Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22,1017.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1768, 22 December 1917, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22,1017.

BEFORE another issue of the “Herald” is published, the Christinas festivities will have come and gone. We take this opportunity, therefore, of conveying the season’s greetings to our readers. M e are about to celebrate the birth of Him whose coming was to bring peace and goodwill upon earth. After the lapse of nearly two thousand years we find the very nations who profess to be His followers and who are about to celebrate His birth engaged in the bloodiest and most diabolical war that this earth haS ever known. Peace and goodwill place to slaughter and lamentation. The “glad message” is. afar off. But the dawn of a better day is yet to be, when a lasting peace will be secured. The night of conflict is still with- us, and the shadow will remain until the forces of evil are crushed and our cause triumphs. We are engaged in a righteous war, and worthy of all sacrifice, and if we fail not no>v victory is sure. The season calls to humility, sacrifice and service, and an unswerving faith in Him who will not fail xis in our hour of peril.

W * * * LET us hope, ere another Christmas dawns, that a righteous peace, will gladden the earth. To this end each and every ope must do their part to ensure that the glorious sacrifices already made .shall not have been in vain.

The “Herald” will not be published op Tuesday next, Christmas Day. Another sign of Pa tea’s progress is.the establishment of another billiard room, says the Press! A man named Mahoney was fined £2 by Carterton Justices for refusing to answer questions put to him by the police in connection with the Military Service Act. “Iso lad who leaves a secondary school before having at least two years’ instruction has received any permanent benefit by attending the school, and by attaching himself to the school he is to some extent tarnishing its name,” remarked the rector of \the Gisborne High School. /. :: ' •

All the residences at the seaside are occupied. Despite the fact that a number of dwellings have been erected during the year, the demand for houses exceeds the supply. Palmerston has a good record this month, so far as drunkenness is concerned, only five arrests having taken place up to yesterday, says the Standard.

We are in receipt of a card bearing Christmas greetings from Pte. John Gillespie, who at the time the message was sent was at Sling Camp. We also had a brief message by the same mail from Corp. R. H. Dalhousie, stating that he was well. A cable message from London states that Noel Ross, only son of Mr. Malcolm. Ross, New Zealand’s war correspondent in France, died from typhoid feyer. Deceased, prior to leaving New Zealand, was employed on the literary staff of the Evening Post. The body of an elderly man named Harry Williams was found at New Plymouth in a cottage he had occupied alone. Apparently death had taken place two or three weeks ago. There was no sign of foul play, but the surroundings were squalid. We arc in receipt of seasonable greetings from the High Commissioner for New Zealand (Sir Thomas MacKenzie), in the form of an artistic and neatly illustrated brochure, within the leaves of which was also enclosed a sprig of heather. We heartily reciprocate the greetings. The body' of Charles Smith, stockman, Te Uku, Hamilton, was found in the scrub with a gun between the legs. A greater portion of the head was blown off. Deceased left a note bidding his employer good-bye. Smith originally came from Hobart. He served on Gallipoli, and had been discharged about a vear.

The latest incomplete returns of the voting in Australia gives a majority of 103,578 against the Government proposals. The totals are:—No, 801,397, yes 097,819, A-

bout 300,000 soldiers and absentees’ votes are still uncounted, but it is generally accepted that there is very little chance of the present position being reversed. Some time ago a letter containing a sum of £l9 was abstracted from a private letter-box in front of the residence of Mr A. \V. Cave, Masterton. The money was addressed to a nurse in the employ of Mrs Cave. A few days later a sum of £5 was returned to the box, and .subsequently a sum of £8 was returned in a registered letter. The thief expressed regret that the money had been stolen. There is still a sum of £G unaccounted for. —“Age.”

The Carterton News chronicles the following dastardly outrage on a dog:—“The following is vouched for to us as a true story of an extraordinary method adopted by a man out back to kill a dog. It seems to call for some inquiry. First of all he called the dog to him, and sinrultaneously jabbed him with a knife in various places over the body, and after he was bleeding from many wounds, set several other dogs on to him, and when the dog was thoroughly worried lie again called it to him and held it across his knee and cut its throat,”

It i.s very seldom that a lamprey is captured in Wairarapa streams, says the News. One of these* eellike things was taken from a Belvedere creek by a young son of Mr Spicer on Saturday, and he did not at all like its - somewhat repulsive appearance. The lamprey is a sucker, and often attaches itself to other fish as a parasite. It has a round, sucking mouth, and no jaws, and has several holes along its sides near the head. Sea lampreys are much larger than the river species, and in Europe they come up the rivers in the spring to spawn. There is a story that an English king died through a surfeit of lampreys.

