LOCAL AND GENERAL

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11360, 12 April 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

An organ recital was given at H'"s Majesty's Theatre last evening by JJr Bradshaw, city organist, when a "request" programme was played. Tho performance was fairly well attended From Montreal it i\ reported that at tho trial of the notion brought by tho Canadian Paoihc Railway against tho owners of the Storstad in connection with the Empress of Ireland disaster, an insistent demand is being made by counsel for the Storstad for tho production of the logs of six previous vessels commanded by Captain Kendall, of the Empress of Ireland, with a. view of showing that at the time of the disaster ho was pursuing a different course to that which be usually followed. This is objected to by tho Canadian Pacific counsel, on the ground, runong others, of the loss of time involved in hunting up these logs, which it is claimed aro not relevant, to the issue. Yesterday about fifty members of the Christchuroh Nursing Division and St John Ambulance Brigade attended a ohuroh parade at St Paul's Ohurou. The service was conducted by the Rev ,). Pa torsion, who took for his'text tho parable of the good Samaritan, and directed attention to a discussion of the question: "Is Pity u Vic:o or Virtue?" Tho speaker urged that the opposition to the fundamental truths of Ohristia-oity in the declaration of the superman doctrine was one of the most powerful and most insidious attack a made on Christianity. It had caused the war, with all its outrages on civilisation. The brotherhood of man could not exist without Christianity, and anyone who gave seiwioc in the interests of humanity wa.s following the example of Christ.

The Wellington correspondent of tho Dunedin ''Star" writes:--In connection 'with the appeal of the War Office for additional hand.s for the armament firms, f jUO Tjabour Department .states that'it does not appear feasible for New Zealand to supply suitable men. There is no surplus of skilled artisan labour to be found in the Dominion. Engineers, boilermakers, brass fitters and others are nearly all working full time, and .some branches arc reporting a shortage. Tho railway workshops, which employ many hundreds of skilled workers, arc very busy, owing to the demand for additional engines and rolling stock. The Colonial Ammunition Company recently found a, difficulty in ■securing sufficient labour. Tho employees are working a considerable amount of overtone, but it. appears the cartridge-making machine _ls not being worked to_ its full capacity, although tho Empire's need in this respect" is very great.

Several cases of. breaking and entering have been reported in and around Ash burton and district within the past fortnight. A shopkeeper who had occasion to return to his shop about twelve o'clock found, on trying to insert his key, that another key was already in the lock on the inside. On the arrival of the police it was found that the burglar had left by a back door, without removijig anything. Two other shops were entered on the samo night, and £5 worth of goods was taken from one. and a. number of articles from the other. Several thefts aro reported from private residences, and a. .series ol petty thefts from clothes lines have been made. A case of a more serious nature is reported from Methven, where a black horse with a white star on its forehead was stolen, together with a pair of blinkers and a saddle. The delinquent rode to Wakanui, and clown to Orari, where he in reported to have broken into several houses and taken food. Later in the_ week he arrived hack at Ashburtou, riding a brown horse with the same saddle and bridle. Tho police were informed, but the thief got wind of their coming, and bolted i n the direction of Tinwald. Ho turned down some side road, and ha.s not l>een heard of since- Ho is reported to be a youth about seventeen or eighteen years of age. wearing a dark suit and a black soft hat. He is suspected of being a Burnham absconder. A minister named Steekamp has been sentenced to six mouths' imprisonment ou a charge of treason at Calvinia, Cape Colony, and Pint, Grobler. a grandson of the late President Kruger. and a llertzoj.-ite member ol the l'i;ion Parliament, has hem committed for trial on a -iudlar charge.

The fotalisator investments fit Kllerslic since ilie outbreak of the war provide, some interesting comparisons. At tho spring meeting in November hist year the sum of X'0!).7'15 His wu.s handled at tlio totalisator <'ompared_ With ;C00,,")'22 for the corresponding future; an increase'of l'oii:J.') 111-. The investments at Christmas totalled .UIMI.OM, as against .tilioyUO, showing an uifreas,. ul" .i: 11». 2( >•!. However, during the leister fixture, which concluded this week, ilm totalizator receipts showed a decrease ol .Clf)l2. (lie amount invested being 1ff,,,",70 compared with £f.Hi,Bß'-i tor the previous autumn meeting. Taking Hie total for tlio three, meetings held since the war' began the investments show an inorea.yi of .C'2(k')l-"> 10s: when compared with tho previous noas.ojj's gathering's.

