AN UNEXPECTED SUCCESS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 160, 6 September 1916, Page 4

AN UNEXPECTED SUCCESS.

The British and French forces in the river Somme offensive have scored a most notable success; a success so unexpected at the moment that one Is led to the belief that Hindenburg is sweating the western front to- gather together a force for punitive purposes f against Roumania. Something has assuredly happened; it may be that the signalising of Hindenburg’s call to the supreme command of the armies of Kultur the other day has put below zero again the spirit that enjoyed only a momentary buoyancy in the Kaiser’s glorious army. On that occasion a pre pared German attach was launched against the British which, although It proved to be the fiercest yet made, ended in complete defeat and ignominy. ,Whether it be that our Hun .opponents have not recovered from the shock, or whether it be that Hindenburg is paring his western forces to a dangerous extent, it matters little, but it is certain that British and French forces have conquered a large area of the most, important territory at a surprising minimum of cost in casualties. Should such victories be repeated two or three times Germany will have lost the opportunity to retire in her own time, and a disastrous rout will ensue. It is now obvious that Germany has not the power to stop the de termination of the Allies to to the complete breaking at’ her lines on the Somme. Germans know that better than-we do, and from indlcacations, sheds preparing for what she is pleased to term a shortening and straightening to enable better defence. In all probability Hindenburg will indulge in some fireworks, but some other officer will thereby come under the Kaiser’s displeasure. The Riga front is left to the care of Leopold just at the time a crushing blow is expected from Russki. A Bavarian may be subjected to almost certain defeat, but not a Prussian if it can be helped. While Hindenburg’s glory expedition is on, dismay will come to the Hun forces on depleted and less cared for fronts, for which the Kaiser and Hindenburlgi will lay the blame on others. There is a strong probability, however, that our Allies on the eastern and south fronts have scented Hindenburg’s purpose, and that their advance will be so rapid as to forestall the positions the Huns had set their hearts upon. The Roumanians are moving with wonderful rapidity across Transylvania and into Moldavia, and they are well in possession of the road to Belgrade, where it is believed an Austro-German force will invite a clash of arms. Greece is the only stumbling block to movement from Salonica. The King and his pro-Ger-mans are still pursuing} a course of treachery and duplicity which the Allies seem determined shall now be dis continued.

Charles Sheard, who has been an inmate of Avondale Mental Hospital since April 28th, escaped from that institution on Saturday. His dead body was found in a small creek on the hos pital property. He was 35 years ,of age.

The approximate quota required from the Wellington Military District per quarter for the Tunnelling' Corps Reinorcements will be 34, which will mean that each group will be required to find approximately 9 men every three months. The last weekly progress reports for the Wellington. District show that so far only five ■ men are fit and available. The nexi draft is to concentrate in the first week of October, and recruiting officers have been asked to make every endeavour to supply the number of xequred recruits.

Poultry thieving is rampant in the Auckland neighbourhood, very many people having recorded thein losses with the police. One resident of Onehunga lost sixty birds in one night.

Efforts are being made to raise the hulk of the steamer Washingtonian, sunk in 1915 off th e Delaware Capes, because owing to the war it is ‘ now worth £30„000 more than it cost three years ago

Mr G. Y. Shannon, of Waituna, sold the vacant section at the corner of Ballance Street and Customhouse quay, Wellington, to the Commonwealth and Dominion Line, Ltd. at a figure in the vicinity of £IO,OOO.

Taihape district recruits for the 21st Reinforcements ar e to be farewelled at a social and dance in the Taihape Town Hall on Saturday evening, September 16th. The men leav e for camp on Monday morning by the 6 o'clock train.

The sum of £25 was given at Wellington on Saturday night to a man who accosted the Russian conjuror Godlin outside the Opera House, while in ■ possession of a ticket in the Anzac Art Union and who used certain words to Mr Goldin,

Lord Kitchener’s will, made just after the waft- had started,, contained a queer .provision sjetiting {the {Broome Park estate on his “first and other sons, with remainder to his first and other daughters. Although' he was then unmarried, he evidently had hopes.

Turkish newspapers are well informed of the progress of the war—presumably from German sources. A recent issue of the Tanin announces the fall of Verdun, the total destruction of the fleet of the Allies in the Mediterranean, and the flight of th e French Government to England.

“1 should be proud to sweep the streets in England if it would help in this hour of crisis, just to show my appreciation of the things the world has been blessed with through England and all she stands for, and yet I have been a peace at any price man for 25 years. ” —Dr Alexander Irvine# the American author and preacher, at New York.

As showing what the public will pay to satisfy their appetites by way of early vegetables, it is stated that green peasi —the first of the season’s crop from Nelson —-were sold by Thompson Bros., Ltd., on Saturday (says the Post), and realised th e exceptional price of 4s 9d per peck, which is understood to constitute a record. The peas in question were grown by Mr Albert E, Max, Brightwater, Nelson.

With respect to recent cable comments by the Loudon Times on the alleged failure of New Zealand to fulfil its obligations in regard to the expeditionary force by th e voluntary system, tile Minister of Defence (the Hon. J. Allen') cabled to the High Commissioner on Saturday as follows; “Please reply to Times that it does not understand the situation, and is evidently ignorant that, in addition to the reinforcement drafts, we keep a reserve of approximately 1000 for contingencies.”

