LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1122, 16 December 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The following is the report on the Canterbury trout _ streams this morning :—Waimakariri North, clear; W aimakariri South, dirty; Rangitata, dirty; Rakaia,' very dirty; Opiki and Waitaki, clear.

Tho manager of tho Burnlitini Industrial School desires to acknowledge with thanks donations towards the boys' Christmas treat fund from Messrs Fletcher, Humphreys and Co, a "Friend>" Bumham, £l, Miss A. Wright, Burnham, and £4 4s from the trustees of tho late Hyman Marks, per Mr C. M. Parkes. • Advice has been received in Wellington that the Imperial war risks have been reduced to 1£ guineas, and that the general rate of tlie insurance companies is now as follows:—Outward' and Homeward by Suez and the Cape, 1$ per cent; via Singapore and JaVa, 2 per cent; via the Horn, Magellan an d Panama, 3 per cent; sailing vessels, 4 per cent. Pacific ports: America and Canada, 3 per cent; Islands (including Fiji), 1 per cent; Africa, India, Singapore and the East, 1£ per cent.

In the course of a conversation with a member" of an Invercargill firm; a reporter was informed that by the Turakina there arrived from the Old Country a gentleman who has been commissioned to purchase 10,000 remounts for army purposes in the Dominion. The question naturally arose as to whether there was that number or suitable horses procurable in this country, and it was conceded that if the quota required was to bo picked lip some of the regulations that had hitherto been enforced with regard to age, size, etc., would need to be dispensed -with.

'' The evidence has disclosed a very disreputable state of affairs,' stated Mr D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., at Wellington on Tuesday, when convicting Hans Rasmussen Smith of supplying liquor to a prohibited person—a woman. Smith had enticed the woman into his house, and provided her with an ample supply of beer. He kept hef there for a whole week, and when the police visited the place she was in a disgraceful condition and helplessly drunk. She bore evidence of having received very rough treatment. _ His Worship said that the law provided a maximum penalty of £lO, in default three months in gaol. Such would be the sentence of the court. Smith: "Can I have time to payP" His Worship (sharply): " No." Captain Marshall, R.N., of H.M.S. Psyche, Senior Naval Officer in New Zealand "waters, has replied to the Wellington branch of the Navy League as follows:— 11 On behalf of His Majesty's Navy, I have the honour to thank the League for its congratulations on the splendid success achieved by Vice-Admiral Sturdee and his squadron. There is no doubt that the very gallant action of Sir Christopher Oradock and that noble sacrifice of life, which has now been avenged, led the way to it. _ It must be a matter of immense pride for all in the Dominion that their gift ship, the New Zealand, is at the decisive point, bearing her share in the important and most wearing duty of blockade, upon the success of w&ch depends the. safety of the seas and the final result of the war." A successful and well-attended bazaar was held in the Sunday School of the Oxford Terrace Baptist Church this afternoon. The proceeds were in aid of the New Organ Fund, and the Rev J. J. North presided. At the request of the management committee, Mr J. A. Pannett declared tho bazaar open. Throughout the afternoon good business was done at. the many gaily decorated stalls. Tho stall-holders were as follows: —Plain stall, Mrs Johns; children's stall, Mrs Voller; fancy stall, Mrs S. A. Fraser; Christmas tree, Mrs Carey; cake stall, Mrs North; sweets stall, Mrs Rodger; refreshments, Mesdame3 Drayton and Velvin; ice cream, Mesdam.es RoSbinson and Thompson; the men's stall, side shows, produce stall and kinematograph show were in the hands of Messrs Dawson, Nicol, Johns, P. Velvin, Moat and Hiddleston. The bazaar will be continued this evening and to-morrow. The revelations by responsible officials at Washington to the effect that the American coastal defences on the Atlantic side are insufficiently manned and inadequately armed have naturally created a hubbub and a strong Press demand that America should put her house in order, lest she be attacked by a powerful European enemy, says the' Sydney " Daily Telegraph.'' These apprehensions can only be based oil the possibility of one contingency maturing, and that contingency is the destruction of Groat Britain's sea power in the portentous engagement that is expected to take place when the German fleet, supported by submarines and Zeppelins, issues from its secure refuge to try conclusions with the British Navy. Presumably the Germans will not come out unless they think that they have a fighting chance of victory. If through some unforeseen circumstances they should succeed —which no competent critic believes possible—they would of necessity possess such overwhelming strength that the Americans might well tremble in their shoes for their own safety. The agitation in tho United States for the strengthening of tho national forces is the most conspicuous and striking proof that has vet been given of the solidarity of American and British national interests in the war. TO DO OTHERS GOOD. I have been living in S.W. Queensland for thirteen years," writes Mr J R. Tindale, Editor of the Cu'inamulla "Watchman." " Durin b that time T have been subject to attack* of Diarrhoea and have always fomtd Chamberlain's Colic and Diarrhoea llemedv to quickly relievo me. I can rec-oirrnend it to anyone suuerfrom that complaint. Yon may use this letter as you seo tir- for it is written to do others good.'' 6

