LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3355, 6 December 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The costliest watch in the world is a jewelled timepiece in possession of the Pope, which is estimated to be worth £61,600. He would be fair and give credit to an opponent, as the Hon. Mr Guthrie had tried to do the right th?ng in regard to suppressing aggregation.—Mr W. Dickie (Opposition) at Ashburton.

There is ' every probability of J. Clalbby and T. Uren, the well-known boxers, meeting in a contest in Wanfganui at an early This should provide one of the most • interesting displays of boxing ever seen in the Dominion.

The Chief Electoral Officer, inserts a notice to members of the Expeditionary Forces, in connection with the General Election and Licensing Poll.

The mine which was reported to be stranded at Mokau has now been destroyed. Examination showed that the horns and other vital parts were broken off, that the mine was almost buried in the ,sand, and that it had been in the position In which it was found for some considerable time.

The payments paid by the Imperial Supplies Department for produce bought for th c British Government reached £113,422,000 on November 30. On account of wool £44,766,057 has been paid, for meat £41,312,800, for butter £6,235,900, for cheese £15,586,'3OO and for sheepskins £2,253,700.

The need of the hour! Reconstruction. Why tolerate the octopus of. destruction. Boose destroys, deadens, and damns It wastes food, enslaves men, wrecks homes, blights ambition, and sucks away the life blood of the nation. The TWO' top lines on ballot paper must be struck out to change destruction to construction. —Advt.

Asked if he wag prepared to debate the Labour Party's platform with Mr Semple on a public platform, Lieut.Cononel G. Mitchell, D. 5.0., replied to the electors of Wellington South recently as follows: "Ladies and gentle men, I will never stand on the same platform —• -((thunderous applause) with a man whose opinions and actions -during the war I so entirely disagree with." (Loud and prolonged applause.)

A remarkable feature of the Chapman memorial service held in the Baptist Church, Collins Street, Melbourne, wa.s the actual mechanical do- ; monstration that the ia'.e Uov. Dr Wilbur Chapman, "b«i?.ng dead, :• et speaketh." Many references having been made by speakers to his -i\ork in connection with the Chapman-Alex-ander missions, the vobe of the late Dr Chapman was then heard on the gramophone, reading to the congregation passages from the Gospel.

It does not often come within the experience of Main Trunkers to see snow in December, and yet passengers by the south-bound Auckland-Welling-ton express on Wednesday night were tieatcd to a sight they will never forget. It was- beautifully clear, and the whale landscape at Waiouru was covered with a wihte mantle. A huge snowman was made .up, to the delight of the younger generation on the train, who had never seen such a model outside the covers of a picture book.

Tommy Uren, middle and welterweight champion of Australia, and Jack Heeney, a middle-weight, of New Zealand, met In a boxing contest at Wellington on Thursday night. Heeney was completely outclassed, and was made a chopping block for nine rounds by his nimble and scientific opponent, who was never really extended. Halfway through the * ninth round Heeney's seconds threw in the towel. Heeney fought a very game battle, his power of absorbing punishment being remarkable*

The Government have purchased Mr Maurice Coughlan's farm of 1240 acres at Pukekohe, Auckland, for settlement of returned soldiers. The price is £20,000. Thi s is a fine property, situated at Puni, within a few miles of the township of Pukekohe, with which it is connected by a good level, metalled flat road. The land, which is recognised to be of the best in that district, slopes to the Waikato River, and has been under intensive and extensive cultivation. Mr Maurice Coughlan, who is well known in the South, has worked this property in connection with his sons, and spared no expense in getting it into first-class producing condition.

"If all the available coal in New Zealand were in the United States it would be worked out in eighteen months," said Mr R. Speight, curator of the Canterbury Museum, at a meeting of the Canterbury Philosophical Institute. Mr Speight, in the course of a paper dealing with the Broken River coal area, said that the known coal in New Zealand would only last about 100 years*, and there would be permanent shortage in 50 years' time. It wa s therefore extremely important that all waste should be eliminated. At the present time there was no doubt, waste took place on a very largo scale. 21. SOUTH CAROLINA- - Governor R. A. Cooper. Prohibition since January 1, 1916. Estimated Population, 1917—1,643,205. "Crime i s unquestionably less. If we should have a vote on the question to-day the majority for Prohibition would bo larger than when it was first voted. Prohibition has the effect of saving money to those who would drink, and general efficiency, ag well as individual efficiency is enhanced." Tested in thousands of kitchens, SHARLAND'S Baking Powder has never failed to rise. Costs less than others —worth Snore. 1

A stiffcr graduated tax on the larger estates standing in the way of settlement would force .real sub-division and stimulate production, -which was the world's greatest need, said Mr Harry AtniOTC, Liberal candidate for Nelson.

