LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 781, 3 November 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A report of the official opening of the Buckland Bowling Club’s green will appear on Tuesday.

University examinations are being held’ in Pukekohe at the present time in the Oddfellow’s Hall under the supervision of Rev. S. Nixon.

“The time will come when mosof the dairy cows will come in in June”—a member at the annual meeting of the Jersey Breeders Club.

Miss Marjorie Perkins, Trades’ Queen, in an advertisement in this issue, returns thanks to her committee and supporters who worked on her behalf at the recent Queen Carnival.

To-night in the Strand Theatre, Mr Fredk. Burke, a brilliant ioungcrator, who has travelled the wor.d, will lecture against Prohibition. He is prepared to answer any questions, and invites all who differ from his views to come forward on this occasion. A large attendance is expected.*

“As a general rule one tone of fodder converted into milk per medium of a dairy cow wlil give a more profitable return than using the same quantity of fodder for beef production,” said Mr A. H. Cockayne, biologist to the Agricultural Department, in addressing the members of the Red Poll Association at Weraroa (states llie Levin Chronicle).

At the annual meeting of the Franklin Jersey Breeders’ Club ,a member gave it as his opinion that those who went in for S.O. testing would find it to their advantage to commence the testing in, April if possible. Another member claimed that the change would not make much difference. The (former retorted that April was the time, there was plenty of good autumn feed. April every time if you want a good record

The political campaign was opened at Thames on (Tuesday night, when Mr T. W. Rhodes, M.P., Re. form candidate for T hames seat, addressed the elctors in that centre. The chair was occupied by Mr S. Lowe, County chairman At the conclusion of an interesting address on the politics of the hour a hearty vote of thanks and confidence, proposed by Mr J. Gracie, and seconded by Mr A. Rae, was carried unanimously. ’ A strong committee has been formed to further Mr Rhodes' candidature.

The representative of a wellknown life insurance company was approached down the coast recently by a Maori (relates the Manawatu Daily Times). “You te insurance man ?” the native asked, and on receiving a reply in the affirmative, he said, “Well no good you sending me bills for my boy’s insurance, me no pay them. He been dead two, three years now, he has.” ‘‘Well, in that case we owe you £SOO ,1 think ” “What me get £SOO ?” said tlie Maori. “By kqrry, that all right. When me get it ?” “Well, yau have to j|ive us ali details as to when the boy died before we can settle the matter, of course,” said the agent, The Maori did not understand that his son’s life was insured and no notification was given by him as to fhe death of his son, bub matters

are being fixed up now, it is understood. *'* The extent to which the rank and file of Pukekohe are beginning to feel the effects of the continued erratic lightSJng service of this Borough was well demonstrated by the wearer of a fancy costume at the Pukekohe Footballers' Ball on Monday night. The lighting system was characterised in frhis way: To the top of her head the young lady had affixed a 300 candle power electric light bulb; in her left hand she held a recent copy of the Franklin Times, while in her right hand she held 1 a candle from wliich she was getting some tight whereby she could read the newspaper. It is rather a coincidence,the 1 ight failed on Monday night. However, there was a great improvement on Wednesday night, when the electric light was good l as it is possible to get any light. The wearer of the costume is to be congratulated on her sense of originality. A New Zealand family which mourns the loss of a son killed at Passchendaele on the night of October 12th, 1917, has just received from a German an account of how' he died. “Quick March” publishes the letter. The German assumes the New Zealander ’was evidently out on solitary patrol and crawled very close to the German line where he exchanged shots with a. sentry, with fatal results to the New Zealander at any rate. The German says that thinking the New Zealander might be wounded, he crawled out to investigate, but found that death must have been instantaneous, for a bullet had gone through the brain. The Hun 4herupon emptied the dead man’s pockets of paybook, photos, money, etc.—-some-thing of importance and some valueless trifles which the average soldier treasures. But it says a good deal for this German that he should have kept these things all these years and that he should now write to the., relatives. ' His letter is intended to find out if the address is correct, and, if so, and the relatives want the relics, he will send them out.

