The Levin Chronicle. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1918.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 21 November 1918, Page 2

The Levin Chronicle. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1918.

Sixpenny bunches of rhubarb were being offered in Wellington by Chinese fruiterers for Is 9d, rhubarb not being covered by thte price-fixing gazette.

The Wellington Education Board has decided that the schools in its district are to remain closed until the first Tuesday in February.

Every day for a week or more statements nave been issued concerning the difficulties under which the telegraph offices are working and imploring the public not to send unnecessary messages. Everyone believes there is good groundi for such statements, but why does not the Telegraph Department practice what it preaches. To-day, for instance, the wires were held up while some intelligent being at the head office sends all over the Dominion the startling news that "Little -Willie's" assassination is not confirmed and that a delegation from the German fleet !had put to sea to (meet the British Fleet. These two items of 'news" were despatched from London by the High Commissioner's office under dtsite November 14, after they had been published in all t.lie New Zealand papers, andi now they are resurrected to further strain an already depleted .staff and delay urgent private telegrams.

On the best appointed tables you invariably'find the beet Malt Vinegar— SHARLAND'S. Pure piquant, palatable. In bulk and bottle at all grocers. 1

Most of the shearing sheds in the Wairarapa are closing down owing to the influenza epidemic. By advertisement the public are notified that the Public Baths will be closed until further notice on account of the caretaker, Mr J. Daniels, being laid aside with tho prevailing epidemic. A purse containing a sum oF money was picked up in the street, last week and handed to the local police.The owner may have same on giving a description of the purse andi contents. The following advertisement appears in a Dunedin paper: "By direction of the Health Officer, all bowling matches arranged for arc suspended in the meantime." The total area of Germany is 208,780 square*miles, of which Prussia forms the largest part embracing 134,016 sq. miles. Bavarin covers 29,292 >q. miles; Wurtemburg, 7534 sq. miles; Badien, 5,823 sq. miles ; Saxony, 5,789 sq. miles ; Mecklenburg-Solnveri n, 5068 sq. miles; Hesse, 2966 sq. miles; Oldenburg, 2482 sq. miles; Brunswick, 1418 sq. miles; >Saxe-Weimar, 1397 sq. miles; Meclden-burg-Stirelitz, 1131 sq. miles. Fourteen other states have each an area of under a. thousand sq. miles. Then there is Alsace-Lorraine with 5601 sq. miles. There are many enquiries from soldiers on leave from camp as to whether they are expected! to return to camp on the expiration of the leave granted either by the .Military Service Boards or by tlie camp commandants. Sir James Allen announces that in view of the cessation of hostilities soldiers on leave can remain, in their districts.. Men absent without leave or who are deserters are required: to return to camp. - In consequence of the reorganisation measures affecting the Department of Agriculture, the Fields Division of the Department v about to be disestablished, the greater part of ife personnel being absorbed into the Live Stock Division. Mr J. Brown, who for the past three, and a half years, has been Director of the Fields Division, with headquarters at the Central Development Farm at Wernron, hais decided: against assuming a new status and responsibilities in the Department when lii® Division is disbanded, and he will accordingly retire from the service shortly.

Strong and aparently justifiable exception is being taken to the War Legislation Act now before Parliament. One provision prevents "persons of enemy origin" taking up 'land in the Dominion .and is retrospective in its operation. At the same time nothing is said' about enemy subjects, disloyalists or persons who shirked their military obligations. A "person of enemy origin" is deiined as one who at any time lias been a subject of an enemy state or whose father is or was at any time such a subject, whether naturalised or not. Thus many N.Z. soldiiers whose fathers were of enemy origin will be disqualified from holding land without the sanction of the Minister of Lands, upon their return from the war. Mr 'H. von Haast, the Wellington solicitor, has addressed a letter of protect to all members of Parliament, in which he says: Let me cite my own case, because it is , illustrative of the injustice done by the Bill, because I .have no objection t(j being referred to by name in the course , of discussion and because I am better able to stand any attacks made upon me . than younger and less known men. My j father, the late Sir Julius von Haast, a German born .in Bonn, was naturalis- \ ed in New Zealand nearly sixty years ago and died more than thirty yeans ago. Hip services to New Zealand, speak for tli em selves. My mother was | an Englishwoman, daughter of the late Edward Dobson, C.E., one of the Canterbury pilgrims and another of New Zealand's pioneers. I was born in 1864 after my father's naturalisation and born and bred in> New Zealand. Mywife wais born in Australia of Scotch parentage. -No New Zealan-der, therefore, on account of the services to the Dominion of hi*- ancestors on both sides has a better (jjlaim to consideration from his country and better- right to have all his privileges andi Ms status_ as a British subject preserved in their integrity. Of my own, attempts to serve, the State I must let others speak. Suffice it to say—as some proof of the confidence reiwsed in me—that during the war the Wellington District Law Society elected me its president, the Government appointed me a member of the Board of Science and Art and also of the University Senate, on which Hatter body I had represented the graduates for several years before. In spite of thwe facts T am by the Bill declared a .person of enemy origin, neither my wife nor I may buy an eighth of an acre on which to build a four-roomed cottage or rent a house for more than two years, and in the ©vent of mv death mv widow may not even buy a plot of land where- [ in to bury me in my own country with- j oilt a license from the Minister of Lands! SHARLAND'/S MALT VINEGAR maker- delightful salads. Brewed from malt and sugar. Free from mineral acids. Conforms to requirements of Food and Drugs Act. All grooeors. 1