FLASHES

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 22 June 1916, Page 2

FLASHES

A French doctor has discovered 9,600 microbes on a razor taken from a barber's shop. It must have been a germ'un blade.

A German woman confessed that she was hired to blow up a Cunard liner leaving New York recently. She carried aboard an infernal machine wrapped' i n baby clothes. When she returned to the pier she was arrested.

The Post and Telegraph Department, anticipating the further enlistment of a large number of its members, is reported to be arranging to open classes for the tuition of girls in telegraphy. A six months' course has been suggested, the class to be open six hours daily.

" How in the world did you come to marry a woman doctor ?" " Well, you see she operated upon me for appendicitis and was so gentle that I naturally feel in love with her." "Which seems to prove the truth of the old saying that the way to a man's heart is through his stomack ?"

Our local watchmaker and jeweller Mr C. Ketterer, having been seriously ill for some months past with an internal complaint, was taken up to Auckland Hospital on Saturday, where he is now made most comfortable, with every attention being bestowed upon him. The business is going on as usual, Mr Ketterer's two sons carrying it on most satisfactorily.

The Awaroa Bowling Club lose an able and popular secretary, through the resignation of Mr G. E. Murphy (Bank of N.Z., Helensville), who has volunteered for the front. . Mr Malcolm McKinnon, first assistant at the Helensville Public School, also leaves us for the Trentham Training Camp next month. The ECHO wishes both gentlemen luck and a safe return. At the Star Theatre on Friday (tomorrow) evening a monster two-star programme will be screened, the special features being " A Daughter of Britain," and " Comrade Kitty," both dramas well worth seeing. On Saturday another splendid programme will be shown, and will include a unique and fascinating drama entitled " A House of Cards," and a genuinely laughable comic "The Smok-ing-out of Bella Butts." For Wednesday " A Child of God," an especially good photoplay of vivid, throbbing interest— a masterpiece, indeed—is the star item of a tip-top programme, and has drawn crowded houses wherever shown.

A large number of business men (says the Dargaville Times}, whose premises are situated in the area which recently was in danger of being destroyed by fire, last week presented Captain Menzies, of the steamer Ruawai, with a wristlet watch, and his crew with a purse of sovereigns. The presentations were made in recognition of the valuable work rendered by the personnel of the Ruawai in subduing the recent fire adjacent to the wharf. Mr Riddell, of the Omana, also received a monetary tribute, and a similar recognition was made to the members of the Fire Brigade.

Mr Eudyard Kipling, in a letter t 0 M. Andre Chevrillon, published in a Paris newspaper, says :—" The Boches cannot withdraw trom their present line of battle, for if they did they would have to explain why to their own people, They cannot afford to retreat. Their force has to be used up bit by bit and individually, either by their advancing and winning victories, or staying where they are. And when it is used up there will not be very much German problem left to consider."