GENERAL ITEMS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 29, 31 December 1917, Page 8

GENERAL ITEMS.

. ■ ■—<|gS" 1 A Waihi boy .11 i.omlon, who of'lieially handles posted umi ter to New Zealand Holilie *s, willing to bis par-li-nts by tin* last mini, g.vos some iuItcrcsting advice to people, sending} * parcels to the trout. He states that chocolates are very often unfit to eat,’ ‘ami it is money thrown away sending | them. About 75 per cent, of the I cakes received are mustry and mint jto eat, although sealed in tins. Soap 'should not he packed in the same ! parcels with eatables. Honey should not be sent in cardboard jars. Honey,, jam, and treacle should be properly I sealed. The lids of treaele tins

squeezed down is not sufficient, ( belling gum should not be sent—it spoils All eatables in parcels, and is bad itself when it reaches here. &ugag should not he sent in paper or card-, hoard) boxes, as it olten arrives net. If people only saw how the contents of a great, many arrive they would not waste the. money. You would be surprised to see the number ol line big cakes unfit for consumption.' Tim writer forwards a packet and a. tin of cigarettes as evidence of the result when sent in packets and unsealed tins. Tins containing 50 cigarettes properly sealed are all right. Sometimes the addresses cannot ho read on account of the. mildew on the parcels. The journey and ivcathei seems to play havoc with the contents of parcels. Writes Horatio Bottomley in “John

.Bull”:—We are walking hack IroivL file first lines through the communication trenches, and (•nine upon a lit J tie group of men cooking their dinner in a dug-out. “How’s the war going’’ I asked. “Fine.” came the reply—“ Have a fried potato,” And the guns were roaring away all round us! To another group—just at the end of the trench, 1 said: “You are looking very happy.” “Yes, sir,”' said a merry-faced fellow—“we ali backed your horse at Brighton on. Saturday.” , (To the unitiated I may! explain that I had taken the rare H-! horty of winning a race that day).! You can’t eradicate the sporting iiH stinet from the soldier—and thank God you can’t! Here’s the funniest' illustation of all: “The war’s won; I said on another occasion. “Good!”'. What’s second and third ” came the ready retort—and even the general who was with me joined in the laugh--tor. There, however, are the lighter shades of Tommy’s nature. Get him in a serious mood,, and you will find that deep down in his soul is ai full sense of the sacred task upon! which he is engaged. Talk to him of his folks at home, and ho becomes!' quiet and reflective. And in those' moments we know what is in his! heart.

The Curtis’s Aeroplane Company (U.S.A.) lias received a £40,000,0110 order for aeroplanes. The plant will employ 10,000 men on the job. Thid company has devised a Hying boat, which is said to be well adapted to all the purposes of modern war in the air, and particularly to coast patrol.i The new hydro-airplane differs front! prevailing types by having its eiH ginc installed in the body of the boat, instead of Over the operator’s head. Another feature is an appliance which gives the operator power to cut loose entirely from the planed throwing the power of ins engine to al regulation marine propeller for aqnatl ie propulsion. By this device it id expected that all the perils of coastl patrol duty will he eliminated to al large extent. If sudden gales should strike one of those pianos while all sea it could he brought to the s.nr-< face of the sea where it could ho converted into a motor boat.

A deputation consisting of prominent officers and members of the Tuapeka Agricultural Society waited on Sir James Allen (Minister ot Defence) on the Show Grounds at Lawrence

to protest against the imposition ol

the amusement tax as tar as it affected agricultural shows. Mr A. C, Leary, one of the vice-presidents ol the society, said if the Minister had been present during the forenoon, when arrangements were being made lor the show, he would have been; convinced that an agricultural show

was not an amusement, as iar as the officials were concerned. What the society objected to principally was the taxing of members’ tickets. The Tnapeka Society bad increased

its members’ fee from 10s to £l, ami } now found itsoli taxed to the extent fof 2s ]ier member, quite apart from jI he penny which they had to pay on leach shilling charged for admission, tile did not think that it was the intention of the legislature that such a. tax should be imposed on show societies. Mr J. C. Browne, secretary of the society, said he had been in communication the Stamps Department on the subject, and tbo taxing of members' tickets, lie (the Deputy-commissioner of Stamps in j Dunedin) considered a true interpre- / tation of Clause 01 of “The Finance Act, 1917.” Sir James, in reply, said the Finance Act was not under his administration. Taxation was nocos- / sary in order to carry on the war, I hut he could not say how it came about that membership tickets word . being taxed. He would, however, 'communicate with the. Minister in charge of the department, and have flic reply conveyed to, the society.