Three other shops were also visited by this man with the "from the country'' appearance, and a very few days had passed before the shopkeepers began to total the amounts of the cheques they held amongst them signed by the ready purchaser. The aggregate is something between £60 and £100. The firm holding the cheque written for the largest amount is a drapery concern. It was visited between 8 and 9 o'clock at night, when the banks were closed. The salesmen in the firm, who had never seen the man before, were impressed by his appearance and by the fact that he purchased articles usually associated with those living the country life. Having made very extensive purchases, the man approached a taxi driver, whom he told that it was imperative that he should get to the north at once owing to domestic trouble. The driver consented to take the stranger through to Dunedin that night. The purchaser, it is stated, was accompanied in the car by the various parcels resulting from his shopping expedition. The trip was uneventful, except for an expression of solicitude by the passenger, who asked why the driver did not wear leather instead of woollen gloves to keep his hands warm. "They are too expensive - £2 10s,'' was the reply. The cost of the fare to Dunedin was £17 10s, and when the destination was reached, said the fare generously: "It was good of you to bring me through by yourself. A pair of leather gloves,'' and he wrote a cheque for £20. From inquiries made it appears that the man, who is being looked for by the police, opened an account at a bank in Invercargill some time ago, depositing a small sum.
Kiwi emblem in Britain
England is to have a memorial of a modern invasion which will be recalled with pleasure, though it is in similar form to another memorial which, according to tradition, perpetuates an invasion not so friendly. Writing to Sir James Allen after visiting the New Zealand hospitals in England, General Godley says: "You will be interested to hear that at Sling Camp, before leaving, they are cutting out a large white kiwi on a prominent slope just above the camp, which will leave for all time a permanent record, like the white horse of these parts, in chalk of the New Zealand occupation. The white horse on the Berkshire hills is of great antiquity, and is supposed to commemorate a victory by King Alfred over the Danes; but there are indications that it dates back to an earlier period, even before the Roman invasion.''
Marine engineer dies
Flags were flying at half mast at Port Chalmers yesterday in token of respect to the late Mr Thomas Chas. Cordock, who died early yesterday morning. The deceased was a marine engineer, and prior to coming to New Zealand conducted a business in London. He arrived in Auckland, and for a period was employed in the United Repairing Company's works, latterly in charge of the shops. From there he transferred to Port Chalmers as foreman engineer at the Union Steam Ship Company's marine repair works, of which he was appointed manager five years ago.
- ODT, 3.9.1919.
