LOCAL AND GENERAL

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11686, 1 May 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A paragraph that appeared in the "Brighton Breezes" in Saturday r s "Star" under the heading "Picture Bhow" referred to "many false rumours regarding prospective picture shows in the borough." The promoters of the New Brighton Pictures Ltd., a company now in course of formation # have pointed out that the paragraph mav ho taken to refer to their undertaking, and to infer that it may not bo carried through. They state that everything is in readiness for launching the company. A site has been purchased and plans drawn for the proposed building. The rumours referred to wero rumours current in the seaside borough during the past two or three years, and in no way wero intended to refer to the promotion of the New Brighton Pictures Ltd.

Owing to the shortage of space, states the Ashburton correspondent of the "Lyttelton Times," the Fairfield freezing works, which were to have opened to-day, will ba closed for another weak. It is expected that another boat vil! bo available for loading in a lev days.

At the last meeting of the Board of Directors of the Bank of New Zealand, says the " Post," it was decided to pay a bonus of o per cent to the staff, such bonus being calculated on the. annual salary of each officer, and to be applicable to all officers on active service who at present are drawing half-pay duri::g the pleasure of the board'. The results of the third night's play in the Christchurch United Friendly Societies' Card Association's tournament were as follow:—City of Chrisrchuroh beat Queen's Own by 19 gam>?* to 17, Lily of Richmond beat Ivy or" Linwood by 27 games to 10, Thistle of the Forest beat Mistletoe by IS game* to 14. Washington beat Star of Linwood by 19 games to 15. Star of St Albans beat Anchor B by 21 game* to 12, Oak of Sydenham beat Anchor A by 2o games to 13.

As announced by Mr Massey, the Government has arranged to set apart for returned and active soldiers land amounting in, the aggregate to half a million acres. Of this - large area. Canterbury offers but 40 acres, situated in the Waimate district. This province has no unsettled area available for tin purpose, and if it -were considered necessarv to obtain laud in Canterbury for returned soldiers it would have to. be secured by purchase. In all probability, returned Canterbury soldiers Toquiring land will have to leave their Some district to obtain it. "At St Paul's Presbyterian Church last evening, the Rev J. Pa-tersbn delivered the first of a series of sermons on "Russian Christianity." He described the early divergence of Christendom into two main types, and explained the characteristic differences ct the Eastern and Western Churches. One of the outcomes of the great war would he a new impact of Russian ideas upon the world, and the imminent downfall of the Turkish empire would liberate a great multitude of Eastern Christians from the oppressive overlordship of Islam, and give their Orthodox Church a new vitality and'influence. The coming importance of Eastern Christendom should compel an effort at mutual understanding.

A meeting of the United Pigeon Fanciers' Club was held at the rooms on Friday evening. There was a largo attendance, and Sir A. Gapes preside*i. The business of the evening was ;, shew of fantails. muffed leng-faced tumblers and pouting varieties. Splendid entries were received for all classes. The results were as follows : Eauiail?,, Master A. Sutherland 1. special, 2 and and 3; croppers. A. -Buckley ): muffed tumblers., blue or silver. A. Gapes 1, special. 2 and 3; mili red sell-. A. Eraser 1, A. Buckley -J, W. Dacomh;3- muffed, anv other variety. A. 1, A. Willi* 2. W. Daco-.nhe 3: adi'-clns.-es, T. H. Jones 1. special. - and ■'■. Votes of thanks were accorded Mess; > A. Willis and T. H. Jones for officiating as judges. '' Since the war commenced ir.r.ny interesting coincidences have nee: 1 , broupti'j to liLiht. Some have beer. sj peculiar the.; t"hoy haw been received with "a era in of sah' r : but on Friday an "Ash-bin-ton Guardian 1 ' reporter had .. coincidence brought under his notic the correctness of which is beyond dispute. Some time ago Mr J ernes Gourdie. of Ashburuui. handed the sum oi ."* to Mr .). Tucker., who was collecting subscriptions to forward to iho <i'vi-!>A'.is Chili Tobacco r'und. The tobacco was purchased in England, and the naivek were distributed among**the troops. On Tinu'-day Mr Gonedh discovered that a parcel containing a card addressed to !;::-- sell, in Ashbi'iton._ had. by a svva'nge coincidence, beer, given to his brother. Mr Leslie Gourdie. who fovwerded the card to Ashburton wirli the following note:—-'• I received a parcel of tobacco and it had this card in it, so 1 thought I would send it hack to you to let you that we g;t the tobacco all right." Dainty Gifts for Easter Brides.— With the assistance of the British Navy. Messrs Hastie, Bull and Pickering," Casbel Street, have, lauded for Easter trade some charming new goods in Silverware, Copper and Brass and Art Pottery. Inspection is

