LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 95, 22 December 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Farmers, and others, aitf reminded of flic meeting of all intereted in the erectiono of freezing works in Taihape that take place to-morrow morning. There are only a few more shares to be placed and it is hoped that stockbreeders will attend or send in their applications without delay so that everything necessary can be done to enable freezing to commence next October.

The staff of the Taihape Daily Times desires to acknowledge and reciprocate the season's greetings from the staffs of: the Christchurch Sun, Feikling Star, and Rangitikei Sawmillers' Association.

"I would rather be an English Tommy lying in the trenches than president of the London Federation of the Free Churches," said the Rev. 0. Elisor Walters, president of the London Federation of Free Churches at the inaugural meeting" of the Tottenham and Edmonton Free Church Council.

After hearing a long story of a woman's grievances against her husband at Tottenham, London, the Magistrate, addressing the police sergeant (the peace-maker of the court) said: '•'This is a case for the oil-can. sergeant; The officer will visit and see what can be done to restore peace in the family."

An invalid Manchester "Tommy" was giving hi 3 French experience to a friend, and among other subjects the difference in "grip" of the beers of the respective countries came under discussion Tiic-travelled man finally summed up the difference thus: "Drinking one cf.them Frenchy beers, or becks as they calls 'em, just tastes like kissing your sister."

King Albert's dislike of ceremony is no Tciss striking than his courage When at the outset of the war he began to talk to the men in the ranks, asking them how they were getting en, if they had plenty of food, and so cm they naturally replied by "Majestying" him. This, however, he would not have. "Don't say 'Your Majesty' or address me as 'King,'" he. said; "call me 'Albert.'"

A meeting of the committee of the Taihape Amateur Athletic Club was held last night. Present: Messrs. 0. L. Dyiuock (chair), D. Neagle, W. McLennan, Oh Bray, W. Bashford, J. Champion. A deal of routine business was put through. It was decided that nominations for the chopping event bo extended to Thursday next, December 24th ; and that the handicapping be left in the hands of Mr. Hansen, of Eltham. The committee then adjourned till Monday next.

After putting up the remarkable record of saving no fewer than nineteen lives, Mr C. Lansdown, a Wellington wharf labourer, added another, completing the score, on Friday evening last. He was working on m coalhuik at the Wool wharf, at about 6.30 p.m. on Friday, when a man named Guthrie in attempting to board the Kahu close by missed his footing and fell between that vessel and the wharf. He promptly jumped to the man's assistance, and rescued him, despite the fact that the man struggled violently. Mr Lansdown is the holder of two Royal Humane Society certificates and a medal with four clasps for service raring the South African campaign. Of the twenty lives he has now t; Lis credit, he saved sixteen while

siding on the Surrey Canal in Engand, one in South Africa, one in America, and two in New ■ Zealand (including that of the man Guthrie). His previous life-saving exploit in New Zealand occurred some three months

Potato-digging has been stopped by farmers in certain districts of Eas f . France, owing to unexploded shells be-

ins; in the o-vound

It costs between £70,000,000 and j £80,000,000 a year to maintain the Czar 's troops. The pay of privates is ' about tenpence a month, that of sergeants about half-a-crown a month. The Municipality of Berlin has decided to change the names of the principal streets in Berlin, renaming them after German generals famous in this war. In a box placed outside Egham (Surrey) post-office by a lady, over 200 packets of cigarettes, besides cigars, tobacco, and matches, have been deposited by local residents for the East Surrey Regiment. "Yes, I often think that women are as well qualified for war a men . My husband is opposed to it. But I often feel as if I'd like to leave home and get into the thick of the fight." "But why leave homey A Gazette Extraordinary contarn,7 Orders-in-Council prohibiting communication or trade with enemy countries, or their agents in neutral countries; and also prohibiting the export of forage from New r Zealand. A French mother, writing to trie Echo de Paris, makes the suggestion that women w T ho lose their dear ones in the war should refrain from wearin o- ordinary mourning, and should lnstead wear a small tri-coloured cockade over the heart.

The declaration of the notes of the Bank of New Zealand, National Bank of New Zealand, Union Bank, Banx ?A Australasia, Bank of New South Wales, and the Commercial Bank of Australia, as legal tender has been extended by a Gazette Extraordinary from January S, 1815 to April 7, 1015.

