LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 15 October 1913, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

™Tomorrowis Magistrate's Court day at Helensville. An Axemen's Carnival is to be held at Dargaville about a week before Christmas. Local and district orchards now present a pretty picture, being one mass of rich looking blossoms. Bowling enthusiasts are now enjoying their favourite pastime at the Parakai green, the sward being in fairly good condition. There is some talk of a crocquet lawn at Helensville south, as ladies interested consider the distance too far to go out to the lawn at the Parakai Domain. The Eegatta Club meeting convened for last Thursday evening was postponed until next Thursday, the attendance not being large enough to put through the business. A new type of reroplane, called the Zeppelin destroyer, is being built in France. It will be fast enough to overtake any Zeppelin. A movement is on foot at Whangarei to get rid of the restriction which lina~ its to 100 acres the area of Crown land that can be leased for oil prospecting. As soon as the Foresters' Hall is available the " Cinderella " entertainment now being prepared by the Pres» byterian church children will be definitely announced. "Money Avill be easier and more plentiful," said the chairman of directors at the annual meeting of shareholders of the W, F, n. A. in Masterion. " How I know, is a secret." he said, v but I may tell you that money is already easier." For the forthcoming Auckland Exhibition the Department of Agriculturo has a demonstration area of over half an aero, which has been divided into iSO plots, and will contain no fewer than 313 varieties of grasses, clovers, forage, plants, roots, and other specimens. New Zealand's apple export for the coming season is expected to be worth over £40,000 to the growers. Space has been booked for over 50,000 cases of apples to go to - South America alone. Most of these aprjles will, no doubt, come from tho Nelson district, but other fruit-growing localities will also participate. The improvements now boingeiieoted by Mr Uecroft at the Foresters' Hall will result in a well-equipped and commodious hall when completed. The accomodation will be improved in every respect, extra dressing rooms being added, the stage and liall enlarged and a new gaileiy provided. An increased distance between lloor and ceiling will bo a further improvement, whilst other desirable arrangements are also purt of the scheme. With reference to camp pay of civil servants, it has been decided for the future that it shall not be paid to any public officer, but that he will receive the lull amount of his salary in the ordinary course from his own Department. Any officer, howevor, whose salary for tho period is less than he would have received as camp pay, may bond in a claim to this Department for the difference. The district order concludes with the statement that it is not anticipated that there will be many such claims, The new fruit-case lecommended by the Agriculture Department for the carriage of fruit, and especially for the export of apples, differs considerably from that now in general use. It is much lighter,'for one thing, and is 11-} in. deep and 10 in. wide. It has the same^ capacity as the old box, but, owing to the lighter timber used, fruit packed in the new cases will give two more cases to the ton than the old stylo would uilow. This, of course, will mean a considerable saving to exporters and others. "If the Government places taxation on land by the price put on in these exchanges," commented his Honor the Chief Justice, at the Palmerston North Supreme Court on Friday morningl. '" then it must amount to a good deal." Mr Myers, who was examining, replied that the price Jancl fetched was often ridiculous and largely in excess of Government valuations, says tho Standard. One of the best informed cattlemen iv the North has ascribed the fall in stores to a pessimistic, outlook by prospective buyers of the future of this year as regards dry weather, combined with the fall in southern sales within the province. Had this seasdu followed a normal one instead of the extraordinary and .unusual drought of last year, there would probably have been little or no notice taken of the short spells of fine weather which has lately been experienced, but everyone 3eems to fear a repition of tho dry season, and pessimism in that direction is having its effect, not only en the markets, but in many cases on the operations on the | i rms. ]

Mr J. M, Scott, Photographer,1' has started in his profession at Helensville, and as is published in our advertising columns, will be pleased to undertake all classes oi work. District dairy farmers are referred to an advertisement of the A. and P. Association in reference to the champ, ion dairy cow class, judged on milk test, which is held in connection with the forthcoming showIt is a matter for regret that owing partly to the epidemic and partly to altered school arrangements, it was found impracticable to carry out the School Competitions last quarter. However, Mr Lambourne has signify ed his willingness to act as judge if the papers are sent in by the middle of ISovember ; and arrangements are now well forward for this purpose. The subjects will be the same as last year, viz :—"Writing, Drawing and an Essay ; the papers to be set by Mr' H. GK Cousins, Head-Master of the Normal School. The banner is at present held by Helensville School.