MISCELLANEOUS

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 25 June 1919, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS

’ The I 'l'eUding Star” has the following:—There is a statement to the effect that for some time it resident along Sandon road has been burning coal which ho uitg from an outcrop below his pi'gstve, ami that lie sent samples to the Mines Department, which gave tt good analysis of the coal-—of the soft, household material, similar to that which is imported front -the northern mines into Eeiltling. Another report lias it that a Palmerston business-mail

lias seen possibilities in the outcrop, and lias decided to develop it.

Authority has been obtained by the Labour Department to proceed with tile erection of 2.00 workers’ .dwellings throughout the Dominion. Applications for workers’ dwellings are now being received by the La..our Department from any persons whose total earnings

for the past year- have' not exceeded Ail applications must lie in the local office of the Labour Department by or not: later than .July Ist. Full particulars Van -be obtained from the local office of llic Labour Department. Imerge Street. According to a report - of the Acclimatisation Society the (ishing season at. Levin hits been disappointing, although good, jishi were captured from the Hurowhemm Lake. The Levin subcommittee to the Society consists of .Messrs W. Becher (chairman), H. B. France. H. S. George, W. Hughes. .1. Cooper, W. Watson, A. Greggan, C. H. Bould (secretary and treasurer), tintl Dr. Davies, who are doing well to promote sport for anglers.

It litis been announced that Mr Henry Ford and his son intend withdrawing from the Ford Motor Company. and forming a new company for the production of a ear to sell at £SO. It now stated that the shareholders in the Ford Company declare that -Ford V genius belongs to thgm by contract, and .are seeking tin injunction against the format ion of any company by Ford or his son in competition with them.

A complaint about his employees’ fondness for the turf was made by an employer in a saddlery trade dispute at the Arbitration Court at Auckland , states the .‘‘Star”). Recently, he said, his factory had virtually to close down because most ol the employees hail gone to the races, though it was not a- liolidnv. This se'emed to show

that his tneir were not" worried over the high cost of living. There was an attendance of about ffO settlers at a meeting held at Mongotea last week, convened by the- Rongotea Dairy Company to consider the question of establishing a dried milk factory in the district, and the proceedings were most enthusiastic. Those present expressed themselves as being in favour of the establishment of a dried miik factory, and it was decided .that four directors from the! Rongofea Dairv Company and four from the Glen Oroua Company be appointed-a committee to obtain further information and report to another meeting to be held a an early date.

Speaking of concrete roads, Mr P. K. deal, -chairman' of the Auckland Hailwavs..League, expressed the opinion at. New-Plymouth that in the future —the distant future —concrete roads would replace railways. This did not apply to main lines, but if tltu .North Island were wise, instead-of a thousand miles of branch lines being constructed. a> h ; - t ,V South Island, concrete roads would be taifl ns feeders to the main lines. The war experience of the Uni tod State? railways had developed sYstetn of trollies gad trailers on the mads, urn! it had been shown that these vehicles on-concrete roads could to day carry more than twice its much as all the railways and could beat the rtilwars hi low cost of transit for distances’up to 100 miles. Concrete roads had been found to reduce, the cost of cartage by half, compared with what it was on the ordinary metal or earth road., A sensational experience hvfc 1 a party consisting of Messrs P. A. Chapman. D. McCord. Ralre. ami Miss Mv-Oalhim (Hawcra). »t Matau. in the Upper Waits* ra. They intended crossing the river. 06 feet in width. i*y cage, an«l four being seated, the llttli .ineinber of the party; jumped \n behind, but the extra weight was too much for ■tlie'rypo. which parted before tbe journev was coo:f:]»*ted. precipitating the whole', of the passenger* jntothe river .17 feet .below. Fortunately there wn> ar the spot. arhK'hct one was servML-iv hiirr. Kalfe succeeded in* saving the two ‘the -other men nifhdtigh"unable to swim mtfnaged to t scramble mi*, i'll eventually reachin" thO' opposite side, bruised and wet. lint -glad to be on dry land again. Oneof the women had her .clothes practienllT tom off her. owing to being .-aught on a in the- river when she fell. —Stratford •• i’.ysf.' ’