THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1919. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Otaki Mail, 29 December 1919, Page 2

THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1919. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A number oi’ "sports” journeyed to Palmerston for races during tins ht-li-days, while others spent their sojourn ■i Wellington and elsewhere. ill L. St. tjeorge, Chemist, nolifns htif ;i lute weather prevails his busies.- pj cruises will be closed on Xcw t ear 's: Day and tho following day. Mr Massey has received a communication from the Imperial Board t*f Trade stating that during the present export season spruce in outward vessels will l.e found for flO.Ouo cases of applies and bum tons of frozen rabbits. Tenders are invited by the Palmerston North Hospital Hoard for rations and funerals at Oiaki for Die year

li»2t). Particulars can be obtained from the secretary of the Board, and tenders close on Tucsdav. January Oth. at noon.

Train arrangements in connection with the New Year holidays tire advertised in this issue. Fuller prarticulars may be obtained from booklet to be obtained free on application at all railnay stations.

A grand leap year dance will be held in Te Horo Public Hall on Thursday (New Year’s Night), and promises to be v great success. The management

is in capable hands, and it is fully anticipated that Visitors will be present 1 rom various par-ts of the district. The popularity of Otaki seaside resort was manifest during She holidays, when visitors were present from various parts. Surf bathing was indulged in by largo numbers, the weather being perfect.. Yesterday no less than 200 partook of afternoon tea at the kiosk. Wc are fitting round rubbers free on ladies’ footwear until the new year. Just arrived new lines in suede, patent and glace shoes. You will want a pair for the holidays, and you will save money by buying from us. Inspection invited. Irvine's Shoe Store. Otaki.— Advt. There was a great crowd at the Manawatu Pricing Club’s meeting on Boxing Day. despite bad weather, and again yesterday. On Boxing Day the sum of £61.621 was put through the totalizator. and yesterday £36.562, these figures representing a very large increase on those for the previous year. At the first day’s races at Auckland, on Boxing Dap-, no less than £124,016 was invested on the totalizator—nearly double the figures for the first day of the corresponding meeting last year. As a result of representations by the Wellington District Bide Association, the Defence Department has made important concessions in the matter of ammunition. A free issue Is to be made once annually as follows: —Por approved district rifle meetings, up to 23,00)* rounds: for approved group meetings, 5060. With the prospects of increased interest this year in rifle shooting, this decision of the- Department will be received with widespread satisfaction among riflemen. The forthcoming New Year meeting, promoted by the- Wellington Astociitiox will benefit fcy tic arrangement.

A picture entertainment-aud vaudeville show will take place at Otaki on January 22nd, while that line picture, “The Sentimental Bloke, ’ 7 will be shown here on the 23rd.

Several of the leading business people of Otaki advertise that their premises will be closed all day on Thursday and Friday next, January Ist and 2nd, for the New Year holidays. Otaki. Mtuitikau, and Te Horo shopkeepers all report record business for the Christmas trade. Despite the very high juices ruling for nearly all classes of goods, people bought freely, and there was abundant evidence that money is plentiful in the district. Matches are turned out in huge quantities by machinery. The machines now in use cut up great planks of wool into match splinters at lightning'speed. The ends of the splints are then passed through a paraffin bath, and receive their heads. Reduced prices for stylish costumes are advertised by .Stiles and Matheson in tills paper. The costumes are displayed at their Christmas bargain carnival. where all prices are substantially cut. Read the items listed in the advertisement. The Sunday train yesterday was freely patronised, and brought a very large number of visitors to Otaki and other parts of the district. On the return journey last evening the train was very full, a large number of holiday makers availing themselves of the

opportunity of returning to the city after the Christinas holidays. The scene at the Otaki railway station w.as a very busv one indeed.

