GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 2, 5 April 1916, Page 7

GENERAL.

A C.lu‘\dot niiin wrote to an Auckland linn iur a lamp and mantles. Ho got mantles with a wrapper healing a New Zealand name, the suggestion being that they were a New Zealand product, but on this coming off the honiliar “-Mnde in Germany” was revealed. All those interested in archaeology should view a line, specimen of prehistoric remains now reposing in the Oiiura Council yards (reports the Advocate). It was discovered in the j hush a lew days ago, and brought in |] )V eart. Some of those who have S('cn the object pronounce it to be (he fossil of a shark. ' An Amei'ican’s advice to bis nephew: ‘‘Boy, never make Am of the Germans, for Cod made the Germans, just the same as He made fleas, bugs, snakes, skunks, and all kinds (, f crawling, cringing things. Why He j made them nobody knows, but in His own good time He may enlighten us I Hut, in the meantime I’d be cl if ! know.” i j The newspaper proprietors oi iloto--1 rua having arrived at the c.nclusien I that one local journal is sufficient L»‘ ; the town, the proprietor of tne j “Chronicle” has purchased the “Times,” which is now incorporated with the “Chronicle.” The “Chronicle” is published as a daily, and in political matters is independent of party tie:;. 1 .The unsuitability of the arm badge, which the Government offers to returned soldiers, has led the Auckland Returned Soldiers’ Association to establish a distinctive badge of more suitable design. The badge i; in silver, about an inch in. diameter, and is worn on the lapel of the coat, attached to a strip of red ribbon. The Star states that this is far preferable to ■the canvas armlet issued by the Recruiting Board.

At the Central Criminal Court, Sydney, the. jury in an attempted murder charge returned to Court to obtain a ■ delinition from Chief Justice Cullen, regarding the responsibility of a person committing an offence whilst being mad with drink. His Honor explained that there were two aspects to be considered. A • man so intoxicated that he was to all intents and purposes mad would not be conscious of committing any wrong doing and hence would not be responsible for Iris action. But a person not so intoxicated as to have a knowledge of what he was doing would be liable for acts of violence, but not with intent. The following, illustrative of the unfailing humour of the British soldier, is from Rev. E. J. Hardy’s new book, “The-British Soldier: His Courage and Humour”:—He was a wounded soldier who was travelling in a train. At a point on the line where it ran parallel with the road he saw a brandnew Territorial battalion marching up to the front. He stuck his bandaged head out of the door and yelled, “Are your dalm-heartod ?” The Terries, from: the colonel to the smallest drummer, shouted “Xo-o-oh !” The wounded man replied, “Well, you damn soon will be when you get in those trenches.”

An unenviable experience befell Mr iP. M. Veale, of Parakao, this week (reports the Auckland Star). Suffering from appendicitis, for which an operation was necessary, he started by motor car from Parakao to go into a private hospital in Wbangarei. The car broke down on the Dargaville road. A wait of four hours ensued. Then a ear from Dargaville came along and picked np the sufferer. Further ou the second car also broke down. Finally a telephone message brought out a car from Wbangarei, and twelve hours after he bad started Mr Veale was landed at tbp hospital. By this time the appendix had burst and an immediate operation was performed. The patient’s condition was very serious, but a recovery is anticipated.