THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 1919. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 28 May 1919, Page 2

THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 1919. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

'The Eketalumu Chamber of Commerce lias received a letter from the general manages of, the Railway •Department,..stating that no definite decision has been arrived at, in regard to alterations to the Masterton-Palmerston North time-table, and inviting suggestions. The Chamber has appointed a committee to consider the matter and to report to next meeting. '

Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., is calling a meeting of representatives of local bodies to consider the question of the purchase ox a steamer for the purpose Of conveying coal supplies to the port of Foxton. At the present time, owing to the loss of the Queen of the South, there is no vessel trading into the port which can replace lmr.

When the Industries Committee sat at Carterton on Saturday witnesses strongly expressed the opinion that the Wairarapa badly needed a muchimproved railway service. The committee visited a number of places in' the district, including the stations of Mossrs W. E. Bidwill and A. Matthews. Several fruit farms were inspected, among them that of the Greytown Association.

Prices for all classes of stock, with tile exception of fat pigs, have dropped during the post-, fexv months (says the Okuiaw.-t correspondent of the Itawera “Star") , Calves are practically unsaleable, and can only be quitted at a loss. Twenty-three shillings was the only bid for a lino of Shorthorn calves, almost yearlings, at the last sale here. It would have paid the owner to have knocked them on the head when they were born. The skins and volts would have been worth about 10s Gd, and the carcases could have been boiled up for the pigs. The “Auckland Star" state, that the vell-kuown firm of G. W. Binney and Sons, wool brokers, of that city, has amalgamated with that of Abraham and Williams, Ltd., of Palmerston North. Tlie Auckland business will be carried on in the premises now occupied by G. W. Biuney and Sons, mi dec the management of Messrs E. H. and F. Binney, who arc naturally largely interested in the combined firm. The late Mr G. W. Binney established the fir-w ever Jiffy years ago. and since his death it has been carried on successfullv bv his sons.

AfteT investigating one hundred pounds on top-dressing fertiliser for his grass, one farmer says:—“lt is better than lending money at 6 per cent." He used “Tui” Basic Phosphate, the fertiliser that leads where quality is the prime consideration. Top dress now, and yon will gain more grass better in quality and of greater palatability. The same labour on the farm, the same stock and .implements and the same land wjth “Tui” Basic Phosphate addled, give bigger profits. Rapidly increasing sales speak louder than words. The manufacturers are Hodder and Toiler. Ltd., Palmerston North.—Advt.

An acute position has arisen at Napier owing to a shortage of coal. The '‘Daily Telegraph" states: “There is no household coal available, and the winter will have to be faced without coal. Fortunately some of the merchants have a fairly good supply of firewood on hand, but the price is high, and 'consumer* are not prepared to pay I the cost at present. One merchant told a “Telegraph" reporter that a few years ago he was able to purchase firewood Isaded on trucks at 9s per cord, but now- the. price is 535, and the supply unsteady and difficult to get. In order to try to augment Napier’s supply at least tw o dealers sire at present in Wei- j lington seeking to impress on the Government the absolute need mat exists • for coal- The three local meat works are short, and the majority of house- ! holders are aa short commons, and, un- j less the Government provides a plentiful supply in the near future the dirS- * culties will become intolerable.’-’ j

; TVe have-just landed for the races a j | shipment of boots and shoes—j patent lace ae/I court shoes, with high j ; heels, 265, 2,75, 365; aieo in tan, 255, ; • 265. 275. 6d, 30s; a..new range of genis r in black and tan in smart? styles from 255; also winter slippers. .The price* j and quality are right.' Irvine’s Shoe ' Store, Otaii.—Advr. i Tor Coughs and Colds, never fails. Great Peppermint Cars,

Sir James Allen states that owing to labour troubles two troopships that were to have left Home in June will be detained till July, otherwise the arrangements made fan returning seldienS will be earned out.

“ Blouses of distinction ” is the heading to an interesting advertisement inserted in this issue by Mr Harold Cockrell. The firm is well known for its quality goods, and ladies should make a point of inspecting the blouses, which are of the latest styles.

The Tc Horo Supply Stores has a new' advertisement on our first page of this issue, to which we invite attention. The residents of Tc Horo and district aro invited to call and inspect; the goods, and compare the “newpence prices.” A big stock of up-to-date lines is now to hand, and settlers 1 can rely on getting their wants atJ tended to at reasonable prices. < At the Feilding Magistrate’s Court on Monday a. youth was lined 10s or IS hours’ imprisonment for stealing newspapers. As a result of eo.mplakits from the “Manawatu Daily Times” Company, Constable Anderson kept a watcli on the Carbine Stables and caught the accused ripping up a bundle of papers and extracting' the contents.

On the motion of Mr Eliott, the council of the Palmerston Chamber of Commerce on Monday decided to try and arrange for a conference of local bodies between Palmerston afid Masterton, with a view to renewing the agitation'for flic resumption of-ujtcr-distnict train services between the towns mentioned.

The Eltham Dairy Company has decided to send its factory manager (Mr R. 11. C. Boyle) to,America to obtain information regarding the latest methods concerning the manufacture of cheese and the machinery in use. Mr Boyle will probably leave New Zealand on June 3rd.

What is the Dominion’s most valuable farm crop? Why grass, to be sure, so all the authorities say. Do you top dress yours often enough? This is the, month to put on “Tui" Basic Phosphate, two hundredweight to tho acre,more of it and better in quality. A double purpose top dressing supplying needed phosphate and correcting harmful acidity. It feeds the grass and sweetens tho soil.—Advt. .

