Home Secretary's Coal.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 26 April 1910, Page 4

Home Secretary's Coal.

A PRACTICAL JOKE.

Somo practical joker, whoso mind travels in well-worn grooves, has | been practising his wit on Mr Winston Chruchill's coal dealer. Brief references to the affair reached 'New Zealand by cablegram early in March". It came to light that on Friday, March lltli, there was a succession of coal carts to the Home Secretary's residence, in Eccleston Square. About ten o'clock in the morning a van containing a couple of. tons drove up. It so happened that an order had been sent to the Army and Xavy Stores, and though the van did not bear, the name of the stores, the servants accepted the coal, which completely filled the cellar. Scarcely had the cart gone when the coal arrived from 'the Army and Navy Stores. The servants -were in a dilemma. The fuel had undoubtedly been ordered, hut the cellar was full, and the carman had perforce to make his way back to tho depot. From that time until four o'clock coal carters were constantly on the doorstep, each anxious to deliver into the Home Secretary's cellar a couple of tons of coal. Altogether fourteen tons had to he refused in 'the course of the afternoon. The carts oame from various parts of London, in consequence of the receipt by different firms of order cards purporting to he signed by Mr Church-ill. Tt is stated that some of the orders were on Home Office official paper. So far the identity and whereal)outs of the perpetrator of the ho.ax have not been discovered.