Killed on Account of Cheese.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 328, 26 December 1888, Page 6

Killed on Account of Cheese.

One of the most remarkable and at the same time ridiculous duels was a French one, in which the casus belli was a piece of Rocquefort cheese. Hercules Pantileon de Campailan was the scion of a distinguished Gascon family. From his early youth he showed a warlike disposition. He had fought several duels, in which he had gained a reputation for great pluck and bravery. One day he entered a fashionable restaurant at Bordeaux and ordered an excellent dinner — oysters, consomme with poached eggs, filets de sole, an beurre noire, a truffled partridge, with a bottle of Leoville a half century old. At a neighbouring table sat a plainly dressed man. whose finances did not permit his indulging in such choice dishes. He ordered some codfish. Campailan detested codfish. The stranger was next served with some stowed veal and onions, , Campailan could not endure the smell of onions, and began to cast threatening glances at tho stranger's table. At last the stranger said : ' Waiter, bring me some Rocquefort cheese,' This was too much for Campailan. He arose from his seat, and, addressing the waiter, said : * I forbid you to bring Rocquefort to monsieur,' and then, turning bo the latter, he said, • and I forbid you to cab any stinking cheese in my presence.' Unfortunately the roan was one who could not easily be imposed on. He was a naval offioer just returned from Japan. He called Campailan a fool, and insisted on eating whatever he pleased. A duel was readily arranged and on the following mbrning, the officer, without once embracing his wife or' kissing his children, whom he had not seen for three years,- was stretched on the field of honour a cold corpse for eating a piece of cheese.

The flax-dressing industry -is,^assuming large proportions in the Foxton .diebrict. About 20 mills will soon bo at Work there, and as each raijl employs from 15 to 20 men, the addition lo the industrial population is very marked. 'As much as 5s a ton is now being demanded by land ownersfor therighb to cut flax on their properties. Wilkie Colling has a row of pigeon-holes attached to his desk, and in each he keeps a story. One is a love story, another humorous, another mysterious, etc., and he works on each according to his. mood. Mr R. Cm Jordan paid a vjsil to the Katikati lasb week, having come fyovn Tauranga.to arrange for the purchase of the potato crops. He. was .offering £3 10s per ton for good samples landed in TaurangaT