LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11093, 2 June 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An Irish wolfhound puppy, bred by Mr Booth, of Burnham-on-Crouch (England), arrived in Wellington by the Rotorua vesterday. It is consigned to Miss H. Clifford, Stonyhurst, Christchurch.

It is doubtful if tbo speeches, constantly repeated almost without variation, which win both Mr Masso.V and Sir Joseph Ward enthusiastic votes of confidence from the same electorates, have any real effect upon political opinions proportionate to the exertions tnoy entail.--Tiiuaru "Herald."

Tho installation, of Brother Robert Laurio as Master of tho Lodge of Concord, Pnpanui, and investiture of bis officers was carried out on Wednesday by M.W. Brother Binns, P.G.M., Prov. G.M., and bis officers. Over one hundred and eighty brethren were present, amougst them being tho nowlyelectcd Grand Master, M.W. Brother J. J, Dougall, and tho officers of Grand Lodge. On the Lodge retiring to the refectory a conversazione was held when all "present thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

The old age pensions office, which was formerly in Hereford Street, near the bridge, has been removed to the east end of the new Government Buildings, in Worcester Street, and the now offices experienced their first pay-ing-out day yesterday. Some of the old age pensioners found the steps rather steep for their feeble legs, and occasionally the offices were so crowded that the people overflowed into the corridor. Evidently the change of venue was not universally known, as old 4 peoplo wore occasionally found anxiously inquiring the location of the old ago pensions office. Miss C. W. Christie's " question meeting "on Wednesday next should be very interesting and instructive. Similar meetings held in Auckland and Wellington wero very successful, and seemed quite as much enjoyed as lectures. So many questions woie sent Miss Christie that she was often kept until nearly ten o'clock answering them. Miss Christie is in her element when giving thoosophical answers to the numerous questions sent her. One feels that all she says is very real to her and her bright, gracious manners make her a very attractive exponent of tho thoosophical teachings. The report of examiners on matriculation papers in Wellington shows that out of a total of 1233 papers,.2s per cent' of tho candidates in English failed in paper A A and 45{ per cent in paper B. A commentary on the a.bsence of brilliancy is the fact that the highest marks obtained out of a possible 100 were 78. An illuminating observation in the report is the following:— " Maudlin sentimentality and pulpit platitudes were reeled off with truly dreadful fluency. It was significant., however, that the morn unexcepr tionable the moral sentiments were, the worse became the grammar and tlie cruder the diction. Here and there, however, Lu tlie 1233 e'says, onedetected the saving grace of humour."

Aii Epsom resident (Mr F. Evans) has had an interesting time watching the starlings nesfc iu his garden, savs the Auckland "Herald." The birds started to build iii the spouting of the house, and, though netting was putup to keep them off, they persisted, and so Mr Evans had two boxes placed in a shed, with convenient holes cut. Starlings commenced to nest in the boxes. The selection of the exact site of the nest was not accomplished without much chirruping and laying of heads together. Sometimes for over an hour the birds would sing their ideas to each other and argue in sounds resembling the quacking of ducks* After the young ones had been reared the old birds cleaued out the nest and made a new start, laying down straw and twigs for the following year. This has .hap-' pened two seasons now. To ascertain whether the young ones returned Mr Evans put rings on the legs of some of them, but he has not been able to detect them about the place.

The Waimakariri Harbour Board met last night; present—Messrs J. Barnard (acting chairman), L. Edmonds, J. Wright, W. Marsden, K. M'lntosh and T. Keetley. The harbourmaster reported an average depth of water on the bar for the month of 6ft 6in. Heavy south-west seaa had silted up the bar. and the two freshes during the month was too small to effect much improvement. Owing to the shallow bar there had been no arrivals. The recommendations of the Works Committee that willows overhanging the Cam River and others impeding the waterway in the nortli Lxranch should bo cut down, and that several owners of sections on the river bank should be ordered to remove obstructing trees were adopted. Owing to the indefinite postponement of an interview in Christchurch with the Minister of Marine the acting-chairman and Messrs White and M'lntosh were authorised to draft a letter to the Minister asking that the services of a Government engineer should be granted to report as to the means to be adopted for _ improving the river bar, and also asking whether the Harbour Improvement Committee should be invited to co-operate in the matter. The Finance Committee's report showed the receipts to have been £24 10s 2d, a"d there was a credit balance of £39 17s Od.

