LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 165, 17 March 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

According to local report Raetihi people are well pleased with the Public Works Department in connection with the satisfactory progress that is being' mae on the branch railway lie.

Pat: "Yis, sorr, wur-rk is scarce, but Oi got a job last Sunday that brought me foiye dollars." Mr. Goodman: "What—you broke the Sabbath?" Pat (apologetically): "Well, sorr. 'twas wan av us had t' be broke."

Simple recipes printed on tram tickets in Vienna explain economical dishes in view of the possible famine. They are intended to help the poor who are unable to purchase flour, butter, or eggs, and have only dried fish, potatoes and rice.—Sydney Sun special cable service.

The man who can invent a cap for a motor cur wheel that will not come oft' easily is surely in for a fortune. On Tuesday a Mastertou resident advertised for a lost cap, and no less than ten wheel-caps—all from different makes of motor cars—have already been returned by those Who have alreadv found them on the streets.

Several fine returns of grain have been reported in the Ashburton County (says the Christchurch Press). Mr. «). Irwin, from 189 acres of Garton oats, obtained 58 bushels per acre, and Mr. Oakley, of HarthVld, 53 bushels of solid straw Tuscan wheat from an arc. of 48 acre.-!. Mr. J. M'Phail, of Sonierton, reports 70 bushels of Garten oats per acre from a fair-sized paddock.

Itis believed that an old crater at Ohakune Junction is showing signs of activity. While engaged in making" a survey for the proposed water storage scheme the other day, Messrs. Allen and "Waters noticed that clouds of steam were rising from the centre at Ohnkuno Junction. They are of opinion that the crater is active and intend to make further tests to verify their opinion.

A wonderful example of the accuracy of wi'rvey work is reported in the case of the recent survey of a railwpy route f ro'xn Te 'Rbti round the mountain to Metttfoa, in-.Tarariaki Working from the Te Roti end, forty miles fro:*. New Plymouth, The levels were, of course, taken fill along the route, and when Moturea was reached the discrepancy between the survey level and the railway at the point of junetiot

was found to bo only throo-:; ’.alters 0 an inch,- y ; y~- y

A fine draught horse belonging to Mr. George Graham, of Oliakuue, Ml iuto the Mangateitie Stream on Saturday nigbt and had to be destroyed.

The rather noval sight was witnessed near Masterton last week of a flock of sheep being driven by a couple of drovers who were seated in a motor-cay. Petrol (says the Age) is evidently cheaper than horse feed.

A meeting of all those interested will be held in the Agricultural and Pastoral Association's offices to-morrow (Thursday) at 3.30 p.m. to receive the report and balance-sheet in connection with the luncheon and afternoon tej« given at the recent A. and P. Show in aid of the Belgian Kelief Fund.

A London solicito!*, who had joined the First Sportsmen's Battalion of the Soyal Fusiliers, received the following congratulatory message from an old client: "Accept my congratulations on your gallantry in joining the Sportsmen's Battalion. Anyway, you know how to charge."

An impressive and touching sighr at many a church to-day is the ceremony of "blessing the sword,' which ! akes place after the usual service. The young officers who are ordered to the front walk to the altar and tender their swords to the pastor, v. ho performs the ancient ceremony of benediction over them.

From Ist April the cable rates with the United Kingdom, via the Eastern Extension, will be reduced as follows: —Ordinary, 2/8 per word; deferred. 1/4; British Govenment l/4?>d. The rate for week-end messages is also reduced to Sd per word, with a minimum of 13/4, but week-end messages via the Eastern Extension are not to be accepted until the Company notifies resumption of its week-end service.

The technicalities of card-playing as applied to the games of "nap" ana '•'draw-poker" formed- the subject or a short interlude at the Supremo Court, Napier, but the possibility of u practical demonstration by the representative of law and order was lost to an expectant audience, on learned counsel announcing that he had a constable who was an expert exponent ■vho would be giving evidence.

"How does that come about?" enquired the coroner at Auckland at «:: inquest, wlion a youth statod that his name was O. Benson Johnson, and that he was the son of Ben Johnson Benson. "Surely your name is Benson." The young man explained that he was Swedish, and that it was the Swedish custom to interchange the names in this manner with each succeeding generation. His father was Johnson Benson, he said, he was Benson Johnson, and his son \Youlai be Johnson Benson.

In another column Messrs. Beimel and Co. notify the recent of a mo.-.: advantageous purchase of ladles' hoiscry and gloves which is now being opened up at Avvarua House. The hosiery is of the very newest make and is in addition to being the very latest vogue exceedingly dainty and in every way calculated to give the utmost comfort to the wearer. The gloves are \v the newest and most becoming shades and come from one of the most noted glove-making firms in the world. An ■inspection is confidently invited.

It is not commonly known, says tin Auckland Herald, that baptism by immersion is recognised by the Anglican Church, and that any adult candidate? may demand this form of baptism hpreference to the customary "sprinkling." The prayer-book requires '<> clergyman to "dip" a candidate if requested to do so, but in only o church in the Auckland diocese are the necessary facilities provided. St. Matthew's Church is furnished with a font to meet such a demand, and c.-: Wednesday evening a large congregation assembled to take part in a baptismal service, when a young lady received the rito by immersion. The se> vice was a most impressive one. Tin 1 v'car, the Rev. W. E. Gillam, performed the rite, and the Rev. Jasper Calder preached the sermon. In'the course of ten years, this is only the second occasion on which a similar ceremony baa been performed at this church. The facilities provided at St. Matthew's ar* freely offered to any Anglican clergyman in the diocese, who may wish ?u baptise his candidates by immersion.