LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 154, 4 March 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A writer in the Evening- Pest says he is at a loss to understand how there can he seven .million Belgians in need, since of a t.Uil population 'f seven millions before the war, two riilicns are in Holland, ’em million in Erl_;iand, and 200,000 are hors de combat.

Spurious half-sovereign.- are si ill in circulation in Wellington, and as they may reach this locality residents would do well to be on- their guard when accepting coin of this deprmiir.ation. The imitation is a Very clever one, and the date 1914 appears on many of the pyec.es.

A Chinaman named Wee Li was arrested at Napier by Constable Hargreaves on a charge -of opium smoping. It is understood that about half a dozen were in a house -in- Dalton-stieet. and Wee Li wpij in the ret of smoking the opium when the eg instable entered He, will appear before-the court this morning.

Mr T. B. Missen, senior clerk and telegraphist at Ashburton, has been appointed postmaster at Taihape. M. Missen will arrive in a fewydays.

Heavy rain fell over the yhole of 3cuth Wairarapa this morning, the first in some parts for about six months.

Mr. W. A. Low the popular theatrical manager,is in town making airang:meats for a preformance in Taihape, 0 f the immense pantoniine company “Humpty Dumpty”.

Marten’s water supply is getting ■,-ery short, there heih£ only sufficient vater m the dam to last another month if the rain holds off. All water xr gardens, etc., has been stopped.

A valuable shipment of dairy produce was taken from New Zealand by tie R.M.S. Corinthic, which left Wellington on Friday for London. In al Itl:yre were 23,035 crates of cheese md 28,958 boxes of butter, the aporoximate value being £256,840.

The season for Stewart Island oysters opened yesterday, and thja first consignment should reach here at the end of the w;?ek. The Auckland s'aa•on does not open until May. The prospects in the north are considered to he excellent this year.

In the published list of those who have gone to the front from Te Kapua ,115 was emitted, that of Mr George diickland, youngest son of Mr Harry Irickland, cf Te Kapua, who left with die first contingent, and is now in Egypt.

WccdC-hcpping ami sawing enthusiasts and experts are reminded that lominaticns for the St. Patrick’s Day jcmpetitions on the Recreation Reserve, Taihapo, close with the secr.eary, Mr E. McLaughlan, on Saturday lext, March 6th. Intending competitors re advised to read the prize schedule lublished every day.

A sage comment by Mr W. R. IT as ellen( S.M., in discussing a landlord’; daim for rent on premises which were lot connected with the sewerage sys em: “If I had the power to do so ' would not give judgment for a penny ■ent on premises within the sewerage rea, which were net connected with he system.”

A large baud of energetic ladiei who took possession of the principal strategic points in Wjallington on Monday collected by the salie of flowers, cigarettes, pencils and badges nearly £370 for a special fund for the relijsi of Belgian women in distress. Collecting in the suburbs l will probably bring the total up to £4OO.

Ladies who arc willing to assist in onducting an Afternoon Tea in aid •l the Belgian Relief Fund on the

Recreation Reserve, on the occasion :f the Hibernian Club's Sports, are, jy advertisement, asked to kindly be iresent at a. meeting in the Town Hall nipper room, cn Saturday afternoon, it half-past three o’clock.

The firebell sounded an alarm at 7.50 this morning, and the reel was quickly despatched to the electric alarm installed opposite Mrs Ormond's Maternity Home. Fortunately the alarm was false, the cause being attributed to cue of a mob of cattle bumping into the post ou which the alarm is attached, and setting the alarm in motion.

Particular attention is directed tc Tie screening - at the Three Stars this evening of the film depicting the Bel ?;ian troops in action at the Battle oJ Louvain. The film runs into 1000 ft 11 cl has received eulogistic reference Tom the press. In addition the creening of the picture showing the ieparture cf cur Main Expeditionary Fcrce will he shown at the Three Stars; besides the ordinary programme.

Eric Smith, a member of the New Zealand■-Expeditionary Force, writh'd ■ o his mother at Riccartcn from Zrji tun Camp, refers to the gift of Christ mas puddings made to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force by a London newspapers. It was decent, and abou' writes, “wc had plum puddings sup plied to us by one of the London newspapers. It was deent, and about half a cloven fellows were lucky enough to strike a sovereign in their Christmas fare.”

Notwithstanding' weather conditions, tickets for the Taihape School excm sion to Castlc-iT.ff are selling' briskly The school committee • having decided to carry all pupils below .Standard 111. free, parents of such children who have not received tickets are invited to purchase their own to-nighl. when free ones where necessary will lie. issued. The general public who intend taking the excursion are also requested to purchase tickets to-night at the Technical School, in order that the necessary accommodation may bo arranged with the ball way Department and to save confusion in the morning. The forecast for weather conditions at Wanganui to-morrow is very favourable. : J • 5 1 ,