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Taihape Daily Times, Issue 160, 1 September 1916, Page 4

Matai firewood; —A few truck loads are advertised for by Messrs Worsnop and Tongs, Palmerston North. Highest price is offered ou trucks at any siding.

O 'Leary Bros.' and Downs, of Auekland. A collection of plants and shrubs is to arrive on Friday, and the public are invited to inspect.

General Carranza,, the nominal President of Mexico, has issued a decree nationalising th e Catholic Church, and permitting the clergy to control property under thg strict supervision of the Government.

A line of dainty bracelets has just been received by Mr H. D. Bond, jeweller, including all the latest novelties in curb, band, and bamboo bracelets, all of high-grade quality and artistic design, yet moderately priced. The public are invited to call and inspect.

In order to encourage its clerical staff to invest in the war loan* the Huddart-Parken Company has decided to contribute 10 per cent, additional to salaries for that purpose, and to advance money for further purchase, the latter only being repayable by install ments.

"I am not one of those who grumble very much at shipping freights," said th e chairman of the Wellington Meat Export Company, at its annual meeting. "There has been a good deal of growling at the Imperial Freights Committee; but, so far as I can judge, they have had a very difficult task, and they hav e carried it out fairly."

Another Irish revolt: The children in one of the schools at Dublin refused to attend because they were prohibited from wearing political badges. They attempted to cause similar action on the part of children at other schools but failed. They thereuopn smashed the windows of several of the other schools, which were closed, owing to fear of disturbances arising!

On Tuesday morning, Mr Cochran, jun., was driving an Oakland car near Utiku on his way to Wanganui, when the car caught fire. The whole of the body with the exception of the ironwork and the wheels was destroyed, but th e engine is practically intact. The cause of the fire is unknown. Mr Cochran, it is understood, will be a heavy losses through the occurrence.

Special efforts are being made by the Kahungunu tribe from Wairoa, the very cradle of the Maori race, to raise a complete company for tbe front. The Carrolls and Ormonds have enlisted, and these 1 will draw in many others. The Kahungunu have never been beaten in battle"; and the leading men hope by the end of shearing to raise 100 men.

The following cablegram from the

Tli e largest suit in the history of the American Federal Courts has been begun by fire stockholders in the New York-New Haven-Hartford railway,, Avho demand that the estate of the late J. P. Morgan should restore 160,000,000 dollars (32,000,000) to the railway, which they declare has been lost through Morgan's efforts to create a monopoly of transport in New England.

High Commissioner has been received by the Hon J. Allen (Minister for Defence) : ' 'With reference to your telegram of the 25th July,. C6lonial Office states Prisoners of War Help Society considers there are at present ample funds for British prisoners of war, and does not advocate opening of fund in New Zealand yet. Minister of Foreign Affairs concurs."

'A case against Professor Ishcrwood, magnetic healer and clairvoyant, at the Napier Supreme Court, created much interest. Accused, was charged with having obtained money by false pretences from a number of Maoris. It was alleged that he foretold events, professed to cure diseases, and promised children to childless couples for payment. Lengthy evidence for the prosecution took up the whole day. The estate of the late Mr Martin Kennedy has been sworn at under £150,000.

Some good accounts of the stiff fighting on the Somme have been obtained from wounded officers and men who are now back in "Blighty/' clad in hospital blue, writes our London correspondent. Tlicy are wonderfully cheerful, full of fight, and brimful of confidence. But there is nothing to beat the way in which the character of the fighting "was succinctly summed up by one of. the Ulster boys. "What was it like?" he asked. ''By heavens, it was like a belfast riot on top of Vesuvius!"

"Young wives whose husbands have been killed at the front," says a Melbourne "Punch" writer, "should beware of findingi consolation too soon, lest they have the same experience as a case just heard of. Amongst the first lists of killed from Gallipoli landing came the name of a hero husabnd, and this was officially confirmed later. After a year of mourning she consented to be consoled, and married again. Try to imagine her horrible predicament when she received notification that her husband, who was reported killed, is a passenger by an incoming hospital ship. How on earth the three are going to adjust marital matters is a very awkward question."

The lonely island of Pitcairn was passed on August 11th by the steamer Kaikaura on her voyage from Montreal to Auckland. The vessel did not stop, but those on board saw two whale boats leave the island with the intention of intercepting her. Although the Kaikoura was slowed down, the boats failed to reach the track of the vessel. The officers, however, collected a quantity of fresh, provisions and all the available newspapers. These were scaled up in a barrel and thrown overboard, being picked up by the occupants of on e of the boats. Further on in the Pacific the Kaikoura passed close to the French island of Kapa on the morning of August 14th. As the vessel passed on the uninhabitated side 6f the island, the residents were not aware of her presence, and the only life seen was a num ber of cattle grazing on the hills.

Argument was heard before Mr Justice Cooper, iu Chambers, at Auckland, respecting a summons for a more explicit statement of claim in the action. Dominion Mortgage and Finance Co., Ltd., against Cleave and others. Mr E. McVcagh appeared in support of th e summons, and Mr H. P. Richmond ■opposed it. After hearing argument, in the course of which Mr McVeagh urged that it was a case in which the claim made against the defendants should be set forth with a degree of particularity which was not rejuired in other cases, while Mi- Bichniond submitted tliat all defendants could ask for was what was laid down in the rules, which set forth that the statement of claim should show the general cause of action with sufficient circumstances, times, and instances as to give an outline of tlic grounds of action, his Honour reserved decision.

