•Waite states that by inflating its body it is able to float on the surface of the water. As it is covered with spines both above and below, it is protected from enemies in the shape of both birds and fish. An extraordinary spectacle was presented on the Williamstown railway line one Saturday at midday recently, when one of the trains was brought to a standstill through exhaustion of its coal supply, says the Melbourne 'Age'' The incident caused serious dislocation of the traffic, involving, at it did, the missing of connecting trains, and was the cause of wonderment to a large and jeering crowd. The train was on its way from Williamstown to Melbourne, and the stoppage took place at Footecray Junction. When the train, ■with a loud gasp, came to a standstill, and remained motionless for some minutes, it was at first thought that something serious had happened to the machinery. Tlie signalman in charge of the nearest box waved and whistled; porters on the station ran along to find out the cause of the blockage; a crowd of people, estimated at one thousand strong, gathered round, but when it became known that the cause of the whole trouble was the failure of the engine's coal there was considerable- laughter. " 1 thought our railways were th.3 best managed in the world," remarked one spectator, as ho drew a graphic word picture of the plight' passengers would have been in had they been held up similarly in s-ime remote part, while the embarrassed engine crew were tendered various suggestions of the "get out and push" rariety. But there was nothing for it but to await the arrival of a down Williamstown train, from which a share of its coal was shovelled into the bunker of the held-up engine. With a few minutes' further delay steam was got ■up, and the engine, once more in a condition of usefulness, proceeded on its way, a shrill whistle being its farewell to those ivho had so sarcastic at its helplessness.