LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 31 March 1919, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At Tailiapo a £17,000 loan for street improvement and a proposal t» rate on the unimproved value have been carried by an overwhelming majority. It is commonly reported that a “twoup school” exists in Otaki, and is patronised by quite a number of local .residents. The police are on. the watch for developments.

A meeting of members of the Tainui Hockey Club was convened for Friday evening, but even the convenor failed to attend. At the advertised time there was not a person present and the meeting lapsed.

Jt is not often such a chance occurs for Levin and Otaki men to obtain i stylish shirts at so moderate a figure. 'Stiles and Mathcson’s arc making a ! special oiler of neglige shirts, made on : (lie premises. Bead about them in their advertisement in this paper.

A very large crowd assembled at Cockrell's corner, Otaki, on Saturday night, when Rev. Hcdlcy White and Mr Evelyn Macdonald again addressed the public on the Prohibition question. In response to an invitation to anyone who might wish to air their views on the question, a Maori (returned soldier) mounted the soap-bos and created a diversion by discoursing on the liquor question. His remarks were not altogether unfavourable to Prohibition, though he ended by saying with much emphasis: “But, you know, boys, I like my glass of beer! ” A number of questions were asked. The meeting was orderly, and on this occasion no eggs wore thrown.

As the Main Trunk from Auckland was pulling into the Palmerston North station on Friday morning, a man named Burton, chauffeur to Mr F. J. Nathan, attempted to secure a seat for

a departing passenger, Mrs Jacobs. He was running along beside the train when he came into collision with a porter who was standing with outstretched ; .arms giving the train signal to stop. Purton fell beneath tho train and was 1 jammed under the running gear. There was intense excitement among the j crowd, as it was feared he had been ; killed, but the railway staff imniedi-

. atcly set to work with jacks to lift tho | carriage and release the man, which ■ was speedily done. Ur. Barnett had ■ meanwhile been summoned and found the victim suffering from cuts about the head and several bruises, but no internal injuries were apparent. Purton is reported 'to be progressing , satisfactorily.

Would you believe it? There are people going about saving that wo must have the bars open, because otherwise brandy and whisky will not be available for medicinal purposes in caso of another epidemic! What really happened at the outbreak of the flu? Now,

what really hnppned? The Government closed the bars! Yes, closed ’em' Why did they do it? Now, fair and square, why? Because the Government 's medical advisers insisted upon it. Why? In the public interest! Yes, but why? Because medical science dictated so. In Australia they did the fame. It has become a practice in all wise countries to keep the bars tight closed in all emergencies to protect the whole of us against the rest of us. So when you hear Mr Moderate saying that the bars must be kept open to save lives during an epidemic just smile! Hft takes you for a simp! Show him you’re not —strike out the top line on Thursday, April 10!"

Ia the coarse oi an address before the Napier Chamber of Commerce on “The impressions of the Press representatives during their trip to Great Britain and France in time of tear,” the Hon. W. J. Gaddis. M.L.C.. said that-the day

will come when the people of New Zea- , land will demand that the story of ■ Psjsschendaje will be thoroughly in- j vestigated, if only in justice to those > who gave their lives-there. "It’wae an \ adventure la which they acquitted , themselves so well, and -might’ have -• succeeded if other things had not been j wanting. Up to Passehendale the New Zealand was scheduled the best'Sghiiag ! division in I ranee. They lost that at 5 rasschendale and had got back to \ third position/when the delegates left. ! At So via Bay and Gallipoli the New Zealanders lost 0500, but at Passc-hen-

dale ia half an hour one morning the', lost <5tX» men, equal to two brigades. "Vyhen .MessLness Bldge was captured at all points where, there Fas an advance trouble occurred ia the fresth Army. T’.ft little trouble among the Frenchmen caused delay that-lost as the fruits of that advance, and the German break through later on.

■ Unpaid rates to the Otaki TownBoard must be paid to-day, otherwise the 10 per cent penalty will be added.

