TAIHAPE ATHLETIC CLUB

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 29 December 1916, Page 4

TAIHAPE ATHLETIC CLUB

We would commend to all the people in our territory, more especially those who are interested in chopping and sawing competitions, as well as all other athletic exercises, the saerifice of their holiday by members of the Taihape Athletic Club, who are going to -hold a grand picnic and ga?a day sports in aid of Red Cross funds on the first of the New Year. In our thoughtlessness we are very apt to be bored with the repetition of the words "Red Cross Fund." That is something that is easily cured however. If one is really desirous of knowing what the words really pretend to convey—we say pretend to convey because to absolutely convey there are no words in our, or in. any other vocabulary--it would be worth while to come in contact with a returned soldier who has just come from the Soiume i com. One who has been through an orgy of carnage in which there was revtv cno moment of respite -.>r an ijits-rmittenry in the boom and screech of travelling and bursting shells. The relation of horrifying facts would very soon flag owing to the narrator's inability to discover words that could nearly give an idea of the destruction and mutilation of the human body that goes on. When we are inclined to tire of Red Cross efforts, it would be as well to let our thoughts concentrate awhile on what is happening almost every minute in France and Belgium, for then we shall justly appreciate the value of the work the Taihape Athletic Club hope to achieve by giving up their New Year's Day to augment the Taihape Red Cross Fund. More than ordinary efforts are being made to give a most enjoyable day's outing, something to please every taste. Picnic parties will have hot water and milk provided free; there will be an ample supply of toys for the children, while grown-ups may find enjoyment in horse-jumping events and wood-chop-ping. The champion chopper, W. Peck, will endeavour to lower his previous records. Then there are to be stockmen's races, chain stepping, and other competitions useful in a purely farming district. Above all other things let us remember that the shilling we pay for admission goes to provide comforts and to relieve the sufferings of our wounded sons, husbands, and brothers, who are away fighting their country's battles, fighting that we may be allowed to live free from that kind of frightfulness that is now being practiced in countries that have been invaded by Germany. This New Y e ar's Day should furnish a record attendance on the Recreation Ground.

There will be no publication of the Taihapo Daily Times on Monday (New Year's Day).

The Military Service Board, now sitting in Wellington; has expressed the opinion that the running of so many excursion trains was seriously hampering recruiting for the Expeditionary Forces.

A rink from the Taihape Bowling Club tried conclusions at Mangaweka with the local club on Boxing Day, and went down rather badly to the tune of Mangaweka 25, Taihape 12. The Taihape club is determined to have its revenge at an early date.

A novelty in the way of strikes was described at the Munitions Tribunal, Caxton Hall, London, recently. It appears that 240 men struck for two days because their employers had shown lack of courtesy in introducing a new foreman without notifying the men of the appointment.

The Auckland Star, in dealing with the lack of appreciation of the seriousness of the position caused by the gigantic struggle in Europe, says: "Pleasure as usual" has been the order of the day. Crowds have flocked to the races and pleasure resorts, and Christmas business in town was brisk. On Tuesday Auckland distinguished itself by putting over £70,000 through the totalisator and supplying the army with one recruit. A traveller by train could not help noticing how much talk there wag of sport and how little of war. The rush for papers at the wayside stations was inspired more by desire to know "what won the Cup" than to find out what was happening in Eoumania.

A soldier on active service has sent the Bishop of Christchurch a donation of £SOO.

Sheep in the Forty-Mile Bush arc badly affected with biddy-biddy this season, and the wool has suffered in

consequence

The R.M.S. Rotorua is expected to arrive in Auckland on January 3 with a further batch of sick and wounded soldiers.

The butchers at the Whakatu freezing works (Hawke's Bay) refused to slaughter a line of 400 long-woolled sheep one day last week unless they were paid £3 per 100. The owner (Mr L. H. McHardy) agreed to pay the extra amount himself.

Sir F. Smith holds, "Italy has done nobly and has shown herself a worthy and valiant Ally. She will do even more, for this nation, grey in history, consecrated by the immortal beauty of the ages, is rediscovering in the crucible of war the vigour of a vital and generous youth.''

