LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taihape Daily Times, 15 August 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A bléck and tan sheep dog lost in Taihape 011 2nd August, is advertised for. One pound reward is offered for its return. '

It was reported at a meeting in Timaru (says an exchange) that a new union had been formed called “The ;\‘Vatul'al Oddities’ Union.” This raised a. laugh, but it was shown that men had actually refused work, giving as a reason that they belonged to this union_ They were foo heavy, tlicy said, for light work, and too light for heavy work; and they declined the work which was offered fhom though it was neither light 1101' heavy.

The Bishop-elect of Melanesia, the Rev. J. M. Steward, expresses the opi—nion that the Solomon Islands offer good opfmrtunities to men with capital, any form Of tropical agriculture promising a profitable return, though the. chief product is copra. ‘At present there are between 700 and 800 Europeans living on the various islands‘ of tlle’group, but the enervating and malaria-breeding climate is against successful sesttlement by white people, the average temperature being from 90 to 100 degrees in the Shade-

A point made by business men interviewed by a “New Zealand Herald” reporter was the disapearance of the prejudice that once existed with regard to New Zealand—nlade goods. Unquestionably the superior Quality Of these had brought them into well- de—served popularity. “Our experience for some years past” (said one of those interviewed) “has been that both wholesale and retail dealers, and the general public prefer to buy New Zealand goods instead of the high-Priced imported stuff. Practically the 0111}? people who still prefer imported matcrial are the Highclass tailors, who want exclusive patterns for their customers. But I think fully 90 per cent. of those in the ordinary trade are quite satisfied now to freely patronise local industry. The only diffieulty is that the supply has, for so long: been utterly unequal to the d:é.rnand.” ' n

“He looked Mk}. .misel'ablo to be :1 single man,” said the “wife” of Edwin Eaton, 42, a Canadian soldier, who was committed for ‘tri~al at Lambeth Police Court for bigamy.

An enormous bullock, said to be the biggest ever handled at Whangarei abauttoirs, was killed recently at those works. The animal, which was five years old, turned the scale at ll9olb, and contained 501 b of kidney fat.

Some of the looters of the Imperial Palace at Berlin heve been greatly disappointed in the value of the spoil they carried off—-notably the gang who secured the “throne” made for the Kaiser in 1892. The framework and dedorations, {which were represented at the time as solid gold, have turned out to be common metal thickly gilt, and the purple‘ velvet drapery anything but the finest silk.

The railway regulations at the present time stipulate that no pal'tial.!y--filled trucks are to be lifted at stations, and delay in tra.nsit.of goods often takes place while the truck is waiting for the required load. It is pleasing to note, however, says we Guardian, that as far as bottles are concerned there is no difiicnlty in filiing a truck in Ashburton with “dead marines,” as evidenced by the consignment railed last wee}: to Christchurch breweries

The Pateena dropped aneh-or when' berthing at Onehunga yesterday. Apparently the anchor failed to hold, owing to the strong flood tide, and the steamer hit the corner of the wharf ' and lifted bodily three heavy piles,l bound together with iron hoops, out of j -the water, and wrecked the stringers] and wharf decking in the vicinity. The N Pateena was considerably damaged, an t iron plate on the starboard side wasi ripped about 15ft in length. as if cut‘ with a knife. The iron staunehionsi were buckled or broken ,and her do-‘ partureifor Wellington was delayed for M temporary repairs. .‘

Mr Morton" VVellington City Engiof America, said. that the asphalt streets and highways in that country were very fine, and ‘had greatly eneouraged, ',the use 101": autom‘ob'_iles. There was one ear to every twelve persons in the cities, and owners were charged an annual license fee of from -2/6 ‘to 3/ per nominal hol'se—po\vel‘, the proceeds being utilised for the upkeep of roads. The cost of laying down these asphalt roads was borne by the owners whose pr-opez't_\f abutted on to tllem, and the owners were even taxed to pay maintenance.

The War-ti:l'-e iittings on the liner Port Victor, w§lien al‘l‘iV'(!(l at ‘.\'r..lli:xg'ton last Week tl‘on‘.~. New York, include four large torpedo shapei uppli2ul(:c-s known as “otters; -vbjei; are used for promotion agn,ir.A: a11c11or«3d mines. \Vhen the vessel enters a minefield, {wt of these ‘iottcrs are suspended over the sh.ip’s side-none port ant?‘ one stax-board—by means of :1 drrrick. Projecting from the body of the “otter” are arms holding in positi'.>n a system-of huge hoops, which tail off in front to a specially-shapml knife. As the ship sails along, any wires holding mines which are likely to be met meet the knife, and the mines are automatically cut adrift.-

Wellington business men believe Auckland and Canterbury provinces will beat them in the developmentary race unless they follow suit in establishing an Active Progress League. This movement ‘is projected by 12310 Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce, which considers Canterbury in particular has shown the way. In Vvellington district there appears to be even more need for such effort than in Canterbury, Where the roads, at Ic:l.<t, have always been from fair to g‘ood_ \/Vellington city’s means of aceess to her back country (says our correspondent) are so bad that they could not be worse, and there is a growing feeling that a league to advocate progress is urgently needed.