"Rot," "Rot," was interjected from several quarters of Mr Risliworth's meeting at Petone. "There is a good deal too much rot among a section of this audience, said the candidate, "both dry-rot and Tommy-rot!"

Sir Joseph Ward has been telling a Southland audience (says the Christchurch Press) that "there are many men in the Reform Party as bad as the Bolsheviks —he did not mean as far as murder was. concerned.'' He ought not (adds the Perss). however, to have left it at that. Surely we arc entitled to know Avhich of the men among Mr Massey's supporters who would emulate, Lenin and Trotsky—in everything, of course, except murder. The more we read of Sir Joseph's utterances the less we wonder that he should keep his best things for the township's of Awarua. His latest style might not quite suit eity audiences.

The Rev. D. C. Herron, M.A.. M.M.," will conduct the evening service at the local Presbyterian Church to-morrow night at. T p.m. Mr Herron is one of our returned chaplain s and while en service was awarded the Military Medal and other honours. As a student he spent some time in the Taihape district and we are sure that he will be' cordially welcomed by his friends. Mr Herron has received" a call to St. David's Presbyterian Church. Auckland, and is to be inducted to. that charge on Thursday next,, December 11.

Mr P. Kocgan, an Independent candidate for the Kotoma seat: The country was never more in need of a strong leader than at the present time. He considered Mr Massey to be rue most capable leader in the House. He was pledged to Reform, and if the speaker were returned he would help Mr Massey to carry out the reforms this country was demanding. But if he found that the leaders' hands wer e tied by supporters who were pledged to the vested interests he would have no hesitation in voting against the Government.

The Liberal Party was in power for twenty-one years, and the magnificent record established by it cannot be equalled by any other country in the world. All classes have been benefited —the farmer by such measures as the abolition of the Sheep Tax, the Dairy Industry, and Advance to Settlers Acts, and by the opening* up of lands for settlement, the worker has benefited by "the Advance to Workers Act, the Workers? Dwellings 'Act. the Factories Act, the Workers' Compensation Acts, and other Labour legislation. Strike s have been largely avoided by the operation of the Industrial, Conciliation and Arbitration Acts.—2B

On Saturday l'ast at Hukatere, a bell which is of considerable historic value, was presented to the school by a. former pupil, Mr Anthony Silich (states an exchange). The bell was formerly hung in 'the belfry of a church at La Bassee, but when the church was destroyed by German shellfire, and La Bassee was captured, the bell was discovered among th e ruins and used in a German trench to sound the alarm of an approaching gas attack. In July, 1917, when the Allies captured La Basse c and its environs, the bell was found in the German trench, and was also used by the Allies to give warning of the approach of poison gas. Ultimately, , bearing the scars of battle, in the form of three shrapnel bullet marks, it cUme into the possession of Quarter-Master Sergeant Silich, who brought it back a~ one of the trophies of war, and presented it to the school where lie had received his early training.

The situation at Christen urea on Thurr.iLiy evening, when the Premier was compelled to abandon his proposed political address was much worse than th e Press Association telegram published by us yesterday disclosed. The position at one period asumed a very ugly aspect, and political fee'.tng and bedlam broke loose The noise was deafening, rival parties coming to biows. Mob oratar 9 'attempted to address the meeting, and a egg intended for One of them caught a reporter in the eye. The lights were Switched off. but this only added a further grim touch to an already ugly scene, dp went the lights, and the crowd poured back into the Coliseum. Dr. Thacker mounted the stage to speak, but abandoned the attempt. ' The police, after considerable difficulty eleared the building. Mr Massey was vigorously hooted as he drove away in a. taxicab. The whole incident vras extremely discreditable.

22. SOUTH DAKOTA Governor Peter Norbeck. Prohibition sifice July 1, 1917. Estimated Formation, 1917 _ 716,972. "Proliibitioa bas brought splendid results. Business Gas gone forward, bank deposits nave increased, all to an unusual degree, and countless home. s have 'been made happier.