A heifer, now running on Mr Reynolds’ property at Rangiuru, will bo sold, unless claimed, on April 9th to defray expenses.

No less than £266 was collected up to 2 p.m. to-day (the last day for unpaid rates without penalty) by the clerk of the Otaki Town Board.

The monthly meeting of the management committee of the Horowhonua Patriotic Association will bo held at Levin on Wednesday afternoon noxt.

As a result of a slight accident Mrs E. Henderson, artist, Horowhenua, is at present confined indoors having septic foot, and does not expect to bo about for some weeks.*

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

The popularity of Otaki-'s seaside resort increases as the days pass on, and yesterday over one hundred visitors partook of afternoon tea. The resort has grown into such favour that Mr Byron Brown has, we understand, received offers of purchase.

I It is reported that the French nation j has made a grant of Vimy Ridge to t Canada. General Monash stated that i it would be generous if Franco granted similar laud to South Africa, Australia and Now Zealand. The gift would cieate a never-to-be-forgotten bond of fraternity with France.

Following arc the vital statistics for Otaki (kindly supplied us by the registrar, Mr J. W. Hodgson) for the month of March: —Births 2, marriage 1, death .1; Natives, no registrations. Figures for the quarter: —Births 19, marriages 8, death 1. The marriages for the quarter (S) are n record for Otaki.

The sale of the well-known “Pukshou” estate, Otaki, will take place on Wednesday week, and those in search of a snug farm property should not miss the opportunity of attending. The holding is in close proximity to Otaki, and one of the best farms available in the district. A town section, situate on Mill Road, will also be offered the same day.

Members of the Otaki Town Board on Saturday afternoon met Mr Conway, overseer of the work being done on the Otaki bridge, with a view of gaining information relative to the tarring of one of the main paths of Otaki. As a result of the conference Mr Crow, of Wanganui, will be consulted on his arrival here with a view of getting the work done.

Anv electors who may be absent from the electorate in which they are enrolled on April 10, the date of tho -licensing poll, should apply for an absent voter’s permit, which will be issued by tho registrar of doctors (Mr H. H. Cork). Forms may also be obtained from the local postmaster. These permits can bo issued up to and including oth April—that is if there is time for voter to get delivery before the 10th.

All things conic to those who wait. At last the Horowhenua County Council has commenced the work ol covering the decking of the Otaki traffic bridge. A solid coating of restar is being applied, which will have the effect of preserving the structure, and improving the bridge for traffic. Mr Conway, of Wanguuui, is otorsetr o, tho contract, and the work should be pushed through expeditiously. Wo understand other bridges in (he district are also to receive a coating of rcstnr.

Despite the repeated warnings that were given in tho public press and by other means of the closing of the electoral rolls, it appear# that quite a number of persons have neglected to have their names enrolled. Several persons have enquired at our office during the past week as to whether it was too late to be enrolled, and our attention ha.* been drawn to one case in which three members of a local household eligible for voting at the poll on the 10th April neglected to take the necessary steps and ore thus disfranchised.

One of the first patches of lucerne in this district was grown by Mr B. Smith, of Heatherlea Bond. This was *ome nine or ten years ago, 'the area put down being two acres. As showing what a wonde-.ful feed-producer lucerne is. it may bo mentioned that Mr 1 mith has been cutting three and four crop* per year from it ever since." This season three cuts gave a return of .>bout eight tons, with a strong growth r.t the present time, so that this wonderful plant, like the brook, appears capable of going on forever.— Chronicle

It has recently been stated that a large number of flasmill hands in the North Bland are out of employment. The inspector of factories at Palmereton North has reported to the Labour Department that while it is customary about this time of the year for the owners to close down-the mills for a few weeks, some have this year closed their mills a little earlier than usual. The millowner* have, however, endeavoured to retain married men in employment. sad have as far as possible dismissed only single men. The married men who have been kept on hare been engaged in such work as draining and the" overhauling of machinery.