MEWS OF THE DAY.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13745, 7 April 1915, Page 4

MEWS OF THE DAY.

Tenders were invited in Wellington on Saturday for the erection of the hutments at Trentliam to provide perrnanenv «helteir for the troops m training.

Nominations for the election of.|° ur memiic-rs to represent the city of Nelson oil the Nelson Harbour Board will close on Tuesday, the 13th inst.

At least twice as mucli wheat will be ■grown in California in 1915 as in 1914. The barley crop will be less. Every acre that can be utilised for wheat- will be so employed, and v the crop should "be'the... largest .in 10 or 15 years. • ■.■;.' :' ■ ' • :

r ßy a typographical error in the letter from Mr A. G. Thompson in yesterday s issue, the German military class was described as "cultivated," the term intended being "cultured."

Constable^ Donald Shaw, single, aged 38, «t the .Napier pohce force, has been missing since Thursday, and.fears for Ins safety are entertained.—Press Association.

It Christ came to earth, what would He say to those who are responsible for the present cost of living, and who are exploiting the' workers despite th© sacrifices the latter are making hi regard to the war?"— This was the- question the Rev. W. G. Monokton was asked to answer at a meeting in. Quay Street at Auckland the other day (reports the "Herald") Mr Mqnckton* replied that Christ had come into the world to overcome the doctrine, that might was right, and to substitute the teaching that God's will was right, and that right was greater than might. The great failing of the world to-day was t,iat it had gone 'back to principles which obtained before" the time of Christ. He would remind his audience that a little more than a year ago, men strove to achieve by might what was not right. Because of trouble between the '.'orkers and their employers, both at Huntly and at Wellington, some trade unionists had sought to harm the general public. Had they won, they would have achieved nothing. The spirit of sacrifice was needed among all classes of the community. Christ's teaching, if He came to earth again, would be the acknowledgment of God's will, and a life, not of gain, but -jf sacrifice.

Lieutenant G. Wheeler, Ist Dorset Regiment, who y.-as promoted from the ranks, writing from the front on February 12, to a friend at Newport, Isle of Wight, says:—"lt is a very strange sensation when sitting in your dugout to hear, the shells go over your trenches, and when passed over what a relief to all of us. I had a Svfiiz bang' burst over my dug-out only this week.^ The flash came in my dug-oxit, and, iiimpst Winded me and ray orderly for •! minute, or so I saw a hole that was made by a 'Johnson' at least 20ft in diameter and 12ft or 13ft deep. Your could easily put a furniture van in it, «o you can imagine what danger ther6 is in a trench should the enemy happen to. get the exact range of you.

Descriptions have been published in Petrograd. of vitriol sprayers with which the Germans are providing the Austrian troops. The vitriol, it is stated, is carried on the backs of soldisrs in. cylinders, under a pressure of 35 atmospheres. When turned on a jet of vitriol is thrown to a distance if .thh'ty paces, and each cylinder contains sufficient liquid to keep up a continuous stream for one minute.

Watson's No. 10 Whisky engenders a fine geniality.*

A Zurich professor, who has recently visited the French headquarters, writing :n the "Never Znrcher Zeitung," says:—^'Since Joifre has been in supreme command he has dismissed or replaced no fewer than 77 generals— a number which has since then probably increased. Of all the political generals and corps commanders—that is, those who owed their places to the good offices of politicians—only one has remained. General Sarrail, who has exhibited high strategical abilities. The slightest error in the leading of the troops is severely punished, and the number of high officers treated in this way amounts' to 150." People ask "What is No. 10?"*

Letters from Co]>enhagen state that tremendous difficulties are 'being experienced in Geimany witn regard to the State-organised food supply of the people. The spirt of the" people and their willingness to accept anything unconditionally was over estimated and now there are sounds of grumbling hoard all over Germany. This is not at all surprising when one takes into consideration the sudden command of the authorities that only 4ilb of bread are to be allowed instead of the 81b, which every Geriuan was in the habit of eating weekly.

... The story is told of a wounded Tommy, who, weary of the ministering ange's around his bed, pinned on the counterpane the legend, -'Too ill to be nursed to-day." Another is told of how .> soldier, wounded in the leg, was carried into a hospital staffed by nurses of the type that prompted Kitchener's remark.that "Women and war won't, mix." He extended a leg which soon was superabundantly bandaged. Later the surgeon stripped the lint oif and found the leg in good order and condition. "Y'see," explained Tommy, "that r.in'v. the leg that was shelled. It was this one. But as you wasn't 'ere, I Mav'e em th** other one to play with." j

Early last month the German Government seized over three million bushels of grain, which will be withheld from, consumption until the summer. At the same time it was announced that 12,000 special constables had appointed by the council of Greater Berlin to guard the bakers' shop's. The magistrates cf Berlin, in conjunction with the suburban authorities, wrote the "Tagliche Rundschau'' have issued regulations to bakers to produce only three-quarters of the previous output and to restrict supplies to 4slb per head per week for the whole populatin. Infringement' of this order is punishable by imprisonment up to ,six months or by a fine not exceeding £75. No wheat loaf may exceed 2£oz in weight, but rye bread may be made in loaves of '2Jlb., 31b., or 41b.

Notwithstanding inferior coal (tho best having been commandeered by th'i Admiralty), the steamer Muritai made the run from the Welsh coal port (Barrjrt to Wellington in 44 days. She comes chartered by the British Government io convey Home frozen moat.

Mr G. S. Huffam informs us that the rainfall at Motueka in March was as follows:—3rd 0.29 m, 4th 0.26 in, sth 0.03 in, 10th I.2iin, 11th 6.16 in, 17th G.fflin, 18th O.SMn, 20th 0.72 in, 21st C.22in, 25th 0.03:n, 28th 0.09 in. Total 3.46 in. ' ,

A letter from a member of the Fifth Roinkircements mentions the arrival at the Treniham Military Camp of 20 cases of apples from the Manuka Apple Farm, Nelson. Tho fruit was distributed to the soldiers, by whom it was much appreciated.

