THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 1919. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 18 August 1919, Page 2

THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 1919. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The total estimated population of Sew Zealand on 30th June was 1,201,587.

A freehold farm of 252 acres, especially suitable for dairying, is advertised lor sale.

The Government offices throughout the Dominion will be closed on .Monday, 22nd September (Dominion Day).

"The Better 'Ole." a picture that has aroused a deal of interest in the larger towns, will be shown at Otaki at an early date.

Hares are reported to be very numerous in the Masterton district just now, and are said to be doing considerable damage to orchards and ornamental trees.

The Dannevirke Chamber of Commerce has decided to request that all goods from Wellington for Dannevirke be sent by the Manawutn railway line, instead of by way of Wairarapa, on which line, there is only an alternate day service.

"A child is always impressed by the things that are about him. In Campbell ."Street school he is up to his knees in mud and and 'Things' are crawling about in the cracks." was the roseate picture of the present educational environment voiced by a speaker at Palmerston Xorth.

At the meeting of the Palmerston North Hospital Board, the Board of Education applied for a refund of £8 19s Od which was expended in cleaning the Levin school after its use as a local hospital during the epidemic. The account was referred to the Pufelie Health Department lor payment. A month ago the "Dannevirke Xeire" announced the price of 37s a 'cwt as a local record for fat, but this was easily topped at Tuesday's sale. when fat in kerosene tins realised the astonishing figure of 46s per ewt. The prices of hides offered at the same sale were phenomenal also, ranging as: high a; (for average weights) £0 10s for farmers' cows, £3 Is for ox, and 17s 6d for yearlings. Xo calfskins were submitted, as the price of these is still under discussion -with the Imperial Government. It is. however, anticipated that a price will be fixed.before tie season when calfskins come on the market-

Referring to poisonous berries, etc.. of ocr Xcw Zealand native*, in the course of an interesting address ander the Btapieei of the local horticultural .societies, Sir Harold Small .'aid that it -acafi sot generally known that -though karak&~ were commonly eaten, the kernels are g?*aK£>s- Tlltu - ** *? eoamoaly known, is pfeoaCP*. _ Vjot " the shoot"- and tie berries eoatateuXg a deadly poises—-so deadly-that -*>l of drachm bad' sill*.! {-.-kitten in forty nunof es. while -OJi of a was sufficient to affect a -htrsan feeing vntsic 24 hours. Carbonate of B=unoci& was tie best-' *atidote for this, tcra paisonin.?■whidi"was 'resjsocjiibliS'ffl'i the deaij, c j£iiy juqJajjjb.

f; A watch on motorists, who pass through Otaki Railway at excessive speeds, was made last week, but drivers "dropped" to the fact, and in consequence their pace was greatly The unrcservod clearing sale, to be held on behalf of Mr Geo. Wells on Wednesday, should create a deal of interest, as the stock to be submitted is of good quality, while horses, spring drays, engine, etc., should be" keenly competed for.

We remind members of the Horowhenua Racing Club and A. and P. Association, also debenture holders interested in the acquirement of the' Levin racecourse and show grounds, of the meeting to be held in the Druids' Hall, Levin, on Wednesday, at 2.30.

Bootmaking.—r. "Garrett wishes to notify the public of Otaki and district that he has resumed business as boot and shoemaker. Old and new customers please take notice. Address: Duastan Street, Otaki.—Advt.

A meeting of representatives of Christchurch city and country districts to decide the form of a peace memorial discussed several schemes, including a Town Hall and Hall of Memories, and appointed a committee to suggest, a scheme acceptable to town and country.

More light and more ironing at less expense! The Kerona, a marvellous lamp, inaugurating a new era in illumination, will give 15 hours on a pint of kerosene, while the Imperial benzine iron will iron for 3 hours for less than Id. Guaranteed. —Full particulars J. C. Better, Otaki.—Advt.

Some anxiety has been caused to holders of season and annual tick6ts as to their position under the new regulation. The railway authorities state that holders of the classes of tickets mentioned will be granted a permit covering a period of one month, if it can be shown that their interests will be detrimentally affected if not allowed to make use of the railways. In the course of his address at Otaki on Friday night, Mr Harold Small said that scientists estimated that there arc over 1400 varieties of flowering shrubs, and of these three-quarters are found in New Zealand, and nowhere else in the world. This alone proved how wonderfully rich this country is botanically. In the opinion of Dr. Elizabeth Gunn, schools cleaned by the children are the best, and if the cleaning were made a part of i the curriculum it would do a lot of good. A supply of vacuum cleaners, dustlcss mops, etc., would be necessary, but these could be purchased with the money at present paid to custodians. To induce the pupils to take a pride in their schools would, no doubt, be of assistance to their general education. .

