GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 31, 12 January 1916, Page 7

GENERAL.

A lady who sent Sir John Jellieoe a ton of wool for the soldiers of the Fleet to knit their own mufflers, had the wool returned with the intimation that the men wpre far too busy.

A Westport soldier, writing from the Dardanelles to a friend in Westport, says; "T suppose yon could not get any beer tablets; this is about the, driest place I have ever struck; nothing but water and pulled tea." Be adds; "Had a dream that I had a feed of whitebait, but is was a sad illusion."

A striking case of mistress and maid dying within a day of each other, after 30 years' companionship, occurred in Scotland. On October, 14, at Bruach, Colinton, Midlothian, Mary, \lidow of Captain Abel H. Chapman, Gateshead-on-Tyne. died at the age of 69, and Ellon Dunn, her "faithful friend and maid for 30 years," died on the following day.

Beware of the racecourse tale-teller who professes to be in the confidence of trainers and jockeys and to be in consequence able to invest your

money to advantage as soon as be hears what their expectations are (says the Dunedin "Star"). This species of cheat has been active during the holiday season, and it is said that from one unsuspecting farmer alone £6O r.-as harvested.

One of the funniest stories of the war is told of two Jews—the one German and the other Russian—who, at the dead of night, left their respective trenches, each bearing a regimental banner. They met in the "no man's land" between .the trenches, exchanged banners, and silently returned with their trophies. Their storied bargaining instinct was evidently not dead, for they were, so runs the talk, both decorated for their prowess.

An enormous shark showed himself in the Kawhia Harbour the other day and great preparations were instantly made to "run him to earth." An orthodox sharkhook of extra large was carefully and cunningly baited and temptingly offered to the marine monster, which promptly annexed the meat and left the hook. The next effort was equally unsuccessful,' being followed by the immediate straightening-out of the great hook—and the shark left abruptly.

An incident, not without its humorous side, occurred in Wanganui. An old lady stepped in front of a young fellow of most powerful build and about 15 stone, who was in mufti, and said: "Young man, why are you not at the front;-'" The question rather nettled the young man, but he thought he would give a polite answer to the old lady, and, stooping down, remarked: "I do not. mind giving you my reasons for not enlisting, my good lady—T am frightened!" This candid admission quite nonplussed the old lady, and she moved away without being able to find words to retort.

An English lady, wrlirng rprn Paris to her relatives in London, Kays:. "I saw such a. pretty scene in the Champs Elysees a few days ago. Two men, each shorn of a limb and hearing on their chests the War Cross, were sitting on a. bench under a gentle cascade of goiden leaves from the trees. Two well-dressed children passed in charge of their governess. The little gii'l, apparently about five or six, climbed on to the knee' of one of the war-worn heroes and implanted a kiss upon his brow. The little boy took his hero for a walk up the avenue, and proudly held two fingers of the right hand that was guiding the crutch. When boy and soldier had returned to the 'base' there was a solemn exchange of addresses. The little incident was the delight of a small crowd which gathered. The luxurious clothing of the children and the soiled appearance of • the two wounded men formed a striking contrast, and a charming illustration of the 'sacred union' animating all classes in France."

Hack in February* 1914, nearly two years ago, a 24ft yacht belonging to Mr W. Croll, was stolon from her moorings off Devonport. She was afterwards identified at Coromandel, but her owner failed to recover her. Suspicion fell on a Maori named Henry Terawhiti, alias Henry Davis. and a warrant for his arrest was issued.:,. Nothing further was heard of the matter till Saturday morning, when Terawhiti, who had come in from the country for , the holidays, was identified in a billiard saloon by Constable Gonrley, of the.; 'Auckland waterfront police, and arrested on th? charge referred to. He will be brought before the Court next week.

The New South Wales Minister oC Lands (Mr Ashford) has in :fand ■< scheme for 1 providing farms for returned soldiers. The details of the proposal have not yet been decided upon, but it is understood that the Minister will follow somewhat the lines of the Bill recently adopted by the South Australian Parliament. The South Australian measure provides for the establishment of practical training camps, so that the men may gain experience, and so that it may be decided whether or not they are capable of going .on the land. Suitable applicants are to be settled upon reclaimed irrigation areas, and assistance is to be afforded by equipping, fencing, and generally improving tTie holding, and erecting building's. If is probable that implements, seed, plant lucerne will also h e provided.

