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Levin Daily Chronicle, 25 October 1917, Page 2

Tennis players are notified by advertisement of the annual meeting of the Levin Tennis Club to be held to-night.

Mrs W. A. Price, of Levin, has received a cablegram from her husbaud stating that he is in hospital suffering from a slight wound and doing well. Private Price is well-known in Levin. His brother wa3 reported wounded a few days ago.

Mr J. F. Young, secretary to the local Druids' Lodge and the Working Men's Club, had the misfortune to have his left hand badly lacerated in a planing machine at Mr Storey's tactory at Weraroa during the week. The top of one finger was completely severed and two others badly cut about.

Tho Committee cf the Sceoml Division League met on Tuesday evening undor the presidency of Mr D. Matheson Reports showort that already the membership of the branch is nearitig a hundred. It was decided to make a thorough canvass of the town for members. Four sub-committees were appointed to look after the four districts into which the town has been subdivided and it is proposed to ask every eligible man to join the League and so assist in watching his own interests. The committee decided to hold a general meeting of members as soon as possible when the League's programme will be outlined and thoroughly discussed.

In Belgium a German officer mot a young peasant leading a donkey, and in a pompous way said : " Young fellow, do you call your donkey Albert ?" "Oh no, sir," replied the youth, •' I love my king too much." " Then," said the officer, " I hope that you don't call it William." "Oh no," said the boy, " I love my donkey too much."

"It is of course against the rules to take away stock found," writes an Auckland officer on the Sinai front. '' One day our regiment rounded up a nice little mob of sheep, which were divided around the squadrons, and in most cases promptly cut up and placed out of sight. One sheep was tied up at the headquarters cookhouse for the colonel's mess, when an assistant pro-vost-niarshall rode up. The cook did the best lie could, and threw an overcoat over the live meal. The assistant pro-vost-marshal began complaining to the colonel about our regiment confiscating sheep, and the colonel was just busy explaining that his boys would not think of doing such a thing, when the animal under the coat bleated and wriggled, and the coat fell off and the sheep had a game with himself by gambolling round on his tether only a few feet from the assistant provostmarshal. There was a row, of course, but that did not matter. We had the mutton."

The officials at Lambton Bailway Station, Wellington,' were placed in an unenviable position 7=i?~day, when dealing with the big crowd of people who were anxious to attend the races at Trenthain. No special arrangements were made by the Department, except that the size of the ordinary trains were increased. At 9 o 'clock there were fully 2000 people outside the station, and all but 500 odd were doomed to disappointment. Owing to the limited accommodation which would be available on the one returning train, instructions were issued that the sale of tickets for stations beyond Lower Hutt should not exceed a certain number. When the tickets had been sold the boxes were promptly closed and the gates padlocked. "Next train at 1.20," called an official from the other side of the fence, and the crowd looked at him incredibly. There was a rush for the motor-'buses, but as all but two had left the stand there were insufficient to meet the demand.

"I am satisfied that it was a deliberate endeavour on your part to evade scrvico," said Mr W. C. Barton, S.M., « clay or two ago at tho Gisborne Magistrate's Court, when giving his decision in a case in which a man named Charles Cleary was charged with failing to enrol in the First Divisionvision. "I have nothing to excuse me," replied defendant. "I filled in the first paper and was in the bush when the second one came out." His Worship said he considered the provisions of the Act had been well advertised, and he had not the least doubt that defendant knew exactly what to do. He fined defondant £25 and costs 7s, in default two months' imprisonment. No time was allowed in which to pay. With reference to the case it is understood that defendant Avas one of three brothers. One has made the supreme sacrifice in the cause of the Empire, and the other is at present in hospital suffering from wounds received in battle. Defendant was at one time most anxious to enlist, but refrained because he felt he owed a duty to his mother to remain behind. The fine was promptly paid.

A mysterious young man arrested at Glenroy a week or so ago, as a Teservist who had failed to enrol, has been identified as Stanley Frederick Fountain, a labourer, lately of Oamaru, who has only been in New Zealand five or six years. On his earlier appearance in court he had resolutely declined to give any information regarding himself, and it was considered that he might be a deserter. The police had to label him in some way, so they bestowed on him the alias Jim Brown. He was brought before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., at Christchurch, on Friday, charged that being a reservist, he had refused to give his name or place of abode. SubInspector Mullany said that the accused had been identified through the gazetted description as Hanlcy Frederick Fountain. "The name is not correct," said the accused. "Then is any part of it correct?" queried the clerk. "My name is Stanley Frederick Fountain," said the accused. Sub-Inspector Mullany said that the man was "wanted" by the military authorities for failing to go into a camp. He had enrolled at Oamaru, however, and was therefore on the register. He would be handed over to the military authorities in due course. The accused was sentenced to fourteen days' imprisonment, on the understanding that he would be handed over to the military authorities at the conclusion of the sentence.