Already strong demand has set in for this week’s issue of the New Zealand Sporting and Dramatic Review, so intending purchasers should make early application for a copy. The illustrations are of surpassing merit, and cover events of topical interest from overseas aud nearer home. The rerecent Wanganui musical and elocutionary competitions make up an attractive portion with its fine showing pf prize winners, while the Waikato Hunt Club’s Meeting at Hamilton comprises a liberal section. The Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting is depicted, in a striking series of snapshots,! and the Wellington Racing Club’s Meeting at Trentham is covered in a great selection that will appeal to sporting patrons, while Australia’s brilliant racehorse Eurythmic, will also draw its admirers. The centre pages are devoted to polo in England, and New Jersey, the horse show at U.S.A., animated scenes in Hyde Park, etc., and in a specially interesting miscellaneous division are portraits of theatrical, motion picture and social celebrities and incidents in popular games and pastimes of general note. The paper is on sale at all newsagents and bookstalls.

The NZ. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co sold a proprety of nine and three-quarter acres in the estate of the late Bridget Keane on the Puke'kohe-Waiuku Road for £IOSO to Mr Arthur Williams.* . According to the latest, returns there are :>7,8.'57 purebred cattle in 1 lie Dominion Jerseys head the list with 12.207. Shorthorns come next with 858 5, Here fords third with 7)221, and riesians fourth with 5091.

The final af the snooker; tournament, promoted in aid df the Sports Queen, Miss Joyce Motion, will take place this evening in Mr W J. Short’s billiard room. ' The contestants are J. Blake, received 28. and A. Hardwick., received 30.

Another move forward has been made by Messrs Cooper and Curd of this district, who have now installed an acetone welding .plant, for. all classes of welding work. This is the only plant of. this description between Auckland . and Hamilton, and will prove a big boon to this district.

A collie dog of extraordinary intelligence is owned by Mr, J. Ireland, at Okehu (states the Levin Chronicle). The dog has only to be told the name of any cow wanted in a herd of twenty, and he will go out into the paddock and bring the right animal up to the stockyard Several testk have been made for the benefit of more or less incredulous visitors, but Jhe sagacious collie is never at fault

The poor old Everyday onion is no aristocrat in the vegetable world. At a/ luncheon club at Palmerston North. Mr H. N. Vivian (states the local Times) was addressing members on advertising, and mentioned that' in order to dispose of their apples Canadian growers had instituted the slogan “Ah apple a day keeps the doctor away.” *1 venture to say,” said Mr Vivian, “that if they!) ate an onion a day they would keep everybody away.” .

The fox trot is having an influence on our feet, says a writer in an English paper . Tjjte influence of the ferif. trot on the appearance of women’s feet is more noticeable every day, even with the gradually lengthening skirt. Anyone who has seen them express the opinioif that the' young women are Walking as if-about to dance. They put their feet down with with sliding motion of the favourite step, anti have lost the tapping movement that was the smart walk in qirtek waltz days. Feet "seem to have lengthened and grown mote pointed to suit the new dances.

“The greatest asset to any man,”' said Mr .T, G. List, in . an address to commerce 1 students at New Plymouth,, is not the extent of his bank balance or other material -possessions, but his character. If men in business are of high principle- their character will be reflected in their towns, in which the public, especially the outside public, will come to have confidence, ■ and rcr spect. There is nothing as penetrating as character good or ill. A few unprincipled men can give a whole town a bad name, from which it may take years to recover.

An opportunity, of seeing the largest and heaviest pig on earth Will be' given at the (Timam Show. It is a monstrous animal (says the Herald), heavier than the huge pig shown ait the London Exhibition, and whidh was at the time the heaviest quadruped of its kind on. earth. The p|ig is 1058 lbs in weight, Bft Bin long, 3ft 9in high, and ©ft 9in in girth. It is the property of Mr J. Gardiner, an enterprising New Zealander, who has been persuaded; to exhibit the animal for the first time at the Timaru A. arid P. Show. This huge freak of nature is only two years old, and /is still growing.