A special correspondent of tho "' \civ Zealand Times.'' . who has been mixing with dairy t/miuui- in tho lower Hawke's Bay district, writes that there is much complaining a,t ,fbe. low rates that are being' paid for pigs and tho high charges maintained to tho public I'igs arc the, rsujall Fanner's chief widelino. The price the- breeder receives a.t prudent is IJd jw>r lb, with various swero ileducfioiLS tor "dead wcipjlifc,"' while the retail price to the public is 1a a lb, and some.|.hnes a. higlier tignro still. A little while ago pig.s, were in keen demand'; now. owing to the hcavicv breeding, the dr.maikl is not so great, aii<l a lower figure is offerinl t« tho farmer; but hy s-oino commureial a.rri).ngenient tho price lias not fallen, to the public. The farmers,; in tlieir comments, say that the. Reform Government arc extremely <*iofcive*in matters affecting; tho breeds of sheep and cattle, who am mostly big landowners, hut have no «ye to the intoreste of tlio small men. If they had. they would' observe the groat discrepancy in prices; referred to, and inquire into tho causes, giving this matter the same attention they gave to wheat, oats and sugar.

It is :i fact that shnee the outbreak of the war several of the smaller butchers in and about Putiec'lih have been compelled to close up, being unable to finance their businesses owing 1o iho rise in the price of moat and to tho necessity of prompt payment for purchases at Bunisido (says tho Dunedin "Star"). Prior to the war the trade had boon preparing for a fall in prices, but since hostilities began thorn had, of eonr.se, been a, rise. Tho rise, however, was so .gradual that tho retailers, hoping cadi month that the limit had been reached, did not make any corresponding increase to their customers, consequently the smaller men could not stand the .strain. Now that the price to be paid by the Imperial Government for Nc_w Zealand meat lms been fixed, there is little fear of any further rise, at any rate for some months, it must bo remembered that although the butchers may charge a correspondingly increased pYice in'.r lb to that which they pay, such increase can only be obtained on about two-thirds of each bullock, tho balance being fat, bones, shins and other parts the prices of which aro practically tho same a.s those ruling for tho past twenty years.

A case of interest to members of the legal profession has been decided at Hastings by Mr M'Carthy, S-M., Dr Nairn sued a widow (Mrs Edith slaud M'Kenzie) for £23 8s for professional services which he had rendered to her husband. Mrs M'Kenzie had offered to pay off the amount at the rate of 10s per month. The defence was that tho wife had merely acted as hex late husband's agent, and that- plaintiff should have sued tho husband's estate, instead of defendant. In giving judgment the Magistrate said that he quite "believed that, when Dr Nairn was called in. lie gave no thought as to who wa.s liable, but the legal aspect of the case had to be considered, regarding the position of the wife. She had a sick husband, not able to look after himself, and unless he was attended to he might die. Under these circumstances the wife, unless she called in a doctor, might in Lhe event of her husband's death, bo charged with manslaughter. Ho held that tho wife was the agent of the husband, and the liability was that of the husband pure and simple. Regarding tho wife's promise to pay 3.05-a month, he held that it was a. voluntary promise which carried a moral obligation with no legal sanction, and he held that tho promise did not croato a fresh contract. Ho would give a verdict for defendant, with costs (£3 10s).

