It's Town Talk

Free Lance, Volume XV, Issue 817, 25 February 1916, Page 30

It's Town Talk

—That in recent fighting between Russians and mixed tribes, the Hussians drove the Kurds a-whey. —That the stripes the Yankees seem to be most fond of are the two perpendicular stripes through the dollar mark. —That a German squadron was seen at the "Dogger" Bank. Probably it was the same one that was reported to have passed through the "Cattegat." —That King Constantine has the biggest head of all the European monarchs, and hats have to be made specially for him. This swelling should be cured before long. —That Auckland has had another park, valued at £10,000, presented by one of her citizens. Can't Wellngton import one or two of these philanthropists from the Queen City ? —That the gentle John Hop seems to have been making it rather warm for some publicans lately. Some of those night porters possibly have forgotten to leave the bottle on the doorstep. —That there is a giant from Gisborne in the camp at Tauherenikau just now. He will need a pretty deep trench at his fighting front, for his figure runs up 6ft 9in. How is that for high ? —That, according to the member for Hutt, the reason why the Grand Duke was selected for the Caucasus campaign was that he was the only military man in Europe who could look over the mountains. —That a lot of Wellingtonians have been going round this last week or two complaining of a queer pain "under the pinny." One sufferer traces the cause back to a free sample of medicine left at the door of his home. He avers it is yet another of "those dirty German tricks." —That an interesting marriage is likely to come off in Wellington in the near future .the parties to the happy event being the Royal Wellington (Choral Society and the Wellington Musical Union. The match-makers are said to be W. E. Caldow and A. M. Levis. —That the boys in camp have their own ways of protesting when the tucker isn't up to contract. One day last week 500 men headed by a wheelbarrow containing the ration of beef marched to the O.C.'s quarters. The beef was all fat—no lean—and the O.C. was duly sympathetic. —That Mayor Luke proposes that Wellington should float a loan for certain city improvements if the money can be raised at 5 per cent. We trust His Worship will be more successful in ms floating efforts than when be took that plunge in the tepid baths a couple of weeks back. . —That the drill inspector was giving instruction in musketry to a squad of non-coms, who have just gone into camp. "Now then be particular," ho said, "to keep your gun erect in loading it. If you remember there is no close season for angels there is likely to be fewer accidents." J ?^~7^nnn the , war is costing Britain: £4,400,000 a day. This works out at the rate of £183,000 per hour, or £3000 per minute, or £50 per second! Many fleeting seconds at this rate would just about break the average Wellington citizen—even a waterside worker woudn't be able to stand it for more tnan ten minutes.

—That Berg, the German pirate who took the Appam. is a cool cuss—in fact, a nice Berg. —That there has heen a plumbers' conference in Christ-church. The same thing has been going on on our roof for the past year or two. —That when the Grand Duke Nicholas poked his head over the fortified walls of Erzerum- the Turks turned and yelled, "Here comes old Nick!" —That the cables report several severe aeroplane contests. But they're a mere fleabite to some of the aeroplanic prices ruling in Wellington. —That "the sitting of the Foxton Harbour Board Commission has been postponed for six weeks." We trust the Commission will be able to hatch something useful when it does sit. —That some German seaplanes paid a flying visit to England's East Coast early in the week. Does this indicate that the Huns have forsaken the submarine for the seaplane because the crew of the latter can see plainer?