LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Otaki Mail, Volume 27, 26 November 1919, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr Harold Jones, of Otaki, lias purchased Mr AV. J. Diaper’s stationery business at Xe Horo", and hopes to take possession on the first of next month. The soldiers’ shop day, to be held Oil Saturday, is creating interest, and the heads of the various departments anticipate a most successful time. Besides the attractions previously advertised, there will lie on sale cream, cheese, sliced tongue, and pressed meat. Full particulars tire advertised. Anniversary services in connection with the To Horo Methodist Sunday School will be held on Sunday next at p.m. and 7.30 p.m.. when the Rev. H. Daniel will preach. A social will be held in the church room on Friday. December nth, when the distribution of prizes will take place. A sharp frost occurred at Mastcrton on Sunday night. The whole of the potato crops. French beans, etc., were cut down. The damage is estimated at hundreds of pounds. One amateur gardener lost over 1200 tomato plants, and Mr Hale, the nurseryman, had thousands of yearlings destroyed. While 35 fresh cases of influenza, including one pneumonic case, were reported on Monday at Hamilton, there were no cases in the Auckland districiThe Auckland health officer states that colds arc common in the city, but the general health of the community is good. Patients and contacts at Hamilton are being isolated. At the last meeting of the Foxton Horticultural Society a letter was received from Mr H. AVitchcll, of Otaki, an ex-president of__ the society, who made valuable suggestions in reference to the classification of bulbs. It was decided to thank Mr VviteheU for his suggestions and for his continued interest in the welfare of the Society. A poll is to be taken at Martiuborough on the question of raising a loan of £3OOO for the extension of the electric light. lit view of this it seems strange that Otaki, which carried a poll for a loan some considerable time ago, is unable to get the necessary money. Certainly these seems to be dilatoriness vine where! Word has been received that the rtnbulanee car subscribed for by the hildren of this district, which did such ood service in connection with the ■tar, in the Old Country, ana has recently been used between Wellington and Trentham. can now be spared by the Defence Department, and arrangements are being made for the ambulance to be sent to Otaki. where it will probably be available for u*e by the public in connection with the local | Hospital and Sanatorium. j At the committee meeting of the j Horticultural Society on Monday night, j it was mentioned that the aclemisnce 1 at last week’s show had been seriously affected by the weather and the fact ; that the streets were so dark at night , that people residing even a fw hundred yards away would not venture out in the blackness. It was stated that ) the street lamps lte-d not been lighted for weeks, and the Town Board came • in for severe censure, for neglect of its ] dotv in this connection. : j i The price of new bools i* prohibitive in many families, and in eofiaegsesee ' it is advisable to have old boots re- " paired. Take theta to F. Barrett. who makes them as new with the best of * leather and workmanship. Don’t delay, ' send your boots end shoe!: at * Barratt. Duns?an Street, Otaki Rail- " way.—Advt. . ,

The Native Land. Board is at present sitting in Levin.

Two divorce cases of local interest will be determined at Wellington tomorrow.

Mrs Hugh Hall, of Levin, has presented a handsome bannej to the Horo Tjvhenua- Rugby Union for competition,

The latest installation at the Levin telephone _ exchange is an electric ringer, an innovation that is being fully appreciated. A clearing sale, on behalf of Mr Alfred Whiley, will be held at Oliau at an early date. Full particulars will appear later. Attention is called to Mr R. A. Nieol’s replace advertisement in today’s “Mail.” Mr Nicol supplies all gardeners’ requirements. Mr T. A. King, stationer, has opened up a splendid range of Xmas and'New Year cards, and a fine array of toys, electro-plate goods, books, etc., especially suitable for presents.

A country correspondent of the Christchurch “Press” states that a gang of shearers on the Peninsula struck work recently because no beer was supplied.

We remind our readers of the clearing sale of stock .to be held on behalf of Miss Oldfield at Manakau to-mor-row. Several fine lines of stock and useful lines of implements, etc., will be submitted,

At a meeting of heme service nten in - Auckland-last week it was decided to I form a Now Zealand Soldiers’ Association for all men who wore the IvingV luniforru during the war, but did not 'leave New Zealand,

. A garden party will lie held at •Manakan on the’3oth‘December iu aid of the Anglican Church. Handsome donations have already been given by 'Mrs 1 Drake and Mr. Hornig, and Hie -affair promises to be highly successful

Prices of hosiery, in common with those of most other lines, have soared to liizzy heights, and it is interesting to note that Messrs Stiles and Mathcson, Ltd., have been enabled to offer great value iu silk ankle hose at -Is lid per pair.