With the purpose of prosecuting further inquiries into the point whether there should bo any substantial rea;son why a certain portion of thomen in tin; Dominion should make a distinction in favour of British-made clothes as against the Raw Zealand article when ordering their, suits, a member of tho staff of the " Otago Daily Time* " paid a visit to the linn of Messrs Jioss and Glendinning, the proprietors of tho Roslyn Woollen Mills. Hero the reporter had a further opportunity of viewing numberless rolls of the highest class tweeds and worsteds,' of wonderfully varied rang© of pattern.?, and the opinion was again impressed on him that there, is absolutely no reason why tho most fastidious should see fit to ignore theao goods in favour of "J3ritis.li manufactured cloths. It was {jointed out to the reporter, too, that the Koslyn Mills could turn out what are termed specialised articles, such as indigo and vicuna serges--(.bat, in fact, tlio mills had been manufacturing this class of cloth for years. It was not denied that the British linns had an advantage in the matter of the sale of ';. suit lengths," in that they had practically the world in which to distribute a roll of cloth, and consequently tJie.ro was not much possibility of any gentleman meeting another one wearing a similar pattern of cloth, but it was pointed out—and with perfect reason, it appeared to the reporter—that there was not such a valid objection to ibis duplication as «omo people sought to indicate. As Mr T. Glondiiuiing aptly remarked to the reporter, it, rest* with the people themselves to encourage local industry, and ho summed up the position, so far as the Roslyn mills are concerned, by stating that, given the demand, his firm was iully prepared to .manufacture any type of cloth.

A lucrative business is carried on by certain individuals who illicitly sell ' nips of something .stronger' than wator at a handsome profit (savs the "New Zealand Times"}." - These, " lignthouses." as they are known, are extremely shrewd in their dealings and exceptionally hard to catch. However, their shrewdness is not altogether proof against deteetioif. for sometimes they dispose of their liquid war* to plain-clothes policemen. Of such a nature was a. case which was heard in the Wellington .Magistrate's Court on Friday when, before Mr G. Gmiekshank, KM., a, man named Albert Henrv Williams was charged that, not ' hem" licensed so to do, he sold whiskv to two constables. Tusneetni- Hondrev explained" that accused accosted a plainclothes constable and offered to sell him whisky. The constable, accepted the offer, and accused tool; a flask* out of his pocket and sold the constable a ■•' nip," for which he charged Is 3d. Later he agreed to sell the constable a bottle of whisky, for which he charged I'2s lid. The defendant had a fbusk in another nocket, and when the constable a<ked if that t\ a,s for sale defendant replied: "Oh, this is for mugs." Mr Cruickshnnk : "Then be didn't think the constable was, a mug?" (Laughter..) Inspector Hendrey: " No, he didn't toko the constable' for a mug. The co7'k had been re meted from the bottle and half whiskv taken out, and replaced with wntor." A fine of £lO was imposed. _ Default was fixed at throe weeks' imprisonment. Dainty Gifts for Easter Brides.— Messrs Hastie, Bull an<l Pickering are making their usual choice disphiy of Easter Wedding Gifts, including many charming lin.es in Silverware. English Pewter, Cutlery and. Case Goods, all low prices consistent wiUi quality. ISP.S

Major .). K. ] A m<\ Captain W. O Wifi.v, and Lieutenant W. J. Melville, of Greymouth, have hud l lj.-ir services accepted for the front. Major Ixnve, who is District Engineer of Railway*' belongs to tho Railway Corps; Captain Wray luis taken a prominent part in the. West Coast National .Reserve (mounted s'mtion). and Lieutenant recently pained his commission, having had experience with the Dragoons at Home. Tho erection of ' the hutments at JYentliam camp is to he proceeded with very .shortly. The contract will bo a large one, Thoro are to bo thirty-four men's huts, each J4oft by 23ft, to accommodate 3400 men, and eleven officers' huts each having U.n cubicles. The lints are to have walls and roof of wood, covered with corrugated iron. The time allowed for the ,-o'mpleiion of tho huts is -six weeks iron) tho date of the, acceptance of tho tender, which closed yesterday.

