THE COLONIST. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1919. NEWS OF THE DAY.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 15171, 9 September 1919, Page 4

THE COLONIST. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1919. NEWS OF THE DAY.

The first meeting of ithe Owen branch of the Farmers' Union is called for Saturday, the 20th inst.

Mariri residents will hold a social dance in the packing shed to-morrow evening to welcome returned soldiers.

The annual meeting of the Nelson Defence Rifle Club will take place at Stallard's rooms on Saturday evening, the 13th inst.

The Pacific Cable Board announces the resumption of the acceptance of traffic at deferred rate for the United Kingdom as from yesterday. There is no alteration in charge.

A social evening will be held in the Nelson Returned Soldiers' Association's clubhouse to-morrow evening; and the association's annual ball will take place in the School of Music on Friday night, the 12th inst. j

Intending candidates for the various offices of the Nelson Trotting Club are reminded, that their nominations must be in the hands of the secretary to-day.

The Telegraph Office advises that the following vessels were within radius from Wellington yesterday: —Maori, Monowai, Moeraki, Tofua, and Mokoia.

The prospectus has just been issued of a mining company for the development and working of a mineral reef in the Baton district that has been the subject of much interest locally. The nominal capital of the company is £50,000, and by advertisement it is announced where copies of the prospectus may be obtained. It is stated that shares are already being freely applied for.

As a sequel to the Oromahoe shooting tragedy on August 14th, in which a Native woman was shot dead and a Native man —her step-brother—"with whom she lived, was fatally wounded, Walter Ashby, a half-caste, of Oromahoe, was brought up on remand before Mr F. H. Levien } S.M., at Kawaka'wa last week, and charged with the double murder. After hearing evidence, accused was £onimitted for trial, bail being refused. The Greymouth "Star" of the 2nd inst. says:—"The representative of Newman Brothers, motor car prov prietors, was in town to-day. He waited on Mr. Wingham, president of the local centre of the League Football Association, and handed him back the cheque for £130 for carrying the Australian footballers from Nelson to Greymouth and Greymouth to Christchurch. It will be remembered the cars set out on their journey, but owing to adverse weather conditions could not complete it. The League Centre greatly appreciates Newmon Bros.' sportsmanlike and generous action. It is to be hoped that the Australian footballers will still be able to pay the Coast a visit under good weather conditions."

Commander H. R. Sawbridge and Lieutenant-Commander H. H. de Salis, of H.M.S. New Zealand, were given a civic reception at the Town Hall, Greymouth, on Friday night. During an interval in the West Coast Competitions Society's programme, the Deputy Mayor (Mr W. H. Parfitt) extended a hearty welcome to the visitors. Greymouth, no less than any part of the Empire, he said, was pleased to have among them and welcome men of the Navy that had saved the Empire from the heel of Prussianism. Three hearty cheers were given for Admiral Jellicoe, his noble officers and men. Commander Sawbridge returned thanks for the kindly welcome, and, in the course of a brief address, referred to New Zealand's gift of a battle/cruiser to the Imperial Navy ; also to the fact that this Dominion had given 11 per cent, of her male population in the Great War. 'Through the providence of Almighty God they had won a great victory, because every man and woman had done his or her part. If the fruits of that victory were to bS enjoyed it was essential that each individual should realise his own responsibilities, and, in the words of the junior recitation that night, "Keep a-plug-gin'."

The Thermometer.—At 3 o'clock thap morniiig the temperature outside this office registered 39 degrees.

The new fish freezer at the Thames has been completed. It has a storage capacity for 100 tons of fish, and is capable of handling twenty tons of fish daily. ;

The "New Zealand Times" states that over 800 "war brides" and about 200 children are due to arrive in New Zealand this month; The totals iiv ■ dude.the 358 wives and the 76 children who reached Wellington on the Athenic last week.

