General News.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 3 January 1918, Page 1

General News.

Two men—alleged to be Germans — were arrested by the police in Christchurcli on Friday, and handed over to the military authorities.

The rumour that Sir James Allen is about to be transferred to the Old Country is untrue, and the Minister denies the story and states that his duty lies in the Dominion.

A telegram from Auckland states that a soldier named Stanley Gerard, on final leave from Tauhercnikau camp, was found dead in bed on Monday morning. He had complained of a headache the previous day.

'■ public meeting held at Wairoa I.'i-sed tho following resolution, yliioh the Mayor was requested to telegraph to the Prime Minister and Sir James Allen: —"That this meeting calls upon tho National Government to take strict measures for the internment of aliens of enemy origin, naturalised or not, and to provide better safe-keeping of prisoners of war."

A meeting of the Wellington Commercial Travellers' and Warehousemen's Association last night carried tho following resolution unanimously:— "That this meeting urges the National Government to intern all enemy subjects now in our midst whether naturalised or unnafcaralised, with the object of repressing enemy influences.''

A Gazette notice says: It shall not 'be lawful for any person to use invisible ink in writing, or to procure possession of invisible ink for the purpose of such use by himself or any other person, or to sell or deliver to any other person invisible ink for the purposp of such use, or to manufacture invisible ink for the purpose of such use." A well-known Poliangina settler, at his wits' end for water on his farm, sccurcd the services of two accredited "water diviners." By some .coincidence tlicy both agreed upon a spot where '' the flow was simply inexhaustible." The farmer bored, and continues to bore, but his faith is being sorely tried, for at a great depth he finds nothing but lignite, shingle, sand, and papa. An advanced type of "sundowner" has victimised a dozen settlors on the Pohangina-Apiti route, and possibly further afield. Ho calls in the afternoon or evening, obtains a job at moderate rato of pay, has tea and bed, but at daybreak is seen no more. In other-cases he rests and refreshes for a wet day, then leaves for his swag, but forgets to return to work. Each victim enjoys the narration of his neighbour's discomfiture. King George follows the progress of the war so closely that he had an elaborate series of maps and models erected in his palace by which the disposition of troops and the fleet can bo g.- on -+ r. r'ance. A large saloon is set apart :V. iV.-5 purpose, and to this none have tscc-:.: but King George, his chicf private ?. . !y. tiTid (lie civil and ac:iv. vv and army. The .ir.or.s of iii.-? lipavti:ii arc ioipt i i:t*d wit', the corridor appiitaf. "re guarded nig!*!, and day. The exu-t •■••••;- liu-i ui ~!1 war croft, with names ot v«sels art! gun c*ji»ip]ei!i<-u'. and elite. -m'tails, arc shown in o:ie plan, while another shows the seat of war, w T itli trenches, forts, towns, and disposition of troops. Arthur Henderson, who recently resigned from the British Ministry of Labour, is said to have derived his personal character from what is popularly termed in England the "Nonconformist Conscience." He is a Weslcyan, and a practising one. He was "truly converted," as the Wcsleyan ministers say, at the age of sixteen. He became a Sunday School teacher. He became a "class leader." He is to-day one of the "lay representatives" of the British Weslcyan Conference. Ho has not failed for 37 years to attend that New Year's Eve ccrcmony so dear to Weslcyan hearts, the "watch-night service. '' A spirit which is to be highly commended is (says the Christchurcli "Press") contained in the following letter which has been sent to tho secretary of the Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board": "Dear Sir,— Christmas will soon be here, and we all hope for a merry one, but we must not forget those whom misfortune has detained in the Christchurcli Hospital. So please accept my cheque for six guineas (£6 0s), being my annual gift of five guineas (£5 ss) and one guinea (£1 Is) from Jim Lee, towards providing some little extra comforts at this season of the year. Wishing all a Merry Christmas, yours faithfully, Chew Lee, 131 Cahiiel Street, Christchurcli." A Gazette notice states that "if a military or naval authority is satisfied thai any person, not being a British .subject, is a subject of any State which is in alliance with His Majesty in the present war, and that such person is Hal.]*,: to service i^der the rcof United

siderably to the amount of revenue. It is interesting to note that for the ton months of the present year ended 31st October the number of estates sworn at between £10,000 and £15,000 was 55, of an aggregate net value of £048,759; £15,000 and £20,000, 29, aggregate net value £491, 268; £20,000 and over, G3, aggregate net value £2,087,475.

By the way, saj-s a London writer, enquiries at the Australian clubs suggest that there is little enthusiasm among Australian soldiers in England for Mr Hughes's' scheme for marriago by proxy. A cable was received recently announcing that tho Australian Prime Minister was consulting the churches in the matter. As the scheme is understood here, if an Australian girl and a man in the trenches are anxious to bo wedded, the soldier nominates'his brother, cousin, or other male relative to take the chosen lady to a church or registrar's office, and take a vow by proxy. The Assistant Adjutant-General at Horseferry Road met the proposal with the question: "Who wants to be married by proxy? I have only had three applications in the last six months.'' An officer who was standing by had another objection. "Why worry about being married by proxy when there arc many jolly fine English girls over hero, ready to be married right away? Look at therm!" he concluded. And the officer pointed to a party drawn from the 200 or 300 typists and lady clerks employed at Australian headquarters. No amount of argument will convince me that a nation can last that does not have the right and, when occasion arises, docs not exercise that right, to compel every citizen to the doing of those things that may be necessary for the preservation of national life.—President Wilson. A man charged with the negligent driving of a motor car at Wanganui yesterday pleaded that ho went to sleep at the wheel. Mr Hewitt, S.M., said it was not a proper thing to do, but human nature was human nature, and he dismissed the ease! A collision with a trap was a feature of the proceedings. In the districts of Waikanao, Paraparauinu, Paekakariki, and Reikiorangi there are many mothers of soldiers, and arrangements arc being made by Mrs Elder (Waikanae) and Mrs Hadfield (Paraparaumu) for them to receive the mothers' badges from the Wellington Women's National Reserve. The presentation will take place at Waikanae at a date to be fixed, 'when it is hoped that Mrs Luke (Mayoress of Wellington) will be able to officiate. The Wanganui "Herald" says: A record in broccoli-planting at ICowhai Park has been put up by Mrs Hall and her nephew. Last Saturday- they planted about 1500 broccoli; this is about double what any man has been able to do. The Saturday previous they planted 1300, which was considered a great performance.