LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 57, 7 March 1916, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

Mr. E. €. Gibbs publicly expresses ■bis appreciation of tli<3 valuable services rendered by those who helped in removing cars and stock from his'motor garage on the occasion of the fire on Sunday morning.

A hairdressing and billiard saloo

business at Ohakune is advertised foi lease. It is said'to be a good opportunity for a steady man.

An amethyst brooch was lost on Saturday between Erewhon and Taihape and the finder will be rewarde<. on returning same to this office. ...

Owing to the fire on Sunday morning damaging their premises in Tui Street, Messrs. Butehart Bros, inform their patrons and the general public that their business will be conducted in premises next to Finch ’s Bazaar,, in Main Street, until further notice.

Edward Walters, Joseph Scollartl and Alexander Cameron arc -missing from Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu. They were'last seen on Monday nighattempting to cross the Kawarua River in a boat, which was found fivmiles down the stream bottom up. They are believed to have boor drowned.

Some remarkable bargains iu ladies’ and children 's boots are being advertised by Mr. McCormick, bootmaker and importer. There nr,e only one o: two sample pairs in each line advertised and those- wanting them should be early. Mr. McCormick has full stocks of all classes of ladies’, gent’s, and children’s footwear.

It is notified, so that aspirants for positions in the Public Service may have time to prepare themselves for examinations, that examinations will be conducted during the month of November of this year. Applications must reach the Director of Education, Welington, not later than Bth September, and must be made on forms obtainable from the Education Department. Those who contemplate qualifying for Public Service appointments should keep this in mind.

The Australian war correspondent on the Western frontf Mr. Henry Gullett, who has arrived here, conveyed eulogies of Australians and New Zealanders from French and English military experts, who, he said, considered 'them the finest infantry in the world. A War Office official told Mr. Gullett that Sir lan Hamilton’s personal letters to Earl Kitchener, praising the Australians and New Zealanders were remarkable documents.

Figures published in January by British life assurance corporations show htat since August, 1914, nearly £7,000,00 has been paid in war claims. The industrial companies alone have disbursed £1,420,000 cn 80,000 policies. Six months ago the German companies' broke all their insurance contracts by arbitrarily reducing the amounts for which they were liable, but the British companies will, of course, continue to pay all claims in in full.

Messrs Dalgety and Co., Ltd., report having received the following cablegram from their London house, under date 2nd i'nst.:—Wool Salles; The market is irregular. Good demand for best scoured, which is unchanged, also for good combing merinos at the opening decline except for red Western Australian wool, which is fully 10 per cent, lower, probably as a result V last sale of wool being too dear. Crossbreds are in good demand at opening rates, and lambs are 5 per cent dearer. Sheepskins: 3,100 bah's offered, all sold; merino combing unchanged, crossbred combing ,]d lower, merino crossbred elbthing jd dearer, and lambs jd dearer.

The authorities are exhausting every effort to bring Rua, the rebellious Maori tohunga, quietly in. The prophet remains buried in the depths of the Urewera forests, and his very little communication with the outside world. All the natives are very reticient, so that it is extremely difficult to pick up information. However, it appears not unlikely that' another visit will be paid to Manngapohatu, Rua’s stronghold, by a man who carries considerable weight both with Rua and his followers, to persuade him not to be foolish. This attempt is not likely to succeed. The Wellington Wool Jen Mill workers, it is reported, have decided and have given notice that unless their demand for a 10 per cent, increase in wages is conceded by Thursday next, a wcr*k V notice of their intention to leave thei employment will be given.

Th c new service armlets that are being issued to returned troopers by the Defence authorities came in for scan scathing criticism at the hands of Mr. .1. T. Hornsby, M.P., during a speech made at Langdale Patriotic Picnic. “This is the badge that is being issued to returned soldiers,” said the member for Wairarapa, holding up a twoinch badge of red ribbon. Arc you not ashamed of it? I am. This paltry thing is a disgrace to us ail. If the armlet were to be 'issued to special constables in a riot one could understand the form of distinguishing badg< decided upon, but for men who h" made such sacrifices for their country the armlet he had in bis possession was a paltry, miserable, and despicable thing. Surely the authorities cor have provided a suitable ornament to

be worn on the lapel cf the coat—decoration that returned soldiers could be proud of.