LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 52, 1 March 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

■ "»®BDr Solf, German Colonial Secretary, says: "So long as the present spirit continues in England the hope of a united rebuilding of the (Germans') Colonial future is a Utopian ideal." Arrangements have now been made under which, in addition to the name of the soldier, the postal address of the next of kin, will Be inserted in the Government casualty lists exhibited at the Post Offices, says a Wellington Press Association message. Christmas gifts to German children this year do not bring any suggestion of love and goodwill towards others (says the Daily Mirror of December I,7th). On the contrary, they tend to augment the sentiment of hatred towards children of other nations and to teach the German little ones to gloat over the miseries and hardships of the email folk of the enemies of the German Fatherland. A colection of toys intended for distribution to German children has just reached France by a roundabout route. Most prominent among the "playthings" for the enter r tainment and amusement of the rising generation of Germans (says Reuter's Paris correspondent.) are models in lead of the ruins of French and Belgian villages ravaged and laid to waste by the German troops. Among the features of the collection are the medals struck by order of the German Emperor in honour of German ''victories" such as the sinking of the Lusitania and the Sussex.

The current number of The Nelsonian is a very fine issue, and well maintains the standard of the publication. Not only is a healthy and vigorous school life reflected in its pages, but there is a large quantity of information regarding the doings of Old Boys at the front. It is well-known, of course, that Nelson College has a splendid war record, but in the pages of The Nelsonian some indication is given of the very fine spirit in which hundreds of Old Boys have gone to the war. An infinite extent of labour must have been extended in the compilation of the last issue, but the.record is one that will stand for all time and increase in value as the years go by. The Nelsonian is not onyl a credit to Nelson College, but it renders- very valuable service to all the Old Boys of the College, and deserves _ a worthy place in New Zealand's war records.

|. A spark from a neighbouring' chim;ney settling on the weather-boarding .is :thought to have been responsible for an outbreak of fire the other afternoon in -a four-roomed dwelling at 48, Thompson street, Wellington, says- The Post. -The Fire • Brigade wis notified about !; half-past -2,. and quickly got the blaze tinder -before'the damage extended beyond a few pounds' worth' to the side of the house, which was occupied' by Mr Thomas' Baldwin, and owned "by Mr. Ro'berti Birch, of 41,' Nairn street. The contents of the dwelling were insured in the Ph'oenix Office for £9O, and the building ijy the Sun Office for £IOO.

. The part which Oddfellows are taking in the war was referred to at Tuesday's conference at Wellington, says the Post, and the following motion was carried unanimously*:-—"That this conference of the Wellington District," Manchester Unity Order of Oddfellows, extends to the large body of fellow-brethren absent on active service hearty fraternal greetings. We rejoice, .that the representatives of this • district are truly linked in the bonds of; friendship, love and truth, with an army of 150,000 Oddfellows so worthily upholding the honour of the Empire and the Order, and -fervently hopes that the cause of the Allies will soon be triumphant. Further* endeavouring to in some measure express appreciation of their great sacrifice, we pledge ourselves to continue protecting the rights and orivilegea of members of the Order serving their King and country.'

: "There is no greater fallacy in the world than the' old saying. 'There is no sentiment in business/ " said Mr F. Wilding, K.C., in the Supreme Court at Christchurch. "Business is full of it. Sentiment is everywhere. What is it that leads our brave boys to the front, that leads our gallant ladies to Red Cross work", but sentiment? Everything that is good and noble in the world rests on sentiment."

■ A number of moa bones, concerning which a controversy, raged years ago between the late Captain F. W. Huttdn and Dr. H. O. Forbes, a one-time curator of Canterbury Museum, have (says the Christchurch Press}- been presented to the Canterbury Museum by 'Mr F. W. Stubbs, of Geraldine; The fossils, which are the remains of leg bones, belong to an earlier date than that of any other moa bones found, and it was upon them that Captain "Hutton established one of the many species of the moa, which he named Anomalopteryx Antiquus. /Members' of the'species belonged, to a group of small, thick-set clumsy moa sstanding three dr four feet high, allied to a species whose remains are found near Takaka, tjTelson. Captain Hutton . placed'thebones belonging to the Upper Miocene or the older Pliocene period, 'Mr R. Speight, curator of the museum ,agreeing with him, but Sir Julius von 'Haast assigned them as far. back'as the early part of the Tertiary Era. • The bones were discovered beneath a lava flow at Timaru by Mr Stubbs many years ago, when he was employed by the Harbour Board there.

