LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10926, 15 November 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Carnival Week in Christchurch will ba very fully described in the illustrations of noxt week's "Canterbury OKmes." Several pages will be devoted to portraying adequately tho annual chow of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association. In this section all the champion sheep and cattle ffill be shown, and there will be several splendid panoramic pictures depicting the wonderful scene at the grounds at Addington on People's Day. The record race meeting of the Metropolitan (Trotting Club will also be fully dealt with. There will be starts and finishes of races, general snapshots, a magnificent panorama showing the huge crowd on Cup Day, and a full page will bo given to portraying the Cup race. Tho galloping at Riccarton ' will be finely described, also the Kennol Club's annual show. There will be several pictures in connection with the strike, and a large number of general pictures dealing with topical and miscellaneous subjects. Tho number* of illustrated pages will bo added to considerably, but the price of the "Canterbury Times" will remain the same as usual, namely, sixpence. The journal will be on sale on Tuesday. Tho criminal sittings of the Supreme Court will be opened on Monday, at II a.m., before Mr Jusitce Donniston.

AH tho Canterbury trout streams, with the exception of the Waitaki, •which was dirty, were reported clear this morning. Several of the leading Wellington firms are paying their clerks 2s 6d an hour for acting as njghtwatchmen during tho strike. The following vessels are expected to "be within wireless range of the radio stations to-night:—Wellington—Ma-lieho, Moana and Maori. Auckland— Maheno and Moana.

During tho hearing of a civil case concerning tho quality of films supplied to,.a Palmorston North picture show, which was heard at. tho Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, the plaintiff ;was asked: " Are you aware that very flattering reports of the programme appeared in tho Palmerston papers? ' •'Yea," returned tho plaintiff, "I put them in myself l" 1 " - It is understood' that. Mr F. H. Smith, Conservative member for. Waitaki, will bo a candidate for Tima.ru at tho nest general election in the interests of the Reform Party. Since liis election for Waitaki less than two years ago, Mr Smith's popularity in the constituency has suffered a severe eclipse, and it is generally conceded that'his chances of re-election there are pil,.

Evidence of the damage caused to ■trout in the fishing streams by eels is afforded in the fact that on one day last:week tho ranger distributed 60,000 brown trout fry in_ various parts of the Otamete stream, in Southland. Returning about an hour later, he discovered a large oel in one pool where a quantity had been deposited. The eel was gaffed, aud on being opened was found to contain no less than 710 fry.

Local politics in an Auckland suburb ran high, a few nights ago. Mr Harris, . M.Y., visited a meeting of his constituents. A fragment from the " Starts" report:—Mr Blomfield again rosa and said, "I'm going to corner you, Harris." .Didn't you " but further remarks were drowned in tho uproar. A Voice:- "Stick to him, Bio." Mr Blomfield (above din): "I tell you what-you are, Harris.' You're like a •little boy with a squirt; and you thiuk ,■ .you're the dredge." ' Thirteen men, all more or less suf-fering-a recovery from drink, appeared before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., this morning, charged - with drunkenness. Two were merely statutory first offend- . ers. -'That is to say, they had riot been before the Court previously. The other _. eleven were . making absolutely their ~Er§b—appearance., One was remanded for medical treatment; one, who had been drunk on the railway station, was fined 10s and costs, and the other pleven were each fined 6s and costs. Particulars have reached the domin- " Soa concerning the prices realised by the first and part of the second consignments of noney sent to' England through the Waikato Beekeepers' As- ' sociation. The first consignment of 130 cases realised from 33s to 46s 6d per cwt, the whole lot showing an average of 43s 4d per cwt Some of tho lowerpriced lots were described by the brokers as " pale and rather lumpy," " setting dark and sugary," " set, dullish, lumpy," etc. The highest priced lots •\v-3re described as " set amber." Of forty cases of the second shipment sold, twelve realised37s 6d per cwt, and the other twenty-eight went for 43s 6d per cwt.

Tho somewhat extraordinary conduct tof a man, apparently a fireman from one of the boats in port, caused a little amusement the other afternoon at Dunediii among tho fairly numerous crowds that now assemble on the waterfront. . .Tho young man strolled slowly down to tho wharf, evidently from the vicinity of a neighbouring publichouse, and,, making a remark to the effect that "things were a bit sultry," he dived head-first into the water with all his clothes and his hat on. After disporting himself for some time in the .•water, and incidentally showing considerable prowess as a swimmer, he returned to land, and, apparently for tbo edification of those present, proceeded to repeat the performance. Finalljrhe wended his way up the street, j-eemingly in the direction of the publichouse from which'be had appeared to come, leaving a dripping trail behind on thefootpath. \ "Business-is dead," said a town traveller of a fancy-goods firm to a Wellington reporter on: Thursday. "I have now been travelling for twentythree years and have never experienced anything like it. I went into a ishop this morning, and the look the buyer gave mo was quite enough; but, he added, he-had not come to talk business, but merely to show him samples of ,a few now lines. All the heads of departments 6eem to have been instructed not to buy for the present, so there is practically nothing doing save a few lines in tobacco and cigarettes. Some of tho tobacconists judge that they might run short of stocks before the port is cleared and aro buying a little ahead in case of emergencies. It's no good showing any jewellery—most of tho customers say that these are not jewellery times—and one cannot conscientiously say that they _ are. I am very much-afraid thatjhis strike is going to kill trade this Christmas.

■ Says the " Dominion":—Another meeting of strikers' wives and sympathisers was held in the Opera House on Thursday afternoon and was presided over by Mr G. Glover. It was a well attended meeting, and also afforded evidence of how many women were ewayed by the curiously twisted aspect of the matters placed beforo them. Now Zealand is a land said to be overflowing with milk and honey, and various other pleasant things, and, judging from the aspect nf a proportion df the -women gathered, the comforts of life had by no means passed them by, notwithstanding what was said to the contrary. The speakers and the women •were on the best of footing, and interjections endorsing what the former said were very plentiful. The concluding act was a proposal from one of the audience to give three cheers for " their leaders, their husbands, and their 1 others." They "were given with enthusiasm.

