This, however, was the second case of its kind to be reported, as another New Zealand trooper met his death in a similar way a week before.
It appears that the first case was that of a New Zealander (name unknown) who was found in a house in the low quarter of Cairo with his throat cut.
This occurred about December 11.
Those on the Orari knew no details of the affair, only that the man's body had been discovered.
The second case, however, is reported in more detail.
The trooper concerned was from Christchurch, but his name is unknown.
It appears that a group of New Zealanders were making merry in Cairo when one of them approached a Turkish woman and jokingly tore away her yash-mak, the white covering for the face worn by some of the women in Egypt.
Apparently the husband of the woman was informed of the incident.
That night the trooper was attacked on his way to the camp and stabbed to death before any interference could be attempted.
His companions found his body, and a brawl ensued between them and the natives upon whom suspicion rested, but the matter ended there.
• There is probably no annual flower which enjoys a greater popularity with the public than the sweet pea, and the wealth of bloom to be seen in many Dunedin and suburban gardens at the present time indicates the amount of care and attention bestowed on the cultivation of this free-blooming plant.
The last two seasons at Home have been practically a revolution in the sweet pea trade in cut flowers, and the demand for disbudded as against the ordinary was greater than the supply, the public showing keen appreciation for the better blooms produced by the former method.
The self-colours, such as white, pink, salmon, mauve, and red, are the most in demand.
Many of the modern varieties produce blooms, under ordinary cultivation, fully 2in across the standard.
Dunedin has many enthusiastic growers of this popular annual, and the public will be afforded an opportunity of seeing some of the remarkable blooms produced under modern conditions at the carnation and sweet pea show in the Garrison Hall to-day.
• A three-gallon keg was noticed floating in the river at Mataura on Saturday morning, and a couple of prominent citizens watched it until it passed underneath the suspension bridge, but neither ventured to find out whether it was full or ''cut''.
A suggestion was made (says the Ensign) that local brewers were using economical methods of delivery to their Mataura customers.
There was nobody on the lookout for a parcel at Mataura, so it was evidently meant for lower down.
• A lady had a very narrow escape from being taken by a shark while bathing off the Napier beach on Tuesday morning.
The shark, which was about nine or 10 feet long, came quite close to the bather, who was almost in a state of collapse through fright.
Fortunately (says the Hawke's Bay Tribune) several other bathers were in the vicinity, and they succeeded in driving the shark away. - ODT, 27.1.1915.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