. Those requiring Christmas and Nov. Year cards, leather goods," books, etc., (should make a point of calling on Mi Ken Aitken when in Levin. Mr Aitken keeps an up-to-date stock of all these lines, and has just opened up a speed ally fine lot, in view of the approaching Christmas season. If you want to save money ou your fcotwoar you cannot beat our prices. Just opened for summer wear: Ladies’ white shoes in court and strap styles: also a- full range of sandals in black and tun. —Irvine’s Shoe Store, Otaki.— Advt. The Levin Horticultural Society"' summer show, to be held in the Century Hall on Wednesday. December 3rd. promises to be most successful, keen competition being expected. Entries close on Monday, and wc* trust this district will be well represented.

Miss Louise Mack, the wonderful woman-who did such fiuc work in France and Belgium during over four years of war. and was on one occasion a prisoner in the German lines, will give a lecture at Otaki on Monday, provided suitable arrangements can b* made. A meeting of all young men interested in the Y.M.C.A. movement is called for the Druids’ Hall, Otaki, on Thursday (to-morrow) at 7.30 p.m. Cricketers are specially invited. It is hoped there will be a good muster of young fellows, so that a start may be 1 made with sports activities immediately. We understand that arrangements have been made whereby weekly meetings can be started almost immediately. “I have reason to believe that the riast soldier to-sail from England iaboard ship at the present moment.” said Mr Massey, in Teply to a deputation at Christchurch. He added that there would be a few straggelers coming back later, but those who wanted to come were now on their way. He came to this conclusion because one ship coming out had been able to takepassengers other than those who had been engaged in war work. During the thunderstorm in the Ashburton district on Thursday afternoon a thunderbolt struck a stack on Mr B. S. Sim’s farm, Carew. At first there was a cloud of dust, which was followed by flames, which quickly spread all over the stack, making it impossible to save any portion. The falling of the bolt was followed by a loud report as of an explosion. The storm at Carew was preceded by a hailstorm, the stones of which were an exceptional size. Heavy and beneficial rain followed. At the Carterton Magistrate's-Con r. yesterday Howard Harold Armstrong j pleaded not guilty, and was commit? c 1 for trial, on two charges of breaking and entering, with intent to eommi" •rime, one charge of breaking and entering and theft, one charge of having house-breaking implements ir„ his jos- - session. Accused, for whom Sir Johr. 1 Findlay appeared, reserved his defer j I Chief-Detective Boddam prosecuted • -? \ the police- Bail was allowed, self is-'l 2100 and two sureties of £SO each. The 3 case will be heard at the February | tings of the Supreme Court at Welling- | ton, J rfl Striking as they are when zaenlyv. quoted from the "New Zealand Office? - J Year Book,” the figures as to the great 1 increase in the number of the big I landed estates jtoee Massey Gov-1 JctS&lSßt came inti office prove on | analysis Such more startling than i»t first glance. They demonstrate '.that | land aggregation has indeed --been “going the ©see” during the part few years. The table to the,"Year Book” =kowa"ihsf .from iS-OS'ta MIS. the number .of holdings from JC*Ol to SflOO acres in area increased by 1533: that she number of holdings from 3061-to 10,46 b acres - increased by 107: the number from 10,001 to 20,000 acres by 50; and the number from 2 0/JOO to 50./.'•> acres br 34.—"NR. Times.”

■ tOE ' * Striking as they are when merely quoted from the "New Zealand Official Year Book,” the figures as to the great increase in tie number of the big landed estates force iks Massey Got* t &emsai came tot* office prove on analysis Such more startling than *i first glance. They demonstrate ; that 1 land aggregation has ‘ indeed fo&a “going the ©see” during the past few years. The table to the. “Yesrßook” showa"'that from l&OO'to MIS. the nam- - her of holdings iffivt 1001 io sfK>o acres in area increased by 1533: that the ©.amber of holdings from .35001 to 10,000 acres-increased by 107: the number from 10.00 1 to 20,000 acres by 36; and the number from 2 0,000 to 50/100' acres by 34.—"NR. Times.”

Thirty-five fresh eases of influenza, one being pneumonic, were reported from Hamilton yesterday. Patients and contacts are being isolated.

Au increase of 2d per lb has been made in the price of tea packed in New Zealand. Tea stocks are said to be low in the Dominion and Australia,