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Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 16 March 1917, Page 4

Among the Masterton men who -have been drawn for service in the fifth ballot is one who is deaf and dumb. Between two and three tons of sausages per week are sent from the Waingawa freezing works to the Featherston camp. It is reported that there are hundreds of empty houses and scores of empty business places in Auckland at the present time. Among the names drawn in the last military ballot was that of the man who was murdered at Mount Eden over 12 months ago. “I would not ne prepared to take the word of a German again if I lived to be a 100,” said the Town Clerk at the Shoreditch Tribunal. “As far as I can see, every essential industry in the Dominion is short-handed.”—-Mr. A. O. Ccnsidine at the sitting of the Military Service Hoard, Wellington, Some amusement was caused during the calling of the common jury at the Supreme Court, Napier. The clerk called the name “Lloyd George.” George Lloyd answered the call. Minnesota and other States are follow!? the example r.f New York, and have msued notices blacklisting I aDan n-ainst vc'* n ■ o bolted from Australia to evade military service.

Lloyd’s list gives prominence to a proposal of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union to establish a line of steamships with a capital of £5,000,000.

A Masterton labour agent has. a grievance. He sayo: * • cannot understand all this talk abo t r , tne shortage of farm labour, for 1 have the utmost difficulty finding employment for capable men who apply to me ;or farm work. - ’

A Chinaman was charged in the Dunedin Police Court on Tuesday moruing with an assault ,on a police officer. When searched the 'man was found to have sewn into his vest bank notes of large denomination representing £ 892.

Four Catholic priests in the Wellington and Hawke’s Bay recruiting districts alone were drawn in the fifth ballot. Revs Fathers Patrick J. Smyth (Wellington), Francis L. Dignan (Napier), James J. Fraher (Hastings), and Patrick Finnerty (Newtown).

I At Wellington, on March 27, the appeal of Robert Semple against his conviction for sedition will be heard by a B’ench ,of seven Judges, a Full Court being deemed necessary, as the constitution of the Military Service Act will be raised by counsel for the appellant.

Travelling in a train to Wellington the other day, some people observed a man to be in distress. They inquired if they could do anything for him. “No,” he said, “you can do nothing for me. I have lost my five sons at the war, and I am just coming back from putting my wife in an asylum.

A Patea farmer had an unenviable experience one day last week. He set fir e to some scrub, and in stepping back quickly to avoid the flames fell over a 40ft cliff, dislocating his hip. He lay where he fell' from S in the morning till 11 o’clock that night, when he was found by a search party led by his wife.

A little anecdote illustrating the spirit of France is told by a war correspondent. Two French poilus were talking in a front trench. “The seat of my trousers is torn,” remarked a poilu; “I‘m quite unpresentable.” “Oh!” said another, “that makes no difference among friends, and your enemies will never see it.”

The programme to-night at Morton’s lecture on the New Zealanders at the Somme, will include an overture by the Taihape Orchestra, and songs by Mrs. Loughnan, Miss Brodrick, Mr. Prouse (of Wellington), and a recitation by Mr. Haybittle. The orchestra will play throughout the evening and an introductory speech by His Worship the Mayor will be given.

Ther e is only one word on the tongues of Wellington members of the police force at present (says the Wellington Times) and that word is promotion. Rumour has it that there is a lengthy list of promotions due any day now, and speculation is rife as to who are the lucky ones. The advent yesterday of three strange sergeants increased the fever of excitement, and the one topic on the city beats last night was promotion.

Somewhat unusual circumstances attended the death of a German prisoner of war at Wellington Hospital. He was admitted to the institution suffering from appendicitis, and was duly operated on. Later on he became delirious, and during the night get out of bed and attacked on e of the nurses. Attracted by the noise, varous persons rushed to the nurse’s assistance, and secured the prisoner, who was put back to bed. The nurse was not much hurt, but had her nerves badly shaken. The prisoner gradually sank away.

The creditors of a. bankrupt estate in Christchurch received rather a welcome surprise the other day in having all their claims paid in full. It appears that the bankruptcy took place as long ago as 1906, and as the assets were written down as “nil” no further notice was given the matter. But a son of the bankrupt went to the front and was unfortunately killed, and it then transpired he had left sufficient to pay every creditor in his father’s bankrupt estate 20s in the £. “I leave the Official Assignee,” ran the clause in the young soldier’s will, “the sum of £2OO to clear off my father’s creditors.”

I» the Whangarei Court yesterday, before Mr. W. Murton, S.M., a man named Thomas Marshall, employed at Whangarei Heads Freezing Works, pleaded “Guilty” to breaches of the .mti-shoutiug regulations at Parua Bay Haiti. He was fined £2O on one charge, and convicted and discharged on the other breach. Thomas Blood, licensee of the Bay Hotel pleaded “Guilty” M knowingly selling and remitting + breaches of the " r "r rovi; 1 ' 1 ' 1 ’ ■ and was fined £3O. Several cast rating other hotels in this district vih be heard later.

A mistaken impression has got about that Dr. Boyd is going to the war. This is not the case. Dr Boyd •has no intention of leaving Taihape. The full report of the sports and gymkana, held at Mr. J. F. Studholme’s Ruanui Station yesterday will appear in to-morrow’s issue. Messrs W. J. White and Son are holding a millinery show at their shop in Main Street, where the latest creations of the milliner’s art are on exhibition. While going to the Ruanui gymkana yesterday the wheel of a trap collapsed and two lady occupants were thrown forcibly to the road. One was picked up unable to walk, and war conveyed by motor car to Taihape. At the Supreme Court at Nelson yesterday Murray Matheson) formerly chief clerk in the Railway Department at Nelson, was found guilty of the theft of £628 18s lid (the property of the Government), and on two counts of forgery by altering the dates of bank certificates. Accused, who was recommended to mercy, was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment. Lieut. Morton, who has just returned from the Somme front, will tell the people of Taihape, in the Town Hall to-night, just what war m that great drive is like. This lecture was given to a packed theatre in Wanganui, and the huge audience was held spell-bound with the recital of what war really is and means. To appreciate what our boys are doing and have to go through no man or woman in our community should miss hearing Mr. Morton. Proceeds go to the Red Cross Fund.