NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1885, 3 October 1918, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

An Auckland or who Inis''retired from business Inul a pleasant surprise last week, A man stopped and asked his name, also if ho had ever been in business at Coromandel half a century ago. Having learnt these facts, he remarked enigmatically: “1 thought it must be yon.” A day or two afterwards the gentleman called at the address given, and paid an account that had been owing for just 431 years, also adding an extra pound for jnterest. “What a shock it would be to business men generally if tins kind of tiling beeame epidemic!” was the remark ot the man who received the cash “after many days.”

A story that is causing a lot of jov among the local racing fraternity (says the Oamaru Hail) is that of the woes and trials of a pail of trainers to whom, recently, an upcountrv owner (not ltd) miles loom Kakataramea) sent a couple of horses, one a galloper and the other a trotter. The latter was to be olaeed at Waimate, and the other with an Oanm.ru stable. In the process the horses beeame mixed, re-

calling in Waimate getting the galloper and Oamaru the trotter. The man at Waimate tried to get a trot out of iiis horse, but, despite Urn usc of “bobbles and other devices, failed ignominionsly. Meanwhile (lie Oamaru trainer was in despair over his charge, which wouldn't gallop worth a cent. After three weeks he gave it up, and sent word to the owner to come and lake it awav, stating the reason. The owner arrived post haste, and an examination revealed the comic blunder*.

Twenty years ago to-day (writes “Mercurius” in the Hobart Mercury of 7th September) we were all tossing up oar caps in hoiuuu* of Lord Kitchener’s victory over the Khalifa at Omdunuan. In looking up ilie records of that memorable time, 1 chanced to come upon a remarkable .letter, written by General Gordon in 1887. “Every Briton,” lie savs, “should think of the future of bis country, and should insist upon (he Government passing a measure for compulsory IrainingT' So far as England is concerned, she need lie under no immediate apprehension. But in LG", or thereabouts, there will have risen a naval Power which may prove mightier than she. It that Power gains (he supremacy, England will become extinct, both as a sea ami a land Lower, and all her dependencies will fall into the clutches of Germany. ’You may not live to see (his; hut if you are living when Unit lime comes, remember my words!” It was in 1910 .Hint Germany revived her famous Navy Programme!

A French visitor tells this yarn to the Bulletin: —In Paris they have given up being surprised at the droll Australian soldier. Whatever he dues—well, it is all right. I won't toll you the mime of the restaurant, but it was a very good place. A digger came in —I like that word “digger"—and he had previously been digging out a few happy corks, maybe, lie picked bis way among the tables with his eye lixed steadily on a great howl containing goldfish. When he reached the stand he prepared himself for a wash, and proceeded with his toilet with religious fervour without any protest from the well-groomed waiters or the patrons, who, of course 1 , know digger. (All! Good word, “digger.”) Having finished his ablutions, he called, “A. towel, gareon, ' silver plate.” /That is how digger says “S’il vous plait.”) His request was complied with immediately, amt our refreshed friend (hen sat at the nearest table and ale a first-rate meal. I left before finding out what the hath cost digger, amt how long it took the attendants to collect the indignant fish from innumerable parts of the room.