LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 24 September 1919, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The totalisator tax" realised £239,273 last year, being £15,341 in excess of the figures for the previous year. Messrs Abraham and Williams, Ltd., have just completed the erection of up-to-date saleyards at Foxton, where they will hold regular sales in future.

The Otaki branch of the K.S.A. has decided to hold a grand ball on October 22nd, and tickets arc now being issued. The returned men are determined to make this function a brilliant success. Men looking for nice light underwear should call at Bills and Moore's shop, Otaki. This firm has an exceptionally, fine stock of light, comfortable underwear, and the prices are most reasonable.

The Levin Boating Club has ordered two new boats, and is having other boats thoroughly overhauled. The prospects of the coming season are good, a large number of new members of the club having been elected.

Though the attendance at the Otaki races on Saturday and Monday last was not so largo as usual, owing to tho railway restrictions, a very large number of cars traversed the roads to and from Otaki. We are glad to report that no accidents of a serious nature occurred on this occasion.

We are very pleased to be able to record the fact that Mr J. Nicholson's little boy, who recently sustained a, badly fractured skull through being kicked by a horse while playing at hi 3 home at Manakau, is now doing splendidly at the local hospital, and making good progress towards recovery..

Two inmates of the .Weraroa Training Farm who were partners in a more or less exciting journey, from tipper Hutt to tho .Wairarapa, were brought before a special sitting of the Juvenile Court on Wednesday. Mr W. G. Riddel], S.M., ordered the lads to be sent back to "Weraroa.

The Publishers' Association, New York, has decided to suspend tho publication of 125 periodicals, some of them having a national circulation, *f the printers' union does not reduce its demands for a forty-hour week and fourteen dollars weekly increase in wages. Tho Printers' Union is planning a strike on Ist October.

Late on Sunday afternoon Mr W. .T. Biggs, of Mastcrton, was killed at Taratahi, near Masterton, as the result of a motor car he was driving capsizing on the road througli a tyre bursting. Mrs Biggs was injured internally; Kathleen Biggs, aged 12 years, had Ber collarbone broken, while four other of deceased's children each received a severe shaking and minor injuries. Desmond Packer, one of the riders in the Steeplechase at the Otaki races on Saturday last, was thrown though his mount falling. Packer sustained slight concussion of the brain, and was taken to the local hospital. His injuries, however, were only slight, and he was enabled to leave the institution next day.

At the annual meeting of the Levin Bowling Club, held on Thursday evening last, Mr N. C. Holdaway was elected president, Mr W. J. Beading vice-president, and Mr W. Bull sccrciary and treasurer. The secretary was instructed to put in a challenge for the Dixon Cup. The opening of the season was fixed for Labour Day. The balance-sheet showed a credit balance of £4 4s in hand, which was regarded as most satisfactory.

Headers will be delighted to know that the ordinary railway time-table, as in operation prior to July 2nd, will in- resumed on Monday next. The restrictions regarding the carriage of goods and live sotcfc, which have been in operation during the coal shortage, were cancelled" as from Saturday last. The public will fully appreciate the removal of these irksome restrictions, iiuth as regards goods and passenger service. Advertisement re tho services appear elsewhere.

The attendance at the Otaki race meeting on Saturday and Monday last showed a marked falling off compared with previous meetings, this being very largely due to the restrictions imposed on the railway services, which not only prevented the public from traveiling to and from the races, but also

made it impossible for many horse

owners to race here. The totalisator investments for the two days were: First day, £14,075; second day, £14,159. making "a total of £28,234, as against £26,366 for the one-day meeting held in September of last year.

The interest taken in the essay competition in connection with the children's evening, held in connection TitTa the Otaki Literary aird Debating Jlub on Friday night last, was shown by the fact that no less than forty children competed. The judge (Mr Frank Penn) had a difficult task in allotting the prizes, there being but very little difference between many of the efforts. In another column of this

issue we publish the first and second prize' essays, which will doubtless be read with interet. Ethel -Tones was awarded first prize with 75 point". Alfred Knox ("Waihoanga) being next with 74, and Filby Pickett third with

Tour boys, like everyone, else's boy?, are still wearing oat elbows and knees, still kicking the soles off boots, and the problem of how to clothe them seems no nearer solution. Boys can't help knocking their clothes ont; it's natural with them. Still they have to be dressed neatly on occasion, and there is nothing .smarter than a well-made tweed or navy suit- 'When mothers are ia Wellington they should make a .point of inspecting our big sleets vf suits for boys from four to eighteen .year* of age. They cost from 2Sf Sd to j 55*. GEO. FOWLDS, LTD., Manners Street, Wellington. ' ''Woods* Great. Peppermint Care. For Chronic C&est Complaicte, .

According to the latest "Dairyman" tho Germans are reported to have purchased the next threo years' output of Argentine butter at 2s 7d per lb. At a meeting of members of Parliament it has been decided to advocate increasing the salaries of politicians to £SOO a year.

The Otaki Bowling Club will open its season on Wednesday, October Ist, when members and friends are invited to attend. Everything points to a successful season.

A Native lad, 19 years of age, on Monday appeared before Mr W. Tompsitt,. J.P., charged with drunkenness and ill-treatment of a parent. He was severely admonished and discharged.

A branch of the Y.M.C.A. has been formed at Koputaroa, with Mr S. A. Broadbelt as president, Messrs Annabell and Dunn vice-presidents, and Mr Forsyth secretary and treasurer.

