GENERAL NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1918, Page 3

GENERAL NEWS.

In one of his recent boot* Mr H. G. Wells forecasts the decline unci' nnal extinction of that faithful frfefiS of man—the horse. He prophesises fhat in about half a century from now -the ■■ visitor to the museums of that timo wHI find among extinct species the skeleton of a largo animal, with a card'indicating that "This is the frame of a horse, at one time much in use by men for all kinds of transportation work." . It seems as if Mr Wells* prophecy is likeiv to come true, but from all indication* sooner than the lime ho indicates, for horse-drawn vehicles of all kinds are rapidly giving place io petrol-propelled motors and machines. One of the latest uses for a tractor to be put to is harvesting, for the other day one of these handy machines (states'a Christchurch paper) eould be seen at work in<a field at iSpringside, North Canterbury, hauling a reaper r.nd binder. During the cold weather at the front last year some, of the Colonial troops (so writes a Coast boy), were nt iim(« hard pressed for "bed clothes." This state of affairs, he continues, led to tho adoption of the policy that ''Heaven help* those who help iliemnelves.'' And the New Zealander boys did help themselves with a vengeance! He declares that, if required, sand-bags, tarpaulins, etc., were "lifted'' if anyways handy. On one occasion 1001) sand-bags disappeared from their proper quarters, but solved the problem of sleep for a large number of men. "I 'pinched' half a tent one night," lie added "and it served t» cover nine of us nicely. We had to cuddle in like pigs but we managed to keep warm—and warmth was the only thing that mattered."

Ar e.v.tompt was made some time between four o'clock on Friday afternoon ana soyt;\ o'clock on Saturday mornim; .'","':• the Chvistekmvli Star) to lires':: npon the safe at the I.inwood r.'ilvay station. When the <-Utk in charge arrived at the station' he found that i'lie leek of the door of tins tiooiciiiK r.Ul:'. was jammed, and it was only after sv.-.ie diliicully that he j'ot it. to respond to tin- key. On enteiini' the office, the clerk soon discovered the reason for the door's ohstinncv, as the safe, which usually occupied :. place under a small l:\hle sot in a corner of the office, \va>-, hin;< face np'.vardn. ui ihe middle of the room, a cle>'.' imiieati'iM o:' •.■,>'■■.• burglarious intrude:' or intruders during the ninlii. W'hoev.",' Hi,, intruder:; wcjv, t.hey were evidence not .of the urofcssional erc.eki'.ior.n tvpe, as the in.plo:rif-nt used in the endeavor !n e'Veci an entrance into the safe was ihe .-(Vice ave. The door of the safe was stil! intact, and showed little cll'ee'. of the •>tf.>in'it<-- t-> prize it. open with an rsxe. '.'iivcther it ,wus a clumsy attempt at burglary.