An American senator who has an excellent opinion of himself recently received an apt rebuke. It was stated that this celebrity could make an excellent cup of coffee., An epicurean gentleman wrote to <him courteously asking for the reccipe. The request was granted, but at the end of the epistle appeared the following piece of superb self-conceit: “I trust this is a genuine request, and not an artful method of obtaining rny autograph.” To which the receipient replied: “Accept my thanks for the receipe for coffee. I wrote in good faith, and 1o convince you of the fact, allow me to return what it is obvious you infinitely prize, but is of no value to me—your autograph.” One. or two remarkable instances of strange places in which birds will build their nests apd rear their, young are told by Mr Johanes Andersen. One relates to the guard's, van of a train running to and from Ash-, burton. A sparrow constructed its dwelling on a ledge in a corner, laid its eggs and sat there day by day, making the journey to and fro daily. After the young had been hatched a day or two the parent left the youngsters to take the train journey by themselves, but came to feed them directly -Hie train returned to Ashburton. jln one instance in England a. bird acutally constructed its nest bev tween the points of the rails on a main line railway, laid -its. eggs and hatched its young in spite of the fact, that (rains were , constantly passing over the spot only an inch or two from the nest. -;. ••■•:.■ : • i . • The races between Beabford and Gloaming recall to an Australian paper a great match which ocdurrdd on the American Pacific Coast overGO years ago; in which an Australian horse took part. The stake was for 10,000 head of cattle, at That time, worth approximately £40,000. On the day of the race the side bet’ was' increased by £IO,OOO. A '.wealthy Spanish fancier had challenged the best horse in the world to meet his flyer, Sepulueda, The challenge remained unanswered for a year. Then two farmers, having searched America for a horse capable of extending Sepulueda, despatched a, commissioner t# Australia. He returned, with Black Swan, whose speed had. him success after success in this country. At last the race took place, and it was a true test qf staying, for the distance was ten miles. After the horses had travelled a little over five miles Black Swan was given his head, ant) won. by i()0 yards: easing dp. The ’ UV6 farmers with the addition of small bdts, about £00;* 000. /

Each season considerable numbersof good dairy stock leave Taranaki for other parts. During the past few weeks Mr F. Mills (of Hawera), the well-known Ayrshire breeder, has sent away several consignments, in-' eluding a young bull to Mr B. Marshall, of Huneiman, South Auckland, who was a prominent Ayrshire breeder in Scotland..

Nothing definite .seems to be to hand in regard to Mr It. F. Bollard’s (the sitting member . for Itaglan) opponents at I lie forthcoming election. It is stated, however, that Mr W. A. Thompson, of Orini, who contested the scat in Hie Liberal interests, at the election before last, has been approached by Mr Will’ord to stand; but whether or not tie has consented is not known. II is also problematical as to whether the Labour party intends, .to offer a Contest in this electorate.

At, one of the Auckland schools recently u class was being exercised informing nouns from verbs, together with examples of words having /opposite meanings. One of the hoys was asked to give an example from, the verb “accept." Without any hesitation the youngster replied: “Verb, accept: noon, acceptances; opposite, nominations.” It was easy to- see what was running in his mind, but his last example should surely, have been “scratchings,” though the master probably expected “refusals.” *-

Bather .pathetic “personal” notices taken from a recent Auckland newspaper: “.lean. —Getting married October 7; don't write; shall never forget you. —Gordon/” The next is not quite so pitiful, more illustrative perhaps of the old proverb, while there's life there's hope: “If you only knew how I long to prove that I have not changed. This cannot be good-bye. Do please write. Boy.” Despite the apparent forlornness of “Gordon” and “Boy,” Hie northern metropolis apparently continues on the even tenor of its way.

During an informal discussion a few days ago/ by members of a drainage board the talk turned upon the subject, of septic tanks for private residences. / The opinion was advanced that frequently when disinfectants are used in the water, I lie bacteria in the : • septic tanks is killed. This statemein brought forth the reply that an effective remedy was to pul in the tank a piece of. bullock’s liver, which had a prompt effect, for it caused a fresh and vigorous crop ; of bacteria which carried on the good, work effete- * lively. The remedy does not seem to be generally known, and though we have no personal knowledge we can refer anyone interested to gentlemen who have had actual experience!

