LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 156, 6 March 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Rongokokako Dairy Company has received advice that a shipment of its cheese sold at the record price of 90/- in London.

The Town Hall has been booked for March 31st by the P.limmer-Hall Company, who, it is understood, are giving entertainments for patriotc funds.

It is probable that the United Federation of Labour will circularise the trades and labour unions throughout New Zealand in connection with the appeal of the Dutch Federation of Trades Unions for funds to help the starving Belgian workers.

At the Feilding Court, before Messrs Cobbc and Burne, Robert Penson, a deserter from the Tree than; camp, w!uhad obtained board and lodging at two pices in Feilding, representing himself as on sick leave, was sentenced to SO days’ Imprisonment on the charge ,of false pretences.

“It seems to me,” said the customer to ills barber, “that you ought to lower your price for a shave in these hard times.” The barber shook lib head sadly and said: “Can’t bo done. Nowadays everybody Vwears such a long face that we have a great deal more surface to shave over!”

A policeman, whose evidence was taken on commission, deposed: “The prisoner sat upon me, calling me' a precious dolt, a scarecrow, a ragamuffin, and an idiot.” And this being the conclusion of his deposition, his signature was preceded by the formal ending, “All of which I swear is true.”

Some excellent crops of wheat are to be seen around Marton this week. Mr. 11. J. Richards, of Levin, estimates tliat some of the fields will run 50 bushels to the acre. The season favoured cereals, he says, but the hay crops have been disappointing (here, though around Palmerston they are of fairly good quality and quantity.

Some idea of the task the shipping companies have had in 'handling this season’s produce is pointed out by the Trade Review. Since January there has left these shores 205,000 bales of wool, 224,000 boxes of butter, 1.'14,000 cases og cheese, 447,000 carcases of mutton, 730,000 carcases of lamb, and 120,000 quarters of beef. The approximate value of this cargo would be three millions sterling.

The reports received by the Department of Labour .concerning labour conditions in the Dominion for. *he week ended February 27 last show List there is practically no unemployment in Gisborne, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Palmerston, Masterton, Nelson, Greymouth, Timaru, Oamaru, and Invercargill. The position n the four centres is not so good; In Wellington conditions are stated to be normal.

An effort to establish freezing ivorks in Taranaki, at Stratford, has failed.

Two hundred Sydney University men wore serving either with the expeditionary or Imperial forces.

The Taihape Town Hall has been leased by Dr Bailey of Taumanimii, who will shortly utilise it as a picture - theatre.

This is the last day for receiving nominations for the chopping and sawing events at the Hibernian Club's Sports on St. Patrick’s Day, the 17th March. Intending competitors should get their entries in the secretary’s hands not later than to-night.

Charles Sullivan was yesterday convicted and discharged for drunkenness. He celebrated his initial appearance before the commanding presence of the Court by becoming “under the influence” yesterday. Mr. Haselden, S.M., dealt with him this morning and inflicted a fine of 10/-.

In addition to the splendid programme now being shoAvn at the Station Street and Three Star Picturis Theatre, another very fine, interestirj; war film will arrive this afternoon and will be shown at Station Striset at f) o’clock and at the Three Stars at 10. It is a clever piece of photography, entitled, “With the English and French in Flanders.”

It is said that some uneasiness is felt along the Main Trunk at the apparent insecurity of prisoners at the Waimarino prison camp, another prisoner having escaped a couple of days ago, and is still at large. About Christmas time a German prisoner got away one night by taking up a couple of boards from the floor of the little wooden hut and burrowing his Avay out. He has not since been seen by the authorities.

A champion amongst mean people has been found in Auckland. A machinist, while engaged in changing needles in her machine in the factory, put the disengaged needle in her mouth for a moment, and swallowed it. This was at 10 o’clock in the forenoon. She worked on till dinner-time, Avhen she. suffering from discomfort, went to the hospital at 2 p.m. for treatment. The X-rays showed the needle to be lodged in her throat, and it was at once removed. When she returned to work later in the day, her employer deducted one day’s pay from her wages, for being away from her work.

On farmer in the Western District has put up a good record this season in the way of profit on sheep farming (says the Southland News). Having a good farm for early feed and plenty of winter feed, last winter lie purchased at the end of autumn old ewes at from V- to 7/- apiece. The worst of those he fattened on quickly and resold. The ••emainder he bred from, and boasts having reared over SO per cent, of lambs. The wool from these ewes made 12fd per lb, pieces Si{d, and last week the first draft of lambs were sold at 19/6, aid the culls of the ewes at 21/6.

The construction record under the Workers’ Dwellings’ Act for the present financial year will be nearly 200 houses. Contracts will shortly be given for the erection of eleven more houses at Taitville, Wellington. Contracts have just been signed for seven dwellings on rural allotments at Fairlie, also for six buildings at Waimarc and eight at Oamaru. Arrangements are now being made for dwellings at Dunedin, Christchurch, Ngaruawahia, and Tauranga, and rural workers’ dwellings of a new design at Carterton. Tenders are now being obtained for three more houses at Petone.