NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1781, 26 January 1918, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

A Pahiatua shopkeeper displays unconscious humour in his advertisement, thus: “We find it takes brains to run a toy business. Note: We are quitting this department. Come and get them at your own price. A great opportunity.” Verse 5 of the 13(h chapter of (he Book of Revelations says: “And power was given unto him {The Beast) to continue forty and two months.” The problem of the interpretation of the prophecies of the Bible is the measure of its days and its years. If the days are as we number them, (hen the Kaiser’s end will be reached on the 22nd of next month —(he sequel to the great effort for which he is now preparing along (he Anglo-French and Italian front. So mote it be, as Solomon has it. A story is told in New Plymouth of a man, a motor car, a pot of paint, and several other little articles. The man'had a house, and it required a coat of paint, so lie bought much paint of a colour commonly seen on houses. After (he house was painted there was quite a lot over, so he painted the motor shed, then there was still paint left, so lie painted the motor ear: even this did not finish it, so he painted the wheelbarrow, and then, having painted nearly everything his wife would let him paint, ho gave (he last little liek to the perambulator. Tims the whole establishment might bo called ensuite, and waste of material, against which we hear constant war-time cautions, was avoided. Before the Auckland Military Service Board last week, Robert A. Laidlaw, merchant, appealed on the ground that his calling-up was contrary to public interest. He said the linn employed 18!) hands, and last year paid £19,416 in wages. He bad sole charge of the business, and the assets were valued at £132,000. He was the last of three sons, one of whom bad been killed at the front. Tim business was a mail-order business, and to show the extent of business he mentioned that £5,240 was paid in postage last year and £20,000 was paid in duty and taxes. His chief ground of appeal was that it was impossible to find a substitute. If he bad to serve, it would not mean loss only to the business, but to those to whom he was under financial obligations. Over £300,000 worth of goods were supplied to farmers last year. Appellant said it might sound egotistical, but if was hard to find a manager who could successfully manage a business of this size. He was satisfied he could not obtain a suitable man. If it was not for bis financial responsibilities he would not have been appealing. The ease was adjourned for further enquiry.