. Says the Melbourne Argus of recent date:—Money cannot now-be raised in Sydney for reproductive enterprises at less than 8 .per cent. This fact was disclosed' by Mr Beeby, Minister for Industry, in asking the Legislative Assembly to pass a Bill authorising the Australian Gaslight' Company to increase its capital and to offer 8 per cent; instead' of the present maximum of 7 pfer cent. The .company has ed in by a number of statutory restrictions, but Parliament, in fixing a maximum rate of interest, made no provision for the company's having to extend its business when money became dearer. Members of the Labour Party Viewed th e Bill with suspicion, and Mr Storey, its lead'er, declared" his disbelief that money was not available at 7 per cent. It is regarded as "correct" procedure 'by Caucus members to suggest that public companies are ever .ready to commit some impropriety. But, neediest to say, no prudent'comfaanv pays interest at a hitrher rate than is necessary. There are 3000" applicants awaiting connection with th e company's mains, and it would be very good business if capital could be secured at a low rate of interest to serve these additional customers. In the Magistrate's 'Court at Christchurch James Rodger, importer, was fined £5 and £3 8s 113 costs for a breach of the Post and Telegraph Act in having forwarded matches through the post.. The attention of farmers' and others is directed to the replace special advertisement of Messrs Harris and Greenslade, land agents, in/ this issue. Nelson ladies are greatly pleased with the" quality .of GOLDEN RULE Soap and NO RUBBING Laundry' Help—a n' excellent combination for washing all' clothes clean.— Levin and Go.-, Ltd. Wholesale Agents for /No-Rubbing and Golden Rule BfamLj.

Post 'Cards from boysi at the Front returning thanks for tobacco, 'have been received: at tliis office for the following: Harold 'Gar j Miss McLennan; J. Doidge; Miss .E. Gilkinson; C. Tomlinson; . Miss Peggy Simpson; C. J. Harley; 'Miss N, Gilkinson j Miss I. Smith: "Lady Waith" j H. Nicolson; Miss D. Cross; A. .B. Hall j I. W. Tunnichn'e ; a. Hodgson; Miss B. Frost; Mrs LaWson. - *

In responce to representations by the Farmers' Union regarding the detention of children in school after school hours in country districts the Auckland Education Board has communicated with th e Farmers' Tlnion stating that the matter hasi been tinder the consideration of the board for the last four months, and that it has now been referred to the New Zealand Teachers' Institute.

"We have been, finding mines off our own coast —no floating mines either, but anchored mines; and we havo to start and handle this question with the gloves off" —so said 'Mr B. Fletcher, M.P. at the meeting of the Wellington Harbour Board, when, .the question of the future possession of the Pacific Islands was --under discussion, says- the Post,

A moderate view of/the harvest prosspects was taken by the Government Wheat 'Controller, Mr W. G. M' Donald, in conversation with, a Christchurch Sun representative. Mr M' Donald stated that as yet he was not in possession l of definite figures as to the yield which the grain coming forward represented, but as far as could, be gathered the returns had fallen below expectations. An estimate hadbeen prepared l and issued by the Government recently, in which it was reckoned that 7,800,000 bushels would, be secured;. This was based on am average yield of 28 bushels per acre. But since this return had been compiled, from estimates given by farmers in December/ the position in many instances, owing to the bad weather, had been materiallv changed. _As yet there was no - cause for anxiety that the yield would be insufficiaent for requirements.

