JOTTINGS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 19, 23 January 1915, Page 8

JOTTINGS.

Pastor Nickel, a Lutheran minister at Endunda (S.A.), was arrested by the military authorities. The reason has not been stated.

In Melbourne a number of bandsmen, who constituted what is'known as the “German Band,” were arrested by the military. They were marched to headquarters under armed escort. The bandsmen were Bavarians, who had not become naturalised British subjects, and had tailed to comply, with the conditions of parole that they should report themselves each week.

A consignment of goods from an oversea port to a Sydney firm is being held up by the New South Wales Cuctoms authorities because of some suspicion which attaches to it. It has been said that the goods were originally despatched from an enemy country. and that they travelled over a circuitous route to their destination. The officials decline to say, anything about the matter.

Shortly after S o’clock last Thursday night week in Sydney, a motor car containing four persons was challenged by a military patrol. As the motor did not stop, several shots were fired, and the car was eventually pulled up. No damage was done. A tram was standing on the line at the time ol the shooting, and tile bullets whizzing by caused some,excitement to the passengers.

While the call to arms is being answered by Britishers in all parts of the world it is gratifying to learn (says the Dominion) that is such a re. mote part of the Empire as the Chatham islands a ready ,response has been made. From this little settlement with its population of only a few hundred people, who earn their livelihood principally by sheep raising and the fishing industry, there arrived at Lyttelton by the steamer Himitangi on Saturday evening two line specimens of young colonial manhood anxious to serve with the New Zealand expeditionary forces. Their action is the more interesting when it becomes known that one of them lyi strapping young fellow of 22 years, and six feet in height) had lived ail his life on the island, and had never seen any other part of the great Empire of which he is a citizen. Beyond the that call at the Chatliams from New Zealand, he had never seen a steamer, and the sight of the modern turbine steamer Maori, which he obtained from the deck of the Himitangi, was a revelation to him, as also were the railway trains, the first glimpse of which he got at Lyttelton upon arrival.

The New Zealand soldier has won a reputation for initiative and resourcefulness. But for cool effrontery the following will be hard to match:—■ “A party of about 10 ambulance men overstayed their leave at Colombo, and. meantime our ship moved outside the breakwater. A sergeant was left to get them and bring them aboard. He placed them under arrest, and they all got ‘boozed’ together. The sea outside the breakwater was a ln[t too rough for the ordinary native boat, in their difficulty the men conceived a brilliant idea. They took a native boat and steered for the Japanese warship, which was inside the breakwater. They all trooped up the gangway, and the sentry at the top presented arms and passed them. They got hold of a lieutenant and asked him if he would order out the steam pinnace to take them to the ship. He said he would see the captain. Returning presently, he said the captain would be honoured to comply with their request. Thereupon fhe lieutenant ordered out the pinnace, steam was got up, and these chaps arrived on board their ship in style at 2 o’clock in the morning.”