_ " I am well and happy a;s it is posbible to be in the surroundings we are in," writes Dr Martin, of Palmerston North, in a letter to his brother from the firing-line. "The fighting has been of a truly awful nature. It i« at times nothing less than bloody murder. Modern lighting is simply a shambles- There is death in tho air, death in the trenches, death in tho open. Tho Angel of Death not only is rapidly marking out his victims, but ho is continually flapping his wings, and we who arc not marked out know that he is about, and has not made up his list complete," Here is an instance (telegraphs our Greymouth correspondent) of the grit which characterises the West Coast pioneers. At the age of ninety years, i..r .tames Seymour, after fulfilling a bush felling contract in tho vicinity of Pselson, has returned to Reefton and commenced prospecting for a lead of gold at Liverpool (Davis Creek), within view of the town. Single-handed, he has driven a tunnel over 100 ft, and in a further few feet of driving expects to intercept the lead of auriferous wash. Mr Seymour left the Home Country at a very early age—so long hack, indeed, that his first glimpse of a. railway tram was on making a trip to the seaside from Reefton to Greymouth. The late Mr Felix M'Guire, of Auckland, formerly M.H.R. for Egmojit, came to New Zealand early in the 'sixties, and took part in tho Maori wars. He served at the capture of Te Ranga, near Ta-u ranga, on Juno 21, 1864. After this Mr M'Guire went to the We&tland gold diggings, but soon returned to the North Island, and served in the Wanganui cavalry in the war; against Titokowaru. Then he commenced business in and did very well, and gradually his energies and acumen found scope all over Southern Taranaki, and there were very few enterprises with which he was not counected and which did not flourish and suoeeed under his strong influence. " A hero in spite of himself " was the experience of a well-known Napier bandsman in connection with the recent contests held iu Cliristchurch (says the " Hawke's Ray Herald "). He had competed in one of the solo tests, but had to leave Cliristchurch for his home before the announcement of the judge's verdict, fully under the impression that ho hadn't a ghost of- a chance." But he had hardly set foot on his " native heath" before lie was the subject of the most profuse congratulations from his friends. At a loss to understand the I>ositiou, he referred to the newspapers and found that it had been told to the world per medium of the Press Association that he had curried off the laurels in the competition referred to, a statement which was contrary to fact. However, he showed himself a man of grit by taking the earliest opportunity of disclaiming the honours wh ; eh had been so profusely thrust upon him

Possibly convincing .arguments can be adduced why it is desirable to do the opposite m Australia to what is report, ed from Russia about the retirement of the State from the liquor trade, remarks the Sydney correspondent of the Wellington "Post." The Government of Western Australia runs hotels on its own account, and is extending its enterprise in this direction. It now owns and conducts six hotels, three of which have been opened during the past nine months. It has been encouraged to launch out increasingly in this kind of business by the fact that it pays, jmk! the, Western Australian Gove'rmnoui .Keds every sovereign of which it cmi g « 4i o A '"swrt. by the ot tlie State hotels discloses that one ot the older houses last year eanv-i a profit of £2599, sxc'iusm* 0 f intoxe.se and deyreciation, which leaves .1 «.ihstantial maTgin. Another finished tho year with a profit of £9905. The third ot the older State hotels has not yet shown a direct profit, but this is flue to tlie _ fact that it is at a show place for visitors, from which the State derives considerable indirect revenue, i The commercial success of the throe newer hotels of the West Australian CcoveriuLuuifc cannot vet be accurately pauged, but the indications from a money-making point of view are said to be very encouraging.

Tn referring to recruiting, the '"' New Zealand Railway Officers' Advocate" remarks that "the Railway Department lias failed to rise to the occasion when a greater number of its staff than perhaps was anticipated desired to offer themselves for service at the front. Jt announced that no leave of absence would he granted to those employees not included in the 250 membens of the Royal Engineers who volunteered for active service at the outbreak of the war, and were attached to the advance party which occupied Samoa. Although it is true that "the rule made in August last has lately been relaxed in favour of a few members of the service who have received commissions in the Reinforcements, the total number of such members is eo insignificant in proportion to the numerical strength of the staff thatit may safely be affirmed that the Railway Department's first contribution of 250 men has also been its last. There is no doubt that the Railways and other State Departments' refusal to grant leave of absence to their employees who desired to enlist gave a. serious check to recruiting in New Zealand, and that even now there is a feeling that the need for volunteers must have been exaggerated v.-hen Government Departments impose the penalty of loss of employment npon members of their staff who feel called upon to join, the colours."

