LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taihape Daily Times, 17 December 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A gardener got first prize at Lower Hardres (Kent) for raising 2421bs of potatoes from a pound of seed. 'Summoned at Coalville (Leicestershire) for not having proper lights on his motor cycle, William A, Fairbrother, grocer, Moira, was stated to have offered 24 lbs of sugar to the policeman who stopped him to say nothing about it. > “The workman does the work and the others get the pay. You do everything except draw the dividends. You have brains enough to make a car, drive it, and do everything except sit back and smoke a cigar as she goes along.” This statement was made by Mr J. Roberts at a workers’ meeting at Dunedin on Wednesday, and it evoked much laughter.

A Christchurch soldier who had lost a leg while on active service was dissatisfied with two artificial limbs supplied to him by the authorities, and made another himself which has proved perfect. The Canterbury Patriotic Fund Committee intend making him a grant of £SO and a loan of £3O to enable him to start an artificial limb manufacturing business.

Premier Massey announces that the Imperial Government, recognising what New Zealand has done, has notified us, without any pressure on our part, that for the future our Reinforcements will be very considerably reduced. This has been done as a recognition of the splendid position New Zealand has taken right up throughout the war.

For using bread otherwise than for human food, Miss Caroline Stiff was fined £5 at Dover (England). She had 14 dogs, and admitted to the food inspector that she gave them bread and milk for berakfast, oddments of bread and biscuits soaked in gravy for dinncer, and bread and biscuits for tea. She lived alone, and had taken 201bs. of broad weekly.

The railway line which connects Moscow with Petrograd rivals a Roman road for straightness. It was first projected in the middle 'of last century, and the then Czar was asked to state his wishes as to the course the railway way should take. In reply he drew a perfectly striaght line between his two capitals, and the engineers proceeded accordingly, though many of the natural difficulties to be overcome were great, and it would have boon far less costly to have allowed some deviations. As it is it is probably the longest straight railway in the world.

In SITAELANDS ’ FLUID MAGNESIA you always get highest strength, purest qualify and best value. 3

A gentleman wants board in a quiet private family. At Nicholls’ motor garage, Station Street, there Hlt& six 32-gallon barrels, as good as new, for sale.

Mr B. H. Just, fruitgrower, Palmerston North, has early gage "plums, best for either dessert or jam for sale, by the case, railage free.

Tenders are being called by the Taihape Town Clerk. Mr J. F. Menzies, for the right to cut grass on the borough roads. Conditions may be seen at the Town Clerk’s office.

The Minister of Defence has been advised that the second portion of the 31st Eeinforcements and the whole of the 32nd Eeinforcements have arrived at a port of call.

Fruitgrowers in several districts report that stone fruits are going to be scarce this season. Plum and peach trees arc not bearing well. While some varieties of apples are bearing as heavily as usual, other kinds, notably Stunners, are yielding only light crops.

The recently-completed railway between Ohakune and Eaetihi is to' be formally opened to-mo'rrow (Tuesday). Mr E. W. Smith, M.P., and Mr Jennings, M.P., will be present, but what Minister of the Crown will perform the ceremony is not yet known.

Messrs McLaughlan Bros, have just opened up a large consignment of useful and dainty crockery and glassware. These wares have come direct from the potteries and glassworks of the Old Country, where they were manufactured; they are of the latest designs, and very much of the consignment is remarkably suitable for Christmas present. This firm has also large stocks of new fruits for the coming festive season’s cooking, as well as for dessert, at the very lowest- market prices.