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Grey River Argus, 28 June 1915, Page 4

The first catch of whitebait for the season in the Hokitika river was reported on I'-'day, a resident having netted a small shoal of nearly half a pint, up the river near his-residence. All persons having accounts against the Maoriland Steam Shipping Company, Ltd., are requested to forward same immediately to the local agents Mark Sprot and Co., Box 72, Greymouth. A grand Hard-up Ball will be held to-night in the United Pavilion (High Street). Dancing will commence at S p.m. sharp. A splendid evening's dancing is in store fr all who attend and excellent music will be provided.. The most powerful Krupp 15-inch gun weighs 93 tons, and is 63 feet long. Its mountings weigh about 50 tons. The gun being fired at its maximum range of 29 miles ,the height of the trajectory is 6 2-3 miles—at the highest point of its passage the shell is at that height above the level from Which it is fired. The Success Gold Dredging Company has declared a second dividend of Is per share, equal to £500. The first dividend was declared in March last. The director Mr John Hessey reports that he recently visited the claim, and instructed the Supervisor to apply for a block of ground adjoining the present claim, which had been previously bored with good results. This has now been done. With the new addi, tion to the old claim, there will now bs about 100 acres to dredge. Everything at the claim is satisfactory. There have been several cases reported where British and French soldiers by sheer audacity and pluck have captured a good many Germans, but probably the record in this sport at present belongs to M. Gatel, a French professor of German at Voiron. For several months past he has been in the Argonne trenches as a territorial lieutenant. Latterly, when only a few yards separated his trench, from the enemy, he remarked that the officers left every day at the same hour to go to the canteen and refresh themselves. While they were away the soldiers were perpetually complaining in their own jargon cf the p'arsimny and irregularity with which their food was giv. en out to them. Having heard one day that the Boches had not touched bread or food for 36 hours, when the officers were away, Lieutenant Gatel .walked up to the trenches. In the very best German, he introduced himself as a good comrade, pitied the poor soldiers who had nothing to eat, gave them a tempting description of all the good things in the French trenches, and ended up in inviting the men to come and have a good meal for once. One hundred and fourteen Germans very quickly climbed out of their holes and followed him to where a substantial meal, washed down with plenty of wine was given them in a barn at the-rear, but at dessert Lieutenant Gatel smilingly announced to his guests that he was keeping them prisoners "in their own interest, because in France they would always be sure of good food and lodging." Partly on account of this exploit, but more for his fine behaviour under fire at the head of Ms section, Lieutenant Gatel was promoted to a captaincy a few days later.

Mr. Edward McNabb, of Motucka, has lost two sons, Private Roy and Cyril McNabb both killed in action at the Dardanelles, and has three other Bons either at tlie front or on their way there. , Speaking to a "New Zealand Times'' reporter yesterday, His Grace Archbishop Bedwood, who had just returned by the Maitai from a visit to Europe, said that whilst in Rome he had the great pleasure of meeting the Rev. Mother Mary Joseph Aubert, who laboured so long here in the cause of charity. 1 His Grace stated that Mother Aubert was, despite her eighty years, in capital health, and was looking forward to her early return to Wellington. When- he left Borne she had volunteered to help the wounded, and was now engaged in this work. For sonic time past the Catholic clergy of Wellington have been in receipt of letters of a grossly offensively nature. TJhey were handed to tho police, and, as a Tesult of investigations by Detective Mason, a woman named Laetitia Jano Hood appeared beforo Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court on Friday to answer three charges of posting a packet having words v of a grossly offensive character thereon (says the New Zealand Times). Defendant, who was not represented by counsel pleaded "Not guilty." Defendant was fined £10, with court costs (lls), ana solicitor's fee (£1 Is) upon one charge, and on the remaining .two she was convicted and discharged. Leave to appeal was granted, security being fixed at £20. An incident full of humor to everyone but tho victim occurred in the shop of a Cathedral square tobacconist on Saturday afternoon (says the Christchurch Sun). A lady called in to make a purchase, being accompanied by a small boy. With the natural curiosity of his kind, the lad immediately began to look round for objects of interest, and at last enthusiastically exclaimed, "Oh, mummy, look at the money-box." Immediately he pushed his right forelinger into the hole in the top of the cigar.cutter, which ho had mistaken for the receptacle of small change. There was a vicious snap and a long howl, and the lad retired precipitately from the counter minus the top of his nngor. "Wails of anguish filled the atmosphere for some minutes —but the population of Christehurcli now numbers one more person who will not mistake tlie decapitators of Mor Tinas for money-boxes.