Iu view of the mystery surroundimj the .supposed death of ]>r M'Nab in the firing lino and tho reports that lie is a Jive and held a captive by the Germans, tjio following extract from :i. letter written, by Pr Mfirtin, of Palmorston North, to Iris brother. Mi Elia-s Martin, of TV* Kuiti, is of interest:— " l)r M'Nab, broiVior of Mr M'Nab, ex-Minisfcer of Lauds, ;ind an old University friend of mine, came out as doctor to tlie. London Scottish. The ' L.S.' stormed the village, of Messino* iwicl drovo the Germans out with the bayonet. The Germans, i" turn, drove tlio Scottish out. with tho cold steel, M'Nab was dressing sow* wounded said lie was bayoneted in live places. Ho is now dead. poor fellow.' i)r Martin add*;:—"One brigade, four weeks ago, consisting of _ three rogiincuts, oacli regiment with its ovu doctor, went into action at.. Vailly-on-Aisne. Two of the doctors were killed outright. Tlie third man, Rankin, had uis leg shattered. It «as amputated and he died that night. Fanry three doctors in three regiments being killed in one day. Mais rest la; guerre. Cheer, oh! I had a big business at fiethune. Took choree of a field hospital, and was operating day and night to tho tune of tho Devil's civhesfra (tho Gorman and "British artillery). I was through the <!>attlcs of tho Marne, of the Aisne. at La and at "Wo arc all anxious tor tli<> war to lie over, and are all foci up. I.n; wo must sor- it dim . Tlio Gonnan miiM. he crushed, and cru-li.'d badlv." i

The Seamens' Institute at Lyttelton continues to maintain its popularity among tho Seamen visiting tho port. During tho past month over 600 seamen Inivo made use of tho Institute, 250 have attended Sunday teas, ■ and 280 the (Sunday and Wednesday ovening services, while 7 seamen have become members of the Seamens' Christian Brotherhood, which has a membership of over 3000 captains, officers and men thruupJmut tho world: The Institute ie now urgently i u nee<; ] 0 f books, table games, oto., which could he sent'direct to tlm Institute or called fcr if desired. Donations of money would also ba tnankfully receive*!. * A new industry ha* been created it Canada by war conditions, in the manufacture- of toluol and benzol, byproducts of the coke ovens (writes our J oronto correspondent). The former is u. material used in high explosives, a.nd in the manuiacture of dyes; and the la-Unr is a gas engine fuel of high jKiwer, a, substitute for petrol or gaso> fine, more powerful than the latter. These products can be manufactured by the steel companies in Canada with a slight extension of their'plants, and without any interference with their regular products. It is stated that the Dominion Steel Corporation has already received satisfactory contracts from th# Government for toluol, and when th» manufacture lias reached a satisfactory basis further heavy orders are expected from the British Government.

It is strange how many people accomplish the proverbial task of finding the needle in a haystack, when they are not really looking for it (says the Auckland " Star"). T'lio other day a constable in Auckland, with others, contributed through on.© of tho "Daily Mail"' war lists, to a fund to provide men at tb# front, with.tobacco. With each tin of tobacco thus supplied is enclosed a postcard bearing the address of the donor of the shilling that has been thus transmuted to tobacco, and yesterday the Auckland constable was surprised to receive one of these post-cards from a member of a Bedfoixlshire company in i« ranee thanking him for the gift. Re was still further surprised at noting that ho was claimed as an acquaintance, and at finding fi-om the name tlit the soldier wlio got the tobacco was a roan he had met and had been friendly with in Auckland some months before the war broke out, but of whom lie had since lost sightTwo quaint rules (dated 1900), have been unearthed from the records of the defunct Auckland Carpenters' and -Jomers' Union. Rule S provided That members are required to be sober at tho union's meeting. Anyone proved to be in a state of intoxication, and misbehaving himself, shall be ordered to, withdraw by the chairman, and if he'refuses to comply he ■shall be lined one shilling for each offence; and anyone using bad language, swearing, or introducing party politics-:, casting unkind reflections, on country, or treating any religious per suasion with contempt, shall be fined two shillings and sixpence for each of« fence. 5, Rule II.—" Any membet making known the discussions or any transactions of the union's meetings, f-c as to cause angry feelings, or using any threats or intimidations to employers or non-unionists calculated to bring the union into disrepute, shad be lined or suspended at the discretion of the committee:"

