NEWS OF THE DAY.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 15047, 15 April 1919, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY.

A cable received by an Auckland nil-11 idenvriter to-day states that the steamer p [Malta from Wellington to London, via 1 Bombay, is delayed at Bombay owing to 3 a plague of rats on board. The cargo i is being landed to ena/ble the cargo and. 1 steamer to be disinfected.—Press Assq-1 ciation. 1 A man named Albert George McMur- j chic was killed at Mangaonoho a day or!] two ago. Deceased was working with i another man on the Poukiore track, wir-; ] ing battens across a gully. His work- 1 mate went into the bush and, receiving ] no reply to a call, went to investigate. ; He found McMurchie lying-on the facs J of the hill the wire rope-by which he had attempted to cross the gully being! broken. Life was then extinct. A ver-i1 diet of accidental death was returned. ! The Mayor (Mr W. W. Snodgrass) fcas ' beori asked by the Minister of Internal Affairs to arrange for the suitable com- ■ memoration of Anzac Day. The Return- I ed Soldiers' Association having already : arranged with the Nelson Ministers*" Association for a combined service at the * Church Steps at 11 o'clock, the Mayor does not think any other steps are necessary, as tho arrangements made arc"^ entirely in accordance with his ' own!" ideas.

Are soldiers durmg their privilege leave-prior to discharge entitled to wear mufti, and to take a private position for wages? These questions are still being putjjy returned men, though there is no doubt about the soldier's right, during Jus 28 days' leave prior to discharge to I go straight to work and discard uniform « ne^vishes. Paragraphs 25 aand 28 of the-.Returned Soldiers' Handbook can be quoted as giving direct authority, llie only exception to the right to wear! mutti during this period is tliat if the soldier is using his four, weeds' railway privilege, heJias to travel in uniform

.The establishment of a Government olotlung factory in Auckland was suggested to the Minister of Defence (Sir James Allen) by Mr George George, a member of the Auckland Repatriation 1 Board (states the "Star"). Mr George sam that the manufacture of Defence police, and postal uniforms oonia be undertaken at such a factory., and that employment might thus Bo found for a considerable number of returned soldiers and other workers. Air George added that the establishment of a branch Government printing office in Auckland also had been suggested: The, Minister said that the suggestion would i be placed before.Cabinet. i

. A. steamer^ha.s.been .chartered, says, arf Auckland*'paper',1 "to tow"pinus insig-' njs logs, estimated at between three' and 'four'million1 feet\6f timber, from Cambridge'to-Mercer*. It is considered that it will take three years to finish' the'contract. * i

That .soldiers should voluntarily agree f to.change their religion.in order to re-J tain the services of a well-loved chaplain; is surely unique in the annals of camp; life, b,ut this was the experience of men of the Nineteenth Reinforcements when it was. announced that the popular padre of the regiment was to be transferred to a later draft on numerical grounds, says an exchange. A number of men at once petitioned the authorities that their religion ~ should be changed to the Salvation Army, and Chaplain J. S. Bladin was allowed to remain with his friends in the ranks. The Anchor Company notify shippers of fruit that owing to the Easter holidays and fhe impossibility of transhipping cargo at Wellington on Thursday (Easter Eye) they, cannot accept any cargo per.Nikau on Wednesday, 16th inst., for ports beyond Wellington. Officers of the automobile service uf the French Army now stationed in Lorraine have some interesting revelations ;to make concerning the German transport systems, and the disadvantages under which they have worked. The crisis as regards rubber was reached in 1916. The shortage made itself felt abruptly, and plain wooden tyres, or those of wood with iron 'hooping, had to foe substituted for the worn pneumatics ana solids. Each automobile unit, however, reserved one, and only one, lorry with rubber tyres. This was devoted to the transport of fragile and important material, or, on occasion, for towing or Breakdown work, when the grip of the wooden tyres was not sufficient. This ' principle was followed until the end of ■ the war

Furs! As usual, we have a fine selection of Choice Furs for Easter, made up in tlic latest shapes. Fox, Wolf, American Opossum, Fitch, Squirrel" Racoon, and Canadian Deer Sets and Necklets, at quite reasonable prices.—Tramen and Co., Trafalgar street.*

It all stones are true, the "wily Jap )>! has signalised his entry in some amusing ways into commercial relations with New Zealand firms (says the Dominion), It is alleged that a certain New Zealand concern, ansious to obtain a suitable substitute for an article of German origin, forwarded a sample to a Japanese manufacturer. Accompanying the sample was an inquiry whether, the Japanese could turn out^such a line at a price within reasonable range of that formerly paid by the importers. Evidently the effort demanded turned out to be mere child's play to the Jap, for recently a splendid imitation of the sample came to hand—with not even the printed legend "Made in Germany" omitted!

Costumes for Easter. Big variety of the newest styles just arrived at Trathen's. Prices 79s 6d to £8 10s.*

The late varieties of peaches have; borne prolific crops this season (writes the A^karpa correspondent of The "Press"). Much of the fruit is being gathered now for jam, preserving, and other domestic requirements. There is s such a super-abundance of it, however, that we cannot use it all here. Even the _ Akaroa youngsters become surfeited of peaches, raw, ripe, or stewed, served up three times a day. It is a matter for "regret that an arrangement cannot be made this luscious fruit could be readily transported to the city. One hears of peaches being sold in the Christchurch shops at Is and more per lb! Here we would be glad for someone to come and take them away, at times, for Id or 2d per lb

Shop early this week. We close on Thursday at 5.30 p.m. as usual. No late shopping night.—Trathen and Co.*

Good news for those who eat food; not; so good, perhaps, for those who grow it: Owing to the long spell of fine weathor throughout New Zealand (says the Dunedin "Star") the harvests of cereals and potatoes are exceeding expectations, and in consequence of the big yields our traders anticipate having to Handle a much larger volume of field products than seemed. possible two months ago. Prices are therefore on the down grade, and at present merchants seem to bo holding oft", in the expectation that when' tho full harvests come on to the market j the values will approximate normal or pre-war rates. This Hesitation on the jpart of the merchants is making the marts very dull, for they do not°know what the drop avill amount to. The compensation is that the-position is-such as to indicate a possibility that the cost of living will be reduced to the public. As an example, we may mention that oats have fallen from 5s 3d to 3s 9d f.o.T). Easter Shopping! For best value and variety go to Trathen's for Gloves, Hosiery, Millinery, Costumes,' Coats, and all Ladies' Apparel.* Lobengnla's grave has been discovered m a place near the Gwelo River, South Africa. The body of the once mighty chiof was found in a sitting position in a wall.K'-up hole, with tho head detached. New Raincoats, Covert Coats, Spoi;fcs Coats, lou get good value, sjood4 attention, and good variety at Trathen's.* The Thermometer.—At 3 o'clock this 'morning the temperature outside this office registered 54 degrees. For Bronehiel Coughs, take Woods' Great" Peppermint Cure.

Speight's and Harley's Beers drawn on the counter direct from the cask. Good accommodation.—Exchange Hotel, next Empire Theatre, Nelson.—J d! Monarty, Proprietor.*

Where to stay at Murchiaon.—Commercial Hotel, .f Thomason, proprietor. Stopping place for Newmans' cars *

r>^ hw?? nc^7 when in Westport. GRAND HOTEL, opposite Bank of New Zealand.*

Emms s mail cars i«ave Nelson for Takaka from Jones's Postcard Shoo at 8 a.m., arriving in Takaka at 1 p.m. Leave Takaka for Nelson at \45 a.m., arriving in Nelson at 1 p in. imi * mof-t in Motueka at 10.15 a m v