LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taihape Daily Times, 6 July 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The next Gazette calling up reservists for service will be published on 24th inst.

The Minister 'of Defence is advised that the 38th Mounted Rifle Reinforcements and the 3rd Raratongans have reached a port of call, “all well.”

Information regarding the experiments being made in North Auckland for extracting oil from kauri gum Indicates that the results are promising.

“The dirtiest’hole in New Zealand, bar none,’ ’is Chaplain T. F. Taylor’s description of Trentham Camp. “It is the wettest place in N6w Zealand, and the coldest place ever invented,” ne added.

It is stated that the coal supply has reached an acute stage in Wellington. The Wellington Gas Company has at present only about five days’ supply i n stock. The position is regarded as serious.

Benzine and kerosene users will be pleased to read Messrs. E. Wilson and Go’s announcement in this issue, that they have just landed a consignment from which they can supply the moderate requirements of their clients, subject to Board of Trade conditions.

"I can easily understand why the Chinamen here will pay 21/ or more for a sovereign,” said Mr John Myers to a Wellington "'reporter, speaking about his recent trip to the East. “ During my stay at Hongkong several passengers from the ship changed sovereigns and received 27/4 in finglish money. I believe the Chinamen use the sovereign for making jewellery,”

The head of Carbine, the famous racehorse, has now been mounted and placed in a plate-glass case in the gallery of the Auckland Museum. The head was presented thp museum by the' Auckland Racing Club, to whom the skin had been forwarded by Carbine’s last owner, the Duke of Portland. An inscribed sliver plate, containing a record of Carbine’s pedigree performance's, and total winnings is attached to the case.

In a reply to Mr. Ed. Newman, M.P., sent on behalf of Marton pastoralists, the Hon. D. H. Gulhrie says: “Personally I suggest that if woo*growers receive last year’s rates for their wool that it would be a square deal if all profit derived from sale of surplus wool in England should be devoted to a fund for the benefit of the dependents of the brave sailors of the Royal Navy and Merchant Service, but fer whose vigilant protection during the last four years this Dominion would probably have been under a foreign flag instead of In the enjoy, meut of unprecedented" prosperity.”

Insect ’pests caused a greater loss in the food supplies of the United Kingdom last year than did the German U-boats, according to the estimate of the Board of Agriculture.

Eight men, rescued by a British schooner after drifting 13 days in a small boat, on their arrival in port recently, told a story of how they sustained life by catching a shark with ropes and drinking its blood.

A German prisoner named Friedrich has been officially congratulated and cited by the French military authorities for bravely rescuing a guard from drowning in the Seine at the risk of his own life.

As illustrating the present cost of braiding material, the chairman of the Nelson Education Board (Mr. G. H, Gothard) mentioned that roofing iron which formerly cost 3/6 per sheet, was now unprocurable at £1 a sheet.

By an explosion in the magazine damage was done at the Stockton mine, Westport, yesterday. At one time the fire had a big hold, but the authorities report thal the danger has been overcome, and work is going on as usual

The Old Girls’ Hockey Club intend holding a social and dance in the Three Stars Theatre on Thursday, July 11th, when a very enjoyable evening is anticipated. The price of admission has been fixed at, gents 2s 6d, ladies a basket.

A telegram from Westport states that Elizabeth McLellan, wife of Donald McLellan, was found dead near a creek On Sergeant's Hill on Thursdayevening, her head having been blown off by gelignite. The affair is surrounded by mystery. The husband was away all day long contracting.

Hayward Bros, were yesterday, at Christchurch fined one pound and costs for supplying lime juice to the Defence Department containing salicylic acid. ‘ A breach of the regulations, was admitted, but defendants denied wilfully adding acid, contending it must have been drawn from old wine casks used for lime juice..

Foreign Mission Sunday is being observed in the local Methodist Church to-morrow. The preacher for the evening service will be the Eev. A J. Lester Minifie of Eaetihi and the anthem:, “ Thine, O Lord, is the Greatness,” will be rendered by the choir. A hearty invitation is extended to all.

Beyond clearing the slip away on the line between Taihape and Mataroa little has been done as yet towards removing the engine and waggons. The engine still lies on its side alongside the track, covered with tarpaulins and the waggons are on the bank in a more or less damaged condition. The contents of the coal waggons are scattered along the bank.

The want of a culvert on the public road between Taibape and Mataroa was clearly the cause of a slip which came down during the recent bad weather. A spring bubbles froth on the higher side of the road, which loosened the earth and a slip was the re-, suit. Even yesterday the water from this source was pouring over the road in some volume.

Some railway men during the past week have been engaged "sinking” the huge boulders on the hill above the site of the slip on the line between Mataroa and Bennett’s Siding. Some of the boulders, which weigh in the vicinity of ten tons, constituted a menace to the safety of the line, and it would not have taken a great deal to loosen them and send them hurling down the hill. It is stated by men of experience in railway work that the train would in all probability have cut through the recent slip, had it not been for the obstruction of one of those huge stones, embedded in the debris, which threw the engine off the track.

“'lmperialist” writes to the Auckland Herald: “The loss of the Wimmcra will perhaps bring home to the people of New Zealand the laissez faire manner in which the authorities are treating the German menace In our midst. We are a wonderful people, and during such an awful war as this have Germans in high positions. German propaganda is being preached throughout the land. It is time Germans, whether naturalised or not, were treated as enemies, and either interned or kept under surveillance. Some, no doubt, are sympathetic with the Allies, but who can tell? ‘ What would we think' of an Englishman who in Germany was doing his best to defeat his countryman’s enemies?”