In the Napoleonic wars, when a prisoner escaped from an internment camp, the whole countryside was notified by the firing of a gun, which was an intimation to everybody that they could assist in the search, says the Post. Something of the sort has been arranged in connection with the German prisoners detained at Somes Island. The standing orders at Somes Island provide that, in the event of any of the prisoners of war escaping from the island, the authorities should be immediately notified by the firing of rockets on. the island. It is desired that the general public should be aware of these arrangements, in order that they may co-operate in effecting the recapture of the escapee and notify the nearest police -officer of the movements of any persons who may be suspected as having escaped from the island.

Among the escape,cl Gerpiap prisoners are five of a band of German naval cadets who were among Ghe prisoners brought to Auckland from Samoa on October 13th, 1914. The cadets were op board the German vessel Elsass, which, at the outbreak of hostilities, took refuge in the neutral port of Pago Pago. When the German cruisers Gniescnau and Sehamhorst visited Apia, on September 15th, 1914, the news was circulated at Tutuiia, the American portion of Samoa, that Apia had been retaken by the Germans, This news so delighted the naval cadets on board the Elsass that-11 of them promptly deserted from their ship, commandeered a small sailing vessel, and set soil for Apia. They arrived at six o’clock one evening, and, much to their surprise, were promptly made prisoners.

A man named "William Semple, 45 years of age, was killed at Molcsworth, Blenheim, by an express and two horses he was driving capsizing over a cliff. The deceased’s chest was crushed in - .

Mr Healey has just received a fine assortment of perfumery of the very best British and French makes, suitable for presents. These, are not exhibited in the shop window, as the strong light always causes the quality to deteriorate. The public are invited to call and inspect.

Sgt. N. Miller, of Masterton, received a telephone message on Thursday evening from Mr Gordon Laing, of Riversdale, stating that a quantity of wreckage had come ashore on the East Coast. The debris included two mattresses - and five or six pillows, whiefe had apparently been only a short while in the water; 'together with a number of boards resembling the deck of a vessel. The weather has been very heavy on the East Coast during the past few days, and it is thought that a seacraft has come to grief, says - the Post’s Masterton correspondent.

Another Foxton boy has made the supreme sacrifice in the cause of his country. Mr and Mrs J. V. Burr, of Norbiton Road, having received advice that their sjon, LanceCorporal J, G. (Gordon) Burr, who was wounded in action on .November 27th, died on the 17th instant. The late Lance-Corporal Burr left New Zealand with one of the earlier reinforcements in the mounted section, and was afterwards transferred to the camel corps. He was a member of the local Druids’ Lodge, and at a meeting of that body last night the secretary was instructed to communicate with his parents, conveying the Lodge’s sympathy.'

A rather serious accident is reported as having occurred a few days ago (says the Wairarapa Age). Five soldiers were returning to camp per motor , car, and, being late, offered the driver an extra half-crown to reach camp in time. Speed was put on, but the steering gear went wrong., and the car dashed into a telegraph pole, throwing one of the occupants. The driver was seriously hurt, one soldier had a leg and arm broken, another ..two fingers broken and was badly cut about, two others were much bruised, and the fifth was the only one to reach camp, and he, too, was hurt. '

A letter of interest to Freemasons has been received by Mr W. H. Smith, of Palmerston N., from Wor. Bro. Meldrum, of the Huntervillc Lodge. His letter is dated “Palestine, October 18th, 1917,” He says:—“ln anticipation of being in Jerusalem before long, the Freemasons in the New Zealand Brigade have arrangements made to hold a meeting on the site of King (Solomon’s Temple—if possible, though a mosque is said to cover it; at any rate as ( n*ar the site of the Temple as we can get. That in years to come will be of interest Masonieally, but of course it does not obscure the fact to us that we have first to do some hard fighting.”

“ A Victoria Cross has been given to a young submarine commander for a deedwhich shows that the spirit of our Navy is still of the very highest,”- writes Sir Thomas Mackenzie from London. “One day he suddenly sighted two German submarines, one of which he was smart enough to sink, and the other was so taken by surprise that the crew surrendered. He then took command of the German submarine (it might be said that he is an excellent German scholar), transferred the uniforms from the German officers to his own, and set out for Heligoland, and on arrival he sent a wireless, purporting to detail his exploits and the number of British ships he had sunk, and asking for further instructions. He was told to proceed in a certain direction, accompanied by a German destroyer. In due season he sank the destroyer, returned home, and received a well-earned Victoria Gross.”

