General News.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 10 January 1918, Page 4

General News.

The old hulk John William Dare, at one time an ocean-going wind jammer, built in the reign of King William IV., seven years before Queen Victoria came to the throne, has been sold by the Melbourne Steamship Company, Ltd., 1 and is shortly to bo broken up. The sale is practically completed, but before relinquishing possession of tho hulk the Melbourne Steamship Company, Ltd., are awaiting the formal approval of the Commonwealth authorities. Of 282 tons the John William Dare was 105 ft long, 26ft beam. According to a retired mariner of Williamstown, who remembers the vessel about 40 years ago, sho was

Speaking to a " Post'' reporter yesterday, a member of the staff of the Public Hospital said that there has been a remarkable drop in the number of street accident cases and smaller mishaps in the city since the early hotel closing hours came into force, the average weekly admissions of such cases being only about half those under the old conditions. Inebriated persons with all manner of real and imaginary ills used to wander into the Hospital at all hours of tho night and demand immediate treatment, but with 6 o'clock closing that annoyance has practically ceased. Not one serious accident, has occurred in the city or district during the holiday week.

Gunner Eric Price, of Masterton, writes as follows from England under date October 22nd: "I leave for France in two days' time. Three of our companies have been smashed up in the recent fighting, and they want every available man for reinforcements. On Friday night I was in London, and got caught in an air raid, and had to wait in the waiting room at Liverpool Street station till 2 in the morning. An aerial torpedo was dropped in Piccadilly, smashing a big shop and breaking windows for a mile around. Seven incendiary bombs were dropped at Waltham Abbey, but they fell in the mud and didn't go off, which is just as well, for they landed only a few yards from a high explosive store, and only half a mile from Aunt Nell's place. We have had about a dozen air raids since I came here, and they have been within seven miles of this camp, but they haven't got it yet. Miss Ella Kate Cook, an Auckland nurse, who has been on military duty with the Q.A.I.M.N.S. for 2% years, is reported to have been instantaneously killed in Alexandria, Egypt, while on active service. Miss Cook was the youngest daughter of the late Henry Cook, of Auckland, and was on the staff of the Napier Hospital before leaving for the war. She served for some time in France before going to Egypt.

The Auckland "Star" states that the following telegram was forwarded to Sir James Allen at Wellington last week: "Auckland parents of Gallipoli men, as result of recent letters, feel strongly that these men, now few in number, war worn and mentally tired, should, if possible, be given two months leave in England this winteT. I may hope you may see your way to make representations accordingly." Mr Parr, M.P., received a reply as follows: "Your telegram received. General Godley has intimated to me that he is going to do his best to give the Main Body men furlo-Th to England, but he does not state e length of the furlough. ''

A large amount of interest was evinced at Port Ahuriri (Napier) on Wednesday afternoon, when three pilot whales (blackfisli) came through the entrance to the Inner Harbour. One, probably the largest of the three, about 25 to 35 feet long, got right up into'the Iron Pot, while the other two went under the Westshore bridge and wore secured by fishermen and tied to the shore in that locality. The one in the Iron Pot attracted the most attention, being a huge specimen, and during the afternoon it was speared and lanced and tied up. But towards dark it was found necessary to release it, as not being dead there was a possibility of its doing damage, and it gradually wended its way out on the ebb tide, and was lost to view about 8 p.m.

Private Fitzroy Lovell, of tho New Zealand M.G. Specialists, who enlisted at Tauranga, writes to Mr Lloyd Mandeno from somewhere in France, \mder date November 1. He says: "Our pack, which wc take with us everywhere, contains a complete change of winter underwear, set of toilet and eating gear, one oilsheet, one great coat, one entrenching tool, two

gas masks, rifle, bayonet, and 150 rounds of ammunition. When I come back give me all your packing jobs, and I'll save you 50 per cent, shipping charges. I believe I could put a grand piano into a top hat easily. I conld do wonders with a little water. One day I was issued a pannikin—lmperial pint —full of fresh water, and in it I had a bath, cleaned my teeth, washed a towel, and two pairs of socks, and gave the remainder to mv mate."

! The activities of a resident of one of the Cliristchurcli seaside resorts in connection with the building of a motorvacht recently aroused the suspicions of other residents (says the Auckland "Herald's" Christchurch correspondent). This was especially the case, in view of the facts that the yacht-build-er was a German, and that ship-build-ing was not his customary vocation, and that the yacht was to bo fitted with a fairly high-powered engine. Whatever the objects were for which tho yacht was being built, the authorities deemed it expedient" to stop tho work of construction and to intern the yacht-builder on Somes Island. He was conveyed there two days' ago. To remove fruit stains from table' cloths and serviettes ,apply powdered starch to tho stained parts. Leave for several hours till all the discolouration has been absorbed by the starch.