THE OLD SOLDIER’S STORY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 941, 19 March 1908, Page 23

THE OLD SOLDIER’S STORY.

The old soldier was in talkative mood. “Did I ever see Wellington? Why, of course, I did. I was lying on the ground when I ’eard the sound o’ ’osses’ ’oofs, and soon a voice called ot, ‘ls that you, Saunders?’ I knowed the voice in a hinstant —it was the Dook of Wellington. “ Yes, sir,’ sez I, most respectful. ‘ Come ’ere,’ sez the Dook. I riz reluctant from the ground for I was tired out. He sez to me when I came near him, ‘ Saunders, I want you to go back ’ome.’ ‘ Why? ’ sez I. ‘ Because you’re killin’ too many people,’ sez the Dook. And ’ome I went.”

At Hamilton last Thursday, the adjourned meeting of the Waikato Licensing Committee was held to consider an app.ication in connection with the Ngarauwahja Regatta. An application was made for a conditional license for a publican’s booth on the 17th March. The license had been granted up to last year, but then it was refused on account of reported drunkenness in the previous year. Sergeant Hastie, on behalf of the police, opposed the application, and was supported by Mr R. D. Duxhetld. Various temperance organisations >and Christian Endeavour bodies sent in objections to the application being granted. A large number of witnesses were called, and the bench refused to grant the application.

The filthy condition of the bank-notes in circulation was discussed by the Chamber of Commerce at New Plymouth recently, the matter being brought up by Mr C. E. Baker. According to the “ News,” he said he considered that some of these were “ swarming masses of microbes and a menace to public health.” Bank of England notes, he said, were never re-issued after once returning to the bank, and he thought that in view of the profits made by the banks here it ought to be possible to have a more frequent issue of new notes, together with a withdrawal of some of the stinking things now in use. Some of the members were inclined to treat the matter with levity, declaring that), dirty or otherwise, the note of even the smallest denomination was worth a golden sovereign. But the meeting generally took Mr Baker’s view. Mr Connett said that but a short time ago he saw a bank of New Zealand note which had been signed by the late Mr Thomas King (Mr Newton King's father), and Mr King retired from his connection with the bank in 1875. It was decided to request the co-operation of the various Chambers of Commerce in securing a cleaner paper currency.

A coal miner in the East of Scotland was visited by a friend. Among the places of interest shown was, of course, the pit mouth. Seeing the cage lowered into the pit with the stout steel rope, the miner’s friend exc 1 aimed:

‘‘My word! I shouldn’t like to go down there on that rope.” “Why,” exclaimed the miner, ‘‘Aw wadna like to gang doon there withoot it !”