It appears that a great many letters and telegrams intended for Palmerston -North arc reaching Palmerston (Otago), owing to the fact, that these have been wrongly addressed. Many people, apparently, are not aware that Palmerston is a town ill Otago. Fetters. efe.. intended for Palmerston North must be properly addressed to that town. If simply addressed “Palmerstonthey go south. We have been asked by the Postal Department to make this matter public, in order to save further trouble. Otaki. Waikanao, Puraparaumu, and Paekakariki are yearly becoming more popular as holiday resorts, and theic can be no doubt that there is a great can be no doubt that there is a great respect. During the past week or so a very large number of visitors have patronised various parts of the district, more especially at the seaside, and all available accommodation has been filled. The Otaki beach has attracted a great many, aud there are still a large • ombor h£ visitors in tliri town and at the beach. A New Zealand merchant, writing to

a New Plymouth l'riend from I ancouvor under dale November 23, states, inter alia: —“Paper is going to be dearer, the demand being greater than •the supply. everything is booming viciously. I have been told by everyone in the trade that paper is better than sovereigns, and will be so for two years. There is a great opening here for our butter, meat and tallow. Meat i- over 2s per lb, butter 3s, eggs Is to p"r dozen. Labourers- are receiving O'i per week.” It was rather tut gallant of the electors of New Zealand-that two women candidates were not given enough votes to save their £lO deposits. Neither Mrs Cook (Thames) nor Mrs Bauxite (Parnell) scored votes equal to one-quarter of the number registered by their successful opponents —-- Mr Dickson and Mr Rhodes. No fewer than 22 candidates had to forfeit their deposits, including that veteran ex-member of the House. Mr 11. O. Ell, who is also an exCabinet. Minister. —“Eeildiiig Star.” From Perignan, France, cornea the story of an infant four years of age, who is supposed to have been carried off bv ;m eagle aud devoured in the mountains. The child disappeared from the village of Muranges, near the ."Spanish frontier. An active search failed to reveal any trace of the child. At lust a group of villagers who ascended the mountain of Cancardus. looking for some horses which had escaped. found the bones of an infant, some scraps of linen, and a pair of tiny sabots. The unhappy parents were called and recognised the sabots as those of their infant. Near the bones was discovered a nest of eagles. It i>: thought that while the child was playing in a field an eagle swooped down .- ad transported the little fellow to its eyrie.

sir George Bur-xi.-, grandfather of Lord Inverclyde, along with David Melver and Samuel Canard, founded t!.c great Cuuard line of steamships. I. -rd Inverclyde, who has just died. « educated at Repion, and showed • at business aptitude. He was pre- : lent of the Chamber of Whipping v '.on 30. He was only 55 years old, d was the third baron of that title. - scec-ding his brother in 1503. It was owing to the death of his brother, following quickly on. that of his father, .-Lick caused Lord Inverclyde to takeup completely the reins c*f btxsines.-- ■ Castle Wemyss, his seat at Kirkcaldy, stands so close to the sea that the waves almost break over the terrace, . and near it are the ruins ox ifacduir’s historic castle. Mary, Queen of Scots, met Darnley at old Castle Wemys*. The successor to the title is the Hon. •John Alan Burns, who served in the Scots Guards, and was wounded in the war. What man is there who has not w-hilst in a desperate haste to keep an appointment experienced the annoyance of having to wrestle with a fie that is difficult -to adjust. It will not slide, in fact it absolutely refuses to budge. Such a situation is a strong incentive to indulge it; impolite expressions. An effective way of obviating all this her been found by GEO. FOWLD.S, LTD., of -Manners Street. Wellington, whose latest shipment includes a choice selection of MiiefceH. slide-easy ties. The latest and smartest' —see then.

A Press Association message from Dunedin states than an anaonymous donor has presented £2300 to Otago University.

•Silk thieves, some of a gang which deals in -the-best, of the material and which had been inactive for some time, reappeared in Sydney recently, and broke into dve works at Waterloo, and took away silks and gaberdines valued at £IOOO.

Our readers arc asked to resolve to make Howard Andrew’s their store for 1920 and secure the advantages of better merchandise, better service and btter values. In wishing all customers the compliments of the season, Mr Andrew desires to thank them most sincerely for the liberal support accorded him during 1919.

The price of new boots is prohibitive in many families, and in consequence it is advisable to have old boots repaired. Take them to F. Barriit-t, who makes them as new with the best of leather and workmanship. Don't delay, send your boots and shoes at once—F. Barratt, Duuslan Street, Otaki Rail wav.—Advt.