Frank Morton on tho Wellington weather:—l have been finding some enjoyment in taking note of how different people! know are affected by climatic conditions. It is really very curious. In some it breeds a habit of lying. You will bo fiditing your way through the nineteenth blizzard of theseason, and when you reach the terminus and form part- of the oozy squash in tho tramcar, a typical Wellingtonian with a wide mouth will begin to tell you how exceptional tho weather is. Every day of every week through all this last few years I have met men that have assured me that this weather is truly most exceptional. Is it falsehood, or is it sheer delusion? I don't know ; but I do know- that there are thousands of decent people, otherwise apparently sane, who will tell you that tin's Wellington climate is one of the finest of the world. Positively, mind you—" One of the finest climates in the world, sir!"—they put it just like that. Men have told me that when T have been miserable beyond words, wet to the skin, chilled to th° marrow, with ray lungs full of hail and gravel, chilblains on my toes, premonitory rhfiimatif: iwingos m my knees and elbow*. These mad optimists have no pity. They keep their most frantic jubilations for the worst weather. They wp tell you solemnly how rotten the eh mate is in Sydney or the Isle of Wfchs. There is no orlrr hallncrnation in the world quite so inveterate and obstinate.

Comfort in office,, sitting-room or Bedroom —Odourless Oil Heaters of perfect construction, from IS* 6(1, ruby glass fronts from 19s Ocl. Hastio. .Hull and Pickering, opposite JJjillutityuu's. 1988

Mr George Forbes will deliver a political address to tho Huruuui electors in tho Hawarden Town Hall on Thuredav, and in the Ambcrley Town Hall on" Friday. Both meetings will commence at 8 p.m.

Tho musketry instructors under tho Defence Deportment will attend a conference to bo held in Wellington on Juno 10. Among othor things the conference will endeavour to get tho rifle ranges rando thoroughly up to date. At the Wanganui Magistrate's Court yesterday, states a Press Association telegram", G. H. Grant, assistant in a chemist's shop, was fined £1 and costs on each of two charges of breaches of the Opium Act. The breaches wore unintentional.' A Press Association telegram from Auckland states that at a conference- of North Auckland dairy factory managers it was resolved that It was in the best interests of dairying that the northern factories should adopt a system of cream and milk grading, with payment according to purity and butter-fat contents.

The Junior Philatelic Socioty of New Zealand met in tho Hoys' Gordon Hall last evening, the president, Mr W. J. Wilson, being in tho chair. Six new members were elected and one resignation was accepted. It was decided to hold a debate at tho next meeting on tho subject, "That it is more advisable to collect obsolete stamps than current issues." Messrs W. J. Wilson and K. K. Watts displayod their collections of stamps, which woro much appreciated by the members.

"Only ono branch of the A.5.R.5.," the "Railway Review" states, "has failed to endorse tho Pahuerston North resolution protesting against tho appointment of Mr W. R. Haseldeu, S.M.. as chairman of both North and South Island Ap])eal Boards." The "Reviow" criticises adversely a suggestion by tho Timaru branch that the Stipendiary Magistrate in each district should act as chairman of tho Appeal Board.

A special meeting of tho Boot Trade Federation was held last evening _to consider a request fro' ll the Christchurch branch that the Federation secretary, Mr G. R. Whiting, should bo entrusted to arrange special meetings when visiting tho branches in the North Island*, and urge affiliation with tho Social Democratic Party and the United Federation of Labour in compliance with the resolution adopted at congress. It was resolved to accede to tho request, and it was decided that Mr Whiting should bo instructed to do his utmost to give effect to the resolutions submitted by the Christchurch brauoh.

