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Marlborough Express, Volume XLIX, Issue 286, 3 December 1915, Page 8

A Taihape telegram states that at Mangaweka lour men—Coventry, King, Floyd, rjid Loks—-for not rendering personal -service in compliance wilih. the-Defenco Act, were each fined £5. Floyd was deprived of -civil rights for three years.

A most amusing story, whicli also indicates how easy it is to arouse suspicion against persons whose acts would pass without comment in Jiormal times,' was'related to a-Wel-lington resident while on a recent visit to Plimmerton. It appears (says the Times) that a certain family living there was in the habit of obtaining meat crom a man who keeps sheep on Mana Island. For last Sunday a joint had been ordered as usual, 'but the f-heepman found that, he was prevented from lea vine; the island by. the bad weather. To. explain the absence of the exported leg of mutton, he dispatched a mcß.sage to the mainland bj--carrier pigeon, and firmly believed that ill' was well. Unfortunately, the bird was espied by someone—either a practical joker or a person with a bad attack of spy fever—and word was hastily sent to the authorities that carrier pigeons were being used for communication- between Mana and the mainland." Tho story was believed, and a._ posse of police was sent off to .mvostitrate tlie mysterious happening.?! What they said when they discovered tho weather-bound sheepfarmer and his leg of mutton is not to be recorded.