LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taihape Daily Times, 6 December 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Over 40,000 British prisoners of war have arrived in England from Germany since the armistice was signed.

The total deaths in camps in November was 229—at Trentham 70, .at Fcatherston 170. The influenza epidemic was responsible for 220 of them. Magistrate: You arc found guilty of knocking down the plaintiff and robbing him of-everything except a gold watch. Defendant: Had he a gold watch? Magistrate: Yes. Defendant: Then I put in a plea of insanity. "Are the names of persons who are proposed to have titular and other distinctions conferred upon them submitted to members of Cabinet, before recommendations arc made." asked Mr G. Wity, in the House of Representatives. It is expected that three transports with returned wounded and invalided soldiers will arrive in New Zealand about Christniias-time. The first transport is due about December 22. The nominal rolls of the returning men are not yet available.

The" death is announced from Christchurch, from, pneumonia, of "Locky" McLachlin, who in his day was one of the best known professional runners in New Zealand. He was in the champion class, especially over middle distances, and won numbers of races from the North Cape to the Bluff. The DunedinC'Star" has the following:—"Here's a glimpse at the other side of the picture. A dear old lady well over the allotted span came to the bureau and donated 10 halfsovereigns to the relief fund. She added she had offered, her services, 'but,' she added whimiscally, 'I suppose I'm too old.' One of the motor-owners who was standing by for relief services overheard the conversation, <and offered to drive her home. 'No, no,' said the old lady; 'you've got better work to do. Besides,' she smiled, 'I don't want it known who I am or where I live.''

The Bank of New Zealand has declared >an interim dividend of 6 per cent. *

An African gold brooch, which is valued as a keepsake, has been lOot, betwcen the cemetery and 'Taihape. Finder will be rewarded on returning to this office.

The burials during November at Waikumete totalled 49S and at Waikaraka at least 250. (It was commonly reported that Aucklanders had been "dying like flies" —implying that there were thousands of deaths.)

A little natural (or un-natural) history from Mr P. Frascr in the House: "It has been said that the National Government is very much like that animal, the mule it has neither pride of ancestry, nor hope of posterity." Advice was received at Waipukurau (south of Napier) on Monday afternoon that Mr. Davis Canning, owner of Oakbum station, had been missing from his residence all the previous day, and that search parties Averc out. Later the sad news came to hand that the body of Mr Canning was found in the river running through his property.

A confusion in names resulted in a somewhat pathetic incident in Masterton recently. A Wellington lady was informed by telephone that her husband had succumbed to the prevailing epidemic. She knew that he was in Masterton, and hurried there in great mental distress. On viewing the body at the local morgue, she was surprised and relieved to find that it was not that of her husband.

We regret to have to record the death from influenza, of Gunner A. G. McKenzie, which took place at the Miramar Military Hospital on Saturday last. The deceased soldier, who was a younger brother of Mr. J. M. McKenzie, of Taihape, has only lately returned from the front, being wounded in the face during,the strenuous fighting of the last two years. This is the second brother Mr. Mckenzie has lost recently), and muqh sympathy will be extended to him in Ms recent bereavement. During the hearing of a Supreme Court case at Christchurch, where the queston of a cattle disease was under review, a witness was describing the attack of the disease on his bull. "The bull lay in the rushes for four days, and would not let us approach him," said the witness. "On the fifth day he got up and had a drink. On the sixth day he went back to work —" "And on the seventh," interposed his Honour amidst laughter. "He was on his way to the Fairlie Freezing Works.' 'was the decidedly unexpected reply. Many arc the methods adopted to earn a living. An Auckland' business man received a typewritten letter this week from Australia, "re the heirs of ' —," a person named, the surnamo being the same as that of the person written to. The letter continued: "We beg to inform you that an tdvertiscmcrit has appeared, under an unclaimed money column. On receipt of a Post Office Order for 20s we will forward you a copy of the advertisement, together with the name and date of the newspaper in which the advertisement appeared." Supposing the name to be Smith, the circulars were sent to all the members of that great clan, a good many pounds might be sent in reply.