LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taihape Daily Times, 23 January 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The following vessels will probably be within wireless range tonight. "Maori, Mararoa, Moeraki, Tarawcra. Kent, Port Lyttelton, Swevia, and Kaituna.

Allegations that fruit packed in eases was frequently under the weight marked, and that vhe best fruit was often placed on top, were made at a meeting of the Auckland Jtetai! fruiterers' Association recently. it was stated that 'both practices were increasing yearly, and it was eventually decided to ask the Government to give fruit inspectors power to inspect weights and the packing of fruit*

A Southern paper states that the men who handled the cheese loaded into the liner Kent have nearly all become victims to "cheese" rash, caused apparently by the blue mould on the cheese getting into the pores of the skin while the men were in a heatbd condition. The rash is lumpy in character, and rather irritating. This is the first time such an experience has befallen the watersides, but a similar occurrence has been recorded at Wellington, when the men handled cheese that had been in store for a long period.

It frequently happens that Pre brigades are hampered in their work bj

an insufficiency of water, but the .Ashburton Brigade had the rather unusual experience of having too much water on its hands when dealing with a last week. When the fire had been extiguished, the water could not be turned off at the firei plug, and after considerable trouble it was found necessary to cut off the water at the main. The trouble was due to a break in the tall in the fire plug.

The residents in the Rangitikei district were startled on Friday morning by a loud explosion in the direction of the sea coast. Mr. W. J. Carter, who resides on the Raumai Road about a mile from the sea coast, saw a huge volume of smoke, and rode over to the coast, but was unable to see any signs of the explosion. He is of opinion that a floating mine had exploded when coming into contact <ovith some hard substance. He states "that his house was severely shaken by the explosion.

A number of inquiries are being made as to whether men who were in camp in New Zealand on November 12, the date when demobilisation was 7 commenced, are entitled to the Kingfs Silver Badge. A Wellington reporter ascertained that men demobilised who had completed six months' service in .camp were entitled to the Silver Badge. Application is to be made to the Director of Recruiting, Wellington.

Nothing has yet been officially announced regarding a successor to the general manager of Railways, Mr. E. H. Hiley, but it is considered in railway circles that the Government will not, on this occasion, go out of the country fOr a general manager. The fact that there "has Tieen no advertisement calling for applications, though Cabinet will consider the position in a few weeks, is a clear sign that the Government will not go outside the Department to fill thTs important vacancy. ~ ~ r "

One of the saddest sights seen at the "boarding" of the draft of" returned soldiers which arrived in Auckland on Monday was that of a blind man signing the necessary papers: This soldier Was guided along the line by a kindly major, who acted as the soldier's eyes and tongue, but the officer couid not sign the man's name. He held, the papers, however, and helped to guide the hands which moved in what was fo>the soldier endless darkness. The sight was a touching one, and more than one observer turned hurriedly away.

informed Mrs. Mary Sullivan of New York, on November 6 that her son, Private James Sullivan, of the Marine Corps, died from disease in France on October 3. Mrs. Sullivan replied that her son was not dead. In proof of her statement she submitted the following: First her most recent letter from - her son reported him perfectly well. Second, he isn't iu France at .all., but stationed at Qnantico, fVrginia'., T(hird* if' f he died on October 3, he kept it concealed from his mother, for he was at home on furlough on that date.

Some years before the war the German Crown Prince received a neat "call down" from Miss Bernice Willard, a Philadelphia girl. At the Emperor's regatta the two were sitting with others on the deck of a yacht. A whiff of smoke from the Princess cigarette blowing into the young lady's face, a lieutenant near by remarked: "Smoke withers flowers." "It is no flower." said the Prince, with intended jocularity: "It is a Thistle." "In that case," said "Miss Willard, "I had better retire or I shall be devoured." The party saw the point.

A peculiar case is reported from Otaki, where the postmistress at Ohau pleaded guilty to a charge of opening 15 postal packets. The evidence showed that only one of the letters opened contained anything of value, and the contents of this packet were intact. The opened, letters were left about the office, and no attempt had been made to hide what was done. When intervieded by Detective-Sergeant Rawle. the accused admitted her- guilt, and said she had opened other letters- and forwarded them on. The only reason I can give for my action, she said, is that the surroundings are dull, and my curiosity, together with a breakdown of nerves caused me to do it. I knew when I did it it was wrong.

Ar remarkable story of how a soldier evaded his military obligations is narated by a correspondent of a Southern newspaper. When the Eighteenth Reinforcement was about to sail, the writer states, one of fhe troops, who had proceeded on board in the usual manner, answered the embarkation roll call, then made his way to the stokehold, where he hid his identity and commenced work with the stokehold crew. As a stokehold hand he proceeded to England. He remained on board until the troops had disembarked, and eventually came back to New Zealand on the transport, still working in the stokehold. He remained with the vessel until the 34th reinforcements were about to sail when he was arrested by the police and dealt wilTras a deserter

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