At tho Lyttelum Police Court totlay, before Mr W. Radcliffe, J.P., and Mr L. A. Stringer, J.P.. "Robert Morton ou a charge of having* committed an indecent act in Oxford Street on April 29, was sentenced to one month's imprisonment. The first of a series of quarterly meetings by tho Royal Colonial Institute to discuss Imperial questions will bo held in the Chamber of Commerce Hall at 8 p.m. Ou Thursday, when Mr H. J. Marriner will give an address on " British Commerce and War." A 'Wellington Press Association message says that the quantity of butter in cool*store at the various gazetted grading ports throughout the Dominion on April 30, 1916, was 92,207 boxes. The total in store on April 30, 191 a, was 59,798 boxes, and ou April 30, 1914, 88,062 boxes. The Hon G. W. Russell says that a statement that has been published with Reference to the Volunteer Sister movement that there arc twenty Volunteer Sisters working at Trentham and Oriental Bay is absolutely incorrect. As a matter of fact, only one of the \ olun\eer Sisters is employed at Trentham, doing housework m the Sisters' quarters. The Oriental Bay kiosk has been :losed for several months past.

The figures issued by the Labour Department for flic week ending April 29 show that thirteen married and fourteen single men have app'ied for work during fiat time, incluring two carpenters, one clerk and twenty-four labourers. Of these seven have been engaged in private employment. Work is *till required for twenty men. There are a few farm jobs offering for suitable men and a few labourers may be sent to the Otira tunnel works.

On and after to-day all hairdressers', tobacconists', and hairdressers and tobacconists' shops in Christchurch will be compelled to close at 10 p.m. on Saturday, 9 p.m. on Friday, and 6 p.m. on the three nights of the week other than Friday and Saturday, and the day observed as tho half-holiday, with the following exceptions:—9 p.m. on Thursday for shops closing at 1 p.m. on Saturday; 9 p.m. on the evening before Good Friday; 8 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and, Wednesday and 9 p.m. on Thursday during Carnival Week; 8 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday during National Week, and 12 p.m. on' Christmas Eve and New Year's "Ere.

The Melanesian Mission steamer Southern Cross, -which has been laid up in Auckland Harbour since December, will sail for Norfolk Island and other islands of the Melanesian Group on May 20. The funds of the mission are not in a flourishing condition, and unless they are augmented in the near future the second voyage of the year, usually made in September, will not take place. The Southern Cross is the only vessel running direct From New Zealand to the Solomon Islands and the New Hebrides, and she is largely depended upon for stores and mails by the mfisioners. If, however, money does no come To hand shortly, says the "New Zealand Herald," it will be necessary to abandon the September voyage.

"It is a misuse of the Act, and not 'a fair thing to the debtor to be dragged into Court on. a judgment summons when he has made an honest attempt to meet his obligations," said Mr C. C Kettle, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court at Auckland recently. The Magistrate's remarks were occasioned by the appearance in Court of a journeyman painter who owed a sum of About £5 10s, and who stated that ho had made fairly regular payments off the debt, despite tbe fact that he had had occasional illnesses, brought ou bv the nature of his work. Mr Kettle saioVhe wouM take a note of the case, which, he said,, was one of a great many. He asked the judgment debtor- bow much he had lost in coming to Court-, and was informed that a dav's wages--os—had been forfeited. "This nian should lie credited with this amount off the account," said Mr Kettle to the solictor who was appearing for the judgment creditor, adding: "And T have a good mind to allow him the. costs of the judgment summons." The 'Jabtor eventuaßy agreed to pay off the obt by fortnightly instalments of 2s