LOCAL AND GENERAL

Horowhenua Chronicle, 6 January 1915, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A competent authority estimates tliat at the present rate of progress Taranaki will be exporting next season 33,000 ton> of dairy produce. Employment for Wellington women and girls is being found m the fruitgrowing districts of Nelson by the Department of ILabor. The women's branch of the department reports that a demand has Get in for fruit-pickers. Those wanted at present will be employed in the raspberry gardens. The department in Wellington (saye the Dominion) has had a number of applicants, »nd a dozen have already been Selected for the work. There are still some more vacancies. During Tits (in Auckland the Prime Minister of Australia, the Rt. Hon. Andrew Fieher, discussed with :, Mr Massey the matter of naval defence. The question of reciprocity in tariff and other matters has also 'been under consideration. Asked on Saturday as to whether there was anything to disclose as a result of the exchange of views Mr Massey stated that for the present it had been mutually arranged that the conversations enould be regarded as confidential. A well-known, Palmerston firm have received 'an interesting letter from Swift ami Co., Ltd., Sydney, the Australasian agents for "Charles Heidsieck Champagne." The letter states that their principal, Mr Charles Heidsieck writing from Rheims on November 7th says:— "The enemy were, still strongly entrenched on the surrounding hills and continued \xt bombard the city at intervals, and in fact the shells were exploding while he was writing. All the able-bodied men being at front *lio grapes were gathered by the old men, women and children, and this was done under hazardous icdrcuinstanoes, they being right in the tiring line. Although the quantity of the. wine made was comparatively small the quality was very good, and the 'Vintage. 1914' will have a singular historic interest attached to it, inasmuch as it took place in the midst of a battle."—Manawatiii Times.

Vidtorta's .pricket team defeated South Australia in their match for the Shield by 247 runs.

Haymaking is now in lull swing in this district.

A valuable horse belonging to Mr W. H. Field, M. I'.,—a handsome -wellknown gelding, of 5-years, by Young Torpedo, was the other day shot, while running on Mr field's farm at. Waikanae Whether the deed was done wilfully or accidentally is not known.

Of the 431,704 tons or moat sold at the Smithfiokl (England) market last year not more than one-fourth was produced in Great Britain.

The largest estate sworn for probite duty last month was that of the late Alexander Duncan Mcllwraith, of Canterbury. It was put down at £71,695.

A Melbourne cable states that six men salving a wrecked steamer on the Ninety-mile Beach had an exciting experience. The rough weather washed their food and water overboard and from Wednesday to Friday they were washed by the waves breaking over, and had nothing to eat or drink. Then the steamer broke up and all drifted ashore after a terrifict struggle, badly bruised and moro dead than alive from exposure. Provisions for the granting of 31 extra racing permits was made under the Gaming Amendment Act passed last session, and the £ime for the application for these has now expired. The permits are allocated as follow:—Racing cluds 15, trotting clubs 8, hunt clubs B—total 31; whereas the following application havo been received by the Hon. H. D. Bell (Minister of Internal Affairs): Racing clubs 56, trotting clubs 12, hunt clubs 19—total 87. A commission, consisting of Mr T. H. Davey, ex-M. P. for Ohristohurch East., and Mr G. Hunter M. P. for Waipawa,. was recenllty set up to deal with the applications, and will sit early this month to decide the apportionment of the permits.

Reports to hand by the ivlaitai, which arrived in Wellington from San Francisco via Papeete on Saturday, show that the Frenchmen in Tahiti are taking the German bombardment of their capital quite philosophically. Papeete is being rapidly rebuilt; tin- rubbish caused by the bombardment has all been swept away, and new stores and business places are arising out of v.lie ashes of the old. It will not be long before nothing but shot holes and bits of buildings chipped off will remain to mark the bombardment. In the meantime business is being carried on as usual, and trade is on the whole very satisfactory.

Marten lias been selected las the centre for the third annual conference ■for the Presbyterian. Sunday school teachers of the dominion, which will bo held at Easter.

Scotland has done well in the matter of recruiting. Some of her methods are novel. A special recruiting car, tastefully decorated with the flags of the Allies, and bearing in front the words, "To Berlin, via France," is running over the various tramway routes in Edinburgh. On the top of the car is a piper, and on the footboard a recruit-sergeant,-and yoivng men who wish to join the army are asked to "jump on.

As the German fleet persists in refusing to accept our sailors' invitation to put to sea and "have it out," an impatient retired'naval officer asks whether we are to wait for a severe frost iii order that the German warships shall be captured by cavalry. The Dutch fleet was so captured in the Texel in 1794 by French hussars belonging to the army of General Picherr.

A London correspondent wrote on November 13 :—The first important arrival of New Zealand butter is just landed—ls,o9B boxes ex Remuera—but i + is receiving scant attention at 12tis to 128« for finest salted. It may be necessary to accept lower prices for a time. It may be necessary, also, in the case of Australian butter, to make some reduction to stimulate the <lemand while the competition of Continental continues. It is reported that the Remuera's cargo of butter is very satisfactory. There is no New Zealand cheese yet available, but the prospects are good. High prices have been paid for outputs for the season.

There is every prospect of a great shortage of local-grown truit on the West Coast this season. Speaking to a Greymouth Star representative, a local grower said that his crop, wo ild be at least 60 per cent less than it /as last year. The season opened very favourably, and there appeared to be every chance of a record crop, but unfortunately severe .wind 1 and hailstorms were experienced just at the critical period, with the result that the crop is practically a failure. For instance, from a tree from which last season he gathered nine cases of apples, he would not get one case this year, while several of his trees were entirely devoid of fruit. Thye continued wet weather also greatly hampered' and militated against successful spraying. Reports received from the Grey Valley indicate that a similar state of affairs exists in that locality.

Over a million dollars was given to the heathen by people of this country last year for the purpose of lift : ag them out of savagery. What a pity it wasn't sent to Europe.—.St Louis Republic.

It is understood that a petition to the Governor is being signed in Samoa asking for the remission of the sentence of five years' imprisonment passed on F G. N. Gaudin, for "war treason." A Press Association telegram says the sentence is regarded in Auckland as severe, and there is some talk of an indignation meeting being held.

The Rt. Hon. Andrew Fisher, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, accompanied by his touring party left Auckland on Saturday afternoon en route to Rotorua, and thence to other centres of the The principal items of his North Island itinerary are as follows:—3rd, 4th and sth January at Rotorua; fith, leave for Taumarunui via Hamilton, visit Government Farm at Hamilton; 7th, Wanganui river; Bth arrive j*f*'\VeHingtin via Aramoho; Oth and-"10th. in Wellington; 11th, leave Welliugton in the evening for Lyttelton Mr Fisher leaves New Zealand for Sydney on 29th January. 1 n&ve jnst> recetvta a fresh stor' 1 : oi Liquid Paraffin, and as ihere is a very great demand for this article, I would advise customers to call as soon as possible for it, so as to avoid disappointment. F. O 'temington, (Jhemiat Lerin.