, The Canterbury Christian Endeavour Union met on Thursday at tho Y.M.C.A., the Rev A. N. Scotter presiding Over a large attendance. The resignation ofMrL. W. Voller as vicepresident was received and after consideration it was decided not to accept it. The Rev J. J. North wrote stating that he could not possibly address the Christian Endeavour rally on June 9. Word was received also that tho Oxford Terrace Schoolroom was engaged for that eveuing so the offer of the Trinity Church for the use of the schoolroom was accepted. The subject of the address for the Rally was changed from " Tho attitude of the Church to the Christian Endeavourers" to " The relation between the Church and the Christian Endeavourers," the subject to be taken by the Rev B. Metson. It was decided to have a roll call of all Christian Endeavour Societies. Reports were received, from visitors to various societies during the past month, and tho wide field of labour suitable for the Union was brought out in a prominent manner. The ''Railway Review" states that the Railway Department broke a castiron precedent recently which will earn for it the gratitude of the whole service. Two 'employees committed a breach of tho train-running regulations for which the invariable penalty in the past had been dismissal. In this case tho men, both of whom had excellent records, admitted their fault and asked for another chance. It was'shown-that there had been no risk of damage to life and property. After consideration by tho general manager, the usual penalty of dismissal was waived, and the men were disrated for eighteen months. " They go back to work," the " Review" remarks, "heartened by this lenient treatment, and every man in the railway service will also take courage from this experience, which shows that a good record is of value in a crisis, and that the department is not in future going to sacrifice promising men just because it was always the custom to do under similar circumstances. Mr Hiley appears to be a thorough railway man, capable of taking a courageous and enlightened course when his railway instinct prompts him." Tho discovery of a Maori skeleton was made at tho Sandhills, Riverlands, last week under what are reported to be somewhat remarkable circumstances. A young man residing in it is said, related to some friends a vivid dream that he had experienced the previous night, in which it appeared to him that human remains were lying at a certain spot in tho extensive deposits of sand that are a feature of the locality mentioned. The curiosity of his companions was excited, and late in the afternoon (says the "Marlborough Express") a party proceeded to Riverlands with a long-handled shovel. Directed by the diviner, they dug down at the eastern end of the ridge near the roadway, and at a depth of about five feet found the skull and bones of a man. who, judging from tho condition _ of the teeth, was an old Maori. A flint adzo was also unearthed. It is said that many axe-heads and other evidences of Maori occupation in early years have been picked up in thn earn" locality, and in the vicinity, being revealed for tho' greater part by ploughing operations, and that there have been not a few discoveries of human bones. Tlie indications are that the place was a burial ground rather than th* s'te of a battle. A few yeirs ago a skeleton was dug out in a garden facing Main Street, and, as in the case of the recent disclosure, it was in a sitting posture. The rule of the rond. as it affects vehicles and pedestrians, was interestingly explained the other day by Irs Honor Mr Justice Hosking, in an address jo n jury at the Supremo Court. His Honor was hearing a case in whiHi r ] adv motor-driver •"«; ■ r ""' l 4r --" r '""' ages by a man whom her car had knocked down and injured. The ru, >' road, said his Honor, wis ,ndnv,+ -><t f,.r the purpose of persons who passed jilonct a carriage-way—riders of horses and drivers of vehicles. That rule did no* compel riders and drivers to keep on any particular side, but it Imposed on them a. duty to meet or pass any vehicle on a particular side of tho road On crowded streets in a. city it was found that people did ride and drive on particular sides of the-road because uf the frequency with which they had tc meet or pass vehicles or horses, but on country roads it was very different. A pedestrian had a right to walk ou tin carriago way if lie desired to do so: but where footpaths were provided and ho walked on the roadway he imposed on himself a greater duty of care on liis? own part than if he walked on the footpath, If a man walked on the roa.J ho must exercise a reasonable amount of care to protect himself. The fact of a corner being dangerous had to be considered from the point of view of the motor-car, and also from the point of view of the pedestrian who w\is ou the carriage-way. In these days of motor-cars, a pedestrian had to take to the carriage-way with greater rkas than he used to incur in the days o' the o'd-fashioned horse. It did not -follow, however, because a mail mignt bsauntering along a road, or even walKmil: backwards, and a car ran into hit.., that he had been negligent in tho sense that it*would deprive him of any rights to damages. '

A donation of os has been received for the Coal and Blanket Fund from , E.E.M.

Tho Otira correspondent of tho "Star" telegraphs that weather in very vowzh and wintry. Snow and SAW,. / falling yesterday, and at 5 p.m. it was still snowing heavily. A Press Association telegram from Hokitika states that tho West Coast Timber Commission commenced its sittings there yesterday morning. A number of witnesses we.ro examined, mainly on the question of temporary grazing tenures.

Mr C. L. Clifford's hunter Dundee, bred in Canterbury (Now Zealand), was brought back to tho dominion on boaid the Rotorua, which arrived in Wellington yesterday. Mr Clifford bunted with Dundee in North Staffordshire, and now intends to hunt with him. in Canterbury.

The following vessels am expected to bo within wireless range to-night:— Auckland—Manuka, Niagara, Taluno, Navua, Waiworn. and Ulunaroa; Awanui—Manuka. Waivvera, Niagara and Navua; Wellington—Tllimaroa, Victoria, Mamari. Wahine. Warrimoo, Tongarii-o and We.stmeath; Awarua Mocraki and Maitai.

