THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 1919. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 4 June 1919, Page 2

THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 1919. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The monthly meeting of the Otaki Town Board takes place to-morrow night.

A large blackfish, some loft in length, has been washed up near the mouth' Of the river ou the Otaki beach. Several residents hare made trip, to the beach to inspect the fish.

Nearly seventy children participate in .the new arrangement at the Otaki State school, whereby they receive hot cocoa daily. By the payment of sixpence about every twelve days the children arc enabled to partake of the refreshments.

A hundred eases Of wine were recently landed from a Home steamer to the order of a New, Zealand medical practitioner. Though not one of those who have openly argued the benefits of alcohol, he evidently believes in Paul's advice to Timothy to "use a little wine for thy stomach's sake,"

The correction of a typographical error in Mr J. Mackic's advertisement in our lust issue, with respect to the Town Board election., led to the duplication of one line and the omission of another, thus making the sentence devoid of meaning. Wc refer readers to the corrected advertisement in to-day's issue. There arc good grounds for saving that the National Debt of England to-day has reached the colossi! total of £7 650*,000,000. On February 1 last the Government admitted that the total debt then was and the country has had to borrow be-

tween four and Jive million,-: a day since then. The drinking of methylated spirit isaccording to the Liverpool Licensing Committee, becoming "an increasing vice" among women in England. One reason given for this habit is that methylated spirit contains 60 to 64 per cent", overproof alcohol, while the alcohol in whisky is 30 per cent underproof. Moreover, the former is 9s 7d a gallon and the latter 2a a bottle. Xelson Perawiti. a Xativc, was today charged, on the information of Con-

stable Sathcrley, with committing common assault '6n a young girl at Otaki, and with using obscene language. Messrs C. H. Williams and Frank Bennett. J's. P.. were on the bench. Accused in pleading guilty to both offences said that he was under the influence of liquor and did not remember committing either of the offences. The Bench pointed out the seriousness of both cases, and stated accused was liable to a year's imprisonment. Tor assault he would be fined £-3 or one month in gaol, while for obscene language lie would be lined £7. in default three months' imprisonment. Accused was also ordered to pay costs.

i As our readers know, we have no particular love of Government undertaking business' enterprises (says the Christchurch "Press"), but the recent interruptions to the ferry service are undoubtedly inducing many people to think more kindly of the possible benefits of Government ownership of the ferry service than they would have i done otherwise. There is this to be 1 said in favour of such a step, iiat it j would complete the Government conItrol of the means of communication from the extreme ends of the Dominion. At present, so far as the inter- '■ I island traffic is concerned, or.e end ceases at Lytielton and the other at I Wellington, this link between the two 1 being in the hands of a private company which has admittedly given ex- j I ceilent service in the past. If. how- j \ ever, a Government ferry service were J ; to prove the means of ensuring greater regularity in the running of the J I steamers tkan the public now enjoys. ) '. the experiment might almost be worth I j trving. l,

The butchers of Pahnerston Hortli have decided to close at 6 p.m. on and after next Saturday, June 7th. In Otago no fewer than 61 meetings | of householders on April 14 failed to elect school committees. "When this was reported to the Otago Education Board.the chairman asked if there was ' any special reason in any case, and the j only reply was from Mr James Smith, ; who suggested.that the wet night was 1 the cause. The Board fixed June 16

for fresh meetings of householders. — Duncdin "Star." . . Says the Napier- "Telegraph":—lt is reported that at a certain station recently a well-known railway official

secreted himself in a carriage overnight in order to discover a- little scheme that was alleged to be worked every night in the station yard. A party of jokers, bearing of the brilliant scheme, got busy, and turned a high-pressure hose on through a window, and the official afterwards admitted that he had had the coldest and most unpleasant bath that it had been his bad fortune to ever experience. The experiment was v.ot repeated. War has been responsible for many discoveries (remarks the Melbourne

"Argus"). Not tlie least interesting is the geophone, a new instrument for detecting earth sounds.' Professor David has related in Sydney the beginnings of this invention. It appears that a soldier lying in a tunnel, with

a flask for a pillow, heard strange sounds in the earth. He stood to attention, and the sounds ceased —or he ceased to hear them. lie again put his ear to the flask, and the sounds were heard again. They revealed that the Germans were counter-mining not far away. This experience was related, and the scientists developed the idea suggested by it until they completed the geophone.

"Every farmer in Taranaki who started on leasehold land during the last fifteen or twenty years has done well," remarked a member of the Taranaki War. Relief Association at the annual meeting last week. He urged that, soldiers seliould be able to startin the same way. The Government had nothing to fear, as it had ample security. The Government had no difficulty in finding money for the War, and should find money to settle soldiers on the land on the leasehold system.