" Work that refloats & true spirit of nobility is that «fc present being* performed by the Society of Friends ii France." said Mr Roy Evans, a. Sydnej journalist., who visited tlie western theatre of the war a few weeks ago. and who -arrived by the Grooves last week. " The society has appointed representatives to visit the devastated areas north of Paris, and encourage th« peavsantry to follow their usual avocations, doing all in their means to help them. A fund provided by tha society enables them to carry out a. scheme by which the homes of the peasants are rebuilt, and which given to each family .sufficient capital t» # recommence the work of crop growing. They are introducing entirety new methods, and in order that tiiey may be thorough they have brought -with them their own. experts, whose sote duty it is to plan the new. farms and villages, and instruct tlie peasantry in agricultural knowledge. The society is performing a work that has aroused the greatest enthusiasm aud gratitude in the French people- It is not only charity, but it is a real, practical scheme, giving a permanent benefit to tlie stricken inhabitants of this battler wrecked region."

An unusual number of cases of " blowing," many of them proving fatal, havo occurred among the eowi of the Blenheim district during the last i'o>v days. The most experienced and cautions of cattle owners are losers, ■ preconceived ideas as to tie correct principles to follow being quitt upset, and the problem of grazing stock on lucerne and clover, without risk, has become more vexatious than ever. The epidemic, m it may be willed, is attributed to the quickness and luxuriance of the growth brought on by the autumn rains, following 01. a lengthy spell of dryness. The treacherous nature of green fodder of this_ description is illustrated with special force by the experience thai <befel Mr James Penuey, of Riverina. After losing his valuable Jersey milker " Franzi " last month he redoubled his precautions, which had always l>een strict; but, nevertheless, he has lost another of his pnrebreds, the three-year-old cow "Phyllis." which came to grief on some short red clover. The herd wa,s carefully watched after being turned on to the paddock; and, though they were limited to a very short spell on it and they were not given access to water, two animals were so badly affected that the puncturing treatment had to be resorted to, even this being too late to save " Phyllis." Stock owners are beginning to realise no absolntley safe system of gracing, cattle on lucerne and clover at all times has yet been devised,_ and that the wisest plan so far as animals of special value are concerned is to cut the growth and feed it after it has undergone a certain amount of drying. With the object of assisting soldier* who may be disabled in the present war, and. perhaps incapacitated. froiu cither learning or practising a, trade. circulars axe being distributed by organisers in England suggesting" that by a simple means a, fund may be raised that will, during the next' few months, pay the country's debt to the men " broken in. our wars." The pro. mot ens of the scheme are selling at a price of one halfpenny each seals which may be attached to letters, and they hope, by this means, in the <=«>me way in which revenue i 3 accumulated upon the ordinary postage stamp, tt; raise money for their deserving object. •'Remember," reads the circular, ''• tlilit tens of thousands will be unable to work. They will havo nothing bnj a small pension or allowance upon which to live. With your help their pensions may be made tc provide good living and personal serviea in a good home; you will enable pensions and allowances to be expended in retail purchases at wholesale j>riees: you will help to organise mutual aid and co-operation in the production of a standard of living which small meauis expended along independent chanriotr. could not possibly provide; you will create capital which is u> be invested without interest for their benefit. Apart, therefore, from the benefits of co-operation and limited profit such as are afforded by other institutions, you will in buying these War Seals, provide money for use without interests and in so doing really add an amount equal to interest to the already incrensed spending powr of the pendons and allowances. Therefore, whenever yon receive a letter closed with the Disabled Service War Set], whether it he a_ business or private communication. <r.vo it your best attention an! seal yen;- reply in the sa.me \\a;-. l'n ; - ihe slider?- ;uv botli kiiullieariid an- 1 t hoi lahi I'ri L"