' Discussing our native tree.-! °a*d shrubs, at the horticultural gathering at Otaki on Friday night, several of those present expressed much regret at the ignorance displayed by most people in this direction, and Mr Small expressed the opinion that the educational authorities should use the school journals and other means to give all school children a grounding in New Zealand flora, which was recognised as specially interesting.

A different view to that generally taken by county councils was adopted by the Oroua County Council to the ~S.Z. Automobile Club's remit, which came before it recently. Councillor, considered that the wholesale removal or cutting down of trees and hedges would only facilitate excessive speed on the part of motorists. With Tegard to the matter of painting bridge approaches white, the Council considered that the Automobile Union itself should perform this ivork. and no action was taken in the matter.

"I don't believe." said Sir Joseph Ward, "that we can depend very much

on any sum of any consequence coming to New Zealand in the way of indemnity. When the Germans have met the claims for reparation—£s,ooo,ooo,000—it will mean an immense sum of money which they will have to find in the next 30 years —a mighty long time in the plans of a nation. During that period it will be impossible for anyone to collect indemnities. In this country our safe rule is to believe in our own strong right arm. and not to rely on the payment of extraneous millions to repay the millions we have spent. It is premature to assume what may come in fifteen or twenty years. In the

me our returned soldiers are entitled to the best consideration of the people of this country —they and their dependents. We have to make up our minds from now onwards to make this country better for our children and our el. "'-Iron's children."

•■ In ray - opinion no country that wants to keep abreast of the times, can afTcrd to stan/i out of aviation for 1c ig.'.' That remark of Sir Joseph W rd.'s. sums up his ideas of what Xew Zi *!and should do in the development fit flying. The Minister of Finance stated to a reporter that already, in Great Britain, it was an everyday occurrence tot both morning and evening newspapers to be carried from London, in specially designed airplanes, to rarions parts of the kingdom; and there was a daily service from Britain to Paris. Cologne and to other important

centres on the Continent. That showed what might be done in the way of mail services to the more isolated parts. Also, Sir Joseph stated that there was a daily passenger service in Knglasd, Scotland and Ireland. In one steamer

crossing the Atlantic to America, there travelled ie-ven people who had sussed their trains to the port and made th* connection i,y airplane, taking their luggage with them, The ills, of life are infinite.

But few unbroken health enjoy. SizjiTZ as we may to keep it right,

S-ome stres-s the fcaiante doth destroy. la. winter this is e~er so, Of sore throat, cough, or cold we're

Tit then we know the debt -we owe To Welcome- Woodi* Great Pepjer

The State schools throughout the "Wellington district re-open to-morrow, after the spring holidays. Elsewhere Mr Fred; Coley, of Waij hoanga, states he is not the man sued 'for debt by the JST.Z. Automatic Bakeries.

Motor ears are not all expensive. Evidence in the Masterton Court elicited the fact that a motor car had been sold to a Masterton resident for £3O.

Xearly £6,000,000 has been spent by the Government for the purchase of estates in New Zealand for the settlement of soldiers on the land and purchasing houses for returned men.

Most drapers and tailors arc lamenting the shortage of woollen ' goods. Stiles and Matheson are one exception to the rule, however, because with their usual foresight they purchased weeks back a line range of woollen tweed suits for the special benefit of local men. Rend about them in th« advertisement in this issue.

"As to reparation," said Sir Joseph Ward at Christchurch, "the only regrettable thing about it was that to secure it Germany must bo given an opportunity to trade with the countries with which she was at war recently. It is a sad commentary on our achievement as victors," commented Sir Joseph, "but it is a hard fact all the same." -

Those whose business does not force them to travel should be thankful just, now! Conditions arc pretty disheartening, but there's one thing certain — residents do not have to go out of Mnnakau for their household and personal needs —Mr Andrew lias everything wanted at the lowest prices. See new advertisement on first page of this issue. A suggestion that blocks of undeveloped "land should be asquired anil broken in by groups of returned soldiers is being taken up by the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, which is making tentative inquiries on the subject. It is understood that the Minister for Lands is favourably disposed towards the scheme. The broad plan is that a number of returned soldiers, suitable to the size of the, pro-' porty to bo acquired, will begin work at a contract rate to be agreed upon, for all that, is necessary for providing access, etc., to the block. The sections into which the. block will be subdivided will be balloted for. .»

At a largely attended meeting of the Wellington branch of the Social Democratic Party on Thursday night, 'a motion was carried unanimously expressing horror at the rcintroductiou of flogging in New Zealand .by Mr Justice Stringer, and emphatically protesting against the Judge's attempt to cure brutality with brutality, or to end outrage with further outrage. The meeting further expressed its sympathy with the child victim of the Petone outrage, with the little girl's parents, with the relatives of the condemned man, and with the unfortunate prison official who may have to carry out, "one of the most revolting of tortures."

