JOTTINGS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 20, 10 September 1914, Page 3

JOTTINGS.

The following letter, which Mr J. B. Richards, secretary of the Stratford Patriotic Fund has received, explains itself:—"Sir, —l am writing these few words to thank you and the Stratford people for the many kindnesses I received from you all. I hope you will let them all know that I will never forget them. Robertson and self have both been promoted to Corporals. Again thanking you all.—R. F. Mann, Second Mounted Rifles, A. Squadron."

In concluding an interview on Jul\ 19th with the Vienna correspandent of the "Daily News and Leader" (London) a prominent Vienna diplomat/) after traversing the possibilities of a rupture between Austria and Servia, said: "In any case the fact that the dispute is not worth a European conflagration will work for peace." It seems that even "a diplomat in a prominent postion," as this gentleman is described, may sometimes be mistaken,

The New South Wales Attorney-Ge-neral (Mr Hall) has his own ideas about keeping money in circulation. "Every woman who can induce her husband to buy her a new dress and to pay for "it is doing a patriotic service to the country," he said last week, "The fact is that at least three out of four men in Australia have the same income now as they had before. The prospect of the fourth man getting his income depends entirely upon the willingness of the other three to spend theirs. The woman who buys a dress gives employment to the dressmaker, the girls depending on the dressmaker, the shopkeeper and his dependents, as well as, indirectly, to a vast army whose living depends on the manufacture or distribution of raw material. My word to those who have money now would be: Quit your meanness, spend as freely as you have received, and help to keep the wheels of industry going round."

At the annual meeting of the Waitara Dairy Company, held on Tuesday afternoon, it was decided by the suppliers present to contribute at the rate of one-eighth of a penny per lb. on butter-fat to the Waitara PatrioticLeague whilst the European war lasts. This will represent a sum of from £220 to £250 for the year, and it was» further decided that the levy be paid into the fund monthly. The amount agreed on by the suppliers, says the "Mail," is double that suggested at a conference of dairy companies held recently at Hawera, and it reflects great credit on the Waitara Co's. suppliers that they have shown such a spirit. Everyone was most anxious to assist, and of the seventy present, the majority were in favor of paying into the fund as stated, whilst several wished to apply the money to the Distress Relief Fund. The expressions of opinion as to the way the money should 1)6 used were fairly divided. One supplier said it should be for "purchasing* bullets," whilst another said he would rather, his quota be set ajid.o for ropes to ,"hang 'em." :, !

.During the recent visit of a British squadron to Kiel,' the Kaiser, as an honorary Admiral of the Fleet, visited the British Admiral (Sir George Warrender). During his stay on board the King George V., his flag was, as is customary, flown. When the English squadron took its departure the Kaiser, in return for the complimentary visit, offered the light cruiser squadron attached to the visiting force the privilege of passing through the Kiel Canal. An inflexible rule on British ships compels all captains to keep the lead going whilst entering or leaving harbour. As a consequence, on the return of the squadron to Portsmouth, the Admiralty were in possession of a chart of the canal, carefully compiled by the navigating officers. The value of this mistake of the Kaiser to the British navy is incalculable, for the soundings taken showed conclusively that the heavy Dreadnought battleships of the German fleet are unable to negotiate the canal, as the depth of water available is insufficient. This knowledge has, no doubt, enabled Sir John Jellicoo to dispose his fleet to the best advantage, allowing tho pre-Dreadnought vessels o? the second fleet, under Sir Cecil Burney, to watch the canal entrance for the older, and numerically smaller squadron of German ships capable of negotiating its waters.