As o skein of wool how costs 6d, as compared with 4d in the days before the war, some Nelson ladies consider it is mere economical to make gifts to soldiers of mii.t-mamifactured socks, etc., instead of knitting them by hand out of high-priced materials.

Fiji colonists to. tho number of fiftyeight, who have volunteered for active service recently, arrived at Liverpool by ths Allan liner Scandinavian. They were all men of means and position— Government servants and farmers receiving from £1000 'to £2500 a year. They have relinquished their homes and .positions to do their "little'bit" for he Old Country, and have equipped themselves with, khaki uniforms and accoutrements. One man endeavoured to pay his own fare from Fiji in order1 to work hand in hand with the Allies. Tho, detachment was met by Captain Finch, chief recruiting officer at Liverpool.

Mr Churchill, replying to Mr Watt in the House of Commons, said that shortly before the outbreak of the war there were 28 completed German submarines and an additional 16 were either under construction or had been authorised. Further, six submarines were stated to be under construction for foreign Powers.

Professor Bekhtereff, the mental specialist, lecturing in the Town Hall at Petrograd on "William 11. and German Kultur," analysocl the physical and mental charactr istics of the Kaiser. William, he ■■■■.id, could not be classed as menta unsound, but was rath or of the- i generate Nero type and would be ! 4d responsible for all his actions by nations and by history.

The Racing Commit ' >n (Mr. G. H. Davey, ex-member i>r Christchurch East, and Mr. G. E: uteri M.R for Waipawa) visited Te'<aka last week, and inspected the rar ■ course at Rototai. Later a deputati i from the club waited upon the con ission and put forward their claims t.u* a totalisator. The extreme isolation of the club was emphasised, also the .fact that there was no totalisator permit in the Motueka electorate, and only one in the Nelson province for one meeting a year. Mr. Hunter promised that the club's application would receive "every consideration, and said the strongest argument the club had was its extreme isolation, ' which would carry weight. The commission then returned to Nelson, and proceeded to the West Coast.

Lace is an article about which shopkeepers and others are concerned at present because of the difficulty in trading with Belgium, whence much «f the lace sold in New Zealand was imported prior to the war.. H.M. Trade Commissioner for New Zealand, Mr W. G. Wickham, has'had a communication to say that the War Refugees Committee (England) is obtaining tho names of all lace workers among the refugees in the United Kingdom, with a view to finding them employment in the lace industry, which will-no doubt be able to find places for a great many workers in the near future.

Mrs Austen, of Christchurch, has one| son in the Navy, and another in the' Army. The latter, Private T. Austen i of the Ist Gloucestershire Regiment, writes home. lie was. wounded in j Franco. He.soys:—'"We didn't half catch it hot. Mv company was wiped j out on the clay I Was hit; While I wasi lying wounded on tho ground, the Ger-I mans came right up to where I was, but 3!d not see me. I just waited for it; .so- you see how lucky I was to get away. I had a terrible time of it. I crawled ;;nd hopped, for seven hours before :. got-to a ■doctor ; mercifully I had .strength given t<» me to do it. That was about twelve hours after I. was ■ 'hit." |

The annual general meeting of the Nelson Agricultural imd Pastoral ;\.sUociat'bn will be held on the 21st hist." 'Nominations for president, vice-presi-ident, and general committee have closed. Air Thomas H. Holland, vice- [ president, is president-elect, and Mr F. C. Batchelor is vice-president-elect, theirs being the only nominations received for the respective positions. Twenty-six nominations have been received for the general committee, which consists of 24 members. Those nominated are Messrs J. Langley Adams, A. j P. Allport, J. B. Bartktt, 1\ Bond,| G. W. Best, Godfrey Best,, J. Biggar, C. H. Cliing, Henry Chihg, James Ching, T. B. Chisnall, Hayes Croucher, Jno. Hagen.J. W. Hagen. F. W. Hamilton, W. D. HarknesSj James Hunt, F. Lusty, jun,, W. -R. May. Walter j Thorn, j. Wadsworth, Job. Wells, 0., C. Wilkinson, E. W. Win, Noble: Win, and Dr. P. O. Andrew.

A man nanivd Roy Bateup, aged about 21 years, of Richmond, has been I missing ,smc'e Easter-Monday. He had i been camped on Rabbit Island, and on Monday he and an. old man went to see to a boat which was moored there. j Bateup was riding,' and his companion was ..'.fool. W.hon they were ready to return to the camp, 'Bateup said be woulci lido round the beach, and that he would not.stay long at the camp, but proceed to Richmond. The old man 'herefore did not think it sti-auge when he did not see Bateup at th© camp. Yesterday morning Bateup's horse, arrived at his home near Richmond , and it was noticed that the saddle had been in the water and that one it the stirrup irons was missing. Later in the day this iron .was found on the beach near where Bateup would have crossed. "Op to last night no other trace of the- young man had been j found. There are holes in the vicinity j ot the crossing- between tho island and j the mainland. A search for Bateup isj being, made'by Constable Sheary and others.

A prominent Gisborn© sheepfarmer stated the other day that there was scarcely a station in the Gisborne district which was not at the present time carrying from 1000 to 2000 below normal carrying capacity. Stocks would be still further reduced were it not for the fact that pastoralists do not !jke to have to absolutely jiive their sheep away.

A start will be made this week withr the erection of the new Telepranh' Hotol at Takaka. Mr. Andrew Miller ot Nelson, is the contractor. *'