LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taihape Daily Times, 27 January 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Anyone requiring a taxi should ring up 43, V. Capill. ”

The “Auckland Star” has the authority bf a local engineer for stating that a contractor ■ failed recently to engage navvies at ids a day,,'and that another employer had to offer £l.per diem before he could obtain the services of any '

Mr'. G. H. McClure; Commissionev e Crown Lands, and Mr; J. D. Ritchie, chairman of the Land Purchase Boa have been inspecting properties in the Wanganui and Kairanga districts, which are under offer to the Government in connection with the repatriation of soldiers.

Tho flying fox post is playing great havoc in the Woollongong district, N.S.W., At night they can be scon in hundreds flying to the various fruit gardens, A party of about 20 guns made a raid on what is known as Fox Gully the other day, and destroyed something like 600. It is the intention to repeat these raids at intervals.

A spark from the engine of a passenger train ignited the dry grass in front of the Post and Telegraph Department’s stores at Addington on Fridoy. The fire spread to 60 or 70 reels of telephone cable, and before it was extinguished every one was more or less seriously damaged. Though there will he some salvage, the loss will run into several thousands of pounds, the material not being insured.

John Brown, aged 46, employed at a storeman, was found hanging* from a beam in .a- Christchurch warehouse on Friday night. At an inquest a verdict of suicide was returned. It appeared the deceased had the misfortune in the influenza epidemic to lose both his wife and son, his wife’s father, and two brothors-in-law. Ho nursed those relatives through their illnesses and had since shown signs of melancholia.

The Fcilding Star of Saturday states: We regret to have to state that one of our most prominent breeders of stud sheep and cattle was committed to the Porirua Mental Hospital on Thursday last. Besides three local doctors and two Justices of the Peace, experts in his complaint were .brought up from Wellington, but the opinion was unanimous as to the necessity for placing him where he will be able to get curative treatment! At the same time his numerous friends will be sorry to hear that the prospects of his recovery are very remote. Everything will be done to bring him back to his normal state, and it is contemplated getting a specialist from the Old Country to pronounce on his condition.

The Tutanekai has just been taken off the slip in Wellington, after havnig minor alterations made to suit her for mine-sweeping purposes. After taking aboard some gear the vessel will be ready for sea. Captain White-Par-sons. R.N.R., jg in command, and it is hoped that the ship will get away from Wellington about the middle of next week. The steam whaler Huanui, which operate? usually in the vicinity o p Russell, arrived in Wellington the other morning, and is to assist the Tutanekai in the mine-sweeping operations. The whaler is already fitted for the work, and the two vessels will sweep about Farewell Spit for some tveelvs, and will then proceed- to the vicinity of North Cape.

The following vessels will probably be within range to-night; Maori, Mararoa, and Monowai.

A souvenir from a New Zealand soldier in England, in the shape of half-a-farthing coin cm a piece of string, lost in Taihape on Friday, is advertised for and a reward offered.

A returned soldier on a visit to Taihape lost a £lO note on Friday night at, or near the King’s Theatre. A reward is offered to the finder on returning to this office, or to J. A. Shaw, at Railway Cottage, 179.

Mr E. Semple spoke at Taumarunui on Thursday night to a large audience. The following resolution was passed: '‘That tuTs meeting of citizens calls on the Government to , concede to the n/.iway servants their just demands. ” After the meeting a strong branch of the New Zealand Labour party was formed.

Messrs, Mclntyre, Murphy and Taylor, solicitors of Feilding, acting on behalf of a returned soldier, wdio received serious injuries in connection with the railway collision with a landslide, at Mataroa, on November Sth, asks for any information that will assist the soldier to‘ recover damages from the Government for injuries sustained.

A lady visitor to Palmerston, who came through from Lyttelton on the Mararba with General Pau and the members of the French Mission, was informed by ‘Dr. Siegfried, the secretary, that at least three members of the party, including himself, had been so favourably impressed with ' New Zealand that they intended to come back and settle dow-n.