LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12065, 21 July 1917, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The results of the sixth night's play in tho second round of tho Christehurch United Friendly Societies' Card Association's tournament wero as follow l bo^ t City of Christehurch ("J. *--19; Alio.lor (e) beat Ivv of Linwood (If), iD-lfi; Star of Lin wood (11) beat Mistletoe (0), 18-17; Queen's Own (oi) and Washington (4s) made a draw (21-21); Star of St Albans (7*) had a bye.

u The danger of' tlio electric iron in connection with fir p. hazards rec/uiros great ct stress than Ims yet been given to it locally," says Superintendent Napier (of the Bunedin Fire Brigade), in tho course of his anuual report. " Perhaps the best means," suggests the superintendent, is to ask th<* in.su nuicc companies to warn their clients, and to request the City Council to caution all users, who, T. understand, have to apply for .special permission prior to the installation of the iron and its fittings. The danger is ever present in all concealed power-heating, and should he guarded against by the supplier, the City Council, and ?.s it may be taken that tho present types of electric iron are most potential fire-raisers, it is tho undoubted duty of the Fire Board to emphasis the risk. Electricity is the most convenient means of heating that necessary evil, the hot iron, bi?t tho possiblo danger should be widely stress, ed, not to do away with the i ro n, but to exercise care. My advice to tho user is to ninko it a practice not only to switch off tho current, but bo very careful to remove tho phig. Tho best means of being certain that this will W do no is to have the iron stored well away from tho ironing board." Startling tests of "Coal Ore" were by Melbourno analyst: Untreated coal burns 5 hours 20 minutes, treated coal 7 hours 40 minutes. Arc you .akiny; this saving? Hustie, Bull and Pickering, .agents* X 136

The number of patients in the mental hospitals of the Dominion at tho beginning of last year was 4200; at the end of the year it was 4375, 1820 beiw? women. That means a ratio to population (exclusive of Maoris) of 39.46 po r 10.000. The number of first admissions was 737. 233 being females. At the Durham Street Methodist Church to-morrow evening, tho Rev Percy Knight, 8.A., will make special reference to the. death of Mrs_G. J. Snut.ii, wife of Colonel G. J. Smith, of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces. Mrs Ernest Firth will sing " God shall wipe all tears from their eyes,'' and {.•pedal music will be sung by tho choir.

"The French Revolution" will be the subject of Mr W. W. Collins's address at the Caledonian Hall to-morrow evening, commencing at 7.10 p.m. The French Revolution was one of tho greatest epoch-making events in tho history of democracy and tho lecturer will deal in a, fascinating manner with the influence it has wielded and tho change it has effected on tho thought ot the world.

The quarterly inspection of the St John Ambulance Brigade was held on \\ ednesday evening r.t the. headquarters rooms, "Worcester Street. Tho officer in charge of the sub-district (If, Thomas'), Corporal Superintendent (11. Hoddinott./, Corporal Secretary ('Miss Monroe 1 * and Superintendent (J. H. Lash) were in attendance, together with a fair number of active members. After brief stretcher drill and bandage instruction. Superintendent J. H. Lash referred to Sergeant- G. Cattermole and Private W. Henderson leaving for cam}) and hoped the members would try and fill the gap in the ranks of the brigade, especially as el> M' wero now forming for) ifijst aid and home nursing, at. which members give demonstrations.

A meeting of the Christ-church Boot Kctailers' and Repairers' Association was held on Monday. The committee of advice for retail and distributing occupations, established by tho Nation.il FJliciency Board, wrote requesting the association to elect a, committee of three to p;ivo such export advice and information as may bo repaired from time to time by tho Efficiency Board. Tho following were appointed to represent, the association :—Messrs F. Pannell, W. E. Shelton and T. Woods. The secretary reported that practically r. 11 the boot retailers were members of the association, there being a membership roll of sixty. The first annual meeting of this association will be held on August 20, when important questions affecting boot retailers and repairers will be considered,

The pictures representing the Battle of the Ancro have received much more patronago in Christ-church than was expected. This is tho second season in New Zealand. The first season was in Wellington, but, although tho largo Town Hall was available there, tho Christehurch season already has given better financial results than the Wellington season. The net result in Wellington was something over £6OO. As the Christehurch season has been extended until Tuesday, it is not known yet what the takings here represent, but within seven days of the close of the season a cheque for 2o per cent of tho. net total will be handed to tho Mayor for several patriotic funds. Mr J. Gordon Smith, field secretary of the Y.M.C.A,, stated last night that the reception of the pictures _in Christchurch was highly gratifying. It qui to justified the extension of the season and also a small suburban and country tour, made possible by the fact that the Y.M.C.A. has several copies of tho films.

A referendum is being taken among the members of the medical profession in Australia to decide whether they should bo conscripted for service abroad. If three-fourths of tho votes favour the suggestion tho Federal Committeo of ihe British Medical Association proposes to ask tho Federal Government to introduce legislation upon the lines indicated. A letter recently sent by tho acting-Premier of New South Wales to the Federal Prime Minister referred to the practice of the Defence Department in calling up medical officers for nctivo sen-ice without apparently giving adequate consideration to the relative importance of civil requirements. It was mentioned that the Minister of Public Health held the view that medical service for homo requirements was hardly loss valuable, in tho circumstances of tho moment, than service abroad. In his opinion there should be adopted somo form of mobilisation that would ensure the the services available; first for service abroad, and secondly for home service. Under conditions now operating tho military requirements seemed to be met. hy a combing-out process, which was 1 mving a detrimental effect upon the welfare of the people. "There can be little doubt as to its value as a restorative and recuperative," *-ays one medical journal, ; 'The Lancet," of YLTAFFJL Doctors everywhere. recommend VTTAFER, all-Brit-ish Tonic Food for Nerves," Brain Fag, Dyspepsia, Ainemia, Neuritis, Exhaustion. A food, not a stimulant. Chemists sell YITAFER. Sample, 3a Gd, post free, from J. A. Coltart, Chemist, Christehurch. Ladies know them to have no equal. Martin's Apiol and Steel Pills. Sold by all Chemists and Stores throughout Australasia. Wo understand that the Canterbury Motor Company, the Ford car agents, will soon bo landing the "Ton-Ford,"' n one-ton lorry, that is in such great demand in Canada that only u limited number can be landed here. Immediately on arrival they will be on view at the Canterbury Motor Garage, 166, Taam Street, a