LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 3 December 1914, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

In discussing some minor matters in regard to bridge approaches, culverts, etc., one of the members of the Waimate West County Council said that, haying due regard to the altered conditions of traffic and more particularly in regard to motors, members should take notice and report on shady corners, obstruction to view of approaches of bridges, etc. Motors made traffic more dangerous than heretofore, and these matters ■ should be «ire£ully looked to.

A good story rs told by Lord Lovat, head of the famous Lovat Scouts, who is to command the Highland Mounted Brigade on the Continent. A private was under arrest for some offence, and Lord Lovat enquired of the sergeant .as to what his offence was. "He's a very troublesome fellow, sir," replied the sergeant. "Got too much lip, goes out without leave, comes back when lie likes, and gets drunk when he likes • —just as if he was an officer."

Lieutenant-commancte'r Max xiorton, who commanded Submarine E9, which sank the German cruiser Hela off Heligoland, received the Board of Trade silver medal for gallantry in saving life at the Avreck of the P. and 0. Delhi, off Cape Spartel, Morocco, on December 12, 1911, with the late Duke of Fife and the Princess Royal and their daughters 011 hoard. Lieutenant-com-mander Horton was then a lieutenant in H.M.S. Duke of Edinburgh, one of the warships which helped in the rescue work. He was appointed to the command of the E9 last March.

The local inspector of stock. (Mr G. Ford) is at present busily occupied iuoculating calves against black leg.

Ihe Hawera Borough Council has received its balance-sheet for the year ended March 31, 1914, from the Audit Department, duly audited and without a tag attached. It was decided on Wednesday to have the balance-sheeb printed.

t Mr J. Spottiswoode gave an interesting address at the Uospel Hall last mght entitled "Heroes- and Heroism." The speaker drew the lesson from a few of David's mighty men, and was listened _to with interest throughout. The subject announced for to-night is "Christ's Place in the Church," and for to-morrow (Friday) night, "The Church's Place in the World." As far as is known, Friday night's' address will be the last of the present series.

The recent uncanny experience at Trinity Church, Napier (says the Telegraph), when the choir sang through the earthquake, marked another interesting incident in the history of the singers in that congregation. A couple of weeks previously the lighting failed cvompletely, but still the choir sang on, and the week before that again the organ failed to respond, but the" members of the choir f.siled not, and the anthem was concluded. So used to such disturbances has the choir become that it now fsars nothing.

A Sydney undertaker had to appear recently before the Industrial Court to answer a charge of having committed a breach of an award by employing only two men instead of three to carry a coffin containing the body of an adult. The prosecution was proceeded with, although the undertaker explained that he allowed the coffin to be carried by two men only after unsuccessful enquiry for a third man at the offioe of tV^ Undertakers' Engloyees' Union. He did not engage a casual outsider to make up the quota of three to a coffin because he thought he was not allowed to do so. He was found guilty and fined.

An interesting point was raised by Cr. Morton at the Wai mate West County Council on Wednesday. The Council had let a contract for the delivery of boulder stone which was crushed by the Council's own crusher. The question was raised as to what shrinkage there was in regard to the crushed metal put out on the road as against the measurement of boulder stones delivered. The Chairman thought that, allowing for screenings, etc., there would be about 15 per cent. Cr. Morton questioned this and thought that if the crushed metal was loaded into drays from the crusher before it was shaken down and consolidated, it would measure equally as much as the original boulders. He asked that a proper test ba made.

An extract from an English letter received by a Nelson lady last week reads as follows:—" The Germans were mad with drink and victory during the retreat of the British from Mons, and was one of 15 wounded lying waiting for the ambulance, when some Germans came along and ripped up the stomach of each man with a sword, and left them to die-. Twelve did die, but and others were wearing thicker clothing, and the swords did not penetrate far enough to kill, though had a wound 21 inches long. Prior to that had seen women raving mad because they had been vilely outraged, and children's heads, bodies, and various limbs thrown about in the roads and in the ditches. — ended by saying that if those at home could have seen it all, there would not be> a man left in England, for they would all be otto fight the Germans."