Two women patrols who were at work in Christchurch under the direction of the District Health Office, have reported several cases of disease amongst women and children, and steps have been taken to see that the persons suffering from these diseases receive proper treatment, live in clean and sanitary conditions, and take the curative- measures prescribed by the medical authorities.

Attacks upon the French Government's fo:x} and economic policies brought M. Clemenceau to the Tribune, where he made a fighting speech, which ended amid great applause. He said: "We are witnessing the clearing up of the greatest catastrophe in the world's history. It is impossible, after five years of barbarous warfare, that everything should become normal at the moment of the signature of peace."

Altogether 20 beasts were lost as the result of the recent stampede of cattle on the railway bridge across the Kauaeranga river. The whole mob of 158 went through and over the sides or the br^-, which was open between the sleepers. It was a dark night, and, although a gang was quickly organised rescue work was very difficult owing to the deep nature of the mud, and some of. the animals having only their heads aZ° ™™* he loss is rou Shly estimated at £-200.

The "go-slow" weapon was touched ;! on an the Legislative Council last week ;by the Hon. J. Barr. "The go-slow policy," he said, "is dishonest. Either 1 have a straight -out strike or do not • .but don't thieve. Don't put your hand in the other man's pocket. That ■is what the go-slow policy means. Ihere is no need for camouflage It is j mere dishonesty, gross dishonesty, and I those who are going to suffer by it are ■ those least in the position to bear sufi fermg."

! A returned soldier who was formerly I employed as a draper's assistant is teliing an interesting story of his efforts to obtain work (says the Timaru "Post"). He applied for a vacant position advertised by a firm in one of the j cities, but was told that after being | away four years he must have forgotten : 'a good deal of what he knew about the drapery trade, and the firm would not risk taking on such a man. An application in another quarter resulted in a similar refusal. The returned man is beginning to wonder whether it would not have been wiser to have stayed quietly at home than to volunteer for service and do his bit for four long years in the interests of such men as thoso who now decline to employ'him. A memorandum has been issued by Defence Headquarters, stating that in addition to the 1914-15 Star, every soldier who entered a theatre of war will be entitled to receive two medals ;(1) British "General Service" Medal, ; (2) Allied Victory Medal. The medals ; are being manufactured in England, and will require to be engraved in the Dominion before presentation. Supplies of the "General Service" riband , have been ordered from England, and . will shortly arrive, when a sufficient ! quantity will be sent to each district The "Victory Medal" riband has a red centre, with rainbow colours on each ■ side. This will not be available for 1 issue for some time, as adequate sup- , plies are difficult to obtain.

There is nothing in the shape of exploitation in New Zealand (says the "Wairarapa Age"). Oh, dear no! Not even m whey butter, so to speak. This brings in about 50 per cent, less to the producer than creamery butter, and yet it is being retailed at precisely the same price. The retailer is not to blame, tie has to pay the same price for it as he pays for factory butter. But the nl aii a^ the top is demanding liis pound of flesh, and is getting it. The reguW tions nxmg the maximum prices do not it appear, apply to whey butter. Hence tho exploitation. The consumers are becoming thoroughly disgusted with I the operations .of ihe rihgs*! and combines. They are also disgusted with a government which can discover no effective means of dealing with the profiteer. But the day of reckoning is at

v'lll fe vf n™inS homo from HelenshSk A Mason a well-known runholder, was thrown from his horse and ST^ * fracture.d -skull. He was found lying unconscious on the road, and was taken to.the Helensvilie HospiMi Mason left Wanganui, where he was a well-known sheepfarmer, and bought l£h%° -l + nd ?- state ' of lO'°°O acl'es > V.ith the ltnention of thoroughly develthe estate with an up-to-date plant he C^W 1(X? + lead -of Pure-bred H'eretord cattle with a view to establishing a Pedigree herd Mr Mason, who was only 48 years of age, took a keen interest m public matters, and was regarded as one of the most progressive farmers m the Helensvilie district. He leaves a widow and three sons.