LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 1 September 1919, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The subject- for to-night’s meeting of the Otaki Literary and Debating Club, "Historical Otaki," should prove specially interesting, and should attract a full gathering of members. The Tainui Social Committee elsewhere returns hearty thanks to Mes'dames Gordon, J. R. Bills and F. Wilson for the splendid assistance given by these ladies at the social held last week. 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 ■ploase take notice. Address: Dunstan Street, Otaki. —Advt. A record price for fat cows for Hawke’s Bay was obtained by ihe Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Co-operative Association, Ltd., at Stortford Lodge yards last week, when they sold on account of- Marackakaho station a pron of prime fat Shorthorn cows at £22 per head. More light and more ironing at less expense! The Kcrona, 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 le-s3 than Id. Guaranteed. —Full particulars J. C. Better, Otaki. —Advt. "I do not know what is going to happen to this country,” said .Sir Robt. Stout at the Napier Supreme Court when speaking to a prisoner lie considered should have saved at least £1 •per week out of his earnings of £5. "The extravagance and waste that have gone on since the war are a disgrace to the community." The spring show to be held under the auspices of the Foxton Horticultural Society takes place on September 11th and 12th, the same dates as the Lower Hutt show. The Marfon Bulb Show takes place on .September 12 and 13, while the local Bull) Society’s show will be held on Wednesday, 17th inst. Woollen materials are still at a premium owing to labour unrest, but Stiles and Matheson, with their usual foresight. have managed to secure a very smart line of new Kaiopoi made costumes. which are now awaiting the inspection of local ladies, who are advised to read the advertisement in this issuft of the "Mail." The dance, held in the Theatre on Friday night to raise, funds for renovating the Tainui meeting-house, proved enjoyable. Splendid music was supplied by Miss Rikihana and Mr Enoka, while the management of the affair was in the capable hands of Mr W. King, who also carried out the duties of M.C. The floor was in good order, while the supper was fully appreciated. The picture entertainment and dance to be helcFot the Otaki Theatre on Friday of next week. 12th inst.. in aid of the local branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, should be freely patronised, as the returned men deserve the very heartiest support we can give them. Mr McMillan has promised a splendid picture programme, while the returned men will guarantee a firstclass floor and good music for the dance t f ollow. Notice to ask the following question was given in the House of Representat on Friday by Dr. Thacker, mern- -- r for Christchurch East: Whether t'.c Government will establish a univer- : 1 statutory Saturday half-holiday each week, and provide by law that if a whole holiday falls on any other day than Monday it shall be held on the Monday,' *o 'as to give the workers a week-end from Saturday midday til! Tuesday. Frank Morton, writing from Australia to the "Free Lance," says: Australia the Labour Party j* coming back to power, even In politic* Nothing can stop it. Xt is certain mat the National Party can’t stop it, for the National Party is for ever scuSing asd squealing and scratching to no purpose. If. and when the Labour Party, conies back to power, it will go straight for solidarity and will takeprompt measures to satisfy and win the industrialists. That will mean smashing taxes aimed at wealth, new graduation of the income tax aimed -»t people who earn much more than the average worker, systematic price-fixing on a narrow margin, constant exter.£«oii o; 'State and Commonweal is enterprises. It is coming. The profiteer its Australia is hastening its coming'. Most of the time he is stupid as an owl {with apologies to the owl).

A fairly sharp shock of earthquake rvas felt iu Otaki and district on Sunday morning; at about 10.10.

Tenders for concreting- footpath* in Otaki township close on Thursday. Tenders for cleaning the Mangapouri creek also- close the same day.

“1 got a consignment of building iron through the parcels office the other day,” remarked a Masterton.business man at a meeting held to discuss the railway restrictions. **

A timber miller stated the other day that about half the sawmills on the Main Trunk have closed down owing to the curtailment of the railway services. throwing several hundred men out of work.

ihrough Mr Isevton King’s agenev (savs the ‘‘Stratford Post”), fifty acres of land in the A'onnanby district has been disposed of at what is probably tlie record price for farm land in Taranaki, viz., £lso per acre.

In amended regulations under the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act, gazetted on Thursday, it is provided that in special eases the Minister for Lands may, on the recommendation of the Land Board, authorise an advance up to us much as £350.

The manager of Hawke’s Bay Fruit Growers, Ltd., Hastings, has been advised that the shipping control will most- likely allow no fruit to be shipped from the Dominion during 1020, owing to the quantity of meat, in the freezing chambers awaiting export.

