NEWS AND NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 August 1917, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

According to a soldier who has returned wounded to Dunedin (says the “Otago Daily Times”), some men wlio are sentenced for bad behaviour by court-martials to ferms of imprisonment inctKe good when given the chance. The chance is made possible by reason of the fact that it is riot always advisable at once to put into force a verdict of a court-martial. One Australian soldier was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for some misdemeanour. He pleaded hard with his colonel for clemency. “ Go and try to wipe out the stain on your character,” was the advice of the colonel. Our informant states that for three days the Australian- sought Death—lie performed all manner of reckless and' valorous, deeds. But death passed him By Unscathed. At the end of three aiiys he had won the D.C.M. aricE Military Medal and—greater .than these— his offence was forgiven* _____ " Interesting souvenirs of the visit paid to Whangaroa iri January last by the Parliamentary motor party are about to be distributed (says the Auckland “ Herald”). These mementoes consist of small pieces of one of the Australian logs that formed'part of the cargo of the vessel Boyd when she sank in Whangaroa Harbour in 1809. The Maoris accidentally burned her to the water’s edge, after killing nearly all on board, as an act of vengeance for the flogging of a young native chief, who was a member of file crew. A few years ago a number of the logs were raised' and one of these, which was in tlie possession oi Messrs T. M., Lane and Sons, af Whangaroa, has been cut intosmqll pieces, suitable - for walking-sticks The souvenirs, together \yith the list of tlie names of the members ot the Parliamentary party, are now at the Auckland office of that firm, in Quay Street east. Each member of tlie party will receive one of file sticks.