NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1693, 31 March 1917, Page 1

NEWS AND NOTES.

According to Mr Koto, the editor of u lending Japanese journal, Japan is ready to strike the enemy if needed. He writes that Japan dues not deem it necessary to send troops to the lighting fronts in Europe. She is assured of the victory of the Allies in any case. But if it, should he found advisable and desirable that Japan should give such help, she would not hesitate to do so. Says the Grey River Argus: It has just come to our notice that several well-known citizens of the town have, in order to escape the meshes of the military service net, made a “get-away.” It is rumoured that late at night or in the wee sum’ hours of the morning this “gallant” band, by the aid of a motor car, made a trip to a place yet unknown, and, with jmovi.sions and bedding, intended to “dig in” and sit tight until something happens. “Public endowments should be retained by public bodies and only dealt with by lease,” said the Hon. G. IV, Russell, Minister for Public Health, in the course of a speech at Auckland this week. The Minister added that he had always been strongly opposed to the sale of any land belonging to the people. In a young country like New Zealand land Avhich was of small value today would in the course of a few years rise in price. The land owned by the public bodies of Auckland would certainly increase in value, and it would be a shortsighted policy to sell it. The French Ambassador to Britain recently addressed the following letter to the Navy League: — “Dear Sirs, —T thank you for your letter informing me that your committee have decided at their lastmeeting to change the title of the anniversaries of 21st October from Trafalgar Day to Nelson Day. This, indeed, is to me a truly gratifying communication, and I shall have much pleasure in transmitting it to my Government. None in Franco will fail to fully appreciate the spirit in which your resolution was passed, and it will be remembered as a most delicate token of your-great country’s friendship. —Yours faithfully, Paul Gambon.” Recently a volunteer presented himself at the recruiting depot in Melbourne and gave his age as 43 years. He was duly passed as medically til by the examining officer, and went to the room of the officer commanding to be sworn in for service. Glancing over the recruit’s papers, Lieut. G. J. C. Dyett noticed that the man had sixteen children. “How old are you?” asked the officer. “Forty-three, sir.” “Arc you sure about that? What year were you born in?” The recruit was nonplussed for a moment. “Were you born in 1807?” said Lieut. Dyett, quickly. “That’s it,” replied the man eagerly. “Well, that makes you 50. not 43.” The recruit then acknowledged that he wanted to gel away lit the front despite his years. He was promptly rejected, and the Defence Department was saved the cost of a soldier, wife, and 10 children.

Major T. M. Wilkes, of Invercargill, writes: Bishop Cleary is with us, and lie is great- —always round the lines amongst the men; no matter what is “coming over.” He is a real sport, and liked by all. A soldier was killed alongside of him the other day, and the Bishop himself was knocked over by the force of the debris thrown up by the 5.9 shell, but otherwise uninjured. He tended the dying man, who was unconscious. Many would have been finished with the lines after that; but not so the Bishop. He continues to go round, and no amount of Bosche persuasion puts him off his rounds; in fact, he goes where there is most of that commodity because he seems to think he is most needed there.