LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, 20 September 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The newspaper Motor Mates that the British advance north of> the Somime has increased! the petrol consumption of the army a-t the front 'by 1,000,000 gallons a, week, owing to enormous anrtninit u&ed in motor traction. More Showroom Money Savers ! A huge assortment of Ladies' smart, serviceable Washing' Underskirts—all splendid) styles—at 2s lid each.—Auckland Clothing and Drapery Co.* Notice is 'givem .that lands will he open for sale or lease to discharged soldieirs up till 4 o'clock on Wednesday, 11th October. Our Millinery this season is really Ibeauti'fuK and' is quite "itto'dcratoly (priced, Txath.cn and) Co, the Special House for iLadiea' Afparel.*

All members of the Women's National i Reserve desirous of attending a series of lectures on invalid cookery are invited to send their names to the hon. secretary (Miss G. M. Mellett) on or before tomorrow. At the Christehurch Magistrate's Court this morning, before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, 'George Samuel Thomson was charged with a breach of duty imposed 1 by the War'' Regulations in failing to display a military poster handed' him by a postman. Accused said' he was an International Socialist, and President of the Conscription Repeal Society. He was cut short by the Magistrate, who fined him £so.—Press Association. The proceeds of last night's entertainment at the Empire Theatre are to be donated. 1 by Mr Saunders to the Soldiers' Christmas Gift Fund. An excellent pragraimlme was put on and was greatly appreciated by the audience. The suoni of £lO raised will be sent through the Mail Tobacco Fund. The following extract is taken from a letter received by the Lady Liverpool Committee from a member of the New i Zealand Rifle Brigade in France: "Many thanks for your parcel, which I have received through the Lady Liverpool Committee. As we have been in the trenches continuously now for over a month, it could not have arrived at a more welcome time. I found all the things very acceptable. I happened to be just out of soap and- writing paper, and I think most of us now have a craving for sweets, probably because we get so little in the way of sweets with ; our food."

Economy at the present time- is much canwruended;, and it would seemi 'that ■the Victorian Government its anxious to earix a- lot of comanendation (writes a Sydney Correspondent). But some of the things done to save money in connection with the public services seem; to have come within the "100 fine" category. There is, for instance, the case of the master of a State school in- the country. One of the scholars showed signs of illness, and the schoolmaster took the lad's temperature. It was subsequently founidi that the hoy was suffering from) meningitis. Under _ the strict measures of .protection/ insisted uipjon by the health authorities, the ischooltmaster was isolated at as "contact." The Education) Department deducted from his sailairy six guineas for the time during which he was prevented from teaching because of the isolation. It is easy to understand 1 that this penalising of a teacher for being "off duty" as the result of performing a necessary anid humane act in regard _to a child has come arc for cutting criticism-.. The Melbourne Argus recounts the va-udevile story of a. workman whose ipay was docked for his short absence in the air, where he was blown by an explosion, and it adds: —"The Education Department should not compete with {private enterprise in vaudeville."

The proposal for the introduction to the Auckland, district of the black opossum of Australia, whidh. was favourably considered at last week's meeting of the council of the Auckland Acclimatisation ■Society, has caused; some anxiety amongst the fruit-growers of the district, lest the importation of the fur-yielding creature should prove prejudicial to the interests of their industry. Evidence as to the experience of Australian orchardists seems to suggest (says the New Zealand Herald) that at least full enquiry should be -made before the experiment is entered upon. Some light was thrown upon the habits of the opossum in Australia by Mr iR. J. Terry, for 16 years an officer of the Department of Agriculture in Tasmania, in conversation with a Herald representative. "While I am in every way friendly to the Acclimatisation Society," said "Mr Terry, "and more anxious to assist in its adtaiirable work than to offer hostile criticism, I would strongly advise it to pause before giving its countenance to the introduction to this district of a creature so destructive as the opossum. In my opinion it would be a very unwise proceeding, and if the so ciety is anxious to make an experiment in the matter it shouldl certainly confine that experiment to an island, where any predacious habits of the animal would be limited in their effects, and where it could be ascertained, Ibefore the opossum was given a wider range, 'whether the natural bush of New Zealand will furnish it with foodte suitable to its taste, and so restrain it from satisfying its appetite upon the farmer's crops'."

A case cotnaining somewhat sad features -came before the Wellington Magistrate's Court yesterday -morning;, says the (Post, when a soldier named Norma)'. Leonard Findlev was charged with obtaining from Albeit- iR. IParrant the sum of £5 by means of a valueless cheque. Accused pleaded' gui'ity. According to Chief-Detective Boddam-. Findlay was a smart, business-like young man, who had held many responsible positions. At one. time he was in sole charge of a 'business at Stratford which brought him a laree salary. For some reason, 'however, he had! started 1 on a- career of crime, the offences comprising -fraud and false pretences. Accused: belonged: to the Reinforcements, and' was thought a m-eat deal of by- the military authorities. Findlav pleaded for another chance to make Good, as he was anxious to e>et away to the front. The Magistrate (Mr D. G~ A. Cooper, S.iM.) : "I am sorry to see you •in this position. Findlay. In view of the circumstances, however, T will give you a. chance. You are convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, on condition that you make restitution of the money." Buy now ! They're selling rapidly! Ladies' stylish "Washing Costumes—in striped and- plain colour Piques, etc. — for l'ss 6d, (10s lid- and 25s each.— Auckland Clothing an-dl iDraipery Co.* Oioewed) to-day » ,chia.iimiin:g lot of choice Embroideries at Trathen's.* Arrived to-day! 200 pieces of Heavy nuality 'Shantung Silk—natural colour—--34 inches wide. Beautiful silk for 'Costumes. Is lid yard to-morrow. Worth 7>s 6d.—Auckland Clothing audi Draper v Co.* i The daintiest -and ; p.re title s»t Neckwear wo have ever shown, opened yesterda.v. Made from Pink Organdi Muslin with FJnubroi'dienipd l edges, Is lld ! to 2s lid at Traithen's.* Many shades will soon bo unprocurable ! ißuy now ! "Tobraloo," the allBritish 'Washing Fabric. You can't •nake it fade. Pink, iSky, Saxe. Brown. Black, Navy, Creami, Tussore, Grov and White, as well as smart Spots. 'Stripes. ••ind' Floral designs, is 2d yard l.—Auckland Clothing and Dlrapery Co.* New sihipmeots swimmer good® opening daiirv at Trathen's. Smart Costumes, dninty Voiles, Hosiery, Gloves. Dress Goodis, Sf'l'ks, a-nid a host of others to delight ladies who appreciate smart- g"ods at moderate Prices. 1g in the £ cash discount at Trathen's.* The same- c!d price ! To-morro"; v.-e'H nffc-r the last of our old stock of '•Guy's'" Nurses' Cloth—fast dy£s and 40 inches wide—at "the old. pre-war nrice of Is vard. Ne-vt shipment will be Is 6d.— Auckland Clothing andi Drapery Co.* Aptolicaitfonis aie invited) by the Pulblic -Servico ComJmission•'. Wellington, from. Gdrl-R for the (position of Office Assistant. Nelson. ' Particulars will -be found in the advertieiag. colximii).

The scow capsized off Whangapara is the Vesper. She was oni a voyage from. Whangarei to Clevedon. There is no sign of th« crew of four .men. A -tug picked up the scow and is towing it to Wlia.ni-. gapara where ,iit will 'be righted and ■beached. The crew ■consisted of G. S. Davis, ca-pt<ii.ii; Lcs.ic Craw, mate; Charles Smith-, engineer, and another urnknown. The coast lino is being searched for possible survivors.—Press Association:. _____________„■»