The Auckland Trotting Club's meeting on Wednesday was spoiled by the torrential rain which fell during the afternoon. After three races had been run, the stewards decided to postpone the remaining events till yesterday. /The drivers presented a ludicrous sight after the Cup was run, being covered with mud from head to foot, and hardly able to see out of their eyes.

Cable messages received by merchants in Australia state that as the British Government had taken control of factories for. the supply of matches for troops, some of the largest makers of safety matches were unable to accept any new orders from Australia. No shortage, however, is feared, as heavy consignments are held from local and Japanese factories.

A rise in the price of new boots and in the cost of repairs to old ones is forecasted. This is attributed to the increased price of leather and the findings used in bootmaking. It is anticipated that the boot manufacturers will revise their prices for the new year and show a very suHtantial advance. The w.pnking bootmaker, must necessarily follow suit.

The Australian soldiers are good churchgoers in England. Several of them were in a little Methodist church in a garden suburb. In the course of his discourse the clergyman paused impressively, and, swinging to his left, said: "And what did Abraham say " Next he repeated the question to the congregation in front of the pulpit. Then he turned to the pews where the Australians were sitting, and put the question for the third time. One of the Australians rose, and replied: "All right, mister; I'll be the bloomin' mug. What did Abraham say "

English papers announce that the Board of Trade is pointing out to the public that rice is a cheap and efficient substitute for potatoes. On this subject a correspondent writes: "Unpolished rice should always be preferred to the polished varieties, as the process of polishing deprives rice of very essential qualities. The best method of boiling rice as a substitute dish for potatoes is to wash the grains and drain them through a sieve; they should then bo thrown into rapidly-boiling water,, to which salt has been added, and the grains kept "hopping" for 15 to 20 minutes, according to th e quality of the rice. The water will then be steamed away, and the grains should either have split or be sufficiently cooked to lie separately on a fork.''

After the Jutland fight there were in one English town 17 consecutive houses in which there was a newly-made widow. One sublime woman (it is related by the Times) put it in this way: "Yes, there's some of 'em saying as Beatty didn't ought to have taken on the whole German fleet with only the battle-cruisers, and that he ought to have run for it. But my man went down in one of them battlecruisers, and I know what he'd have said. He'd never have run, not if there had been ten times as many of 'em. He'd rather have died as he did." Here she made a gesture in the direction of the fatherless children, and went on proudly: "And look at them children! Think of the blood in 'em, with a father like that! Think of the blood in 'cm, and Avhat it'll mean for England in the next generation."

"It would surprise farmers to know what the local auctioneering firms are making as profit from commissions on sales,"-remarked a speaker at a meeting of farmers in Gisborne last week. "I have gone into the matter a little he continued, "and On low basis, I estimate that no less a sum than £2O, 000 was made out of the farmers at last year's figures. I would like one of the firms to challenge this statement as I can prove it up to the hilt. Why, £1,250 was made at a cattle fair in two days." He added that his calculations were made on a moderate basis, and included sheep and cattle. "Why in the face of that farmers cannot come forward and say it must stop passes my comprehension," he remarked. "I must say that they are absolutely blind to their own interests."

It is reported that a number of men in Wcstport and district who are taking an active part in urging the repeal of the Military Service Act, intend to prove their sincerity by voluntary enlistment.

A man named Thomas Richards, charged at the Taihape Magistrate's Court yesterday, with being idle and disorderly, was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, and was ordered to leave the town at once.

The Military Cross, our latest decoration for heroic soldiers, is made of silver, with the Im|ierial Crown on each arm, and the letters "G.R.1." in the centre. The cross hangs from a white riboon with a purple stripe.

Several shareholders in the Fielding Freezing Company, who have recently put their lambg through the works, have found themselves credited with from two to three pound per head more than ever they had before, having saved by means of the local works the weight previously lost in carriage. The gross addition to the cheque therefore has been very pleasing.