LOCAL AND GENERAL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XVII, Issue 1728, 21 September 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

There have been various sensational war rumours current in town this last few days, many of them without foundation. By the courtesy of the Waikato Times, we are enabled to keep in close touch with the latest happenings, and these will be posted outside the Chronicle Office as they arrive.

"It is a pity it is not compulsory for push-bikes to have a reflector on the back," stated Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., at the Christchurch Magistrate's Court on Friday; "in my opinion the reflector is more important than the light on the front/' Motorcars coming up behind, he continued, would then be able to see the bicycles more clearly. All push-bikes, also, ought to be registered, as at present they used the streets and paid nothing, and they should be provided with bells.

Two aboriginals were having their first journey by rail. Presently the train entered a tunnel, and after what seemed to them a very long time, it flashed out into the daylight again. The first to recover drew a deep breath. "By cri, Harry, it's t'morror!"

A furiously driven motor car dashed among people alighting from a tram at Petersham in New South Wales, and killed Robert Thomas and his wife, and injured five others. The driver of the car was identified as one stolen just before the smash.

It is learned that the United States will reject Soviet Russia's proposal to open negotiations for a resumption of relations contained in the recent Note handed to the United States Ambassador in Berlin.

Electoral rolls are sometimes puc to unexpected uses. A Wairarapa elector went to the post office at Carterton recently to ascertain if his name is on the roll. A lady had the roll when he went in, and kept possession of it until the man's patience was exhausted. "Excuse me, madam," he said at last, "I am rather in a hurry and would like to look at the roll." "Certainly," said the lady, "1 am only reading it through to find a nice name for the baby!"

There has been a rush for enlistment in every town in the Dominion. In Hamilton over 100 names were handed in on Monday, and 50 offered on Wednesday morning. In Wellington there has been a steady stream of recruits. There have been inquiries made at Te Kuiti, and as there is no recruiting office here, many have left their names at the Chronicle Office. The Defence Department will accept offers from married officers and non-commission-ed officers, but all others must be single.

Borough Council employees are now effecting much needed repairs to the Taupiri Street footpaths between King Street and the Domain.

Messrs Howarth and Rothery left by the express on Wednesday morning to attend a meeting of delegates of one-day racing clubs in Auckland. The meeting is called to consider proposals for additional permits for the coming year, and also plans to relieve the financial position of various clubs concerned.

The ladies' committee of the Te Kuiti Volunteer Fire Brigade have adopted a pleasant means of reducing the debt on the brigade's recently installed billiard table by a series of euchre parties and dances. The sixth evening of the series was held in the brigade's social hall last night, and proved as successful as its forerunners. Last evening's receipts bring the total up to £ls to date.

When submitting the annual balance sheets and accounts at the meeting of the City Council at Dunedin the town clerk (Mr G. A. Lewin) remarked that this was the first occasion in twenty-five years that the balance-sheet had been returned by the Auditor-General without a tag drawing attention to some technical defect. "Must have run short of red tape," interjected a councillor.

South Africa's entry into the Imperial wireless scheme has aroused much appreciation. The contract provides for the erection of a station with a world-wide range within 18 months, the Government accepting 2

no financial responsibility, while it is given one seat on the Board. The site of the station must be out of range of bombardment by sea. Full rates will be charged—sixteen pence a word and press messages twopence farthing. The Government retains the right to take over the station at the expiration of ten years.

A motor-van, a mob of bullocks, and a man wheeling a bicycle in Gonviile (Wanganui) formed the setting of a drama which was brief but interesting. The driver of the motor noticed that one of the bullocks was inclined to be ferocious, and warned the man with the bicycle. Just then the bullock charged, and, lifting the cycle on its horns, went full tilt along the road, with the owner of. 1 the machine following in hot pursuit. Just where, and in what condition, he recovered the cycle has not yet been ascertained.

The lack of roads was the greatest bar to cheap and efficient transport in this country, said Mr H. C. Jones in an address to the Motor Trades Association at Dunedin. Some of the tracks that enjoyed the name of main highways were such that with a few showers of rain vehicles sank up to the axles in mud, and the difficulty connected with the transport of goods and passengers under such conditions could be more easily imagined than described.

A fire occurred in Te Awamutu on Monday, when a dwelling occupied by Mr D. Mcßurney was totally destroyed. The building was an old one, and by the time the alarm was raised the fire had a strong hold. The brigade was quickly on the scene and the flames were promptly extinguished, but the building and furniture were a total loss. The insurances are held in the Victoria Company, £4OO on the building and £3OO on the furniture. Mr Mcßurney, who is suffering from war disabilities, w&s laid up at the time, and had to make a hurried exit, saving nothing.

Sunday was the sixth anniversary of the opening of the battle of Flers, where the New Zealand troops made their first dramatic entry into the battle of the Somme. The New Zealand Division moved out of the trenches against the village of Flers at dawn on September 15, and six hours later they were reported by an aviator to be cheering in the high street of the village, behind a tank. Every objective was gained, and held in spite of furious counter-attacks. On the second day, September 16, the New Zealanders again pushed gallantly on and captured and held other German trenches, and were ready to advance even further, but the general situation in the immediate vicinity did not permit this.

A journey by motor-car from Auckland to Wellington has just been completed by Mr George Henning, who covered 600 miles by road in stages, covering three and a half days (telegraphs The Post's Auckland correspondent). Mr Henning does not consider very seriously the ambitions of certain Southern motorists for long-distance driving, as for example between Auckland and Wellington, and Lyttelton and Bluff. After his three and a-half days of travelling he is convinced that such trips will only be made once in a while, for pleasure or touring purposes. From the business point of view it would be impossible, except in the event of a breakdown of the railway. The railway, he considers, will remain a successful competitor to motor transport over long distances for many years to come.