Untitled

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 14 February 1917, Page 4

At the Supreme Court, Wanganui, on Monday, Stephen Fisher, ; a returned soldier, was acquitted on a charge of firing a rifle at Robert ''Alfred Elder, at Marton, with intent to injure.

Private- Lome Higgs, 13th Canadian Infantry, rwho was taken prisoner after being gassed in April, has just arrived in England, having succeeded in his third attempt to escape from German custodv.

It was stated at Lloyd's that the Go vernment lias decided to arm all merchantmen,, bow, beam and quarter, the C6st t‘o be borne by the shipowners. This, scheme accords with the idea which Lord Boresford has advocated tor some time ,

As evidence of the good conduct of New Zealand soldiers in England, the hon. secretary of the Soldiers Club in Russell Square, London, Mr R. H. Nolan, states that although 24,i205 beds have been booked at the hostel since it was opened, only one occupant has been arrested for misconduct at the London Club.

Before the Military Service Board, a . boilermaker in the employ of Cable and ■Company appealed. H stated -that' there were only fifteen boilcrmak- ' crsr.in Wellington engaged on work on •the steamers, including transports. William Cable ‘ stated that there was a great scarcity of boilermakers. The case was adjourned for three months, 'provided appellant remains m Ills present employment.

Germany lias ou foot a plan to fice German goods from liability to payment of Dutch duty by building a Rhine-Sea Canal to ha c its outlet at Emden (states an exchange). This would cost an enormous sum of money, but it would eliminate the necessity of German shipping reaching the sea by passing through Dutch territory,, for which satisfactory tariff arrangements have to be entered into with Holland.-

The Naples correspondent of the New York Herald reported some time back that nearly three thousand persons had signed a petition to the Italian Government in favour of an Italian woman,, Signora Maddalena Gianetta. of Nocera, near Naples, who in 19 years of married life has given birth to '>) boys and three girls. In nine years she was delivered of 11 sets of triplets. Three times she had four at a birth, and on one occasion she give birth to five boys and a girl. The petition asks for an annual pension of 1000 line for the woman, and well it might.

We would remind intending exhibitors that entries for the Rangitikei A. and P. Show close on Saturday, February 17th.

New- Zealand’s expenditure on the wan to the end of December was £l4, 627,752, including £(5,(387,288 pay and allowances, £3,111,,754 for transport of troops, and £1,722,303 for equipment.

Archbishop 0 ’Shea says there will not, with one or two exceptions,, be any permanent changes in respect to the Catholic priests of the Archdiocese of Wellington this year. This is in view of the unsettled times and the fact that a regular supply of chaplains hag to be provided for the front.

This journal has not been able to publish the doings of the Military Medical Board, which sat in Taihape last Friday, owing to one of the officers inadvertently taking all records away with him. They are to be returned to Taihape at the earliest possible date, and they will then be published.

A social is being held this evening in the Presbyterian Hall, to welcome the Rev F. McDonald, who has been appointed Minister of the Taihape Church. An entertaining programme will be submitted and refreshments served. It is hoped that members of the Church, with as many friends as possible, will be present.

The writer of theatrical notes in the “Dominion” says: “The local picture managers says that Charlie Chaplin films are not nearly the same draw as they used to bo. At one time a Chaplin feature meant packed sessions all day and night. That is not the case now, Charlie is a very comic person, but he is ever the same—same walk, clothes, htick, ami, front and back kick—only the scenery and those associated with him change. Strange, but true!” It is quite refreshing to read this. We were afraid the Charlie Chaplin films had come to stay for a long time. He is the most vulgar creature on the picture stage, and it is quite a relief to know that his popularity is waning