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Motueka Star, Volume II, Issue 54, 18 February 1902, Page 4

A gentleman has tried the following peculiar way of probing the ties of friendship. He sent letters to 24 intimate friends asking for the loan of XI. Thirteen of the two dozen friends did not reply at all ; five declined to lend the money, two promised to send it on the next day and did not do it ; one sent his “ last ten snillings”; and only three sent the full sum asked for. The supplicant and all the “ friends ” he had written to are well off.

It is understood that the purchasers < f the stranded hrrque Alexandra, near Wevfcport. intend to make a close inspection of the vessel and see whether it is possible t> have her relaunched. So far the seas have not done much fuither damage to the vessel. The new issue of English stamps bearing the King’s head are of fair design. but the heavy shading on the left side of the Lead gives the stamp a somewhat lopsided appearance. The King’s head is surrounded by two half circles < f cak and laurel wreaths. The halfpenny, one penny and twopenny issues are respectively coloured green, red and blqe. Scene.——At the gate of C Lunatic Asylum.—Lunatic (inside gate)— “You at a working very hard.” Labourer (working outside)—-“Yes, and badly paid for it, too.” Lunatic—-“ How much ?” Labourer—“Twelve shillings a week.” Lunatic—“ Working like that for twelve shillings a week ! Poor fellow; you are on the wrong side of the gate !” Here is a brimstony story of Lord Methuen. One dark night the Hon. “Dick” Cotton came stumbling into camp, and, endeavouring to discover the whereabouts of the commander, approached us, shouting in a high voice, “Paul, 1 say Paul, where are you ?’ Presently from the inside of the tent came a more sonorous sound, “Is that you, Dick j What do you want ?” The jaded wayfarer remarked, “Do you know, Paul, that I asked one of your mem where I could find you, and he told me to go to hell !” Without a moment’s hesitation, Lord Methuen replied, “Come inside, Dick, come inside !”

In all, there have been 66 Yietoria Crosses awarded during the present South African war, including one to a New Zealander—Farrier-major Mardham, of Wellington. Two more crosses were awarded in connection with the recent campaign in China, and one for the Ashanti campaign, 1900. . The surviving veterans of the Maori war of 1863 include six who earned the Yictorra Cross while fighting in New Zealand.