LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taihape Daily Times, 16 December 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Several babies born in South Australia have been named “Peace” .and “Joy.” The latest announcement is “Joseph Armistice.” An alarm of fire was rung out by the boll at 5.45 this morning, The brigade turned out promptly, but their porvic.es were not .required, as the alarm proved to be a false one.J The annual report of the Union Steamship Company states that aftermaking provision for depreciation on plant and other contingencies, the net profit for the twelve months, including interest, investments, and transfer fees, amounts to £176,808 9/10. There is still some misunderstanding about the allocation of the extra £440,000 (estimated) in gratuities for married soldiers who enlisted before the final scales of 'allowances came into operation. This gratuity will he on the basis of service as the other will bo. The maximum amount payable will be in respect to service for throe years. The money will be payable to the wife or to a guardian of children. Apropos of the return of AlsaceLorraine to Franco, the German General von Werther, after inspecting the 360th Regiment shortly before the armistice, ordered all Alsatians and Lorrainors to step out of the ranks, and when they did. so he said; there are only two methods by which AlsaceLorrainers can give me satisfaction. One is for them to hang themselves; the other is for them to blow out their brains.” Another very interesting development has occurred in the' Auckland mail-room. The mailmen still bear in mind the recent Main Trunk slip, which caused the death of two men in the mail-van, which was next to the engine. It is understood that a petition has been signed by every man in the Auckland mail-room, declining to take any mail through the Main Trunk after. last Saturday uuless the mailvan is given a permanent place at the tail of the express.

The K.Z. Farmers’ Co-operative Distributing Co., Ltd., will offer a lease of Mr D. Broome’s farm of 686£ acres for five years at the Taihape sale, next Wednesday. Conditions of leaso may be seen at the company’s offices at Taihape, Wellington, Feilding, Marton, and Wanganui. It is stated that the bonus to Iho Post and Telegraph staff throughout the Dominion will not be paid out until the end of January. It was understood from Sir Joseph Ward that the bonus would be paid out in two instalments before Christmas, and it ;s considered that the present action of the Cabinet amounts to little less than a breach of faith. A Taranaki country resident who prided himself on his resourcefulness, not having a clinical thermometer to take the temperature of a patient who ■was suffering from influenza, attempted to do so with a dairy thermometer and rang up a doctor to .report his achievement. “What was his temperature?” asked the mdical man. “Two hundred and ten”’ was the reply. “Oh,” said the medico, calmly. “What you want is a fire-engine, not a doctor. ’ ’ We are in receipt of a very beautiful, wall calendar for the coming season from Messrs. McLaughlau Bros. The illustration is an artistic, reproduction in colours of a picture by Miss Zula Kenyon, a young American artist of' rare promise. The title is “Over There” and the panel presents a young woman in a meditative pose, whose thoughts are “Over there; Somewhere in Franac.’’ 1 ’ We reciprocate! the good wishes conveyed by the Messrs. McLaughlan.