LATE LOCALS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 August 1917, Page 3

LATE LOCALS.

The Regulus leaves Onelmnga on Saturday Nelson on Monday for the Coast. Tlie 'following wounded soldiers are coming overland to-day from Christchurch:—Lieut. Wilson, Privates: Wood, Geddes, O’Neil, Mullick, Jones, Hansen, Blackadder, Cunningham, Welsh, and Douglas. .

Mrs John Butler of Wataroa, has been advised that her son Private F. E. Butler had been admitted to the New Zealand General Hospital at Brockenlmrst, England on August 9tn with gunsliot wounds in chest, face and left eye, severe. The Hon. A, M. Myers made a statement’ in tlie House about the production of beer in New Zealand pointing out that there had, been a decrease in the quantity produced during the financial year ended March 31st last. Ihe amount produced during the calendar' year of 1916 was 11,354,357 gallons, while in the financial year ended March 31st last tho production totalled 11,222,556 gallons, representing a decrease. of 125,210 gallons, or slightly over one per cent.

If a burglar was found in the house the average representative of the foniinine sex would probably quickly reach a state bordering on hysteria. There are, however, exceptions. At the Magistrate’s Court at Wanganui (says the “Chronicle”), a lady resident of Wanganui explained what she did on finding-a nocturnal visitor on the premises. She set out to capture him, but a badly-scared burglar managed to get out into the yard. The lady followed hard on his tracks, and had *. shot at him with a flower pot, but the aim. to use the thrower’s own oxpressionk, was unfortunately not true. The burglar then took a blind leap into the neighbouring yard. “Wo will have to ho a little careful as to what wo do.” remarked Sir Joseph Ward, discussing tho proposed amusement tax. Tho House he .-aid, need not assume that it merely had to put on tho tax nnd then leave Gie matter. The balance-sheet of one of

the largest picture firms in New Zealand had just/been submitted to him, showing that' fifty-eight out of sixtytwo picture palaces had not paid a fraction. Another theatre had paid loss than 3i per cent. In England, after tho imposition of the tax, 800 picture shows were closed/ In Australia, where admissions up to fid wero exempt estimates of rovonuo fell short by £900,000.

Among tho returned soldiers . who have just arrived back from tlie Old Country is a Wellington lad who went away with tho Alain Body, and returns with eighteen wounds to his credit. This is Private Arthur Elliot, son ol Air. D. A Elliot of Riddiford Street. Private Elliot was wounded 1 ' in the leg at Gallipoi and after being treated nt Malta went on with the forces to France, and fought with good luck until Afny 29th. last year. On that day -he and five others were billeted in the one house when a shell crashed into it, smashing the place to hits, and killing five of the men. Private Elliot was found to be alive but he had no fewer than seventeen wounds, including a pellet through the lungs and a nasty gash in the forehead.

On Sunday Sergt Ryan of Reef ton received word that a robbery had taken place at Blackwater Gold Alining Co., at Waiuta one of the Consolidated Goldfields group of mines. Sergeant Ryan and Constable Carroll at once motored to Wuiuta. The robbery took plate dfir ing the night shift. As usual, a watchman was on duty. Shortly after midnight -the compartment where the slimes are kept the lock was forced open and a quantity of slimes taken. Tho battery is about a milo from tho mine and at the. foot of a hill. Sergeant Ryan found traces of tho slimo on the ground, which had evidently ; been carried in an open vessel and in the haste to get away had split the slime. So far there have been no arrests made but the thief evidently understands how to treat the slimes, or is able to take them to some qualified peraon. _