LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taihape Daily Times, 30 August 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

On the average over the year, six sailors are drowned every night. The amount realised at the Old Identities Ball for the Bed Jersey Bund cannot be published as many ticlcetsellers have not yet sent in their returns. It is understood that arrangements are being made for Parliament to meet in the latter half of October, by which time the Prime Minister and thd Minister for Finance w r ill have returned from their visit to England.

The King Country Chronicle,” published at Te Kuiti, which has hitherto been issued as a bi-weekly, from September Ist is to be published thrice weekly.

The whole of the male Defence staff at Greymouth, Hokitika, and Rcefton were examined by a medical board and classed unfit. At Westport one member of the staff was classed fit for active service «and another C2. What about the Palmerston staff?

Any man who served -on Gallipoli will bo entitled to receive the Gallipoli Star, says Sir James Allen. The original proposal was to award the decoration only to the men who were engaged in the ' landing on the peninsula.

Probably the New Zealand record for war-knitting, is held by Mrs. Gardner, of Rangataua, on the Main Trunk line, who has knitted 335 pairs of socks for the boys at the front, all of which have been duly forwarded. The old lady is over 70 years of age, and her eyCsight is not good.

A capable girl, or middle-aged person is wanted to 'assist in housework; good wages is offered to a suitable applicant.

The boro at the Blenheim oil well at New Plymouth has now reached a mile in depth. It probably is the deepest well in the Southern Hemisphere.

At the Presbyterian Cake and Apron Fair and Jumble Sale, held yesterday upwards of £56 was taken. The results of the Presbyterian Ladies’ Guild’s Efforts are considered entirely satisfactory.

Ticket sellers for the Old Indentitics ’ Ball are urgently requested to send in money and unsold tickets at once, so that a statement can be made out and published. War regulations prescribe limits to the holding back of returns.

“She threw a mug at me,” said a man in the Petone Police Court, who was accused of assaulting his wife. “Oh,’’ said the woman, “it’s a lie. There is only one mug in the house, and —— ” “And,’’ interrupted accused, “this is the mug here —I’m the

mug. ’ ’

A meeting of the Taihape and District Returned '-Soldiers’ Association will bo held in the supper-room, of the Town Hall this evening at 8 o ’clock. As business of considerable , importance bearing on the future policy of the Asociation is ’to be discussed, . a full attendance of members is requested.

Boasting in a Grimsby publichouse that he knew all about the movements of the British Fleet, Nils Nilsson, a Swedish seaman, mentioned the names of,battle cruisers which, he said, had returned to their base. He also gave the name of a destroyer which, he alleged, had been sunk by the German navy, and otherwise made statements relating to the passage of British ships. He was sentenced to two months ’ hard labour.

As illustrating the great difference between British and German psychology, the Hon. T. M. Wlford tells how the Kaiser solemnly decorated , the poet Lissaeur for writing. his egregious “Song of Hate,” and how seriously and earnestly the Germans sang the song. Tommy Atkins had pardoned the “Song of Hate,” and made it into a marching song. “ ’lte of the ’Art,” he sang in his cockney English—“ ’ltc of the ’art, and ’lte to the and: *OO do we ’ite to beat the band? England!” (Applause and laughter). And to that tunc he marched forth bravely and gallantly to beat the enemy. (Applause). Captain A. C. Firman, formerly of the Palmerston railway staff, writing to his brother, Mr. H. Firman, says: I had the experience of my life a few days i'ago while on the nfirch. My company had halted and were having a snack of lunch on the side of the road, when a large motor car pulled up almost alongside where I was. A general got out, and asked who was in charge. I happened to be, and he said) “Come along, I want to introduce you" to the King.’ *" I was taken along, King George got out and shook hands 1 and conversed with me for several minutes.

Curiosity fed by wild rumours caused some excitement in Lyttelton on Saturday night, when it was reported the steamer Maori was returning to port after passing the Heads. News soon spread, and the wharves -were in half an hour’s time thronged with people from all quarters. The passengers also sensed something unusual, and bunks were quickly vacated. The reason of the vessel putting back was for the ship’s papers, which had been overlooked. Pew of the crowd believed so simple a statement, and thinking there was trouble afoot waited until the ship sailed after a few minutes’ delay.

One of the unexplained social phenomena’ arising in England from the war is the noticeable predominance of young widows at the altar. The Pall Mall Gazette has made in an analysis of the marriage statistics, and finds that while bachelors, widowers and spinisters show even more than their usual hesitation about seeking mates, widows of marriageable age coming more than ever to the fore. This promises to result in a greater number of “old maids” than ever in the history of the country, for two reasons. There are fewer available husbands and the widows are cornering the limited supply. Since the war began there has been a larger ratio of boy babies to girls in the birth statistics. The number of boys born in 1916 was 402,1187 to only 383,383 girls.

“But if Prohibition is carried am won’t be able to get liquor in cases of sickness.” That’s one argument advanced by those opposing the petition for a vote on the National Efficiency Board’s Report in favour of immediate National Prohibition. Don’t believe it —it’s only another of the Trade’s little dodges. The proposal clearly provides for the exemption of alcohol for medicinal, scientific and industrial use—and for sacramental wines—(Advt.)

At the Tui Street Mart tomorrow, F. Ward and Co, will sell a good, quiet milch cow with her third calf at foot. Also a number of white leghorn fowls, and a quantity of useful cutlery ana furniture.

Mr. Prank Olsen, photographer, Taihape, has an' advertisement in this issue, urging people to have their photographs taken at their own door. Mr. Olsen’s address is White House, Taihape.