Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4th, 1916. SOLDIER SETTLEMENT AROUND TAIHAPE.

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

Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4th, 1916. SOLDIER SETTLEMENT AROUND TAIHAPE.

(With which is incorporated The Tai hape Post and Waimarino News.)

From the report of the Commission er of Crown Lands, submitted ro the Board at its meeting last week, it is pleasing to know that, although none of the magnificent land awaiting close settlement just on the borders of Talhape borough has been utilised for the settlement of returned soldiers, less valuable and less suitable land, from one point of view, has been taken the extremeties of the Taihape district. The most significant sentence in the whole report is. “Five men for various reasons have decided not to occupy their sections.’’ |We would suggest to the Commissioner that these few words will continue to have more of the public thought than the whole of the remainder of Ms report. Even if it is not customary nowadays to let the public know how their business is being conducted, it should and must be remembered that it is a right that cannot be taken away or in any way alienated. The public, to allay any suspicion, about returned soldiers being offered sections that meant slow starvation for them to occupy, should have been frankly told what the various reasons were. It is net suggested that there was a word in them derogatory to anybody, indeed, they might have been just the opposite; which.

ever it was there should he h.o secrecy or mystery about the settlement of men who have risked their lives in fighting their; country’s battles. After noting where some of the land is that returned soldiers have had the plucic to endeavour to subdue, it should be publicly known where the five sections are that five men for various reasons to have nothing to do witn. Everything is probably all right and quite in order, but people will think, and just to keep thoughts from wrong channels the information asked for should have been part of the original statement in the report. Sixteen men have taken sections offered them between Owhango and Taumarunui; they are milled bush sections, and although the country is not equal either in productive value or convenience to a centre that much around Taihape is, these men will probably make a living. It will be a change of work for them to come from ti'ench digging to tackle bush-falling, which some are already working hard at. Eight other soldiers have been put into the virgin bush away back on the banks of the Wanganui River. This looks rather like exile. It is well known that very large areas of land in the upper reaches or the Wanganui River have been on offer for years, and are still on offer, because nobody can, with the most temptng conditions, be induced to take them up. It may be ever such fine land for all we know, but we do know that there are miles and miles of it waiting for anybody that is plucky enloifg/h to venture on its occupation. The eiig/ht returned soldiers, we arehnclined to think, never performed an act of greater bravery than that of going to hew out a home in the virgin bush, back from settlement, somewhere about the source of the Wanganui River. Two of these eight men are on the land preparing to underscrub in readiness for bushfalling. They need a lot of praying for. Two men have been given sections near Raetihi, and from a statement that onesection is partly cleared and stocked with sheep, these two men should succeed without undue hardship. Six dairying sections have been allotted to six other soldiers near Mangaweka, who, with reasonable encouragement, should be able to succeed in making; homes_ on the land they are justly entitled to.' *Ten men have taken grazing farms back of Ohingaiti, seven of whom are living in tents .or whareaon their sections; two others are making preparations for felling. This looks as though it is premature to call them grazing farms, they are rather intend- 1 ed to be’grazing farms, it seems, when the bush is felled and the land is grass ed and fenced. This may not be the case, hut that is exactly what the report states. The one aspect of this settlement of returned soldiers that IS not understandable is why these men who have rendered the greatest service any man can possibly give ,to his country, Should be exiled on land, miles ■ back from settlement in virgin bush ; which, if it is not part of miles of 1 country that has been offered on tempt‘ing terms,'“it is adjacent to it and is of .the same class, while there is; cleared land in thousands, of close- to a ■good market town, where stock can readily be bought and sold, and which is already producing riches galore tor its lucky occupiers. There is much of such land just outside the Taihape bor ougii boundaries, which our Chamber of Commerce has drawn the attention of the Government to, and got snubbed by the Government for so doing. The time is coming when this district will demand to know why; every other man one meets asks why, and the very hills are echoing why?

An area of 684 acres in Kaitieke County, Wellington Land District, has been proclaimed as set apart for selec tion by discharged soldiers..

In reply to a query as to the damage done in the recent fire at Trentham, the Hon. A. M. Myers said it had been found that the loss was not so serious as was at first anticipated, ‘'in any case, the holding of reserve stocks has disposed of any difficulty likely to have been experienced in supplying equipments for the reinforcements that enter camp,” explained the Minister.

