THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1919. LOCAL AND GENERAL

Otaki Mail, 8 January 1919, Page 2

THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1919. LOCAL AND GENERAL

The monthly meeting of the "Otaki ' Fire Brigade will be held to-night i (Wednesday). \ . The monthly meeting of the Hero- j whenua County Council will be iheld on Saturday next at Levin. | The quarterly meeting of officials ia • connection with the Otaki Methodist circuit will bo held at Manakau this (Wednesday) evefting. ■ During December 9 births, 2 deaths, ; and lone marriage wore registered in-' Poxtim, while for the year there were 98 births, 33 deaths,' aHd 15 marriages. ; Ponton'a rainfall-for 1918 totalled, 38.30 inches, .the heaviest annual fall . for some, years. Tlho rainfall for the , month of December was -1.82 inches. ■■ It is officially announced that a, reduction of from 25 to 30 per cent in ocean freight charges from the United States to South America, Asia, Japan, Australia, and Africa has been arranged. The- Now Zealand No. 1 General Hos--1 pital at Brockcuhurst is to bo closed at i the end of January, Hornchu'rcih ut the end of February, the- No. 3 Hospital at Codford in April, and No. 2 at Walton, in May. .. The attention of farmers is called to the series of meetings to be held by Mr - Tancred Cooper, organiser of the Manawatu sub-provincial district of the N.Z. Farmers' Union." Mr Cooper will address tho farmers at Levin on Saturday next, 11th inst.; Otaki, Monday next; Te Horo, Tuesday; Manakan, Wednesday, 17th; Ohau, Friday, 24th. Benzine is evidently very plentiful in the Wairarapa. It is stated that at a recent garden party more than one tin of the spirit was poured into a creekaud a match applied for illumination purposes. We on this coast have difficulty in getting benzine for essential purpose*. The roads throughout the South Wairarapa at tho present time are probably the worst in tho North Island, which is saying a lot. They are practically full of deep holes, and cars, in consequence, have to travel at a snail's pace. The local bodies should certainly bestir themselves, and attond a little to the. comforts of the travelling public. Reports as to the deaths of soldiers at Featherston from influenza during the recent epidemic have been grossly exaggerated. A representative of this paper was shown certain papers, etc., at Featherston, whereby it was conclusively proved that only about 150 soldiers died at the camp from influenza, while with less than fifty who died : from other causes, the total is under 200. It is gratifying to know also that several of the graves are .tended by residems of Featherston and the school children, and that a large,, suitable monument has been erected is honour of the dead, ... The recent enforced holidays has-<? been put to good use by some children in the Ashburton County, says the local paper- At a meeting of the County Council one member said a lad brought him 2000 eggs to count, and bad to travel about 20 miles from bis home to collect the money. A girl had a tally of 1300. but in her case the councillor told her the money would be sent to her through tho post direct from the county office. "Please, sir. will yoa keep the money here till I call for it? Mnm might get ihe letter, and I might not get the money,"' replied tho girl. And the councillor agreed to be a party to the bargain. The "Bangixikei Advocate" says:— "Women have played a very important part in carrying on different pursuits through lack of male labour on account of the*men- being at tho front, but droving has not claimed many aspirants, and a 3no piece of work by Mr and Mrs Amos Phippen, of Marion, ia worth recording. Quite recently Mr Phippen was unable to obtEin assistance to drive a mob of sheep, and Mrs Phippen filled the breach by "offering her services, which were accepted. They started from Lake Alice with a mob of 2020 two-tooth shorn wethers with three dogs, were six days on the road, and landed the full count at Mr Chas. Wilson's run, a distance of fifty miles, •vrithont a casualty." The shearing record of 339 sheep in nice couri crhich ■= as established by W. Vclla at a 3"&ihape district farm last year, was rfc,varded as. a. phenomenal performance not likely to lie equalled ■ ■ (says the Taihape cOKtsr.oadotit of the "Bangitikei Advocate";. "This season jiSSj however, seen the fesaid ■ ' pliy increases, again. At Mr shea,. at Offi&Une a ': B. B. Totma* . *** c . w I few days ago "W. V ella - *"*■ •- <u; { - record of last season by shearing " _ « t sheer, in nine hours. His board mate* j were J. Qu&snaa ssd J. Helena, whos* | respective tallies were d Trl* The new record waa «3tablisfce? W** ,-, the suoervisioa of the station ma^S' 1 1 bv wßom the time, was taken and* j j ikfr dusefceO. A few seasons b.ac* - - tally of more thas S7O. si«® *? T. d l bouß would have escited cOi£?^ r » - - | { anything higher than .« .bee a «gar3ed ***?%s£**>*& Telia's txiajd «stes on U eaefa shore.more than '^.•^, B J^ s - : .iietli }' nine ne-ara, and in S^P j ß *„2.- «&•«)» i 3 performances to their ed *f: jj ottfS by , * ga ta tally of »« » "SSSU V three fearers will tare =. ~ ing.' 1 _-'.-.• ■■'•■''"*.'■:' -"' ~*""~ '

