LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taihape Daily Times, 24 January 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Applications are invited by Mr Free Overton for carting 50 yards of gravel.

A middle-aged lady is wanting a situation as housekeeper or com-

panion,

It is understood that circumstances have arisen which may result in the postponement of the Hon. A. L. Herd-

man’s resignation,

A nurse giving evidence in the Shoreditch County Court, London, said she was standing in a tramway-car, having given her scat to a soldier, “as most women do nowadays.”

United States inventors have perfected a non-ricochet shell, capable or exploding under water. The British and French Admiralties are successfully employing this device against submarines

“My’heart is with Mr Havelock Wilson when he said no seaman could take Germany’s blood-stained hand. I am in favour of 21 years’ ostracism.” said Mr John Hodge, the Pensions Minister, at a lunehean of the British Empire Producer’s Organisation in London

In the singles championship series at the Dominion bowling tourney, Haraway (Dunedin), put up what is believed to be a Dominion record. Playing against Longworth (St. Clair.) he scored 44 to 6. Not till the 14th head was reached did Longworth score when he put on a single. Harraway being then 39.

In all, 122 vessels have been lost “without trace,” during the past throe years. As the average number in tames of peace does not exceed 15 a year, the excess is taken to represent the sinkings by German submarines in accordance, with the advice of the German Minister to the Argentine (“sink without a trace.”)

The Great Bargain event of the season commences Wednesday, January 23rd, 9 a.m. sharp,—Collinson and Gifford. Ltd.

Official despatches state that 160,000 Turks, or over 50 per cent of General von Falkenhayn’s entire army, deserted during the march from Constantinople to Palestine.

Split totara posts are wanted by the thousand by an advertiser. Particulars as to price and delivery should be sent to the sash and door factory, New Plymouth.

An advertiser wants to sell a new six-roomed, modern, well-built bungalow residence on half-acre of land, with all up-to-date conveniences. It is one of the best localities in the town and only about two minutes walk from the Post Office.

In the course of the hearing of a case in the Magistrate’s Court, Masterton, Mr W. Kerr, S.M., commenting upon the evidence of certain witnesses regarding immorality, stated that the condition of morals in the Dominion appeared to be at a shockingly low ebb.

The United States Department of Agriculture has issued a poster urging the wholesale slaughter of rats. ‘'The rats,'states, the poster, ‘‘has, by spreading diseases, killed more people than bullets, and he is just as filthy and dangerous as ever. The rat is the most destructive and dangerous of animal pests.

Eccent rains have freshened up the rape crops round Fcildiug, and will have the effect probably of increasingstill more the export of fat lambs from this district. Though the local freezing works arc operating at full capacity, large drafts of lambs are being trucked away almost daily to works further away.

Some Australian ex-prisoners exchanged from Germany have arrived in England. They state that Germany would collapse if the supply of water ran out. Soup, tea, and coffee wore merely coloured water, which was the chief constituent of most of the foods. Mangold wurzcls Avere • esteemed us a delicacy by civilians. The scarcity of cloth, was shown by the use of paper for hospital dressings.

While Great Britain is still largely governed by lawyers, France is governed to an almost similar extent by journalists. M. Clemenccau edited the daily paper LTiomme Enehainc until the day before he became the Prime Minister. M. Pichon, now Foreign Minister, wrote for many months a daily article in Le Petit Journal. M. Albert Thomas, the Socialist leader, who was so great a success the Minister of Munitions, now that he is no longer in the Cabinet has once more joined the staff of Huraanito.

A tragedy was averted the other morning by the presence of mind of an elderly man who passes over the Tc Hcnui railway bridge every morning just prior to the mail train -(reports the Taranaki Herald). The driver blew his whistle and the man had just •time to creep down on one of the projecting girders while the train passed over. It was an anxious time for residents in close proximity to bridge witnessing the affair and wondering how he was going to escape. One of them had called out a -warning to the

man.

A difficulty has arisen in connection with two reservists, Charles E. Warden and Arthur Burrows, found guilty at Christchurch on Wednesday of refusing to obey the commands of their superior officer and declining to submit to medical examination. The court-martial passed sentence, but Colonel Chaffey cannot confirm until -he is satisfied by the medical authorities that the prisoners arc fit to undergo punishment. As the men refused to be examined a deadlock has occurred. It is possible that the position will be submitted to headquarters in Wellington.

A report was recently made to the Fiji police that a sailor from one of H.M. visiting ships was on the wharf in a condition unable to look after himself. Fijian constables are not allowed to arrest Europeans, and by the time the sub-inspector arrived on the spot there was nothing to be seen or a man but a cap, a set of false teeth, and a belt. A report was made to the ship and search parties were sent out. Dragging operations were instituted, but no trace of him could be found. It is presumed that he overbalanced, fell into the water and was drowned.

An Irish commercial was very much annoyed the other day in a western hotel in London when his day’s bill showed a trivial increase on what he had been in the habit of paying there. As he was leaving the jovial proprietor insisted on him having a “parting cup,” and at the finish of quite a friendly chat ho slipped a threepenny bit into the traveller’s hand when they parted. “That’s the sum you made such a fuss over,’’ said the proprietor. “Oh, thanks very much, old man,” replied the other, witli apparent gratitude, and, diving into his pocket, ho added, “I suppose I had better give you back your cut-glass salt celh.r now.” And he did.

A postcard recently received from Dave McLennan, at the front, states that he is in the best of fettle; that Ned Swenson is in the same hut as he is, and asks to be remembered to all friends in Taihape. The day before writing he met Cyril Wrightson, who, he says, is looking well.

“Boys, this man has lost every drop of blood in his body! There is only one thing that can save him, and that is for one of you to allow your blood to be transferred to his body.’" On hearing this appeal by a doctor who had been examining a wounded man near the firing line, Gunner F. Burvill, E.G.A., son of a Folkestone, gardener, at once stepped forward, and the transfusion was rapidly effected. Burvil, by his sacrifice was reduced to a weak state. He is now in hospital at Exeter, suffering from secondary

anaemia