LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 12, 15 January 1916, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

The clerical staff of the Otaihape Meat and Produce Co., Ltd., has removed into new offices adjoining the Bank of New Zealand.

is expected that the Government Statistician will have the alphabetical lists showing the men of military age in the various districts ready by today.

In another column the Borough Council publishes special loan proposal's affecting the Tailiape Water Supply and Electric Lighting Special Eating Area.

In a cablegram received to-day came the astounding news that Sir ' John French always had the knack of being shot at the right moment. It will probably be found to be a telegraphic error.

Miss Selda Summers, about 20 years of age, employed at a solicitor's office in Auckland, stepped on to a skylight in the second storey of the office and fell through the glass on to her head, being rendered unconscious.

An old-age pensioner named Markwick Ashdown Sivyer committed suicide at Swanson by jumping into the creek. He left a letter indicating- that he had "come to the conclusion that life was not worth living.

Commenting on the rumours concerning incidents connected with the work, of the Maheno at- the Dardanelles, Mr. Massey said he had no knowledge whatever of the alleged circumstances. No statement of the kind had reached the Government.

At little after 11 o'clock on Tuesday morning (says the Napier Telegraph) some little • excitement was caused in Hastings Street by a motorcycle and side-car catching alight. The machine was ridden by a lady, who a.fso had a lady passenger in the si<seoar. By some means a spark ignited the petrol, and the machine was soon enveloped in a huge cloud of smoke. Little, damage resulted.

We have heard of the absent-mind-ed man who struck at a fly on his nose with his razor, but never of a human being who cut off a second finger in explaining how he happened to lose the first one. He did not know much about machinery, but ho thought lie wouJd put one of his hands down near a rapidly whirling circular-saw to see if lie could feel any rush o.t wind. He ventured too far and lost one of his fingers, cut off as by a mighty knife. •'How did you do it," someone asked, hearing the cry of terror and pair from the man's lips. "Why, I wanton to fed the wind and held oui my hand like this,'' was the reply as the

thoughtless man /rat out his hand w-liicli had not yet suffered from eontact with the pitiless saw. That hand, too, was; thrust- toe near the teeth of

the saw and another finger went, tor:

Bushfallers are wanted by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency, Ltd., to fall 1,500 acres of birch bush. Good prices offered, and a bonus of half-a-crown an acre given if work is done satisfactorily.

Mr. Walter Smith and his talented company, have, by request, consented to give a sacred concert in the Town Hall to-morrow evening, the whole of the proceeds from which are to go to the local patriotic fund. Time will be given for all church attendants to see the whole of the programme.

Nine men presented themselves for examination by the Medical Board, which sat at Taihape on Thursday afternoon at the Courthouse. Dr. Burnett was president and Drs. Sinclair

and Serpell (members). Lieut. Mar-'tyn-Roberts represented Base Records and Staff Sergt. Major Tuckey represented the Defence Department. Two men were passed fit for duty, one was granted a further two month's leave and the remainder were discharged as medically unfit. One man did not report himself and will be treated as absent without leave.

On Wednesday next a compulsory parade of territorials and cadets will be held at O'Connor's Hall, Taihape. Cadets fall in at 7 p.m. for the purpose of completing records; territorials Tall in at 7.30 p.m. for the purpose of having uniforms issued to them. Q.M.S. Bowker will make a special trip from Wanganui for this purpose and no leave wi 1 be granted. This will be the last opportunity of getting uniforms before the annual camp.

"I must have boon in bod an hour when I was awakened by an awful crash." wrote the wife of a Tommy at the front, the letter being .quoted in tire London Daily Dispatch. "I knew it was them Zepps. There was another terrible bang. I took my clothes off the chair, shoved them on a hook, gripped baby, and ran downstairs to the cellar. You must not blame mo. If was horrible. I wondered why baby didn't cry. I looked at the dear. ft was a good job hef had a stron> nightie on. I know you'll forgive me. If you only know what I went through. I had hung baby upside down on tho waltt by the hem of his nightie, and was nursing the' big pillow with lace frills. The poor kid. . . ."

In IS9O a German squadron visited Wellington, the vessels being the Leipsic, Sophie, and Alexandrine, Admiral Valois being in command. The Leipsic went to Palliser Bay for big-gun practice, but a strong southerly wind springing up, the idea was abandoned, and the squadron executed manoeuvres in the vicinity of Soames Island, where to-day 250 Germans are held as prisoners of war. Circumstances have much altered in the intervening y-Dars In IS9O, the German officers were honoured guests. They were entertained by the Governor. The Wellington Club also gave a ball in houour of the visitors. "It may be taken for granted," states the Post, "that for many years there have been carefully preserved in the archives of Germany complete plans of Wellington harbour."

Of the members elected to the House of Representatives for the first time at the general election of September,- ISB7 (says a Wellington paper) four —Sir Joseph Ward, Sir James Carroll, Sir W. B. Perceval, and Sir Thomas Mackenzie—have been selected for titular honours, whilst one, the Hon. W. P. Reeves, repeatedly refused a title. It is also worthy of note that of the men first returned at that election three,Sir W. B. Percavil, W. P. Reeves, and Sir Thomas Mackenzie—have occuied the position of representative for the Dominion in London, the first, as Agent-General and the two latter as'High Commissioners. Of the members returned in ISS7 only four remain in the active political life of the Dominion —Sir Joseph Ward, Sir James Carroll, the Hon. James Allen, and Dr. Newman. The first two have been in the House continuously since then.

At its next meeting next Monday the. Counci'S of the Wellington Centr* 1 Chamber of Commerce will consider the following resolution adopted by the-Australasian Merchants' Association (London): "That as the action of the German Government with regard to submarine activity has inflicted considerable losses upon the British people here and in the Dominions beyond the seas, this committee of the Australasian Merchan's' Association respectfully suggests to the British and Colonial Governments that !,teps should be taken immediately after the war to levy upon German and Austrian vessels each time they enter a

port within the British Empire a differential and special charge for port dries over' and above the customary port l*ates, the proceeds so obtained to hi used as the Governments concerned mcy uetomine. This association is oi opinion that the suggestion made will, if j acted upca, in course o?. time mmburse the people for some of the losses inflicted upor the comniunity. ' s