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Taihape Daily Times, Issue 160, 14 September 1916, Page 4

The Russian naval bombardment of Varna found the Red Cross flag - flying from King Ferdinand s Palace "The prospects for the approaching season are very good,’ ’ wrote the Wellington Acclimatisation .Society’s ranger on the condition of the lish in the rivers. A report from Canterbury shows that an abnormally large number of men have been rejected as medically unfit for active service amounting to over 40 per cent.

Of the 10,065 bales of hemp graded at New Zealand ports last month, none were classed as superfine and only six as fine. There were 1506 graded good fair, 5346 high point, 2687 low point; and 377 common. Four bales were condemned.

"Have you conserption yeti” enquires a New Zealand soldier in a letter to a Palmerston resident, "You will never keep up our force up to lighting strength if you don’t get it at once. Round up' all the shirkers and send them, right away, wo want plenty of men " lie adds.

[ There has been a very heavy morI tality among breeding ewes in the Mastc-rton district • this year. One settler has had to destroy about five per day, owing to profusion. The cause of the mortality is presumed to be the abundance of feed, which has resulted in the owes being over-fat.

An announcement lias boon posted in the Produce Exchange, London, that the British Government is considering the high price of cheese and is seeking a remedy. The Government may fix a maximum price, or control the whole available supply or requisition sufficient for, army demands. The announcement has brought trade to a standstill at Home.

The statement published in Wellington that the Prime Minister is seeking to bring about a permanent fusion of political parties is described by Dr McNab as absolute nonsense. He says botli parties are loyally observing the party truce, but are not sacrificing any of their party principles. The Hon. G. W. Eussell also states lie would bo no party to such a proposal.

A committee of ladies has arranged for, a social to be held in the Town Hall on Thursday next, the 21st inst., the object being to raise funds for the local Eed Cross Society. The committee is making every endeavour to make the social a huge success, and it is to bo hoped that their efforts will be rewarded. Dancing and cards will commence at S p.m. This is the first social of the kind to be held in Taihape this season, and no doubt there will be a very large attendance.

Large numbers of Christchurch recruits, otherwise fit, had to be rejected for deformities of the feet and toes, due ta wearing very pointed booth. The leakage owing to overlapping of the toes and hallux valgus, due to pointed boots, has been so serious that medical officers have expressed the opinion that the Health Department should be urged to introduce legislation prohibiting the manufacture of boots so constructed as to cause deformities of the feet rendering men unfit for military service. '■ The sum of £30,000,000; which Gcseral von Bissing (German Military Governor in Brussels) has confiscated from the coffers of the Belgian National Bank represents the amount put into circulation in ; Belgium in consequence of the lifting of the moratoroum. ■Von Bissing decided on this measure six months' ago, apparently with the express purpose of annexing the proceeds for War purposes. It is noteworthy that the brigandage coincides ■with the unsuccessful issue of the war loan iii Berlin. '

Legal expenses of New Zealand’s boroughs during the n financial year 1914-15 ranged,- from nil (in a number ■iOf cases) to £670 (Auckland city’s .cost) . . Napier , was second to >ii'ghe!st with £483;- Wanganui third with £383; and Dunedin fourth with £368, Nothing is set against Wellington city, which has its own solicitor—a. municipal officer. Miramar had “law” tp.the extent of. £127. ..Several (boroughs.^spent £1 each in the twelve months, ,The total given in the Municipal Handbook is £6303.

“Eight to work’’ is a phrase which has a new force under the Military Service Act, for the employment of noncnrolled men or. deserters is prohibited. For their own protection, Reservists should apply promptly to the Government Statistician for certificates of enrolment, for which application forms are obtainable at any post-office. The production of a certificate is a guarantee to an employer that the Reservist has a right to work. This certificate also saves its possessor, from unpleasant interviews with the police.

Police throughout New Zealand will be on the watch for men who try to dodge their duty under, the Military Service Act. If a Reservist takes the trouble to read an advertisement, a poster, or a placard, or calls at a postoffice, he will learn how to be at peace with the police. Constables are authorised to question a Reservist on the subject of enrolment, and they have power to claim him if they are not satisfied with his replies. Every Reservist should make prompt application for a certificate of enrolment which satisfies the police. This document also acts as a passport to employment. Carelessness or procrastination may bring much trouble upon a. Reservist.

