ITEMS OF INTEREST.

Marlborough Express, Volume LIII, Issue 102, 1 May 1919, Page 6

ITEMS OF INTEREST.

« r I '( The Now Zealand Shipping Com- | , j-ii)iy has purchased a. standard I steamer now building on the Clyde I and arc insulating her for frozen 1 caru.o. When insulated she will carry | ir>(J,ooo freight carcases. Delivery is expected in November, and she will ba named, t-lio Piako. The str^sfc collection at Christcliurch on Friday in aid of the Returned Soldiers' Club Building Fund realised £503. Some collectors (states a Press Association telegram) reported that the}' had met with rebuffs- from people who refused to subscribe, ''because the soldiers had voted si gainst prohibition." The Minister for Defence (Sir James Allen) has been officially advised that on April 12th the strength of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in France was 423 all told; in the United Kingdom, 19,337; patients. in hospital in the United Kingdom, 2208; married men with wives and families in United Kingdom, 1129; nvrses and Ued Cross workers to be evacmited, 227; and that the total number evacuated up to that date from th?> United Kingdom since the signing of the Armistice was £4,3.'J3. The Defence- Department will shortly publish a "Soldiers' Guide," containing full information as to the privileges and concessions available to members of the Expeditionary Force, both overseas and in New Zealand, and both before and after discharge. . "We are only waiting to get the gratuities in," "said the Defence Minister, "and a decision as to them will be arrived at as soon as the ill formation- that has been cabled for arrives from Canada. This may come any day now. Alternative plans have already heen drawn up in regard to the gratuities." , "We can reasonably look for an influx of immigrants which will swell the population of New Zealand, whereby a greater demand fcr locallyM.'fintifactured goods will be created," remarked a delegate to the Coach and Motor Vehicles Employers' Convenj tion in Wellington. ""With this in i view, it iecms that now would be a j r<!cst opportune time for th© expan- ! sion and establishment of local industries." _ An Australian - soldier told a London pressman that he was talking "lucky escapes" with a Tommy who related how a big German shell^ landing in "'reserves," caused /some consternation. "Just as the imoke T»as/ drifting away," he said, "I saw a { man coming ■■' <mt of one of the slu=llholes, simply, dripping with black mud—so covered with it you couldn't see anything else. He was one of ! your Australians."' "Yet, but how I did you know if you couldn't see any- ; tl-ing but mud?" objected the Aus- ; tralian. "Oh. I heard what he said!" replied die Tommy, quite seriously. j A boisterous south-westerly wind brought co an end the career of one of Nelson's- oldest and. most widelyknown cherry trees (reports the Nelson Mail).. For over 50 years the tree has stood in ibe garden attached to Mr L. Pitt's house in Harper j Street,, and during-the whole of that J time has rendered good service to the ■ owners of the property— and others. The stem, which was over 12 inches in diameter, was snapped off like a carrot just above the ground. It is thought the tree was planted by the late Mr Jackson in the early days of the settlement. A leading tea merchant of Christchurch stated to a reporter that, while he.hoped to see a slight reduction in the price of tea within the next few montEis, the indications were not favorable. The release of shipping, with the consequent- diversions of supplies to England and America, had made it difficult to procure imple supplies for New Zealand. There was no possibility of the price being advanced, but until the shortage in the English and American markets had been made up, local consumers could not expect a reduction. ' A Maori boy-named George Waerea , was charged' at Napier with having wilfully set fire to the Te Aute College. Detective Butler said the ac-cused-had confessed to him that he set fire to the school, as his cousin had left the school and his teacher had thrashed him unmei'cifully. There was absolutely no truth in the boy's statement concerning the thrashing. The accused, who reserved his dej fence, pleaded not guilty, and was ! committed to the next sittings of the | Supreme Court- .n Napier for trial, j Bail was allowed in two sureties of £100 each,, and the accused himself [for £100. j It is said (remarks an- exchange) that some Napier hotelkeepers had arranged to start liquor selling oh a vessel anchored somewhere just beyond the three-mile limit, if prohibition had been carried. Kather an astute idea, and no doubt there would in summer weather be a good rjany thirsty people willing to qualify as "hona. fide" travellers. But what if a passport were required to leave the Dominion with your wife's consent and full details of the color «bf your hair and your eyes, a statement lof the birthplace of your paternal grandfather, and a complete account of why you were leaving New Zealand and when you intended to come back. You might have to start the | application in midwinter to have any [ chance of getting a drink about the s New Year. | An interesting story ©f the straight | dealing of the old-time Maoris, was reI lated by Mi; J. H. Keesmg, at the native gathering to welcome the returned ' soldiers at Putiki. A num- | her of Waikato Maoris who traded • v'ith a Jewish merchant in Auckland . arrived in that city on Saturday in J order to pay him. They found' the office closed, and that the merchant was away at the synagogue. There the Maoris proceeded, and waiting '. until after the service, met the merchant. The latter explained that he could not do any business nor accept money on his Sabbath. ' The Maoris were then in a quandary, as that inght they had to return to their homes. The next morning. wh<m the merchant went down to his office, he found a broken fanlight, and inside, on the fioor, a bag of money containing the amount of the debt, and an extra ten shillings to pay for-the s damaged window.