NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1858, 27 July 1918, Page 1

NEWS AND NOTES.

Among' the humours of the snowstorm at Christchurch on Sunday was a snow-tight among the members of a suburban church congregaliun. At the conclusion of the service, (lie congregation divided itself into two divisions, which tor a considerable time bombarded each other, the pastor assisting, and the ladies proving their endurance was equal to that of the men. The battle went on till well after the usual hour for lunch, when the combatants faded away in a much bedraggled condition.

News of the assassination‘of General von Mirbaek, German Ambassador to Russia, has revived in the mind of an old Wellingtonian recollections of a Dr. von Mirbach, at one time resident in New Zealand, and who is believed to have been a brother of the German Ambassador (says the Post). • Dr. von Mirbach was in practice in Wellington over thirty years ago, and afterwards moved to Waipawa. Later he left the colony, and when last heard of was surgeon on an Atlantic liner. He had a brother in the German diplomatic service, and another brother surgeon on the Russian ship-of-war Vesnik, which made a sudden appearance in Wellington Harbour some thirty years ago, at a time when the Russian scare was the sensation of the hour. Dr. von Mirbach was a powerfully-built man, considerably over six feet in height, and was esteemed a clever man in his profession. He was employed on two or three occasions on Government commissions inquiring into medical and health questions.

To (he people of Australia, M. Clemenceau has sent the following message: “I send my heartiest congratulations to (he Australian people oil the very tine deeds their children have accomplished in this old land, where we never expected to see (hem in war, but only as visitors and friends in time of peace. We knew what they could do, in peace, in their own country. In these dark days, in (his old country, they have shown what they can do in war. It gives us great pleasure to acknowledge what they have doin'. 1 congratulate them with all by heart on what they have accomplished amongst us.”

An Otago farmer's father, talking about the shortage of wheat in New Zealand, said: “If all the farmers who are yet able-bodied men wen. l to start in and work themselves, instead of spending so much time in going about attending conferences to argue the question and rake up polities, much could be done to raise our own supply. My son has a small farm which he lias to work himself, because labour cannot lie got, and, though he has a stiff leg, he did all the ploughing and harrowing and sowing necessary to raise 2, 0110 bushels of wheat last season, and also (he season before. Not a hand’s turn did he get by way of help, except at harvesting, when a schoolboy came along and gave assistance. If New Zealand were blockaded, and it came to a question of bucking in or going hungry, we should find that our land is capable enough. It is only a matter of pulling off our coats.”