NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1358, 9 February 1915, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

During the past three weeks the waters of Lake Rotomabana have changed their hue, taking a darker yellow tint than hitherto. This is stated to be a rather unusual occurrence. The level of the lake has fallen considerably, as also has the level of the Tarawera and Rotorua Lakes. The Kaiser inspected the fleet at Wilhelmsbaven last week. He met submarine U2l and decorated the crew with iron crosses. The Town Council banqueted the Kaiser, whose vis-a-vis, Zeppelin, soldiers and sailors sang “The Hymn of Hate.” An American paper is sponsor for the story that a young man was arrested for wall lag in his sleep. He begged the night watch not to lock him up, pleading that he was a somnambulist. “ It don’t make any difference what church you belong to,” said the officer, “you can’t walk the streets of this town in your nightshirt.” A league has been formed in

England, under the presidency of the Archdeacon of Chesterfield, known as the “League of the Khaki Button.” There is no subscription, and no expense, other than to buy and wear a small khaki button. Everyone wearing the button pledges himself not to stand anyone a drink, nor to be stood a drink, until after peace is declared. It is maintained that if anyone paid for his own drinks the soldiers would be saved a great deal of temptation.

The wife of General Melzinger, a distinguished French officer, whose sou, a captain in the army, was recently wounded, was travelling from Switzerland to Lorraine. She overheard a con versa) ion between two German officers during a rainstorm. One said : "O l ', I left my umbrella at a hotel in Paris.” The other replied : “Never fear, you will be able to go and get it next week.” “Pray, do not trouble yourselves,” interrupted Mdme. Melzinger ; “my son, who is a captain in the .French army, will undertake to bring it to Berlin himself.”

“ We shall never sheathe the sword which we have net lightly drawn until Belgium recovers in full measure all, and more than all, that she has sacrificed; until France is adequately secured against the menace of aggression ; until the rights of the smaller nationalities of Europe are placed upon an unassailable foundation, and until the military domination of Prussia is wholly and finally destroyed. It is a great task, worthy of a great nation. It needs for its accomplishment that every man among us, old or young, rich or poor, busy or leisurely, learned or simple, should give wbat he has and do what he can.” —Mr Asquith at the Guildhall,