LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10770, 16 May 1913, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dairy land at Akaroa is worth money. Mr E. Latter reports having sold Mr C. Wilson's dairy farm, BarryBay, 93 acres, to Mr Holdsworth Rhodes, at £SO per acre. The Masonio gathering at Auckland last night was attended by 1800 Grand Lodge members and friends. It was a brilliant affair. To-day the visitors are. to be entertained at harbour excursions. The weather was unsettled in most parts of the dominion this morning. Cold southerlies prevailed throughout and rain was reported from Cape Maria Van Diemen, Kaipara, Gisborne,Dunedin and Nuggets. The "Gazette" contains the regulations made by the Governor-in-Council under the Justices of the Peace Act Amendment of last session, whereby the expenses of defending prisoners without means would be borne by the Crown. The following vessels will be witjun range of the radio stations to-night:—-Auckland—Pakeha, Maheno, Moeraki, lonic, Maitai. Navua, Maunganui and Victoria; Wellington—Victoria, Maitai, Moeraki, Maheno, Pakeha, Tutanekai, Maunganui and lonic. The Akaroa correspondent of this paper telegraphed at noon to-day that the weather was still very bad, raining hard, with a heavy sea. The wind blew all last night with hurricane force and Mr J. Newbegin's Wainui vacht Rapid broke from her moorings on to the beach and became a total wreck. Visitors to Christchurch who call at the local Tourist Office generally sign their names in _ the visitors' book. Last month one visitor from Melbourne explained that " the glad eye is 'unknown in Christchurch." and another wrote below it "ditto," as expressing his opinion. Impressions of the city vary. Last week they ranged from " most delightful" to " rather pretty." With the presence of H.M.S. New Zealand in Port, the St John Ambulance Association is taking the opportunity of making its annual appeal to the public for funds towards the maintenance of . the AssociationShortly after 10 a.m. a band of young ladies, bearing white crosses on then* arms, made a raid on the Port and commenced taking up a collection. Fairly satisfactory work was done. Passengers by the Japanese lr.ail steamer Yawata Maru, from Melbourne to Sydney, witnessed a fine sight on the run along the coast. When the vessel was between Gabo Island and Green Cape, on Thursday afternoon of last week, three big waterspouts wore, sighted. The columns of water rose fully 80ft high, and the ocean for some distance round them, was considerably disturbed. They were heading northward, and when last seon opened iu cloud formation at the top, spreading like immense umbrellas. Three more waterspouts were observed when approaching Sydney Heads. Why be weak and nervous—tone up the svstem, quiet the nerves. Stearns' Wine Cod Liver Extract increases circulation, builds up tissues and invigorate# the entire system. 39 Free Offer. —W© promise to pay £o for the best answer: Why is the White Sewing Machine like the Battleship New Zealand? Can you guess. Address letters, T. James and Co., Sole Agents. 536, Colombo Street. Competition closes May 22. Winner published in " Times," Monday, May 26. Th« decision of a special committee will final. 7999 X Blow blow, thou wintry wind* Blow all you knowl Rain, hail or snow, You may be most unkind. Really, I do not mind, For I'm immune—secure; I take Woods' Peppermint Care, Leaving ill-health l*ehind. "

At Wellington to-day, James M'Don•M was iiued £/5 or fourteen days i ,Br prisonment for sly grog-selling on ountlav.

Tlib WniroM County Council li»; given ten guineas, the Hinds School SOs fid and the Cashmere School lis 9cl to the Scott Memorial Fund. The Saturdav Half-holiday Executive will hold its final meeting on Thursday night. Those who have lists and those who intend to help financially are requested to send ill the lists to the secretary, Mr C. W. Hervey, or communicate with liini. A Dunedin telegram says that the Public Service Appeal Board election resulted in the return of Mr Marryatt, Government Insurance Department, Wellington, and Mr Morial, Lands and Survey Department, Dunedin. There were nine candidates.

At Wellington to-day, Mr IWddell, S.M., convicted a taxi-cab driver of proceeding round a corner at a speed exceeding that fixed by the by-laws. This was the first prosecution of a chauffeur since the police controlled the street traffic.- Tlio Oourt over-ruled tho legal objections, including one that it was the first duty of the Corporation to erect signposts stating the speed allowed.

The monthly meeting of the committee of Rhodes Convalescent Home was held on Wednesday; present—Messrs George Harris (in the chair), Mooi, Clark, Lieutenant-Colonel Richardson and the secretary. Apologies for nonattendance were received from the chairman, Lieutenant-Colonel Heaton Rhodes and Mr B. M. Molmeaux. The secretary's report showed that 29 patients had been received and 31 had left theJHome, and that there were 21 remaining. Tho average number of patients had been 21.885. A letter was received from tho Heathcoto County Council, referring to the regrading of Dyer's Pass Road and levels of the Convalescent Home fence, which tho Council stated would require to be altered. The committee considered the matter, and the secretary was instructed to reply Accounts amounting to £154 were* passed for payment.