LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 14 March 1919, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At the close of the shyw at Otaki on ■Wednesday night the greater part of 1 the exhibits were d/sposed of, Mr I Byron Brown kindly acting as salesman with his usual courtesy and efficiency. The Lower Hutt BoroWh Council has ? passed a resolution informing the Miuj ister of Public Health thahxthe Council i does not look with favour on -the suggestion of certificates for all whb-.a= : _ sisted during the recent influenza epidemic. A similar resolution has been ! passed by many other local bodies, f The guessing competition at the j Sower show on "Wednesday created J much interest. The sheep was won by | Mr T. MeFall, who generously gave it ! back to the Society, and it was then sold. The bicycle lamp donated by Mr A. E. Minton was won by Master T. Francis.

It is reported by the Christchurch ,f Sun ,> that some time ago the police received instructions to compile a roil of the enemy aliens resident in Chrisrehurch, and also to ascertain how many of them desired to be repatriated to their own countries. The investigation has now been completed, and the tcj suits forwarded to ■Wellington. It was 1 ascertained that there are 6*5 enemy * aliens in if is signifit cant'that only one—a German —has es- | pressed a desire to fee repatriated. ■ t Many of the aliens are Christchurch ciaZ 4 ®* pi long standing, and several 0 f them. ptof&Sd loyalty to New Zea!».3cL -

Messrs W. Bull and Co., Levin, offer good lines of peas, barley, etc., at low rates.

A proposal at Levin on. .Wednesdayon a proposal to form a Fire Board was carried by 63 to 3. A Gazette Extraordinary has been issued fixing the price of flour at £ls per ton, instead of £ls 10s as formerly. Mr Galloway, of Manakau, has an excellent crop of maize on his farm. Much #f the crop is from 10ft to 12ft in height, and gives a very heavy yield of fodder, which is proving of great value during the present dry spell. Farmers would do well to plant more maize for summer and autumn feeding. Mr C. T. Tranter, of Trentham, notifies that he has taken over the business of Mr J. C. Better, blacksmith, in Mill Road, Otaki, and by strict attention to business, combined with highest quality work and reasonable charges, hopes to command a fair share of patronage. Mr Tranter has a splendid reputation, and for all-round smithy work ranks with the best.

The annual meeting in connection with the Manakau Patriotic Society -will bo hejd on Tuesday evening next, as advertised, when the annual report and balance-sheet will be presented, and other business brought wor.vard. The meeting will also discuss peace celebrations. This is an important meeting, and it is hoped the public will show their interest and attend in force.

It is not generally known that the Otaki Native College has an excellent high-pressure water supply and several hundred feet of hose. After Wednesday night’s demsnstration by the Fire Brigade the water from the College ianks was turned on, and proved that it would be efficient in tho - case of a big blaze at tho hostel. The jet carried a long distance, while, the pressure proved highly- satisfactory.

“There arc to bo no Territorial camps this year,” said the Minister of Defence to a reported on Saturday. “I desire to repeat the statement, which I-have already made on a number of occasions, in order that the public may bo under no misapprehension in regard to tho matter. There may bo some special camps for tho' training of officers and non-cor.unis-sioned officers, but thero will be no Territorial camps.”

Bootmaking.—F. Barrett wishes to notify the public of Otaki and district that he has resumed business as boot and shoemaker. Old and new customers pleaso take notice. Address: Dunstan Street, Otaki. —Advt.

Harold James, aged 11, while attempting to leave the train at Petone on Wednesday night, missed his footing and fell between the rails. The train passed over him, and he was killed instantly. The lad had visited Wellington with a party of school children to see a picture of tho German naval surrender, and was returning under the care of the school-teachers. His parents reside at Petone.

Mr F. Wcstbury, the well-known gardener, of Lower Hutt, staged a- collection of vegetables at the Otaki Flower Show, on Wednesday that won the admiration of all. It was a very large and comprehensive collection — every imaginable vegetable—and all were beautiful specimens. The staging, too, was an object lesson to visitors, Mr Wesfbury deserves . hearty, ihanks for the time and expense of staging such an exhibit, and also for kindly donating the vegetables to the Society, for sale.

