NEWS AND NOTES

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 145, 22 February 1915, Page 3

NEWS AND NOTES

Captain Biyee, of the Morton Defence Rifle Club, is, it appears, going to Egypt frith the reinforcements, and not to Samoa. His rank will be that of Sergt.-Major.

The fourth wool sale of the present season will be held in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall on Thursday next, at 3 p.m., instead of on Friday, the 26th. as previously iixed.

The Wellington Hospital bakes . its own bread and a careful account of the cost from April last to January, If,'in. works out at 24d per 21b loaf, not allowing for cake or scones made, which would reduce the cost staled for bread. Of course, the flour was not bought at the present high prices.

A well-dressed woman was chalieng ed by the Customs authorities at a Continental pert. She submitted gracefully to female searchers, and nothing was found, bur as she was about to pass the barrier, a detective pointed to her hair. Cleverly concealed in a hair pad was an important dispatch intended for Germany.

During the week ending February 13th, 20(5 cases of alleged offences were dealt with by the authorities at Trenthem Cam]). From the lists it would seem that the majority of the offence; were committed by the Third Reinforcements. The record of D Company,, with 52 cases, is. specially bad, comprising as it ' did one-fourth of the wiiole. v

A sheepfarmer in the Tenui district is reported to be in a fortunate position as far as feed is concerned, while his neighbour's paddocks are bare. This is accounted for by the fact that a number of ne /'springs have recently appeared on the property. It is considered that this is due to an earthquake haviuo- disturbed the strata, and allowed the springs to come into play.

An amusing little incident ocurred at the Christ church recruiting office last week. A young woman of about 30 years of ago came along and as:\fid for an enrolling form. She said she particularly desireod her husband to enlist, but he was not at all enthusiastic. She considered he would get through the medical examination easily. She went away blithely with the enrolment form, announcing her intention of making her diffident husband append his signature to it.

An Australian with the contingent in Egypt thinks so lightly of the press of Cairo that, he wrote the following to the chief newspaper: "As an Australian, I can assure you that any old backblock town with 50 inhabitants, selling, perhaps, 150 copies, would produce something greatly superior to that you are turning out. In fact, your paper is—well —the limit.'' It might have been a private note to the editor, but it appeared in bold type in the paper, headed, "A Candid Criticism.'''

A chopping match that took place in G-isborne on Friday last between F. Wilson (of Tasmania) and J, Amos (of New Zealand) for a purse of £2OO, was the biggest competition of the kind that has been held in New Zealand. Considerable interest was taken in the event, and the contestants gave a fine exhibition. A 15-inch standing whitis pine block was used. F. Wilson chopped in splendid style, and i proved an easy winner, completing his task in lmin. 7 3-ssecs.

An efficre, writing from the front on Christmas Eve, says: The other day I had an impromptu game of football. It was rather funny, because when we first got to the place every one had to stay in their "dugout," as we were not a mile from the firing line, but after a bit, finding the Germans were only sending a very occasional shell over, we —two cf us —went over and joined the R.F.A. In a game. In the field was one shell hole which was bigger than any I have seen yet. You could have dropped a decent-sized haystack in it.

A telegram received in Rotorua from the Hon. W. H. Hemes, Minister for Railways, states that excursion fares to Rotorua will be available from Auckland, Taumamnui, Waihi, Thames, Cambridge, and intermediate stations by express trains leaving Auckland, at 10 a.m. on the following Saturdays: February 27th, March 13th, April 17th, and connecting trains; also by the train arriving there at 1.20 p.m. He' adds that should these trains prove, successful, further accommodation may be provided.

At Wednesday's meeting of the Wanganui Education Board, it was reported that an assistant teacher whose appointment had not been confirmed had been rather "painful and free" in using the strap on some of the girl pupils. It was decided not to confirm the appointment of the lady in question until inquiry had been made into the matter complained of. The, Chairman pointed out that the regulations expressly directed that corporal punishment should not be used with girls, and said that it would be best to nip the practice of the teacher in question in. the bud by allowing her liberty ,to move on to another district,