A peculiar case came before Mr J. G. Hewitt, S.M., at the Wanganui Magistrate’s court on Thursday. A few nights ago a motor ear came into collision with a horse and trap, and the driver of the car appeared to answer a charge of negligent driving, Mr C. P. Brown, who appeared for the defendant, pleaded guilty. He explained that on the night in question defendant had been asked at a late hour, and when tired and on his way homo, to drive some passengers to Aramqho. Returning, the driver remembered reaching Dublin street bridge, but from that time, until he found himself in bed his memory was a blank. He had in some way received a blow on the head, and his car had been knocked about, but the man knew nothing of wligt had occurred. Counsel submitted that probably the man had fallen asleep at the wheel, which would account for the erratic course of the car, and that on running into the trap he had sustained a knock on the head which had dazed him. He had, however, made good the damage to the trap, and in view of the circumstances, counsel asked his Worship to impose a nominal penalty. The Magistrate said it was not ap uncommon thing fqr motorists to fall aslepp when driving, and he related an incident in which that had happened, and which had come under his notice. He said that a man would not run into a vehicle for the pleasure of the thing, and there was no evidence to suggest that the defendant was under the influence of liquor. Taking that view of the case, he would convict and discharge the defendant.

■: ' V 7: ,3fj Mr Ingle, dentist, notifies that his surgery will be closed from Monday evening next till January 4th. The weather during the first few days has been very squally, and the meteorological outlook for the next ! few days is not. too bright, j The recent Tritity College exami- ■ | nation results include the following! * —Junior: Miss Rockell 94 honours} , Miss E. Patterson 88 honours; pro*t paratory: Miss Madge Barber 99, J Miss Nita Fraser 99, and Masted W, , Claris 98. All the above are pupils of Miss Symes.

The Greymouth Star learns that Mr Hall, one of those who suffered j in the Runanga robbery, remains in about the same condition. Ho ] maintains a most cheerful and hopeful attitude, and his disposition's J everything that is helpful to his still I critical condition. All that medical i 1

skill can do is being done for the,\J patient, whose case in any event will J be a protracted one. 1 .. ■■■ ■■: ,; L :- 'l'#^ When a member becomes a Min* v istcr be has to set out on a travel* ling tour to become acquainted with the working of his Department. The Hon. T. M. Wilford, Minis! r for Justice, is making an inspection of the northern prison camps—the tree-planting camp at Kaingaroa, the two camps on the WaimarinoTokaauu road, and the Auckland prisons.

The evidence taken in the Motuihi enquiry is likely to prove ing. Already it has been made pubjV lie that the maximum number of prl*' soners was 60, and to guard thisV little batch it was deemed necessary to have nothing less than a Lieut.* Colonel and a staff of 35. There are some beautifully soft, well-paid military jobs in the Dominion.—? Eltham Argus.

Mr Charles 'Parker, one of the pioneer settlers of Now -Zealand, died a few days ago at 1 the age of 81 years. He arrived in the colony sixty-one years ago, and after residing for a slwirt time in Gollan’s Valley and Fox ton, took up land, in the Paroaekaretu district, being one •' of the first settlers,in that locality. He subsequently retired and settled in Wanganui, and latterly lived with his son, Mr F. C. Parker, of Mnrpby Street, Wellington. Mr Parker’s wife predeceased him by twen- ' ly-four years, but he is survived by five sons and three daughters, and numerous grand and great-grand-children. His death will cause keen regret among his numerous friends.

It is rather Singular that at the present•time there should be in Auckland a French chef who actually had Count von Luokner under him as a kitchen boy iu Adelaide, This is M. A lex Fa are. projector''”’, of the Saratoga French fish delicacy shop in Symomls ''Street, M, Faure showed a representative of the Star his discharge certificate from Larg’s Pier Hotel, Adelaide, dated 1904, and signed by E. 'Alexander. M. Faure said: “1 was.chef when Von Buckner was kitchen boy. It happened this way. The barmaid was a German, and she got You Luckner the job of kitchen hoy., Of course I did not know lie was a count at that time. The barmaid said to me, ‘Don’t be hard on this boy.’ It was quite true he knew nothing of his work, but I could see he was a gentlymau. After peeling potatoes or doing any dirty job he was very careful to clean his nails and have ja bath in the middle of the day. I should think he was about 17 years old at that time, and rather effeminate looking. It was the German barmaid who asked me to find something for the lad to do. He left about three weeks afterwards. Now comes the peculiar part of the affair. Two or three weeks later I was in Adelaide, and there I saw my old kitchen boy. He was always a gentleman, hut this time he was dressed as one, the cut of his clothes being faultless. Although an enemy, I still say he is a gentleman, and would shake hands with him now.” , ■ Perfumery: Just opened up, a fine assortment. Call in and inspect* —E. Healey.