According to the Journal of Public Health there is a great difference in the manner in which relief is bring administered to widows whose husbands died during the influenza epidemic. Some of the hospital boards, in eases where a widow has no means, arc allowing the full 10s Od for each child and £1 5s for the mother, less, of course, the widows' pension drawn by the widow; a few boards, however, arconly granting the 10s'lid for the children and nothing for the mother.

whereas in one or two instances it appears that the full amount is not being allowed for the children. The Minister has expressed flic desire that these pensions should be administered generously, and with full appreciation of all the facts. The board must, of course,

use it* own discretion and deal with each case on its merits. Where: it is ascertained that the children will otherwise .-uffcr, the full amount should be granted. The relief docs hot extend to widows who lost their husbands subsequent, to 31st January, on which date the epidemic was considered to have run its course.

Reference was made by the Minister of Public Health on Thursday to a recent discussion by the Auckland Farmers' Union on the subjects of birthrate and the cost of parentage. He stated that he did not think that he estimate of £ls made by a speaker at the meeting as the cost of a birth in a r.-orking man's family was excessive. There were now six St. Helens Homes in the Dominion- —at Auckland, Wellington. Giiborce, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Invercargill. At these homes the average cost of a birth was trbout £4. The hospital board- also were taking a very active inwre-t in this good work, and hornet had been es.tablV.hed tinder boards at Blenheim, Pic ton and Napier. Everywhere the boards; were being encouraged to establish homes and to ran them on the .same lines as the St. Helen- Homes. One of'the primary objects of the St. Helen*-; Homes' was the training of inidwivcs. Tha Department was also sradisg oat into the back-block* district norsCs, who had had training in midwifery, and it was hoped that gradually the whole Dominion would he covered . i>y this scheme, the tost of which wa* largely borne by the Health Department. The Deportment also assisted in the foundation of medical association*, and it I was the policy of the Department to encourage aviations _ to engage not trained midwife. Th* Boy Scant movement continue* to make progress ' throughout" the ; DonuKtoo, and the rising generation ■ are without a doubt deriving very great benefit from it.. A smart band; of : Seotrts, Tir<ler an efgcienr leadc-r. get a j lot of enjoyment oat of life, and con- '■ trive to -make 'it, maeh. more interest- i ing-. All S&oats raiH "be glad to know J that for Sg <Jd they can- bay the bett j quality Sconr Hat post free from ti». ', ]

GEO. 3POWUJS, -1,-m, Maaaex* Street, Wellington.

Owing to unforeseen circumstances tlic Native concert, to have beon held on Wednesday next at Otaki, has beea postponed till September 10th. A two-year-old Holstehi - Fricsiwn . heifer, owned by Mr K. Melvin, jun., of Masterton, has produced 19,5551 b of 2 milk and 67-llb of butter-fat iu a year |!Hiis is a record for the Dominion.

The fortnightly meeting- of the Otaki Literary and Debating Club will be held to-night, when %n impromptu debate will be held. Readings, etc., will bo given, and discussion,ensue on tho contributions.

Mr IT. L. Bcauchanip, who recently sold his Waihoanga property, has purchased a part of tho Best, estate, Hautere Cross —the farm at one time owned by Mr Isaac Taylor, and will take possession immediately.

AVe are now stocking a line of Gent's rubber soles, easy to nails supplied (Redfern brand). Try a pair. Also in stock: Section and Pluval Leather Preservers, 9d, Is, and Is (Jd. — Irvine's Shoe Store, Otaki.—Advl.

Last night was a particularly black, wet night, and, as appears to be customary on such occasions, the street lamps-were not lighted, much to the annoyance and discomfort of people who attended the various churches.

Mr H. 11. Olliver, builder and contractor, who is removing from his prosent quarters, is taking up temporary residence at Moutcre House, Otaki Railway, and anyone wishing to consult him on business matters should make a note of the. fact.

Owing to (he railway restrictions the Southland County Council cannot get material to repair its roads. Tho Council has advised the-Minister of Railways of this by telegram and complaining that the Department is not. dealing with tho present positisn in a satisfactory manner.

On Friday afternoon last some twenty children of the Otaki Convent school gave, a concert at the Otaki Sanatorium, their, items being much appreciated by the patients niiil staff, who desire to return hearty thasks t« the Rev. Father Maillard and the Sisters for their kindness in arranging this pleasant little gathering.

Mr G. Anderson has been instructed to sell, on behalf of Major Aldington, on the premises, near Otaki. on Saturday, August 30th, the whole of his superior household furniture, and effects. Besides some splendid carpots, blankets, linoleums, chesterfields, chairs, etc., there will lie a number of implements, etc. A motor 'bus will leave thn Otaki post ofliec at 10.30 and Otaki Railway at 11.5 for Major Addington'* premises.