FLASHES

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 30 October 1914, Page 4

FLASHES

Good General advertised for,

■ The President of the Prussian Diet states that there is scarcely a family in Germany that is not in mourning.

French recruits after two months' training are now ready to go to the front. The new force represents half-a--million men.

It is reported that 12 merchant vessels have been sunk by the German cruiser Karlsruhe, and their crews landed at Teneriffe.

The new r-ailway time-table affecting the Main' Trunk Express trains and the Auckland-Helensville-Otamatea trains, etc., are now published, the changes taking place as from Nov. Ist.

A remnant half-price day is to be held to-morrow (Saturday), by Stewart Bros. Ltd., and as there is no time to lose, the best thing the ladies can do is to get out early and secure the choicest lots on the bargains.

The strawberry gardens, as well as the cow proprietor, want rain. So far it has been coming in a drizzle; but as a flood is not requested, the request will have to be made to order. What about the bursting of a few German guns? Not too close, you understand.

Was it a German spy who made the N.Z. Shipping Co's big tramp steamer to leak, and caused her to be brought back to Wellington on Sunday last? The incident looks suspicious at all events ; 100 passengers and valuable cargo on board.

Is it not getting very much monotonous and trying on the nerves to be continuously having to read the same old, stale headlines in the dailies ?— '' Germans losing ground ; heavy sacrifice of life ; piles of German dead; desperate fighting ; allies again victorious."

Sergt.-Major Stokes, who has been located at Dargaville for some years past in charge, of local defence forces, and now appointed to make Helensville his headquarters, went down to his old sphere of labour, for the purpose of putting the 9th Platoon of the 15th Regiment through their paces on Monday, and met with a good reception by a full muster of men, who seem to have the good cause of defending their country at heart.

It was the Echo's intention to- tackle the Estimates applying to our district but thay are so few and insignificant that space is better devoted to more interesting topics. In most cases where votes for roads are concerned, it is only a case of £ for £ subsidy. Anyway, Helensville appears to have gon.e entirely m its qwn. Yfhat would Mr R. Hoe dq for us if returned tq Parliament ?

Notice is given elsewhere by the Helensville Domain Board, of the official opening of the varions greens at the Hot Springs at 2 p.m., on Saturday, 7th Nov. A large number of visitors are expected from Auckland, and under the circumstances the public of Helehsville and surrounding district are welcome to roll up, and so help make the function a huge success. Lawn tennis, bowling and hockey in galore; also afternoon tea.

&£artin Dqnqhue is the niqst successful war correspqndent to date. Donohue is an Australian pressman, got his training qn the Sydney Evening News, married an Australian presswoman. and then went to the London Chronicle. - He won his chance by fine realistic \yark in Paris, and was sent by the Chronicle to many European centres of disturbance, his most famous exploit being a long interview with the new Sultan, hitherto regarded as unapproachable. Donohue's story of the Sultan changed European diplomacy, for it disclosed to the public the German attempt to gain dominating influence in Turkey. Now Donohue, who is still Parisian representative o the Chronicle in his spare moments, and globe-trotter and war correspondent when he works, is sending good war stories to London in spite of the censor. These will cease under the new censorship arrangement's,' but they have been a triumph for the Australian journanst. Donohue visited Melbourne' last year, but left hurriedly for the second Balkan' War. —" Punch.-" •

It you have a grievance send it to the EcjiiO,*' ■ o ••■-■•