THE OTAKI MAIL. Publisbed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 1919. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 21 March 1919, Page 2

THE OTAKI MAIL. Publisbed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 1919. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A ship's dinghy, hearing she name "Merry Duchess," has been ""Sound on the Hokio bench,. Levin. It is in a

fairly good state of preservation

Ir is probable thai a new creamery will be creeled at Koputnroa, not far Eroui the junction of the Foxton and Ileathcrlea roads.

Tin? I\.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. have decided, on account of increasing business, lo extend and improve [heir Te Horo yards.

Mr J. Thompson, of Levin, has a bovine curiosity in the form of a cow with nine teals. The cow is an excellent milker, and one of the best in the herd.

The motoft-ar which came to grief on the Te Horo road on Tuesday night proves a source of annoyance to other motorists, it being left partially across the road in a bad locality.

A number of members of the Hincmoa Masonic Lodge (Wellington) on Wednesday paid a visit to Otaki, when they royally entertained by the local lodge. A most convivial time was spent, and the visitors returned t.o their homes delighted with the outing.

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 please take notice. Address: Dunstan Street, Otaki.—Advt.

Il was a year on Monday since the big fires took place at Kaetihi slid surrounding district, and it looked as if on the anniversary further disastrous" fires would result. Taking advantage of a spell of dry weather many settlers commenced "to burn" on their properties on Saturday, and at fcarioi a big fire swept the valley, while at Rangitana and Ohaktmo lires made rapid headway. Luckily, heavy rain fell and danger, to a large extent, averted. Several head of stock, however, perished in the flames.

Mr P. FrasCr. M.P., in the course of his address at Osaki said that when Mr Massey and .<h- Joseph Ward returned home after their first frip to Europe their only boast was that they had secured an additional id per pound for meat for the wealthy freezing com-

panies, and this money was to be extracted out of. the starving people of

Great Britain when the war was at its highest (Cries of "'Shame.'") This he characterised as one of the most disgraceful things in the political history of Xew Zealand.

Though the biddy-biddy, or burr, causes much annoyance when it comes in contact with one's clothes, there is no doubt about its valuable medicinal properties. A local farmer informed a '•'Chronicle'' representative that he knew of a case where a herd of 60 calves was badly atacked with scour, and all would probably have died but for- treatment with biddy-biddy. The plants were pulled and boiled and about half a pint was given to each calf, with a similar quantity of milk. AH the calves were saved but three. The plant is very well-known" to the natives for its medicinal properties.

From every quarter corner the refreshing assurance that the Merchant Service is daily having 'returned to ir the ships commandeered .by the. Imperial Government for war service. Xc.v Zealanders will not soon forget the war-time scarcity of shipping, nor will they .soon forget that while meat anfl'foarter were in cold storage at this end, and while building material, farming implements, essential* drugs, etc., were held up at Vhe other end,, the "One Big Monopoly" apparently knew ho"w to pull the shipping strings. During the first four months of IWS a tots!

of 472,465 gallons of "spirits was. carried to Xew Zealand—vessel after vessel carried ligtsor as its chief cargo. This country cannot a; any time afford to have overseas shipping space monopolised by liquor to the exclusion of r cojnmer<-e. 'The very existence of a pends on snlKinimelted shipping. Industry roast be released from the testacies .of the liquiji Ose.t>p3s. Oa Thursday, April 10, strike Oat tie; tep line'.*

An English, side-car, in first-class londitio'n, is advertised for sale. The bazaar, Held at Levin recently in ;ounoetion with St. Mary's Chureb, netted .£l3O. "I have no wish, to grumble at Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward for goiriff Home. I would not mind that a bit, so long as they stopped "there" —Mr P. Fraser, M.P., in his Otaki address. Mr P. Fraser. M.P., delivered an address in the open air at Manakau last night. A good crowd assembled to hear him, and he received a pa.ti.ent ke.aring, Mr Fvaser briefly outlined the policy of the Labour Party. A number of. those present at Mr Fraser's meeting at Otaki on Wednesday "night remained behind and handed in their names as members of the Labour Party. It is understood that steps will be taken to form a branch of the party at Otaki and officers will be elected shortly. The present system of dealing with sickness is, according to Mr P. Fraser, M.P., all wrung. Speaking, at Otaki en Wednesday night, Mr Fraser said the doctors made their money out of sickness —the more sickness there was the more money they made. Ho contended that all medical men should bo Stato paid. It should be their business to make people well, and keep them well. He believed this could bo done. Mr Fraser, M.P., waxed sarcastic at the expense of Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward on Wednesday night at Otaki. Prior to the advent of the Coalition Government Mr Masscy had gone round saying that disaster would befal the country if Sir Joseph Ward were put in power, while Sir Joseph bad declared that it would be calamitous if"Mr Massey were Premier. For once, said Mr Fraser, he found himself in accord with both these leaders. Both were now in power, and both disaster and calamity had befallen the country. (Laughter.)