LOCAL AND GENERAL

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 February 1915, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The following story is told of the captain of the Hussars who gave a dinner to the fnen of his squadron tho night before tliey loft for tho front. "Now, my lack," ho said, "treat this dinner as you will tlie enemy." And they set to with a will. After disinter ho dijtoovqred one of the men stowing »way bottles of champagne into a hag. and, highly indignant, he demanded to know what he meant by such conduct. "I'm only obeying orders, sir," said the man. "Obeying orders!" roared the captain. "What do you mean, sir:"' The man replied : "You told us to treat the dinner like the enemy, sir, those wo don't kill we take prisoners."

Another example of the anomalies of New Zealand railway freight charges was brought under the notice <i the Waikato "Times." A resident of Hamilton, who formerly lived at Palinerston North had a practicular liking for a certain blend of honey produced on a farm in tho latter district. Desirous of getting a supply he ordered a kerosene tin full fo be sent by rail hut was not a little surprised on being told that before tlie tin could bo delivered lie would have to pay 7s Ikl freight, half tlie cost of tho honev.

Many people pooh-pooh the statement that youths are in the firing line of the German army, but tlie. following obituary advertisement .taken l'rom a Berlin paper, shows that the report is but too true:—"On the oth of Nevcmber, before Dixmude fell in the conflict for the Fatherland, my deeply loved eldest son of our beloved brother, Hans Jurgen Sebultze, aged sixteen years."

When tho motor drivers in Lojukm went to tho front Kitchener was determined they should receive wages commensurate with the .rists they ran. Kac-li of these men received a bonus of £2o on joining and receives £'3 lfls ,1 as pay in addition to rations ami clothing. Their pay in civilian life is about £2 a week. There are about 1000 of these London men at the front, and. of course, many thousands more drawn from other parts of the country. "Wo are a sporting nation and fond oi our games, but our one thought at the present time should be how We can assist ill bringing the war to a speedy and successful conclusion," said Colonel J. E. Hume, at Auckland, when addressing the members of the National Reserve. "J regret to say/' ho added, "that the crowds which congregate round a news board are often larger when the result of some racemeeting is posted up than when some item of the European war news is published." Tho secretary of the Auckland Licensed Victuallers' Association states that despite increased wages and the increased cost of commodities during the. last seven or eight years the Trade has ;iot put up prices, but the effect of the war risk charges caused the association to set up a committee to go into the question with a view to slightly increasing the cost of spirits taken away from the hotels. Liquor of all descriptions consumed on the premises will be .-old as formerly. English beer has increased in cost, but no extra charge will ae made.