LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3653, 15 December 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Government has set apart 75 acres of land in the North Auckland district for the purpose of promoting the systematic recovery of kauri gum and other valuable products contained therein.

A woman who said that her husband was very ill complained to rhe Willcsdeu magistrate that the landlord called every day, and sometimes twice a day, to inquire if he were dead yet. A world’s record was created at the dispersal sale of the Shorthorn herd of the late Mr Jam.es McWilliam Garbity Orton, Morayshire, Scotland, when 36 head of cattle realised £28,003 10/, an average of £736 19/8.

The Swiss Army authorities have carried out experiments with a new long automatic pistol capable of firing fifteen bullets per second a distance of 300 metres. The weapon is easy to manipulate, and the trials are reported to have given complete satisfaction. ' %

The Manawatu Flax Workers’ Union have made a claim for further increase - of pay, and hold out a threat that they will hold a stop-work meeting on Wednesday next. The Flax Millers’ Association have' advised them to take their case to the proper tribunal, the Arbitration Court.

The Minister for Defence has been informed that an Anzac memorial jfs to be erected at Lone Pine where one of the bitterest fights of the Gallipoli campaign took place. All the bodies on Gallipoli hove now been gathered into twenty-tfour cemcter-' ios. The erection of the memorial and of headstones in the Gallipoli cemeteries Vs to bo started in the spring of the year. The preliminary road construction is at present in hand. ’■

A conversazione will be held in the Town Hall to-morrow night as a farewell to Mr and Mrs J. F. Thurston.

The rose and sweet pea show commenced at the Town Hall to-day, and will be continued this evening when a children’s concert will commence at 7.45 o’clock.

Mr Massey states that an extension of the butter equalisation fund to cover farm-made butter is impracticable. It was not graded and as most of it was sold direct to storekeepers, the Government coula nol check deliveries or quality.

The Governor-General's yacht, the "Iron Duke, ’ \ was launched on Monday at Auckland, and Lord Jellicoe took her for a trial spin. The vessel is in the 14-foot class, and will compete in the local races with Lord Jellicoe at the helm.

A few months ago it was solemnly announced side-whiskers were to be the smart thing for London’s young men this season. A few bold pioneers ventured out with unshaven cheeks but ridicule killed the movement.

Mr Ellis Robinson announces that be has in stock a fine selection of pipes, tennis balls, safety razors ladies’ perfume boxes, ladies,’ peggy bags, and other goods splendidly suitable for Christmas and New Year gifts.

Sir H. Heaton Rhodes informed a reporter that Cabinet had decided that there should be no annual camps this year, and it had further been decided that the fullest system of Territorial training should not be brought into operation for two year's—that was'until 1923.

Op the vast sugar jdantations of the Hawaii Islands the molasses which have been allowed to run to waste or burned for the recovery of potash is being distilled into a' new motor fuel, “motor alcohol’f which is said to give more power, greater mileage, easier starting, and more freedom from carbon than ordinary gasoline.

An inquiry made in Auckland on Wednesday morning regarding the wool clip ‘and the prospects for the season elicited information of not a very cheerful kind. The clip is coming to hand for the sales very slowly (remarks the Star), the majority of the owners being uncertain as*to the sum they will accept. The result is that owners and brokers are just marking time.

Evidence that the £1 notes (the notes recently stolen while they - were being dispatched from Wellington to Gisborne), are in circulation wa’s shown on Saturday last, when

notes (with the signature forged), was presented at a Wellington shop. Unfortunately, the forgery was not found out in time to catch the generous customer. The numbers of the missing note's ar,e 599,200 to 600,000 and 600,200 to 601,000.

When the relieving officer reported to the Aldcrstone Guardians an application for relief s by an elderly woman, it was 'stated that she had several sons earning good wages, and that one of them was a collier earning an average d? £9 weekly. This son had offered to pay 3/ weekly towards his mother’s support. In view of his high wages, and of his having no children, the Guardians ordered the man to pay 10/ weekly.

The shortage of timber, despite an i alleged increased output, was discussed by the Auckland Labour Representation Committee on Sunday evening. A resolution was passed instructing the secretary to write to (the Board of Trade protesting against ‘the difficulty in securing supplies of local-grown timber, in spite of the fact that the output has increased considerably, and asking the Board to investigate why local mills only customers with American timl/ber at a cost which is prohibitive.

A well-known Christchurch solicitor, Mr J, S. Barrett, was charged at the Magistrate’s Court last week, before Mr V. G. Day, S.M., with having driven' a. motorcar in a dangerous manner. "Have you counsel?” enquired Mr Day, with a twinkle in his eye. Mr Barrett, with a serious mien, replied that he had offered the brief to three or four eminent counsel. but all had "turned him down,” the remuneration not being sufficiently high. As the case went on, it was shown that the prosecuting constable had been more zealous than discreet, and 1 the Magistrate dismissed the cake without calling upon the defendant. "I thought there would be nothing to answer, your Worship,” replied Mr Barrett at the conclusion of the case. "In fact, my car passed only a Ford, and that, surely, no offence.

Don’t, forget you are saving 2/ in the pound by purchasing from Thomas and Co’s. Drapery House, during Christmas month. Suede cushions with smart poker work designs, make useful Christmas* Gifts. Prices 39/6 and 45/. Collinson and Gifford Ltd.

The annua} prize-giving in connection with St. Margaret : s School will :be held in the Vicarage Grounds to- ■ morrow (Thursday) at 2 p.m. All ; friends of the school are cordially iuj vited. In connection with the social and. ‘dance at Bennett’s Siding-to-morrow j evening, in aid of memorI ial fund, a motor lorry will convey ! passengers free from Taihapc ? leaving 1 the post office. A waltzing competij Tion he held and prizes have been I donated for first, second and third.