Alterations at tho Public Library arc being pushed forward with expedition, and good progress has been made with tho erection of tho new juvcnilo division which has-hitherto occupied an inconspicuous corner of the circulating branch. Tho necessary shelving is being erected in a large space near the entrance to the reference branch. Tho juvenile division, when reopened, will contain 2500 volumes, an increase of 500, and a start is to bo made with a juvenile reference department, with complete sets of tho " Encyclopedia Britannica" and the "Children's Encyclopedia," A story is told of a ranger not a hundred 'miles front South Canterbury who, seeing a Maori with a gun and a bag, accosted him and asked where he had been. "The Maori replied that he had been shooting. Had he met with any luck? Oh, yes, he had shot a few ducks. "May I see your bngP" queried the ranger. "Certainly," replied the Maori. The ranger looked at the contents, which he found to consist of a number of ducks with their heads and feathers off. and cleaned ready for the oven- "What sort of ducks are the.??" tho ranger asked. "Oh, you're the ranger; it's your business to know that," replied the Maori. It is understood that no prosecution is to follow. A meeting was held at the Oddfellows' Hall, Woolston, last evening, for the purpose of interesting the people of tho district in the proposal to establish an open-air homo for, consumptive children. The Mayor of Woolston (Mr J. Graham) presided, and amongst those present were tho Mayor of Christchurch (Mr H. Holland) and other members of the central committee. Mr Holland in the course of a brief address announced that although the subscriptions received to date were mostly small in amount, they were coming in in gratifying numbers. Tho organisation of a local committee was left in the hands of the Mayor of Woolston, and it was decided to hold another meeting at a date to be announced later.

The forty-first anniversary of the Cambridge Terrace Church was celebrated on Sunday when large congregations attended at all services. The Rev J. Cocker preached in the morning. In the afternoon the Rev *'. Knight, 8.A., delivered an address on ■" Opening the Old Wells and digging new ones," and a musical programme was given by Mesdam.es Vizer, Rhodda and Chaplin and Mr Rhodda. At the evening service the pastor of the church, the Rev B. Metson, preached from the text Rom. 1, 16: "For I am not ashamed. of the Gospel of Christ." A duet was sung by. Mr and Mrs Rhodda and a solo by Miss Ford. At the close of the service the organist, Miss M. Stringer, played the "Dead March in Saul while the congregation stood in sympathy with those who have been plunged into sorrow through the recent shipping disaster on the St Lawrence.

Yesterday's " Otago Daily Times" has the following:—-It is said that the Operations of a JDunediu gentleman on what may be termed the football betting bourse are being viewed by the officials of the Otago Rugby Uniou with cold, disfavour. The gentleman referred to is credited with losing £SO on a match played on Saturday week, and with winning £IOO on a match decided last Saturday. Human nature, being what it is, the union officials recognise that it is practically impossible for them to stop these betting transactions. What tho union will try to do, however, we understand, it* to take steps to prevent the betting individual referred to from approaching players taking part in a match in which he is pecuniarily interested, and telling them, in sporting parlance, that they are on "a hat, or pipe, etc.,, to nothing" if their side wins. It is argued that, if players are approached with the above stimulation to do their best, they may similarly be approached and stimulated to do their worst—that is, when the. money is on the other side. Somo of the local union officials have a full knowledge of what is occurring, and are determined that the practice referred to shall,be stopped—that is, as far as they can possibly stop it.

At the Church of Christ on Sunday, Mrs Nalder, representing Pandita Ramabai's Missions at Mukti, for the child-widows and orphans of India, spoke of what she described as remarkable answers to prayer. She told howon one occasion there arose tho need for Christian women to teach tho everincreasing numbers of children coining to tho Mission Homo, and Ramabai prayed for them. Women in Various countries felt and obeyed the <e inner voice" calling them to Mukti. One of these women, Miss Abram, in telling of her experience, said that while doing mission work at Home she felt an inexplicable, insistent feeling within her urging her to go to Mukti. She wrote to Ramabai about it. and Ramabai told her it was the result of prayer. Miss Abram proved a powerful worker, and did an immense amount of good among India's millions. " India's nights are cold" said Mrs Nalder. " The children felt tho chill, and were suffering through lack of blankets. They prayed for blankets, and God answered by sending a cheque < for £600! Ramabai prayed for a revival among the 2000 inmates of Mukti. Fifteen hundred girls became out and out Christians, and seven hundred and fifty offered themselves for active service. Visitors to Mukti declare that they never knew what prayer really meant until they heard those Indian women pray. Ramabai and her proteges think nothing of praying for hours at a stretch." The first Tuesday of every month at Mukti is set aside-" as a- dav of prayer, when all work is suspended.