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Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 21, 18 August 1917, Page 4

It was reported to the Hawera Hospital Board on Thursday (states the '•bar) that a Hawera baker had bcun warned by the health officer for forwarding bread by rail in uncovered boxes. A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that the Minister of Defence lias been advised of the safe arrival at their destination of the 26tlx Reinforcements and also of the first portion of the 27th Reinforcements. The Press Association at Wellington reports: Another charge arising out of Saturday’s disturbance; was board at the Wellington Court yesterday, William Ernest Fordham, a soldier, being charged with disturbing Sergeant Crniciisbanks while executing his duty. Accused was fined £lO. Proclamations are gazetted prohibiting the exportation from the Dominion, save with the consent of the Minister of Customs, of chemicals, drugs, and chemical prepa'i io’s and scrap metal, mid also ot pt.-.irg- stomps to .my other destination than the knifed Kingdom and British possessions and protectorates.

A return laid on the table of the House on Thursday slates that from August Ith tiii March 31st, 1915, 20.10 motor-cars wore imported into the Dominion, valued at £109,263, and from April Ist, 1915, till March 31st 1910. 421 cars were imported, the value of which totalled £660,181. Tne total fur the whole period was 6134 cars, valued at £1,00.4, 444. “I am very busy, and sorry I cannot attend the court. I am guilty, and if you let me know the fine and send along someone to get the money I will pay it,” wrote a Chinese to a Wellington Magistrate who said evi-$. dcntly the Chinese was of the opinion that a fine was some sort of a license. The busy letter-writer was convicted and fined £5, and costs 7s, for selling cigarettes after hours. ‘‘Your sugar has come,” said the postman with a smile as he delivered a parcel of 31b of sugar at a South London home recently. “And there’s til to pay on it ; please.” A glance at the label showed the astonished householder that this quite unexpected gift had came all the way from' New Zealand, 13,000 miles a Way, and that it was sent by a relative, it was a somewhat roundabout and expensive Way of getting a parcel of sugar to South London. The 31b of sugar cost 9cl in New Zealand; the postage was 2s Did, and the Customs duty—paid by the recipient—was 4d; total, 3s l|d, or more than Is a lb.

A gentleman in Auckland has received a letter from a friend at New Plymouth, in which reference is made to the wet weather, and then the writer adds that the top of Mount Egmont has entirely disappeared from view. The explanation of this it probably that the recent eartln tremors had the effect of shaking the scoria near the top of the mounta-n arid caused it to cover the ice. It will be remembered that the lake in the crater is almost a glacier, and glimpses of this can be got from crevasses in the side of the mountain. 'J lie earth tremor may easily have caused scoria to slip down and fill tuese pmcos temporarily.

“How would you prefer to swear?” asked Mr S. E. McCarthy, S.M., of a. Chinese witness in the Magistrate’s Court at Wellington (says the Times), meaning whether he would take the oath in the usual way or by the blowing odt of a match. The witness without hesitation replied, “Oh! anyhow you like.” After silence had been restored His Worship, in administering the oath, got ns far as, • ion swear by the Almighty God,” when the witness startled the court by exclaiming, “Not much.” A brother Celestial came forward to act ns interpreter, but he was hardly a success. He said, “Qwong tie wall” (don’t tell lies) and the oath was administered.

The mysterious disappearance of a valuable diamond irom the premises of Messrs Proud’s (Ltd.), at No. 107 Pitt street, Sydney, was reported to the police on July 20. Mr W. J. Proud, principal of the firm, stated that the diamond, which was valued at £750, weighed 14i carats, and was widely known as the “Star of Sydney.” It was one of the largest, if not the largest, in Australia, skilfully cut in modern style, and was of exceptional brilliance. It was set in platinum as a necklace, with loop attachment and chain. The gem was in the possession of the firm on the Saturday, and was not missed till Monday morning, when the safes wore opened. A search was made, hut all efforts lo trace the missing stone proved fruitless. Some days ago the extra ordinary ease was made public in the columns of the “Stratford Post” in which a resident who believed his f brother to be still in the fighting line, and unwounded, was officially notified that he, as next-of-kin, would inherit his brother’s estate. Very reluctantly after many enquires, Mr Alex Nelson (of Messrs Nelson and Green) the resident referred to, finally accepted the evidence o! wed that his brother, William George Nelson, had fallen, and accordingly sent necessary documents to the Public Trust Office as requested, and published death notice jHe was yestord y uch astonished, though naturally pleased, to receive his papers back again from the Public Trustee, regretting that a mi.’ftake had been made at the Base Records , Office, and the casualty supposed to have been Mr Alev Nelson’,s brother. | is some one else,