LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taihape Daily Times, 26 July 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

To give an idea of the scarcity of British-made pianos, it is stated that at a Gisborne sale a second-hand piano realised £IOO.

A reminder is given of the meeting to be held in the Town Hall sup-per-room this evening to formulate plans for raising money on behalf of the Bed Jersey Appeal.

The trial of the 34 Jugo-Slavs for refusing to work for the Government on the Okahukura-Stratford railway line was. concluded at Taumarunui on Wednesday,^the magistrate reserving his decision. ,■ At the instance of their counsel the defendants agreed to resume work in the meantime.

According to Reuter's correspondent at The' Hague the News learns that the Allied air raid on Gladenbach os Friday night resulted in the incineration of the railway station and widespread destruction to the lines and crossings. Traffic towards Holland has been seen to be much disorganised. British aviators at Zeebrugge sank a tug which was endeavouring to remove one of the sunken British cruisers.

'A spirited declaration of his willingness to serve his country was made at the Auckland Military Service Board sitting on Wednesday by the father of an appellant, himself a veteran soldier and ex-non-commis sioned officer of the Life Guards. "Yes," he excalirned, "my youngest •bey enlisted as soon as war broke out, and I did my best to follow him! I shaved off my beard and moustache, and told them a lie —yes, your Worship, I lied to them! —and told them I was 45 instead of 65, <I was so anxious to go. But it wasn't any use," he added sadly; "they wouldn't take me." In proof of his statement, he exhibited a document, stating that he had voltunteered, but had been rejected as being over military age.

A farmer's father, talking about the shortage of wheat in New Zealand, said: "If all the farmers who arc yet able-bodied were to start in and work themselves, instead of spending so much time in going about attending conferences to argue the question and pake up politics, much could be done to raise our own supply. My son has a small farm which he has to work himself, because labeur cannot be got. and., though he has a stiff leg, he did all the ploughing and harrowing and sowing necessary fo raise 2000 bushels of wheat last season and also the season before. Not a hand's turn did he get by way of help, except .at harvesting, when a schoolboy came along and gave assistance. If New Zealand were blockaded, and it came to a question of bucking in or going hungry, we should find that our land is oapable enough. It is only a matter of pulling off our coats."

i The usual weekly sale will be held

at the Tui Street auction mart tomorrow afternoon, when there will be offered a four-wheel waggon, Massey Harris fertiliser drill, 2 gigs, a large lot of sundries, fruit, etc.

The German Government, replying to a request from Turkey for the Russian Black Sea Fleet, declared that the dreadnoughts and other 'best ships were destroyed. Of the remainder, which was rightly the booty o? Germany, not a single vessel was fit for navigation; and would take months to repair.

The following weather forecast has been issued by Mr Clement Wragge: The weather is expected to be chiefly fine, save for a few occasional showers. It, however, is uncertain how long the fine spell will last, as another disturbance appears to have left Australia, travelling east towards New Zealand.

There has been a very good season at Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa, Captain W. Ross informed a "Star" representative to-day, but considerable difficulty is being experienced in getting away produce owing to the shipping shortage and high freights. The exceptionally cold weather experienced here for some time past, extended even to Fiji, and the inhabitants are wearing their warmest clothing.

The New Zealand Alliance executive on Thursday evening passed a resolution: "That the attention of the Attorney-General be called to the fact that the Tanaetua license was granted in spite of the strongest evidence against it, tendered by such unimpeachable and unbiassed witnesses as the Public Works engineer, assistantengineer, and police. The Alliance protests against this flagrant defiance of the clear intention of the Licensing Act. The Alliance asks that searching inquiry be made into this and the Ohiwa licensing cases immediately. ''

Mr. Louis Paiilhan, .who as far back as 1911 was turned-a hero for making an aerial flight from London, in reply to a question as to whether flying will ever be sufficiently safe for ordinary individuals to buy and operate 'vthe' machines, he was very definite. "Yes, I have no doubt-on that-point; the progress that was made in the past, the progress we are making now, and the progress the future promises, all lead me to feel perfectly confident of the future. Already, under proper conditions, flying is safe. Means later will be taken to provide passengers with comforts, even to heating the ■aeroplanes. Undoubtedly, too, the rich man's aerial motor car will be nicely lighted, so that when ho undertakes a tour by night, and such trips will be common in the future—he will bo able to see to read." Paalhan prophesied most things but forgot all about the possibilities of *,hs aeroplane for war; but the war is proving all things, and already advinc-;! the science of aviation at least 25 vears