LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taihape Daily Times, 28 December 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

After boisterous conditions on Christmas Eve and dull weather on Christmas Day, Boxing Day in Auckland was favoured with bright sunshine and a cool breeze, affording ideal conditions for. all outdoor recreation. The attendance at the Cup meeting was as large as any previous meeting, and totalisator handled £9doo more than last Boxing Day, the total, £BO,985, being a record for the Dominion.

By pressing cigarettes upon wounded and convalescent soldiers in such quantities, a generous public is unconsciously making it more difficult for us to get them well, said an officer sitting on a medical board of the ovenseas contingent to a, representative of the London Daily Mail. When you get these lads just out of the hospital suffering from shock, heart trouble, and all manner of nervous disorders, smoking, and particularly cigarette smoking, is as bad for them as drink; in fact, we should like to see it controlled in the same way as liquor, if it were possible.

An elaborately planned pro-German demonstration in Mexico City appears to have been a failure ,says the New York Public. Press reports state that not more than 300 persons took part. Banners that were intended to excite prejudice against the Allies and the United States were taken down by the police. The procession is reported to have aroused no enthusiasm. The declaration of General Pablo Gonzales, occupying a whole page in El Universal and calling upon his countrymen to support the United States and the Allies

and against Germany, was receiver with such enthusiasm that a large ex tra edition was published.

Shute’s labour exchange have several vacancies for cook, married couples, etc., a blacksmith and a gardener are awaiting Engagement.

Mr J. Capill has received a telegram from the Defence Minister stating that his son, Oswald, is in the New Zealand Hospital at Codford, England.

Lieutenant Gibbs, brother of Mr C. O. Gibbs, who enlisted from Utiku, and who was reported wounded a few months ago, has again been wounded and is in hospital.

There seems to be an impression that there will be sports in Taihape on New Year’s Day. Owing to various circumstances the athletic club was obliged to drop this popular meeting this year.

A splendid consignment of peaches and plums will be sold at the Tui St. auction mart to-morrow (Saturday), also a fine lot of fowls, a photographic camera and accessories, wire-netting, corrugated iron, and a lot of excellent furniture.

The provision of the licensing law for the closing of hotel bars at 6 p.m. led to an unexpected and far-reaching effect at Pukekohe (says the New Zealand Herald.) In preparation for a smoke concert tendered to a resident, a quantity of alcoholic liquors was provided. Information, however, was received from the police that at any gathering held off licensed premises the old-established practice of consuming liquor paid for out of the general fund would no longer be permissible.

The local reserve and domain grounds are becoming increasingly popular as picnicking grounds. , Many hundreds visited the various beauty spots in the bus-h on Boxing Day. It would be a great benefit to the public if suitable clearings were made at different spots near the river bank, so that games could be Indulged in and the billy boiled with safety. Taking the present holidays as" a criterion, the local reserve is going to be the chief attraction for holiday-makers in the future.

Much interest was evinced at Port Ahuriri on a recent afternoon when three pilot whales (blackfish) came through the entrance to the inner harbour. One, probably about 25 to 35 feet long, got right up into the Iron Pot, while the other two went under the Westshorc bridge and were secured by fisherman and tied to the shore in that locality. The one in the Iron Pot attracted the most attention, being a huge specimen, and during the afternoon it was speared and laired and tied up. But towards dark it was found necessary to release it, as not being dead there was a possibility of its doing damage, and it gradually wended its way out on the ebb tide, and was lost to view about 8 p.m.