THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1920. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Otaki Mail, 7 January 1920, Page 2

THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1920. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The rainfall at Levin for December, totalled I.sSin. Rain fell on 15 days/ For tho year the fall was 30.85 in.

The rainfall for Fox ton for December was 2.07 in, compared with 4.82 in for December, 1918. The rainfall for 1919 was 22.31 in, as against 38,30 in for 1918.

A Stoke (Nelson) fruitgrower has this season taken over £l2 worth of fruit from a cherry plum tree. The tree was planted 50 years ago, and has never received any cultivation.

An Auckland returned soldier drew his gratuity, amounting to £6O, early last week. At the end of two days he had nothing left. A waitress was charged with robbing him during a motor drive, but she alleged that the soldier had given her money with which to buy a new costume, and the case was dismissed.

In giving vent to his feelings on his discharge, an old soldieT wrote to his late colonel: “Sir, —After what I have suffered, you can tell the Army to go to Hell. “ In due course he received the following: “Sir, —Any suggestions or inquiries as to the movements of troops must be entered on Army Form 123 SYZ, a copy of which I enclose.”

A meeting of members and any willing to become members of the Pamparaumu and District Horticultural and Industrial Society will be held in Iba Sunday Schoolroom, Paraparaumu, on Frliif? evening next, as advertised. 1 to consider trie reviving of the Paraparaemu shows, Js is to be hoped there will be a good attendance at the -meeting, so that definite steps may be taken. The shows were diseonfemed owing to war conditions, bat it is felt ihat'.mz exhibitions should be revived. The Society is in a good financial position. and past xhows were most sneeewd'al and enjoyable. •

Wmi jsfejn Ls tnere wno ;fca£ pat w Stil*r ip a -desperate haste Jo keep ah appointment experienced the annpyanee T >i having to wrestts with a tie that is diSealr to adjust. Jt wiJJ aot slide, in /fa 6 * fiksokiteiv refuses to badge. SaC-h a situation is a strong incentive to indulge in 3£apGsH& &xprestinps An effective way of ets-iariag all this ins been found by G&Q.; FOWLB.% LTD., ett Manners S treat; Weilingtoc. whose laisst shipment includes n- choice iiop of Mitchell slide-easy ties. The safest and smartest —s** them- 4 _

Tenders close on Saturday for regrading the Waikawa Beach road.

The vital statistics for Foxton for December are as follows:—Births 7, deaths 1, marriage certificates issued 1.

The sneak thief has been in evidence at the. Foxton seaside, and dressingsheds have been frequently visited and ladies’ clothing stolen. The act seems that of a kleptomaniac.

In this issue there is on announcement of decided interest to men, regarding the quality offered in smart felt hats by Stiles and Matiieson, Ltd., the big Levin store.

The Pacific Cable Board notify:— “Delay on ordinary traffic to United Kingdom; 24 hours from united Kingdom, 30 hours delay to America traffic about four days, and deferred about ten days.” We are now showing a nice range of ladies’ tan footwear at less than town prices, in court, strap and lace styles. In stock, white cleaners in Bostock, Nugget and Pacific, also a line of gent’s greenliide working laces. Irvine’s Shoe Store, Otaki.—Advt.

Wire netting for sheep, rabbit and fowl fencing has been exceedingly scarec for a long time past. The N.Z. Farmers’ Co-op. Distributing Co. has now received a large shipment of wire netting, of all sizes, details of which are set forth in a replace advertisement on our first page, to which we invite attentioii.

Messrs Pearce and Co., of tlic Wellington Boot Arcade, advertise that they have just received a splendid stock of exclusive shoe styles, direct from America, represented in the highest fashion in footwear. The public are invited to inspect these g#ods, while those who cannot visit Wellington should drop a line —special attention is given to mailed orders.

The Victoria Falls, on the Zambesi, in South Africa, are twice as wide as Niagara, and nearly three times as high. These famous falls are over a mile in width, and have a depth of about 4000 feet. While the Victoria Falls, on British territory, are the largest, those of Iguazu, in South America, easily tukc second place, being two miles in width.

“Silk stockings made from sawdust and selling for about 2s a pair, compared with £1 for the .real silk ones, have been made possible by experiments conducted by the Syracuse University School of Forestry. .The stockings made from sawdust look like silk and feel like silk. Tests show that they wear as well or even better than the real article, which costs ten times as much.

Quite a number of Palmerston residents have succeeded in hoping their homes free of flies by the daily use of the fly swat, or the spanker, as the Americans call it. If householders eGuld be induced to indulge in ihis interesting sport, there would be no occupation for the military fly experts, several of whom, according to the evidence in a recent Kotorua Court case, are engaged in attempting to exterminate flies.

