THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, MAY 23, 1919. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 23 May 1919, Page 2

THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, MAY 23, 1919. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Shop days, for patriotic purposes', are still being held weekly in Levin, and hist week the stun of nearly kl2 was raised.

The “Wellington Harbour Board has passed a resolution favouring the establishment of a State line of steamers m New Zealand, in order to improve, .the present unsatisfactory condition of affairs.

The Horowlicnua County Council is now having necessary improvements effected to the main road near Ihakara. Already some of the bad corners have been taken' off, while others are to receive attention.

Subject to the consent of all the boards, an Education Boards' Conference is to be held in .Wellington on a date to be determined, by the opening of Parliament. The conference will be preceded by a conference of Education Board architects.

The Education Boasd resolved at its meeting on Wednesday that the notification of the dates for the school holidays to. celebrate the signing of the Peace Treaty will be held over till the decision of Cabinet in regard to the matter lias been announced.

The social and dance to be held in the Otaki Town Hall to-night promises to be verv successful, and a large gathering is expected. The management is in the capable hands of Mrs Hodgson, who is being asssted by several other lady workers. The proceeds will be devoted to the local Horticultural Society.

Stiles and Matbeson still live up to their prestige, as can be seen by the roll of splendid poplin (40 yards only) to be seen in their dress department. For further particulars turn to. Stiles and Matbeson's advertisement in this paper.

A meeting of the Levin Lake Domain ’ Board was held on Wednesday night. Mr Blenkhorn presided. It was reported that the new boatshed was completfd. and tiie members expressed the hope that the Boating Club would be revived and take charge of the shed and boats. It is probable that a meeting will be held at an early date with a view of starting the club again.

The abnormal fail in the value of sheep this year has caused many iarmors and dealers to lose very hcavißSheep have gone back in value to the extent of 10s and It’s per head, ami while many dealers have lost heavily., one in South Canterbury is credited with being poorer by £IO,OOO by reason of the drop. The fall in values is accounted for by the inability to get freezing space, and the shortage or feed.

An attempt is being made by officials of the Kailway Department to account for the failure of the brakes in the recent goods train disaster on the Main Trunk, and to this end tests of the brakes on the derailed engine are being made. So far no adequate reason for its failure has been elicited, but a more exhaustive test to be made on an engine running between Ohakunc and Taihape may possibly throw some light on the mystery.

A deputation of Foxton householders waited upon the Wanganui Education Board on Wednesday night, asking that the recent election of the school committee be upset. If was alleged that irregularities had occurred. The chairman or the board (Mr Pirani), not being’ president of the householders, had presided at a meeting. Mr Pirani admitted that he had no legal right to preside, and the board carried a resolution that the evidence submitted of irregularities did not materially affect the election, ’and the board s*uld n*t see its way to grant another election.

There is no doubt that you will require a pair of goloshes soon. W<3 bav e just opened a fresh shipment for lauit-s. ! gents and children. The price is .right- Also.-gent’s'football boots just ' in. Try a pair of rubber soles cm your golf or walking shoes. They always grip. Irvine’s ’ Shoe Store, Otaki. Advt.

For Bronchial Goughs, take Woods-' 'Great gepgarcint Oars.

A start will be made on Hdnday next by Gorge settlers to improve the Mount Hector track.

A final reminder is given of the clearing sale of registered milking Shorthorns and choice dairy eows to be held at Paraparaumu on Monday next. Persons in the habit of riding bicycles at- nights without lights should take heed. Already a batch of offenders will appear before the S.M. at the next Court'sitting.

The following officers have been elected to the ■ Horowhenua Fruitgrowers’ Association:—President, Mr J. C. Neill; vice-president, Mr H. Newport; secretary, Mr J. S. Wilson.

As a result of a bazaar in Raetilii over £-100 was raised towards building a new Roman Catholic church in the township. Among the hardest workers at the bazaar were the Misses Toiupsitt. of Otaki,

Among those deprived of- civil rights in the Wellington district for ten years, being recognised as military defaulters, arc P. C. Webb, formerly M.P. for Grey; a. C. Hill, labourer, Otaki; Philip A. Kissel!, hotel porter, Otaki; Henuels Pate, Paraparaumu; and Arthur J. Stratton, farm assistant, Levin.

The big cargo steamer Westmoreland, 071 leaving the Bluff on Thursday night, bumped heavily in the vicinity of Channel Rock. She reached Port Chalmers yesterday morning, evidently badly damaged by the accident, as she was making much water. She -is threcparfs loaded with frozen meat and other produce, which is being discharged.

