NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1963, 10 April 1919, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

Seven is regarded by the superstitious as a lucky .number. It has certainly appeared very often in the life of the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr H. Holland), says the Press. He was born on the 7th of the month, and so was his wife. They became engaged on the 7th; they were married on the 7th; they have had seven children. Bis Worship left England for New Zealand on the 7th. Now he is retiring from the Mayoralty on 7th May, after having held office for seven years.

“Libor,’-' the literary contributor to the Dominion, writes: In their latest list of forthcoming books, Messrs Methuen and Co., the, wellknown London publishers, announce (he early publication of an allegory entitled “A New Heaven,” by the Hon. George Warren Russell. New Zealand Minister of Internal Affairs and Public 1 Health, As one who has been privileged to peruse Mr Russell's work in its mamr-crip') form, “Liber” can assure bis readers that All* Russell has written a very remarkable book. The leading idea is one of striking originality. The tael that the book was at once accepted when offered to Messrs Methuen is in itself a high compliment to Mr Russell’s literary gifts, for no tirm in England lias a higher standard of excellence in its publications. Dealing, as it does, with life after death, though not from a purely spiritualist point of view as illustrated in Sir Oliver Lodge's well-known “Raymond," Mr Russell’s book opens up, 1 may say, a vista of infinite solace and comfort to (hose who have lost (heir dear ones during the Great War. Originally written some years ago. the book was last year re-writ ten and brought up-to-date. I shall look forward with keen interest to the Home reviews of Mr Russell's book, many passages in which arc, 1 may say, of a mo.-t striking verbal beau tv.

The death occurred last week of Mr T. Furlong, a very old and highly respected resident of New Plymouth, at the ago of 86 years. The late Mr Furlong was born in Tipperary, Ireland, and in bis early years followed fanning pursuits. At the age, of IS years he enlisted in lI.M. 57(h Regiment, and after serving for some time in Ireland, sailed with Ids regiment for Corfu, in the Mediterranean, and remained there until the out break of the Crimean War, when the regiment was ordered to the front. He landed the morning after the bat lie of Alma, and served through the remainder of that stirring campaign, being present at (he battle-- of Balaclava and Inkerman, the seige and fall of Sebasiopol, and also the bombardment and surrender of Kimbourn, After (he Crimean war he served in India during the Mutiny in LSS7. in 1861 be came out to New Zealand with the 371 iis, and look part in all the incidents of the Maori War, being present at (he assault on the rebel Maori position on the Katikaia River on June -Ith, 1863, the action at Putoko on October 2nd of the same year, and the assaults and capture of the Maori strongholds of Alnmhim and Kaitake in March, 18(11: and was also present at I lie subsequent operations at Matailane and To Arei in October of 186-1. After reliving from the Imperial service and receiving his discharge, he served as a member of the Taranaki Mounted Corps, and 01m of bis last expeditions was to assist in the recovery of the bodies of the victims of the White Cliffs massacre in 1866.