LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, 14 February 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Last year New Zealand raised £17,000 for the British Red Cross. Of this sum Nelson contributed £7OOO. This announcement was made by Mrs Lock at the meeting at the Council Chamber last evening, and fully justified the statement that Nelson had done nobly iu regard to Red Cross work.

Subscribers who wish to vote for the inclusion of all Nelson soldiers within the scope of the Nelson Sick and Wounded Soldiers' Fund's operations should vote for the amendment.

The Marine Department advises that arrangements are now in progress for the holding of a magisterial inquiry at Auckland into the circumstances connect, ed with the wreck of the MaitaT'at Rarotonga. The essential witnesses" are now at Auckland, and the date oi inquiry will foe announced as soon as the nautical assessors have been appointed.

A r telegram in Monday's issue stated that a farmer named Frank Watson, of Karama Road, Hastings, was drowned in the. Waimarama River and that two men, Messrs I. A. Graham and S. W. Wiatter's, had reached the shore exhausted after vainly attempting a rescue. The Mr Graham referred to, it is now learnt, ia Mr David A. Graham, son of Mr John Graham, of Nelson. The initials were wrongly given in the telegram.

In connection with the meeting of subscribers to the' sick and Wounded Fund to be held next Monday, 'it may be stated that the only effect of the proposed amendment is to give opportunity •for assistance to be rendered to every Nelson soldier, or his dependents, who needs assistance, instead of as-at present limiting the committee strictly .to' assisting men who are sick or Wounded, or the, dependents of such. At the present time Nelson is the.only place in the Dominion: where the necessitous soldier receives no' assistance.

A meeting of delegates from the various Agricultural and Pastoral Associations in the Nelsort, Westland and Marlborough districts.w;as held at Mercer's rooms yesterday to elect a r-epresentative for appointment on the .Board of Agriculture. The 'President of the Nelson Association <.(Mr G. W. Best)~ was in the chair, and the following delegates were present:—Messrs W. R. May (Nelson). T. H. Holland (Westland), C. G. Teschemaker (Marlborough and Cheviot) and T. Bell (Murchison). Mr Best also represented ICaikoura. There were two nominations, Messrs May and Teschemaker, and on' a ballot being taken the former was elected by 4 votes to 2.

Some excitement was- caused at the Commonwealth Treasury, Melbourne, during the week-end by the hews thatthe strong-rpom in which the gold' reserve is stored, had been broken into. Further enquiry, ' however, dispelled alarm, for the entry had not been effected 'by any enterprising burglar, but by a horde of white ants. The Commonwealth Treasurer explained (states "the Melbourne Age) that 300 boxes of copper coin from India were ' unloaded at the "•harf recently,' and it was discovered then that a large number of the boxes was infested with white ants.' :v The insects had not only demolished the wood, but, presumably" being;hungry '•■■ during their voyage, had eaten most of the paper in which the coins were-Wrapped,: so that coins and ants were;m'ixed'in -about poual rnoportions. and. the dock' and the wharf became smothered' with" the • small sea voyagers. When- "the boxes were taken to'" - the ' Treasury- > strdngrooiriy' the question .Of how •"- to- deal"'with.- the alits had,to : .be' : sdlvedl and~^for s this the services of Dr Cumpston, 'Director of Quarantine, were requisitioned. He prescribed annihilation, which' was duly performed by dipping some boxes in insecticide, and spraying'others.*

Among the most remarkable stories of the war is that of the arrest in the military camp of Avord of ail anarchist uaraed Charles Bill, who was. sentenced' 1 ■"o death before the war. His crime dates from tho early days of the existence of the famous Bonnot-Garnier gang of motor bandits, who perpetrated-so manycrimes in-1912. Bill was. regarded) as a friend of the gangV . He was,' at all events, a, friend, of Reinart, one of the bandits. The 'bandits suspected one of their number, nanidd Blanchet, of having given a tip to the police which led to Reinart's arrest. A few days, after, Bill,. visited- Blanchet ,at night and said': "Come with me; I have found a-job for yon." When they were in a lonely street Bill drew a revolver and said to Elan-; chet: "So it is you. who betrayed Reinart/' and 'before Blanchet could say a word shot, him dead. The police could never find; a trace of Bill; who was, how-: ever, sentenced, to death by default. A; few days ago an artillery soldier namedMasson was practising with, a few com-i rad'es who. had .arrived" about a. week "be-! fore, when suddenly four of the new arrivals, who' were' really : detectives dis--guised in regimental uniforip, sprang upon Massoh, and, after some* resistance, handcuffed him. "Your name is hot Masson," they'said. "You-are the Anarchist, Charles Bill, the assassin of Blanchet. We have found you at last." Bill smiled, and, -without replying, followed the detectives* to the military pri- ■ "son. Nothing has 'been- said concerning the life of the sentenced! criminalup to the declaration of war, but it. appears that at the time of mobilisation Bill eS> 'isted under the name' of Masson. He fought in an infantry regiment,,andi was seriously wounded. After a.long stay; jn hospital he was found' unfit for the- infantry, and was. placed in an artillery regiment, where he was wounded a second time. He had just recovered when ie was sent to Arvord Camp. >

