LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 6, 8 January 1915, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Sir John Jellicoe, to whom it has fallen to command Britain's fleet, has twice escaped death by a miracle. In 1880, when lieutenant on the Monarch, he volunteered to rescue the crew of. a wrecked steamer ofF Gibraltar. The boat in which' he and seven others made the attempt was capsized by the heavy seas, and only after a terrific struggle for life did the officer reach the shore. His' second escape was from- the ill-fated Victoria. Commodore Jellicoe, as he then ranked, was in his bunk in a high fever when the collision occurred, hut made for his appointed station on the bridge, and, when the ship went dowri","" was .towed into safe quarters by a gallant midshipman. " .

What appears to have been a most dastardly action was perpetrated on J the locally-trained trotter, Utopia, 'says the Westpoit Times. It was to. have taken part in the races, and' shortly after eight o'clock in the morniny was inspected by the owner and trainer, P. Higgins, and seemed W be as lit as training.'could make it. About 11 o'clock when Mr' Higgins went to-get the horse, he found that it had been badly injured at the knee, which was cut and swollen, evidently the deed of some miscreant. The engagement' ac the Trotting. Club's meeting had'to be cancelled. "The matter has been placed in the hands of the police for investigation. ;.

" : A Press Association telegram says: Mr Bennett,' manager of the New- Zealand Shipping Company, states that his firm have ample space in the ship-, ments for dairy produce and meat,' but it is impossible to give assurance after those months. The loss of the Kaipara and the delay in the building, of insulated vessels' may cause a shortage in March.

The Holstein is evidently finding much favour in England, and despite the war-breeders' do' not hesitate to find money for good stock.' The English, Holstein Cattle Society some time ago. obtainedspecial permission from the Government to introduce stock, from -Holland, and .accordingly" four members' of the society were sent to Holland to purchase the cattle. The total outlay was £4200, for which 39 bulls arid 20 heifers were purchased. The sale was held early in November at Byfleet, Surrey ; and a remarkable; sale it was, the total amount realised being £14,936. The 39 bulls averaged £257 13s each, and the 20 heifers £244 7s 9deaeh. The first bull offered cost £224, and realised' 400 guineas, but afterwards bulls that cost £7l to £ll3 sold at 500 and SGO guineas.. A 22-months old heifer that cost £lO5 was placed at 520 guineas, and another, 18-months old, costing £79, was quitted at 410 guineas, while trie lowest price was 105 guiiir eas.'

• Mr Lloyd George, addressing a recimiting meeting in London last mouth :said: "I should have been sorry to. pome here to-night to ask a nice,, /cleanly, honest, upright lad to risk his-life merely for the greed of gain. I', could not do it; .. My two boys are going, and two as nice boys - as any of.: you have got. (Laughter and cheers.) And I am devoted to them. Doi you think I would send these boys 1 to risk their lives for low greed? I should be ashamed of myself. But to go there and fight for freedom and liberty, for honour,. for goodwill amongst nations, to fight to put an end .to this intolerable oppression of militarism—they are glad to go, and they have my blessing too." (Cheers.)

Says the Daily Mail (London): A young man of sft.' lin. who presented himself at" : the recruiting depot and was rejected because he did not reach the Army height standard brought about the formation of the Bantam' Battalion at "Birkenhead. The battalion 'is for men between sft and sft 4in in height. On being, told that he could not be accepted the disappointed recruit argued quietly that he was as capable of serving as a soldier as a taller man. He went through several .gymnastic evolutions and offered "to take on any man in the recruiting'office at five rounds in a boxing match," Struck with the young man's earnestness, Mr Alfred Mansfield, hon. secretary of the Recruiting Committee, Avho stands over 6ft high, mentioned the incident to Mr Alfred Bigland,:M.P. for Birkenhead, and it was at once agreed to communicate with Lord Kitchener. Without delay. Lftrd Kitchener gave his consent to the raising of the Bantams' Battalion.'