On Monday last Cabinet considered tho arrangement of details connected ,with the wheat purchase. It ik understood there is no'material.change in the ' proposals made a few weeks agol That ' was 6s GA per bushel for all good, mill- •' ing grades of wheat. '" |. ; The Premiers of British Columbia, ' Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba have agreed upon a plan_to secure the transfer of tho natural resources and school lands held by the Dominion to . the provinces. The school fund derived from the sale of lands amounts to 11,600,000 dollars. There are . 7,270,000 acres of unsold lauds, of ! which 3,000,000 arc estimated to bo . worth 40,000,000 dollars. I The Mount Hector track on both sides j of the Tararuas is said to be in a disgraceful condition at present, and frej quent complaints are made of the dila--1 toriness of the responsible committees. i The road on the Wairarapa side, once well defined, is almost now on a par I with the neglected track on the Otaki , ! side. Seeing that a number of tourists , have attempted the journey across the ; • ranges it behoves the committees to get i busy. J A long spell of dry weather, ang- , i mented by great heat in the past fort--1 night, ia telling severely in many parts of tho Commonwealth, and is causing anxiety. The .scarcity of feed and ] j wi'ter is pressing hard on agriculturists ' ' and stock owners. Sonic townships are j suffering a water famine. Bush tires, (and rabbits driven out of the back country by the drought, arc causing ■ widespread damage. A severe heat i wavo is being experienced. The' ther- • momctcr touched 100 degrees in Melbourne. r . A well-attended meeting was held at Shannon last week for the purpose of ' endeavouring to form a swimming pool for the use of the Shannon public. C'r. L". J- Spencer occupied the chair. A strong committee was set up for the i purpose of furthering this object, and c it. was resolved" to secure a portion of ' the Otara .stream. It was decided to • use tho pool for mixed bathing. A com- ■ lnitteo consisting of Messrs Hillicr, Bandeli, Spencer, Hook, aud Laurvig > were elected to wait on the Borough "' Council and ask for their assistance in this matter. Wellington was gay with bunting on Monday, when the members, of the French Mission were accorded a most ' ' hearty official welcome at the Wellington Town Hall, which was packed for the occasion by a most enthusiastic { audience. Speeches of welcome were extended the visitors by the Mayor of " Wellington and the Acting-Premier, and 7 G-eneral Pan made a tine speech in reply. 1 The function was marked by the great- '" est enthusiasm. Three..swimmers had a very narrow r escape from drowning at Titabi Bay , i on Monday. They were out bathing, .1 and were making for shore when a par- _ ( ticularly strong under-current caught , them. The bathers were being .swept '. steadily out to sea. when a taxi-driver. J. Nixon, launched ' a rowing boat single-handed, without rowlocks?, and with one oar. After a smart piece of manoeuvring, Nixon reached the .swimmers and brought them safely to shore. '. An eyewitness highly praises Nixon's work. c i The Minister in charge fli Imperial " supplies has been advised that 'lie 1 equalisation of a scheme tor the di-s- ---' tribution of profits on Hale of New Zea- " land butter in England, from last sea-' son's shipments, has now been agreed i on. The Impwiai Supplies Department i is ur.lcrtaking the distribution, which [ will be made with as ■ little delay as • possible. The amount lo be paid over by the Imperial Government will allow , for the payment of 17$ -per cent, on ; , butter purchased, which, added to the ■ purchase price of 1575, at which the ■ .butter was shipped, makes a total price \ ■ of The exportable surplus of bnt- j . ter from Zealand for the present season has been purchased at 181 s. An Australian report tays that Hfiyfive transports will arrive in Australia between January and April. The majority of ihe transports will be steamers which have formerly visited Australia, representing units of the White Star, Blue Funnel, Commonwealth and Dominion. Aberdeen, Federal, and other, lines, and also vessels belonging to companies which have no regular conuex. ion there, such as the Union Castle, About thirty former cargo vessels, averaging 5000 tons deadweight each, the majority of which arc- British standard ships] are also included in the total referred to. Practically the whole of the vessels will proceed fo Australia in ballast for the purpose of loading wheat for Eastern Meditcrranea? ports and elsewhere. In addition to the list mentioned twelve other j steamers, unit* of the Common wealth AuFtral fleet and enemy requisition, will be trading regularly between the United Kingdom and AustraliaArrangements are now being made for the repatriation of Germans: who V have been held ia tee internment in New Zealand during tne was: peSia. j ■ {About a hundred of the.-.- y'-n W£-;toV. •leave the Dominion fjr.''"i3;; United J ! Kingdom, en. route toti?" nativefeoaa- ' | trr. in the near A guard has « I Eirea4y been choj*' D - The prisoners who * J iro tajte rM^ trlste( ? delude the naval i i'i>fgfi«-" ■ ' d H ' ea * prisoners of i '- ~>, . Ji.''? civilian internees who e - .*-;■-,-: S TCri.W be allowed to ~ ta ' V6 - . . thtit own connirr EKictiv- » return - . • . „„«* -' "C« berdans sow m the , ffoxe His aph™™* *f sot J c fciowEejratr-'- di i&- egasfS, aliens | who wei<: i_ n ''3.sine*s before, the srar \ j. iiaye no wP s t° Kinm to their 6bt. K country- so*" - ! - *" a^e w be decidedly ;a£ i-h* J?ezi'- Cmietetne. 'Phe gnarfffji •hes-betr. ■*?&..?.;'•'" ftomamong the return- ji- ; '©a .soldiets a fcttiye; iscrv-ice .experi-1,; , enee- Each 'i'---riet was allowed to snp-1 1 j ply .a of .the men, -and jfijpMsaticns -e.re .in ex- I.j ( c"es3 pi tV re aaiTeEeii«. The men j t ietosek.-w.6ir*: 'Quired lo 1..c-fi.t, aoia'to|<;

