GENERAL NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 1 July 1913, Page 7

GENERAL NEWS.

4 CANINE GUN TEAM. "La Bolguiquo JVlilitaire" states that thirty dogs irauiuu to draw *lie mitrailleuse liave been installed m tlie Baudouin Barracks at Brussels. The experiment has proved extremely sucoesslulj lor not only are tuie dogs docile and competent, bat tuey have become goneral favourites among the soldiers. The new teams, we are assured, possess great tactical advantages. They move silently and without apparent el fort over the roughest ground; and, even more important, they ore almost invisible. At a distance of three hundred yards nothing can. be seen of a gun team oxcept the drivers. In practice the canine mitrailleuse will be able to follow infantry without difficulty in anyoffensive action. In short, to quote our authdrity onoe more, the military dogs "are called upon to play a particularly effective and glorious part." THE SPIRIT OF ARBOR DAY. The silk top hat on the spotlessly attired onlooker will be less welcome (says tlie i'ost) at tlie City Council's celebration of Arbor Day, at Kelburne, than the man in dungarees with a spade substituted for & walk-ing-stick. Various speakers made that clear at the tree-planting conference in the Wellington Town Hall on Wednesday. Councillor Barber was particularly empliatio in his condemnation of "people wiio come dressed in a top liat and their Sunday clothes." The gatheimg should he a working bee in the true sense of the word. No. drones were wanted. The public ought to clearly understaid that they were there for practical work, juul let every man bring a spade!. In lamenting the iaxity of tlie observance of the uue spirit of Arbor Day in the past, Mr Bari .-; said that more space was devoted in tb© newspapers to the subject than was actually covered by trees. Too often tlie public gathered to hear an expression of opinion, and in consequence tlie practical results were nil. The Mayor • sympathised with Councillor Barber's remarks, but at the same time said that tlie opportunity of impressing on the children the responsibilities entailed by Arbor Day should not be missed. HOAXING A PREMIER. M. Barthou, the' French Prime Minister, is an. excellent host, and his dinners alwiay s attract a select gathering of wit and talent .says the Paris correspondent of the Evening Standard). This may have been the luison d'etre of a practical joke of which he lias been the victim. The other day an official-looking personage visited a printer who,does work for M. Barthou, and ordered some invitation cards for a dinner to be given by the Preuier at his private residence. " Tlie man had all the appearance of an "attache de cabinet," and the printer executed the order without question. A few days afterwards fifty of M. Barthou's fricndf received invitations, ,and thirty .<■ them hastened.to accept. When tht , Premier received the first acceptance he questioned his secretary, who naturally knew nothing about it. Then other acceptances poured .in, and M. Barthou reflected on what course to take. In the end lie decided to hold the function which bail been forced on him, and the other evening, his thirty friends ate a good dinner at his expense. Over tlie coffee and cigars he told his story, after evferyono had been wondering what happy occasion the dinner party "was to celebrate. After the first shock of the tipws the diners, most of all M. Barthou, Laughed heartily at the humour of the situation, even though the gflests felt somehow that an apology was due from them.