As an' indication of the rapid rise in laud values in South Taranaki the Government valuations of the Ilawcra Riding of the Ilawcra County shows interesting figures. The capital value has been increased from £1,030,0-Pi in the 1912-13 valuation 1o £1,973,880.

Wo carry a large stock of footwear to select from, while new lines are arriving. Gent’s medium-weight Derby bootsall sizes 225; nailed and plated Shooters from 21s; a line of Ladies’ Glace Strap Shoes, big fitting, to clear 22s Od; Ladies’ and Maids’ Dairy Boots in stock.—lrvine’s Shoo Store, Otaki.— Advt.

Mr Broadway, in his talk on vegetable growing at Otaki on Friday night, quoted some remarkable crops of potatoes, etc., in Germany and America, resulting from the proper use of manures. The figures were regular “eye-openers.” Mr Wesley Knight, a local potato grower, stated that last season he had secured a crop of 21 tons to (he acre from one small plot, grown without manure of any kind.

The Industries Committee recommends that the Government should, at an early date, convene a conference of producers and importers of. the Dominion with a view to first of all endeavouring to come to an amicable and fair business arrangement with the steamship companies, so that reasonable rates and passenger fares may be fixed for a period of years. If the companies refuse to enter into a satisfactory arrangement,' the committee are of

opinion that tho Government should, in conjunction with our producers and importer.-. establish at the earliest possible moment a State line of steamers for the whole of our overseas trade. Speaking at the horticultural talk on vegetable growing at Otaki on Friday night, Mr Wesley Knight somewhat surprised the audience by stating emphatically that Nauru Island was going to be the curse of New Zealand, as the use of so much phosphates of the nature of that secured from the island would lead to club root in vegetables. Our greatest need in chemical manure- in New Zealand, said Mr Knight, was potash,'in which opinion Mr Email concurred. A brief but amusing comment on the present political situation was offered by Mr C. E. Statham, M.P., at a railway smoke concert held at South Dunedin. .Some years ago, he said, Sir •Joseph Ward was credited with singing a comic song entitled “There’s Going to be a Kow,’’ and to all appearances, it seemed to the speaker, there was going to lie a row when Parliament assembled in Wellington. “Politics just now,’’ added Mr Statham. “are something like a volcano. ’Some of us are going up, and perhaps we will not come down at all. I should not be surprised to see 50 per cent of new members in the House after the election at the end of the year.’’ The practice of employing boys t* deliver milk was discussed at the last meeting of the Dairy Employees’ Union of Wellington. A motion was passed to the effect that the Union “heartily endorses the expression of the Education Board of Dunedin re the nefarious practice of employing boys in the delivery of milk, as reported in the press of -fed August. The practice seemed to be prevalent in all towns in New Zealand. . . . "We want again to reiterate our previous protest, as the delivery of milk by boys has a deteriorating effect on the child, allows the irresponsible delivery of the most delicate. food to dhe people, and prevents able-bodied men from securing useful employment.’’ A copy of the motion is to be forwarded to the Otago Education. Board. There has been a good deal of controversy in all pans of the Dominion regarding the standardisation 0 f footwear, and there seems to be an urgent need for action. In spite of the- fact that leather is produced in. large qmr>title* in New Zealand, footwear pricer continue to soar, and it U no easy matter to get reliable boots and shoe, at a reasonable price. A smart fitting leather lined glace kid boot for SZi fid * deeiued bargain 'in the,,-- times and tne fames* “Keltic’*, make at ?Jr~ j* another line worth investigating. We have good stocks of both and invite you. when in town, to visit our cosaTaodioas store and inspect these worthwhile goods. GEO. FOWLDS, LTD., Planners Street, 'Wellington.

"Vital statistics for,. Otaki for the* nionth .of Augustßirths 4. marriages , -> deaths u. Natives, nil

The Foxtoa Tennis n»> season on tt US

An important notice to subscribers to the Otaki Public Library appears eliJaere.

Messrs Bills and Moore are now making a display of new millinery. KesideiUs should inspect.

It is understood that the Premier i s about to issue immediately a YktonGnr Loan of £10,000,000.

A move is ou foot in Levin to erect a suitable memorial for fallen soldier, ami a meeting for the purpose will be utdd on Wednesday uight.

A Government caucus will be held toniS*V T ' h<3U if is generally believed that the Premier will announce the appointment of two, or perhaps three, new -Ministers.

The deputation appointed by recent public meeting to interview the Minisrc cr ;7 tio “ of .1 new post Office at Uiau will journey to Wellington on Wednesday next for that purpose

A capital programme has been prepared for the Native concert to be f IVCU 0“ Mth inst, in aid of the oeal library and the Otaki Football Uut ;- P;lr ‘mulars will be advertised ui otir next 'issue.

