LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 58, 8 March 1916, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

The work on the road out towardMoawliango has now been complete and the steam roller is being taker back to Marton.

The French Ministry of Marine reports that nearly four thousand men were aboard the troopship Provence when she was sunk.

Mr. James Rattray has resigned from his position as driver of the traction road-roller under the Eangitikei County Council. His resignation was accepted with regret.

This morning’s express arrived at the Taihape station about an -hour late. There were a number of recruits aboard, proceeding to camp to join the 14th Reinforcements.

On Monday a thunderstorm was experienced at Tiriraukawa and lasted for some three -hours, there being vivid flashes of lightning. A tree on Mr P Mikleson’s property was struck by lightning and set on fire.

A cable received yesterday states that the British, on military grounds, have decided to deport all enemy traders, numbering nine,'now resident in Togland (it is presumed Togolnud is meant). Messrs. Meldrum, McLean, and Davies, solicitors, notify that, owing to their offices having been destroyed by fire, their practice will for the time being be carried on in offices in Finch’s Buildings, Tui Street.

Th© newspapers published in the Chinese language foreshadow the abandonment of the scheme to restore the monarchial system of government, and state that this will dispel the grievances of the rebels.

In order to lessen the possibility of infection in infantile paralysis by medium of street dust, the • Wellington City Engineer’s Department has Cccided to mix a small proportion of disinfectant with the water used for street spraying purposes

The steamer Tarawera met with a mishap to her machinery off Tolaga Bay on Saturday night, and is proceeding at half speed to Auckland. It is expected she will reach there this evening.

The Prize Court at Hamburg d:• cided that the torpedoing of seven Norwegian ships and also British and Danish steamers -which carried wood and wheat towards England was lawful, and that no compensation shall be paid.

For the two vacant scats in the Borough Council there were three nominations, and this would involve the Borough in the cost of an election Mr. E. Loader, taking into eonsidera tion the present state of Borough finance, decided to retire and thus oh viate considerable expenditure

The latest German statistics show that in 24 leading German cities the birth rate decreased during April, May, June and July, 1915, by 20 per cent., as compared with the corresponding months in 1914, which is equivalent to a loss, of 400,000 births annually throughout the German Empire.

The ex-Premler of Greece, M. Veniaelos, who favours the Allies, has had several interviews with King Constantine. It is believed they have been reconciled. It is reported that a political crisis in Athens is imminent. Mrs. Palmcrson, who is a sufferer by the recent fire in Tui Street, notifies that her dressmaking business will be recommenced in Neagle’s Buildings, in Main Street, where she hopes to have the usual favours from her patrons.

At the Three Stars Picture Theatre to-night, two special star dramas will be screened, both, being of very special merit. They are entitled “Yietorino, and ‘ 1 Greater Strength. ’ ’ There is also a splendid list of supporting films and a particularly interesting war budget.

The* backblock settler, oven if some of them are prosperous, does not always live in the lap of luxury (says the Dannevirke News). A well-known sportsman of the coast district remarked that in another three ■ weeks he would have resided on his present .holding for 40 years. It was only within the last thre (? years that lie had had a road to his place (and it could not now be traversed by motor traffic in winter).

During the month of February there were 20 cases of infectious diseases in the district supervised by Health Inpcctor Swindells. This district extends from the town of Marlon to Erua. In Taihape, the largest centre of population, there were only four cases—two of diphtheria and two of infaintile paralysis. There have been rumours of further cases of paralysis but up till uoou to-day only the two cases had been notified.

The groat naval expert, Archibald Hurd, says the British Fleet carries on its work in face of perils such as hare been present in no former war. Sobmarines are a continual menace; these-under-water craft are now constructed so as to lay mines in the most unlikely places, and the mines are constructed on ingenious principles so that, their presence cannot easily be detected, and suitable measures for their removal adopted. The surprise is not that so many, but that so few vessels have been lost by these agencies. The New Zealand Times says: "Owing to the engine of the 'AiicklandWdlington express developing a defect just before reaching Manakau on Sunday- morning, the train was held up for some time. The engine was one, of those imported from America. Another engine was sent from Paekakariki, and the .express reached Wellington a few minutes before 0 a.m., over two and ahalf hours late.” -