LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taihape Daily Times, 29 December 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A statement has just been made by the Minister of Defence that the first draft of men from A Class of the Second Division will not be required to go into camp until April, and possibly not until May.

“I am not going to say there’s no freedom of speech in New Zealand. There is absolute freedom of speech as long as you keep your mouth shut.” —Mr P. Fraser, at a Labour gathering in Wellington.

Some men have no luck at all! A thirsty soul who had commenced his Christmas festivities rather early, wandered into the Masterton Park. Evidently mistaking the water for a promenade, he walked right into the water. This amused two gentlemen who were seated near by. Being annoyed at their effervescing mirth, the one who was now wet outside as well as inside, let off steam at the two others, in lurid language. This is where he had no luck —the gentlemen were both Stipendiary Magistrates ! '

There will be no publication of the “Taihape Daily Times' ’ on Tuesday (New Year’s Day).

Firewood cutters, to cut about 30 cords of firewood in the borough, are advertised for.

Mr. W. P. Casey, a returner! soldier, who enlisted from Taoroa, is, it is understood, to be appointed to the position of postman for Taihape.

Among those who spent a merry Christmas in Wellington was an inmate of the Home for the Aged and Needy, who is 102 years old.

Two men, alleged to be Germans, were arrested by the police in Christchurch on Friday, and handed over to the military authorities.

When the magistrate at Willesden Police Court (London) remarked to a man charged with assaulting his wife, “You seem to have knocked her about badly,” the man replied: “I can’t say. I’m near-sighted.”

Mr H. D. Bond has a notice of interest to those desirous of making New Year presents. The selection of a suitable present will be rendered much easier by paying a visit to his wellknown shop.

Sir Joseph Ward made the important announcement to a Christchurch deputation that within the ’ next month or two the whole of the produce at present in the Dominion’s cool stores would he cleared by shipping.

A bowling tournament will be played on the Taihape Bowling Green on New Year's Day, play starting at 9 a.m. Entries close with the Secretary, Mr. A. G. Lawson, to-night. Considerable interest centres in this tournament, and some keen games arc anticipated.

A Feilding lady was much disgusted on Christmas Eve on receiving three Christmas cards from friends in Palnmerston, because each card had conspicuously upon the imprint, “Printed in Germany.” “That’s patriotic Palmerston for you!” she exclaimed.

The Wangauui Ram Fair is to fie held on the A. and P. Association grounds, at Wangauuiy 'On 'the’ ; slh February; Entries .are 1 invited; all forms- and information > dnay “be baa from Da’]gety : and'Co: Ltd., and from' tie 1 ,N. Z. Loan and Mercantile ■Agency Co.; and ail branches .Entries close on the 21st January.

It is estimated that there were £500,000 Worth of cars at the Palmerston races on Cup day (says the ’Times). Seven hundred of these vehicles paid for admission into the paddock. Then there were the members’ cars and the taxis which plied continually between the course and the town.

Mr Tom Wing, M. P., (England), tells the following story of a venerable Scotch mother who has lost four sons in the war. When asked by a sympathising friend how she managed to bear her sorrow, the old woman replied; “Well, I just keep on knitting socks and jerseys. I count the stitches, but I haven’t time to count my sorrows.”

According to a private letter received in Hawera, on arrival in England non-commissioned officers attached to the reinforcements drop two stripes, and on going to France hand them all in. Thus a soldier leaving New Zealand as a sergeant becomes a lancecorporal on reaching England, and when he goes to France becomes a private, but has a good chance of earning stripes there, as non-commis-sioned officers are usually wanted.