Progress in the Otira ttmnel is proceeding apace. It is just six years last week since the first mile was bored by Messrs John McLean & Sons, and the Public Works Department ,a day or two ago started on the last mile of this long underground journey. Ih the ordinary course of events the Otira and Bealey ends of the bottom headings should meet about August, 1918.

A Refresher Course for all officers of the unattached list (b( and N.C.O.'s of the Senior Cadets is to be bold in October. All those desiring to go should submit their names to the Area Officer immediately. Travelling allowances will be paid to and from camp, but no pay will be allowed. Quarters and messing will be provided. It is desired that every officer and N.C.O. will attend, in order that the intention of Headquarters to bring, the training of cadets up to the required standard may be attained.

Not only nurserymen, but any person raising plants for purposes of sale must register under the provisions of the Orchard and Garden Diseases Act.

It is announced that the next Red Cross Tea will be given by Mrs Loughnan on Thursday afternoon next in St. Margaret’s Parish Hall. A cordial invitation is extended to all.

Mr Dawson inquired, at the meeting of th e Land Board last week, regarding the position of the men who were at the front, and who wanted to settle on the land. In his opinion, the discharged soldier had all the best of the bargain, as land was bound to rise in value. The Commissioner replied that no doubt, the Government would make provision for the men referred to.

R. Edwards, who fractured his skull by a fall from Peach Pie at the Danne virke Steeplechase Meeting, is stilt an inmate of Whare Whitu private hospi-

tal, and there has been little change in his condition since admission. A

report circulated at Palmerston North that there was little chance of his recovery is regarded by the doctor under whose care Edwards is, as an exaggeration .

The foreman employed by a big contractor rushed into the office of the boss, wide eyed and palpitating. “Boss,” he exclaimed, ‘‘one of them new houses fell down in the night!” “What’s that?” exclaimed the boss, jumping up and beginning to take notice, “How did that happen?” “It was the fault of the workmen, boss,” replied the foreman. “ They took down th e scaffolding before they put on the wallpaper.. ’ ’

Earl Grey, speaking in London ax the farewell to the Australian Premier, said Mr Hughes during his visit, had electrified the whole nation. He trusted Mr Hughes was leaving for Australia only temporarily, and that if a general election did take place he would come back by the first boat. If he did so, His Lordship assured him that he would have the choice of 600 constituencies, any of which would consider it a great honour to have him as its representative.

A number that has''to be respected by New Zealand men of military age is 7 141 fourteen days” is an itnportaht stimulation attached to certain obligations under the Military Service Act; A lack of respect for that ‘number 14’ (in regard to enrolment, if not ; already registered under the National Registration Act, or to reporting a change of address) may make the delinquent liable to memorable penalties. The nearest post office will give any information required

The Meat Trades. Eed Cross Fund has reached. £90,000. The committee is offering Lord Kitchener’s original letter calling, for the first 300,000 voium teers or a thousand, guineas as a prize for the nearest •- guess of the number of marriages and births in England in 1916. Other prizes,-amounting to £SOO, will be offered. The meat traders are providing the prize' money, one giving £IOOO. The competition is open to Australia and New Zealand, and the shillings for entrance fees go td the fund.

Difference of opinion relating* to, the Jutland naval battle led to a prosecution in the Wellington Magistrates’ Court yesterday, when Ike Kutner and Khristian Henry Jensen, a Russian and Dane respectively, were charged with committing breaches of the peace A heated argument led to fisticuffs, and incidentally a broken shop window. A word of advice was uttered by the Magistrate to the defendants, who were convicted and discharged on condition they paid witneses ’ expenses

At the Magistrate’s Court, Christchurch, in a case against a boy wno was charged with kissing! a little girl against -her will, Mr Cunningham, who appeared for the defendant, said that while it was a most reprehensible thing to kiss a girl against her will, yet there were none in Court who had not kissed a girl at some time or other (Laughter.) Mr Cassidy interpolated: “There’s nothing half so sweet in life as love’s young dream.” The Bench, however, considered if the boy had been older -he could not have regarded it as anything but very serious. Mr Cunningham said it would teach the hoy a lesson for the rest of his life. The offender was fined £3 and costs.