They do things in America. When the newspapers got to work recently in San Francisco "boosting" a relief movement for the starving Belgians, "£20,000 was raised in an hour, and m a few days a relief ship headed for Great Britain loaded to the Plunsoll with a collection of. Californian foodstuffs.

Among the English firms which have sustained 3 severe blow on account of the war is Thos. Cook and Sons, the well-known tourist agents. Hostilities broke out in the height of : the Continental season, when thousands of Engjlisli tourists were either on the Continent or about to depart on various tours, and consequently all plans were upset. Some of the tourists who were in Germany and Austria were able to get away from those countries, not without a great deal of difficulty, ancr, in some cases, not without enduring suffering and actual loss. The whole of the firm's deposits in German and Austrian banks are said to have been confiscated by the respective Governments of tlioso countries, and naturally the German and Austrian staffs of the fiim are at present either among the unemployed or are at the front. Th© firm, the great loss it must have sustained, is treating its staff with great liberality. The positions or all volunteering for service at the > front are kept open for them, and, in the case of married men going on service, the firm is paying £1 per week to the wife and 5s per week for each child. Oil account of the big check the tourist traffic has received, the salaries of the Home staff have been reduced sllsht.lv, but this does not apply to those 111 the firm's employ in Australia and iNew Zealand.

The steamer Annam, which is due to arrive 111 Sydney about December 27, is tho pioneer vessel of the Danish line which has opened a new service to Australia as a result of tho block to German and Austrian shipping caused by tho war, Tho Aktieselskabet Det Ostasiatisko Kompagni, Copenhagen, or the East Asiatic Company, Ltd., of Copenhagen, are the owners of the line, which is making hay while the war sun shines. The company has at present 39 vessels, 12 or which are fitted with an adaptation of tho Diesel motor engine. These vessels have up to the present been engaged principaJlv in tho trade between Denmark and the Far East. The Danish company will inaugurate a monthly service from Scandinavian, English and Mediterranean ports to Fremantle, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. Tho Annam is ft four-masted vessel of 5296 tons, possessing no funnels. Her engines can be set in motion in less than five minutes, whereas it takes anything up to fifteen hours to raise steam on vessels using coal. The Annara's engines caif also bo reversed within the space of thirty seconds. The Annam will bo followed by the Indieu, and the vessels will have a largo quantity of cargo for each of the Australian ports called at. The principal shareholders of tho company are members of the Danish royal family, and the managing agents for the lino in Australia are Mesoi's Henry Olsen and Co. Christmas Preparations. The attractive Store of Messrs Hastie, Bull and Pickering. Cashol Street, presents a verv animated appearance just now. Now goods of choice, design and great value are being opened up. and every preparation is bein? 5 wiade for r busy Christmas. XI

The foundation stone of the Chmtchurch Cathedral was laid fifty years ago to-day. The morning was ciouly and unpropitious, and in the forenoon rain began to fall and continued intermittently for the rest of the day. In a cavity in the stone, which was 'aid by the Riglrj Rov Bisnop Harper, wis placed a Dottle containing inscriptions in Latin and English, printed on "-ilium, together with proof impressions of every coin in circulation.

