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Free Lance, Volume XVII, Issue 929, 2 May 1918, Page 22

John Bull has a very adaptable and convenient conscience, itor tear of oflending tne susceptibilities of eome ioiK, tne British Government hare steadily avoided issuing Premium -tJoncis as a means of raising the necessary casn to meet the heavy war bills. x»ut tney countenance substantial private firms (patriotically so inclined; to do in an unofficial way what they officially decline to do. And so it comes to pass that in Self ridge's'.'(a big -London softgoods house) draw '«f Premium War Bonds recently little one-year-old Sybil Jane Harrison drew the first prize of £500 and a £50 consolation prize. Invested in War Loan at 5 per cent., this £550 will at compound interest be doubled when the lucky baby attains the age of 15. When she is 19 there will be £1500 waiting to buy her trousseau and furnish her new home. * • - » • # # A Napier non-com, who left with the 33rd Reinforcements writes very interestingly about Panama: "The canal," he says* "is a marvellous piece of engineering—probably the greatest engineering feat the world has known. The whole affair may be summed up in one word: electricity. The electric button does the trick all the way through from the guiding of the steamer through the locks by six eiectric cars like weird-looking tram-cars, to the moving to and fro of the great gates of the locks. ... At the Gatun locks the 33rd American Regiment, encamped there for training, turned out to welcome our 33rds. It was an occasion which will linger long in our memories." The celerity of the coaling arrested the attention of the New"Zealand Tommy. "Some coaling, too," hesaye: "100 tons in 11 minutes. Again electricity was the key-note."