GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 36, 12 June 1915, Page 8

GENERAL.

A witness in a case at the 'Auckland Magistrate's Court on Friday (says tha Stan mentioned that when 12 years of age he ran way from his parents, and had lived with the Maoris, who treated him well and paid him for his work. He returned to where his home ha 1 been Some time later, hut learned that his father had gone to America. As to his mother, he had never heard of her since.

The following announcement regarding the issue of passports appears in Friday night’s Gazette:—“lt is hereby notified, for public information, Unit inquiry is in all cases necessary, even in the case of well-known colonists, before his Excellency the Governor can be adyised to sign a passport. In future a passport will not be issued until the expiration of 14 days after the receipt by the Department of Internal Affairs of the application for its issue. All persons intending to travel abroad and desiring to have a passport are warned accordingly.”

The Otago Daily Times reports : That the Anglican community is doing its share iif providing men for the front was suggested by remarks made by Dean Fitcbett at the function in the Garrison Hall, Dunedin, on Tuesday night. “We have sent more than our full proportion of men to the front,” said the Dean. “Sixty per cent, of the men at Treiitham are of the Church of England. The governing body of tbo cliurch in Dunedin —the chapter—is composed of eight or ten persons. Three young men, sons of members of the chapter, have met the soldier’s’ death at the Dardanelles.”

. The family of Air R. Alurrell, the well-known Manapouri station-holder, bid fair to establish something in the nature of a record in Southland in so far as military service during the present war is concerned (reports the Invercargill correspondent of the Otago Daily Times). Two of Mr Murrell’s sons are at the Dardanelles, two others are at Trentliam, and another will follow with the next lot of reinforcements. Air Murrell states that he has three other boys at school, but each of them would dearly like to follow his older brothers’ example, and each time a boy of his gotjs to join the colors, he feels proud of being a father.

Speaking at a Home Mission festival, the Bishop of Nelson said that since his return he had heard the question frequently asked, “Why don’t we 1 get more news about the war?” (states the Nelson Colonist). “Yon should,” skid the Bishop, “be grateful to the press for what they give you. The papers are not to blame. Do you realise that you get more information about the war than the British public got? Sb please don’t complain, and don’t grumble about the press. I aim convinced that behind this secrecy there is a purpose. It puts a strain upon our loyalty, but what is loyalty if it won’t Stand a strain?”

A Gazette Extraordinary states that the following articles have been added to the list of absolute contraband “Toluol, and mixtures of toluol, whether derived from coal tar, petroleum, or any other source; lathes and other machines or machine tools capable of being employed in the manufacture of munitions of war; maps and plans of any place within the territory of any belligerent, or within the area of military operations, on a scale of four miles to one inch or on any larger scale, ahd 1 reproductions on any scale by photography or otherwise' of .such maps or plans.” Linseed oil is added to the list of conditional contraband.

Tile wounded never had such a'fine time in their lives (writes a newspaper correspondent in France). They live in the best hotels find chateaux, are petted and waited upon by women of high society, and receive presents of cigars, cigarettes, and chocolates. They have free access to the street cars, concert balls, and theatres, and it is amusing to watch some of them in the fine hotels or at the Opera Comique and Theatres, where they possibly feel like fish out of water. As for the wounded prisoners, they are well taken care of. As a member of the Rod Cross Society, it has been my sad privilege to meet the Red Cross trains that bring in some of the wounded prisoners. We help them off the trains before they are sent to the various hospitals, but it is strictly forbidden to hand them any luxuries. For instance, a young girl who felt pity for a German prisoner at the railway station, and offered him some refreshment, received a box on the ears for her pains from a French officer on guard! »■ -•