The arrest ann attempted suicide of a German spy responsible for the secure of three ships in the North Sea is reported by Het Volk from Rotterdam The spy, who was German corresponcr ence clerk for a well known Du ten firm, was suspected by the head of the firm, who inquired what papers he had in his desk. The man stammered and refused to answer. The manager telephoned to the police, and the spy ran to the second floor and threw a smart box containing papers out of a window, hoping himself to walk out unobserved. But the police arrived in time, and the spy, finding escape impossible, •hurled himself out backwards from the window and was picked up with a broken skull and limbs. He was taken to: hospital, and has refused to answer any questions. Pie is known to have , had full knowledge of the contents of valuable cargoes seized at sea. I

The Bank of New Zealand Board of Directors have appointed Mr R. W. Kane to the extraordinary vacancy on the directorate caused by the death of Mr Martin Kennedy.

A British official report states: Our aviators have been active in spite of the mist and cloudy weather, and have brought down four German machines on the Somme front.

At the Blanket Nurserooms in the Town Hall next Wednesday afternoon, at 2.30, the Blanket Narsc will give a demonstration in the making of hamanised milk. All those interested are cordially invited.

Speaking at a banquet at the Nautical Club in Madrid, King Alfonso said that in the older days the Spanish flag; floated gloriously over the battlefield. Spain had no part in this war, but he desired that her flag should be the symbol of peace and charity for all the belligerents.

The Commissioner of Lands reported at the meeting of the Wellington Land Board on Thursday the purchase of an estate near Marton, comprising 1068 acres, and another of 1013 acres near Fielding, which are to be cut up into small farms for selection by discharged soldiers.

A second-hand dealer named Harry Harold Clark was fined £2 and costs at Hamilton yesterday for a breach or the Second-hand Dealers Act, by failing to keep a proper entry of an article purchased by him, givng the name residence and calling of the persons connected with the transaction.

In connection with the payment of the war bonus to school teachers, the Minister of Education states legal difficulties have arisen with reference to the payment of certain teachers and others not under the control of the Hdu cation Boards or of the Department. The matter will be considered by the Cabinet at its next meeting.

It is understood that a chopping match between two well known exchampion axemen wall take place at Norsewood in about four months’ time. The conditions are £SO aside and a 4ft log 1 . The deposit has been put down. The event should attract considerable interest/ as although the names of the, .contestants are not yet disclosed, they are known to he expert axemen. , . . ...i> ;

The Hch. 'A . ; M'. Myers, Minister for Munitions, stated that as the case of Levy was still sub judice, he could not make any ' statement on the subject, except to say that the cancellaion of the contract would not make any difference-■ no far as obtaining supplies, .: was concerned. Arrangements had been made for the completion of the balance- of the contract. A contract with another firm was cancelled for usirig ' cotton instead of thread.

Essad Pasha, >vlxen in Paris before his departure for Salonika, declared that Albania was in a state of open revolution owing to hunger. The Albanians had no wish for Government in Prussian fashion. There were arready 20000 insurgents. ‘"When peace is declared,” he said, “the Entente will decide Albania’s destinies. The violence of Austro-Hungarian depression caused my exile, which will not last long. I am rejoining the Allies at Salonika in the-firm hope of spending the winter in Albanian territory,”

This Anzac story is from the “Mirage,” the unofficial organ of the 2nd Light Horse Brigade:—“A long) slan of a Cornstalk was mooching along Piccadilly, when a subaltern of one of Kitchener’s War Babies passed. The Anzac neglected to salute, and tne irate young officer exclaimed: “Don’t you know who I am? I am your superior officer!” Slowly, quietly, kindly, but with 'great emphasis the Anzac retorted, “Run home now, sonny, and tell your mother you have actually spoken to a real live soldier.”

A man named John Robert Walters was arrested by Constable Esson on the Marton-Taihape train on Thurs day charged with on August 28th, 1916, at Marton, by a certain false pretences to wit, a valueless cheque drawn on the Bank of New South Wales, Taihape, and obtained from Messrs Butter & Gregory, of Marton, clothing and money to the total value of £lO, was brought before Mr Haigh, J.P., and remanded to appear a. Marton on September 7th, 1916. Accused also admitted that he was a deserter from the Featherston Military amp.

Messrs. Bassett & Co., timber merchants, draw the public attention to their advertisement on page 4 in this issue. This company hold the largest stock on the West Coast., amounting to some 2.000,000 feet. This provides a special dry stock for joinery. This firm supply the leading coastal worn, including) such prominent buildings as the Collegiate School Buildings, Wanganui Economic, Johnston &. Co’s offices, and Coastal Hospital joinery. For high class workj it will pay all interested to use Bassett’s Joinery.