LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LI, Issue 175, 10 September 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The situation in regard to .the shippin"- strike was..unaltered when we went to ;press -to-day.' The Minister of Marine has the matter in hand, and ft Government announcement was to be made late tuis afternoon.

It was decided at the recent executive meeting of the New Zealand Returned -Soldiers' Association that fto leturned man whose discharge was endorsed below "Fair" should be admitted to membership.

A man named Thomas Peters was arrested here on a charge of failing to provide adequate maintenance for his wife and family, who are in the North Island. He was brought before Mr H. Baigent this morning, and remanded till to-morrow. '

A returned soldier, saya the Press, tells the following story, which he heard' from officers in France, and which hecertainly believed: —A New Zealander was missing from his quarters. ""After a critical fight somewhere hearr Armentieres he was found idling in that or some neighbouring town. He was courtmartialled and sentenced to death for desertion. This sentence was confirmed by the Brigadier and by the 'General of the Division. It then came before General Godley, who examined the papers minutely, and found something in the evidence which did not seem to have been quite cleared up. He accordingly referred the case back to the court-martial for further enquiry. Having obtained answers, he either quashed or varied the sentence, and the man s life was spared. The narrator seemed to think that the man had been allowed to go back into the firing-line with a modified sentence hanging over him to be served after the war. The soldier who told the story admitted that General Godley was not popular, but dwelt on the fact that his care for the -wellbeing of even a law-breaker gave the impression that he was a just man.

The fact was disclosed at a meeting of the Canterbury Philosophical Institute, says the Press, that there is a real danger of the ancient Maori paintings on cave and rock shelters in the Canterbury district, being destroyed by curio hunters and the rubbing of stock, etc. 'On the motion of Mr Skinner, a resolution was passed to "the effect that the Minister of Internal Affairs be requested to at once take measures to protect the paintings. Mr Skinner stated that the Association had been moved to approach the Minister owing to a number of the more interesting figures having been cut out en block from the limestone roof and sides of certain of these shelters and moved away f<?r exhibition. Such action, if continued, would rapidly destroy the whole ethnological value of these aboriginal 'drawings.

Special attractions are promised at the Oddfellows' Hal this Wednesday, the 12th inst., when Nelson's leading vocal and instrumental artists will take part, consisting of Vitetta Bros.' Orchestra, Misses Fairhall. Jacobs, . and Hanby, Messrs Geo. and Sid (Bush, Dimant, A. Betts, H. Glover, P. L. Brady, and 1. and A. Taylor.

Big bargains in Crockery ! At the Crockery Sale, starting 9 a.m. Thursday, we offer sensational bargains in Crockery, Glassware, Brooms, etc. Don't be late." Auckland Clothing and Drapery Co.* Coals.—Order at Neal and Haddow's, th£ Cash Wood and Con:l Depot. _The Wood ana Coal portion of our business Ib being conducted on cash lines only. Absolutely cash with order or on delivery. No second order can be accepted if conditions not adhered to. North Cape. Paponfca, and Sibithy Coals.*

A general meeting of the Nelson Port Wharf Labourers' Union will be held in Taylor's Hall on. Monday, September 10th, at 8 p.m.

At the Central Criminal Court, London, on July 25, before Mr Justice Sankev, the hearing was concluded ot the case in which a number at persons wdre accused of stealing from lerttvr ill various districts of London letters containing cheques, some of which were afterwards altered to amounts largely in excess of the sums for which they were originally drawn. The crossings having been erased, cheques were subsequently cashed. The following sentences were passed:— Frderick Lloyd (49), painter eight years' penal servitude ; Hfenry Nye (42), coster, six years; Frederick Harris (38), dealer, four years; Thomas Faulknes (25), dealer, 18 months' imprisonment With hard labour } George Albert Williams (23), kbaurei-j 12 months' George Griffiths (35), caster, three months; and Mary Nye (42), sffc fliollths. tective Inspector Wagstaff said that the two principals of the gang were Frederick Lloyd and Henry Nye. Lloyd was regarded by the police as an expert forger. Since October 29, 22 cases of cheque forgeries had been reported to the Metropolitan and City Police, m 23 of which the perpetrators were successful in obtaining £756. In passing sentence, Mr. Justice Sankey remarked that he had no doubt that he had before him a very dangerous gang of forgers. The community were very much -n----debted to the officers wfio had b* oi.&ht them to justice.