According to the card prepared by the Catholic Federation yesterday, there are seventeen _ supporters of the Bible in Schools plebiscite in the House of Representatives, and forty-eight opponents, while the attitude of eleven members is unknown. The Wellington "Post," commenting on the result, says:—Ministers have lost Mr Statham as a sacrifice to a sectarian bigotry which they had not dared to oppose, and it is impossible to say how many other. seats they may not have lost through the strain which their halfhearted and timid attitude placed upon the loyalty of their followers.

" I have yet hopes that we will live to see remarkable changes when this great war is ended —and it can only end one way—this, the greatest war the world has ever experienced." In these terms Sir James Carroll the other evening opened a reference to the present international crisis in terms of eloquence that held the close attention of his Kaiti audience. It was, he went on to say, the greatest conflict under which the great national Powers were shaking and trembling—the greatest crisis. It was not a mere matter of maintaining tho British Empire; it was not a question of tho fighting powers of one combination "Tigainst another combination. It was a higher result, a higher purpose that was involved. the consequences of which would lift civilisation on to a higher plane, would lead to the establishment of a code of moral and humane laws, the observance of treaties, that would live for centuries. It would bring about, the limitation, and almost tho eradication of the huge armamentry that was crushing the people, that burden of taxation. They would have to think before tliey hurled great forces against each other, ending in the ruination and devastation of old citadels—ave, almost Empires. It must be that these things could not be allowed to be repeated again, and in the blaze of musketry, in the smoke of powder, in the stress of carnage, they could see a gleam of light that carried a message to them and the civilised world all over —that it must not be again, that they, as God's creatures, should preach against the repetition of this awful thing. They could do it by profiting from this terrible war, and by making commonsense tho true feeling of the world, rise to a point that it would have no more of it. The world would be much better off by ho opening of the floodgates, letting virtue course freely to countries instead of war. New Zealand would be a unit, with the whole Empire, to see that human affairs and courses of true Government were lifted on to a higher plane. Whether it was the Liberal Government- or the Reform Government, that was the line they must draw their vispirjitions from, and lie hoped that they each in their little way would do their share to evoke the greatness of the civilised, world, •

Tho superintendent of the Cbnsfcchurch Fire Brigade Ims received a donation of too guineas towards ho brigade's recreation fund from Brown s laundry, in acknowledgment of the nremeir's sorvices in saving the premises which adjoin Goss's sawmill in Durham Street in Monday night's fire.

In tho Methodist Church, Lyttelton. last evening, the combined choirs of tho St Albans and Lyttelton Methodise Churches sang Handel's "Tho MesF.iali.'* In all about eighty voices t00.5 part in tho performance, and their meritorious work was heartily applauded by a large audience. The choirs wero assisted by a string quartette. The solos were taken by Mesdames Humes (so]). 7 no) and Stallard (contralto), tho Rev A. Mitchell (bass) and Mr J- Schwartz (tenor), and Mesdames Stallard and Humes aiso sang a duet The Akaroa "Mail" states that tho Government training ship Aniokura arrived in Akaroa Harbour on Sunday night, after her cruise to the Campbell Islands. She took down Captain Ednftmdson, of the Antarctic Expedition, with her, and a survey was made of all the depots for castaways. The weather was very cold and stormy while they wero there. The glass was down to 29 degrees most of tho time, and there was a great deal of snow ab&ut. The boys had snowballing on board the ship. Captain Edmundson made a fine collection of plants and seaweeds, and the boys managed to get four tea lions, which are on board the ship now. Ihe Amokura put 'into Akaroa fir provisions. and for the purpose of lvet iterating the boys after a rough voyage. She will stay there over regatta day, leaving again on Thursday.

