NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14492, 2 January 1918, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

AS AUSTRALIA GOT IT. (Special to tbe Herald.) WELLINGTON, this day. When Wellington was in the throes ol Christmas shoprping, and its streets crowded with happy holiday-makers on Christmas Eve, many people in Melbourne Avere worrying- about a revolution which was. reported to have broken out in the New Zealand capital. The censorship over news cabled from New Zealand is close, and, after the usual habit of censors in war time, it is not always customary to allow anything to be said about a serious happening until it is all over. No doubt the Melbourne people reasoned in this way over the absence of news of the "revolution," but the New Zealanders there cabled to the Prime Minister, through the New Zealand Commissioner, Mr. Manson : "Persistent rumor revolution in Wellington, two hundred people killed. Think it advisable you cable press emphatic denial." ■; So Mr. Massey did, as he has had to do before in regard to rumors of trouble in New Zealand which never existed. He cabled : "Rumor mentioned your telegram untrue and absurd. No trouble or friction any part of New Zealand. All sections ' looking forward to enjoying Christmas holidays." : It so happened that the Christmas season in Wellington was one of the quieti est on record. Six o'clock closing seems ' to have liad a remarkable effect in decreasing drunkenness, ***so. that there was rot even a street .-.rumpus during the festival, and only nine drunkards, all of whom ' had been comparatively peaceful, faced the magistrate on, Boxing Day.