NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 March 1916, Page 6

NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL.

, health at the camps. (From Our Own Correspondent). Wellington, March U. Referring to the health of the men 'i in the camps, the Defence Minister (Hon. J. Allen) said that lie had been sorry to hear of the death of, one man, who had contracted pneumonia following measles. But the reports from the camp medical officers were thoroughly favorable. The outbreak of measles reported some time ago was a mild one, and the number of patients had not been large. The gastric trouble at Featherston camp had almost disappeared. The cause of this complaint had not been, traced definitely. Careful investigations had shown that the water supply was not at fault, and the fact that the complaint was now prevalent in the city suggested that the cause was the hot weather. I ZEAL OUTRUNNING DISCRETION, j Mr. A. Thomson, Assistant-Public Ser- I vice Commissioner, is to conduct the | | public enquiry authorised by the Government in connection with the allega- J l tions made by certain persons regard- j | ing the nationality of Lieutenan Alex. I Grierson, a member of the 10th Rein- j foreements. The proceedings are likely I to be interesting. A vigorous "a.nti- [ German" agitation has been conducted j in Wellington by some men and women j who appear to have allowed their zeal to outrun their discretion. Statements ! are alleged to have been made to members of the. Government and others to the efl'eet that Lieutenant Grierson was not of British nationality, and the officer asked that a full enquiry should be made. Very many charges of this kind have been made in a loose sort of way lately, and the ease that is to be investigated will lie a test one. Grierson. by the way, is an old Scotch name, and the family of Grieison, of Auckland, is one of the most honored. A brother of Lieut. Alex. Grierson, a solicitor, took part in the landing at Gallipoli, and was killed while at the head of his men at the Daisy Patch. It was .his gallant i ?oul who went on calmly playing a game j of chess with a comrade in the boats . from the transports that were being • peppered by the Turks. They finished their game, and were not hit, though ' others in the boat were, and then leapt ' ashore and plied their bayonets with { the others like so many tigers. FAIRY TALES.

The talcs regarding the presence of a German warship in the Pacific anil the peril of certain New Zealand transports are still being circulated industriously, and to-day the Minister for Defence, following the Prime Minister, gave them a definite denial. There was not a shadow of truth, said Mr. Allen, in the suggestion that transports had been compelled to turn hack. The last force to leave Xew Zealand was proceeding safely on its way and would reach its destination in due course, just as all the other forces had done. It docs not appear to be generally known that the dissemination of alarming rumors regarding the troops is an offence punishable by fine or imprisonment under some of the special legislation passed in connection with the war. It will be no defence to plead that the information came direct from the butcher's cousin, who had it from the brother of the man who has n, friend in an Army clothing factory.