In connection with the St John Ambulance Association's examination in first aid held on December 2 at the Normal Training College, the following have qualified for the certificate of the Association: —Messrs C. B. Arnold, A. J. Barnett, A. A. Boyd, J. Conncll, T>. B. Copland, E. H*. Cross, F. W. Gurnsey, J. A. M'Leod, J. E. Maxwell, W. O'Connor, 11. F. O'Donoghue, C. S. Slocombe, B. R Mottram, Misses R. A. Bird, A. L. Black, R. E, Burn I. Dickie, M. B. Hounsell, A. E. .Toughin, I. M E. Lewton, B. E. Lowe, S. A. W. M'Arthur, E. E. Marshall, D. P. Norrish, L. B.- Partridge, I. I. Pointon, E. Sloss, G. N. D. Turner, H. Walker, A. I. Webb, G. M. Allen, E. V. Bachelor, G. B. Beaveii, A. A. M. D. Bruce, 0. F. Cain, R. Clark, E. A. M. Moyna, A. Mulvaney, I. W. M'unro, R. Pettigrew, H. I. Treacv, and M. M. Whitehead.

Writing from Melbourne to the Wellington " Dominiou "• under date December 3, a resident'of that city says: "The depression caused by the war was in a large measure nominal, but that caused by tho drought is a real pinch. All the States excepting Queensland are in a bad way. The wheat harvest is exaotly a quarter of last year's yield, and that was nothing to brag about. It is difficult for you in New Zealand to realise what drought means here. A man was offered 10,000 sheep for nothing the other day and refused them. The condition was that they should be removed from a certain farm immediately—fact! Ninety horses were sold the other day for £SO the lot. A cabman showed me a pair of horses in Bourke Street that he had bought for £5 (the pair) in a saleyard right here in Melbourne. And yet Australia recuperates so rapidly that with a few inches of rain all hands would be fiittiling again."

A fair was held at St Mary's Schoolroom, Addington, yesterday, in aid of funds for establishing a district brass hand. It was originally intended to Itold the gathering on a much more imposing scale, and a large stock of saleable goods had been collected. The idea, however, was abandoned in view of circumstances created by tho war, and it was intended at the fair yesterday to dispose of the goods collected, and with the profits to establish a trust fund account, to be added 'to in a more prosperous season. During the evening an excellent musical programme added to the Attractions of the gathering. Good business was done at the various stalls, over which the following ladies presided : —Sweets, Mrs Morris and Miss Hockley; variety, Mesdames Downing, Woods (2) and Jackson; doll, Mesdames Hooker, Lane and Taylor; work, Mesdames Smith and Brown; produce, Mesdames M'Crackeu (2) and Bottle; flowers, Mrs Parlafte; refreshments, Mesdames Pratt, Faulkner and Pantington. Among the passengers who arrived at Auckland from Sydney on Sunday by the Maheno was Mr John Milward, manager' in the Pacific for the Pacific Cable Board. In the course of an interview Mr Milward stated that he came to Auckland with the object of inspecting the Board's new auxiliary schooner, which is being built locally. The schooner is to run between Honolulu and Fanning Island with mails and stores for the staff at the cable station on the island. Mr Milward said the vessel, which was nearing completion, had a length of 110 ft, the beam heing 24ft, and she had a draught of 12ft, while her burden was about 200 tons. The schooner had accommodation for eight passengers, and plenty of space for cargo. Referring to the visit of tho cable Steamer Iris to Australia, Mr Milward stated that the vessel had iust effected ordinary repairs to the cable between Australia and Noumea. Regarding the Fanning Island station, which was damaged by the German cruiser Nurnberg, Mr Milward said that everything there Jiad been put in thorough working order. He expressed great pleasure at the fact that the British Navv had accounted for tho Gorman raiders, including tho Nurnberg. A rumour of the British naval victory was heard on board the Maheno, but it was not altogether credited.