LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 89, 15 December 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The ordinary monthly meeting™f the Taihape District High School Committee lapsed last night for the want of a quorum.

In its notes on the election the Wellington Post says:—“The voting for the Massey Party has been doubled in six years. In the General Elections of 1909 this party contested 45 seats, and won 25, with a polling of .115,000 in an aggregate of 428,648 for the whole or New Zealand. This year the Massey total is 220,983.

Trouble is brewing between Japan and the United States, about the Californian legislation, which is said by some Americans to be likely at any moment to produce very unpleasant consequences. We have been 'wondering lately why the Americans are discussing the weaknesses of their army and navy so frankly in public of late. Perhaps this may account for it.

The victories in Poland are regarded in Berlin as assuring the safety of the eastern frontier until the spring, when the Russians will probably try another raid! The Germans believe they will be able by Christmas to transfer ten army corps from the east to the west when a new attempt will be made to reach the Channel or Paris. Krupps in the meantime are finishing the new artillery required.

At last night's meeting of the Technical School Committee, the Director, Mr. A. D. N. Train, notified the Committee that his term of office would conclude this month and that lie could not sec his way clear to tender his services for a further term. The Committee accorded Mr. Train a hearty vote of appreciation for his past services and expressed its regret that he found it impossible to accept the position for a further period.

Something in the nature of a sensation occured in an Invercargill church on Sunday last (states the Otago Times). The parson took for his subject “Bible-reading in Schools/’ and was strongly advocating this change in the education system, when a leadingmember of the congregation rose from his seat, and ? in stentorian tones, uttered a protest against the minister endeavouring to influence the minds of the congregation on the question which loomed lai-ge at Thursday’s election. It was some time before the serenity of the congregation was restored.

The Peilding A. and P. Show and Ram Fair will be held on first week in February. The prize list for the show is on similar lines to last year’s, with the addition of classes for art needlework. Very liberal cash prizes are offered, and these are supplemented by handsome and valuable trophies, many to be won outright. Entries for the Show close on 15th and for the Ram Fail on 19th January. Prize lists, entry forms and all particulars will be supplied on application to the Secretary.

At one of the polling booths on Thursday (says the Auckland Herald) a lady was noticed to walk up to the electoral box and drop her paper in, but to ignore the box set aside for the licensing apapers. She was challenged by the deputy in charge as to the whereabouts of these papers, but refused to give any information. The de--1 ty insisted, however, and ac last she .is induced to produce them from the i 'epth of her umbrella. As the law is very stringent on the question of tak-ing-papers out of the booths the ladv

: At Miller’s cut-rate store there is ito be a great clearing sale. Mr Mil- ; ler has decided to close down his Taii hape business, and he is therefore go- ! ing to sell out everything regardless of cost. An (Advertisement appears ! to-morrow'.

At the -presentation of certificates to the successful students of the Technical College in the Wellington Town .•Hail on Saturday night, his Excellency the Governor emphasised the value that would be placed on those 11 scraps of paper ” by the recipients. He went on to say that the German of the future would be very sorry that the Chancellor had spoken contemptuously of a “scrap of paper.’’ It was popularly supposed, he continued, that the epithet “Froggy” was very offensive to a Frenchman. He ventured to predict that the Teuton of the future would be raised to violent anger if he were asked: “How about your scrap of paper?” (Laughter).

The following lists of vessels available for meat and produce export have been supplied by the Prime Minister (Eight Hon. W. F. Massey):—January —Estimated number of vesesla required, 7; number available, 12 (10 insulated, 2 uninsulated) —Orari, "Whalcatano, Somerset, Waiwera, Mamati, Kia Ora, Delphic, Indrapura, El Oofdobes Dorset (all insulated); Queen Margaret, Mottispont (both uninsulated). February.—Estimated number of vessels required, 11; number available 13 (11 insulated, 2 uninsulated) —Otaki, Eemuera, Waimate, Kaikoura, Mat itua, Makarini, Corinthie, Waimana, Athenie, Westmere, Mimiro (all insulated) ; Wirral, Daldrock (both uninsulated).

A special meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce yesterday considered the following letter from Major R. L. Levin, of Feilding:—“A report is circulating to the effect that some business houses in the Wellington district are retarding recruiting by refusing to keep positions open to those in thenemploy who may be desirous of joining the expeditionary forces, and who may wish to enter the employ of such firm at the conclusion of the war. I hardly imagine that any persons can be so unpatriotic, but in my capacity as a recruiting officer, I should like to be in a position to emphatically deny this rumour. 1 would be glad if you would ask the Wellington Chamber of Commerce to investigate this matter, and to write to me officially on the subject at the earliest possible date.”

Some peculiar bequests contained in the will of a deceased Italian market gardener led to a Supreme Court case at Nelson the other day. The estate was valued at £1267, and out ox tins modest sum the Italian had bequeathed £4OO to the municipality for the erection of gates at the local cemetery, a further £440 for the erection of a handsome tombstone and railings over his own grave, and that intended for his wife, £IOO to the local Roman Catholic Orphanage, £25 for a picnic for orphanage children (to be held as near his grave as possible,), and £25 in consideration for his body being allowed to remain in the church for a specified period. His wqdow, who found that she possed nothing beyond the income from £1167, sought the aid of the Family Protection Act, and asked that a bigger proportion of the estate be allotted to her. She stated that she had two daughters, one of whom had married and gone back to Italy, and neither of the two would receive anything from the estate till after her death. The Chief Justice expressed a -wish to herewhat the remaining daughter had to say, and adjourned the case accordingly.