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

Marshal von Hindenburg has sent a telegram thanking the German potatogrowers for naming a new champion potato Hindenburg.

From Monday next the maximum weight of parcels for soldiers at the front has been reduced from 111 b. to 71b. by the Postal Department.

Turnips did not recover to any remarkable extent after the showers that fell towards the end of last month in the South Island. The rain was not heavy enough or long enough for that. The diamond-backed moth is still as much in evidence as ever.

Another cut in the railway service is reported the .Department having cancelled the special train arrangements for the Manawatu races, which take place on ’April 25th and 2fith. The Department has also cancelled specials for all similar gatherings.

"No returned man who has been discharged and requires medical treatment lias any necessity to pay for it, says the Chairman of the Returned Soldiers’ Association (Mr J. 1). Hairier). "The regulations lay down that the emu must be treated free of charge by the public authorities. If any returned man has trouble in :x uring treatment, his association is ready to take the matter up. ’ ’

"It { s noticeable," states a traveller, “how enthusiastic the residents of Hawke’s Bay are in giving the lads who leave the district for the tr bring camps a real hearty send-off.' ? Recently,, the traveller said, he was a passcr.egcr on a train from NT” dor. There were a number of military recruits on board, and at each station between Woodvillo and Napier a bam’ f some sort was in evidence to cheer the boys on their way to camp.

The balance sheet submitted at the last meeting of the Taihape School Committee showed a credit of £4B with no liabilities.

Owing to the Railway Department’s decision not to carry racehorses the committee of the North Otago Jockey Club has decided to abandon a meeting proposed to be held next week.

In response to a telegraphed request, Mr. W. A. Vietch, M.P., has consented to address a mass meeting at Hastings on the question of labour troubles, particularly in regard to the miners’ strike.

A capable mixed farm working manager advertised for a position. He got six replies. The best offer was £125 a year, and find himself. (He is a married man.) And yet objectors tell the Military Appeal Boards that it is impossible to get anybody to take charge of their farms.

Reviewing the recent conference of the waterside workers and the employer’s union,i Mr. Daniels, chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board, who presided, said the increase in wages of twopence an hour would cost the Board directly £6500 per year, while the consequent increase to other workers would substantially increase the amount.

Whilst mushrooming at Manaia on Sunday, Miss Ida Fowler had the misfortune to fall over a cliff about 40ft. high, breaking a leg and receiving minor injuries to the body and head. Apparently she slipped between the edge of the cliff and a boxthorn hedge. After receiving medical attention sh e was removed to the Hawera Hospital. She is progressing as well as can be expected.

At St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Milawa (Vicotria), the congregation was alarmed by the sudden appearance, during the course of the sermon, of a brown snake, : five feet long, which appeared under the seat in front of one of the worshippers. He moved quietly forward and whispered to the preacher, "Snake! ” The minister said laconically "Get it.” The worshipper dropped a seat on the snake, and another member of the congregation finished it off with his walking stick, and carried it outside. When he returned the minister had concluded his. sermon. :

Some heavy ploughing has been carried out at Featherston Gamp recently, resulting in some 40 acres adjourning the camp being made ready for the growers of vegetables for the use of the troops iu camp. A large swamp plough, drawn by six horses, was used, and the work was very arduous owing to the stonk nature of the soil. Some immense stones were turned up, while the number of smaller ones were considerable. Fatigue parties are now at work clearing the grtound, 'and the Wiorjk , of planting and 'working the ground will be carried out by the same moans.

A New Zealand instructor at Sling Camp, Salisbury Plains, writes: “The value of individual instruction in the use of the Lewis gun was demonstrated at the Somme. Our boys, during the attack, found no less than six Lewis guns discarded by wounded Tommies. They were able to bring these into operation with splendid results. The Lewis gun only weighs 281 b. It is a weapon of opportunity and surprise, and is capable of firing 600 rounds a minute. Its intricacies are not difficult to understand, and I think most of us who have completed our training here would with confidence handle the gun in action if the opportunity came our way.”

At the races the other day at Riccarton there were two horses competing named respectively Eligible and Sasanoff. It is necessary to make this interesting statement in order that the uninitiated may apreciaxe the following short anecdote; —Amongst those present at the race meeting aforesaid was an Earnest Patriot whom it pained to see such a lot of young men wasting their time at the races when they ought to be at the front. So he endeavoured to touch their consciences. His very first attempt, however, failed disastrously. He walked up to a young man, tapping him on the shoulder, and said; “Pardon me, young man, but are you eligible?” “No fear,” said the youth, fishing in his pocket for his tote ticket, “I’m Sasanoff.”