While in Wellington last week Mr P. Hcnnessv (chairman of the Foxton Harbour Board) ascertained that about .1700 tons of material would be required in connection with the Mangahao hydro-electric scheme, which it is proposed to bring through the Foxton port as that will be .the cheapest and most convenient method. The Government engineer is to visit Foxton shortly in connection with this mutter.

The Otaki Literary and Debating Club will commence its fortnightly meetings of the 1919 session on Monday night next, at the Druids’ Han, when a programme of musical" items, recitations, readings, etc., will be submitted, and games indulged in. This meeting is open to all, and a cordial invitation is extended to the public to attend. It is hoped to have a large membership this session, and tho prospects arc bright. All interested should certainly hand in tueir names as members—the fee is only 2s 6d per session.

The Levin golf season was opened on .Saturday' in the presence of a large gathering. The Mayor (Mr Matheson), in- declaring tho season open, said it was very pleasing to see so many players on the links, and added tkgt h« was sure the Lake Domain Board would support any steps taken to improve the grounds. The Mayoress drove the first ball. Twelve ladies competed in the approaching and putting competition, the best scores being Miss Beckett 9, Mrs Clark 9, Mrs Mackenzie 9, Mrs Nickle 10, Miss Kinloch 10, and Miss H. Beckett 10. In the men's competition, 3 balls from 75 yards, the best scores were W. Clark .11, H. Porter 12, ■T. Hughes 12, and «T. Pollock 13. The afternoon’s play, concluded with a mixed foursome.

Writing to the London "Daily Mail,” Mr William Weston, of Akaroa,. street, Kaiapoi, supplies details of his family, which, he suggests, must,constitute a record for longevity. Of four daughters and three sons born at Hail-, sham, Sussex, to Mr and Mrs Thos. Avery Weston, Mr William Weston is now aged S 4; Mrs Ilcsal lives in the Dominion, aged SO; L'mma Wrcen died in this country in 1914, and George Weston in .1917, aged 91 and 90 respectively ; Mrs Collingwood had reached the age of 93 when she died in London; Alfred Weston was S 3 when he passed away at Ninticld in 1914; and Mrs K. Johnson, who is 88 years old, still resides in Canterbury. That gives a family average of 87 year?, with three of the members still alive.

Mr F. Vosseler, of Wellington, an ! enthusiastic mountaineer who has made several trips up to Mount Hector and other parts of the Tararua ranges, is contemplating taking steps to form a Tararua Club, comprised of thO3C interested in botany, hill-climbing, etc. Mr Vosselcr, who expresses the opinion that the Otaki to Greytown track over the Tararuas is certainly tho finest tramp in the southern part of the North Island, says that his main object in promoting this proposed club is to popularise the track by making it known to larger numbers, organising parties, and equipping the huts with various necessaries. He also expresses the opinion that winter bears unusual attractions, on account of the snow on the mountains, and intends testing the skis on the Taraacas this winter.

A Palmerston draper has been advised by two prominent Wellington warehouses that in consequence of the new conditions and increases of wages granted to ail workers in the clothing trade, which came into operation en May 15th, coupled with the fact that all trimmings and other manufacturing commodities hare increased very largely, it had become necessary to increase all prices of made-up clothing by at least 20 per cent. It was painted oat by one firm that this is the second increase called for this year, but the first had not been passed on, owing to the already high cost of manufactured lines. But in the- second instance it was pointed out that it was so groat that the retailer was asked to share a portion of the burden. It follows naturally that the public will be called - npon to pay extra for made-up clothing, and the draper referred to stated , that on, ready-made suits there would, in future be an iperease of 13*. — Stan, dard. *

Bootmakisg.— T. Barren wishes to notify the public or Otaki and district that he ha* resumed business as boot and shoemaker. Old and new customers please take notice. Audi £ is: Dun-tan Street, Otaki, —Adyt,

Before tha waf it cost about £IOOO to build a tramcar in Wellington; now tho price is £2OOO.

Tho N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. will .hold a clearing sale at Otaki, on behalf of tho late Gavin Reid and Mr William Reid, on Thursday next. A number of lino lines' of stock will be submitted. Dr. Martin, of Ngaruuwnhia, was urgently summoned to Ruakawai settlement, Raglan Harbour, a few days ago, and upon arrival found fourteen persons suffering from poisoning, caused by eating bush honey. Some of them were iu a serious stat’e. Drastic remedial measures were immediately ; applied, and all tho patients aro now convalescent, though some will be affected for some time. Eighteen persons partook of the honey, four apparently not being affected. Among the victims were a family of eight, named Hadfield, of Horotiu, who were spending a holiday at Ruakawai;

For Children’s Hacking Cough, Woods’ Great Peppermint Cura.