A sensational happening is alleged to have occurred in Ferguson Stneet, Palmerston North* one evening this week, where it is stated a man forced his way into a private dwelling, seized the young woman in charge bound her with a rope, and then ransacked the house. Inquiries made by the police go to show that the alleged oecunrence took place about 8.30, when the house was fully lighted, that besides the young woman's father, avlio is an invalid, there were a number of children in the house at the time, and that nothing was removed by the would-be burglar. All this appeared to have happened without disturbance of any kind, and it was not, unti'i the young woman appeared at a neighbour's house with the rope about her, that it was learned that anything out of the ordinary had happened. Further enquiries are being made by the authorities.

"It was owing to the treachery of a German born in New Zealand that our casualties wer e heavy at the end of June and beginning of July (writes a New Zealand soldier from a London Hospital). "He was acting as a stretcher bearer, and had obtained a good deal of information as to the location of batteries, etc. His ruse was rather clever. Looking over the parapet, he made out that he saw somebody lying in No Man's Land, and said that he would investigate. The members of his platoon thought him the essence of gameness as he hopped over our parapet and crawled out. When about halfway between the lines, he rose, and, waving a white flag, bolted to the German line. Everyone was so surprised that he was over the enemy's parapet before a shot was fired. From then on we were bombarded with deadly effect. So much fox- a New Zealander born of German parents."

Men of military age (twenty to forty-six years) should read carefully an advertisement in this issue set, ting out the obligations of Reservists under the Military Service Act in regard to enrolment in the Expeditionary Force Reserve, if they have not registered under the National- Regis tration Act, or to notifying their new address if their place of abode has changed since registration. Every man of military age who comes within the foregoing category has a duty under the Act. Neglect or delay in this matter makes renders liable to Ueavv penalties, including imprisonment. A Reservist who fails to report a change of abode may be charged with desertion. The employment of mn-csriro'W men or deserters is prohioitdd. A warning; is given that, onus of proof in every case under the Act is on the defendant. Another important reminder is that it is safer to register than to attempt evasion of duty. Enro'Jled men have the chance of the ballot; men who are not enrolled may be sent straight into camp. Cards, forms, information and assistance are obtainable at any post office.

In another column Mr M. L Gavey \ announces that he has been appointed j agent for Messrs W, T. Bcnfiold and j Sons* of Wanganui, and Messrs J

Mrs Shields, of Kuku Strict, notifies by advertisement that she has vacancies for a few respectable boarders.

Lambing is now the order in mosw parts of the district, and the results! obtained so far are generally reported to be very satisfactory.

There are thirty-five vacant seatsin the Austrian Parliament, ■nti vacated since 1914. The occupant?:! were mostly hanged or imprisoned for.'nigh treason.

There is still a great scarcity of' houses in the borough, and more than. one new arrival is considering the necessity of leaving the district unless he can find a house in the town.

Last night, at a late hour, a disputearose between some railway employees, and it is alleged that some blows were exchanged, the battle taking place on railway property between the station and the engine sheds. Probably more will be heard of the matter.

Early yesterday morning William McLean alias Wm. Loft, escaped from the Kaingaroa prison camp and hasnot yet been captured. He was sentenced in December, 1903 at Auckland, to twenty years imprisonment for p-he attempted murder of Constable Maher at Taumarunui.

The Parnell police reported at 3.30 p.m. yesterday that the body of an unknown man had been found in. Bridgewater Road. It appeared to have been lying for several days. Deceased was dressed in brown clothes and wore a cap. There was a bottle, whlcn had evidently contained poison, be-, side the body.

Fan some time past Staff-Sergeant-Major Tuckey has been conducting a class for Territorials and Senior Cadets, who desire to sit for the noncommissioned officers examination. The class is making good progress, and an examination of last year's papers proved eminently satisfactoiy. The examination will take place in about four weeks' time.

Eegularly during the shooting season, and out of it, one hears of accidents occurring to men carrying loaded' guns, such accidents usually occurring to a man when getting through a fence. A narrow escape from such a happening was experienced by a local resident this morning. He was out on the hills' shooting rabbits, and.: on his .way back had occasion to get through a fences ' While he was doing this the gun went' off, and the charge passed within an:;' inch or two of his body. \ , ■ "|w

A fresh supply of uniforms for Jso.. 43 Company Senior Cadets, have veen received, and were issued at the parade held on Wednesday evening last r Puggarees are not provided by the Defence authorities, but a supply for, the company was bought out of companyfunds, the colours being blue and white. The company will now present a very smart especially considering the fact that it has reached a higher state of efficiency than ever, before since its inception.

Kecently a Te Kapua resident drove in Ms motor-car, to Mataroa, on his way to Taihape, but owing to the bad state of the roads was compelled to leave the car at Mataroa and complete his journey by train. He returned to Mataroa by the evening train, and on. arrival there was surprised to find that the engine of the car was quite hot, and that there was every indication to show that the car had been driven by some person during his absence. His resentment can be better imagined than discribed. No doubt if the person who took '' French leave'' with the car, is traced, drastic steps will ba taken to prevent a repetition of the occurrence.

There is a mistaken idea rooted in.* the minds of many people that soldiers belonging to the Expeditionary Force are exempted from the civil or criminal process of the ordinary courts. Tha position is that there is no exemption except that provided by the present War Egulations, published on 31st July, 1916, the effect of which is that no soldier can be taken out of his Majesty's service by arrest without the consent of a "military authority" (a) under the Destitute Persons Act, (b) under the Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Act. Soldiers are not exempted from arrest by the police for crime, but only from arrest under the two statutes above-named, which substantially •are for the maintenance of dependants and for debt respectively. There is nothing to prevent summonses for debt being served upon soldiers., or any ordinary process of the civil court being taken against them. If a soldier owes a civilian money, judgment may be obtained against him, and all remedies can be- exercised under the judgment except the arrest of the man's person, under, the Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Act.