THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 1919. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Otaki Mail, 24 January 1919, Page 2

THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 1919. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Wellington .band of entertainers last week - visited 'Puckalcariki, androyally entertained the residents. The Levin Church of England Sunday School will hold its annual picnic at Packakariki on Wednesday next. At the sale of purebred Romneys at Master Inn yesterday nineteen Romneys . belonging to W.' Perry realised 32-15 guineas.

Several Otaki "sports” struck the "dividend of the day” at Poston on Wednesday, when La PuceJlc, ridden by W. McEwan, an cx-Otaki lad, paid a twr figure dividend.

Diputheria appears to have again broken out in the district (s; vs the "Unworn Star”), there being six patients in the Hawera Public Hospital. None of the cases are regarded as serious.

Mr .T. W. Gerard, formerly United States Ambassador to’Germany, in a speech, stated that the fittest punishment for the Kaiser .would not be death, but he should be escorted about the world end exhibited to the people.

At the motor cycle sports at Palmer ston on Wednesday, L. Maugham, tin Otaki champion rider, won the 15-nii’n heavy-weight championship of Nov. Zealand, covering the distance in Jin 30s. Maugham also gained third posi lion in the eight-mile open handicap.

The Levin Methodist Sunday .School picnic was held at the Century Halt, Levin, on Wednesday, when there was an excellent muster of pupils, teachers, and parents. It was intended to hold the picnic at the Lake Domain, but the threatening weather compelled a change to the hall. f

An Otaki soldier still on active scr vice writes: —"It will lie hard settling down to civilian life again; this life doesn’t tend to improve one’s business ability. Our brains, if. we ever had any, have been slowly rusting away for the past three years; we have t< start life all over again. There is : common saying, perhaps a true one, among soldiers, and this is, ‘if our brains were made of explosives there wouldn’t be'sufficient lo blow our hats off.’ So find me a job where brains are not necessary.”

All subscribers to the Otaki Public Library arc specially reminded of the annual meeting in connection with the library, to be lic-ld ou Saturday itomorrow) evening as advertised. It is quite a common thing to hear complaints about the management of the library, etc., but very few take sufficient interest to attend the meetings or offer their services in the management. To-morrow -night's meeting offers an opportunity for any persons who have complaints to make to air their grievances. ..

A fatal accident occurred at Weraroa on Wednesday last, when a Wellington visitor, named William Weame. a single man, 45 years of age, lost his life. The deceased, in company with his brother (Hr C. A. Wearne) arived at Levin on Saturday last, and since then had been engaged in lopping trees on a small farm pro-' perty he had recently secured. It is apparent that he fell and fractured his skull. At an inquest, held yesterday. a verdict was returned by the Coroner (Mr W. C. Nation) ‘ ‘that the deceased accidentally met his death by falling from a tree while lopping its branches.” Those who wish to spend a pleasant afternoon should not fail to attend the garden party to be held at Mrs Eiehard Robinson's £ne grounds, Manakau, on Wednesday afternoon nest. Various stalls will be provided, while afternoon tea will be a special feature, also strawberries and cream. An orchestra will be in attendance, and a special attraction will be a baby show for babies • under 12 months of age. The function is being held to provide fund"-for the «ew -Methodist Church at Manakau. It is hoped and expected there will be a very large attendance, including a, goodly aumber of visitors from Otaki. Levin and - other nans of ■ the district.

The opinion' was expressed at tho Hospital Board meeting at New Plymouth that the cost to the Government of the epidemic in Taranaki would be in the vicinity of £15,000. The Health Department has advised the Wellington Hospital Board that it will pay for the treatment of dependents of returned soldiers until the soldiers arc discharged. The Anzacs who are marrying ih Britain averago 300 a month, an increase of 40 per cent since the armistice (stated a cable message to the "Sydney Sun" last week). The Australians who have married in Britain now-number 7515.

A conference of representatives of chartered clubs from all over New Zealand was held at Wellington yesterday. Tho proceedings, which wore ol’ a private nature, are, it is understood, connected with the licensing poll to be taken shortly-

The members of the French Mission arrived at Auckland yesterday morning by the Main Trunk express' from Wellington, preparatory to leaving for Vancouver by the Niagara on Tuesday next. The town was hung with flags in honour of tho occasion!.

Possibly the largest sum ever paid in one day for New Zealand wool was disbursed yesterday at Wellington to those concerned by the Imperial Supplies Department. Tho payments aggregate £635,921. The next largest payment made in one day was also' for wool, viz., £555,133, on tho 2Sfh December, 1917.

f A. poll of ratepayers to decide tSo question of raising ■ loans aggregating £6700, and as to tho re-establishment of Ohalcune as a lire board district, resulted as follows:—-Electric - light extension loan of £4700: For 111,” against:' 15. Now Borough Council Chambers loan of £2000: For S3,’against 31. Rcestablishment.of Fire Board: For S 3, against 45. Dr. Cumpson, Federal Director of Quarantine, states that , the Commonwealth quarantine authorities recognise that there may be a recrudescence of Influenza in tho Commonwealth in about 12 months, All necessary precautions to prevent infection would bo taken. Experience would probably show that this recrudescence would take place in various countries within a year after the original outbreak, but it would not be likely to have such fatal results.

