GENERAL NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 81, 9 April 1915, Page 3

GENERAL NEWS.

Tlic story deserves Lo bo told of two young Maiiaia farmers, one married and the other single, and joint ten-, ants of a dairy farm, if only to show (writes the Witness) that not all the patriotism and the line spirit of courage and adventure thai- we acclaim so much and so justly at the present moment, is not in all cases on the side of those who volunteer for the lighting front. The unmarried partner in the farm had met some one who had said to him, by the way of mild; reproof and encouragement, "What! not gone to the Front yet. Well, you're wanted there you know, and iUJ your place just now.'' The remark or two appear to have soaked in, for on getting back to the farm he said hej could hold back no longer, and was going to the Front. The partner commended his resolution, and there and then voluntarily gave him a written stipulation that he would work the farm in his absence, giving him hall the profits, and employing a man in his place only when that course was unavoidable, and on his return both to resume work together again on the farm. At present the married partner is doing more than a man's job to run the farm single-handed, and the profits are being put aside for the lad in the firing line.

A dispute concerning a cash prize in one of Tattersail's Sweeps was before Mr Justice Harvey in the Ecpiit.y Court in Sydney. Allan Juson Gambol was plaintiff and Thomas Briggs defendant, and plaintiff in his statement of claim set out that defendant had purchased a ticket in a sweep on the December Handicap. Before the sweep was drawn, plaintiff proposed to take half share in the tit ket, and on defendant agreeing, pai< him 2s 6d. At the drawing, the tie ket gained a cash prize of tiie value of £IOO, but defendant repudiated the assignment of a half share to plaintiff. The ticket was subsequently lodged with the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney for collection. Plaintiff asked that he be declared the owner of a half share in the ticket and that defendant be restrained from collecting or receiving more than hali of the value. Defendant, who had hied a defence denying the alleged assignment to plaintiff, did not appear, and his Honor made an order lor the payment by the bank to plaintiff of half, the value of the ticket, less certain charges and commissions.

When asked as to his impression of New Zealand, Mr Fisher (Prime Minister of Australia) was highly appreciative. "I found New Zealand to be a beautiful country with a lovable people. In scenery, climate, and wealth of soil tin' dominion is rarely endowed. The standard of living is high.. Its cities are clean and pretty. Local government seemed excellent. Between the cities there is a healthy rivalry, and this rivalry extends also to smaller localities. It is quite a noticeable and pleasing feature of New Zealand life, that, however, if carried to excess may tend to detract from the broad view a people should take of its national problems. There are many points of similarity between New Zealand and Australia; and there are also many points of difference. But these very differences, whether of nature or of individuals, are such as to make me desire a fuller and closer cooperation between oifr two peoples. The greater the facilities that can be offered for such an interchange of interests, the more quickly shall we arrive at a complete understanding to the lasting good of both countries."

lii his speech on February 15, Mr Churchill (First Lord of the Admiralty) struck n high note of patriotism, the following example of which should provide fine tonic for tlioso who occasionally get the "rundown feeling"! "We cannot tell," said Mr Churchill, "what lies before us or how soon or in what way the next great development of the struggle will declare itself, or what the s'tate of Europe and the world will be at its close. But this, I think, we can already say, as far as the British Navy is concerned, that although, no doubt, new dangers and perplexities will come upon us continually, and anxiety will make its abode in our dwellings, yet the dangers and anxieties which are now advancing upon us will not he more serious or embarrassing than those through which we have already successfully made our way—(cheers)—for in the months that are to come the British Navy and rho sea power which it exerts will increasingly dominate the general situation, will he the main and unfailing ipservo of the the Allied nations will progressively paralyse the fighting energies of our antagonists, and could, if need be, even in default of all other favorable causes, ultimately by itself decide the issues of war." .'Loud cheers).