EXPENSIVE SHELLS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 169, 28 April 1916, Page 1 (Supplement)

EXPENSIVE SHELLS.

The typp of shell which is fired from the great German howitzers costs £I2OO. Even the comparatively small field-guns are loaded with shells which each cost over £2 to produce. The German B.4in. quick-firing guns demand a shell which cost* £52. and the Kaiser's fortress cannon fire a projectile valued at £3OO.

The cost of gun-fire in the Royal Navy !• very heavy, and a single di ;-

charge from a 13-in. weanon costs at least £«00. A battleship brovVde means that £1">00 worth :1 ammuirti in has gone. In a sea-fight, if the !a:ge guns on a droednought only Ire ten shots each and the smal'er weapons discharge twen v-five shells, the cost of ammunition for one battleship during the engagement is £160,000.

MORE THAN A HINT. He was a very shy young man. For two long years ho had been paying her attention and had not yet even squeezed her h.ind. One evening as they lingered iu the shadow of the trees by her gate he asked, timidly:—■ "Florence, would you—might 1 —• cr—would you mind if I placed one reverent kiss on your fair hand tonight when I leave you." Florence thought he wanted speeding up. Po she dropped her head coyly on his shoulders, lifted her face temptingly to his and replied: "Well, Georgie, I should think it decidedly out of place."

MADE HTM WORK. Th.? tramp had wa'ked a good three miles, and was particularly thirsty. A sudden turn in the road brought him to t!i.' foot of a steep hill, at the top of which stood a large house. The tramp paused a moment before attempting th,herculean feat of storming the hill. He felt hungry and thirsty. He glanced to the left. These words caught his eye: "Tarry, traveller, and refresh thyself.'' The tramp was sorry the sign was attached to a pump handle. However, water was better than nothing, so he commenced to pump. The spoilt, remained dry. He pumped with nion vigour. Still no water. After ten minutes of hard work lie said harsh things about the pump and continued his journey. At the top of the hill he mentioned his grievance to a native. The Uifter took his seat in the pit next to a lad about th 0 same age as himself. "Say, mate, can you smoke in here?'' he inquired, when he had made himself as comfortable as he could. "No," briefly replied his neighbour. A few minutes afterwards Jack saw others smoking, and looking about, d'scovered that there were no prohibitory notices on the walls, so again addressed the ouiet one : "I thought you said you couldn't smoke here?" '' I did not say you could not smoke here. I said 1 couldn't, for"—here he jerked his thumb towards the woman on his far i<ide, and whispered—"my mother won't let me."

QUITE UNDERSTOOD

When Sam Ryan, the comedian, hadn't as much sense as he boasts of n'i*.v, !:o was playing in one of the Nevada towns in the old gold fever days and happened one night to ho standing directly hehind the dealer in an on.'ii game poker game, and saw the latter (lea 1 hnisolf nres from tlio bottom of the Kick (!>• tur.iod to the native who rtaod behind him, who also had been watching the deal closely, but th 0 fare i:f the native was finite expressionless. Aft.-,- a moment or two Hynn leaned over closer to the native and whispor-

"|.Say. dd you see that ?'' •'S.-'' what?*" queried the native. "\\liy," exclaimed Ryan, in some surprise, " tli:t man iust dealt himself four aces frnm the bottom of the Pa-k ' D'dn't -mi v ~ ~ 6" "W< II." ' 'siionded the native, nmphurntly, " fs his deal, ain't il?" .Another triumph for woi-kimr women is the appointment of Miss ITerniiniM Durham :-s 'TI-ief Woman Tnsnector in the Central Office of the Labour *\- change and Unemployed Insurance Department of the Monro 1 of Trade" at a salary of L 100 a year.