A schoolgirl, Oft in height, appeared at Tottenham Court, when her mother was summoned because of the girl's absence from school. “Why don't you go to school;” she was asked. “Because the other girls call me ‘Long ’uo.' and I don’t like it,” she replied. The magistrate: You have been summoned four times already. The girl cried, and said, “I can't bear them to call me ‘long ’un.’ ” lined 15s.

At a meeting of the Taita Cemetery Board at Lower Hutt last week. Messrs M. Welch (chairman). Judge. Knight, and Pemberton were present. The resignation of Mr J. Wakeliam was received. Mr Pemberton, the appointee of the Hutt County, was welcomed in his place. The balance-sheet showed that the receipts were £26> 13s 3d, and the expenditure £212 17s Gil, leaving a credit balance of £53 los Pd.

The agricultural contributor to the “Morning l’ost ” is surprised that New Zealand is not sending more cocksfoot seed to England. “The failure of New Zealand.” he says, “to compete with Denmark as a source of supply for cocksfoot is a disagreeable fact. When llie war broke out hard fescue and cocksfoot, which do not seed well in England, were profitable b'tle appanages of our New Zealand fellowsubjects. ’ ’ The following is from the “Lltham Argus: “Dead and dying trout are lying in numbers on the banks of the Waingongoro river, just below a bacon factory. Children are taking these liiish home, and po.ssibly they are being eaten. As we understand that the attention of tire Borough Council ami the Health Officer has been drawn to the matter we refrain from any comment as to the probable cause of flic mortality amongst the trout. One ol the “Argus” staff visited the locality, where he saw the dead fish frem the fry stage up to half-pounders. upwards Of 2‘yoPo eases of bniiana.arrived from Fiji by the Tablin', which reached Auckland a lew day* ago. Tinfruit I* reported to be a line shipment (stales the “Herald’'), and as <•• ••<!. favourable weather was experienced on the trip it reached the northern p-r! in splendid eonditiin. Ji is understood the fruit was sold at 21s to 25s a casm Another line of fruit that reached Auckland was. 9900 cases ot applebrought front Canada by the Niagara. The Flora, due from the Eastern Pncilic next Tuesday, is also bringing fruit. The pros and cons of smoking for women were very aptly summed up by an old family doctor (writes “M.P.C.” in the London “Evening News”). “'The majority of women ought not to

smoke,” he said, “and for this reason. Women are very seldom able to do things in moderation. They have a tendency to go to extremes, and if they contract an injurious habit -- be it drugging, drinking or smoking—they are much more likely- to let it get ti dangerous hold on them than tip.- men. Two or three cigarettes tv day cannot do much harm to any adult, but very few women Late sufficient self-corn-maud to stop there.”

A well-known Wanganui astronomer has received the following query anent a very prominent question: —“Is it a fact Mr W , that most astronomers

are total abstainers?” To which be has sent the following witty reply:-!

“Well, yes, roost of them are more or less immersed in the Milky Way, 3et it is a notorious fact that most astronomer;;' arc fond of their glass, and each one tries to use the largest within his reach. Moreover, they have before them the evil example of the sun, who.

apparently, always a ‘ spot ’ when so disposed. Then there is the moon, which is ‘full’ at least once a month; while, as far the planets, their erratic movements at these times when they appear near the meridian, at midnight, are very suggestive of a departure front that state of gravity which is considered to be the universal condition of ail celestial, and some torrential, bodies.” The “Auckland Star” says there is indignation in Auckland because Dr. Endietsberger, released a week ago from Narrow- Neck camp, has been given preference for a telephone connection over 400 citizens. who have been on the waiting list for some time. The “Star” has learned that sudden iastruptiots came to the Auckland exchange to connect 3250 with the Oueen Street rooms of the alien doctor, and the questions that are puzzling prospective telephone subscribers i» “ Who gave the instructions?” “Whence did they come?” The officers of the telephone exchange say quite- frankly that they do not know whence the instructions came. It is not their btr-i----tms to know. Eat'all the same, tfah subversion of the rights of so many patient British applicants-is favour of one who is neither a British subject cer upon the waiting list at the Auckland exchange is at prejest bringing ugiy words from the souths of scores or disappointed people.