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Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 311, 8 October 1915, Page 3

The Wanganui Maoris have contributed £2O towards winter comforts for their compatriots at the front.

Thirty men arrived in Winnipeg from the north-west of Canada the other day. One of them had a 400acre crop, and tcfld his wife that |he wanted to go. She answered: "All right, go and fight for the Empire. I will look after the farm." This incident is said to be typcal of the western spirit.

One of the wounded returned from Gallipoli is responsible for the following: An Australian horse soldier was jogging along at a slow trot behind the lines one day when z\ Britfeh General appeatred. "Good-day, was the Australian's greeting to the great man. The latter's dignity was much upset. Quoth he, in fine scorn and no little indignation: "I beg your pardon. Were you addressing me, my man?" "What?" "Were you taJking to me, s?r?" "Yes," replied the cheerful ranker. "I was just passing the time of day, mate," This completely flabbergasted the astounded General. He could scarcely restrain his indignation. It choked him. Raising his monocle, he gazed through it at the daring soldier, and, infustng as much contempt as possible into his tone, remarked loftily: "Oh, I presume you are one of those Australians!" The trooper whiped his right foot out of the stirrup, reached down, lifted it to his eye as a m©nocle, and, in the best imitative manner, rejoined: "An Orstiralian —my (colonial) oath!"

An extremely plucky action, and one by which a serious accident was averted, was performed by a Cliristchurch Boy Scout at Papanui a day or two ago. The Avonside Troop had bet?n out for a field-day at Styx, and wore passing the Phoenix Hotel sit about a quarter to five, on their return, when a horse attached to a trap whieh Was standing outside took fright and bolted up the North road, defying all attempts of those it met to arrest its progress. Two members of the troop gave ehase on bicycles, and one of them overtook the runnaway near the Papanui School. He seized the reins, which were dragging along the ground, and, ridlnj» along by the galloping horse, with ohand on the shaft, endeavoured to arrest its progress, which he finally succeded in doing, though his bieyele m*«is considerably damaged in the process. He then brought the. horse and trap hack undamaged, refusing all attempts on the part of the surprised Owner to reward him for his plucky act.