"I may tell you there was a military funeral here one day lately - an Australian lad. He died in one of the war hospitals, and had no friends in this country. The undertaker who had charge of the funeral had the remains of the lad brought home to his own house, to let the lad's people know he was not forgotten, though in a strange place. A notice was put in the papers asking any Australians to attend the funeral should they be in town, and a wealthy gentleman, just here on holiday, came and took a father's place at the funeral. After all was over this gentleman undertook to write to the lad's people, describing their boy's burial. My word, you should have seen the interest taken in the funeral, and the piles of flowers sent in from everywhere to bedeck the last resting-place of one who was not, until too late, alas, found to be so lonely! Rudder was his name, but I don't remember what part of Australia he came from.''
• An interested visitor to the New Zealand Court at the San Francisco Exposition was Mr Theodore Roosevelt, ex-President of the United States.
What interested him above all else was the exhibit of 50 red deer heads.
On being presented with one, Mr Roosevelt said that if he could find time he would like to come to New Zealand on a deer-stalking expedition, and at the same time see the sights of the country.
He was impressed with what he saw, and displayed a genuine interest in the affairs of the dominion.
• Mr Walter Traill, of Ulva, Stewart Island, has in his possession a fine sample of molybdenite found at Stewart Island.
Particular interest is being at the present time attached to this sample of the famous steel-hardening mineral so much coveted by Germans prior to the war, and used with such deadly effect by Krupp's in making their cannon and armour so enduring.
Mr Traill's specimen was found in Stewart Island quartz, and the same sample returned on assay some 5oz of silver to the ton.
• A movement, which has been on foot for some time, with the object of permanently commemorating Mr James Craigie's splendid gift of an avenue of trees to Timaru, was brought to a successful completion on Saturday by the erection of a memorial stone at the head of Craigie avenue.
The stone is a handsome granite obelisk, supported by a bluestone base mounted on concrete.
The monument is suitably inscribed.
There has been no unveiling ceremony in connection with the erection of the stone, Mr Craigie, it is understood, having deprecated the suggestion that money should be spent in that way during war times.
• A correspondent writes to the Timaru Post as follows:- "The secretary of the Timaru Unitarian Church has received a somewhat unusual account for services rendered. In compliance with instructions, the building was recently disinfected, and in due time the account came to hand, and read thus:- "To effectively disinfecting and permanently killing all microbes, parasites, bacteria, etc., in Unitarian Hall.''
And, after stating his price for labour performed, the man to whom the church was indebted wrote: "Settled by value received in religious instruction.''- ODT, 8.4.1916.
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