NEWS AND NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1923, Page 3

NEWS AND NOTES.

“I can't cook any dinner ; the police took my cook away this morning! ’ S„eli (stated the “\Yaimate Advertiser”) was the rather unusual reply made by a back-country hotelkeeper to a YYaituate man who telephoned on Friday morning to order luncheon for the party of Rangiora footballers who were being taken on a motor trip.

It is a. very difficult thing to induce hoys to take oil a trade.” stated a member of the Napier 1 cehnieal School Board. “A hoy nowadays will jump on a baker’s cart and be quite happy so long as he starts at £2 per week. They all live lor the dollars and the fact will have a serious effect oil trades.”

Ex-service men under treatment ioi tuberculosis who drink beer put on more weight and are apparently better in health than those who abstain, it was stated at a meeting of the SouthWest Middlesex. England. War Pensions Committee. The man. lectured kv an official for “taking ton much.” promised to keep sober, and did so tor a fortnight. He lost 12ih in weight (says the “Daily Express’’ report), and had to be plait’d again under treatment. It is interesting to note the prices of certain lines in Auckland 50 years ago, as against the rates ruling to-day (remarks the “Star”). . Smokers will learn with envy that (5!) years ago tobacco cost from Is 6(1 to Is 9d per lb., instead of 9il per ounce, the price tdiday. Brandy was quoted at ils per gallon, rum 11s, and gill 9s Oil. a low figure compared with the cost nowadays. Strange to say. whisky does not appear in the price list of 60 years ago. Flour was quoted at from £l2_to £l4 per ton, as compared with £l7 ss.', till ruling rate at the present, yet wheat was 8s per bushel, which is higher than even the ratio guaranteed by the Government to the farmers iu tho south during the war. Mutton was quoted at from (id to 9d per lb., and pork 3ld. Butter was Is Oil per lb., as against" Is 7d, to-day, and cheese Oil., as against Is 2d to Is 4(1. Fowls appear to have been cheap food 60 years ago. being quoted at Is (id per pair. Maize was a cheap lood lor poultry in Guise days, being only Is (id. per bushel, as against 5s to-day, while oats were 2s (>d., as compared with -Is 3d, now. Flax was quoted at £l2 per toil, about one-third less than to-day’s price, and kauri gum was £lO per ton, which is verv much below to-day’s values.