An Old St. Pat's Collegian.

Free Lance, Volume XVI, Issue 870, 9 March 1917, Page 16

An Old St. Pat's Collegian.

tell the tale. On Saturday night, quite early, a- little after nine o'clock, Mr. Leo Collinson (of Colliuson .and Cunmnghame), was greeted at his front gate by two men with revolvers. Instead of being struck dumb with fright,' lie raised a storm of protest, and made such a, noise about it that Mr. Frank Mowlem, who was coming" down' the road, heard him, and went to the rescue, but when he was faced with a; man pointing a gun at him and told halt or he would fire, Mr. Mowlem side-stepped, /,- being . unarmed. Then the .police duly arrived. , These startling happenings occurred about the 1 corner of Ferguson and Pitt streets, - just behind the Tennis Courts. I also hear that the two desperadoes paid avisit to Mr. Goring Johnston's residence/ where.they created a panic, but got : nothing. ' Somehow, I would, strongly advise these two Deadwood' Dicks to get work, or enlist. It would pay them better, as so far they seem to have drawn a blank _every "time, and. when they get caught"as they certainly will, they won't-be let;off with a caution. I .sincerely hope they take the Feee Lance,, and wilL lay my advice to heart. . : ... . , - On Wednesday ..afternoon the founda- . tion-stone of the Anssac Club was laid by Mr. P. A. MoHardy, who has no closely identified liimself with the work of; raising funds ; for this institution. Tobe quite candid; there: was neither a great crowd nor great enthusiasm, and, had it not been, for the. Awapuni soldiers. I think you could safely describe the crowdas being: of the two-men-and-a-dog variety. Speeches were made by the Mayor, the Member, some military big. chiefs v.-and civilians .connected with the work, and then Mr. McHardy, after a very .sincere little speech, in which he said that what he had done and given was little compared withthose who had given their sons, laid the stone. "*a • • - The 27th Reinforcements were given a great send-off in the Empire Hall on Monday evening. There 1 were over 400 men from Hawke's Bay, Gisborne, Taraiiaki, and Manawatu present, and they were a very cheerful crowd. One noticed many old men among the ranks this time, but they wei'.e a fine, sturdy lot. A good concert was contributed, by local singers and some of the Awapuni soldiers, and Tommy O'Carroll danced a couple of merry jigs for us. Major Sutherland ("Battle-axe" as. he is known to his beloved Taranaki men) gave _ quite an original dissertation on on discipline, _ which seemed to hit the . meii in the right spot. His motto is "treat the men as men, and you'll find they will behave as men." In demonstration' of his theory he gave them leave and stated he was confident he would not be a man short at roll call. True enough, not a man was absent. O « Dr. Putnam, who has been away over a year on active service, returned to Palmerston by the Main Trunk today, accompanied by Mrs. Putnam. They were met at the station by Dr. Bett and Dr. Peach, some members of the Hospital Board, and Patriotic Society. The Mayor, Mr. J. A. Nash, was also there to extend a welcoming hand. Dr. Putnam looks very well, and cuts quite a soldierly figure in khaki. Your friend, Awapuni.