The General Manager of Railways (Mr R. W. McVilly) addressed a •meeting of. farmers at Tai/hape recently, when he was asked a number of questions relating to freights on farm produce In replyto a question why the freight on a truck of timber was £7 less than than on a truck, of wool, he said that a low rate hadbeen allowed on timber many years ago with the object of preventing farmers burning /off the valuable timber and encouraging them to rail it to ports. They alsq had t$ consider the value of wool as compared! with the value of timber, neither of which would be worth very much if they could not get railage to the ports, Creani was also being carried at a .nominal rate, which dsd not pay If there was a uniform freight rate’ for all classes qf goods there would then be some goods which could not be railed. JHe pointed. out that increases in the rates since 19J4 were only 33 1-3 per cent, which was the lowest fate of increase in the world. Apart from the humanitarian aspect, everyone must recognise that the native-born population was the Dominion’s best asset (said Dr. Trilby King the other evening). At -least they would be if well looked after, and thOy were well worth looking ' after if only from the. pecuniary point, of view. They Were the future taxpayers. Indeed, all the national debts were handed over. to the babies. Statesmen and statisticians agreed, that \ the value to the Slate, of young adults' in early maturity averaged from £SOO to £IOO each. Assuming that. 25,000 would survive out of the 300,000 expected .arrivals in the next ten years, the value of the “crop” to New Zealand would be between £125,000 and £250,000,000 on the figures he had given: * If neglected, large numbers of these beings would become ii.vefy serious/ charge to the State. He pltic-, ed great emphasis on the importance of the daily cold hath, especially for boys and girls, followed-by active feXr ercise, and - the .necessity for reform . in the direction of avoiding Hie taking of foods between meals, especially Sweets, and the adoption of simpler and more- invigorating food, such as wholcrheal bread, fresh fruit, and raw green vegetables. , ' “Why a dock?” asks a legal cor-v respondent of a London paper, apropos ■'bf the-circumstance that, owing- - to the equipment of the new Justices’ Court at Hie Guildhall being incomplete. and lacking a dock, Gerald.. Lee- - Sevan, charged with swindles in eon-*-neolion with an insurance-• company, • sal throughout the preliminary prof - ceedings of his trial in an upholstered chdir. In bygone days aIL prisoners appeared in the dock loaded- with chains and fetters, the dock itself be?ing guarded by iron bars and spikes. The .chains and fetters and spikes have disappeared, hut a man charged with an offence lias still h> “stand in the dock,” unless special'/ permission isgiven him to sit, on account of age or /ill-health or the length of the. trials “How any one who stands his Uial in such a disparaging situation can ever be acquitted remains,” declares this legal writer,-‘.‘pile of the justifications of thO jurpr,” and he adds that the • Engflsh principle that a man is ipno-G----ccnt iint.il he, is proved, gUiltV : pfton been seyerely shakknjby. thh’ fde-: bidding appearance, of'the prifedner ii* •'* tlic . dock,” \\bo .is ..ih()e^4.,pi , 'esuifiiced from the outset xiot' by he is on trial as by his ppsitioh^tlu i r~‘ ing the proceedings. . Afncrictaf ’lias.; abandoned the ..dock, for a 'chat?, 'tancT' •we are assured that many legal titioners would, approve o/t a siffirlar .reform being instituted in ElngkindV’ Iff any case, \yhy should New .Zealand wdit for England, ,t,9' set her ample. "., . .. ,/,"

|A few days ago the New Zealand Inoperative Dairy Company received I cablegram from its London rnanaIr, Mr J. B; Wright, requesting it to lip as early as possible 250 tons of lied milk powder to Hamburg. Ger[any. It Las' eonie as quite a surlise to many persons to hear that Lrmanv will possibly become a purliaser *of New Zealand dried milk bwder. (A number ' of Auckland bowlers Lho visited Buckland on Wednesday pr tjibe opening of the bowling reenthere were impressed with the esirability of the pretty little townhip as a residential spot_ The Many charming homes and 'freedom bfem heavy rates, combined wj.th asy ,-fccess to Auckland and the defehts of a country life appealed to |fny. Brhere were 84,899 (farms in ■Tw Zealand when the statistics B-e compiled this year. In 1921 Bre were 84,076 holdings. The most Ceworthy feature of the 1922 figBs is the increased area occupied W small holdings. {(The number of from 51 to 100 acres leased by 365 during the year, Ffiile holdings of 101 to 200 acres by 214.