LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taihape Daily Times, 5 December 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An advertiser requires, in Februarynext, an unfurnished room with afireplace.

In the ballot published yesterday were the names of 3000 married men, and 700 single men, bringing the total to date to 86,000.

Rumour has it that since his abdication King Constantine has been having a very bad time with Queen Sophie. It is well known that his married life has been anything but a bed of roses, and that during a quarrel in the old days she struck him. This unhappy state of things has been revived and accentuated by some bitter letters from his brother-in-law, the Kaiser.

Uninfluenced by any feelings of spite against the revolutionaries who have exiled him and his family, the ex-Tsar of Russia has given the sum of half a million roubles towards funds for the establishment of the new democracy. His example it is said, has been followed by various other members of the Imperial Family, notably the Grand Duke Nicholas, the former Commander-in-Chief.

As instancing the ramifications of the German spy system, the followingincident is related by an English paper:—A worthy war contractor had the shock of his life the other day. There came to his house a stranger, imperiously demanding to see the chambermaid, who had been attached to the domestic staff since the war and enjoyed the complete confidence of her employer. As the girl had at that hour retired to bed, the stranger was refused admission. He persisted, however, and in the end announced himself as a member of the Secret Service. When the maid had been sent for, the stranger, without any ceremony, gave a tug at her stylishlydressed chignon, which promptly came away in his hand, disclosing the closely cropped head of a typical German! The respected “maid” was in reality a man. For the purposes of his spy work, he had passed for more than three years under this disguise

The richest man in England is Sir John Ellcrman, controller of many great shipping lines, who is said, on a moderate estimate, to be worth £35,000,000. Sir John spends most of his time in an office in London advising the Government on the vital matter of sea and ocean shipments the invaluable advice of a practical expert.

Quite a scries of burglaries have taken place in Auckland recently, evidently by “crooks” who are pastmasters at the game. The latest instance is where they broke into Lees’ Bros.’ tailor shop at Karangahape Road, and, -with nice discrimination, apropriated all completed tailor-made clothes ready for delivery to the firm’s various patrons. The value of the missing garments is stated to be about £BO.

Prince Palestine, winner of t|ie English St. Leger in 1911 and one of the greatest long-distance champions the turf has known has been sold to go to France for £26,250 —easily the highest price paid for a horse since racing affairs slumped owing to the war. Prince Palatine, arrived in France in September His new owner is the Due de -Castries a wealthy breeder with a largo establishment in Normandy.

Mr. Pirry Eobinson, the Times correspondent at British Headquarters, states that about 300 German division havd been lined up and hammered a n the British and French front during 19171 It is estimated that the enemy infantry losses alone exceed a million. The rapidity with which Germany is calling up the younger classes including the 1920 (which commenced last month), reveals their increasing difficulties to keep up the strength of the divisions.

A workman recently employed at a southern port in England loading 15in. shells wrote his name and address on one of the shells, that he was earryig to the ship. He has since received a letter from a gunner in the 8.G.A., telling him that his shell was dropped on a railhead in Flanders as two German troop trains were unloading. The •writer adds that an airman reported that it wrought considerable damage "So you see,” the gunner says, "it did some good towards winning the war.” The workman who is now hopping feels that he has done his "bit."

Lecturing in Auckland on the subject of " Unpreparedness for Motherhood and the Best Age for Marriage, ” Dr. Truby King said he thoroughly understood the responsibility in giving advice on the age at which a woman should marry. Looking at the matter from all standpoints he feould only think that early marriage was best, and in his opinion eighteen for the women and twenty-two for the men were the most suitable ages, both from the point of view of health, morals and the nation.

A rather peculiar state of affairs, was disclosed at the Third Military Service Broad in Wellington on Monday. Some time ago the Board granted a farmhand exemption sine die on the appeal of his employer, who said the man was absolutely essential on the farm. Yesterday, the employer again appeared before the Board for an extension • of time for the farm hand, and said that the latter, whom he had previous described as essential, .Jrad for some months been working as a wool-sorter, having been lent to a neighbour by his employer. Needless to say, the case of the “essential” one was dismissed.

The Kaiser, addressing the troops who took part in the autumn campaign in 1916 in Roumania, spoke of the “ Hohenzollern who succeeded a great and noble-minded Prince, who, despite all traditions, did not know how to keep faith. ” He described King Ferdinand of -mumauia as “the renegade who, at the time when Germany was engaged in a terrible war, joined* the enemies of the Empire as a new opponent, ” and added that “the avenging hand of the Judge above us has sealed the fate of this faithless former friend. “

It is quite on the cards that, as the season advances, the Government will prohibit the slaughtering of the lambs in the Dominion (says the Wairarapa Age)). This course will not be serious shortage in shipping. At present there is sufficient tonnage in sight to clear the freezing works of last season’s surplus. The prospects for next year, arc, however, uncertain. If the shipping cannot bo maintained, it will be useless freezing lambs, as these are the least essential, class of meat produced. The freezing companies are much concerned about the matter, but they may rest assured that nothing will be done that is not in the best interests hi the she meantime, people should be very careful about gambling on the lamb market.