The official announcement made in the Age on Tuesday morning that unless the coal strike ceases th e railway services of the Dominion will be almost completely suspended will come as a bomb to the general community. If the train services cease, the whole trade of the country will be paralysed. Is it possible that smm a thing can happen at this critical period? Will the people of the Dominion permit a handful of men to disorganise the industries, and throw thousands of men out of employment? What is the country coming to when such an alarming situation can be created? Heaven help the British nation, and civilisation as a whole, if we are going to be dominated by a coterie of irresponsiblcs w,ho have no thought for their fellow-beings!—Wai-rarapa Age.

Magistrate McAdoo told his Bible

class in New York that ho would like to be an army sergeant to help handle a regiment of New York's “Slab-sided, round-shouldered, fish-eyed idle youths ’ ’

Mr. D. J. McLennan, at the Tui St. auction Mart, on Saturday, will sell a varied collection of merchandise, consisting of purebred poultry, fruit, vegetables, boots and shoes, one draught horse, and household furnoture of every description.

Mrs. (Capt) Batt, of Taihape, put up the extraordinary performance of selling £162 worth of one shilling tickets in the Taihape Farmers’ Red Cress Art Union, in only six days, winning the gold medal given by the committee to the person selling the most tickets.

Messrs W. J. White and Sons are holding a great millinery sale, during which bargains of most undoubted value will be offered. The goods to be sold are the latest creations of the milliner’s art, and an inspection of the prices, which are displayed in the windows will prove that bedrock prices have been reached.

Major J. J. Toomeiv Divisional Commander for the Central North Division, is paying a three days ’ visit to Taihape, arriving by the midday train to-morrow. The Major will conduct special esrvices in the S.'A. Hall on Sunday, April 22, at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. As Major Toomor is a popular speaker, having a worldwide experience, he will no doubt have a full hall to hear the important communications he has to make to the people of Taihape.

A picture entitled “With the Kut Relief Forces” was shown at the Three Stars last night, and we understand this is the first film showing the Mesopotamian sphere of operations to be screened in Taihape. The picture is a most illuminating and instructive one, giving, as it does, some idea of the difficulties and nature of

the campaign which resulted in the ultimate capture of Bagdad.

A communication from the Defence Department states that 21 men are urgently needed to mak e up shortages of the last draft for Samoa. The men must be between the ages of 46 and 48, and the term of enlistment is for the duration ,of the war, and not for nine months only, as is generally understood. The men will be. required to proceed to camp within 14 days of the acceptance of their services. Forms of enlistment and all necessary information can be obtained -from Sergt-Major Forrest, at the Defence Office, Taihape.

Rabbits in the Otago Central district are being purchased at present at Td. a pair ( says the Daily Timeg). The rabbits arc trapped, cleaned, and bung on a convenient fence, and the buyers’ carts come along and take delivery. The rabbit canning factory at Alexandra is in full swing, and it is said that its output has been purchased for export at £1 per dozen 21b. tins, equal to lOd a lb. There are rabbits everywhere in Otago ' Central, and the trappers are making very big money. One family is said :to. have trapped over 200 rabbits in one day, and to be making anything up to £l7 per week.

The Defence Department advises us that 5 men are required as soon as possible to replace men of the Ist Division of the Reserve who are at present employed on Home Service at Trentham camp. The class of men required are those who are unlit for active service; if possible they should be Ist Division men, but where 2nd Division men apply they should not have more than three children under 16 years of age. Men will rank as privates to commence with, but promotion will depend on their abilities and any vacancies that may occur. The various position to be filled are as follows; —Orderlies 7, cooks 8, driversl, waiters 1, sanitary duties 10, warehousemen and clerks 10, carpenters 2, plumbers 1, storemen 6, tinsmith 1. Full particulars may be obtained from Sergt-Major Forrest, at the Defence Office, Taihape.

At the Wesleyan Methodist Church last night cl ■welcome social was tendered to the Rev. Fordyce, who has just taken charge of the Methodist Connection.in Taihape. The Rev. Mr. McDonald, and Lieut Midland welcomed the incoming minister on behalf of the local churches in a few hearty words of encouragement. Messrs. Darvill, Goldsbury, and J. R. Cunninghamc as representatives of vhe Methodist Church expressed their pleasure in welcoming Mr Fordyce to Taihape. Mr Cunninghame in the course of his remarks stated that a social had been arranged to take Tarewell of their- into minister, Rev L. Minifie, but owing to the latter leaving a week earlier than was expected, Ihe function had to be regretfully abandoned. The Rev. Mr Fordyce, in a felieious speech, thanked the speakers for their kindly words of welcome, and said ho looked forward with pleasure to his ministry here. After refreshments provided hy the Ladies’ Guild, had been done justice to, a very pleasing little function was brought to a close.