LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 348, 10 December 1915, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

From a private letter received in Wanganui from a member of the "ftxpediiionary Force in Egypt, it is understood that portions of the New Zealand force had been despatched >., Salonika, en route to Servia.

Seven men from the Waingawa freezing works were among the party of seventy who recently left New Zealand for San Francisco in order to avoid possible conscription, but though there were several nationalities, there were no Irish among them.

The Britisli Chambers of Commerce will shortly consider post-war proposals. They will probably recommend a conference of Government represent>fives 'of Britain, the Dominions, and the Entente, to discuss international trade matters with a view to fixing *> maximum and minimum British tariff, with preference to the Dominions, and a surtax upon Austro-German goods.

The Kaiser has been making up his little bill of costs against the world at large pending the discusston of peace proposals. A wireless messge from Berlin to New York states that a committee appointed to ascertain the damages inflicted by foreign Governments on German subjects has made a provisional estimate. The committee has totted up the respectable total of at least 1,00,000,000,00? marks (£50,000,000). We wonder what portion of this the Kaiser's accountants have set opposite New Zealand? I have often heard (writes "Ariel" in the Dunedin Star) that there are people who are making money out of the war, and that there are people in New Zealand who are exploiting ns all under cover of increased freights, insurances, and the like. But I not realise the extent to which it was being done till the other day, when I was in company with several officers.. and the talk turned on the cost of numerous suits of uniform they were ordered to buy. "I had my cap before the war," said one; "it cost me 7/6." "I got mine in Auckland quite recently for 15/," said another. "Well, mine is just the same article," said a third; "and it cost me MO/ in Christchurch." "What did that suit cost you?" queried one. '■'Six guineas in Wellington." "I gov mine in Auckland for £3 10/," rejoined the questioner. There were some doctors in the company, and one o.T them mentioned that he had paid 15/ for his three little metal badges )i>. Wellington. Another rejoined that lie had got his for Gd each in Auckland. The things probably cost about (id a gross. And I have heard of sim'Tar cases at o\ir very doors, whore. <*•"'•> the cost of materials used in making socks for wounded oldiers has boor, advanced fully .100 per cent. '>; it not the duty of the Government ? '> obtain and publish n price list in efferent centres, and no prove":, iwiti .transparent

Two women hairdressers have com menced business in Masterton.

Particulars of several art unions, iti connection iwth the Carnival, that were drawn last Monday night, are advertised. in another column.

The art unions organised by Mrs. Gilchrist's Committee are to be drawn to-night at Doole'e Hall. Utiku. full particulars being advertised in this issue.

The National Register figures reveal that the total number o? single men without dependents in Now Zealand who are not prepared to serve in [incapacity is 5,390.

The Taihape quota of the 11th Reinforcements leave on Tuesday morning, but it is understood that the number who are going jg \q ss than has been the case in past drafts.

Mr. D. J". McLennan will sell at the Tin Street Mart, to-morrow, potatoes and the usual weekly offerings, in addition to furniture, sewing machine, linoleums; also a good roan hack.

The printing of Christmas Csrds is now a feature of the work turned out by the Taihape Printing and Publishing Co., Ltd and samples may or

seen and prices will he given on up

Recently Lieutenant Hulbert, brotl or of Mr. A. Hulbert, of Utiku. we mentioned in General Sir lan Hami ton's despatches, and advice has no 1 been received to the effect that h lias been promoted to the rank c

captain. It is tiie intention of the Taxai'ioDepartment, says Sir Joseph Ward, to send three of its inspectors to different parts of New Zealand to give information to farmers in regard ?•■ the accurate filling up of their income returns, and to assist them generally in this new work.

A writer in the Gentlewoman tells this new story: The other day King George, going his round of duty in the country, knocked unexpectedly ai the door of a hospital. The servant who answered it, quite overcome with surprise, slammed the door in his Majesty's face and cried "It's trie King!" The Hautapu Bridge on the TnihapeWainui Road will be closed for repairs, for all traffic, all day on Runday To make this old structure safe for traffic settlers and travellers must submit to the inconvenience of having it closed for one day. An official notification appears in another column of this issue.

The heavy fines inflicted at the last sitting of the Mangawelca Magistrate's Court on those failing to render personal service as required by the Defence Act, are reported to be bearing good results. At the last parade of territorials a number of men who in the past have been conspicuous by their absence answered the roll-call.

At Portobello, a suburb of Dunedin. an Anti-Pea Rifle Association has boon formed. During the meeting case; osr careless and reckless and even intentional killing or wounding of oattm or sheep were reported. Some vale able horses had been injured, and it was stated that residents in the district, had had narrow escapes from tiring shot.

It is expected that the figures recently collected by the Labour Department from Unions in regard tc the number of their members who had up to September 30 last enlisted for active service will be published in next month's Labour Journal. It ss understood that the statistics disclose a very satisfactory response on tn* part of organised' labour, comparing most favourably with Australia.

A traveller on the Taihape-Wahrui Road reports that in a small enclosure," which runs up steeply from the fence on the road line, fully one hundred sheep, from some cause had crowded on the fence at the foot of the hill, and were lying three or four deep, apparently dead from suffocaton. Several men were busy removing the skins. ,