Many free fights took place in the streets and rowdyism was general (says the New Zealand Times). A large number of the men were hopelessly drunk. Fortunately there was only one casualty. One of the soldiers fell down in Manners street, and received concussion. He had to be taken to the hospital, but his condition was not serious. The soldiers waxed more and more noisy as the afternoon advanced. Many wounded and sick men were seen staggering along in a drunken condition. In Manners street there was a set-to amongst some of the men. A crowd of a hundred or more people gathered, and the fight waxed fiercer. Tactful interference prevented serious trouble. In the meantime, similar fights were going on in other parts of the town. Rings were formed around the contestants as they engaged in their warlike behaviour. The Mount Cook police were compelled to arrest four men for unruly behaviour. Then the visitors endeavoured to pick trouble with the local soldiers, and there was more trouble.
Zionists at Tel Aviv
The Zionist Commission has selected Tel Aviv, the modern jewish quarter of Jaffa, as its headquarters in Palestine. Its immediate task is the reconstruction of the Jewish communities and agricultural colonies as they existed before the war, in preparation for larger schemes after the war is over. Dr Weizmann, the head of the commission, after a visit to General Allenby’s headquarters, expressed himself highly satisfied with the military and political chiefs.
"But tell the Jewish world," he said, "that it would be childish to expect the land immediately to flow with milk and honey because a commission has arrived. And especially tell them that of all the needs of Palestine the supreme need is victory and a complete and definite liberation of the country."
Trout at Hawea
At last night’s meeting of the Acclimatisation Society the president (Mr G. W. M’Intosh) referred with satisfaction to the fact that the rainbow trout placed in Lake Hawea some time ago were now taking to the river. It would be an important asset for the society, he said, if this fish could be stocked in the river between the lake and the point where it joined the Molyneux, and now that they had some evidence of the fish staying in the river it would be a good thing to follow it up this year by getting as many eggs as possible and liberate the ova in the river and lake.
Rabbit curse
"Close down the rabbit factories and let the Government insist on the farmers doing certain labour to eradicate this rabbit pest which has become a curse of Otago."
Such was the view expressed by Mr J. L. Stout, S. M., speaking from the bench at the Warden’s court, Alexandra (says the Herald).
The instance which drew forth the remark was the case of a mining company applying for protection of certain water rights, which they were unable to use owing to several of their employees preferring to go rabbiting instead of going mining. — ODT, 2.7.1918.