The largest shipment of cheese yet exported from the Dominion was taken by the Turakina, which sailed from Wellington on Thursday. The shipment comprised over 30,000 crates, of which the' Wellington portion was about 19,000 crates. The approximate value of the cheese would be about £l3O 000.

The price of bread in Wellington was raised on Monday to 4-Jd per 21b loar. The president of the Master BasersAssoeiation considers that the importation of Canadian wheat will not cause the price of bread to be lowered as by ■the time it is milled the flour will cost £l(3 per ton. Some flour is also coming from San Fanciaco, but it cannot be supplied to b,>!vo:>; cheaply enough to permit a red iaion of the pri;3 of bread, wtiinh.'he says may go up to <ht a loaf before iuiv,iy weeks pass.

Even when a child the German Emperor was a very ferocious youth. The late Mr W. P. Frith, the famous painter, used !'3 tell a story of the Kaiser's childhood. Wilhelm, when a little boy,

was staying with the artist, and on cue occasion wiped so much colour on his face when in the studio that Mr Frith had to remove it with turpentine. This painful, process annoyed the rebellious ycung Prince, and at its conclusion he administered a violent kick to the surprised artist and then flung himself under a table, where he yelled until he was tired.

Enquiry was made of the Prime Minister as to the price at which lie proposed to sell the wheat coming from Canada to the order of the Now Zealand Government. "Keedles to say, we don't want to make any profit on the wheat imported," said Mr. Massey. "Probably it will be sold by us at a slight loss. There is this to be considered, however; if we sell it at below cost, this will prevent any private individuals from importing wheat, and as there is a shortage we do not wish to discourage importation. There is our difficulty."

I Bandsmen Blake, the famous boxer j who forfeited his ring engagements to join the Army, was recently invalided home as wounded. He is nearly well new, but refr.seg to lead an inactive existence, and is serving with the military police at Aldershot. Bandsman Blake has a number of boxing companions to keep him company in the ranks. They include Dick Smith, the light heavy-weight champion; Bandsman Rice; Pat O'Keefe, the holder of the middle-weight belt; Tom McCorraick; and Johnny Basham. With the Navy are Petty Officer Ourran, the heavy-weight, and Seaman Hayes, the famous feather-weight boxer.

The Department of Navigation, Sydney, report that a lifebuoy, marked "Auckland," has been found on the 1 oast coast of Freeburn Island, Yamba, Clarence River, New South Wales. Following is the description given by the Australian authorities: —"White with a blue ribbon marked 'Auckland, ' with the Union Jack painted on one side and the red ensign on the other side. The ship's name is not on the buoy. There is also a blue ribbon which, apparently, had been torn off, and which had previously borne the ship's name. Whatever the name it must have been a very short one, as part of the last letter can be seen. The buoy is in three pieces. The canvas cover was g00d. 7 -'

The Czar and Czarina have given £20,000 to assist the sufferers by the war in Poland. Three rink s of local bowlers journey to Wanganui on Saturday to participate in the Wanganui centre Christ, mas tourney on the 16th and 28th. The periodical cleansino- of the Borough baths has just been completed. The walls have been rc-whitewashed I and the baths, which have been re-fill-ed, are now open to the public. An oiler by S. A. Stewart of £4 for the right to sell refreshments from a tent in the Domain on Saturday afternoons till the end "of the cricket season was accepted last night by the City Council. A meeting of the creditors, of A. C. Currie, bankrupt, was held in the Mag. ! istrate's Court yesterday, Mr J. P. Aldridge officiating in place of the Official \ Assignee. Bankrupt's liabilities were : placed at £240, and his assets at £lO. After a deal of evidence was heard the meeting adjourned sine die. As the result of the thirty Is Belgian Christma s Gift Fund ilists circulated by the Borough Council in the town the sum of £l9 5s has been '■ realised and forwarded by the Town ' Clerk to Mr H. Amos, secretary of the i Gift Fund Committee, Wellington. ; There is still one list to come In ■ which will, in all probability, bring ! the sum total to well over £2O.