LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taihape Daily Times, 5 February 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Prime Minister and Sir Joseph Ward announce Mr. Luke (Mayor of Wellington) as the National Government candidate for Wellington North

Owing to a breakdown in the machinery at the Wellington Meat Export Company's works at Ngahauranga, slaughtering operations had to be suspended during last week.

Speaking at Kawhia last week, In replying to a deputation re postal services, Sir Joseph Ward said he hoped it would not give them a shock when he predicted that soon after the termination of the war the development of air machines would be such that mails would be carried between the principal cities of New Zealand by aeroplanes, and into the back country districts as well. lie felt positive that this would be so. **

The Imperial Supplies Department, which handles meat, wool, cheese, butter, and other New Zealand produce on behalf of the Imperial Government, had paid out to producers and others interested up to the 26th ult. £49,965T,9K.

Mr. E. Short, of Parorangi, who owns some 3000 acres of grazing country near Taumarunui, is just concluding the purchase of 140 acres adjoining the township, on which he proposes to erect a residence for his manager. The rainfall in the, district for January was 3.57 inches.

New Zealand anglers who want to put up a record should come to Fiji (writes a correspondent). The other day Mr. Prank Whitcombe, of Levuka, landed, after a quarter of an hour's fight and with the aid of a gaff, a giant rock cod weighing 304|lb*. The figure is accurate, as it was"~"pub'licly weighed, after being the subject of a guessing competition. The measurements were: Length, 6ft sin, girth sft.

The retail prices of meat have been reduced in Auckland, averaging about

ljd per 1b.,a1l round

After paying dividends to the amount of £54,845, the Auckland Gas Company has a surplus of £1157 on the year's working. Not so bad "these hard times."

The young man, J. L. Christie, who escaped from custody by jumping from the mail train at Penrose last week, was re-captured at Mount Eden on Saturday.

The Feilding Bowling Club put up somewhat of a record on their own green on Saturday last, when they defeated the Wanganui Bowling Club by 91 points, the total scoring for the day being. Wanganui 290, Feilding 381.

Mr. Dyer, S.M., at Rotorua, dismissed a charge against Charles Turner, wholesale liquor dealer, of delivering liquor after G p.m., Liquor was ordered by a customer, and was placed on the footpath before six by a carrier, whose carter removed it about half-past six.

A final reminder is given of the unreserved clearing sale of household furniture and effects by Messrs F. Co. on behalf of Mr. J. E. Smith, at the latter's residence, Pipi Street. The furniture is in splendid condition, the major portion of which has been made by the vendor, wno is himself a cabinetmaker.

A second Court of Inquiry into the escape of the German prisoners from Motuihi Island is now being held at Auckland. The Court is inquiring into the responsibility of Colonel G. W. S. Patterson land Major Ofsborne Lilly in respect to the escape. Colonel N. G. Adams is president, assisted by Majors Cooper and Fletcher.

The Mataroa Stables have changed hands, and they are now in the possesion of Mr. Robert Cleaver, a carrying expert in whom all having carrying work to do may put implicit confluence. Mr. Cleaver promises special, prompt .and particular attention to the requirements of all his patrons and he confidently solicits a trial order. A motor car will leave the stables every Saturday evening at G. 30 for Taihape.

A fire occurred in the operating box of the Strand Theatre, Auckland, some time during Sunday morning, in which a valuable switchboard was ruined, but practically no film was destroyed. So far, the origin of the fire is unknown. It was a remarkable test for the ferro-concrete operating chamber, for there was not a sign of the outburst outside, and eventuallly it must have burnt itself out. The theatre was open as usual this morning, repairs having been effected during the night.

John L. /Sullivan, the ;\velVknown pugilist is dead, John L. Sullivan was born in Boston, Mass., U.S.A., on October 15, ISSS. His /first fight, at the age of 16, was with Charles Mitchell,: whom he defeated in a 16-round contest. Sullivan then began boxing as a regular profession, and during the 10 years from 1874 to 18S4 fought reguarly being considered the most powerful hitter ever seen in the ring. He gained the heavy-weight belt in xVmerica from Richard Fox, champion, and was generally recognised as the champion of the world. In 1891 he lost the championship to Jim Corbett, and retired from the ring.

In his charge to the Grand Jury at the opening of the Auckland Supreme Court, His Honour Mr. Justice Stringer said it was satisfactory to note the marked decrease in the sexual offences against young girls, which had formed such a deplorable feature of previous calendars. He was firmly convinced that these offences were due to the lack of proper supervision and control by parents. It certainly was a fact that young people were allowed to wander about the streets at night without the attendance of any responsible person. He hoped that the diminution in this class of offence was an indication that parents had at last come to a proper sense of their responsibility.

A soldier who had overstayed leave considerably, was classed as an absentee from Trentham Camp, was arrested by the police in a house in Hobson »Street. Auckland on Saturday night. The man had evidently been apprised of the approach of the constable for he could not be found when the house was first searched, and it was not until a closer search was embarked on that he was discovered hidden part way up a chimney, his discovery being due to the fact that he could not get far enough up the flue to keep his feet out of sight' of the searchers. He was sent under escort to one of the forts, and placed in a cell, but on Sunday he escaped from the cell by bending the bars outside, the cell window, so that he could squeeze between them.

( To correct acidity and flatulency take SHARLAND'S FLUID MAGNESIA. Being freshly prepared and alwavs tvM strength SHARLAND'S is the br-t you can buy. 4

As showing the buoyant state of the stock market, it may be mentioned (says the Lyttelton Times) that the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association of Canterbury sold to a leading butcher last weelt 2000 lambs from their mothers at 24s 6d a head, for immediate delivery.

No matter how well-fitting the suit you are wearing may be, unless your hat is in keeping the effect is disappointing. Messrs. H. D t Bennett, Ltd., have the hats that are famous throughout the world for excellence of finish and style, A glance at their advertisement on page one will give you a hint in this direction which is really worth while.

If you are interested in an engagement ring, and very few of us at some period or other of our lives are not interested, a perusal of a notice from Mr. J. Sherlaw, Tuihape's leading jeweller, will be of particular interest. From an engagement ring to a wedding and dress ring,- is a natural transition. In any case Mr. Sherlaw can meet the demand from his extensive assortment!

The Palmerston Fire Brigade received a call at 5.30 a.m. on Sunday to a fire which had broken out in the top storey of the Manawatu Flour Mills in Broad Street. The brigade were able to confine it to the scene of the outbreak. Although a lot of damage was done to the huge stocks of grain which were sfbre'd in the mill, the grinding department and machinery were undamaged. It is stated that over 15,000 sacks of wheat were in the mill at the time of the outbreak, a great portion of which were damaged by water. Mr. McGill will be a heavv loser.

A Wanganui importer has shown a local paper an invoice of crockery just landed, from Burslem (England), and it fehowjs the Excessive charges for freight charged by the shipping companies which affect crockery probably more than anything else. The manufacturer has added 55 per cent, advance to his list prices, . owing to the higher, cost of raw material and wages. The list price of the crockery is £9 4s. The freight to Wanganui for the crate, measuring 50 feet, is £ls 12s The crate cost £l. The insurance of war risk at 102/6 per cent., amounts to £2 Is. The duty is £3 Is, Petty charges bring the 'total cost of the crate, landed in the store, to £37 12s 3d, or 310 per cent on the list, price—which means that an article invoiced at one shilling at the pottery would cost 4/1 in Wanganui. Articles sold before the war at 1/3 cannot now be sold under 3/6.