BRITISH OFFICERS.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 18 February 1901, Page 4

BRITISH OFFICERS.

Mr Winston Churchill, M.P. has an article on the British officer in the New Year’s number of the “ Pall Mall Magazine, ” It begins by defending the officers against all critics, and says they are the best set of fellows in the world ; then acknowledges that the system of the Army does not develop the best that is iu them, and makes suggestions for their improve-

ment. He proposes the method of a friend of his with a stud farm. Every season, all the yearlmgs are broken and pat in training, being all treated alike at first till their quality has been tested; then his friend doscriminates. Some are entered for the Derby, some become steeplechasers, others arc sent to bo cabhorses. By a sjstcm developing wholesome rivalry and putting on the officers the weight of some responsibility, ho would proceed to the selection of the fittest for promotion. Ho would increase mameuvres, improve army education, and give the Army Instructor his chance of becoming a man of action, too.

MPcheltown, a suburb of Wellington, is suffering from a “ gbest ” scare, and the superstitious fears of a large section of the village have been aroused. On Tuesday night a numerous party was out in quest of the alleged spectre, who is probably some mischevious boy under a sheet, but failed to catch him. “ Creepy” stories are told by the credulous about the vagaries of the apparition (says the '• Post ”), most of whose pranks are played in the vicinity of the local school.