GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 2, 1 May 1915, Page 3

GENERAL.

Tiio moat, cargo soul away lrotn>Nin\ /oaiaiul by the s.s. Hawke's Hay a tew days am), constituted a record i'or Now Zealand. It was equivalent to 125,027 mutton carcases, and was valued at £157,05-1. Up to date the value of the meat purchased in Zealand on hehalf of the Imperial Government since the new scheme was inaugurated totals nearly one million pounds.

The British Weekly tells of a minister’s wife who, visiting some soldiers’ wires in her district, found one speaking, a s she thought, somewhat bitterly about the Kaiser. She remonstrated mildly, and reminded the woman that,., as a Christian, she ought to pray tor her enemies. '‘So 1 do,’ was the ie-j ply. “And what do you say?” “Oh just like this, ma’am! Almighty Cod, keep your e’e on that loon the Kaiser.! Saften his heart, and damp his panther.” It is a pity that the prayer loses in translation .

land Kitchener, according to a story told by Harold Begbie, was told one day (before the war) by Mr Lloyd George that recruiting in Wales would be far quicker if the men could serve under a Welsh general. “But where i„ your Welsh general?” demanded Kitchener. “We had better discuss that with Colonel Owen Thomas, who I,as come with me, and is now in your waiting-room.” Kitchener gave orders to have the visitor admitted. As soon as he saw him he said. “You were in South Africa?” "Yes, sir,”

replied the colonel. “Well, you’re now brigadier-general, commanding the W’elsh Army; you’d better go and get to work at once.”

Even the mind of the child is ohessed with the war idea. This was well illustrated hv an incident which occurred in a, Christchurch suburban home the other evening (says the Sun), The chimney of a bedroom in which two- very young children were sleep ing caught fire about midnight, ami as”the efforts of the householder were not successful in coping with the outbreak, the Fire Brigade was summoned. As a couple of hrigadesmeu entered the bedroom the little hoys wokc up, and one of them, seeing the gleaming brass helmets, immediately exclaimed. “Oh, daddy! Have the Germans oeme.” Assured that the disturbers of the peace were friends, the children went off to sleep again (|idte •unconcernedly.

Twenty-three Australians ami foui New Zealanders are exhibitors at the Royal Academy, making a record colonial year, states a London cablegram. The premises of the Royal Academy a! Burlington House comprise a gram 1 gallery or range of thirteen balls-, besides a central octagon for sculpture, a theatre, and a large room in wine! the annual banquet is held—the lattei always an event of much interest to the' artistic world. The basement h devoted to schools of art for male and female -students. The total cost cl the buildings was over .£1.50,000, the whole of which was defrayed out of the funds of the Academy. The Royal Academy derives the whole of its funds from the holding of its annual exhibition of the pictures of living artists, which opens on the first Monday in May and continues until the first Monday in August. No works which have previously been exhibited are accepted, and the Council has the right to reject any picture it may please.

During a judgment summons case at the Christchurch Magistrate’s Court, Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., had some remarks to make upon the cost of living. A judgment debtor, under examination, stated that he received an average of £'2 5s a week, and had a wile and four children to support. The Magistrate said he had no intention of making an order against the debtor. In view of the present high cost of living cerditors need not expect him to make orders as he used to do. The debtor must be having a very hard struggle to keep Ins family on his means. “But I’ve got a wife and two children, too,” complained the creditor. “The lesson so far as you are concerned,” rejoined Mr Bishop, “is that you shouldn’t give credit. Tin’s is a claim for rent, so you can’t he so very badly off.” “He promised he would pay off the money in instalments,” persisted the creditor. “He paid two instalments of a shilling- a week, and then knocked off.” “1 don’t wonder at that,” said the Magistrate, and the case abruptly closed.