LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taihape Daily Times, 6 January 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Two rooms, furnished or unfurnished, are wanted by a couple with no family. The shipping companies have been advised that sailing restrictions have been removed, as the coast is now practically clear of mines Steamers are reverting to the old running. In the Oonehunga Steeplechase at Auckland, on Saturday Hautere, the well-known hurdler, struck the fence at the top of the hill the first time round, breaking his leg, and was destroyed. The vital statisitcs for November and December show that there were 160 deaths at Palmerstou North. Of this number 135 were due to influenza. For the year 325 deaths were-recorded as compared with 170 in 1917. A Wairarapa paper states that a couple of working men from the country districts left Masterton for Palmcrston two days before Christmas with over £3OO between them. They returned within a week with hardly sufficient money to purchase a meal. The Imperial authorities have advised the Dominion Butter and Cheese Committee that advances will now bo paid on butter and cheese alter it has been in cool stores for fourteen days instead of twenty-eight days as in the past. This is regarded as a big eoncession, and will materially assist dairy companies' finance.

A young married couple without children arc in want of a furnished room with board.

A lady who was sitting on the shore front at St. Clair, near Dunedin, minding children, jumped up suddenly as a big wave ran in. In her anxiety to seize the youngsters she dropped her bag, and the sea made sport of it, letting out the contents, which included a fair sum of money in notes. Some of the notes were washed In, but about £ls was lost.

The winner of the Great Northern Guineas, at Auckland on Saturday Athens II was bred by Mr W. G. Stead, who disposed of him to his present owner, Mr J. Hart, of TS!"apier. Kipling, which ran second, was recently purchased by Mr J. G. Collins, of Taoroa, for 1,000 guineas, from his breeder, Mr T. H. Lowry, and the third horse, Demoiselle, is owned by Mr. T. J. B* Stewart, of Auckland. The three placed horses were all sired by the imported horse,. Desmothenes.

Military deserters appe.ar to nourish the mistaken idea that now the war is over it is safe for "them to once more seek the haun't,s of men and leave the bush (says the Eltham Argus). It is a slight error that they are labouring under, as thoy arc gradually finding out. for they are being generally gathered in by the police. A good many of them have been brought to book recently. There arc still a few in Mount Egmont Forest that will have to be accounted for. It will be done in due course.

According to observations taken by Mr David Watkin, of Piopio, in the King Country, the year just closed was a very wet one, The rainfall for the month, of .December was 9.42 inches, falling on 22 days, the maximum fall being 2.09 inches on the sth. The total fall for the year 191 S was 129,58 inches, falling on 2SS days. The whole year was an exceptionally rough one, frosts occurring up to the 13th December. Up to the Ist January there was practically no summer weather.

Mr Hamilton Holt, editor of the Is T ew York Independent, (one of the most influential weekly journals in U.S.A.), who went to England with a mission, writes in his paper: "We found >a rcganient of INew Zealand boys waiting to be taken !to their camp. What a magnificent set of fellows they were —tall, lithe, bronzed and each "'with fu sombrero hat which looked very much like the one our American boys love so well, but which have now had to be discarded for the more unbecoming caps. I have since seen the English, Canadian, Australian, South African, Italian, Farnch, Belgian, Russian, Portuguese, and American armies in rest and in action and I have no hesitation in saying that New Zealand boys are the finest appearing troops of all."

A stowaway was found on board the steamer Salvor a few hours after vessel left Papeete bound • for Wellington, where she arrived lately. Pathtic circumstances attach to the case. The irregular passenger was a smiling, intelligent Tahitian, of between five and six years of age. When taken before the captain he told, in broken English, a sad story. His parents and all his relatives died of influenza during the epidemic, and homeless and alone he decided tn steal fiway to Sea, for be was wise enough to know that on account of his tender years he would be given no employment. As the Salvor had been c.rmsidera.Bry delayed at the island port she came on to her destination with the "prisoner." He was dressed for a tropical climate, but was given warmer outfit at Wellington. The little fellow made himself a great favourite with all on board and was broken-hearted when "he was afterwards transferred to the Navua to be taken back to his country.