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Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1833, 21 August 1913, Page 4

Tho other day Levin was thrown into a state of. excitement when a report was spread that a dangerous lunatic was at large at tho southern end of the lake. Report had it that this man. had rushed about digging up the ground with his hands anil howing down manuka, and walking about with a slasher in his hand, inquiring for various Natives, and looking generally dangerous. One witness said that the man got a pole, planted it in the ground; and then tore oil' his shirt and made a flag of it. One young man, who is at present staying at the beach, was so alarmed that ho did not venturo out that night, and perhaps would have been in hiding still had it not been for the fact that tho "lunatic" turned out to bo a harmless surveyor, Who, says the "Chronicle," was looking for old pegs, and had erected a flag to work by. His idea in asking for Maoris' was to find the'pegs and get a little information as to the work of his predecessors.

A local option poll as to the hour of closing hotels -has been promised by Mr. Peake, tho Premier of South Australia. Spea-king last week, Mr. Peako said tho Government would not attempt to amend the Licensing Act during the present Parliament, but at tho next election, nearly two years lienee, a.referendum would bs submitted to the pe.ople whether they favoured closing hotel bars at 6, 7, 8, !), 10, or 11 o'clock. It would be a cumulative vote, and if the majority did not favour (i o'clock closing, votes cast for that hour would be added to the 7 o'clock choice, and ?o 011 until tho will of the majority of tho people was ascertained. The Government would then be prepared to introduce legislation giving effect to the result.

'When the New Zealand Shipping Company's liner Rotorua, which arrived in the stream last evening, left England, she was to liavo carried an armament of 4.7 in. guns. Tlie arming of vessels in the merchant service has been consistently carried out of late, but so far 110 vessel so equipped lias called at a New Zealand port. If the Rotorua's guns were placed aboard her, she will therefore have- the distinction of being tho first armed merchantman to enter Dominion waters..

Tlie secretary of the Rangitikoi A. nnd P. Association 'Mr. \\\ P. Garner) slates that the association's next A. and P. show will fake place at Tailmpe 011 February 2i next.

Tlu> Greyfottn (,'hee-o Factory opened yesterday morning and tlie suppliers are beginning lo roll in.