LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIX, Issue XLIX, 11 January 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The price of flour has gone up considerably during the past few weeks. Yesterday another rise of 10s a ton was announced, and local bakers are now paying £l4 10s a ton f.o.h. South. The price of bread, it is stated, will probably have to be raised in. view of the rise in flour.

It is notified that there will be a meeting of the combined Patriotic Committees to-morrow evening .for the purpose -of arranging matters in connection with the forthcoming visit of ■ the Minister of Internal 'Affairs (Hon. G. W. Russell), who has charge of the Returned Soldiers.

A fire occurred at the Bluff this morning, resulting in the destruction of two wooden shops and serious : damage to the Harbour Board offices. The loss is estimated at £4OOO. Chapman, grocer, was insured • for £I4OO, .and,Stewart, tobacconist, for £l5O. Both were complete losses. The Harbour Boa-rd's offices were insured for £3ooo.—Press Association.

On most of the oversea vessels that have visited Lryttellon recently trouble has heen experienced in getting the stokehold crew on board in order to enable departure to be made without loss of time (says the Chrfstchurch '"Press" of yesterday). The latest vessel so inconvenienced -was the liner Corinthic, which left Lytlelton for Thursday afternoon. Shortly ibefbre sailing timd it was , found that eight firemen were missing, six-"of whom, with the assistance .of the police, were brought down to the wharf, where some of them evinced a strong- disinclination to go on board, hut did so after an officer had spoken to them. The Corinthic was still short of two firemen when she sailed for the South.

The aquatic carnival in aid of the Ped Gross and Sick and Wounded Funds should be- a great success! A good fewside shows are being placed at the disposal of the secretary, amongst which are walking a wire rope across the water, trapeze, horizontal bar, and tumbling. "With the other shore sports those .who are not interested in racing cannot help but being amused in all these other events. The model yacht- race should be a good sight, as there will .be several competitors. The .finish (the laughable farce the Darktown Fishing Party) should send all home after enjoying a real good day. A meeting of the committee is being 'held at 8 p.m. to-night at the .Rowing Club'? shed. All people who are interested in making a ' good day of the carnival are invited to attend.

Some excitement was caused among some of the settlers near Te ICuiti by the actions of a man, aySwede, who was wandering' about .the 'bush for -several days. Fjvetrftually he discarded , his clothing, and the settlers communicated with the police. The "New Zealand Herald" states that Constable Kennedy, accompanied hy some settlers, located the man in the bush, about four miles from the town, and surrounded him. The constable approached the nude hush dweller,- who was armed with an axe, and attempted to use it. The constable's rush, however, was too quick, and "he received only a blow from the handles on the shoulder. The man, when brought to the police station, said he had had no food- for a week, but vtfry little Information could be obtained from, him. He was committed to the Auckland Mental Hospital? '-- ' '

A letter to an Oamaru resident from South Shields narrates how the writer was journeying from London to that place. In the carriage was seated-'■■•an.' engineer of the mercantile marine', whjb had donned an ordinary greatcoat arid hat. Feeling against shirkers rah high amongi the occupants of the carriage, and soon the inevitable topic became the subject of a heated, argument.' The engineer, a young man. was-silent. At length one of the noisiest of tKd jMssengers - turned to him and asked: "Have you enlisted?" "No;" wasi the reply, "and I donjt intend to." A chorus of condemnation broke out, 'but the engineer replied: "There is , more than, one uniform. You had breakfast this morning, and you expect to* get breakfast to-morrow morning. "VVTell, ~I am one of those who' get it for you. rC I have'been torpedoed once and' shelled twice, and I'm not in the best of places, to get out of "a ship in a hurry. But I' intend to carry oh." Needless to say the' subject was dropped, and -the occupants began to realise the old'truth that an' army "fights on its stomach" as well as with, munitions.

