LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 76, 27 February 1918, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

■z-.-'i-nvsterp. a -manwho went to the war and then came back\6|ilyj|f 'U "spongl"- ; arfd shunned/ vwas told- by Sergeant M'Kenzie, president of the Victorian branch of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers* Imperial League, at a meeting ojfihe,Sailors', and Soldiers' Fathers' Assoclatiorivin Melbourne. He related (says the Age) how, wearied ,of the ''waster's'' importunities, some of the returned men on the staff of the State War* Council turned up the man's record to see what he had done. "Pozieres," they read, "B undergoing 90 days' field punishment Stretcher bearers all shot down. A call's*!or volunteers IV Then came the brief, but telling account of how stepped into the breach, and for 70 hours staggered in and out of the firing line bearing; the wounded to safety. "And that is the man/' said Sergeant M'Kenzie, ' 'whom we are now calling a' ''waster!'' He pleaded for "a more ieneroui" sprit in regard t 0 the returned men who occasionally fell from gracev'Whd could ,|ell what their#record might be? There were plenty of people ready to call .out "waster,''' but up'-to'the present time there;' had' not been many * hands put out to help such men along.

The Auckland correspondent of the Wellington Post telegraphed on Saturday :' The motor'"'launch '©rgiriia, owned by Mr W. H. Hazard, of Auckland, was attacked and damaged by a sword-fish off Cape Brett on Wednesday last. A party, consisting of Mr Hazard. Dr Pftpe, and Mr E. P. Anders, of .'Sydney,'were-on a fishing trip. When off Cape Brett one of the party secured' with a rod a fish which ultimately proved to he a swordfish, probably weighing between 300 and 4Qolbs. The fish, on being hooked, made straight for the launch, broaohed at' about ten yards away, and, re-entering the water rammed the launch the sword penetrating 9 inches through the one-inch kauri planking. After a struggle the sword broke, and the fish, still on the hook, made for the sea. . After being held for another five minutes or so, the line became entangled and broke, and Ihe fish disappeared.; .The.launch was. found Wbe leaking badly, and fcjfc party had to put back to Russell > m quick time. The-launch was bear'hed for repairs. A piece of t{ie swou<d was found inside the boat. This $£ stated to be the first: instance k/iowft in in New Zealand where a swordfish has attacked a boat, and it adds a spice of interest and dari/ger to the splendid fishing wJxieh may be obtained all along the northern coast.