What looks smarlyr for big boys and young men than a stylish sports suit? They look well, and are far lower in price than the ordinary lounge suit. ■Stiles and Mathcson invite all the youths in the district to come and sec this special line. Sports suits are practically unobtainable elsewhere—there’s a shortage in the mankef. Read Stiles and Matheeoc-’s advertisement elsewhere iR this paper for further information.

Land in tho Tc Rchunga district — eight miles from Dannevirkc—is selling at £SO per acre—some farmers are offering their sections at £GO! It is only twelve years since this block was put on tie market by the Government on the O.E.P. tenure at £2O per acre, —it had then been felled and grassed, but not fenced or built on. Much logging up and stumping has been done since then, also good houses erected; and now the present owners—not by any means the origiual ones—arc getting the benefit of big butter-fat values.

Something like a coal .famine prevails at Thames. The town lias a population of between six and seven thousand, and the number of houses is. estimated at •ver 1500, yet durin g the month of Ax>ril only 77 turns of coal available for household purposes reached Thames, nr an average for each house (including hotels and other large consumers) for all cooking and heating of 41b daily. At present, and for some time past, it has been practically impossible for the great majority of residents to obtain coal, and since wood is in short supply the outlook for the cohl weather is

most unpromising. At the meeting of the Palmerston Chamber of Commerce on Monday complaints were made as to ibo delays caused to business men in communicating on the long-distance wiros. It wys pointed out that, while Palmerston citizens could communicate as far as Gisborne on the day lines, they cosld not get info touch with clients on the other side of Wanganui, whereas the Wellington merchants find traders were catered for in every direction. Messrs Eliott and Hodder were dep.urcd to discuss the matter with the postmaster and communicate the result to the Chamber.

The Minister for Public Health states that in con-cqucncc of reports from Auckland ami Wellingjtont-as to the existence of soaethinj in the nature of a jfifc menace, the regulations which wc-re gazetted ki 1911 to prevent or cheek the spread of plague by rats are to be put in force. Steps are to be taken to scc-ure rats for examination, and the harbour b»ards are to be advised to destroy rats in the- buildings on the wharves, and to make the buildings ratproof if possible. Masters, of ships will be required to produce certificates that their ships have been subjected to anti-rat fumigation within six months.

The following paragraph in a Sydney paper regarding the influenza epidemic will show how reports are jcytnetimes < exaggerated in the course of their iraj vcis. The Sydney paper says:—“But. j bad as things are here, they have not yet reached the stage of fright attain- ( c-d in New Zealand. Thera shops were | closed and abandoned, and were not reJ opened until the virulence of the plague had exhausted itself. The prin- 1 i ciple vehicles seen in the streets were ! j horse-propelled hearses driven by men j j who called oat as they passed: ‘Bring,; out your deajl! Bring pat your ' | dead!’” 1 > Bootmaking.— F. uarreit wishes to ,

notify the public of Otaki and district { that be has restored business as boot ' and shoemaker. Old ami new customers * please take notice. Address: Daastaa I Street, Otaki. —Ad vt. ; ■Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure. For Chjcxie .Chest Complaints,

Special train arrangements for King’s Birthday are advertised.

Mr T. Field lias sold his farm at Iliakara to Mr MoiTatt, of Pahiatua, at fSO per acre.

The-annual meeting of the Horowhdiiua County Patriotic Association takes place at Levin this afternoon.

The Otaki Maori Racing Club has received notification that special trains will bo run for their race meeting oil June 3 and 4. *

An unreserved clearing sale of dairy cows, etc., will bo held on behalf of Mr Alex. Campion, at Oliait, on May 30tli. Particulars are advertised.

Mr and Mrs Geo. W. Taylor, of Otaki, have received cabled advice that their son, Driver Win. Taylor, is on the voyage back to New Zealand, having left England on the 13th inst.

A demonstration of fruit tree pruning will be given at Mr It. J. Port’s (Waikanac) on Wednesday next at 10 a.iii., and at Mr Smerle’s (To Horo) the same day at 2 p.in.

On June 3rd (King’s Birthday) the local post, telegraph and telephone exchange will bo closed. Ail mails will bo made up at S n.nt. Street boxes will be cleared at 7 a.m.

Yesterday tho weather was bitterly cold in this district, and snow fell last night on the ranges, capping the low Bills and the adjacent flats. To-day (he weather has a decidedly wintry touch.

Mr John Taylor, late of Tiwra Flat, who has been residing with his family temporarily in Otaki, has purchased a dairy firm of about 100 acres of highly improved land at Palmerston NoTth. Mr and-Mrs Taylor and family will take possession of their new property on July.lst.

Sir James Allen stated yesterday that no reply had been received from (lie British Government as to when it was going to hold'its peace, celebrations, and the Dominion •< celebration would take place, as arranged, after (he'signing of the preliminary peace. This decision was not unalterable, but the trouble was that the Imperial Government might fix a time for their summer and the New Zealand winter. This was tho difficulty of having a common celebration all over the Empire.

The Defence Department is abonfc to 'distribute a very handsome King’s certificate of discharge (o men of the Expeditionary Force who have been disabled in war service. About thirty thousand New Zealanders are entitled to this document, and eight thousand copies are ready for distribution. Applications are now invited from the remaining participants, who can obtain tho necessary forms from any Defence Office or from Base Records, Wellington.