LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 6378, 19 July 1916, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr A. E. J. Blakelcy's next professional visit will be on Thursday, 27th July.

A soldier who went into a Wellington telephone box the other night received it great surprise on turning the handle of the telephone (states the Wellington Post}. Without warning the box burst open and a shower of pennies clattered to the floor of the booth. The soldier immediately called a policeman, the Post Office authorities were communicated with, and the monoy eventually found its way into the proper channels.

■ "I spent some auxious nights thinking of my son in the trenches in France," said the father of a New Zealand soldier the other day, " and was much relieved one morning when 1 got the following cablegram from London : " Broke : send money—Bill.' "

" Tell me. Mary, how to woo thee, Teach my bosom to unfold Language which can soothe and cheer thee, When thou hast a cough or cold. But if pleading cannot gain thee, I'll invoke an aid more sure ; E'en a queen could not disdain me "Offering Woods' Great Peppermint Cure.

At u recent meeting of the Ettrick Fruit Growers' Asociatiou (writes a correspondent) it was decided to include within the Asociution's scope the districts lying botwecn Beaumont and Dumbarton Bock. Itules in connection with tho Association, which has only recently been formed, were drafted out and unanimously adopted, and the following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing term : —President, Mr H. Tumor; vice-president Mr E. Patchott; committee, Mcssr W. Elder, E. Bloxham, D. Martin, A. Brown, H. V. Kitto, T. Dobson, and T. G. Smith ; sec. and treau. J. Hamilton, auditor Mr D. Leslie. Tho coinmittco was empowered to deal with tho appointment of delogntes in cinnection with the 1917 apple show to bo held in Duncdin. Delegates to the Fruitgrowers' Conference in Wellington reported concerning tho objects and aims of tho conference, full particulars of which havo already appeared in tho Mt. Bcnger Mail. Tho retiring secretary, Mr A. Brown, was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.

Mr Sundstrum's next visit will be on Thursday when he may be consulted from 12 noon to 3 p.m. The hon. secretary of the Tokomairiro Y.M.C.A. at Milton (Mr W. Moore) informs us that nearly £9OO has been received in connection with the Y.M.C.A. Soldiers' Fund in the 14th Regimental area, including &'Si 10s from Roxburgh and £217 10s from Lawrence. That the work accomplished by the Y.M.C.A. amongst our soldiers at the front is appreciated by those in communication with the men in the firing line haß ben proved by the hearty receptions and generout donations which have been the experience of the collectors from this fund in every home. In forwarding a cheque for £lO as a contribution towards Milton Y.M.C.A'S F'ind, Hon. Jas. Allen. Minister of Defence, wrote to the effect that it had given him great pleasure to note from time to time the splendid work of the Y.M.C.A. amongst our soldiers in Egypt) Gallipoli, and elsewhere. He noted that it was not the association's intention to limit its work to Egypt, but to launch out in France, and possiblly elsewhere. There could be no better object to which people who havo money could devote it than towards the work of the Y.M.C.A. Mr H. F. Rattray, who was recently appointed managing director of the Cromwell development party, was in the Cromwell district last week inspecting the various properties and works in connection with the company's scheme. iVtr Rattray was quite pleased with the progiess being made on the river works and also with the general appearance of the orchard trees. At present the company are engaged in preparing an additional eight blockß comprising 150 acres, to the south of the first planted area, and these extend to the road line at Kawarau Gorge. For these blocks an order for 9,000 of the best commercial varieties of apples and stone fruit treeß have been placed. During the last month four Dunedin residents have gone on to their orchards, recently purchased from the company, the Cromwell Valley, and have started erecting houses and also to put down some thousands of strawberry plants. They are also arranging to sow several acres of lucerne, which grows exceptionally well in the district, to provide feed for their stock. One of the oldest and best known residents of Millers Flat, in the personof Mr John Sillara, died on Thursday last at the age of 88 years. The funeral took place on Sunday the Rev. Mr Gunn officiating at the grave-side, and residents from all parts of the district turned out to pay their last tribute or respect to the deceased who, before retiring, was engaged in the farming industry for a number of years at Millers Plat. \ The Bank of New Zealand is in receipt of the following cable mes-1 s-ge from London dated 11th inst. —"Wool sales—Merinos l\ to 10 per cent dearer ; crossbreds on an average 5 per cent, cheaper." Sergt. T. Dechan, who was in camp with the 15th Reinforcements, has, we learn, been recom-1 mended for a commision as a remlt of examination.

I A ladies' and men's St. Andrews Crocc golf match will be piayed this afternoon. Handicaps will be posted at the clubhouse. Sergt. E. E. Nome, who is with the Feld Ambulance in Prance, writing to his parents under date 22nd May, 1916, reports that he has been promoted to the rank of Staff-Sergt. as from the beginning of May. "I would like to ask Miss PankI hurst," asked one questioner at a meeting at Palmerston North,'' if she knows that some women are too tired to vote. My wife," he continued, '' is too tired to vote, so don't you think women in England would be too tired to vote?" '' Lots of men are 100 tired to vote too," replied Miss Pankhurst, " and if your wife is too tired to vote, perhaps you are to blame for it." A Home letter states that the Germans were quite prepared to make a raid on Ireland at the time of the Dublin riots, and that two hostile transports were caught laden with troops and equipped ready for a landing on British soil. Nothing was allowed to be published in Home papers about this trouble, but the particulars leaked out after the German cruiser attacks on Yarmouth and Lowestoft'. Tommy was undergoing chastisement at the hands of his outraged mother for eating the jam. "Tommy," she said, "this hurts me more than it does you." And when Tommy was alone he produced a square piece of wood which he had placed where it was needed, and murmured reflectively : "I thought that board wouldn't do her hand any good." A " refresher " camp for n.c.o's and officers who sit for examination for commissions in August, opened at Milton on Monday, and will continue during the week. A Christchurch gentleman, who has just returned from a trip to Otago Central, informs the Evening News that he found the cold here very intense. He actually saw people skating. The paragraph will (says the Alexandra Herald) be read with much amusement to those who know that this winter is an exceptionally mild one. The Prime Minister announces that the Nineteenth Reinforcements, who mobilise next week, are complete, there being a surplus of 53 registrations over the whole Dominion. The only districts in which there is a shortage are Auckland (8) and Otago (19). WHEBB SIGHT IS CONOEKNED.

Time is very precious. 11 youhave the least troublo with your oyes, don't delay, but have them examined at once. I test them scientifically ; I ascertain if there are defects, and I prescribe (if necessary) the glases that are needed. As a qualified optician, you can depend on getting expert attention. H. Neill, D.8.0.A., Glasgow Optical House, 249 George Street, Dunedin,