The management of the D.I.C. announce that their warehouse and showrooms will bo open for business all day to-day, Saturday, till 9 p.m. 1599 Just add pure water to Thomson's i" Purity ". Cordials, and you get a drink unequalled for flavour, wholeeomoness, economy. Thomson's Raspberry Vinegar, Ginger Wine, Limejuico Cordial, Lemon Syrup, Ship's Limejuice, are all manufactured from purest : fruit juices. All grocers. Ford and Mirams, agents. 7X

Mr Taylor, North of England champion billiard player, will tako part in an exhibition gnmo at Stephenson's billiard hall on Monday and Tuesday nights. After each match ho will give an unique exhibition of fancy shots. Two Dunedin tobacconists (says a Press Association message have been summoned to appear at the Magistrate's Court on November 26 for a breaoh of tbo Gaming Act by soiling Tattersall's tickets. The Christchurch "Press" does not eee why, in this democratic country, any union should be under tho thumb of a so-called executivo in "Wellington. It is not, of course, referring to the Employers' Federation of the Empiro City. The "Dominion" admits that Mr Payne would never have seen tbo inside of Parliament as a member of tho House of Representatives but for the Reform vote at the last general election, and says Mr Veitch owes his election to tho Reform vote.

"What's in a name?" A great doal, sometimes, as witness the case of G. L, Bugg. In this week's "War Cry " he notifies that by legal procoss the family name has been changed to Austin, and desires all friends in futuro to address him accordingly. To comply with tho alterations made in tramways regulations by the Legislative Council will cost tho Dunedin corporation £I9S6. They will have to build new cars and five additional cars will bo required to provido the seating capacity stipulated (says a Dunedin Press Association message). "Do you ever get drunk yourself?" was a question put to a witness in an alleged assault case at the Upper Hutt Court. Tho witness, who showed not tho slightest hesitation, but rather appeared to appreciate the position, replied curtly: "Most certainly I do; just as much as anybody else does."

Telegraphed news has been received in the Wellington country districts that the number of wharf labourers to which a substantial wage was guaranteed has now been reached. "Any futuro engagements for wharf labour will be on current rate of wages, with accommodation and protection until normal conditions prevail.

A poll is being takon to-day on a proposal to extend the city boundaries, in order to bring into it part of the Wainiairi County Council. The area affected is in the Marshland and Shirley districts, on the eastern and northeastern boundaries of the present boundaries. The poll will close at 7 p.m., and Mr T. W. Reese, the returning officer, expects to know the result at about 7.30 p.m. It transpired from some remarks made by the Hon G. Fowlds to a reporter at Auckland that ho had never been a supporter of the 6econd ballot, and although he was a member of the GoTernment that put it on the Statute Book, it was not with his approval that ib went there. For years past, Mr Fowlds eaid, he Jiad 6een that tEo only rational electoral 6ystem is the system known as "proportional representation." Colonel Russell has written to Mr J. A. Fraser, Hastings, stating that some of the Hawke's Bay special constables now in Wellington wish to return to their homes on account of the shearing and other business reasons, and tweutyfivo men, with horses and equipment, are required to fill the vacancies. Mr Fraser is prepared to receive applications for enrolment. Applicants must bo prepared to leave at 6hort notice. A special train will be arranged for to take the men to Wellington! He advantages of the coast route from Kaikoura were illustrated in a striking way earlier in the week. A party which left Kaikoura in a motorcar at 10.10 a.m., and took the coast road, reached Christchurch at 6.10 p.m., after stopping an hour, and a half for lunch. The run was a non-stop one, except for the luncheon break. Some other cars took the inland route from Kaikoura on the same day, and had serious trouble in the Conway river bed, several being stuck up. The coast route means a climb of 400 feet, against 2000 feet on the inland route.

Says the "New Zealand Times'':— Members of Parliament are not con> potent, in tho present state of tension, to give calm and undivided attention to the public business, and the time of the country is simply being wasted. There is no question that Parliament could tender distinguished service to the people by addressing itself to the settlement of tho industrial deadlock, but if it is not prepared to undertake this responsibility the Government would bo well advised to arrang_e an adjournment and remove from this inflamed centre of popular feeling tho danger of further incitement of a party character.

The " Dominion " reports that, speaking in Wellington, Mr Hickey asked: If the charges against the leaders were so serious, why were the men allowed at large for three weeks? Tho Government was not serious, but thought it would weaken the strike. But why was bail refused? Did thov think "Tom" Young would flit to 'Frisco in the Moana? Poor old "Bob".Semple was not very fat. Did they think he would vanish altogether? Did they imagine "Harry" Holland would roll himself up in a copy of the " Maoriland Worker" and escape to Australia? In these days of trial and tribulation they all awake in the mornings wondering whether they were going to grace tho gaol. Madame Clara Butt is credited with having had a,n extraordinary experience a little while ago. The story goes that the prima donna received an urfent request from a lady to 6ing to er mentally afflicted child, as she noticed that Madame Butt's singing seemr ed to _ have some wonderful influerco over him, and brought quite an intelligent look into his eyes. Madame Butt, who rather doubted that her singing had such a miraculous influence for good, after some persuasion agreed to sing to tho child once a week for several weeks. The child is said to have responded so readily to the unique treatment that he made marked improvement. After a while he was put in the hands of a specialist, , under whose care he developed wonderfully. The grateful mother steadfastly believes that Madame Butt's singing was responsible for tho cure.