LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taihape Daily Times, 21 December 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A knock at the door roused Aic sleepy gentleman, and the orderly officer entered and saluted.

Since the 6 o’clock closing came into force a fortnight ago there have been only seven arrests in Dunedin for drunkenness.

The nett total .of money raised by the Otai-hape Club at their Red Cross Day campaign is £254 19s 3d, and Mr R J. Loughnan, this morning, handed over the cheque for that amount to the Red Cross Branch Secretary.

To compel the wealthy classes to give up to war work the horses they have been using in carriages owing to shortage of petrol, the German Government will allow no hay or fodder to horses that are not employed in ‘ 1 important industrial pursuits.”

“It is remarkable the number of essential and irreplaceable men who come before us and are only receiving £3 10s or £4 per week,” remarked the Chairman of the Third Military Service Board in Wellington. “It is usually the employers who make the appeals.”

“There is plenty of butter in New Zealand,” said Premier Massey. He did not agree with a statement that a shortage would be experienced here through better prices being offered for export. “And the fixing of the prices here will be the Government’s business ’ ’

A black and gold bead handbag, containing notes and other money and one or two other articles, is advertised for. The finder is asked to leave it at this office, or communicate with this office at the earliest convenient moment

The Postmaster-General has received advice that the rate of postage for letters from the United States of America to New r Zealand has been increased from 2 to 3 cents per oz., or fraction thereof. The' increase is the result of a similar raising of the United States’ inland rates.

A Christmas auction sale is to be held at the Tui Street Mart to-mor-row (Saturday), commencing at 2 p.m., when 5h fine geese, a large quantity of ducks and fowls, 20 cases of peaches, 10 cases plums, hams, vegetables, glassware, wirenetting, corrugated iron, and other useful articles will be offered.

At the Taihape Magistrate’s Cotirt this morning, before Mr J, P. Aldridge, J. P., James Ireson, alias Harper, was charged with being drunk in Hautapu Street, also with damaging the property of Nellie Kirkpatrick to the extent of £3 11s 9d. He was convicted and discharged; for damaging property he was fined £2 and ordered to pay damages, £8 11s SH.

Here is the very latest opinion of Premier Massey: On the whole, I think, the Imperial authorities have treated the Dominion very fairly indeed. I recently asked that space should be found in ships that w r ould be available for the shipping of tallow, which w T as needed, and I believe this will be done. So far as the shipping problem is concerned generally, I do not anticipate any difficulty in the near future.

When a young man stepped before Military Service Board at Wellington to appeal on the ground of conscientious objections, he was asked by Mr D. M. Findlay, the chairman, what his religion was. “I am a Presbyterian,” replied the appellant. “That won’t do,” said the chairman. “The Presbyterions are good fighters. If they are not fighting at the front they arc fighting amongst themselves.”

Premier Massey, referring to the new length of railway just opened at Eaetihi, says this railway is going to open up some fine country in that portion of the Main Trunk District. The railway will prove very useful in affording facilities to the people now on the land and those who go on in the future, and will provide haulage for a large output of timber from that locality. The country is good for grazing, and although a good deal of it is broken. will be able to carry two sheep to the acre.

Says the Dunedin Star on the escape thing is a sorry business, and the Govtiling is a sorry business, and the overnment should make an effort to recast the whole policy in respect to the internment of prisoners of war, including eve nthe most harmless (apparenting even, the most harmless (apparenttion have trifled with a serious business for over three years. Now that their stupid laxity and flabby sentiment have culminated in an unparalelled farce that may turn to tragedy, it is to be hoped that ornamental officers and obstinate administrators will bo taught a memorable lesson.