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Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 24 March 1917, Page 4

It is officially stated that New Zealand lias despatched a total of (57,10 t) men for active service; 10,000 men now in camp make a grand total of 77,739.

An association of German deserters lias been formed at Alkamaar, Holland, with the object of affording relief to deserters released from provisional internment.

King Victor Emmanuel awardee the Silver Medal for Bravery to me Duchess of Aosta for having nursed cholera patients and wounded soldiers under fire, exposing herself to serious danger.

Waverley is very short of water at present, and t-ho supply has been cut off to the public. The water-power is still be ing used for running the electric light plant. Last evening the (own fire-engine was brought into use for pumping water from a well into the tanks of a certain hotel. The bacx country has a burnt-up appearance, and rain is needed badly for stock.

A further set of restrictions on the publication of vessels’ movements has been decided upon, and shortly no news of ships, other than those confined to New Zealand coastal trade wil be published in the newspapers.

Amongst the proposed transfers and appointments of school teachers in this district are the following: Turangarere, Mr Fenton, Hurinui; Mangaonohi, Mr A. J. Fitzgerald, Hihitahi; Raurimu, Mr J. Harre; Rangataua, Mr Warburton; Turangarere, Miss A. H. Dodds.

Un unprecedented sensation (says the West Coast Times) was experienced lately by the holders of ordinary shares in the Westport-Stockton Coal Company, when they received a dividnd of 5 per cent, on their holdings—the first since the formation of the Company .

A punter had an unpleasant experience at Bulls on Wednesday, according to the Manawafu Times. He asked for 70 tickets on No. 3, but was given 70 on No. 5. He was so dissatisfied that he insisted on getting the tickets changed. No. 5 won and paid over £5, while No. 3 was only third!

Since Saturday night the Raetihi Drill Hall was forcibly entered anC the cinematograph engine was tampered with so effectually that the Hall Company was unable to screen its programme on Thursday evening. This is one more of a series of interferences with either the mashine or biograph, showing clearly a persistent determination on the part of some person, unknown, to cripple the Company’s operations.

Tbere was quite a demonstration at the Bulls’ races on Thursday, when Mr. W. J. Phillips’ bay gelding Nobleman won the Maiden Hack Handicap and paid the second best dividend of the day. Mr. Philips is an old resident of the Sandon district, and is very popular with a large section of the community, and the rousing cheers meant very much more than the ordinary compliment paid to a winning owner.

At the Christchurch S.M. Conn, yesterday, two boys, aged 15, were committed to Burnham School by Mr Bailey S.M., for stealing, on February 28, at Addington saleyards, £2lO 18s lid in cash and £297 11/6 in cheques, the property of the Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. One boy ran into the office at the yards, and grabbed the cash-box. The pair divided the cash contents, and tore up the cheques. Fifty-pound notes were put down a drain.

At the annual meeting of the Canterbury A. and P. Association on Thursday, the president (Mr. C. H. Ensor) recommended in -his annual speech, and Mr D. McMillan moved, that the incoming committee take into consideration the desirableness of not holding the annual show this year. Mr W. F. M. E'uckley said all possible encouragement should be given to the primary producer; it would be penny wise and pound foolish to abandon the show. The motion was declared lost on the voices, but by a show of hands it was agreed to.

Speaking of the subject of life-sav-ing in the schools at the annual meeting of the Royal Life-Saving Society in Wellington, Mr. G. St Hill said he had received a letter from the Hon. J. >A. Hanan, Minister for Education, who stated that he was much impressed with the value of the teaching of swimming. He was prepared to approve of the inclusion of amending provisions in the syllabus of 'instruction for public schools, making the teaching of swimming during the summer months practically compulsory where facilities existed.

It is interesting to notice, by a perusal of recent issues of the Russian papers, the revlusion of feeling in that country in favour of Britain and against Germany, England and her Empire are recognised now as Russia’s best friends, while Germany is her greatest enemy. Before the war the great majority of people in the higher classes of Russian society preferred to learn German as the foreign language. There is a very great demand there now for teachers of English, not only as the language of an ally, but also as a help when the proposed post-war trade relations between th e two countries become accomplished facts.

Advice was received yesterday by the Minnister of Defence, Sir James Allen, that the Twenty-first Mounted Reinforcements are safe. “That disposes of another of the absurd rumours put about by foolish, unfeelingpeople,'’ said the Minister. “As a matter of fact, reinforcements about whom a rumour has been started have not yet left Featherston. That shows how flimsy these rumours are. I wish to assure the public that if any information came about a loss it would i made known. It would be better if people would rely upon official information only and put no trust in idle rumours.