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Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 6 December 1916, Page 4

■ The proficiency examinations for Standard VI are being held at the Taihape District High School to-day.

One of Taranaki's oldest residents, in the person of Mr R. Hicks, of Tikorangi, died on Saturday at his son's residence, at the age of 99 years.

A little more than a year ago a Wairarapa farmer purchased a line of calves at 13s a head. Last week he sold the animals again at an average price of £9 each.

The amount of the war loan certificates sold ! to November 30 was £1) 133,958 (is. The four chief centres contributed as follows: —Auckland £142, 085, Christehurch. £150,211, Dunedin £154,783; Wellington £207,912.

'At the meeting of the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce on Monday, it was stated that a distinct and emphatic Ministerial promise had been made that Wanganui would be made a woolgrading port under the new shipping arrangements.

Mr Huglr.D. Mcintosh, managing director of the (Sunday Times newspaper, has issued a writ claiming £SOOO damages from the Mirror for alleged libel contained in an article referring to the disappearance of the boxer, Darcy, and. Mr Mcintosh's alleged connection therewith. . l ■•

A telegram from Dunedin yesterday says: Another increase of ten shillings per ton in tlic price of flour is announced, flour now being epioted at £ls per ton. The local flour market has advanced £2 10s per ton since early in November. Auckland and Timaru operators have been buying here at high prices.

The Minister of Defence yesterday forwarded authority to Mr Grayndler, secretary of the Agricultural Workers' Union, to apply for exemption for shearers drawn in the military service ballot during the shearing season. Similar authority was given by Mr Reardon to act in the case of slaughtermen desiring exemption.

If one sort of complaint more than another is to be -heard in Wellington, it is from men unable to secure permits to leave New Zealand, even when presenting a good case for consideration. Your 'correspondent mentioned to the Hon. G. W. Russell the frequency with which the complaint arises. The Minister replied: "That is very likely. The Internal Affairs Department is holding on to all the man hood of the country. Fit 'me n have no chance of leaving New Zealand. There are protests, but this is our determination. One man to-day wanted reasons. He was told no man capable of civil service can be spared from the country. The fact that he is unlit for military service does net count in issuing passports on account of deflections of the country's manhood for military purposes."

The King has invested Admiral Jellicoe with the Order of Merit.

It is understood that the war bonus granted to drivers in Dunedin involves a sum of £46,000 annually. It is practically a 12 per cent, increase, as against 10 per cent, increase offered by employers' delegates. It is hinted that the employers' delegates were loath to submit the question to Cabinet, and that coercion was exercised.

At the Marton Police Court yesterday, Charles L. Kreegher, of Kakariki, was committed for trial at the Supreme Court, Palmerston 'North, on a charge of stealing 86 Romney ewes in lamb, the property of the trustees of the Westoe Estate. Bail was allowed, accused in £IOO, and two sureties of £IOO each. Accused's brother is also awaiting trial on a similar indictment.

More than one grey-headed Maori interviewed the Minister of Defence during the latter's recent visit to Mercer pa, with a request to be sent to the war. One of the Rangitiras, who is the holder of the New Zealand war medal, and who was wearing his decoration, is Amopiu Kaunia, a chief of the Ngatiraukawa tribe. He fought on the side of the British during the Maori War, and his patriotic offer to the Minister shows that neither his loyalty nor his military ardour have been dimmed by the long lapse of years since he was last in the firing line.