The ' 9fch Reinforcements, in their march through the (principal streets of Wellington on Saturday afternoon, made an excellent impression, .says the, 'T?ost." The 3on e khaki column-as it passed along' with its waving lines oi steel, which glittered "in the- afternoon, sun, presented a sight which provoked the onlookfng thousands to no small degree of enthusiasm." The' ' 9th were; cheered to the "echo, flowers and gifts were 'bestowed on them galore. ' The 9ths are not likelv to forget their reception. Neither are the public' likely to forget the-9ths; for a chedrier crowd of soldiers never passed through Wellington. Though wicked-looking bayonets danced aloft, there were smiling, beaming faces below which did everyone'good to see. The march- was further enliven-: ed hy the presence of several 'bands, which, distributed throughout the length of the column, kept playing patriotic airs. These bands included the 1 rentham Camp Band, Highland Pipe Band, j Salvation Army -Band, and the sth (Wellington) Regiment Band.

A. soldier who received an invitation to a wedding whilst he was at the front sent the following apology, - which has just come to hand at Ashburton:— 'I regret to inform you that, Tinder the circumstances, I am unable to attend the wedding of your daughter on 22nd September. We -being at war with several nations, I consider it my duty to take up arms and defend- my Interests. I hope you will accept this* my excuse. Hope you have a fine day and an enjoyable time. Please believei mc, ."

(Mr G. !•• Petersen, touring manager for Wirth's Circus, was in Nelson to-day malcing arrangements for a two nights' seasoh opening on Friday, January 28th.

The honey crop this year, according to reports received- by the Director of Horticulture from district apiary instructors, should be fairly good in the North Island, but will !be considerably affected in Canterbury as the result of the droughts and hob winds. Otago is expected to supply a light crop, but the prospects in Southland are good.

A contemptible form of the confidence trick was exposed at the Wellington Magistrate's Court the other day. says the "Post,"when Percy John Connors,an Australian, appeared on charges of stealing £2 from a member of the Royal Field Artillery, and £4 from'another member of the same company. Chief Detective Boddam conducted the case for the police. The evidence was that the soldiers had made the acquaintance of Connors and another civilian in the street, and in the course of their perambulations they visited the New Zealander Hotel. While there the two -soldiers asked the girl behind the bar if she could change some notes into gold for them. She did not have the necessary gold, and one of the men, Connors, offered to get it for them. He took the notes and went out; of the bar, and was shortly afterwards followed by the- other civilian. Neither of the men came'back, and the soldiers then reported the matter to the police'. Later, Detective-Ser-geant Cox and Detective Carney arrested Connors in Willis-street. On Saturday ho was identified by the two soldiers and the girl who had attended to them in the Now Zealander. The Magistrate, in sentencing Connors ■to ■ a month's imprisonment on the minor charge, said that the men who were going to fight .for their country ■ were Ibeintr taken down on all sides, and whenever ; the opportunity was afforded him he would do his best to put a stop to this sort of tW> ■:. On the second charge Connors was c mxnitted for trial at the Supreme Couvt.

Lieut. Downie Stewart, who is an officer in the 9th Reinforcements, has sent the following letter to his constituents: "I-desire to convey to the electors of Duriedin West my appreciation' of the many assurances I have received that they approve of the course I have taken.., ■They realise that my absence can be of no material importance'at a time when local politics are in abeyance, and that the duty .which calls mfi away is more imperative than the affairs of the electorate. There are many homos in Dun-, edin. West whose sons have fought and., died; for the cause in which we are eiigagedisand I feel it a high privilege to serveiin an army whose valour and endurance have\ made the world ring with its praise. Our paramount duty is to see that the sacrifices that have 'been made shall not have been made in vain, and to this end we must .continue to pour in our resources in men and money until victory isachiaved. I will always remember the many _ t kmdnesses T have received at the hands of the electors and from> the people, of Dunedin, and mv hope is .that when- the war is over I-"may have an opportunity of repaying my obligation in some degree, and or serving the city to which I owe so much, and which I love so well. — (Signed) 'Wiliam Downie Stewart.