A deserter from camp- was arrested by Constable Mcintosh in the back country of Mackenzie County, and was brought to Timaru on Monday last, sa-vs the Herald. He was, placed' under mlfitaTy guard and sent to Wellington by the express. The deserter was to have returned to camp three weeks ago, but failed to do so, and missed the : by which his contingent left. He adopted a very cunning method to avoid detection. Considering that he would be safer in the Mackenzie than in Timaru, he took the train for Fairlie qn "Wednesday last, with th e object of securing a position on a wayback run. H fi arrived at Fairlie with a green shade over one eye, a pronounced limp in one leg. and generally bore the ap-peai-ance of having been so cruelly handled by the war machine as to excite the sympathy of all who saw him. By the time he reached his destination, however, the invigorating air of the Mackenzie ,had caused' his ailments to disappear as" 'by a miracle, and when arrested h e was -., sans eyeshade, sans limn and sans everything, save the apoearance of a well man who had' never been- touched by sword or 'bullet. Even the coach-driver who brought him down did not recognise in him the same man that he had taken up ; a few days previously.

An additional 2d per hour in wages was granted to ibrickLayers by the Arbitration Court at'.Auckland on Monday, states- the Herald'. Mr W. Scott (th e employers' assessor) took the opportunity to refer to the amount of time lost in getting the awards setting out the new conditions printed; He said that many employers, not "being aware of the alteration to vai'ious clauses, were liable to-.prosecution- for non-compliance. He suggested that the unions should -urge th e Government toput this printing through in th e shortest possible time. Mr T. Bloodworth, who was representing the Bricklayers' Union, said the unions also felt that there was undue delay in this respect. Mr Justice Strinsrer remarked that- if the Government Printer could not produce, the awards more expeditiously the Court -would have to take: the matter into its own hand-s, and get the print-j inr don e elsewhere. - ;. ■.;..-. j

Some little time ago Mr G. S. Haycock, of Bright-water, wrote 'to the Minister of Agriculture (Hon. W. D. S. Macdonald) urging that Waimea and Motueka farmers should have received the same treatment as the North Island growers, as no wheat is exported from here. Mr Haycock points out that North Island farmers get 4d per bushel extra for. wheat and do not Have the 2d per bushel deducted for putting it f.o.b. He i also suggested to the Minister that the three millers, one at Motueka and two in the Waimeas, could have j>as9ed the wheat instead of having' a"Government broker. The letter was referred to the wheat controller (Mr W. G. McDonald), who replied: "It is'the intention of the Wheat Purchase scheme -to interfere oe little as possible with the customs of the trade. In the past most of the wheat in the Nelson arid Motueka district was delivered direct to the flourrnills. The same procedure can be followed this year, but the must first' communicate with a Government broker. In regard to price it' is impossible this year to correct the anomaly you have pointed out." ' ! '■' :'■

"We will be short of. everything after the war, except debts "and taxes," said Mr A. R. Atkinson, at Wellington, when pleadinp-. in the course of an address on social and economic conditions following peace, for rigid national economy. Ho stated that he was qmite satisfied, from his own observation, that economy was in no way a colonial virtue, and it was l almost' unknown in New Zealand. TK£ Rev. H. Watson statod that his parish—Si. Peter's l — supposed to contain some of the poorest quartars in WeMington, but since the war there haa> -been scarcely any poverty. Charitable institutions had: also reported a decline iri their activities. He often wondered, lie said, how long it would last, and he felt convinced that the peopl e were not making adequate preparation for less; nappy conditions which were bound to come sooner or later.

Recent happening? soem to point to the conclusion that N.ipier is under the 'spelL of a fire-raiser (says the Hawk es Bay Herald). Within the past two or thro~ months some half-dozen n:ysterious outbreaks hav e occurred, and 210 exI planation l of their origin has been revealed. Following on the outbreak at the Congregational Church on Saturdav night last another incipient fire "was discovered in an outhouse at another place of. worship. This was luck--ilv noticed by the caretaker, who was a'ble to suppress it without tta* necessity of raisinsr an alarm; Alongside where, this outbreak occurred it is that the caretaker found' a quantity of paper and inflammable refuse in a small supboard, having apparently been deliberately' placed' therein to assist the spread of the fire. Had the discovery not been 'made so opportunely, a disastrous conflagration would probably have resulted. The frequency of these occurrences is-'causinsr a inn: of unrest and anxiety in the com-' ni'UEiity.

