For four years France has withstood the shock of German assaults, delivered by powerful armies which enjoyed during most of this period the advantage of an overwhelming superiority in gun-power. With magnificent courage she has borne the brunt of the struggle, and, in the spirit which was manifested by the heroic defenders of Verdun, has thrown herself across the path of the invaders.
Bruised and bleeding though she is, she has hurled herself again and again into the fray in a grim determination that there shall be no faltering and no yielding on her part.
Ngatiwhatua contribution
The record of the Ngatiwhatua tribe in regard to enlistment was referred to by Mr Tau Henare, M. P., at a large gathering of the tribe held at Reweti, in the Kaipara district, on Saturday, to discuss Maori matters particularly in relation to recruiting. Mr Tau Henare spoke at some length on conscription.
He said that young men had volunteered to the number of over 600, and this had rendered the record of the Ngatiwhatuas so worthy of its traditions that the Government had refrained from applying conscription to the district.
Fortunate breakdown
Mr John Edgar, Queenstown, had a rather unpleasant experience about a fortnight ago. He was rafting firewood from Bob's Cove to Queenstown, the raft being attached to his oil launch. He was accompanied by two boys named Robinson and M'Connochie.
The raft appearing to have a list, Mr Edgar and the lad M'Connochie jumped from the launch on to it for the purpose of righting it. The raft capsized, and Mr Edgar and the boy were thrown into the cold water of Lake Wakatipu. Mr Edgar caught hold of the boy, and luckily also managed to get hold of a rope attached to the launch.
The boy who was left on board the launch unfortunately did not understand the working of the machinery, and was unable to pull up. The plight of the two, now being towed behind, appeared to be precarious, when luckily, something went wrong with the engine, and the launch stopped.
Infectious diseases
Strong winds and winter cold are generally regarded as safeguards against, or at any rate alleviators of, the common diseases to which a community is subject, but this virtue, it would seem, has not attended the seasonable weather which has prevailed lately.
It is understood that in the matter of scarlet fever and diphtheria it is a long time since this hospital district could claim such a heavy list of complaints. There are 97 cases of fever, 20 of which are at the Fever Hospital, and 77 are isolated in their own homes.
'Shut the pubs'
Speaking at the Salvation Army Citadel last night Adjutant Bladin, a returned chaplain, remarked that his first experience on reaching Wellington was not a pleasant one.
A young man fell off a tram car, and drew the sneer from a passenger; ''Another returned soldier, I suppose.'' ''I hope,'' he said, ''New Zealand will soon resound with the cry, 'Shut the pubs'.''
- ODT, 9.8.1918
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