Admira ISir Cyprian Bridge, in the course of a recent article, says:—"The Entente Allies are now besiegers, with very likely long siege operations before them. Above all things, besiegers need patience." The admiral might have added that during the last great war patience was maintained for over 21 years. If we have not patience, then it were better we had not entered into the war. The position at sea is no mystery. As A.dmiral Bridge remarks : "Nobody submits to being besieged unless he wishes to prolong the struggle." The Germans are no longer fighting for victory at sea ; they are sustained by the hope, not of escaping, but of postponing, ultimate defeat; and "patience will enable us to ensijre the latter." The nation and the .Navy will do well to place confidence in those who, with full knowledge, are directing, ashore and afloat, its naval policy. It may be that the .advent of America into the war has radically changed the naval outlook, but as to'that no one can express an opinion who is not acquainted with the views of the American naval authorities and of the other Allies.

At the last meetins; of the Asliburton Branch of the Farmers' "Union, various members reported that several of their breeding ewes had died, after- feedi.\g on green oats. • From enquiries maue since, it has been found, that „the losses only took place in a few isolated instances. At Tuesday's stock s&le a farmer from fcli© &>a.ltaiti district stfitGo. that some few years back, his ewes, after being fed on green oats, contracted similar symptoms to those reported, and several died. 'His remedy was to keep the sheep moving about, giving plenty of exercise, with the result * tha.t ne did not afterwards have a single death, lie considered it was a mistake at this season to allow ewes to remain more than a few hours on green oats, after which they should be put on a paddock where feed was fairly scarce.

Referring in the House of Representatives to the the Wellington gas supply, Mr Fletcher urged that it should be standardised. Mr Ferguson, said 'Mr Fletcher, although an engineer, was not a cas engineer. Mr Massey :^y an yon surest one? Mr Fletcher: There are stacks of them about. Mr Massey: Not outside the House. (Laughter).

Town' people are ;the produce day' to be held in Tiaf algarstret to-morrow by the Richmond Trades and Fanners. To order that no one may be disappointed an extra large supply of cream is. to be brought in. Purchasers are requested to bring their own bottles. All kinds, of fresh farm produce will be offered for sale.

Entries, for the Horticultural Society's Bulb Show to be helcl at the Drill Hall this week in connection with the Danodil Carnival, close at uNIr Bolton e shop this evening.

The Minister 'of Defence 6tates that should a vacancy occur on, the War Pensions Board he will be glad to give consideration to the appointment of a returned soldier to fill it.

Sharp at .9' a.m. l^tosda^r-^ Crockery Sale starts ! bau"cevs, Tumblers, -Basins, '■bgtojoiaa,.J?9 rlc ?» Jam Dishes, Brooms, etc., w l"_,y,? u at ridiculous prices.—Auckland Clothing and Drapery Co.*

"The National Efficiency Board Is the only body which has stood up to the Government so far," stated.a membei of phe Wellington Industrial Association. Don't be late! S a.m..Qn Thursday fee Crockery Sale start's. Big bargains in Cups and Saucers, Tumblers, 'Spoons, Fortes, Basins, Tinsel Pot Scrapers, Brcofhs, Scrubbing Brushes, etc.— Auckland Clothing and Drapery Co-

Dick Arnst, sometime world s' champion sculler, is iiow doing war work with the Sydney Harbour Motor Patrol. He volunteered long since for active service, but was rejected. --

Get in sharp at nine a.m. Thursday . Crockery Sale starts then, and there II be a big scramble for Cups and Saucers, Spoonr, Forks, Brooms, Enamel Basins, Jam Dishes, Tumblers, etc.—Auckland Clothing and Drapery Uo.*

Nelson ladies delighted with «'NQ RUBBING" Laundry Help—it lightens their work and whitens their clothes. Is packets every time.—Local grocers.