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Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 7 December 1916, Page 4

A statement of the Dominion's war expenditure since the outbreak of hostilities to September 13 shows a total of £12,400,569. Threshing-mill hands, chaffcutters, and harvesters, at a meeting in Blenheim, confirmed their decision not to commence harvesting at less than Is 6d per hour and found, or 3s per hour without their "keep." Diplomatic circles have been stirred by President Wilson "s cryptic liberty of speech in regard to an expression of sympathy with the cause of France and England against Prussian autocracy. Teuton officials pre puzzled. One said sarcastically, "Perhaps the President referred to Mr Asquith and his associates, on whom responsibility for prolonging the Avar rests."

Aii amusing story of his lecturing experience was told by Sir Ernest Shackleton at the Town Hall, Wellington. A gentleman asked him how he managed to make his scientific lectures so interesting. "Oh," was the reply, "I pick out the most ignorant-looking man in the audience and address myself to him. and when I see a gleam of intelligence on his face I know I am all right." "Just then," said Lieutenant Shackleton, "the chairman came in and said to me, 'Thank you very much for your lecture. I thought you were speaking to me all the time.' "

Sir James Wilson' has been re-elec-ted chairman of the Manawatu County Council.

The Napier main school was destroyed by fire on Tuesday night. The damage is estimated at £SOOO.

A respectable young man desires board and lodging, with a private family preferred.

Messrs Collinson and Gifford, drapers, are advertising for a young lady as junior assistant in the fancy depart ment.

Yesterday's Taihape stock sale must be regarded as being successful, although despite the high price's ruling, some lines did not realise up to sellers' anticipations.

A Canadian officer on the western front states that during the Allies' bombardment swallows flew unperturb ed quite close to the guns, and t>y their fluttering and twittering warned the soldiers of the approach of gas.

It is understood that the Waterside Workers' Federation in New Zealand is arranging for a conference to take place at an early date in Wellington, with the object of causing the repeal of the Military Service Act.

The Dominion revenue for the month of November amounts to £1,304,734, an increase of £329,163 over the total for November last year. Th e total for eight months of the financial year, to November 30, is £8,399,452, an increase of £1,324,479 over, the revenue for the corresponding period of last year.

At MeCormlcic's Tjoor store, opposite the Gretna Hotel, there has just arrived a large and magnificent consignment of the very newest in boots, from the dainty requirements of the most fastidious lady to the heavy watertights required by the men doing the heaviest of work. There are fine lines in gentlemen's boots; also very serviceable lines for boys and girls.

Private Yates, or the Lancashire Eegiment, who is recuperating at Neath, and who lost his power of speech through shock in the Big Push, completely recovered at the local pleasure fair. When an attendant on the scenic railway gave him the wrong change, he, to cvdrjuone's astonishment—and his own-—shouted, "I want tenpence, not tVopeneo.' '

A line of 800 sheep, in the wool, were sold by Mr T. Bradley at yesterday's Taihape Sale at £2 lis per head. Two thousand and forty pounds for 800 sheep indicates what the war is doing for all producing countries. The owner had high hopes of what the whole line would realise, as a local boniface profited by a new hat on the opinion that the animals would not fetch over £2 12s Od per head,

A special cattle fair will be held in the Taihape sale yards on Wednesday, December .13. The entries are very numerous, and probably constitute a record for the local saleyards. Most of the prominent breeders in the district are represented by entries. The sale is being conducted by Messrs Dalgefcy and the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company. An advertisement will be Sound on page S.

A protest was made by Mr J. . Hutcheson at the Wellington Technical Education Board on Wednesday against the low rates of pay for teachers. He spoke in general terms, but mentioned a case in which it was proposed to pay £250 a year for a master of English. The use of taxicabs for, driving to racecourses, theatres, music-halls and other places of amusement has now been forbidden in Berlin.

A deputation representing the various Roman Catholic dioceses in the Dominion waited upon the Minister, for Defence, the Hon. James Allen, in Wellington last week, regarding the position of priests who may be called up for military service -under the ballot. The deputation was informed by the Minister that the bishop of the particular diocese in which a. balloted priest was stationed should appeal for exemption on the latter's behalf. Any member of the clergy of any denomination was liable to be drawn in the ballot, and in every case the bishop, or, the head of the Church concerned, would be looked upon as an employer, with the right to appeal.

As showing the astounding ignorance of New Zealand possessed by people in other parts of the world, the following extract from a letter received from Miss F. B. Lysnar, of Auckland, the authoress of "The Dear Old Maori Land," is of interest. It is written from Petaluma, California: "My sister tells me that once at the pictures here in Petaluma a view of our New Zealand coast was put on the screen —a wild, weird-looking sceneno doubt made up for the occasion. They were illustrating some extraordinary story, with a wreck whiqh happened on the New Zealand coast, and put on the screen the remark 'that no one landing there ever returned alive,' meaning that only cannibals lived there. She said the place was packed —no one moved, and not ever a murmur. Poor New Zealand!"