MISCELLANEOUS.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 18 June 1920, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS.

A Maori defended his own cube at , lie Fen t herslou Magistrate V Court recently. Asked by tlie magistrate it’ he had alivlLiny to say, the .Native. with a learned air, remarked, “.L want to speak before I talk.” A farmer at Manilla, near .Bordeaux, experienced a very disagreeable .stir prise recently. He had saved a thousand pounds, and being like most French peasants —distrust] tt! of banks, lie hid his money in notes in a drawer in his cellar. On visiting his hoard lie found that rats had been there beforehand. They, finding the nice new biinkuotes very much, to their liking, had swalloued up the whole ol the tarnter’s fori line The device used by an old man of Su its a means of putting an end to bis life was described to a coroner’s jury nj. Fhctliehl. The man was Louis Speak, who for the past eighteen years had been an inmate of the workhouse. His body was found in Lcelesall Woods. it was stated that partially sunk in the ground was a metal ease, front which the barrel of tin old top cannon protruded, nud trout all indications it. is presumed that after Idling this barrel with powder and shot, speak ignited the charge with a piece of lighted paper. The evidence showed that the old man was usually cheerful, and the juty in returning a verdict of “ Suicide” found there was no evidence of the state of the mind. A curious war memorial is to be found at S\vall'll,'llll Prior, a little village in Caiubs.. says the ‘ • Morning Post.” The inhabitants elected to place in the parish church painted windowsu, representing various war activities. with explanatory texts beneath. Titus on one side of the window is to be seen a tank —‘‘But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron”; on" the other side i* a German submarine enmeshed in a deep sea net. with the words: fi Though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the ->a, thence will 1 command the serpent ami he shall bite them'’: and a third piet.ure. ui a Ked Cross, nurse tending soldier.- in hospital, is interpreted: ‘‘And the Lord said it is not good that man should be alone: I will make hint at: helpmeet for him.” home time ago a man was about to be hanged in outs 01 the outlying American state-. The sheriff asked hint whether he would like to address the crowd which had assembled to watch the ceremony. ‘‘Xu,” said the condemned man. ”1 ant not much of a speaker.” Whereupon a member of the crowd ptc-scd forward and remarked. ‘‘Well. 1 should like to say a tew words! ” ‘‘This is a very unusual request.” remarked the sheriff: ‘‘but it is really a matter for the prisoner. ’ ’ Then, turning to the latter, he asked, ‘‘Do you object to this gentleman making a speech.’” “No,” replied the prisoner. ‘’l don’t object; but hang rue first, please!”