The annual conference of tho Waterside Workers' Federation opened at Lyttelton yesterday, delegates being present from all parts of New Zealand.

Last "year there were registered ,at Fcilding 245-births, 85; deaths, and 43 marriages. Tho influenza epidemic made no appreciable difference to the death roll. : "', " Gordon Henderson, - aged thirty, was found dead in bed yesterday morning at Onehunga. He had been gassed at the front, and suffered from influenza after his return. Owing to the date arranged for the next. Otaki stock sale (15th inst.) being the date of the A. and P. Show at Levin, the sale will be held on Monday, ; 13th inst. Messrs Da]gcty and Co. advertise entries; for tho 1 sale. The' Director of Repatriation (Mr J. B. Samson) has concluded organising visits lo the Auckland, Christchurch. and Dunedin districts. The. question of the appointment of district" officers will be again considered by the Re- ' putriation Board at its next, meeting.' | A young girl appeared on remand at the Police Court this morning before MessrsVW. Tompsitt and Frank Bennett, J.P.'s, charged with the offence of opening fifteen postal packets at the Ohau post office. The police applied for a further remand, which was granted, (bail in £SO (accused) and another .of £SO. The "Waugauui Chronicle" rises to explain:—"The- correct pronunciation of General Pail's name has considerably exercised the minds of a good many j people. As a matter of fact it is I neither 'Paw'- nor 'Pow, '■ and it is ' pronounced exactly the same as the J name of a well-known river in the north i of Italy.''. : The Transport. Epidemic Committee, set up by tho House of Representatives to inquire info the epidemic which broke out on tho transport conveying the ' loth Reinforcements to the Old Country, has submitted an interim report to Sir James Allen (Acting-Prime" Minister and Minister for Defence). Briefly the report is to the effect that . everything possible had been done for the soldiers. A German helmet, captured by Private Keats (sou of Sir Keats, of Jiannkau), is on exhibition Mr Andrew's shop window at Manakaui and is attarcting considerable at tent ion. The helmet is a steel one, painted in brown, green and black, as A camouflage, and is a well-finished article, calculated to afford excellent protection in warfare.

