LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taihape Daily Times, 8 July 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The frost in Wellington on Thursday night was the severest experienced in 20 years. r'

The Wianganui Jockey Club donated a further. £2.000 towards the Patriotic Funds, making the total given by the the Club to date £5,700.

The balance sheet of the Wiaimarino A. P. H. and I. Association, laid before the annual meeting at Eaetihi last week, disclosed a credit balance of £23 7s 6d. The report stated that the past year had been one of progress; not only had the stock exhibits increased, but the quality had also improved.

A wonderful escape from, serious injury was the experience of a man in Queen Street, Auckland on Friday afternoon. While he was at work on .a ladder, about 25ft from the ground, a passing vehicle knocked the ladder from under him. With great presence of mind he seized a hanging rope and held it until the ladder was placed in position .again.

Last month says the Christchurch Pross) Mr P. Gillon, of Greenpark, sent 20 lambs to the freezing works, which aggregated 1,227 lb. dressed weight, or an average of 61311 b. The return for the carcasses at 6 1-Sd per lb. was £3l 6s 3d, The fat realised £1 2s 3d, whilst the skins averaged 12s 3d. Deducting the expenses, £3 9s 6d., the lambs gave the high average of £2 is per head

The sheep dog trials held at Marton brought forth largo entries and keen competition, no less than 32 dogs competing. The trial consisted of short head and yarding competition, the possible points being GO. .Mr Johnson's Hemp (Hawera) took first prize with 57 points; Mr. Strutters' Speed (Nukurmaru) 54 points, 2; Mr Rolfe's Mist Matua), 51 point's, 3; Mr Cameron's Yarrow (Castlepoiirf), 48 points, 4; Mr Struthers' Bob (Nukumaru), 46 points, 5 #

Speaking to an Auckland Star reporter On Friday, a boot retailer stated that the increased price of footwear was caused by the manufacturers, who, he considered, were taking advantage of the stoppage of importations since the war. He instanced this by re'miakring that one time he had made a speciality of selling at a satisfactory margin a line of boots at £1 Is per pair, but the manufacturer had gradually increased his price, and in the end had absolutely refused to supply the line at.the price hitherto paid for it by the retailer. In reply to the suggestion that the Government should be able to fix the price, he said he supposed the Government did not have the cojirage to do so.

The famous Canadian airman, Major Bishop, VC., now has 72 enemy machines to his credit. He brought down 25 enemy aeroplanes last month.

Tho Paris corresponding of the Times states that Winsthoff, successor to Barou von Riehthofcn, was brought down wounded in the French lines. He is now a prisoner.

The first hockey match for the Huia Challenge Cup will be played on the local RecreatTorr'Ground on Thursday next, when a team from the Old GirlsClub will play the HuiaS. A good game is anticipated, as both teams have been putting in some steady practice.

A Wimmera survivor" referring to the kindly treatment of the passengers and crew of the ill-fated vessel by the Maoris, said: "I've heard a lot of these Maoris, and I don't think there is a people in the world like them for kindness, after the way they treated us."

Lord Salisbury, in a letter to the press, aays that until there is some assurance of a change in Irish sentiment a federal system cannot be applied to Ireland. Therefore, he adds, there appears to be a complete bar to Imperial Federation, which is impossible without Ireland.

Some British engineers, says M. Andre Tudesq, in the Pari's Journal, were surprised by an advance of shock troops when blowing up the last of the canal bridges at Merville. The captain in command of the sappers leaped upon the grenades piled in the middle of the bridge iand kept the enemy at bay, but his men, seeing that to fire tho pile would kill their officer hesitated. "Fire boys." shouted the captain, without turning his head, and he died there with the Germans.

The Returned Soldiers' Association, assisted ,'by the Commercial Travellers' Association, intend holding a "Returned Soldiers' Day" in the Taihape Recreation Ground on Thursday, July 18th. All arrangements to this end are now well in hand. The programme for the day will be full of novelties, including a race between Desert Gold and Biplane. The Commercial Travellers are putting on a Coon Can Hack Race. , There w ; ill be some of the best horses in the Dominioi taking part. Further particulars will appear in the papers and on the posters. Watch for them.

Commencing from to-day the tobacconists of Auckland have again advanced the retail rates for the cheaper grades of Virginia cigarettes. These were once sold at sixpence a packet; now they are sevenpence. But to-day they will cost eightpenee. Packets of 20 will go up from 1/2 to 1/3, and 50's will be 3/ then, instead of threepence less. The reason given for this increase is the growing sale' for Turkish cigarettes. Thus the acreage used for the- • Cultivation of the Virginia leaf is dwindling, more ground being used for growing the so-called Turkish variety.

In spite of five many counter attractions and other social functions the euchre parties held by St. Margaret's Ladies' Guild continue as popular as ever. On Friday last a very pleasant evening was spent. As usual all arrangements well and thoughtfull? carried out. The ladies' prize fell to Mrs. Nathan, while Mr McNamara was successful in securing the prize in the gentlemen's section. The prizes were kindly donated by Miss Relling and Messrs H. D. Bennett anct Co. By an oversight the names of the donors of the prizes given on June 23rd were omitted. Mrs. Clark gave the ladies' prize and Mr. Studholmg the gentlemen's.