PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 October 1916, Page 3

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

A "KOBLF," SHIRKER. | (By our Travelling Reporter). In a South Taranaki town a heated discussion took place on the question ot families shirking the firing line. One young man was taken to task, and pleaded that he was exempted, as already one of the family was at the front. This silenced the opposition until a persistent and inquisitive questioner wanted further naviculars, and was told that the member of the family who had gone to the front to uphold their pre'stige was a sister. Truly nay it be said that some "men" are sheltering behind the petticoats. "GULLING" TRG PUBLIC. There are a few angry business people down the line. Recently a stranger "blew" into a town. Carefully dressed, well spoken, lie became very confiding ,and it was not many minutes before he harT purchased a suit of clothes, hat, etc. When it came to paying he had the same story to tell about his father coming into town later on, when the latter would give him some money to meet these expenses. The ''father" is ft well-known farmer in the district, and on the strength of this the goods were handed over. Not content with this, the plausjble one succeeded in "borrowing" a few shillings from some of his victims. Later on the clothier became dissatisfied, and. feeing the man in the street, demanded payment. This not being forthcoming, lie promptly removed the hat and walked away, the I'.atless one trotting at his heels and growling at the impudence of the clothier. It is stated that one of the "6s 8d" fraternity listened to the tale of woe and stumped up os. Later on the constable of the town was oVerved taking the train for a neighboring village K MAORI'S GRATITUDE. Occasionally, probably frequently, passengers in a hurry leave some valuable property in trains. On one occasion two gentlemen travelling in a first-class carriage noticed a sugar-bug or something similar <ying on the floor. They investigated, and found it to contain, amongst other articles, a subs f antial roll of notes. They took this to the police station, where a Maori woman had just called announcing her loss. The bag and contents were hanil'd to the owner intact, and then a hint dropped that a reward should be given to the linders. "Reward! The (Government lie give the reward; he got plenty money; Maori he got nothing! Tena koo!"