LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 125, 28 January 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

I- saw a man last Saturday sittingon the side of the road, reading his Bible, while.he allowed his cattle to browse at large, in contravention of the by-laws,” said the engineer of the Taieri County Council at a meeting last week, amid laughter.

The wav relief and emergency fund, which the Salvation Apny authorities in this c-ynntry are raising for the relief of the Belgian refugees and to help General Booth to tide over a period of exceptional anxiety, has now reached £4,000, the Army having set themselves to raise ,£{o,ooo.

The Farmers’ Union Mounted Rifle Club promises to he a very powerful organisation before long. The membership for (he Auckland province is expected to exceed one thousand. The objects o" the corps are "the preservation of our rights, the maintenance ,cf law and order and the defence of our country.”

The finest country residence in New 'Zealand is without a doubt “Paorangi,” the residence of Mr Ernest Short, near Feilding Containing over 40 rooms en one floor this really magnificent residence has every modern convenience and luxury that the mind of man can evolve- The grounds surrounding the house cover 20 acres in lawns and gardens. “Paorangi” is to be opened with a Garden Party and Ball on St. Patrick’s Day.

Mr A. R. Fannin lias added the champion Romney ram, Uniform 11., to his fold.

At Taumarunui W, 6. Somerville was fined £‘so without costs for selling drink in a no license district; W. ,1. Lelievre was fined £SO and costs for a like offence.

Taihape bowlers successfully defended the Hum Cup against Palmerston North this afternoon, winning bj 17 to 10.

Thus the Bulletin: “If Kaiser Bill’s Zeppelins do make a raid on England, the bird-men there will indulge in a new sport. Fishing for a Zeppelin by trailing 2000 ft of steel wire, ending in a six-pronged hook, ihe angler being seated in :• Ast aeroplane, is a sport exciting enough to please anyone.”

“Do you mean to tell me that this man beat you?” queried the magistrate. “I do not,” retorted the lady, “I said that he knocked me down!” “What!” exclaimed the magistrate; “you were knocked down by this physical wreck?” “Excuse me, your honcur." replied the plaintiff, “it’s only since lie knocked me down that he’s been a physical wreck!”

A lady had a very narrow escape from being taken by a shark while bathing off the Napier beacli one morn, tug last week. The shark, which was about nine or ten feet long, went close to the bather, who was almost in a stale of collapse through fright. Fortunately, several other bathers were in the vicinity, and they succeeded in driving the shark away.

It is anticipated by some who are in i position to form: a correct opinion (says the Auckland Star) that the price of .beef will be extremely high next winter, for the reason that the works are now killing cattle that are really only in store condition ,thns drawing on supplies that would ordinarily be ready for killing by the winter.

The Maori casual ness in money mat revs was well illustrated in an an-

swer given to a soiic-it-or at ihe Mag* ir crate's Court yo.uerday, “Wliai did v ii do with rb.'n £2 is./ you had riven you?" askoq the solicitor. “Oh,

that, why 1 give him to to war,” replied the native. It afterwards transpired that the native had borrowed the money to make a donation to the v. ar fund.

An interesting little scene occurred outside a well-known blacksmith’s shop in Wanganui a. few days ago. A German is'alleged to have abused the proprietor and made soifie very disparaging remarks aiu-nt Britishers, with the result that the blacksmith, who is an old man, tackled the Ger--tiiaii with the raw ’mis, and with such effect that a buggy had to be requisitioned to carry the German home

The Rangilikei County clerical staff are kept fairly busy just now writing receipts, and during the past week Kites were rolling in at the rate of about £IOOO per day. On Saturday and Monday, however, pressure was a little more severe, for despite the fact that Saturday was a half-holiday, no less than £3346 was handed into the Treasury. On Monday there was another good run, the day’s takings amounting to £3312, The rates of the county amount to over £20,000.