NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1740, 13 October 1917, Page 1

NEWS AND NOTES.

A novel war relic from the battlefield of Messmes has reached New Zealand. It consists of a German copy of Dickens’ “Bamaby Rudge,” published at Lelpsie in 1845, and therefore, in all probability, one of the first edition. The book was taken from a high German officer’s dugout, and, although 72 years old and much worn with reading, is in good condition. The illustrations are reproductions from the original English drawings by “Phiz,” and the type is clear and the printing good. It is bound in stiff brown paper boards —worn at the corners, covered with light spot - ted paper, and has a brown cloth back, on which, in gilt, are the letters “Boz: Barnaby Budge.” It is divided into four parts, and a few pages are missing at the end.

A Royal wedding was celebrated at Nukualofa on September 19th, the contracting parties being Princess Salote, the daughter of King George Tabou 11., of Tonga, and Prince Williaiu Tugi, who is said to be higher in Tongan rank than even the king. The ceremony, which was in Tongan, was performed by the Rev. J. Watkin, president of the Free Church of Tonga, assisted by the Rev. R. Page, chairman of the Wesleyan Mission. The bride’s costume, which was of a most elaborate nature, was made in Sydney, the veil, which was hand-worked, having on it crowns worked in silk, with tloral emblems and truc-lovcrs’ knots. Many presents were given to the bride and bridegroom, ranging from a £IOO cheque given by the Free Church of. Tonga, and a valuable cabinet of cutlery from the European Civil servants, to the usual native gifts of live stock, produce, and mats. Food provided for the wedding feast included 442 pigs, a ton of yams, over 400 fish, between 800 and 900 kava plants, and sundries.

An erroneous idea prevails that the absence of a true ring in a silver coin stamps it as counterfeit. Recently, says the Melbourne Age, a half-crown piece, bearing last year’s date, which on being thrown on a hard substance produced no ring whatever, was brought under the notice of the Secretary to the Treasurer. Upon a cursory examination Mr Collins declared it to be genuine. In weight it corresponded with a newly-minted half-crown, hut its dull sound could not he accounted for. Upon a minute examination, however, the discovery was made that the edge of the coin had a flaw- —an almost imperceptible split. This accounted for the absence of a ring, just as a crack in a bell deadened the sound. Mr Collins explained that these flaws do not frequently occur in minting. Coins so affected are rejected, hut there is always the possibility of a few finding their way into circulation. The best test to apply to a doubtful coin is to weigh it with another of the same denomination and of equal preservation. If the coin is counterfeit it will prove to be much lighter than the genuine one.

The following is an extract from a letter mitten by a Wellington soldier in Flanders to his parents:— “There was rather an interesting incident here the other day. I have mentioned to you before that we were located close to a ruined sugar factory. An old Frenchman, aged about ninety, came here the other day with his son, a captain in the French army, to dig up some papers lie had buried in 1014. He came to us for a digging party, so we got half a dozen, and the old Frenchman took us down a cellar and showed us the jspot. We dug up a big iron pipe about 4ft. by Ift. with dead ends bolted on to it. On opening this be took out three bags of papers and a small bag of gold. The papers were the title deeds of this factory and other factories, and were worth a large sum. The poor old man was trembling like a leaf while the boys were digging. He said he would have shot himself if the documents had gone. He had been a prisoner in Gexmiany for the last two years. He gave £lO to be divided among the hoys, and went away happy. The French seem to have all buried their household goods like that. The poor old fellow sat down and cxied when he saw the ruins of his factory,”