The proposal that an Imperial Guards Regiment should be formed at Home from men who have served in the Dominions' forces during the great, war decs not appeal to Brigadier-Gene-ral Richardson .«o far as it applies to New Zealand. General Richardson remarked in Christchurch that he did not think a New Zealand unit could be formed from the country's Expeditionary Force. "If I know the opinions of the rank and file as I believe I do," lie said, "I do not think we would got a dozen men 1o join,"

Alice Anderson, a young person just out of her teens, says the "Sydney Bulletin," is an c.xperf mechanic who runs a stable of six cars, with half a dozen girl shovers, all of whom she has trained herself. Each, shover knows

her ear in a way few women know their sewing machines'. The Anderson garage js a. regular Princess Ida affair — not a man about the place. The girls working about just wear "blucys." They have concluded, however, that no girl looks well in ordinary pant-, so

they are evolving a brown twill working suit. When they drive (hey wear pants and leggings with the usual chauffeur's tunic and cap. Miss Anderson wears her hair close cropped and a boy's suit. .She began three years ago with her own car/ Work increased and •he trained help. She needs more help now, and last week an advertisement

for "girls" to train brought her 108 applicants of all ages. .She like- fo catch 'em young. One apprentice (not yet a chauffeur) is a girl of 13. The I girls take touring trips as well as city work, but they avoid night job- as , much a:- possible. The chauffeurs wear khaki drill. "It doe.- fade." they complain, .and are preparing a boiler <>i green dye in which to transform their uniform. Satisfactory health condition- for women arc an absolute national necc--j sity. One is pleased, therefore, to note the remarkable interest that the suggestion of a council of women ha-. aroused, !>aid tne Viscountess Bhondda in the London "Natonal News." Briefly, the scheme is that there should ■ -it at the Ministry of Health when established a. council composed of orI dinary women who would act as a link between the Ministry and the home. This would be without prejudice to putting women experts on the other councils. It r? an absolute necessity that there should special body of women, and we should be content with nothing less than such a council. There is an enormous number of questions which ought to be considered by a ;

I council of women in an analogous possi- ! tion to the other advisory bodies which Dr. Addison, president of the Local Governtsenr. Board, has told us he proposes to have at the new Ministry. One cannot enumerate them all. but the

housing question is of great importance. Women are vitally interested, in the interior arrangements of the houses they live in. and in the great schemes which the Government have in view

their advice and help would be o: material value to everybody concerned.

j The rescue of Hawker and Grieve has J caused so jsuch satisfaction throughioat the worH that it is almost certain to act as an incentive to many more flying men to attempt the "big; j stunt." But the need for adequate i protection for firing rs<ra has been most forcibly demonstrated, and in a lesser ' degree the motorist needs protection, especially daring these months of win- ' ter. This applies especially to the : hands, and no greater comfort or pro- • fection can be got- than- front our special line of reindeer or kid meter I gloves, prieed from 13a 65 per pair, j Post us your order. GEO. POWLDS, LTD., i Marten Street, Wellington. -

The monthly sitting of the OtakiS.M. Court and the annual meeting of the Licensing Bench will be held ou Friday. Mr J. Dawson, of the "Qucsnoy" tea rooms, notifies that he has frequent supplies of small goods and smoked fish, which he sells at lowest prices. Suppers are still a specialty, while afternoon tea may be had at all hours.

A "long night dance" will bo held at the Te Horo Hall on Friday nigkt next as advertised, when every provision will be made for. the enjoyment of those who attend. Supper will be provided, while a good floor and good music arc guaranteed.

A speaker at a Farmers' Union meeting at "Wyndhum gave a notable instance of the wonderful change in property effected by dealing with land that had been badly infested with rabbits and its carrying capacityseriously reduecd. Firstly, it was securely wirenetted, and then war was waged on the rodents in the enclosure, so that now there is not a rabbit to be seen on the land. The consequence is that on an area of 250 acres 700 sheep arc maini t a hied. . .

1 A curious reason was given at a rej cent sitting cJ! the Pukckohe _ S.M. i Court for the non-attendance o£ Native ' children at school*. The Auckland Edu- ' cation Board truant officer (Mr 8. ' Small) said the parents kept the childrcn away from school in order to "pay the Government out for forcing the Maoris to go to the war." The case constituted (says a contemporary) a Native application of the saymg bite one'* nose to spite one's facc.' ;

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

For Bronchial Coughs, take Woods' Graat Peppermint Cure,