All racing clubs have been advised '"' that tho statutory number of racing ''* days will be restored during the racing year, commencing on Ist August, 1019, v -unless there should be any alteration ~ in consequence of fresh legislation. ', There is a possibility that on tho dc- " duration of peace there may be inunelf diatc restitution of the days of racing lt hitherto allotted to clubs Let ween such r date and the end of the racing year. f "One of our prisoner* who recently (i arrived from Germany.'' writes the '' High Commissioner from London, '" "called the other day and slated that '• ho had sent me a paper containing a full. s page devoted to the,British overseas y possessions. In large type there was tut j account, of how Mr Masscy, Sir Joseph • Ward, and Sir Thomas Mackenzie were receiving heavy bribes i:t order to keep the war going for the benefit of New Zcaland trade." 1 Judging from the comments fretfucntf ly heard in Wellington, the employment. 1 I of women in the Post and Telegraph s service is a failure (remark's the " Wair rarupa Daily Times"). Some of the '" counter girls are really quite annoyed 1 when a mere man comes along and dis- ; turbs their discussion of the latest model hats or the coming fashions in : i dresses, or dares to suggest that they' • 1 have overcharged. As for the telephone \ | girls--—well, profanity is on the increase j iu Wellington. The amount of money invested by 1 j racegoers through the totalisator at " the Ellerslk and Alexandra Park courses. Auckland, during the seven days' carnival, ended last Saturday, ! showed an,,increase of £39,459 10s, as | ' compared with the corresponding meet- i "•■ ings in the 191*5-37 holiday .sea-son, the j ' last occasion on which the carnival ex- j • tended over seven days. The total • amount invested on thw occasion was j ' £369,521. Tise tax paid to. the .State out j • of this sum amounted to £17,53" Ss. j Fruit prices'ia London when the last j mail left were more astounding than the local rates. For instance, Cox's Orange Pippin apple* were quoted at Is f/d tO-2« *?ach. Blenheim Oreuge at 10d to Is 3d, and King's Pippin sit Od to Js 3d each. Pear* rangc«] f:.---,n< iN <sd to 3s a X'icce, pea'-he." /roj.t '2- i'lds lemons from 5d t ; j ''.'. caeh.:oranges s<l to <M each. p£per from J. M to li'sper lb; bef*.v---T- vfeu 24 to 3d each, rnush- '" r " ' Ai '■'' r -~- PM lb, and melons j 'to 7s m es..j&.< ■0 IK,-; i-aiiK.-ay Department t has never i tea vi short of coal azjf. is to-day. ; j The hold-up of Kteamers at Newcaitle has cut off many .thousands of tons, ! which the Department had hoped to re- : ceivc- daring the past two moil tfe. At ' the same time the New Zealand output ■ has been far below norraal' br-rcason of - <ce stoppag,.' of 'Operations dnriajj the 1 j epidemje for atH>nt three tree>:», oarJ * J •;>;»-• Cliiiiticas holidays for about a fort- 5 : night. It is expected that unless the » ««<al supply Improves quickly thfi De- - pJTiriierjt will be obliged fo.'maJce ttisxs- * ciits is the trails services. Caledonian ar«- to be revived in Welli.rigton. the Seottish Society haviag derided to huld tt gathering nejt Kew Year% Day. "Long-agii ''{here r< w&~ a fiouriiliing - Caledonian■ t. ■So<:ie«y-in Wellington, and ihe.sporis r: 'which it carried out on the Es.«ia"Ke- 1 : serVe on the first day of each y*»r « |w*?re most sneyKslttL Big- prize-mooey C j was griven -&nA coiEpetitor» were at- j y. I trac-ted from all part* of :.t he pomiszon. \ n < On. one occasion over IQ/fifir- vcQ?£\t? yareaent.— "'SZ. Time!.'?' ... ~i

The Otaki Town Board gives notice that an iruetioneer's license has been issued to Mr Francis Frederick Shalders (J«.Z. Loan and Mercantile). Elsewhere Mr C. Kilsby returns thanks to those who voted for hirn at yesterday's Town Board election, and states that on some future occasion he will again offer his services in the interests of the progress of tho town. A Maste.rt&n soldier, writing to his parents by the last "mail; says he understands that, tho doctors have declared that, nine-tenths of tho members of the 40th Koinforceinents who were down with influenza have been left with a permanent injury to the lungs. A /meeting of farmers at Aokautere was addressed by Mr Tancred Cooper, official organiser of the Farmer's Union Sub-Provincial Scheme, Mr F. Danvcrs presiding. There was a good muster, and at the close of the address every man in the room joined the Union, and i! was decidod to form a branch at Aokautere. Votes of thanks were passed to Mr Cooper and the chairman. Forty passengers made a flight over Londoil in the latest type of HundleyPage, biplane early in November. The machine- Hew over Ilcndon to St. Paneras, and, after following the course of the Thames for. a time, travelled over the West .End and Buckingham Palace at a height of. about tioOOfr. The return journey was made over Fdgewaro Koad to Hondo's, and thence to the aerodrome. The passengers -included Id ladies. The "record" number of passengers carried by an aeroplane flying over London .until this flight was 30, this number having been carried in a. llandley-Page machine in the summer of 191(i.