Tiicrc was an unusual occurrence at Mr J. D.. Wills’ f iirin on the Lake Road, Hawera, on Friday, by which he lost a valuable cow and himself had a narrow escape from a serious accident (says the “Star’’). If appears that one of tiro electric " wires which go through his paddocks had got oif tlie cup and looped down in conflict with tho iron pole. Thus apparently the current ran down into tho wires of a fence which had touched the pole. The cow, rubbing itself on the wires, received a severe shock, and was very badly injured. Air Wills, seeing the animal struggling, went across and

took hold of one horn to pull it away from the wire, and received also a shock which threw him into the air and fortunately away from the fence. Nothing could be done for flic cow, which died from the shock. Mr M ills,

though somewhat shaken, was not hurt. The occurrence should act as a warning to those farmers across whose land the electric wires arc carried.

An inquest on the twin babies : drowned in a London park was held rcr cently. A verdict of “Accidental ; death’’ was returned, and the jury re- > commended that the lake should l»e. 1 fenced round. The children were in ‘ charge of a fifteen-year-old nursegirl, i Gladys Dank*, who. with -much emo--1 tion.’told how the accident happened. She was seated by a footpath running round the edge of the lake, and, to soothe the infants, was pushing the perambulator to and fro, when she lost her hold of the handle. The perambulator ran over the footpath and down the side of the lake into the water, where it overturned. Not knowing the depth of the water—it v/a* only just over two f, ct —the girl took fright and ran for a p: rk maa. .When the latter got the. babies out both were dead. A sad festr ture of tho occurrence was that a w oman who witsessc-d the accident was unable to give assistance, her hands having no power in them. . There is likely to be an increase in the price of mutton birds next year, cat because of the scarcity ot stock and the high price or meat, but the industrious Maori is having some difficulty in obtaining totara bark and kelp bark (states the Riverton correspondent .or the “southland News }. A fiabMitixtc Las i-een discovered for bark by way .of the r&npo. a huge Kind J of rush" which grows ’about yjjc feet t [ high in swampy placer and around j I the edges of lakes in thd North i.-m-c-i- j I the bags made from kelp, which j grows nnying the recks on the coast, i and to find a Hjhvjifuie is not an easy { matter, as the -bag mur* 3,-e both airtight and durable. Last year there a shortage of kelp, due to heavy sea* and rough weather, but during the past year the weather has nw so unusually : boisterous that the- kelp has been bat- i Usted to plow on the rocks by rfae j heavy seas. It is anticipated that the i ■coming season witi be a good one for j mutton birds, the whale iced being ta, 2 plsatifsl in' Fove-aa Straits- 1

It is stated that an Otaki resident has received a windfall of £4500.

The Palmerston North Hospital Board meets on Thursday (to-morrow).

During 1919 there were 62 births, 30 deaths, and 26 marriages registered in Levin.

Applications for the position of dogtax- collector are invited by the Otaki Town Board.

It is understood that a resident Catholic priest will shortly be appointed to Levin.

On account of the Levin Show next week, the Otaki stock sale will be held on Monday, 12th inst., not Wednesday as previously arranged.

A Tc Horo resident, now visiting the Kelson district, reports that that district is very much drier than on our coast, and rain is very badly needed.

The “Dannevirkc News” under stands that a wellknown local resident has acquired a property of 36,(Kin acres in the Wairoa district.

It is hoped that the Prime Minister will attend and open the A. and I’. Show at Levin on Wednesday next. Should Mr Massey be unable to attend one of the other Ministers will attend.

A boat-load of pleasure-seekers got stranded on a sandbank at Levin lake a few days ago, and it was some time before they were released by Messrs Ivilsby Bros, from their unfortuute position.

A boy named Keith Kyan, of Camberra, was bitten by a tiger snake in bed, and died. The parents heard the child calling out that something was crawling over him. They went to tinroom and discovered a large tiger snake in the bed. The buy was bitten in several places.

The Hon. J. G. Coates, Postmaster General, informed a “Times” represen tative that further trial trips had been and were being conducted in connection with the proposed aeroplane postal services; but he is not yet in a position to make a public announcement in regard to the matter.

A dance, which should prove most enjoyable, will be held at the Te Horo public hall oifFriday night next, when the proceeds will be devoted for the benefit of Tc Horo Cricket Club, which is badly in need of material. A large number of visitors are expected from Otaki, Waikauue, uud other adjacent districts.

Agents for the company coot rolling tho leading brands of tobaccos and cigarettes on sale in New Zealand have received a telegram front their principals, stating that they had received no information from their head office with reference to the reported increase in prices. Stocks arc at present low, but the position with regard to arrivals during the ensuing month is hopeful.