Some excitement was caused among some of the settlers near Te Kuiti last week (says- the . Auckland' "Herald") by the actions of a man, a. Swede; who was wandering.'about the,; bufch for several days. Eventually lib a'iscarded his clothing, and the settlers communicated with the police: Constable Kennedy, accompanied by some, settlers, located the man in the bush, about four miles from the' town, and surrounded him. The constable approached the nude bush dweller, who was armed with an axe, and attempted to use it. The constable's rush, however, was too quick, and he received only a blow from the handle on the shoulder. The man, when brought to the police station, said he had'no food for a week, but very little information could be obtained from him. He was committed to the Auckland Mental Hospital.

A Melbourne writer gives a sketch of a stirring address by Dr. Lawrence Rentoul, a leading Presbyterian clergyman, in the Town Hall, Melbourne, at a meeting of the Australian League of Honor for Women and Girls. She says:—The following is only one of the delightful stones Dr. Rentoul told during his talk. He was travelling o"e day lately in a train. and seated in a corner of the carnage was a small boy of about twelve years of age, knitting for all he was worth. Opposite to him lounged a long, lazy gawk of a young man, whp, stared at the knitting' boy. Finally ,he spoke. "Sonny,.'-' he said, "you oughter been born a girl." Likfe a flash came the reply of' the. small . boy. "Daddy Longlegs,", ' said, he, "you oughter been born a man, and then you would have been away at Gallipol'i, fighting with our boys for your country."

All the Maoris on the transport that reached Wellington last week pay high tribute to Surgeon-Captain Buck (Te Rangihiroa) and the Rev. Wainohu. They say these two were never absent from the Maoris in the firing line. They took all the risks the Maoris took. They tell the story of a Yorkshire officer, who, retiring wounded, in the dark came across an isolated impromptu hospital tent. He heard voices inside, but could not distinguish what'was being said, and wondered for the moment if He had got inside the enemy's lines. But he saw the Bed Cross, and, entering, asked if they were Ghurkas. He found they were Captain Buck and the Maori chaplain, who had been conversing in their own language, and they dressed .• his wound while ho wondered. One of the returned Maoris, Private Hona Te Toa; has come back with five bullet wounds in his head—in the temple, cheek, and in the top of the head. A machinegun "found him" at the top of' the ridge while the -New Zealantlers were standing exposed, trying to dig in. He is convalescent, and hopes soon to be all right again.

Professional jealousy led to a fight between two notable actresses behind the scenes, and subsequently on the stage of the Romeo Theatre, Madrid, on the night of November 6. "La Argentinita," an artist who lias distinguished herself in- imitations of other well-known performers, was giving an imitation of Raquel Meller, another favourite actress, who hap'pened at that moment to be among i the audience. Taking umbrage at the imitation, Senorita Meller, leaving her 'seat,, proceeded behind the scenes and 'dealt "La Argentinita" a violent I blow in the face. The actress -returned blow for blow, and the curtain being raised at that moment the unsual spectacle of two famous artists buffeting each other on the stage was witnessed by the astonished audience, who, at first imagining: the scene formed part of the performance, applauded voieeferously. When, however, "La. Argentinita" fell heavily to th 0 stage and blood was seen to lie tricking down her cheeks, the enthusiasm gave .place to loud cries of indignation. The next moment the curtain was lowered, and the theatre cleared forcibly by the police. "La Argentinita," who had fainted, was carried off the stage, and her aggressor was Arrested. Both had suffered considerable personal inIjur.v.

In connection with the selection ot' Sir George Reid a,s Tory candidate for a London constituency, an interesting story was told by Mr H. E. Holland at the Esperanto Hall, Wellington, when he gave an address on "The History of the Labour Party of Australia," before members of the iSocial Democratic party. The incident occurred at a meeting called in 1893 at the Protestant Hall, Sydney, to adopt Mr Reid U>s he was then) as Free Trade and Liberal leader in succession to Sir Henry Parkes, Mr Reid had frequently referred to Mr T)ibb s as "Dibbs the Dictator."' Mr Holland was put up to move an amendment in favour of a Labour party, and .in doing so said'thai they did not want "Dibbs the Dictator," neither did tf\ey want "Reid the Wriggler.." The Sydney "Sun," commentihg upon it the following; day, said "that after Mr Holland's statement Mr Reid looked as if he had sat on the business end of a tack."