LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 171, 24 March 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Monsignor 0 'Brien, rector of St Johns' College, Sydney, died yesterday.

What will prove a boon to ninny Buntiti settlers is the sheep-dip that is bohig put in by Mi*. Jensen at Peliu Junction.

-For some time past there lias been little inquiry for land by prospective purchasers,, but recently a very active demand has arisen, and farms have commenced to change hands.in a manner that almost indicates a boom ahead.

John' Haigh, deck-hand on a small

steamer, the Kaipatiki, fell between the vessel and the Riverhead (Auckland) wharf, while releasing a rope, and was drowned. He was 50 years or age and leaves a wife and grownup family.

With thi issue the British Empire Trading Company circulate a map of the seat of with an accompanying set of flags. The map is of lithographic and general value and those who preserve it by attaching it to the wall will have 1 an extra inducement to fol|ow the cable reports of operations.

. r il:e Marton Advocate says: We understand from a gentleman who has visited.a large number of dairy factories recently that many of them which are now manufacturing butter will, for the coming season, take up the making of cheese. It is thought thai the prospcets for the latter in tho British market are better than for butter.

Mrs Sommerville wishes to acknowledge the receipt of the following articles for the use of members from this District of the Expeditionary Force and to sincerely thank the donors:—Miss Bear, 6 pairs socks; Mrs. Boyd, 0 pairs socks; Mr. W. McLenan, 2 pairs socks, suit underwear, and handkerchiefs; Mrs. Jas. Oliver, 6 towels; Mrs. Moriley, 4. pairs socks; Mrs. Miller, 4 towels; Mr. I. Roots, £1 17/(5; Mrs, Brickland, parcel for son.

A New Zcalad trooper in Egypt writes: "It appears that General Godley knew that we were coming to Egypt bofore we left New Zealand, as our syllabus of training until the end of April in Egypt was printed in New Zealand by (lie Government Printer." Who says printers cannot keep a secret?

As comparing the prices of meat 17 years ago with the present prices, the following extracts from an old account bill of Stanners Bros., old Eltham burehers, will be interesting: —"JBlbs beef 4/(i, Ulbs mutton 2/11, Alba sausages 1/8, hind quarter lamb 2/6, 4lbs rump steak 1/-." It will be noticed, says the Argus, that present prices are nearly treble the above prices, while according to an old Elthsni. rcsi dent, have not risdn anything like pr> prirrionately.

• The cutting off of the supply of Siberian butter by the export prohibition which has been issued by the Russian Government, the news of which has come to hand, is likely to nave a Tjen? ficial effect en the price of New Zealand butter in London. Latest advices from England state that Die recent advance from 140/- to 142/- per owt. rn the value of New Zealaud butter has been maintained, with every prospect of the high prices continuing.

B. N. Beechey, of Utiku, failed to register the birth of an infant within the- prescribed six months, and the Deputy Registrar, Mr. B. Magee. was compelled to take action in the Court in order to enable registration to be made. The information was heard before Messrs. A. Crawford and J. P. Aldridge, J's.P,, this morning, and a conviction, with a fine of 5/- and 7/costs, was imposed. An order was made that registration be effected immediately.

Yesterday, at the Taihnpe Mngistrate's Court, Bertie Parker and Ethel Parker, on a charge of stealing £3 from .ii-hn Livingston, were found guilty and sentenced to six montn> : imprisonment. Livingston's story was that he vos counting out some pound notes at the station prior to leaving by the train and the female accused snatched three notes from him. The informant's story was borne out by a witness, but both accused stoutly denied the charge. They were found guilty and Sergeant Harvey produced unenviable records, which were determining factors in the present penalties.

Many' ingenious methods are adopted h}' the Germans for signalling purposes. An English sergeant tells how they had reason to suspect a Belgain woman of giving information to the enemy, but it took them a long time to discover how it was imparted. She undertook to wash for the English soldiers, and the amount of clothes hung out to. dry conveyed a message to the Germans. It' a couple of shirts went up on the line It meant that the English were in small numbers, but a full line of clothes meant "English in force."' The ingenious signaller was eventually arrested.

The supply of horses for the Dominion troops for saddle and transport purposes has kept up wonderfully well, said the Prime Minister to a pressman yesterday. "We have had no difficulty whatever and as far as I am able to judge the supply will be maiutained. Horses are coming from all parts of Now Zealand, though the greater proportion has come from the North Island. Last session we put through the Remounts Encouragement Act, under which a sum of £4,000 be expended in subsidising sires suitable for the purpose, and it is anticipated that the operation of that Act will have a very useful effect."

Well-merited and long-earned promotion has at last come the way of Constable McLeod, who has been a guardian of law and order in Taihape for the past live years. Constable McLeod has received advice of promotion to officer in charge at Featherston, and leaves for his new quarters early next month. The genial "Mac." is as wellknown in this district as the town clock and will be the recipient of congratulations on his promotion from all quarters when the fact receives pub licity. He has proved a redoubtable exponent of wrestling and Caledonian field games, and, in his prime, many of New Zealand's best had to take second honours to our local officer. The good wishes of this community will follow Constable McLeod . and family to Featherston.

Mr A. W. D'Abaza, Consul-General for Russia in Australasia who has been twenty times through ftie Dardanelles, said to an interviewer in Melbourne last week that once the Allied fleet was through the Narrows all would be well The most difficult part was that between Kilid Bahr and Chanak Kalessi. The straits there were only about a mile wide, with high hills on either shore, fortified with batteries. Until they were reduced it would be impossible to sweep the passage for mines. The question was of course could the guns of the Allies outrange those of the forts He doubted if the Turks had any gun* that could compare with the. 15-inch guns of the Queen Elizabeth. Once tnu forts were silenced the way would bu safe for mine-sweepers, and then tot' the fleet.