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Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 20 February 1917, Page 4

A cockerel put up for auction at a sale for war funds at Huntingdon, was knocked down 73 times, realising £SO in all. The cockerel has Ken at Red Cross sales for more liua a year, lias travelled .-2000 mi]«a and has been "sold" 2000 times, d\vl raised £2160. There is a rumour current in legal circles that Sir John Dennteton, who has bee;; on the Supreme Court i/enel 1 for 2S years, contemplates retirement into private Iris soon. When seen by a representative of the .Lyttolton Times, his Honour stated that, while he was looking forward to a time of freedom from work and of leisure, h. had no immediate intention of retiring. Referring to the announcement of the increased cost of bread in Wellington (5d per 21b loaf), the President of the Hoard of Trade (lion. W. D. S. Macdonald) said that it took him by surprise. He had understood when the price of flour was fixed the bakers of Wellington had voluntarily agreed not to make any increase in price. Mr. Hart, one of the Board of Trade Commissioners, has therefore been instructed to investigate the matter.

The military ballot and the position of eligible ministers will it is expected give rise to considerable discussion at the New Zealand Methodist Church Conference in Wellington this month. At present there are 50 ministers, students, and home missionaries in camp and at the front out of a total of 200. For single men no appeal has been made, and already some of the Second Division have notified the president that if called up they will proceed to camp.

A prohibition order was issued against a Maori this morning. The Council's new water-cart was given a trial this morning, and gave every satisfaction. David Johnson, for being drunk and using indecent language was fined 20s by Mr. Aldridge, J.P. Butter has reached a record price in London, New Zealand realising 228/- per cwt.

The third Military Service Appeal Board will sit at Taumarunui on Thursday, February 22, and in Taihape on Friday and Saturday, 23rd and 24th, to hear appeals in No 20, Wanganui district. the Town Clerk officially notifies, in this issue, that an auctioneer's license has been issued to the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., and to Mr. Donald John McLennan. Messrs A. W. Gardner and Co. are •holding an initial exhibition of autumn modes at their shop, and extend a personal invitation to everyone to call and inspect. An advertisement, giving full details, appears on page 1. According to advices from New York, the recent submarine activity of the enemy has resulted in the sinking of a number of steamers, part of the cargo of which consisted of large shipments of American motorcars and motor-cycles. The immense value of tile motorcycle ambulance on the FrenCh precipitous mountain pathways, where a four-wheeled vehicle could not penetrate, was recently referred to in Loudon, and it was stated that ay means of English side-car ambulances the wounded are now conveyed to their destinations in 1 hour 20 minutes, as compared with 30 hours wn . the oxen-drawn French carts were used. The Taumarunui Agricultural and Pastoral Association is holding their annual autmun show on Wednesday, March 14, at Taumarunui, for wlTich an attractive prize schedule has been issued. In addition to the classes usually catered for there are riding, leaping, and driving competitions. Prise schedules are now available, and may be obtained at the Times Office. Entries close with the secretary, Mr. F. E. Otto, at Taumarunui, on 28th February. An advertisement appears on our first page.

A marvellous escape from serious injury occurred on Wednesday evening at the bridge on the MartonBulls homestead. A motor-car was being driven towards Marton by Mr. J. Archibald, when the lights suddenly went out on the incline, and before they could be readjusted, the car. not responding promptly »to the brakes, went over the bridge and landed in the riverbed with the three occupants still in their seats. With the exception of a slight shock received by the driver, the occupants escaped injury. It is perhaps not generally known that each lemonade and soda-water bottle imported into the Domitj'um costs sitl. That may appear io be curious, in view- of the fact that, they may be purchased for 2d or 3d '(as the case may be) filled with aerated water. The fact remains that all such patent bottles (with the marble in the neck) now cost the aerated manufactures 5/6 per dozen, and return of the bottles or cost of them is being enforced. The best bottles of the kind are English. Makes of the kind from Germany, Japan and elsewhere have been tried, but none of them come up to the English bottle when the pressure test is applied.

Taihape business houses, as well as private residents will have wondered why the usual morning visit of the let-ter-carrier was not paid to-day. , The fact is the local Postmaster woke up to find that his deliverer of the people's correspondence had emulated the man who did the "Pacific slope," seeking, by train, pastures that are new. He left Taihape by an early train to look for something easier than carrying around letters. When the Postmaster called upon the next, youth in his service to perform the work the runaway had left, he did not, meet with the best of receptions, and he w r as quickly made to understand that if he wanted letters delivered he would have to do it himself, and so Taihape is without a letter-carrier, both having struck work. It is surprising that the Post and Telegraph service does not attract a better class of lad, as promotion just now is more rapid than in any other branch ottnc Public Service. If there is arr\>'' who was not previously aware of the situation, he or she had better ask for their correspondence over the counter. just that nice, sharp, appetising taste that adds such zest to a meal; That's Lotus Brand.

1 The issuing of permits to expor.t 'pelts luid been suspended entirely, ex- | cept in respect of pelts from snee±> I slaughtered at meat export slauglitarI houses or from sheepskins already i fellmongered. Farmers and stock dealers are parI ticuiarly advised that the first weekly stock sale cf the season, at the Taihape saleyards, is to take place on Wednesday, February 121. There Is already a very line lot of entries and this sale promises to be one of the

most successful yet held. An unusual application, but one testifying to the integrity of the applica; t concerned, will be heard at the for.coming sittings of the Supreme Court at Palmerston, when Mr. il. W. Yaughan, formerly of Apiii and new of Kairanga, will apply for an order to annul his bankruptcy, the applicant having paid to the Official Assignee in •his estate a sum which will enable the creditors to receive 20/ in the £ on their approved claims. Speaking relative to the efforts made by the people in connection with the war and the duty devolving upon them to do mere, -the Rev. H. A. Sharp, at the Methodist Church, Northcote, on M.>:iday night, touched upon the waterside workers' trouble. He did net believe the working me:: were disloyal, but there was. some strange and deep cause operating somewhere to cause the labourers to take extreme measures during the war crisis. He considered it more disloyal to force up prices to exploit the public to such an extent as to make men strike.

Fire has again been busy anrcngst the flax at Shannon (near Palmerston North). On Thursday night an outbreak was reported in Mr. Greig's block at Whtanui, and in spite of every effort that could be made it is estimated that 100 acres of flax, on which there was 3000 tons of millable leaf ready for cutting, was covered by the flames, the flax being completely burnt. A large number of men were employed fighting the fire all night. Towards Friday morning" their efforts were successful in staying its course. Many men are still on the watch on the scene to try and prevent further destruction. The fire originated through one of the flax-cutters, win: was v.a iking a long \\v.}\ from tr< others, putting his pipe in his pocket after smoking without properly extinguishing it. T-he coat was burnt, ana the neighbouring flax was set afire. The incident illustrates the "need fox the utmost care in such matters in the flax swamps, where there is so much inflammable matter.