On the arrival of the 11.M.5. Moana at Wellington from San Francisco it transpired that during the passage to tho Californian port four sacks of registered letters were stolen. From what can be gathered tho theft was cleverly performed, and very little in the shape of a clue has been discovered. Exactly when the crime was committed is not known. All that can bo ascertained is that the mail was plundered "between Wellington and Ban Francisco."

Attention is called to an advertisement inserted by Messrs C. F. Spooner and Co., direct importers, of Palmerston North. This firm makes a specialty of typewriters, of the very best makes, and anyone wishing to purchase a typewriter, or secure supplies for same, should certainly write to this firm, or cajl on them at Palmerston N. The firm also repairs and overhauls typewriters, and stocks various lines of stationery, which are sold at wholesale rates. *

Mr Geo. W. Kiugsbecr. one of the fev.* expert car painters between V/ellington and Palmerston (inejusivc), has now commenced business in Queen Street, Levin, and guarantees to do only high-class work at lowest possible prices. The work done by him is a standing testimony of the highest merit, and motor ear owners in tie district are fortunate in having the services of such a capable person at their disposal. See advertisement elsewhere. .

Captain T. E. T. Seddon, 31.1’., joined the troopship Ruahine at Colon, in the Panama Canal zone. “The American people," he stated to a “ M.Z. Times " reporter), make a point of welcoming the New Zealand troops as they pass through the canal; and when they go ashore they are entertained by the folk in the zone. Some recognition, he suggested, should be made to the people there for the good work they arc doing, voluntarily, in this way, and intend to keep on doing during the months that our troops will be passing through Panama."

On the farm of Idr W. ,T. Jenkins, of Murrayville, North-western Malice [(says the “Weekly Times"), two sisters undertake the shearing of sheep. In the north-west of Mew South Wales is a flock 'of between 2000 and 3000 ’sheep that is each year shorn by the daughters of the owner, an old man whose sons arc at the war, or settled at long distances away. Borne 30') sheep were dealt with on Mr Jenkins’ board. 300 of them of a heavy Lincoln cross, cutting an average of 141 b a head. Owing to the shortage of labour neighbouring farmers assisted. Both girl assert that they prefer outdoor to house work.

On Thursday of last week Mrs Winifred Barber, of Eangiora, was officially informed from the Base Be-* cords Office that her husband, Bifleman W. J. Barber, was returning with a draft which will arrive shortly. Advice having been received six months ago of Rifleman Barber’s death in action, it can be imagined that news of his home-coming caused a sensation among his relatives and friends. There was, however, a between the number given with Rifleman Barber's name ir the letter from -Base Records and his; regimental number. Inquiries made at the local defence office suggest that his same has--' [been confused, with that .of Private TV.-' E. Barber, of Wareuga-t-hiks. .whose regimental, t amber eoratspoeds vri-L that given iu the letter?' The Christchurch “Star" states that Base Be-j cords Office has been u-fced for an ex- ]

Farmers will be interested to know that ’the „ Otaki Dairy Company is agent for tho best makes of separators, an'd those requiring machines would do well to consult the company. The Otaki Dairy Company also buys home separated cream, giving best prices for same. "I want to tell you a story which l heard the other day,” said a judgment debtor in the Magistrate's Court at Hamilton, to 'examining counsel, says’ j the "Waikato, Times. " "A little boy | asked kis father, ‘What is a lawyer?' f‘A lawyer is a man who causes two | men to light, and then runs away with 1 their clothes,’ was the reply."

Another very successful social function was held at the Kiosk (Seaside Resort) last niglit, when a number. of

local performers gave a number of musical items that were much appreciated by the visitors. A poi dance by the Maori,girls was a specially line item, that was received with delight by all present. Dancing was also indulged in, and a merry time spent by ail. These little gatherings make a pleasant break for the visitors.

An English M.P. tells this story. After a grand review of German troops at Potsdam the Kaiser called out to the officer commanding the Prussian Guards, in a voice loud enough to uo hoard by all the distinguished guests who were grouped in front of the palace, ‘ ‘ Pick me out a hundred men from the Prussian Guards'" Then, taking’the arm of King Edward VII., who was there, he said, "Como with me." He escorted King Edward very deliberately round ,4110 hundred men. atul then said, banteringly, "Well, do von think you could find a hundred imen in England to beat them?" "I [do not know so much about that," promptly replied King Edward, "but I could easily find fifty who would try. ’ ’