The fact. that knives, forks, S“'01'd~“: aeroplrme parts, etc., al'e 110 W Mlll3 made of rustlesg steel-3 diSCOVeI'Y made in 1913--opens the dool' '6O boundless speculation as to its use in the future (Says -an exchange). From. the day a steel vessel is launched she has to be painted chipped, and Painted over and over again to ensure that no rust will eat into and weaken any Of her plates, and this increasing I'B- - is One of the biggf-‘Sf "11111.1i31f-I charges in connection with all steamers. ‘With :1 steamer constructed of rustlessv. steel this cost would be greatly minimised, so much so. it is said. that it would pay companies to face a much larger increase in the cost of tonnage if the rustlcss steel idea were practicable During the war the British Government controlled the output of rustless steel in Sheffield, but. given an era of peace, with anything like normal conditions in the trade the possibilities in the 1159 of this steel are Dl‘3Cti€€lllY limitless The Maoriland Dairy Co." is paying 1/ 7% per pound of butter-fat until further notice. Cans supplied. For particulars write box’ 185, Wanganui.— Advt. .

A pair of pincc-ncz glasses, in case, marked “Smeaton, Wanga.nui,” lost in Taihape about a week ago,'are advertised for.

The population of the Dominion as «at. March, 1919, is estimated at 1,124,630 —malcs 555,‘88'7_, females 568,7‘43——as against 1,108,373—«1na1cs 542,206, females 566,327—f0r 1918.

The superintendent of the Pacific Cable Board, Auckland, notifies that the conditions on the Canadian lines, which 3. day or two ago were affected by magnetic disturbances, are now normal.

The first practice for the chil~dren’s fancy dress ball was held yesterday in St. Mal'garet’s schoolroom, and was so Well attended that the accommodation was insufficient. Arl*allgelll«ellts have now been made to hold future practices in the Three Stars Hall, and parents are asked to send their children there.

“The Royal Togos are Coming,” is the glad news we ane able ‘to announce to-day. Nothing quite like “The TO- - has over shown in this town. They will appear in the Town Hall on Mondvay. Watch further announcements for particulars of this I=elnarkable combination. ‘

The British Medical Journal said recently: “Out of over 2,000,000 men examined for military ,»servieie- zfifom January Ist, 1918, till -Octfober Ist, 1918, only one in every three passed. The cause was -attributable to long work~ ing hours, low wages, back of proper food, unhealthy tenements, ‘land no recreation. ”

Mr Harry Gordon, head of “Progressive Enterprise,” with the “Royal Togas,” was in Taihape to—day, making arrangements for the appearance of his company at the Town Hall on Monday. “Something right out of the ordinary,” eXclainle'd the genial Harry, in response to our query: “Be sure and don’t miss the Togas; yoa.’ll be sorry if you do.”

The eemxnen opinion that Chinese seamen are carried on British vessels because they constitute cheap labour is not borne out by the wages paid on the stezamer War Soldier, now in port. She carries 55 ‘Chinese, whose wages range from £ll ‘l‘O/ to £l9 10/ 21 month, according to rating. The lowest wage quoted is that of ‘trimmers, and the highest is paid‘ to the chief steward.

Badges Ifor Wid-ows and mothers of deceased members ef the Australian I-mpel'i?a.l IForee. and the "Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Forces, are now being issued by the C'«:~mmonwealth !Governm'ent‘. lit [has been suggested that the New Zealaiid Goverumefit should issue a. similar bvadge, but in reply to inquiries, it is not intended to do -anything in this .’d4ix-ection. In "due -course, however; the soldiers will receive -their medals and ribbons, and in the case of de—ceased members of the Forces_. these will be handed to the next of kin, thus :»‘.cl:v‘En_g‘ the same purpose as a badge.

“I’nl proud ‘to be here, proud to be back in NeN Zealandj’ Sir Joseph Ward said at a function in Cllrisf_church. “This is one of the most beautiful countries I have seen. It’s a country worth living in; it’s a country wonth working «for; it’s a. _country worth coming back -to. I have been away on several occasions, and peo--1319 sometimes said thatlhad gone for good; but j_t’s astonishing how ~21 bad penny always turns "up again, and so I’m in these happy surroundings. It seems only yesterday that I was in Paris, :1 day ()7,-f~.‘f;=.'§TV_() since I was in London. then Ne‘."\?‘i"'°Yorl<,_ then Canada, and finally I find myself back‘ in young New Zealand.”

Protest is to be made to the Minister for Defence, by the Auckland Returned Soldiers’ Association against the decision of the Department that, after (1. soldier returns to New Zealand he

2:12.19? himself pay for any artificial [eyes he I'e- T:-es. A letter to this effect came before the exee.ut.i’ve of the Auckland Association recently. “If that is to be done in the case of artificial eyes,” said Ml‘. E. \V. Inder, “it is probable it will be done in the case of wooden legs and arms, and, therefore, bec:lus=e a. man has been ‘tothe front he will have the pleasure of buying artifieial limbs for the rest of his life. It was decided to ask that all reasonable renewals of artificial limbs and eyes slrould be paid for by the Defence Dep~ar’cmeni7.-

The suggestion has been made that blocks of undeveloped land should be :=.cquil-ed and broken in by groups of returned soldiers. The New Zealand Fl-i‘l’flll'necl Snlldirers’ Wssoniutfou lime» decfded ‘.to '-ascertain ‘tll«e‘= ‘extent '+.o which the proposed scheme will be attractive to returned men. With “this object it has made tentative inquiries, and it is understood the Minister of Lands is favourably disposed towards the scheme. The broad plan is tl'lra._t a number of returned soldiers, suitable to the size of the property to be acquired, will begin work at contraiit rate to be agreed upon, for all that is necessary for providing access, etc., to the block. The sections into which the block will be subdivided will be balloted for, _