A serious accident happened at tho Hokitika railway and traffic "bridge oil Wednesday afternoon. When the train 1 from Ross was approaching Hokitika I a car driven by Mrs W. J. Butler,, with i Mrs A. E. Gregory as passenger, met I the train head on. The train.was fast ; pulling up at the time. When the collij sion appeared inevitable - Mrs Gregory ‘ jumped out, receiving a bad ‘injury to | her head, and her right arm was badly crushed above the elbow, lira Butler, j who remained in the car, was unini jured. the car being pushed back by j the engine, and only the steering gear j was damaged. The condition- of Jfrs ! Gregory is very serious. I Perhapi the most attractive exhibit at the Otaki flower show on Wednesday ! was the magnificent agricultural display made by Mr Harold Small, ofOtaki. The - exhibit-usomprised a display of'cercals, grasses, grassland other , 'seeds, noxious weeds, wool and other farm products, together with a parti.cu- ! larly fine collection of entomological i specimens, examples of over forty different knots, etc. Every part of ifce display was beautifully mounted and correctly named, and the whole exhibit was artistically and cleverly staged.The exhibit was one of the most valuable and interesting ever seen in this district, and was greatly admired and ! appreciated. Mr Small was heartily congratulated on the excellent exhibition madq, and the Society and .the public owe a debt of gratitude to Mr Small for staging .such an interesting'’ _and educational exhibit.

“LieenTed'to' sell spirituous and fermented liquors. Who put that label on the publichouse door? The publican? No—no, he doesn’t put it there. “I vote for continuance.” ■ Do you catch the point? So when you read in the paper: So-and-so was charged with drunkenness, or theft, or assault, or forgery, or attempted suicide, or murder — and he says to the magistrate: “I wouldn’t- have done It, air, if I had been sober,” you must not blame the publican. He is licensed by YOU—by your vote for continuance—to sell “spirituous and fermented liquors.” He is nor there to gauge the capacity of his customers to carry liquor, not his business to know when Ms customer has “had enough”; not his business to know how much the victim

of the licensing system “'can earrv” without going off his head and doing foolish or criminal things. No. no. You are the ehnps. You. He is YOUR fopI.JTOUR dupe, YOUR criminal It was YOUR license that did the trick. Strike oat the top line on Thursday, April 20,

On Monday next (St. Patrick’s Day) a bank holiday will be observed.

’ A Gazette notifies that the Governi meiit has deeided to observe Anzac

Day on April 25th' as a public holiday. A slight shock of earthquake was felt in Otaki shortly after 5.30 last evening, and another an hour/ or so lat-er.

A memorial service to the late Mr Richard Booth will be held at the evening service at All Saints’ Church, Otaki, on Sunday,'when tho Rev. G. F. Petrie will offieiafe.

Residents of Ihaltara (Levin) have decided to hold a patriotic fair next month, tho proceeds to be given to the County Patriotic Fund. At tho meeting comment was made on the indifferent way the Government treated the apxioals of returned soldiers. On Wednesday afternoon last tho visiting judges at tho Otaki flower show woro motored to the beach, where they visited tho seasido resort, with which they wore delighted. They also visited -the Sanatorium. The visitors expressed themselves as being very pleased with the little outing arranged for them.

At the citizens’ meeting at Otaki last night reference was made to a paragraph in a certain paper which stated that a temporary hospital had been equipped and staffed within 70 hours, which was considered smart work. Mr Byron Brown, chairman of the local committee, pointed out that the Otaki temporary hospital was ready for, occupation and equipped with a nursing staff within six hours.

Harvest festivals will be held at tho Otaki, Manakau, Waikanao and Paokakariki Methodist Churches on Sunday next, and it is notified by advertisement that offerings of fruit, vegetables; - flowers, etc., for same will be thankfully received at the respective churches to-morrow afternoon. Sales of produce, etc., will bo held at each centre on Monday evening, when the harvest offerings will' be disposed of, tho proceeds to go to the church funds. The Otaki sale will bo held at the Druids’ Hall.

Members of the Palmerston.- North Hospital Board paid a visit of inspection to the hospital buildings and grounds yesterday afternoon, and found that excellent progress was being mado by tho contractor with the cree-' lion of extensive additions to tho buildings. The Board members deeided to instruct Mr Black (expert landscape gardener) to furnish a comprehensive scheme for beautifying the hospital grounds, such schcmo to include the provision of tennis court and croquet lawn for the nurses’ use.