WELLINGTON NOTES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13714, 22 April 1910, Page 3

WELLINGTON NOTES.

(SPECIAL to "THE PSSS3.") WELLINGTON, April 21. Another myth has been destroyed. It concerns the Boer General Do Wet. New Zealanders pictured him. on a fine steed, careering oyer the veldt> and generally galloping away 7 from /the British pursuers. Wh£n f'Lord Kitchener was here, he told* Sir. Ijjeeph Ward the true story. As a, m_tt6r of fact, De Wet was unable to ride; ho wasahurly '■;pe*^rty-7^».v'-^ gbt'abdutth. cou^try* v iii i, *a Can© cart, frequently leaving camp on foot and going to a quiet farmhouse near by, whilst his pursuers "were supposed to Le hot on his trail. It is understood that "the Government has appointed 'Mr J. Graham Gow to represent New Zealand at the Argentine International Exhibition. He will take with him a collection of the chief products of the Dominion. Mr Murdoch McLean arrived in Wellington to-day from the Otira tunnel works. He will remain some time in Wellington in connection "with the dock works. An impression has got abroad, says the "Dominion," that appointments of Volunteer officers to salaried positions under the Territorial scheme of defence are being made. Colonel Robin informs the paper that this is not so. Numerous applications have been received, but so far they have not been considered. The appointments will be mado by a board, which will make efficiency tho first consideration. Lord Roberts, writing to Mr J. T. Marshall, of Wellington, says:—"Not cnly is snooting in New Zealand doing well, but in adopting the principle of universal military training she is setting a fine example to the Mother Country, which I trust may soon bo followed. Lord Kitchener's presence in the country and his advice and experience will be of the greatest use in helping tho Government to work out a sound system of defence. I am glad to hear the Boy Scout movement is likely to flourish in the Dominion, as it affords an excellent preparation for the cadettraining, which is doing so much good for your boys." Owners of homing pigeons have long suspected, says the "Post," that many, if not most, of their losses in birds have been due to the misplaced marksmanship of so-called "sportsmen." A confirmation of this was given by Mr W. Bailey, a well-known keeper of racing pigeons, who yesterday s-howed a "Post" reporter a bird, still living, from which lie had extracted several shot. It is Mr Bailey's custom to give his birds exercise daily. As soon as they are released from tho loft, he finds they nearly always fly in the direction of Happy Valley and the hills beyond. Last Sunday,* after the birds had come br.cfc from their outing, lie missed three. Presently one came flying slowly through the air, with one of its legs dangling in a disabled condition. It proved to be one of the missing birds, which had been shirt in the side. Mr Bailey extracted the pellets, and the bird will probably live. This is convincing proof of the very mean, discreditable practice among men and boys with shotguns of firing at tame pigeons. Several members of the Wellington Homing Society have lost birds in this wav, and -Mr Bailey has lost one of the best flyers in bis loft—a hen who had flown all the way from Parenga, 500 miles, by herself.