NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1670, 3 February 1917, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

A farmer from Woedons, who was at the Addington stock sale last week, informed a Christchurch Sun reporter that the threshing mill returns were an eye-opener to many in that part of the country. Crops that looked like threshing 50 bushels were threshing 25 or 30, while the apparently 30-bushel crops were turning out at 10 and 11 bushels. Several instances are reported from other districts of farmers having ploughed in some of the poorer oat crops and sown rape or turnips in their place.

One of Germany's leading papers, the Kolinsche Zeilung, has been crowing over the fact that, in connection with peace proposals, tiermany holds a trump card in the possession of 215,220 square miles of enemy territory. The K.Z. adds that against this (he French hold only 350 miles and the Kussians 11,000 square miles of the former territory of the Central Bowers. But what the German paper has (of course, purposely!) overlooked mentioning is the very solid fact that -John Bull and his Allies are right now possessors of 017,000 square miles of German colonies •—with East Africa to add to that!

Manly, the seaside resort of. Sydney people, was raided recently by an army of spiders. They came in aeroplanes —flying webs which became anchored to trees, fences, and telegraphwires. Some of these webs were only a few inches, long. Others ran to yards. The invaders wer so small as to be hardly distinguishable by the eye. It is not known, of course, where they came from, but students of natural history are agreed that on occasion these spiders travel through the air pome hundreds of miles before their ■webs come to earth. They apparently have no control of their descent, for thousands fell into the ocean contiguous to the town, while fishermen operating in boats in the vicinity returned covered with both {spiders and webs.

A returned soldier at present in Masterton tells the story of the New Zealand man who in Juno last deserted from the ranks, .ft was early in the morning, and raiding parties were at work . One party had done excellent service, and another was about to be sent out. The deserter hopped off the parapet and crawled over “No Man’s Land.” He was on sentry when he disappeared. Soon afterwards, the seeond raiding party that was sent out suffered heavy losses. Moreover, churches and other buildings that were being used by our troops were vigorously honibarded by the enemy, showing that he had gained private information. The deserter was probably made a prisoner of war by the enemy, hut that he gave important military information, that cost valuable lives and property, is certain. The relumed soldier was in the same company with the deserter, who had been left behind in Lgypt [when the troops went to Gallipoli.

An interesting account of a tight (between a British and a German si viator is given in a letter from tapper W. Daniel, of the Tunneling Corps, and formerly a member of the typographies)! staff of. the ’Wellington Post. “One of the most thrilling air fights f have yet seen, ’ lie writes, “look place a few days ago. They started at a great height, and looked line with shrapnel bursting all round the machines. [Naturally the Britisher had to win, it ml so it was not long before the (German 'plane came tumbling to icarth, with the Britisher in hot pursuit and pouring in a hail of lead sill the way down. It is an old trick of the Huns to tumble near to earth, sis though wounded, and then right themselves suddenly and go oil at top speed for their own lines. The Britisher was, however, not to lie [bluffed, and followed the linn to earth, stood above him top a mojment to make sure he was done tor, ;nnd then went for his life. The German was badly wounded, and yvas crushed under his own machine jvhen the ground was reached.”