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Levin Daily Chronicle, 19 March 1918, Page 3

A correspondent writes to the '' Auckland Star".—We are told that the pirates of the Wolf repaired to a desert island to plant their valuable loot. It would bo interesting to know where the Sceadler's captain planted his. In olden times a little gentle pressure would have .been applied to von Luekner to induce him to reveal the whereabouts of the cache. It might be worth while to form a syndicate to follow up the raider's tracks and unearth the treasure, ' otherwise these pirates will some day be luxuriating in their ill-gotten gains. "I cannot say what Mi Gricrson may do, but he has been communicated with," stated Sir James Allen to a press representative in. Wellington, in reply to a question as to whether there was any truth in the persistent rumours that Dr H. T. J. Thaeker, M.P., wjw-to be sued for libel in eonncetion with- a statement made by him in the course of the Wellington North by-eleetion reflecting on that officer. Dr Thaeker was reported td have said that Lieutenant Grierson had deserted, if not deserted to the enemy; and this assertion the Minister for Defence characterised as "an absolute untruth." "We know," hi said, "that Lieutenant Grierson is lying veTy ill at the depot at Torquay, after service at the front;" and .in reply to a further question, Sir James Allen added, ,L I cannot make, any statement as to the intention* of the Defence Department in regard to the matter." The Minister for Defenee has rcecived from General Godley the following: "Summary of work of New Zealand Division for February—The Division remained in the line on the same frost. .Small raids carried out, resulting in the capture of a few prisoners. The Division is now out of the line training. There i» nothing further to report ." Asked if the information that the New Zealand Division was out of the line training had any special significance, Sir Jas ,Allen said it had not. The, Division, in common with others, had a periodical rest-from the trenches the time being spent in training. '' I consider it unfair that 1 should be forced to fight for New Zealand when, if I am killed &t th» war, my widowed mother, who\s living in England, will be forced toViter the . -workhouse," was the. of Algernon P. Craggs, conductor, Ponsonby, who appealed last week to the Auckland Military Service Board for exemption. He said that no provision in the Pension! Act was made for the grant of a pension to a reservists dependants when they did not live in the Dominion. The chairman said that while on service he could make an allowance to his mother; the possibility of his being killed ww remote. It was; an unfortunate positioi but the Board did not see its way tt grant .exemption. The appellant asked if he could re-appeal on the sam« 1 ground, but ihe application was refused by the Bosra. 1 Some two years ago, says the "Otagc . Daily Times," a wellkndwn young max . in a country district was supposed t< have met his death by drowning in i deep, fast-flowing river. All the eircum stances accident, ns i was deemed, pointed to the fact that i fatality occurred." It is further allcgei that a life insurance policy Tunning int< several hundreds of pounds was pai l over to the relatives of the man. Th fact remains, however, that the bod; was never recovered. Now a rumour i being circulated and is growing apac ) that the man was not drowned —that h carefully arranged the circumstantii evidence, and then, for reasons be? known to himself, left for other part: Men who knew him well, and who hav since travelled abroad as soldiers..of tl I TTingj have stated that they met him i London. . .