DISTRICT NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2476, 1 June 1915, Page 8

DISTRICT NEWS.

* JOTTINGS FROM PROVINCIAL CENTRES. (From Our Special Correspondents.] NAPIER. Tho Hastings Belgian Relief Fund now totals £4350. -Mr. jj. Paterson, of Napier, is visiting "Wellington for the purpose of seeing his son off to the front. A branch of the National .Reserve has been formed at Taradale with a, membership of 50. At the next meeting of tho Hastings Chamber of Commerce, Mr. T. Clarksoil will move that the Chamber recommend to the Government the advisability of: (1) i'lacing a prohibitive tanfr oil all German imports; (2) placing a poll tax on all German subjects entermg the Dominion; and (3) substantially increasing the preference accorded to all Imperial imports bc.vond that provided under our existing tariff. Mr. John Blair, managing engineer at the Pakipaki Freezing Works" has been appointed to take charge of T. Borthwick and Sons' Waitara works. Major T. H. Kingland, of Napier, has been appointed Officer Commander of Group 7, and will take charge of the Napier Defence Office from June 1.

On and after Juno 1 the prico of milk in Napier will be raised to ud. a quart.

A special service was held in Napier Cathedral yesterday afternoon as a farewell to the troops leaving on Monday. Territorials and the National Reserve paraded in full force, and tho Cathedral was crowded to overflowing. A stirring sermon was preached by the Bishop of "Waiapu. The "Wairarapa Age" states that it has information at its disposal which leads it to suppose that naturalised Germans in New Zealand are regularly transmitting money to the enemy. Money is sent to relatives or agents in tho United States, from whence it is forwarded 011 to Germany. Some of these naturalised Germans, the "Age" adds, pretend loyalty to Britain, and oven subscribe to local relief funds.

Donations towards- the Hospital Ship and Serbian Funds are coming in exceedingly well. The totals to date aro: Serbian Fund, £1695 7s. 5d.; Hospital Ship Fund, £287 7s.

The Napier Chamber of Commerce has decided to ask tho Government to assist struggling sottlers in Ilawke's Bay by granting rebate freight 011 iheen which were sent out of the district during the recent drought, and have been brought back. It was suggested tliut these might be treated similar to "empties." Considerable discussion also took place regarding the need for week-end excursion fares on railways, and it was decided to urgo the Government to givo these a trial in llawke's Bay.