Stick tight to your Cash! You'll want every coin for the Big Sale next week. Ladies' stvlish "Black Silk Velvet Hat? at 6d each, and smart, Ready-to-wear Tagel Hats at Is lid.—Auckland ClbtffIng and .Drapery -Co.* Attention is drawn to; Mrs Anstice's new advertisement on third page of this issue re new raincoats. iNext week it starts! The. Big Sale oi Autumn 'Drapery and Clothing just bought tip North. ' There'll be a wild scramble for those dandy soft White Face- Towels a t 2s half dozen.—Auckland Clothing and Drapery Co.* A meeting of Directors of the C.D.C., Ltd., will 'ho held at their Registered Office, Bridge street, on Friday evening next, at 8 o'clock.* •■ . (Don't waste time darning your old Sox! At the 'Big Autumn', Sale next week we ? ll shoot out Men's dandy. Black Cashmere S'ox at 4' pairs for 2s' 6d.— Auckland Clothing and JDrapery Co.* Imported direct from Japm, another shipment o£ Sea Grass Matts and Sea Grass Squares, in all tho choicest colourincs and designs. For sizes and •prices <?ee special display in onr windows.— OD.C, Ltd., Bridge street. 1 'Never again will \ou see Laces like these sold at such a* mad price ! Beautiful Real Hand-made Indian Laces—•imv» linen —exquisite all to "o it, Is vard at the .Big Sale next week. Worth" .2s 3d to 3s lid.—-Auckland Clothing and Drapery Co-.* Wrong thinking "caused the war and onlv right' thinking can brine ,it 'to an early finish, consequently Nelson grocers" are- to-be commended forgiving the'"Thinker" note' "book free witn every Is package of .Rubbing" Laundry Help..* - ■ .

The issue of passpovr- to women to J sail to the United Kingdom having been ! for.bidden By the -Imperial authorities, ■ passports already granted .to women by ' the New Zealand Department of Internal > Affairs have been cancelled.

On Monday for the second time the Third Wellington Military Appeal Board was advised to send to the front the idlers before calling on men who are needed there. The-matter is.ibeyond- the scope of the board. The first to bring the matter up was a mother whose son was drawn in the ballot. Mr William' Cable, foundry proprietor, appearing in support of a boilermaker, urged that unskilled men should go before the trained and the skilled. The racecourse men' and the street' loaders should be got in. first.

Gisborne's "splendid" isolation has been the theme 1 of many a traveller's tale, but from present indications (says a Press Association telegram) local residents are likely to suffer from an overdose of 1 of isolation as a result of vessels toeing held up, at other ports in consequence of the waterside disputes. As far as can be seen at present there is no possibility of a steamer either from! Auckland or Napier until next week. There, is already a noticeable shortage of flour, sugar, and potatoes,owing to vessels carrying on their cargo last week, but the iposilion is not regarded as serious. In the meantime mails are seriously disorganised, but business people are using the telegraph.

Messrs Burns, Philp, and Co., Sydney, received further particulars last week concerning tli© wHFek of the steamer Misima. It appears that the vessel went the reef off East Cape, Papua, at 7.30 a.m. on February Ist. Captain Ewen, who was in command of the vessel tried all means to "get the. Misima afloat. Anchors and keugers were put out, but owing to the depth of fhe water these would not hold, and strong winds also drove the vessel further on tne reef, and the vessel's hull was badly pierced! by the rocks. The' vessel struck at high water, and as the tide went down she settled very firmly: oh* the reef. The Misima is in a bad ,way, and will probably be a" total wreck. The : .passengers were transhiped to the Morinda, while the crew were landed on the shore to await instructions. At the time of the disaster the Misima .; was on her .way from the north-easfc of Papua to Samarai. She was the Queensland Insurance Company, and captain Ewen was making, his first trip in her.

