NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1312, 17 October 1914, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

Maurice Maeterlinck the famous Belgian author, who has been assisting his country in various capacities, received an ovation in London. He remarked: “ The latest events of the pitiful story of the little Kingdom which kept its pledge and died for it cries aloud for ever.”

Just before war was declared a German asked for a ticket to Berlin at a Loudon terminus. On being told that no ticket could be issued, he exclaimed, “ Ach ! you dirty English will soon be on the ground.” A mild-looking inspector, who was standing near, replied: “ But you will be there first,” and a well deiivc.ed punch with the right made the prophecy come true.

A private meeting of the creditors of a Christchurch business man whose unexplained lengthy absence from that city has been causing some concern, was held recently. It is stated that as the result of <tu audit of his boobs, the liabilities were discovered to be only halt the assets. A proposal to make the absent business man bankrupt failed to get support, aud the meeting adjourned for a fortnight.

An amusing incident arising out of the war recently occurred at Waihi. A resident of many years, who bore a name of somewhat foreigu sound, found his fellow-workers giving him the cold shoulder. One remark led to another, and resulted in a violent quarrel. A member of the police force happening by, caused inquiries and explanations, and, to the amusement of all concerned, it transpired that the suspected alien was a native of the north of Ireland, while his principal detractor had to admit his mother was German and his father Scotch.

Although he is not widely known in the outside world, General Pulnlk, the guiding mind behind the Servian forces, is regarded by men who should

know as one ol the ablest military commanders of the present day. It was to him that Servia owed her dramatic success over the Turks towards the end of igiz, and her equally dramatic victory over the Bulgarians later on. He is a man over 60 years of age, and has spent all his life as a soldier. Alter studying in Russia and France he returned home, and practically directed the whole reorganisation and training of the Servian army. He frequently attended manoeuvres in France, Russia and Germany.

Says _ the Sydney Bulletin: Those impatient critics who are wondering why Admiral Patey doesn’t run down the Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, and other German cruisers who are wandering round the islands in the Pacific, and blow them out of the water, should remember the case of the Perthshire. This big cargo steamer broke down between Sydney and Wellington, some years ago. A small fleet went in search of her, and though she blazed the trail with rockets, flares, and lights, it was six weeks before she was found. That was the experience in the case of a big, slow-drifting vessel, in comparatively narrow limits, calling tenders for discovery. Admiral Patey's job isn’t so easy. The wide and meandering Pacific is open to the speedy German cruisers, and at latest information had not hung up any notices of their whereabouts.