LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 348, 15 December 1915, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

The retail price of certain standarc brands. of butter was advanced Id per lb in Wellington from yesterday.

Last night's Gazette notifies that the exportation of all articles to China anr% Siam is prohibited, unless permission be obtained from the Minister for Customs.

The printing of Christmas Cards \n now a feature of the work turned out by the Taihape Drinting and Publishing Co., Ltd and samples may be seen and prices will be given on application at the office.

The Education Department is **»» quiring for some teachers who are wiping to accept appointments in native schools at Samoa for the period of the war. The Samoan Administration asked first for native teachers, but thess were not available, the supply being barely sufficient for New Zealand's needs.

A shipment of drapery, Manchester goods, general furnishings, etc., have just been received by Messrs Collinson and Gifford, to which the firm call the special attention of the residents of Taihape and district. Some particulars of this shipment "with prices are set forth, in Messrs Collinson and Gifford's advertisement on page six of this issue.

The Dominion Chief .Scout, Colonel Cosgrove, who has been in communication with the Minister for Railways in reference to obtaining scnool excursion stop-over tickets for -Scouts who go into camp during- the holidays, has boon requested to furnish Mr. E. H. Hiley, General Manager, at once wltvi particulars of parties desiring to travel, the number in each party, and tne dates of outward and return journey*..

A Waihi miner, who recently returned to New Zealand after spending several years in Alaska, states that several mines there are working on ore averaging only 10/6 per ton in value. One mine, named Alaska Treadmill, had paid no less a sum than £2,000,000 in dividends. Another, on the sara* field, had paid dividends amounting to £1,500,000 oii. ore giving a. return or only 9/0 per ton. The Alaska Treadmill mice has 700 stamps working, :>v<i treats large quantities of ore. Iti'Ss doubtful, however, whether the san;? principles of working apply to Nerf Zealand. Probably the cost of production is much smaller titan here.

The engineer reported to the Patow County Council yesterday that it wr*-. very difficult at the present time to obtain casual hands for road work, am* the Council was working short-handed on nearly ail the works being carried out.

The anual Ram Fair of the Manawatu and West Coast A. and P. Association is advertised to take place on the 3rd and 4th February next, on theAssociation's Show Grounds at Palmerston North. Full particulars re entries are given in the advertisement.

Dalgety and Company, Limited, have received the following cablegram from their London Office, under date of the 11th instant: —"Sales atse proceeding with increasing animation for all descriptions. Shafty Merinos are making exceptional prices, especially West Australians."

A private letter received in Dunedin from Egypt contained the information that Trooper William McCallum, who volunteered for service from Lawrence district, had fallen heir to a fortune

estimated at £25,000. In the meantime, Trooper McCaD.im is doing his "little bit" with the troops in Egypt.

Owing to the large shortage of infantry in the other military districts. No. ?> Group (Wellington City and Suburbs) has been asked to supply as many more infantry as possible over and above its quota. All men fit and available for the infantry will, therefore, be sent into camp to and including January 4, being sent into camp daily.

The anniversary services at the Methodist Church on Sunday evening were very largely attended, and a feature of each service was the singing of the special choir. To-night the anniversary tea is being held, followed by a conversazione, when the special anniversary hymns and anthems will be repeated by the choir.

A Busy Bee, Sale of Children's Work, and Social is advertised to take place in St. John's Hall, Huia Street, under the auspices of the Presbyterian Church, on next Friday evening. The feature of the function is the really beautiful work that has been done by Taihape children, there being many •t----ti'des both artistic and serviceable, vthe admision is by silver coin, children free, there should be a large attendance.

Mr. A. H. Browne, a tailor in Auckihnd, died in a rather peculiar manner on Friday last. Deceased, who suffered from a weak heart, was travelling in. a sonth-bound train near Morrinsville, when he rose from his seat. At this moment the train gave a lurch, and Mr. Browne fell, striking his head forcibly against the side of the carriage. He was rendered unconscious, and expired before the next station was reached| Messr s A. W. Gardner and Co., drapers and outfitters, announce in a new advertisement the arrival of goods specially suitable as "seasonable gifts for men. The good are now displayed and they certainly make a splendid show. The articles are too numerous to mention, but all are of uniform excellence and those wanting presents for gentlemen, or indeed for lady, friends, should certainly see Messrs Gardner and Co's stock.

In the Magistrate's Court at New Plymouth, Mr. J. H. Walker, the interpreter, stated there are about str Maori girls in Taranaki. who were married before they were 14 years of age. He thought all Maori marriages were carried out by the Maori custom, ana cases of the marriage of children wen* common wherever there were Maoris. As soon as girls showed a friendship for young men their parents arranged to get them married. "It appears these children have no say in the matter at all," remarked Mr. A. Crooke, S.M.; "and it is just about time the custom was stopped."

An official statement has been made to the effect that an important gathering of Maoris is to be held at Mercer, on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day for the purpose of discussing the attitude of the native towards the matter of recruiting. It i s expected that there will be an attendance of nearly 2,000 natives, which will include Sir James Carroll, Dr. Pomare, and Mr. Ngata. Hitherto there has not been complete unanimity among the Maori tribes on this question, but it is suggested that the conference i s likely to smooth out all difficulties and lead the way to uniformity of action among the Maoris'.

An interesting roll of honour has been prepared for the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency, Ltd., containing the names of those members of the New Zealand staff who have volunteered for military service up to October 18th last. It is interesting- to note that up to date of printing, the total number of volunteers from the staff is 75 men, of whom 4 have been killed, 1 is missing, and 10 are wounded. It is proposed at. a later date to issue a supplementary sheet recording the subsequent volunteers. The number of the (New- Zealand' roll is quite apart from the officers in Australia, and London who nave volunteered. All tßese men are receiving half pay. ,