LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taihape Daily Times, 13 August 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A committee meeting of the Red Jersey Appeal will be held in the Patriotic Society's rooms this evening at 8 o'clock.

Another draft of sick and wounded is expected to arrive in New Zealand shortly. The only Taihape man aboard is Private Flannagan.

The R.M.S. Niagara, which is due from Vancouver on Wednesday morning, . will bring an English, American, and Expeditionary Force mail.

The food-purchasing value of the sovereign is now 13s 6Ad according to Government statistics. Based on the figures on the three food groups —groceries, produce, and < meat —the sovereign in June, 1915, was-16s 9d; in June,; 1916, 15s,9}d; and in~June 1917,-1.43 -.Bid. . ;■{:. ;-,.-; ( -Jy:U

The Naval Adviser (Captain Hall-: Thompson) states' that since the 'last notice four more mines have beep discovered and destroyed off the north coast of New Zealand, between North Cape and Cape Maria van Diemen. The average distance from the coastline was about ten miles. The latest discoveries clearly indicate that the mines have often been laid in groups.

One of the results of the war which affects householders seriously is the high cost of hardware. Enamelled goods in particular have advanced

very much in price, as stocks are now getting very short. Pots and pans have risen fully 200 per cent, since the outbreak of war, and some sizes are now practically unprocurable. It gives a housekeeper a surprise to be called upon to pay 9/6 to 12/6 for a kettle when the old one gives out, and with copper at the high price now ruling to buy-utensils of that metal means a big expenditure.

A rare and splendid specimen of the fenmle sea elephant was captured on Saturady afternoon by Mr. W. Ward, of Papakura. It appears that Mr. Ward noticed the strage object in the water and by careful manoeuvring managed to steer it into shallow water, with the result that it was stranded. It was secured bj chains, and on Sunday morning brought into the town ship by means of a waggon. A number of shots had taken effect in the animal's head, and it eventually died some twenty-four hours after being captured. It measures 10ft in length and sft girth.

The four Germans who were missing from Somes Island were found in a barbed wire enclosure on the island at 7.30 a.m. yesterday. None of the officials saw them make their re-ap-pearance. They were wet, very hungry, and very cold. They had been hiding under the floor of a building in which they and other internees had been quartered, and it is believed they removed some of the flooring boards in order to get under the structure. They are now lodged in cells on the island, pending inquiries into the circumstances of their escape. The liberty of other internees is being restricted.

The total casualties to the Australian forces amount to 270.234, including 50,735 dead, 142,037 wounded, ana 73,742 sick.

It is estimated that sonwvcnnlK ons of pounds worth of- motor cars, motor trucks, and motor-cyeles are now laid up in England owing to no petrol being available.

The shortage of household coal is reported to be acute in the South. -. A coal-dealer at P(ort iChalmers .stated last week that he did not think there was a ton, perhaps not a quarter of a ton, for sale in the town that particular clay. In several households there was no coal for domestic purposes.

The copper trail on behalf of Red Cross funds is proceeding apace. Auckland has reached Erua station, 211 miles from Auckland, advices from. Wellington show that the north bound trail is at (Linton, SO .miles from Wellington. Auckland's lead is now 131 miles, as against 137 miles at the end of the previous week.

A final reminder is given of the Huia Ladies' Hockey Club's social and dance to-night in the Three Stars Theatre. The floor is guaranteed in excellent order and every endeavour is being made to keep it so throughout the evening. Several new dances will be on the programme. The music and supper will also be all that could be desired.

The Government has decided to exercise an option for the purchase of an additional 2,000,000 bushels, of Victorian wheat at the price paid for the first 2J0Q0.000 bushels—ss 7£d,, ipe:r bushel f.o.b) The total purchase mil thus be 4,000,000 bushels. It is understood that no acceleration of shipment is proposed. The extension of the purchase is regarded as a precautionary measure, in view of the impossibility of estimating the New Zealand harvest with any certainty.

: ~ A Taranaki paper. _is responsible for the story that a middle-aged business man, of Hawera went to the Hawera station to see his daughter off by train. After chatting at the window for some time, he crossed to the bookstall to buy her a paper. While he was away, his daughter slipped out of the carriage to speak to a friend, and her place was taken by an elderly spinster in a very juvenile hat. Nor noticing the change, the father returned to his post, and murmured, "One mere kiss, pet.' ' The next in--9 stant a large cotton-gloved hand smacked his face, and a shrill voice screeched: "Go away, you grey-haired old reprobate!"

"Eeports from several local Returned Soldiers' Associations show that the resolution of the Dominion Conference in regard to retrospective allowances, has broad and deep support/' remarks Quick March, the organ of the N.Z.R.S.A. a copy of which is to hand "The Minister of Defence does not question the Tightness of the principle, but apparently ho believes that the country cannot afford to be just to the early enlisters ~and their dependents This is a surprising attitude, which shows that the Minister must have been too busy to give proper attention to the' subject. The R.S.A. is reluctant to believe that Sir James Allen's statements, so far, are the result of careful consideration.' Therefore final judgment will be suspended till there is unmistakable evidence that he has taken time to weigh his words after the case has been clearly placed before him by a deputation."