LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16735, 17 May 1922, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

NEWS FROM NEAR AND FAR Last year the contracts for the carriage of overseas mails via Vancouver and San Francisco were extended for a year. That contract would expire at the end of June, but the Post-master-General states that arrangements have been made for a further extension of the contract for a year. The terms are the same as the existing contract.

Major AV. AV. McKinney, assistant Commissioner St John Ambulance Brigade, has received notice that the recommendation made at the recent Brigade Conference in Timaru that the title of Nursing Sister, as used by tho Nursing Divisions of the Brigade, since its inception, be changed to Ambulance Sister, has been approved of by the. authorities in Britain.

At a bout half-past six last night a five-seat-er motor-car, driven by Mr Lewis, of Oxford, came to grief against a post between the tram shelter and Woodward’s corner in the Square. The front axle and both front wheels of the car were completely smashed, and an extra belt of iron round the bottom of the post was broken off. The throe occupants of the car escaped injury. One of them said that the driver swerved to two pedestrians in front, and so' struck the post.

A public meeting, presided over byMr L. A. Gordon, was held in tho St Albans Library last Tuesday night, for the purpose of forming a Burgesses’ Association for the district. Addresses were given bv Mr R>. Blank. Chairman of the Unied Burgesses’ Association, and Mr Allen, secretary, and delegates from Linwood. Beckenham, Bryndwr, and Avonside. After much discussion a motion moved by Mr Sweney and sc conded by Mr Moore, that a Burgesses’ Association be formed in St Albans, was carried unanimously. Those present joined the new Association, and it was decided to arrange a meeting later. p At the inquest, yesterday on the body of Charles Clarke, a seaman who died in the Christchurch Hospital on Sunday. Mr I\. T. Lester, of Lyttelton. who was acting for the Seamen’s Mission in the. matter of the funeral, complained to the Coroner of the delayin holding the inquest, which delay made it difficult to arrange for the funeral. He said that the same thing had occurred in two or three other cases. Mr AViddowson said that it war* always endeavoured to hold inquests as early as possible, but in this case the blame could not be fixed on anv one in particular. * The hospital authorities had waited a day before notifying the coroner of the death, in order to try to find a relative Tfho would give the necessary consent for a private post mortem examination, which would have obviated the necessity for an inquest. Many and varied arc the grounds put forward by w-ives who decline to live with their husbands, and many of these, although serious enough from the woman’s point of view, are ludicrous to the outsider. After being mar ried five years, an elderly woman sought maintenance from her husband in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon, states Tuesday's Wellington “ Post.” First she explained that her husband had left her. but later it transpired that really this was not so, the husband having been told that his piesenee was not required. “ What did you put him out for?' ’asked the Magistrate (Mr F. K. Hunt). Complainant: “ He used to annoy me, and I couldn’t stand it. He used to make faces at people in the street until T was quite ashamed —he used to make faces at women, too!” Mr Hunt: “Is that all he did?” Complainant: “Yes, sir.” The woman admitted under crossexamination that since he was tojd to go the husband had paid her 25s or 30s a week- Mr Hunt: “Then you’re very lucky. You kick a man out and expect me to make an order for maintenance against him. No order.” Exit the complainant complaining more bitterly than ever.

During the hearing of the appeals at the Native Appellate Court at Gisborne much interesting history on Maori life is revealed. Recently a witness narrated a legend dealing with a Maori chief tailless in the da*s before the pakeha overran the land. Many years ago, it was stated, a Maori chieftainess, described as very beautiful, was about to be tattooed. The tattoo artist was required to partake only of specially-prepared food during the process, and when the food was brought to him, it was found to comprise hufm*u flesh. Presumably the artist did not exercise his mind about it, but his patient—or sitter perhaps would be more correct- declared that she had bad a spirit message to the effect that the remains in the calabash were those of a relative of hers. The message had been conveyed to her through tappings on the calabash, and she declared that she would not live with her husband until the well-intentioned murderer of her relative was dead. Forthwith, states a Hawke’s Bay paper, inquiries were made, and the fact was established that the spirit message was a true one, and that the man who had prepared the meal had gone to Portland Island. A strong party of Natives were called up from Opotiki, and journeyed to a point on the mainland nearest to the island. Recognising that an attack in force would not effect the object of their visit, the avenging party made belief that they had come for a feast, and desired that the fugitive should participate as one of the central figures—a guest of honour. By this means he was inveigled to the mainland, where the spears of the visitors dispatched him. He- subsequently figured, not as a guest of honour, but as the piece de resistance of the feast.

A photograph to send each of your friends is the best way to solve tho gift problem. Let Steffano Webb take it. Petersen’s Buildings, High Street. Telephone 1989. 1513

“ Big Ben ” and his family reduced. Messrs Hastie, Bull and Pickering announce reduced prices on Alarm Clocks. “ Big Ben ” now 22s 6d, “ Big Ben ” Luminous 80s, “ Jack o' Lantern ” Luminous 20s, “ Sleep Meter ” 13s 6d. “ Good Morning ’’ 10s, Pocket Ben 9s Gd. 6 ’There’s no period of lif« in which tho changes are so rapid, the stages so interesting, or the memory so well worth keeping as the period of childhood. Keep the record in a photograph. Begin with a portrait to-day. Wrigglesworth and Binns, 738 Colombo Street ’Phono 1268. XD.