LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2237, 25 August 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Hon. Jas. Allen (Minister of Finance) informed a reporter Who questioned him en the subject yesterday that he was not yet in a position to make any announcement regarding the State Advances Office, but that ho hoped to submit a proposal to his colleagues to-day in reference to the policy to be pursued in the circumstances that now exist.

A nautical inquiry concerning tho loss of the barque Joseph Craig' at Hokianga on August 7 was commenced at Auckland yesterday, says o Press Association telegram, and adjourned, after a good deal of. evidence had been heard, until to-day.

In connection jivith tho announcement stating that tho price of milk is to Le reduced to 4d. a quart on September next, it is interesting to note that tho milk, suppliers, the Wellington Dairy Farmers 1 Association; have decided that despite the fact that butter-fat is expected to fetch a big price this season, tho price of milk to the retailers will bo 6J d. per gallon only, with freight added, 7}d. per gallon.. This decision has been arrived at by the desire of the association to maintain as far as possible a normal level of prices, despite tho abnormal situation created by the European war.

The Telegraph Office advises that week-end messages may bo accepted for transmission via Pacific/but will be subject t6 great delay and'accepted only at sender's, risk.

The Frenchman (referred to in The Domikion yesterday) who is calling on householders for their assistance to return to his own: country was examined' by the police yesterday. The card he is presenting from door to door reads as follows: —"Ladies and Gentlemen,—My father and self lost our boats some time ago., Being from Franco and not able to "speak English, wo would bo very grateful if you would kindly buy a little from us to help us to return to our own country." Tho mail's name is Joseph Martin, and the police state that he can speak a littlo broken English. • When he stated that his father (who is mentioned 1 on the card) had been missing since August 13. Martin was far from des-. titute, having several pounds on- his person when he was examined. 'V No charge could be preferred against the young man. who had some pens and paper in a nag aB his stock-in-trade. It has been suggested that if the man is a genuine Frenchman and wishes to reach his country, that he might be forwarded on one of the troopships as a sailor, and perhaps an instructor in a language which may he of service to the officers.

Expressions of opinion that business is settling down very satisfactorily are being voiced every day, and yesterday the president of the Central Chamber of Commerce (Mr. C. M. Luke) said that he was iu a position, os head of the Chamber, to announce that Wellington was getting back rapidly to normal trade conditions.

On the face of it tho action, of the Germans in indiscriminately' sowing submarine mines would seem to have a vital bearing upon the question of marine •war risks. Preoise information on.the subject is not obtainable, but. in wellinformed circles here the opinion is held that the rates on cargoes to and from New Zealand are not likely to be affected. "The mine-laying has been carried out mainly in the North Sea and Baltic, well away from the routes traversed by oversea vessels bound to and from Great Britain, and the ships chiefly exposetd to danger, so far as is known, are those .engaged in trading between Britain and Europe and on tho coast of Europe.

A marvellous freak of nature is reported from Kihikihij Auckland. A cow, the property of a local farmer, gave birth to twin calves, both being joined together at the back. Tho twins are well developed in every way. At a meeting of the New Zealand Land Values League, held last nicht, it was reported that the potition for a plebiscite on the cost of living was being largely signed hi Wellington and district, and that it had also been taken up with enthusiasm in Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, and other centres. ' , An important sale of Crown lands timber has just been' effected through tho Lands Office in Auckland, states the Auckland "Horald." Tho Kauri Timber Company is tho purchaser, 'and the price paid is £21,280'. The timber purchased consists of 9,160,000 feet of kauri and 700,000 feet of mixed timber in tiie Omihuta State forest, near Hokianga.

While the members of the military police picket wo patrolling tho Auckland streets tlio' other evening thoy noticed Leslie Wool, a member of tho Expeditionary Forco encamped at Ensom, walking along Queen Street with a young lady. Sergeant-Major Rogers stopped Wool and informed him that hei had exceeded 1 his leave and would havo to return to camp by the first train. Wool asked to be allowed to accompany the young lady to tho station. This was refused, and ho was told "ho bad bettor fall in with the picket. Ho then, it was alleged, struck ScrgeantMajor Rogers and Sergeant Clegho'w in tho face. He was charged at tho Police Court next morning with assaulting Sergoant-Major Rogers, and ho was defended by Mr. Cracroft Wilson. After hearing tho evidence tho Magistrate, Mr. F. V. Frazer, S)M., said that there was no reason for tho assault, and tho accused had only himself to blame for tho position ho was now in. He would be fined '£1 and costs.

A little Fcilding girl took her pet lamb to the gift sales of that town .last week, and askefa the crowd to "strike hard" for the Patriotic Fund. The little lamb passed on from buyer to buyer until it had brought £36 ss. 6d., and then it was handed back to the patriotic little maidon who had offered it as a' sacrifice to her country.

"Tho'present is not a good time for launching a joke, as a farmer who resides near Dannevirko discovered to his cost (eays the Auckland "Star"). The farmer referred to walked into a hotel at Bannevirke, and, noticing- a number of young men sitting down, went to tho bar and called for a lager beer in broken English.--Raising the glass to his lips, he intended evidently to pledge-the German Emperor, but had hardly pronounced the word 'hoch' when ho was thrown out into tho street. He was receiving a verv rough handling, when the'landlord interfered and explained it Was all a joke, a fact that the culprit was desirous of explaining had ho been given a moment's respite. An abject apology being forthcoming, the farmer went his way a wiser man."