During the past year 1739 films, amounting to 3,479,560 ft, have been examined by the censor, and fees amounting to £ll6O have been received. The receipts were in excess pf tho expenditure.

Bootmoking.—F. Barrett 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: Dunstan Street, Otaki. —Advt.

Mr Ralph Thompson, agent for the Daily Union, is this wcok distributing among its suppliers tho sum of £504 29s 6d, as bonus on the past season's supply. The total moneys paid out by this company for the Otaki district for jthc season was £7164 5s 3d.

A sign of the approaching end of tho session is the fact that the Prime Minister gave notice yesterday of his intention to move that on and after Monday next tho House shall sit at 7.30 p.m. on Mondays for tho'trnnsaction of Government business only.

A heavy snowfall in the back country of Canterbury occurred on Sunday and Monday, and big losses in lambs, etc., aro reported from several parts. The snowfall at Lako Coleridge was about 12 inches, and the electric power failed on Monday night, owing to both lines going. Market gardeners and others will be interested to know that Messrs Griffiths and Co., Ltd., fruit and produce merchants, of Wellington, on Friday hiHt disposed of the first consignment of green peas of the season. The peas, which came from Nelson, fetched no less than 7s per peck—a record for the Wellington, market, we understand. A Tc Horo farmer, who has recently been visiting the Hawkc's Bay <listriet, reports that the prospects are n6t particularly good for sheep farmers in that district, the lambing not being very good. He also states that the season seems a trifle earlier in this district than "in Hawkc's Bay. We arc now stocking Phillips' military rubber soles and heels; also the Ecdfcrn brand; also soles for making slippers auto lined. . Arch supports for the instep for those who suffer from flat feet. Buckle laces in tan, black, and patent leather. Irvine'h Shoe Store, Otaki. —Advt.

A meeting of ladies willing te assist in tho returned soldiers' ball to be held at Otaki next month is called for Friday afternoon next, at the Druids' Hall, to form a ladies' committee to further the project. A large gathering is hoped for, as it is intended to make this function a very large and succes.iful one.

It appears that a number of books belonging to the Otaki Public Library have been loaned to residents other than subscribers. The committee i-s anxious to have these returned, and by advertisement elsewhere those in possession of sach books arc requested to kindly return same.

At the annual meeting of the Bongotea Dairy Company, Mr H. H. Hunt spoke of the advantages derived from herd-testing. He bad himself reached a 3001 b butter-fat average. A motion was passed that a herd-tciting association be formed, the chairman being instructed to take the necessary action.

Extract from the Budget: "It is proposed to set aside this session not less than £IOO/100 to erect a national memorial, designed and carried out by the best talent available, which will perpetuate for all time the memory of those who with self-eaeriftcing devotion gave their lives to save the Empire, and be a constant reminder that there is no nobler duty thaa to sacrifice self in tho service of aIL"

Mr W. J. Bow advertises that he has an up-to-date new Bnick ear on hire for short or long trips. Having had a wide experience with motors, those who wish to hire a vehicle can depend on satisfaction if they engage Mr Bow, whosccbarges are most moderate. Mr Bow is local agent fer the Bnick and Austin cars, and will be pleased to give fell particulars of these splendid motor?, to any interested persons.

A visitor to the Otaki Tace=. Derail .Joseph Ollourke, with over £Cp in his possession, wa3 arrested by the police on Saturday for drunkenness. On Monday he was to have appeared before Mr W. Tompsiti, J-P-, but failed to do so. He waa fined 30s, which amount was deducted from* the money held by tke police. Later in the day CBonrke made application for the remainder of the'mOßey.

I Master Toffiray Gordon, sea of Mr ■ and Mrs Geo. Gordon, of Otaki, met I with a nasty accident at Otaki" this morning, fortunately not attended with serious consequences. The lad -was driving a milk cart. He alighted to deliver some milk in the town, and the horse started off. The boy ran out and got into the cart, bat by this time the animal had bolted, and the driver was. unable to govern it. A lamp post was thattered by the vehicle colliding with it. and the boy was thrown oaf, tee leg being badly braked by the fell, and the wheel passing over hi* foot- He very losMly escaped with so serious isjpxbm,

Tho latest addition to tho local iele. phone exchange is No. 3S (Sister Lewis, district nurse for the Natives). Lieutenant-Colonel Seotr, medical superintendent in charge of the To Wnikato Sanatorium, writes to tho Otaki Patriotic Society, heartily thauking the Society and the Otaki public for "the great kindness and interest the Society has displayed in supplying the men with many wants, and for all that has been dono to render their stay there less monotonous." He adds that the men have fully appreciated tho Society's work. It will be remembered that the Otaki people some considerable time ago subscribed for the purchase of two billiard tables for the uso of returned soldiers, then stationed at Otaki. The men were afterwards removed to* Cambridge, and the Otaki Patriotic Society had the tables sent there and re-erected at the To Wnikato Sanatorium. A fine collection of books, purchased through collections made at Otaki, was also sent on to the soldiers. Licnt.-Colonel Scott's letter refers to these matters. The soldiers arc now being transferred from Cambridge to other places—Waipukurau and elsewhere.

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, whilo the Imperial benzine iron will iron for 3 hours for less than Id. Guaranteed.—Full pArlicuiars J. C. Better, Otaki.—Advt.