To the question of naturalisation I attach no value whatever; once a German, always a German.
We have lived at peace with our German neighbours, who, for the most part, have carefully discharged the duties appertaining to their citizenship, and I would be sorry to see harsh measures adopted towards them; but, at the same time, public feeling runs very high, and it is as well sometimes to look ahead.
We know, for example, that when the first Expeditionary Force went away there was far too much leakage, and there was undeniable evidence of treachery.
This is not to be wondered at, because, wherever you have war, you have traitors and spies; but there is nothing to show that any of the Germans resident in our midst had anything to do with it.
A wireless installation is so easily set up in some quiet corner, or, failing that, a signalling lamp can be quietly worked on some lonely headland. It would be most difficult to detect either means of giving information.
I think the best advice to give the public is to be on the lookout for spies, and always to watch the most unlikely places. - I am, etc., Caution.
The erosion of the beach at St. Clair has been particularly noticeable during the last few days, and the immediate base of the new sea-wall is now entirely divested of sand.
The loose rock which was piled at the base of the wall after its completion is now all laid bare, but is serving a valuable protective purpose.
The ladies' bathing shed, situated at the base of the esplanade, has been washed away altogether, and the Life-saving Club's look-out house at the north end of the esplanade has been on the verge of a similar fate, beginning in a precipitate descent of about eight feet to the new level of the beach below.
The southernmost of the groynes still has its heels in the sand, but looks as if with a little more undermining it might abandon the perpendicular.
At St. Kilda there seems to have been no erosion of the beach, as the lagoons that have formed there are smaller than they have often been on previous occasions.
Efforts being made to raise the level of the beach in this locality appear to be bearing good fruit, but it is a pity to see the sandhills being ruthlessly cut away to provide material for the work.
There seems no particular reason why the sand required should not be taken from the sea front below high-water mark.
Regarding the recently reported case of ''tarring and feathering'' a man at Rotorua, the victim was a resident, who arrived several months ago, bringing good credentials, and accompanied by a young lady whom he introduced as his wife.
He spent money freely, and acquired considerable popularity, but owing, it is stated, to the war his supplies fell off, and it appeared that he was deeply involved in debt.
A few days ago the man declared that his companion was not his wife, and he married a local girl before the registrar.
About 11 p.m. on Friday some 30 men went to his house, decoyed him out, stripped him, and coated him with a mixture of tar and feathers.
The other occupants of the house informed the police, who quickly arrived. The men had, however, disappeared.
It is stated that it was intended to also tar and feather the newly-wedded wife, and that several women were waiting to do this, but that she had left Rotorua on Thursday.
It is understood that the man left Rotorua on Saturday afternoon. - ODT, 20.11.1914.