The total receipts in connection with tho Parapuruuuju sports meeting on New Year’s Day amounted to no less than £IBO approximately, this amount including members’ subscriptions, donations, takings at gate, etc. The

penditure will amount, to about £1 thus leaving the Club with a credit

£lO. This is a most satisfactory r

of which the Club and l’urnparnumii generally may well feel proud.

A local wag wifh a handful of < ;> pers wiled away au hour on a garden seat in the square on New Year’s morning by offering the boys a penny each for correct answers on Bible hi lory (says the Palmerston “Times'’), lfc awards the place of honour as typical of our town-bred youth to this: “AVho was Judas Iscariot?” “Well, I’m blowed if know, mister —he must a been an Orstrsdian; he ain't been runriin’ in Jsoo Zealand for several seasons, anyhow! ’ ’

Air Harold -lone.-, who has taken over the Te Horo business lately carried on by Air W. J. Diaper, has au announcement in to-day's “Mail.” Air Jones is agent for ail the leading newspaper;-, and carries a. large stock of tobaccon-

ist's goods, fancy goods, confectionery stationery, etc. The new proprieto assure# the public of bis best effort on their behalf, and solicits a fab

share of their patronage. Mr .Joses S•i returned soldier, who is well and favourably known in the Otaki district, and we wish him all .success in his venture. Writing to a friend ia Otaki, Mr W. H. Reynolds, late of Otaki. and non* residing at Heading. England, says living is very dear in the Old Country. Bacon is 2s fid per pound, buffer 2s fid. j eggs 'sa per dozen, currants Is 64 j pound, sugar Bfd, cheese Is fid, beefj and mutton Is fid to Is 8d pound. Mr and Mrs Reynolds wished to return to New Zealand, but arc afraid they will have to wait for near! a ■ • .. possibly longer, before they able to secure berths. They sn; . i-opk-have been waiting for t yyar< to' : secure passage. Mr, Mr and Miwi Reynolds were all well whet, t 'g. The Palmerston North Ecy ; -h School re-opens on February. LL. Tls rector will be in attendance v ri. school from Monday, 26th List. '■-> • • rol pupils. Prospectuses arc obi r on application. This school ha ■ e , (•client record, and offers spl'ran facilities for the education of I : - The first terra of the Palmerston ■ Girls’ High School commences on ruary 4th. Pending the erection oi - - j new school buildings, the classes m 1 * fca conducted la the Technical Sehc- ' j i There is a fine future- ahead of tl > i school, which vfili fiii a long-felt war.: j • ip the extensive" district fctJCoi Ps»jgerstoß Hirikr Parents who to . have »£*»*■. i&fe gdueatei? *j the aebool - should make early _ *>«* j advertisement elsewhere. j

Thu price of rjscw boots is prohibitive ia many fanilfer, ami is oi'nseqseeee Lit is advisable to have odd boot* repaired. Take them to F. Earratt, who sagkes them as new with the best of leather *mi workmanship. Don’t delay, «eud your boors and shoe* at or.ee—F. Surratt, Dussiac. ctrset. Otaki lis.il--suv.——A dvi,

A start was made to-day with laying / concrete blocks on the footpaths in tho 1 main street at Otaki. When completed I the work will be u great boon to tho j town, and much appreciated by resi- I dents and visitors. "

The amount of money invested on the totalisator at the Auckland llaeing Ulubks and Auckland Trotting Club's seven days’ raeing carnival totalled no less than £609,175, as compared with £.169,021 tor the corresponding two meetings' of the 191 S-19 holiday period, the increase shown by the total for tms season’s carnival is thus £239,654. Ihis large total is a record •for the Dominion. The sum invested on tho idlers!ie course during the Auckland llaeing Club’s four days’ meeting constituted a Dominion record, the total being £435,78.1 30s, as against £263,170 tor the 11)38-39 meeting, the increase being £.1(2,611 ,10s. The total’for the three days of the Auckland Trotting (’lull’s meeting at Alexandra Park was £li. 1.593 lbs, as-against £106,3551 last

season, or an immense of £67,042 10s.

At the Educational Conference vosterdav Mr It. .T. Foss, of Pnhiatuai moved, “That this Jnsitute affirms the principle that the Education Department should .control all\lasses of pupils held during school hours.- u --Thc reference in the remit was to the,

t:iry training of cadets in schools, "lion, under the present regulations’ pupils in schools come under the control of the officials of the Defence Dcparlment, and the boys attending drill could bo marked absent from school. 'I he general opinion voiced by the delegates was that though the representatives of the Defence Department had power to call out pupils in the second m rv

of (lie schools, as a rule the power was not exercised without consideration. It was agreed that due notice of tho lime of drills should ha S ive "’ lh;,t arrangements might be made beforehand in the time table, as the boys attending drill could nut legally bo marked present at school. The remit was adopted.