LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 10 July 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A splendid .programme has been arranged for the social to be, given in the Oddfellows' Hall, Wakefield, on 14th July, in-aid of the Red Cross Fund. It is trusted l there will be a. very large attendance.

The weather to-day was -wet througout the Dominion. reports "sky blue and cloudy," and Queenstown "cloudy"'; .but every other station reports rain or overcast condifciojip.

Ota-go and Southland millers yesterday decided to reduce the price of flour, the former by £\. per- ton and the latter by 10s. It is understood thai some of the northern (millers securod substantial stocks of wheat at comparatively lowrates early in the season, 'aeid have gow commenced cutting: tactics, in the local (markets, thereb/.y Causing a reduction in prices.—Press Association.

Om the 18th June* ulto.,' in the Supreme Courts in Chamibersj at Wellington, on the application'of Mr 11. .L. Harley, his Honour Judge Chapman, granted probate of the will of Edward Fry, late of -Riwaka, farmer, deceased, to Euphemia Eliza Fry, the sole executrix named) in the will.

An employee at Mr A. Miller's factory; Melville Fliippe, aged. 18, 'met With" a serious accident shortly' before work ceased at the mill' to-day. He was clearing .away sawdust from beneath the saw bench when the shovel he was using touched the travelling saw. Phipps's right hand was drawn on to tho saw, with the result that portions of the fou'' fingers were taken off. The la<L Was taken to the. Hospital for attention.

Owing to the unfavourable weather conditions the Nelson. Province Prize Fund's Shooting Competition, which was to have been held this afternoon, lias been postponed Saturday, tho 24th •inst. The Cadet 'competition will be held next Saturday as previously arranged.

Sergeant Jack Laird, writing to his mother, Mrs S. C. Lairdt, of Tasmanstreetj states that his wound received, at the Dardanelles is hi tlie thigh. At the time of writing lie was oil Ii.M.S. Whitby Abbey on his way to the Hospital Ship, to have the bullet taken out. He states: "We are getting very well looked after, and everybody is very kind. One has to smile when he is la'bled like a parcel and handled' (with care). What worries me most is my friends and others who have finished with this world."

A -pecial .meeting- of the New Zealand Alliance -executive was held at Wellington' last evening. It was agreed to enter an emphatic protest to the Minister of Justice against the- action of the Grey Licensing Committee ,in granting a license in direct contravention of tho sprit and the intention of the Act, against which action the presiding magistrate 'had deemed it necessary to protest.—Press Association.

A special song service will be heldi tomorrow night at the Congregational .Churoh, when favourite hymns will be •sung 'by the choir and congregation'. The Rev. T. G. Butler will preach a suitable ■sermon, his subject being, "The Lfso of 'the Voice." After the service, at 8 p.m., prayers will bo offered for our soldiers and the nations at-war. -

Our Motueka correspondent writes that a very sad deatlli occurred in- the borough yesterdav. Mrs Joseph Sixtus gave birth to a child, and. everything appealed, to ibe .going on satisfactorily; but an hour and a-half after .the child; was born, the mother passed away. Great-sym-pathy is expressed with tho (husband, who is-left with a family of four young children.

Fine' Head-work. —"The advance of the' Allied Fleet up tihe Dardanelles is causing the flidads of the Balkta States it© stroke their chins thoughtfully."— "Southern Daily Echo."

A large number of members were present at "the 'Nelson Club last evening, when a presentation was made to Sergt. Stallard, prior to his departure to join the reinforcements training camp. The presentation,' which took the form of .a purse of sovereigns, was made by Mr. Duncan, who referred to Mr. Stallard s undoubted qualities as a soldier, and his fitness in every way for the duties -he was about to take up. Mr. W. Rogers endorsed Mr. Duncan's statement. Sergt. Stajla'rd, after thanking the' members of the Club for' their 'gift,, expressed the wish that'it would be utilised' to secure a £3OO insurance policy,on his life, and that the remainder be paid to his wife- in 30s weekly instalments until the money was exhausted.

The older .generation of Maori chiefs of the Wairarapa have now all passed away. The last of them, Hori Pahuki, died at Lansdowno on. Tuesday. He was supposed to bei 112 years of age, and- was of the . Ngatiliahungunus of Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay.

Most df ■■ .the AnicikiLandi bonded stores are now practically empty (says the j'Ntew Zealand HeraW.") For same weeks past merchantshave .been withdrawing very largo quantities of liquor and<. tobacco .from bond, probaTbly in anticipation' of possible war taxation. June 30 and Judy I.were stocktalrinig ..days, .and, as the ihad to be effected' prior to that, the!"" pressure of business ihas ,'been very great. The amount of Customs' duties collected inl Auckland for the past month is about £131,000, which is much above the average. It is estimated tihat the heavy clearances from rt&e bonds were responsible for between! £50,000 and £60,000 of that total.