LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taihape Daily Times, 5 January 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Two furnished rooms, or board in a private family is required by married couple. Two imbrlatos, W. Robertson and Re ter Dove, made their appearance at the Police Court this morning, and contributed 10S each to the Dominion’s revenue on the recommendation of Mr. Aldridge, J.P. A fire broke out on Wednesdaymorning in Dunning’s block of shops, situated in the main street of Te Kuiti, the portion occupied by Mrs. Avis, fancy goods dealer, being gutted. The loss is estimated at £I2OO. The stock, -which was completely destroyed, was insured in the National Office for £SOO.

Among those returned wounded and invalided soldiers who arrived in 'Auckland yesterday afternoon we notice the names of Privates H. J. England, Ohakune; R. H. Hadley, Eaetihi; J. 11. Law, Taihapo; M. N. McLaughlan, Taihape; C. P. Pederson, Eaetihi.

A child, two and a-half years of age son of Mr Valentine, of Waimumu Road, near Mataura, which had been straying about the yard on Thursday afternoon was missed and was found drowned head downwards in a water barrel. 1

In another column Mrs. Hurley tenders thanks to friends who sent messages of sympathy in her recent bereavement. Thanks are also given to Drs, Sinclair and Dr. McDiarmid for their kind and careful attention to the late Mr. Hurley in his long and painful illness.

“Yes, sir,” said the large man in the inner bar. “I follow the principle of sacrifice. I sign the American pledge—one whcatless day, one meatless day, one butterless day, one suggarless day.” The little man in the corner lifted his head out of the pewter and asked, “Why not try a maltIcss day?”

The Bishop of London, (Dr. Winningson Graham), in his Christmas message, said: “Great Britain is rising like a tower out of the deep. The nation jesses into the new year honoured by the admiration of her friends and honoured by the fear of her foes, if wc fail now we had better not have begun the war. If the league of eighteen nations now banded together do not force justice now, will they over oo able to do so?”

It will bo remembered that we chcnicled the fact that a fire broke out ju Mr G. Mitchell’s bakery at Kactihi on December 19th last. The circumstances were so peculiar that it was deemed desirable to hold an inquiry, into the matter. This eventuated on Thursday before the District Coroner, Mr. 'J. J. Pilkington. After taking evidence the Coroner found that the fire had been wilful caused by some person or persons unknown.

Some salutary fines were inflicted on several bookmakers at the Auckland S.M. Court, yesterday for betting. J. G. Eccs was fined £3O on each of three charges; John Weston £2OO on : throe charges; G. 11. Newton £6O; W. C. Stephens £3O; and a Dalmatian named Dinko Fredotovich £6O. Dinko was described as doing a fairly big business and had £IOOO bank balance. John Weston had previously been fined £175. The total fines aggregated £685.

The canine that sought its pleasure amongst the Rev. W. F. Stent's prize poultry and left twelve valuable birds lying dead in various parts of the St. Margaret's Church property yesterday morning, paid a return visit to his newly discovered happy hunting grounds this morning. Unfortunately for him, he was expected and preparations had been made for his reception, so that he will not be in any particular hurry to return home again to his master. In any case, he had become so absorbed in his work of destruction the previous morning that he left two birds to practice upon this • morning. His Reverence invited the dog to stay, and while he is at the vicarage, curious and inquisitive press and people arc awaiting developments. 1

When Sergeant William Bruce of Winnipeg, was measured for the army he stood sft. Sin. tall. To-day he stands but sft. stin. tall. Two and ahalf inches of bone were taken from each leg at the ankle, and both feet were grafted on again in a London hospital. The King’s own surgean made the operation in a London hospital, after Sergeant Bruce’s ankles and wrists had been smashed in a shell explosion. Grafting was done with silver wires. After many months the bones knit, and Sergeant Bruce was able to walk. He has no ankle joint. His feet are permanently at right angles to his legs, but he can walk just as well. A similar operation was performed on his wrists, but no bones was taken out.

Th placid atmosphere which usually obtains at the departure of the evening mail train was somewhat disturbed last night by a man named Oscar Larson who had been imbibing somewhat too freely. Interviewed by the police, Oscar decided to put up a fight for his personal liberty, and for a quarter of an hour gave the spectators an interesting exhibition of “catch as catch can” wrestling. The interest of the onlookers was fairly divided between the wrestlers and the antics of* a whiskered gentleman from the Emerald Isle, whose shouts of encouragement to one of the combatants were both amusing and forcible. Eventually Larsen was secured and taken to the lock-up. This morning Oscar essayed, with the assistance of the police ,to explain to Mr. Aldridge, J.P., his share in the melee. A fine of 10s for being drunk, and disorderly, and 3ks to replace the damaged pantaloons cf one of the arresting, constables, w„s handed out by the Justice.