After discussion, Mr Nicolson proposed, and Mr McCarthy seconded, that the Land board be requested to have the Hawkdun Station immediately subdivided as suggested by the St. Bathans Land League.
An amendment was proposed by Mr Hanger, and seconded by Mr E. Morgan, that the Minister of Lands be approached to have the ballot postponed until the end of the war so that all men who have gone to the front from St. Bathans might have a chance to participate in the ballot.
The motion was carried by eight votes to five.
• The Te Awaite correspondent of the Marlborough Express reports that on the afternoon of July 23, news was received that there were three whales within the North Entrance, near Pickersgill Island, and then two were sighted opposite Te Awaite.
It was raining so heavily that it was impossible to pick up a spout at any distance, and the whales had come right in before they were noticed.
Launches cut across from the mainland, and an exciting chase ensued.
The dark forms came up, and the boats charged again and again.
At one time the Crescent, the Bolina, and the Peerless were fairly close together, with the Bolina in the middle.
The whales rose near, and the three boats charged.
It is the rule for smaller boats to give way to the larger.
The Peerless gave way, but the Bolina kept on her course.
There was a crash — the Crescent had struck the Bolina and stove in her bow.
In the excitement of the chase, the gunsmen seemed to fire at random, as shot after shot missed.
Irons were pulled in and the guns were re-loaded.
A lucky shot from the Peerless at length made fast, and a red spout shot into the air.
The Cachalot was cruising near trying to get a shot at the mate, when a hitch in the taut rope from the "fast" whale caught in her chocks.
The strain was too great, and the line parted.
The "fast" whale, though spouting blood all the time, fought well for freedom.
For half an hour the Sussex cruised and charged, trying hard to get within darting distance.
At last the bomb was darted and the electric fuse was fired.
The whale lashed the water with its great flukes and then lay motionless.
The mate was captured by the Cachalot.
• There was some strong correspondence in the Hawera Star on the subject of the behaviour of certain classes of Swiss in relation to the war.
As a result a special inquiry was instituted by the police.
An officer of good standing in the Police Force visited every part of the district from which complaints had come.
He chased complaints from point to point, but in the end found them always elusive, and had to report to superior officers that, while there was undoubtedly a good deal of local feeling, he could find no sound reason for it, and was unable to report any instance which would justify him in recommending that action be taken.
Everywhere he met with more or less vague generalities, and even where there was the semblance of a definite statement of fact he could not get anyone willing to take the responsibility of supporting it by evidence.
As to the matter of certain foreigners, neutrals and not enemies, acquiring interests and properties in the district, there was no doubt about that, but that was not a matter within the purview of the authorities. — ODT, 5.8.1916.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