His Excellency the Governor has received through the Secretary of State for the Colonies a. message from, the Government of 'Portugal in reply to New Year greetings. The - message is as follows:—"The Government of the Portuguese Republic tender, their cordial thanks to." the Governor of New Zealand for the friendly greetings which he has forwardecl to them, in hi? own name and in the name of the Government of New Zealand oh the 'occasion of the New Year, and in return • they make sincere wishes for the prosperity of the iDominion and for Has Excellency's personal happiness. Portugal, the oldest ally of Great Britain, is now once more fighting at their, side for the cause of justice and feels proud of this confraternity in arms. They are firmly convinced of the final victory of -the Allied nations and are decided to cooperate with them as/much as possible." Another message from Italy reads: c "His Majesty the King of Italy is much touched by the kind message from the Government and people of New Zealand) and desires that an expression of his. most cordial thanks may be conveyed to them."

A very important issue was raised at the sitting of the .Second Otago Military Service 'Board at Gore. A young man who had been called tip appealed on the ground' that his services were required to manage his father's run near Pembroke. The chairman ('Mr Day) said that, in cases like this, the Government should have power td compel men who had retired from similar occupations to take up the running for those who had to go, and also to utilise the services of men who had been passed as tit for >rae. service. By passing legislation ft could commandeer the services of everybody in the country. This case only emphasised -what the board had been considering in connection with''a. number of 'small farmers who had been drawn, and who pleaded that they could not get anybody to'look after their farms. There were a number of retired farmers in the countrv who were una'ble to go to the front, and who, by giving un a little of their leisure, could take ih* place of younger men who were compelled to go. The appeal was dismissed.

Kb restrictions against women and children travelling by sea to other than what are known as the'danger zones are being enforced by the Commonwealth Government. People may travel from 1 Australia to New Zealand and to America and other -"places as long ■as the routes are not by' way of these zones. So far the restrictions only apply to journeys to .British and European ports. The Minister for Home Affairs plr Bamford) has stated that he had received a many applications since the restrictions were imposed from women who were desirous of travelling with or without children to Great Britain. He has; however, had to refuse these requests, and he wishes it. to be understood that passports will -be issued only on the most urgent grounds.

The manufacture of pig iron from ironsand will be- commenced early' in March at the works now in course ol erection at .Moturoa by the New Zealand Iron 'Ore, Smelting and Manufacturing Company (states air exchange). The works consist chiefly, of a-magnetic separator, which separates the iron from the sand; a coal disintegrator, which pulverises the cdal • 'a mixer, where the coal-dust and .ironsand are mixed with: a solution; retorts, where-the coal and iron' are made into coke: and the tin naoe, -where the coal is burnt and the molten metal is drawn-, off in*°pig« readv foe use. The various Potions of the plant are excellent y arranged, and the best advantage is taken of tle la* ~f gravitation. A 'branch hue connects Lhc°works. which He withineas> distance of the hrea'kwater wharf. *itn the Government railway unc.

In suramin* up m c ° nn ™ uo £™%* case at the Supreme Court. Kew ■ V > mouth, last week. Mr J:;= fc « Ed ? warned the jury that ,fc was of the highest importance that the la £ l » e country should be evenly Jnur He said that despite the miheiaD.e ™cker> to which the admin.|tratjon o the oath in this country had been le duced they must not forget ««> had been sworn* Taking the.oath should be taken to do. The finest oath in the and WobJeA mighty God. as voiild on Uie Ur Dav of .ludement. to do his dutj. IJc "ffil * ThW IS E *V* aUd d P l d° e iv onr colonial or modem desire Btrieve o with everything that was time-honoured:

Housewives greatly appreciate grocers kindness in K iving-the notebook free with everv Is package No Rubbing" Laundry Help.*

"Inquirer" writes asking : whether* there is not ( a itcoinpulsorafr for sailing vessels, as well ias steamers, to have tiheir name and port, of registry shown on.their sterns, .and 'their naihje* also on the bows 1 ?- Mr Deverush/- Collector of Customs, says it is compulsory for all "registered'' vessels to.'ha;v.fe their names and port of registry shown; Vessels under 15 tons are not compelled/ •to register. • ':" '.";