A bachelors’ ball will be held at Te Horo on Friday night next, as advertis'd. As usual at these functions, excellent arrangements are being made by an energetic committee, with Mr Fitzgerald as secretary, and a pleasant tune is promised all who attend

The following are the dates of the district Bulb Shows:—Fox ton, Septcwher 11th and 12th; Rongoten, Scptcmtier loth; Otaki, September 17th. Schedules and entry forms may be obtain e-d from the secretaries in each centre.

The monthly meeting of the Ilorowheima County Patriotic Association will be held at Levin on Wednesday afternoon. At this meeting Mr Goldsmith will move: “That in vimv 0 f the increasing demand for grunt ioans to soldiers as investments be reconsidered by this Association.”

Tho , Mnn-ikau Peace Celebrations Committee has now received its Government subsidy. The sub-committee ap. pointed to settle matters in connection with the celebrations (Messrs C. Nees and W. Dalzcli) after meeting all liabilities, will now be able to hand over a balance of about £lO to fho llorowhemia County Patriotic Association.

The schedules for the Uorowhcnua Horticultural and Industrial Society’s next Spring and Autumn Shows are now being issued. The Society has prepared a splendid prize list, and, ns usual, a generous number of ..penial prizes- have been offered by supporters Of this deserving organisation. Copier of the schedule may be secured free on application to the secretary (Mr S, Norgrove), and wc recommend intending exhibitors to secure a copy at once.

The Industries Committee, consisting Of eleven members of Parliament, has reported to the Government in favour of the complete nationalisation of the coal measures of New Zealand, under * board of control, and that tho State should own and control the necessary shipping for the carriage of coal. The

committee also recommends that nn expert rennet maker should tie secured from abroad, and that the Government ihould encourage research work for the utilisation of waste products from the dairy factories. Mr Broadway, in bis address on | vegetable growing, at Otski on Friday, said a new method of growing onion* 8 was now being freely indulged in. In- f stead of sowing seeds, sets were planted. It was claimed that by this method the crop was assured, at considerable less trouble, and in much lc.-» time than growing from seed. The atit are small—about the size of small pickier—and specially selected for the purpose. Mr Broadway J* experimenting himself with this system of growing onions, and the result will be looked I forward to with interest.

Xcxt sitting day of the House of 1 Representatives, Mr W. If. Field (Otaki) is to ask the Prime Minister, ft “Whether the Government will without timber delay favourably consider the question of. the nationalisation of \ main arterial roads, and paving them with concrete or other durable material which will carry the fast-increasing motor traffic; and whether they will follow the cour-o adopted in several other countries of constructing and dedicating national memorial roads as a lasting and fitting monument to our soldiers who have laid down their live.-; ir the Great Wart”

After some eight years’ successful management, Mr A. E. Anderson ha* disposed of hi* general storekeeper’* business at Otaki to Mwr» McDougail Bros, and Co., who will open to-morrow f Tuesday) morning. Messrs Me Bengal! Bros, are both returned .soldiers—young, energetic and progressive men who have had considerable burine... experieuee while their father 'Mr A. McDoogaJ!) is very well known in the district, he having resided at T« Horo, Bikiorangi .*.ud Totemra. The new firm is determined to ran thc-btuiscM on up-to-date linear, and to use it* titmo.-? endeavour* to merit the support of the public. We «vi,h them' every in their new vesture, and cordially recomnJend the firm to the public for a share of it* support. -Vairakei is the coming pleasure resort, ami Rotorua will have to look to its laurel*,” «aid a traveller to » Waikato Times” representative la Rotorua recently. It i* under-too* that the company which ha* purchased •be who Is estate will #pca/J £K*y»* in forming teas;* courts, croquet la war. bowling greens, golf t-oar.-e/. etc. Work hr . already eonrs&errecj, «s.i building If going space. It i* *abi of Wairak-i that it ha* all the sight/, and wonder* to be *cf« *.< Rotorua within a ,maji radius, and so long and tire/oare'dript Lave to be fakes. ' Tire .syndicate is said so coiui-t of m-lMtaww-a Aatltland business men, with plenty of moner behind them.

Arrangements are well in hand for the plain and fancy dress dance, to be held in Brights ’ Theatre on Wednesday night, and the newly-formed croquet club expects to reap a fair surplus to be used in the interest of the game, which is quickly growing in popular favour.