TAIHAPE NOTES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 17478, 24 January 1919, Page 7

TAIHAPE NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

In connection with the recent hospital inquiry, one hears on all sides high appreciation expressed for What Mrs. Reid has done, and admiration for her moral courage in backing up the charges by her personal presence at the inquiry. is hoped that some good will result from the publicity given, to hospital matters, and the veil of oblivion can now be drawn over a most unpleasant incident in our public life.

The question of local representation on the executive of the Taihape Hospital was brought . before the Borough Council at its* meeting on Friday night. Cr. Joblin laid the matter before the Council, fully explaining the position. After discussion it was decided to hold over anydefinite action until next meeting, when possibly some communication may be received from the Hospital Board.

~. A peculiar incident happened on the north-bound express train last Friday evening. A man attempted to board the train after it had started, but instead of catching hold of the stanchions on the carriage platform he grabbed those between the buffers. Meanwhile the train was gathering speed, and the man lost his footing, being dragged along between the platform and the carriage. The platform foreman, Mr. Venn, seeing the can's predicament, racfid along the platform, and, seizing the man . roun-d the waist, threw him clear of the carriage. Mr. Venn's prompt action saved the man from almost, certainly being cut to pieces : The would-be passenger seemed to b5 "under the influence."

A most disgraceful drunken brawl took place on. the street outside the Taihape Post Office on Saturday afternoon, when a free fight took place between some Maoris and shearers. Skin and hair were flying, and a crowd soon gathered, which almost "blocked traffic for a time. One of the men was severely cut about the face, the result of some "boot work" by one of the Maoris. The police have the matter in hand, and some of the Jack Johnsons and "White Hopes" will be called on for an explanation.

Fishing from all accounts is very good in this district this season. Two anglers were out last week, and between them\ netted some 65 fine rainbow tr6ut in two days. The fish were in splendid condition, and weighed between 21b and 4 1 / _lbs each.

Considerable Interest has ben created jamong shearers round aboutj here by the paragraph which appeared in the "Chronicle" stating that a new record of 358 sheep had been shorn in a "working day" in the south. Expert shearers here are not disposed to accept the record, as the term "working day" is too ambiguous, one shearer pointing out to the writer that ten minutes less during "smoke-oh" or meal hours would make all the difference in a record, and that until the tally is put up against the clock, the record could not. be accepted. Vella's time of nine hours was clocked to the second at Omatane in December last, when he shore 347. However, it has been asserted that Vella can even beat the new tally when the. proper time comes. In. discussing records, the other day a large' sheepowner remarked, "I would like to see the sheep after the record-breakers are through with them."

"The little bird" that whispered to your reporter that Mr. Lethbridge, chairman of the Rangitikei County Council, would be a candi.date for Rangitikei electorate, was rather late in reaching that scribe. That message was whispered in Taihape last November, and duly chronicled by "your own." That Mr. LethWidge will be a candidate is generally accepted here, among his many friends, at any rate the wish is father to the thought, as' it . is men of his stamp who are required to help steer the barque of State through the troublous times ahead. The day of the v "hail fellow well met," and "come and have a drink" type of politician has gone, let us hope, for ever.

Mr. F. B. Brady, of Marton, is also to be a candidate for Rangitikei, and will stand in the Labour interest. We have three candidates who have declared themselves: Mr. Burnett, who has clear-cut Liberal views; Mr. Joblin, a supporter of the National Government, with advanced Liberal views, a brand of political convictions it will be interesting to hear propounded; and Mr. Brady, a follower of the Labour Party.