“And what about the part played by the miners?” asked th e union representative (Mr W. Richards) when Mr Chas. Rhodes stated in evidence, before the Arbitration Court in ’Auckland, that the Waihi Company in developing the mine had to surmount great difficulties. The reply of the witness was to the effect that he regarded labour as something to be purchased, just lik e machinery or other material requirements. “Then ther e is no sentiment as far as you are concerned?” asked Mr Richards. “Not a bit,” was the ters e reply.

lii the course of Ins annual address to the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, the President stated that the Council had been in communication with the Prime Minister on the subject of post-war. trade and th e internment of enemy subjects. Mr Massey had replied stating that the matter of regulating trade after the war would possibly hav£ to be decided at a conference between the Imperial and Dominion. Governments. With regard to enemy subjects a large number had been interned, and the police had received special instructions to keep those who were at large under strict surveillance.

A large proportion of the shipment of oranges which arrived by the Flora (says the Auckland Herald) was in a damaged and decayed condition. One Auckland firm of importers received as its share of the shipment a consignment of 3000 cases, of which number only SOO were in really good condition Of the remaining 2200 cases, 50 per cent were fit for sale after repacking had been resorted to.. The importer referred to estimates that he lost a sum of - £2OO cn the consignment. Other importers report a similar experience, and some of the defective eases of fruit were disposed of at Is a case. The damage is attributed chiefly to the wet weather experienced during the growing season in the islands.

A girl for general housework is advertised for

A member of the shipwrecked crew of the Xongariro complains that some one has stolen a brand new suit of clothes and portmanteau which were placed on the Koutunui in the vicinity of the wreck last Thursday. Thefe were also a few pounds in cash in the portmanteau,

The Governor has received a telegram to the effect that the hospital ship Marama left the United Kingdom on August 31st carrying—Australians: 10 officers and 321 men; New Zealanders: ■l4 officers and 140 men; South Africans: 2 men. The vessel is due to arrive in New Zealand about October 20.

In round figures, ten and a-quarter millions have been subscribed to the (War Loan to date, according to Mr. Campbell, Secretary to the Treasury. Of this amount £700,000 is in loan certificates, the balance in bonds. Money is still coming in freely for certificates, the issue of which con tinues till the end of the year.

Procrastination may give a careless or negligent man some time in prison. Under the Military Service Act a reservist who does not send by registered letter to the Government Statistician a -timely notice of chanjgie of address may make himself liable to a charge of desertion. Any post office will supply the necessary forms, cards, information and help.

“He bruised my neck and made me bite my tongue through striking me with a bottle of beer,” stated a constable when giving evidence afemnst an accused person in the .Wellington ourt. “He tried to choke me, as he was mad with drink, and I had to throw him.” The defendant denied striking the constable. “If I had, he would have a pain in his jaw,” he added.

A Gazette to-night contains an Order in Council under which provision is made for an attorney, agent; trustee; executor or administrator (being a member of the Expeditionary Force absent from the Dominion on the King’s Service) to delegate his powers and duties to the Public Trustee. Further Orders in Council prohibit the export of platinum and wattle bark.

The Southland League, in a letter which was before the Wellington Chamber of Commerce yesterday, asked for co-operation in an endeavour to have the time for lodging objections to the Valuation of Land Act, extended from fourteen to twentyeight days. It was stated that agents in the South Island were not given sufficient time to' communicate with their principals in' the North Island. The co-operation asked for was granted.

“I will provide for my wife and child if they will come and live with me, but I object to live with my mother-in-law at Wanganui,” declared a man in the Wellngton Court. “My wife states she will live with me if I go down on my knees to my mother-in-law and apologise to her.” On the sug gestion of Inspector Hendry, defendant was remanded to appear at Wanganui, in order, as the Inspecor put it; that he could “have it out” with his mother-in-law

Enrolling the fighting man power or New Zealand is practically the task of the Government Statistician. His w.ork is two-fold. He has to obtain the names and addresses of men of military age; he lias to ascertain wha? the man-power is and what it s». Every reservist is under statutory onligations to report any change of abode. A heavy penalty may be suffered by a reservist who fails to give information as to his new place or residence. It should be noted that a post office address is not sufficient —place of abode must be furnished.

Unskilled labourers to the number of 104 were assisted by the State Labour Bureau last month. Of these 59 were absorbed in private employment, 22 in Government works, and 23 were helped by means of reduced fares. The labourers sent to Government work were chiefly men who liacr enlisted and are waiting to be callec; up. Of the men assisted, 19 cam*» from the North Island, 1 from the South Island, 9 from the Commonwealth, and 56 from Great Britain. There are openings for general farm hands, milkers and carpenters.

It is seldom that proceedings of the Magistrate’s Court are enlivened by touches of humour, but an exception was made at Auckland. On undefended civil action, in which the defendant’s name was J. Johnson, was called, and the Magistrate, eyeing a hefty negro who was in court, asked smiling: ly; “Is Jack Johnson in Court?” A ripple of merriment disturbed the usual decorum of the court, and. the ebony complexion of the African, whose name was not Johnson, was wreated in smiles as be enjoyed the joke the Magistrate bad perpetrated at his expense.

A furnished room, handy to town, with use of conveniences, is advertised

Mr George Stewart Mowat, a-a old settler in the Apiti district, died* suddenly of heart failure at Tauranga on the 26th ultimo. Mr Mowat was farm-J hug in the Apiti district over JO years ' ago. * |

During Saturday night a burglar, of the “tea and sugar safe bursting" variety, broke into the pantry of the Kentish Hotel, Waiuku, <md replenished his own larder at the expense of the hotel, by appropriating a few dozen eggs and some sides of bacon.

A representative public meeting held in Dunedin last night decided to urge the Governmest to consider the efforts made in other parts of the Empire for the better organisation of science in relation to industry and education, so that New Zealand might come into line with other parts of the. Empire.