LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12063, 19 July 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Passengers nn the Patoemft, running between A\ eUingtou and Nelson, recently Und tho liniisiml experience of witnessing a Avhale chase, jmd of - seeing a whale killed by a bomb. Tht> steamer also passed a launch with another whale in tow near Torv Channel.

The corrected returns from the, "\Yaihi, mine, as shown in the latest reports furnished to shareholders, give tho value of the bullion won for tho year 1916 as £'3.>0,0.)9. This shows -an increase of £22,003. Tin's is mainly the* result of the silver realising; more, than tho value of 2s per ounce fine, at which it was estimated.

William Dnlziel, a veteran of the Maori -war, died a.t the Veterans' Home, Auckland, recently. The veteran, previously to joining the Home, was a farmer at Katikati. He served in the Wanganui Yeomanry Cavalry during tho war, and took part in the fights at Opotiki, also in the Taranaki district. He was in his seventy-fifth year when he died Several members of French colonial regiments who have been wounded in different theatres of war in Europe are at present in Wellington, '(hey include several men who have fought with marked distinction at the front. One, Pote Salaun Francois, a. Nunmean native, a. square-built, muscular young man, is one of France's heroes. lie participated last year, as a member of the Ist Regiment of Colonial Infantry, in the retaking of Fort Douaumont at Verdun. He, as an export grenadier, was the fourth man to enter Fort Douaumont, and with three others succeeded in capturing 200 Germans. Foythis act of conspicuous gallantry lie was awarded the Croix de Guerre, with one star. As a, member of a regiment which distinguished itself time after time during the I rench advance from Verdun, he is entitled to wear the " fourragere -the twisted cord and tassel that hangs from the left shoulder. Of the men ftho are in Wellington, six have earned the Croix de Ouerre and two wear the much-coveted fourragere. A reference to New Zealand';-: war debt was made by Mr C. J. Parr, M.P., in addressing the committer* -of the Auckland branch of the Second Division League this week. No one, he, said, could sav exactly how much the Dominion had to pay. They had to bear not only all tho expenses incurred in New Zealand, but also all costs arising in Europe in connection with the feeding and equipment of our force. Even all the costs of food, clothing, the shells and ammunition tired l>y New Zealanders, were debited to the Dominion. He did not, suggest that the expenditure was unnecessary or inadvisable, as our men at the front weive entitled to every consideration. Now that married men were to be called upon the country would have to face a still heavier expenditure on account of the difference in the - pensions and allowances to single and married men. Those who remained behind, Mr Parr added, would have In submit to very severe taxation of both property and incomes.

Tuesday, says the "'New Zealand Herald," was the. fifty-fourth anniversary ot the engagement at. Shepherd's Bush, near Drury, when an escort of fifty men of the 18th and <v>th Regiments. under .Major Turner, were ambushed by the Maoris In superior numbers, and suffered severe looses. Captain I'ing had command of the 18th. and Lieutenant "Warren led the li-jth-The escort reached Mr Martin's farm, where they rested. The troops were formed into an advance guard and a rearguard, the latter numbering fourteen men only. When the rearguard had advanced about. 1W yards into the hush, fire was opener] upon them from both sides by the Maoris, and two fell mortally wounded. The Maoris attempted a flanking movement on both parties, and Mere successful in preventing the advance guard going back tn the help of their comrades in the rear- Reduced to ten men, the rearguard was then assailed by sixty Maoris, whereupon Captain Tiling gave tho order to fix bayonets and charge. The order was obeyed with a cheer, and the Natives fled into the bush. Meantime tho advance guard had fought their way out to safety. The lecent earthquake ;it Samoa, cleared Tip a forgotten mystery. A Solomon Islander, indentured over ten years ago to German employers, disappeared soon alter the commencement, of his term and was never heard of again until tho day after the earthquake, having spent th 0 whole of the intervening year.s in tho bush. He lived 011 the native taro, yams, bananas and fresh-water shellfish. When tho earth trembled fear drove him to Apia, where ho was seen on the streets ;t. night bv a. New* Zealand soldier, who was on police duty. Tender the law of Samoa, Chinese and Solomon Islanders are not permitted to bo out after ■'< p.m., and tho bearded "black boy" was questioned. Tie told of hi.s ten vears' sojourn in the bu.sh. and of tho fright which had driven him out tho dav before. He was taken into custody, and inq'uiries were made, leading to his identification as a labourer who had been posted a-s missing for so long that ho had been forgotten. O'f course, in his hermit existence he had not heard of the war, but when lie learned that the Germans no longer ruled in Samoa-, the Solomon T.slander declared himself ready and willing to work for ths British. Ladies know them to have no equal. Martin's Apiol and Steel Pills. Sold liy all Chemists and Stores throughout Australasia.

Wo uyderstand that the Canterbury Motor' Company, the Ford car agents, will soon bo landing the "Ton-Ford," a one-ton lorry, that is in such great demand in Canada that only a limited number can bo landed hero. Immediately on arrival they will be on view &B the Canterbury Motor Garage, 1(56, Taam Street. o