The labour Department at Wellington has received twotions for miners for leries which points to a shortage 01 miners on is unable to account for and is awaiting further information says the New Zealand Times-

The vital importance to New- Zealand of the Pacific colonies formerly held ;by Germany being retained (under British control for all time, was stress 1 ed yesterday Gt. ; th e Wellington'-Harbour Board, when the following motion was carried unanimously, says the Posk ; "That the Wellington Harbour Board, realising fully the immense importance c. .-»e question- of the future ocpupation and. administration of the Pacific colonies formerly held by Germany, desires to most stronglv urge upon the Dominion representatives to the Im-, perial Conference in London that no settlement will 'be acceptable to the loyal population- of New Zealand which leaves possible the re-occupation by Germany of any of the - before-men-tioned, colonies." Mr J. C. Cobbe held thai if these colonies were banded' back to Germany, he would fell that NewZealand had been betrayed, and that the sacrifice of blood had been in vain.

"" An explanation of how a girl named Eunice Hammer, who lives at W T akari, was shot in the foot by a bullet from a pea-rifle on the 14th inst,* has been solved by the confession of the victim - that she accidentally shot herself (says the Otago Daily Times.) Her original Btory was that she was standing outside her father's gate, and she felt a. sudden pain in her foot_,and found later that Bhe had been shot, the implication being that she had received a stray bullet from someone ,shooting in the neighbourhood. Her later story/ however, is that she felt- the. day very long, being alone in the 'bouse, and took up her father's rifle and a ball cartridge; - pro- ' ceeding into the' paddock to 1 have a shot at the birds. She rested the 1 muzzle of the rifle on her-left foot white putting the- cartridge in ,and the rifle went on. Her reason for telling", the first story was that Bhe feared' to let her father know she had "been using his rifle. '"' ■

Just prior to the screening of - the picture "The Kid from Timaru*' 'at t-he Empire Theatre last evening, Mr Barrie Marschel announced to th« crowatea. audience that owing, to "a misunderstanding, for which the local manager, Mr W. Surrell, was, in. no way responsible, it had :been stated that' the; pi<?tur e -would be screened"-for three,-ivigh<B in Nelson, whereas • as iOmatt'er, of > fadt his arrangements .wouldi.Jpermit of remaining here , only two ••nights. ' Mr ( Surrell has Vnet .the difficulty by arranging for the-picture to'be screen rd at both picture theatres to-night. Mr Surrell trusts that this will, enable'.all to see the picture. ' •• " ' '- *

Sergeant-Major E. \L. Morley forwards the following :—Particulars, of an ocultation of a star by the planet Venushave been received from the Hector-Ob-servatory, "Wellington (BulTetin No. 9.11: "The star is 7 Aquarii, magnitude 5.7. Ita position Teduced to March 3, 1918, % is right ascension 20hr. 52min. 2&\97sec?, declination lOdeg. Pmin. 45secs. south. The planet is almost stationary in right ascension at the time, and the • chord of occupation lifs along the western , (upper) limbs. The New" Zealand'mean times of beginning and ending, are respectively 1918 March 3, 3h. 55min. a.m., and 'March' 3, sh. 18min. '.aimVenue "is approximately lOdegs. above the horizon at the beginning of cultation and-25degs: above the honzok at the ending." • At this time Venus' js almost at her, greatest ..brilliancy morning skies, attaining a stellar - mag- ~ nitude of minus -4.2, or approximately 100 thnee- as .bright as a 'standard'-firfct magnitude-etar. The apparent diameter is 49.5secs. of arc, but less fifth of her whole disc'- is illuminated,' so that in the telescope she appears 1 beautiful crescent.

The Anchor Company notify # interring passengers that the s.s. Kaitoa wju sail for Wellington direct' to-morrow at 7 p.m., instead' of 11 p.m., as previously advertised. "•

The last lecture on the series •' oil "■Singing" will-be given by Mr John. Tait, in" the Nelson Academy of Musio to-night at 8 o'clock. Free admission cards may be had on application at the Academy rooms, Hardy street.