NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLV, Issue 10431, 8 November 1919, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Several good hauls of trout are reported from I/ako Eotorua and adjacent streams. One lad, fishing for an hour, secured soven nice fish, the largest weighing 71b. One party of three rods landed 105 among them, the majority being in really good condition for so early in the season. 'While' attempting to jump off a motor wagon in Fcatherston street yesterday a jloldder from Trentham Camp,' Private Norman liedgley, fell under the vehicle. A wheel passed over his right leg, fracturing the limb. The injured soldier was removed to the hospital, whore he is now propressing satisfactorily. The Firo Brigade received three calls during yesterday, the first being to Seatoun road, Kilbirnie, where a fire was discovered in Brownleo's, Ltd., box-making factory. No serious damage resulted. In the afternoon some boys from tho Maranui School set fire to the gorso hedge opposite the school in Queen's drive, and this necessitated the services of the brigade. An hour later the brigade was summoned to a house at 20, Hobson, crescent, where a very small blaze was extinguished before any damage had been done. Cassoll's new dictionary contains many words which, it is statod in the introduction, are likely to make good their claim to bo included in the language (says a cable message to the Australian papers). Examples are "oushy," "conchy," "dud-eyewash" (meaning humbug), "fed up," ""funkbole" (meaning Government job), "hotstuff" (moaning unscrupulous or for-"cut-notico'' (meaniqg to frfft fiat). "movies," "the push," "the Strafe," "tophole," "umpteen," "the wind up," "old bean," "bus" (meaning aeroplane), "brass hat" (meaning staff officer).

'■ A strong point made by Mr H. P. MotiranWn hia address at a meeting of Ohristebu'xh bank officers this week was the necessity, in the present state of affairs in the Dominion, for the highest intelligence in hanking. "Wo have a big responsibility, and wo don't realise it," said Mr Mourant. "A good number realise that this Dominion is in a difficult financial position. We are treading in a very dangerous path, arid not far ahead is a proo:pica, and, if wo don't take care, we will go over it. With inflation of credit, and with great extravagance, wo aro in a very, very difficult position. Don't pass these off as my views—they aro tho views of leading economists. Wo are liko a boy who buys a bladder and blows, and blows, until it bursts I That is what inflation of credit is going to land us in—a great moss. This is a time when bank men should give tho right instruction to tho community. We know that many say that we havo novor had such prosperous times, that there is plenty of money about—and, look at land values! But it is psoudo. prosperity, and it is tho hanker who should he advising the people at this time of financial peril."

Between noon on November 3rd and noon on November 6th the following cases of influenza were reported in the four health districts: —Auckland 10 (3 severe), Wellington 4, Canterbury 4, Otago nil, total 18. A Press Association message from Christchurch states that the Canterbury Education Board has endorsed, the Wanganui Borough Council's protest against the reinstatement of Mr von Zedlitz at Victoria College. The steamer Paparoa, which arrived at Wellington yesterday morning from Bristol via Panama, brought 10 first saloon civilian passengers, 11 naval passengers, 22 military officers, 6 nurses, 200 soldiers' wives and children, 73 third-class passengers, 190 New Zealand returning troops, and 3 Australian troops. The total number was 515. Tho Post and Telegraph Department has been notified that cable messages for France must be in plain language or in one of the codes authorised tor use during the war. Each message must contain a signature and the name of tile code must be marked in the instructions. No private code is allowed. For Bank of New Zealand £1 notes only 410 cents is given in tho United States and American possessions, while 480 cents is given for Australian Fedoral notes, a difference of 2s lid. Mr A. Moritzson, a Dunodin business man, in mentioning this fact, said that, as the Bank of New Zealand was State guaranteed, arrangements might bo mado to obtain as good terms as Australia. , About sixteen watersiders who are to be employed in discharging meat out of the No. 2 refrigerated hold of tho steamer City of Winchester met yesterday morning, and accepted a recommendation from the local disputes committee regarding payment for the job. The hold, it will be remembered, had the CO.-2 gas forced into it to extinguish a- smouldering fire, iand about a week ago some of the watereiders while working on the vessel were seriously affected by the gas. With averted head and hidden face, and evidently feeling her position acutely, Gertrude Martin, a welldressed young woman, was yesterday charged in. tho Magistrate's Court with. a Bexious offence —conspiring with Alva Allen (at present on remand) to procure a miscarriage. Chief-Detective Boddani applied for n remand until next Thursday. The remand . was granted, and accused, still very much distressed, was assisted from the prisoner's box. An illustration of the need for something being done for dependents of returned soldiers prior to the discharge of the men -was mentioned by the hon. secretary of the Soldiers' Mothers' League (states an Auckland paper). In the Auckland Military Hospital there is at the present time a Boldier who, owing to fcis condition, is not likely to be released for some while yet. He is the eldest of a family of sixteen, of -whom fourteen are girls, the mother is a widow, and has lost her sight. There were two -peculiar coincidences connected with the trial for murder of James Reside in the Supreme Court yesterday. Tho first witness called into the box was one of tho witnesses who gave evidence in the notorious Somervillo murder case of 1895, in which a man shot another'with a revolver at little more than arm's length, on account of the fact that his victim owed him a small sum of money. Secondly, had a thirteenth man been required for tho jury that man would have been one of the jurymen in tho Somerville trial. The registrar, anticipating that the twelfth man might be challenged, drew from the box a thirteenth card, bearing the name of tho man referred ito.

It is stated that a good deal of pilfering on transports occurs, especially when the vessels berth in harbours. A close watch is now kept, and all persons carrying suspicious parcels are interrogated. On Thursday a. man named James Henry McCann was seen leaving the steamer Remuera with a roll under his arm, and when, accosted said the parcel had been given to him by a soldier on the vessel. It was discovered that McCann had in his possession a blanket, valued at £2, said to bo tho property of the New Zealand Government. In tho Magistrate's Court yesterday ho was charged with theft of the blanket, but the case was not proceeded with. Chief-Detective Boddam asked for a remand until this morning, and this was granted.

The compilation of an Australian 'Doomsday Book was suggested in the Commonwealth House of Representatives recently by Mr Maloney. He gave notice of a motion (says tho Melbourne "Age") to the effect that, in order to eliminate the burden forcod upon Australia by the war, and to prevent the "innocent unborn millions" from being saddled with the yearly interest, it was the opinion of the House that a Doomsday Book bo made. This would show tho full present valuo of tho immovable property, with the names of tho owners., based whore possible on tho present Federal and Stateland tax, or both. Any increase of value that occurred during the next ten years should then, the motion suggested, be used for the extinction of the war debt.

It is illegal to sell hares in Wellington, even if they havo been brought from Christchurch (where they aro so numerous as to have become almost a pest). In the latter place they aro not protected. A consignment was recently forwarded from Christohnrch to Wellington and sold by Messrs Townsend and Paul. As a result tho Acclimatisation Society took action, and in tho Magistrate's Court yesterday the firm mentioned was prosecuted for having sold hares during the close season, and for having sold imported game without a license. It was alleged that the hares had been sold as "large rabbits." After hearing the evidence, the magistrate held that offences had been committed. Defendants were fined £ls and costs (£5 4s). Mr G. G. Walton appeared on behalf of the Acclimatisation Society, and Mr H. F. O'Leary for defendants.