LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4530, 21 February 1923, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At last night’s Paeroa Chamber of Commerce meeting a resolution was passed requesting the Minister of Education to carry out the wishes of the parents of this district and establish ,a manual training school at the earliest opportunity. The N Z. Meat Producers’ Board (has received a cable from its London office advising the sale of North, Island lamb, on hooks Smithfield, at 13d per lb and down lambs at 14d per lb. The Premielr has promised to introduce legislation during the coming session which will, to a certain extent, relieve racing clubs of taxation. "We are under a ministerial ban, that’s what it is. Any place’ can get anything but this.” —Mr ,E. W. Porritt, at the Chamber of Commerce meeting last, evening. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr T. M. Willord) has asked for the preparation of legislation for the establishment of a State bank and agricultural bank. “We have a vacant section arid a vacant outlook on the part> of the people as regards technical education.” —Thus Mr D. Leach, a’t last night’s Paeroa Chamber of Commerce meeting. , $ The results of the weight-guessing competitions at the Hauraki Plains Show were: The weight of the ox was 7221 b, and the nearest guesses were those of J. Whitmore (Ngatea) 7151 b and H. Smyth (Waitakere) 7101 b. The sheep scaled 1611 b, and D. G. McMillan (161%lb) and W. H. Mpselen (160%) tied flor first, place. There was some very close guessing for the pig. Mr J. Sim. of Waitakaruru, guessed the correct weight (115%lb). Four others guessed 1151 b and one each 1161 b and 116%1b. Four of the butter factories operated by the N.Z. Co-operative Dairy Co, Ltd., put up a record for the month of January, having eVery box of butter sent forward by them for export graded superfine. The factories so concerned were Frankton No. 1, Waihou, Ngatea, and Otorohanga, and the total number of boxes' was 30,000. This is the first time that sb many factories have attained this record, and it is interesting to note that it is the third successive month that the Frankton No. 1 factory has put up this record.

The shortage of harvest labour is reported to have become more acute (says the “Ashubrton Guardian”)The genera] rate of wages' for the county has been Is 6d per hour and found, but the keen demand’ for harvesters has induced many farmers to increase the figure to Is 9d per: hour. “On one farm alone there are now five families instead of one,” said Mr R. Masters, M.P., at the Taranaki Education Board meeting, when giving the reason for the increased attendance at the Ackland school (states an exchange). The land in the vicinity of the school had' been cut up into smaller holdings ,he said, and in his opinion, if ever a school warranted additions the Ackland school did. Risks that, markers run was a subject for discussion at the annual meeting of tlie Wanganui Miniature Rifle Association, Held this week, and it was stated (reports the Palmerston “Standard”) that, although different insurance companies were approached, none was inclined to accept, a miniature range marker as a risk. It was said, however, that in the evtent of a mishap the marker —or his relatives—could have legal redress against tlie person who fired the shot. The steady flow of sheep from tlie coastal districts to the Waikato continues, says the “Rotorua Chronicle.” Last fortnight, over 18,000 pasted through Ngongortaha. A couple of big mobs are moving through the district now. The situation has its humours. The stock route is abso,lutely “eaten out,” and the inquisitiveness of a hungry sheep passes that of a woman. The farmers who have land adjoining the road' are on guard at all hours, and the sheep ai e 'equally watchful for a loese or slack wire. The honours have been so far with t’he sheep, but the restriction is growing tighter. The stocking of new high country above tlie great Waikato basin is responsible for the bulk of the movement. ..

At last night’s Paeroa Chamber of Commerce meeting Mr. E. W. Porritt referred to the necessity for having proper theatre accommodation in Paeroa. At present all the decent companies were .leaving Paeroa outHe suggested that this question might be considered at a later meeting. The president said there was no doubt that a theatre would be a big attraction. Mr Loach said it. would be a good proposition for the Borough Council if it had .faith in the town. “But,” he said, “we lack the courage.” According to the Minister of Customs the censor of books is “very alert.” Just so—an active brain. A report states that, owing tp the drought in Argentinfe and a considerable shortage in the United States, the London butter market shows no sign of weakness. The -Prime Minister (has stated that the report of the commission on soldiers’ pensions would be laid on the table of the House of Representatives., He was not yet able to say whether it would be tabled this session or next. Legislation would be needed before the report could fie given effect to. • When speaking on the State Housing Scheme’the Premier (Hon. W. F. Massey) indicated that the amount of loans would be increased,, and the term of repayment, would be extended so as to reduce the weekly payment. There would, he said, be' no difficulty about finding the money. A reduction in the price of cement in New Zealand is to take place as from. March 1. The present price, £6 6s per ton, will be lowered to £5 17s, a decrease of 9s. This (says the Wnaganui ‘/Herald’’) will be lire fifth reduction in price since the peaa rates were charged. The highest price for cement ever reached in Auckland was £8 6s 6d. The following applications for building were received by the Borough Council during the month: Ohinemuri Jockey Club, 20 looseboxes ; Hayward 8r.05., repairs to shop and office, Normanby Road ; R. I. Roberts', additions to Hare Bros’, shen; AV. J. Simpson, erect washhouse. Kennedy Street ; W. Marshall, repairs to T. P. Vuglar’s house, Te Aroha Road ; R. I. Roberts, erection of AV. Barklay’s house, Wood Streqt, B. Greig, erect washhouse. Station Road. The last two applications were granted, and the remainder were passed subject to compliance with the by-laws. All classes of men volunteered their services to take the place of the seamen who recently refused work unde! the new. award. Amongst those who took on the seamen's jobs were some medical students. One of them, who has now returned to his studies, and who has relatives in Eltham (says the “Argus”) declares that he had' quite a good time. He had good food and sleeping accommodation, earned £22 a month, and did : not find his work at all exhausting. The captain o,f the steamer wishes that he could fill up his complement of hands witm men of the same quality as the medical students. What a pity the “Argus” couldn’t induce such a keen enthusiast to remain at sea.

The threepenny piece as a inedium for expressing appreciation—if it may be so termed —of anything that is being offered at entertainments where “a silver collection will be taken UP has increased to such, an extent that it has now become the bane of every promoter of free converts (remarks the Southland News). Were the concerts incomparable, were they redundant with all that is best, the threepenny bit would still prevail. At least, that, is the opinion of one wlellknown musical gentleman in this town who received at one concert what might probably be a. record collection of silver “bits” for. Inverdargill—soo I

Returned fishing folk from Lake Taupo report that great quantities of the small fish Kokopu are lying dead along the shores of the lake, and that on the lake they may be seen in an exhausted and dying condition on the surface or below it. The explanation, given by some fishermen is 1 (states the “Hawke’s Bay Herald”) that this is due to the pollen of the fern blown out on the lake by the gale's, for everywhere pollen is to be seen, floating on the surface or pollen is supposed to stick in the gills of the fish and prevent breathing. Trout are not affected, but. ate feeding in great quantifies on the dying or half-dead Kokopu, and are consequently not so keen on taking the fly. In the rivers, such as’ Taui;anga, Taupo, and Waitahanui, where the fern pollen is not present fly fishers obtain good catches.