In America there has been a sensational ‘bull’ raid on the stock market, following on the Maine elections. Motor shares reached 642, the highest quotation in the Stock Exchange history, except in 1901, when Northern Pacific shares sold for 1000. Before the war general motors shares were quoted at 25. United States Steel went to 105 5-S. Bcthehem Steel, which recently experiened a slump, rcovered 20 points. All these advances weiSf due to the belief that the chances favour the election of. ex-Judge Hughes for the Presidency. If ho were elected, it would ' ensure a strong proetetive policy, and would discountenance Government ownership of the munition plants as a first stop to Government ownership of other industries.

At the Taihape Court this morning a first offender was convicted and discharged for drunkenness.

Last night, at a late hour, the town was plunged into darkness; the heavy wind having crossed the electric light cables

Alfred Gregory, draper, of Dargaville; was fined £5 yesterday at the Dargaville Magistrate’s Court for refusing to place a placard containing a Military Service Act notice in his shop window.

A boon to motorists is "Fog-O”; it keeps wind screens clean and clear, and thus makes motoring much safer and more comfortable than it can be without it. Mr V. Nicliolls is the Taihape' agent for Fog-O, and he now carries a large stock.

A case of cerebro-spinal meningitis is reported in Christchurch the patient being a man 42 years of age. Two casts of infantile paralyis have been re-

ported —one from South Canterbury and the other from the neighbourhood of Christchurch

The weather is not very promising for the Eed Cross afternoon tea and garden fet e at Mrs M. M. Carpenter’s residence this afternoon; it is too late to postpone the function, but Mrs Carpenter may decide, to hold an open air concert on a more suitable occasion.

Anxiety of choesemakors respecting the scarcity of rennet will be relieved by a letter from Mr Roddick, Canadian Dairy Commissioner, formerly of New Zealand to Mr Newton King, stating that pepsin has given very satisfactory results as a substitute for rennet.

An experienced farmer who knows both Islands well, writing from Wanganui to a friend in New Plymouth, says:—“l have every confidence in good prices in New Zealand for all classes of stock for many years, as all live stock in Europe is being sadly depleted. ’ ’

A Maori soldier, writing to his sister at Rotorua complains that the Maoris at the front now receive nothing in the-- shape, -of comforts. He states that when they were i with th e pakehas they-got comforts frequently but now that they have, .been made a separate unit they appear..to have been forgot-ten.'-f; , -//VV /■. I : ‘

A very stormy night was experienced in Taihape last night, with half a gale of wind blowing. A verandah was blown clear away from a house.next to the “Times” office, and electric light wires were blown out of position, cuG ting off light from the town. Fortunately this happened after many had retired to rest.'

When the question of reducing me number of directors was being] considered at the’meeting 5 of the Otaihaps Farmers’ Meat and Produce Company Ltd. yesterday/-’oife ‘of the shareholders said he thought they should keep to‘ twelve directors-. In the Court’s there was a judge and a jury of twelve and he thought the directorate should be similar. “But we’re not murdererers oh trial,” said one of the directors “we’re slaughtermen.” (Laughter.)

For years New Zealand tawa timber has been amongst th e despised products of the Dominion, but the depletion of our forests, with the consequnt scarcity of other varieties of timber, has brought its possibilities into prominence. Australia is taking all the tawa that’ can be got, and an order for 50,000 feet was placed in Auckland-the other day. It is easily worked, is more solid than white pine, has a nic e grain, and can be easily stained to appear like oak, mahogany or rosewood. Tawa has been used for butter, kegs years ago and if large enough trees are available suitable butter boxes could be made of it.

11l view of the suspicion of New Zealand farmers as to what is happening in connection with the ‘ ‘ commandeered ’ ’ meat output, the following letter, recently published in the London “Daily Mail,” is interesting: —“Sir; When will th e Government take strong action to regulate the price of food? Here is an extract from my wife's butcher's bill last week:— Canterbury lamb, 41b 70z., 7s 4d; rump steak 1-Jlb; 2s Gd; silversid: 13b; 4s 4M; pickled pork; lib looz., 2s Gd; one small chop, IGd. These prices seem to be cpiite outrageous. —George Baker, 34 King Edward’s Gardens, Acton Hill; W.”