LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7710, 20 April 1916, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Sixteenth Reinforcements go into camp on the 2nd of May. The “Waipawa Mail” will be published as usual on Saturday and Tuesday next. A reminder is given that the Equipment Committee’s shop will not be open on Saturday, owing to the holidays, but thenceforward the committee hope to be able to run it every week without a break. Mrs D. T. Kelly has received a letter of thanks from Miss King for several parcels of knitting from her and her band of workers, Mesdames E. H. Lee, G. Y. Oliver, E. Milton, F. Witherow, Miss Lee and Miss L. Oliver. Breeders of pigs will be interested to learn that the Feilding Bacon Co., Ltd., has erected a weighing shed at the Waipawa railway station and will buy porkers at the top price. The buyer, Mr D. 0. Smith, will be here on Tuesday, May 2nd.

One charge preferred against Rua is that he counselled certain of his followers to commit murder on members of the police force who were wounded in the Urewera country. The other charge is that he counselled his followers to use firearms in resisting the lawful execution of a warrant of committal. The penalty on conviction on either charge is imprisonment for life.

The following notice, which emphasises the methods adopted in the Turkish Empire, was recently placarded in Constantinople:—“To-day on Bajazid Square will be hanged fisherman George, guilty of having furnished indication to the enemy submarine which destroyed the Oriental railway. Also chauffeur Fotios and Armenian Hezarian, of Erzerouin, for having enrolled volunteers for the Russian army and promoted uproar and trouble.” Representatives of the Women’s National Reserve discussed with the Minister of Internal Affairs arrangements for a National Register of women. The Minister stated subsequently that the executive promised to submit a definite scheme for his consideration. The reserve would undertake the preparation of the register with the object of providing women who were prepared to take tinplaces of men required in the forces.

Easter Sunday falls on 23rd April this year. It can never fall later than 25th'April, and only once in this century will it fall on 25th April, viz., in 1943. This happened in 1666, 1734, and 1886. The earliest date on which Easter can fall is 22nd March, and this only in case the moon is full on a Saturday. This combination of circumstances is extremely rare; it occurred in 1093, 1761, and 1817, and will happen again in 1990, 2076, and 2114, while in the three following centuries it is not once on the books. In 1883 Easter fell on 25th March. The Minister for Defence has received copies of correspondence relating to proposals made by the Imperial Government for an exchange of prisoners of war between the United Kingdom and Turkey. It appears that preliminary negotiations have been conducted through the United States Ambassador at Constantinople. The British proposal is for an exchange on a numerical basis, officer for officer, and man for man, and it is mentioned in the correspondence that the prisoners held by the British outnumber those reported to be held by the Turkish Government.

A remarkable story comes from. Echuca, Victoria, of an attempt to conceal the origin of enemy-made articles by the super-imposition of labels bearing the imprint of neutral countries. A Customs officer called at a drapery establishment in that town, and purchased some dome fasteners which bore a label testifying that they were “made in Holland.’ V ith the'aid of a little water, however, the officer was able, to remove this label, and underneath a second label was disclosed marked “Sonomor Placket Fasteners, Germany.” The whole stock of fasteners in the shop was seized.

Speaking at a meeting of the Petone Borough Council when a letter from the Recruiting Board urging the necessity of councillors making a personal canvass was under discussion, Cr. Anderson stated that the time had come when the Government should make use of the registration cards, and those who had signed stating their willingness to go should now be told plainly that the time had come. There were scores walking our streets who w r ere fit to go, and if their own consciences would not make them go all the personal canvass in the world would not shift them. A personal canvass would only result in personal abuse. He was willing to go himself if they would pass him, but until he was passed ho would take no part in a personal canvass. The present high physical standard should also be lowered. The time had now come for compulsion. “Try and put an end to these rotten rumors, which are so detrimental to New Zealand as a whole,” said His Excellency the Governor at Wellington, in addressing Red Cross workers. Many of these wild stories, His Excellency continued, appeared to circulate in Wellington. It had been stated, for instance, that parcels for the soldiers had been sold, lost or made away with in Egypt. This was quite untrue; all goods had reached their destination. Sometimes they had been long in getting there, but war was war, and transport difficulties at Gallipoli were very great. Another rumor which was bad was that which reported that something had gone wrong with the forces. A few days ago it was stated that the Ninth Reinforcements had been annihilated. Nothing more untrue had ever been said. The troops were at present in Egypt, and doing extremely well. Some time these rumors would lead to a loss of life.

When the north express stopped m Ashburton the other day a lady step, pod out of a carriage, and proceeded to enjoy a cup of tea (says tin “Guardian”). She evidently over, estimated the time the train would wait at Ashburton, and on coming out of the refreshment room saw the train disappearing past the end of the plat, form. There would have been nothin, very terrible about this had it not been for the fact that in the train were the woman’s money, hat, ln t . gage, and—worst of all—three younj children! The unfortunate passengq rushed about the station in a frantii state of mind, but later became patj. tied and decided upon a dofinit* course of action. Telegrams were ex. changed with Christchurch, anj eventually the woman followed on j a slow train and picked up the child, ren at Christchurch, where they had been taken charge of. The quarts were bound for Sydney