GENERAL NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2704, 7 January 1910, Page 7

GENERAL NEWS.

A very handsome collie dog followed a smart-looking citizen up Cuba Street in the sunlight of yesterday morning (says the N.Z. ‘‘Times”). Keen on “doggy” points, a big Maori eyed the collie in passing, and' having allowed it to trot live or s ix yards past him in the track of its. master (who was engrossed in the contents of a letter), shouted out loudly, “Hi! I buy that dog!” Several heard the Native, but not the dog’s owner, now a good hit ahead. Not to be beaten, the Maori followed up, singing out, “Hi! you—l give you £5 for that- dog.” This time the owner’s notice was attracted. “What’s that?” lie asked, seeing he was addressed. The Maori dipped into his trousers pocket, and, pulling out a roll of notes, said, “I buy .your dog; I give you £5 for him!” “I wouldn’t sell him for £25,” said the owner. Disappointment travelled over the Native’s countenance, and all within hearing waited for him to raise his offer. He looked at the master and at the dog, then said, “Oryight, good day!”

A rather novel event, the result of a side wager, was witnessed at the conclusion of the Little River Sports on Boxing Day. One of tlio competitors who had a rather good estimation of his sprinting ability, offered to race Blood, a well-known walker, over a hundred yards. The conditions were that Blood was to receive 40 yards start and u alk the remaining 60 yards while the other athlete had to run the whole distance. Needless to say, Blood won, the margin in his favor being about 15 yards. The race is a very deceptive one. and to the lay mind the man who runs the distance has the better chance, but against an average walker he would have to put up an extremely brilliantperformance to win—in fact, the task is a- Herculean one.

The “Sydney Daily Telegraph” states that Air. Wade, the New South Wales Premier, who is at present visiting Auckland, will probably be appointed a Judge on his return to Sydney next month. The “Telegraph’ says: “Early in February the 12 months’ leave of absence granted' to Sir Frederick Darley, and on account of which Air. Justice Simpson was appointed Acting-Chief Justice only, will expire. Arrangements will therefore have to be made for the appointment of a permanent Chief jiistice. Air. M ade stated some time ago that he had no intention of taking the position of Clnei Justice when Sir Frederick Darley retired, but there has been a general impression that he would probably accept a puisine judgeship, and- this impression lias been strengthened owing to Ins recent illness through the pressure of Departmental work. Certain Federal an<l State matters that Air. Wade desired to see settled before retiring have now been arranged, and many people believe tbat on Mr. Wade’s return frqm New Zealand, not only will the Cniet Justiceship be settled, but Mr. Wade will also himself be raised 1 to theBench.” [A cable message in this issue announces the death of Sir Frederick Darley.] '

FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR HEROINE.

The Paris correspondent of “The Times” announces the death at Clarens, in Switzerland, of AUle. Juliette Dodu, who risked being shot by the Germans (lurin''’ tho Franco-German wai, wliiie she was rendering the greatest possible service to the French army. In 10/U, when eighteen years of age, she and her mother were in charge of the Frenoh telegraph office at Pithiviers, which was in direct communication with Orleans. On September 20, when the Prussian scouts entered Pithiviers she informed the Tours Government, and succeeded in concealing the telegraphic apparatus from the enemy. The Germans cut the wires near the station but tailed to cut those at the disposal of Milo. I)odu, who continued to keep Orleans in touch with all the doings of the Prussian army in and around litlnviers It was during the battle or -November 29th that she conceived the audacious scheme of establishing a’ telegraphic connection with the German wires in order to obtain the secret or the German military correspondence. She attached the German wire, which ran 1 near her window, by the' short wires to the apparatus in her bedroom, and managed during seventeen nights to read and to transmit to the French general staff important fragments; of the German telegrams. She was fidallv discovered and arrested, and, but for the intervention of Prince Frederic Charles, she would have been shot.- In 1877 AUle Juliette Dodu received from the French Government the military modal and the Cross of the Legion of Honor. '■

A NEW ZEALAND SINGER. Miss Nora Long, who recently achieved great success at the Nice Opera House in “Faust,” “Le s Huguenots,” ami “Seigfried,” is the eldest daughter of the late Mr Charles Long, formerly one of the best-known commercial travellers in New Zealand. The new primn donna received her primary musical education at St. Mary's Convent, Hill Street. Wellington, and, subsequent to 'the death of her father, proceeded to England with the /determination of gaining such tuition as her means would

permit, with a view of fitting herself for a professional career. Some two years ago she was fortunate in being taken up by some wealthy English family, who were good enough to provide her with the wherewithal to prosecute her studies under skilled masters, latterly with M. Buhy, the noted Parisian teacher, through whose influence she secured her first engagement in grand opera at Nice. Miss Long had a voice of singular sweetness and charm, but as a young girl in 'Wellington she was afflicted with nervousness which always prevented the public from hearing her to the best advantage. When in Paris some three months ago, Mr Robert Holliday, of Wellington, met Miss Long, who, he says, has developed into a very beautiful woman, and, though he did not hear her sing, he was informed that her voice was one to be reckoned with among the very best in Europe. Experience alone wilj do the rest.