NEWS OF THE DAY.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13455, 28 June 1912, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Mr Massey says it cost £450 to draft tho Local Government .Bill, and £1000 to kill it.

The fortnightly korero of the Nelson Savage Club will be held in the Masonic Hall to-morrow evening at 8 p.m. s

The other day Mr Joseph Wadsworth, of Brightwater, was attacked in a savage manner by a young foal, and badly kicked in the face. The youngster, it i« stated, was in a loose box, and when Mr Wadsworth entered- stood on its hind legs, and kicked with its fore feet hitting him over the eye, inflicting a nasty wound. Mr. Wadsworth was knocked down,, and was also kicked in tlie back, but fortunately was able to get out before other damage was done.

A Napier High School boy has handed the "Tribune]' the ■ following riddle perpetrated by his master: "When was football. mentioned by Shakespeare?" The answer is convincing proof that the great bard had known the game;— "When Caesar passed out at Pompey'a feet after. Cassius had mads an opening, and Brutus cut in."

A' Masterton resident this Meek received a letter from a friend in Tasmania, which gives some idea of what the; drought there moans. The writer, who is a farmer in a small way, states that it is costing ;bim £6 per week for fodder to keep his stock alive. Potatoes, he adds, are seUing up to £9 per ton, and chaff from £5 10s to £6 per ton.

A Minister's life just noAV isn't much happier thai! that of tho Gilbertain policeman. He knows not what a day may bring forth. To-day he leads a royal life; to-morrow he may be but a common garden M.P., with no "Honorable" before his name, no private secretary, no travelling allowance, no nothing.-— "Freo Lance."

■ Although Australia has seen no fighting tho Commonwealth Government makes a practice of giving an annual dinner to tho veterans of the British Army and Navy. The. last function of this kind -took place on Empire Day at tho St. Kikla. road barracks, Melbourne. Fifty-sovon veterans were present and amongst tho guests were the Governor, Sir John Fuller ; the Prime Minister, Mr. Fisher; Mr. 'Doakin, tho leader of the Opposition ; and Colonel Parnell, Commandant of tho Victor.

Military Forces. Tho majo" veterans present were men who hc.C< fought .in. tho Crimean war. _ and th-' 5r ■ were fewer than a dozen Indian mutiny veterans, and a few others v seen active service in New Zealand, Egypt, and China. In the course of an interesting speech Sir John Fuller took occasion on behalf of the King to welcome the veterans and thank them for their services.

The best restorative is Brandy, and the best Brandy is Martell's.