LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 23 February 1920, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A number of Natives who have been on a visit to Otaki returned to Kotorun on Fridav.

The wholesale price of butter has been increased to Is Did per pound in Melbourne.

A message from Sydney states that a live mine was found on the beach at Camden Haven heads.

Particulars of Messrs Abraham and Williams', Ltd., Levin sale for the 2-ith inst. are advertised. .

Mrs Muir (Te Horo) advertises the last week of her clearing sale. Borne tempting prices appear elsewhere. The gate receipts at the Mastertou Show last week amounted to £371 2s fid, compared with £282 14s last year. The wages sheet of the Farmers’ Meat Company at Mastertou is now £2070 per week, compared with £lOl ten years ago.

It is the intention of a number of Maoris of Otaki and district to attend the welcome ceremony to the Prince of Wales at Botorua.

At the Auckland Police Court on Friday Walter Preston was convicted of betting in connection with the Takapuna races, and was lined £OO.

The secretary of the Ilorowhenua County Patriotic Association acknowledges the receipt of: £5 from a donor who wishes his name to be withheld, this sum to go to the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund.

We remind all interested of the Otaki Bulb Society’s annual meeting, which takes place to morrow night. The meeting is an important one, and it, is hoped there will be a largo attendance.

The sale, to lie held on Wednesday on behalf t»f Mr .7. Mackie. of Raugiuru, affords residents an excellent opportunity of securing high-class furniture, etc. A full list is advertised.

A lengthy list of properties is advertised for sale by Messrs Joplin, tstallard and Carmichael, Ltd., of Levin. The list includes valuable farm property, residential sites, etc., that should not be overlooked. The firm will lie glad to supply any particulars. Fifteen Chinese meu, »is women, and

several children landed at Auckland bv the Mahcuti last week. Nine Indians were also in the group. Borne of the Chinese had previously redded in New Zealand, having now returned from a visit to their native laud.

Purt-woru Leo-Enfield rifles arc now available for sale to bona fide members of rifle club ou application to the ordnance branch of the Defence Headquarter-. The cost per rifle is £l. Applications for purchase of rifles or barrels must be endorsed by the president and secretary, of the club to which the applicant belongs, and must be accompanied by cash. This information has been given out by district headquarters

instruction. It is notified for genera! information that if.M.L.E. rifles, part-

v.orri. arc now also for sale to bona lids members of rifle clubs at i~ 10a each.

The Minister for Defence has approved of the setting op of a special committee to deal with all matters concerning war cemeteries and the erection of headstone* on war graves,

the personnel of the committee to be: The .Minister for Defence, MajorGeneral Sir A. H. Kusscil, K.C.8., K.C.M.G., Brigadier-Genera! O. b. ■Richardson. C. 8., C.M.G., C.8.E., Mr J. Hisiop, 0.8. E., Under-bceretary Department of Internal Affairs, and

Lieut.-Colonei J. G. Boache, D..U.0., Officer in Charge Base Records, who will also act as secretary*

.'speaking at Mastertoa, Mr J. t. Cooper, manager of the Wuimropa Breezing Company, agreed mat the outlook in regard to the meat industry was far from good. The- glut meant Paralysing the operations of the produce . There were large supplies of Lornt grown meat, Argentine fre.-h and frozen meat, and stale Australasian Ewa:. borne of the Neve Zealand meat had *.een stored since I&17-1S under unfa ourable conditions. As long as the ? iritish public could bey fresh chilled Argentine meat it would not touch colonial meat, which was actually rotting on the bmithfield market. Irreparable harm was done to the trade of the New Zealand producer by the action of the control people. The American trust had the best of the deal throughout. If the shipping now being sent to the Argentine were diverted the Australasian situation would be relieved. Why nor sell the meat in store at Home at a price to command a sale, and clear the store--: Otherwise the Imperial Government should extend the contract. A-t the present time, said the .st-eaker. oar name was is th-s rnuu at Koine. The shipping question was also v®ry -erious. Before the war rate® -.cry fair on meat and wool. A j a-w contract v.n- soon to :--- made, a j ir licstious were not promising- TflC J ippaag icterest,tit-day #f: different f oai that bet ore . the tear. L'. i-E cc. • rerns had been stopped up hr ou: ihe biggest combina t ion -m. the »• or Id Ia many eases? over "5 per tent o: the tharei In shipping castpanict were he’d l-r AEvr.rii:. The trsssourr bridge between Me— Teemed and the Old tVsrld was owned very largely by American intercity.

An agreement has been come to between the owners, of the Miramii Flax Mil! at Shannon and employees, yud the men will resume work immcdiatelv.

In Taranaki the penalty for speeding has been increased, and on last court day fines of ,£5 ami £lO were indicted on motorists for breaches of the speed law.

The Government has reason to believe that presently immigrants of desirable classes will be reaching New Zealand at the rate of not fewer than 1000 per month.

There is evidently no shortage of labour in Levin. The local borough council advertised for six men, and the requisite number was immediately forthcoming.

An Otaki party of young men visited Kapiti yesterday and indulged in a day's sport. The haul of fish was a splendid one, whilo tho day’s outing proved most enjoyable.

There are items to interest men in the sale announcement made by Messrs Btiles and Matheson, Ltd., in this issue. Big reductions are the order of the day at this progressive firm’s summer clearance.

Messrs MoDougall Bros, and Co. will open on Tuesday (to-morrow) their new shipment of millinery, and for quality it will be found hard to beat. There are all the latest designs—sure to please—while prices are exceedingly low.

You will be able to save money on; your footwear for 1920, as Mr Irvine has made arrangements to buy direct from the makers. With his low expenses he will bo able to retail all lines at a reasonable price. A trial solicited. Irvine’s Bhoe Store, Otaki. —Advt.

The secretary (Mr C. Hunt) of the I’araparaumu Patriotic Society has forwarded the sum of £ID3 4s lid to the secretary (Mr F. P. Walkley) of the Ilorowhenua Patriotic Association, being the balance of funds collected. Puraparamnu residents are to be congratulated for the way in which they contributed to the'Wounded Soldiers’ Fund.

At tho annual meeting of the N.Z. Licensed .Victuallers’ Association, the official report stated thst- mutters of vital interest to the retail tmlc were

fully discussed at the lengthy sessions oi the conference. The general tone oi' tho meeting was one of desire to clean up all laxities attendant on the retail license trade of the Dominion, for which some vigorous measures were recommended for adoption by the various provincial councils. A tine sense of family honour v,as evidenced in connection with a case which came under the jurisdiction of the Christchurch Official Assignee. A man who was adjudged a bankrupt in l:;m; died, having paid no dividend to his creditors, to whom he owed some £2OO. This unpaid liability was a burden upon his son’s mind, and before going to the war with the Main Body be insured his life for £2OOO, ami made a provision in his will that the £2OU odd owing to his father's creditors should l.io deducted from the amount due under the policy should he lose hi'b life, aud that the debt should be extinguished therewith. The lad was killed in action on Gallipoli on May 2, laid. The creditors received 20s in the £l. I

For some time pant pickpockets have been busy in Wellington, ami some people have been relieved of fairly sub-

stantial amounts of cash. A few days ago the detective branch *ueeceded in locating aa Australian, whose obilitica a-- a practitioner of the light lingereul

art were regarded as not at all mcuw on the other side of the Tacraan The a. a a v.as a “guest” at one of the principal Wellington hotels, and hits immaculate style of dress, adorned s-

he was with a liberal array of 1 costly jewellery, caused him to be respected

as a gentleman of means. Xu an interview with the ( i o;ice he was given the alternative of being haled before the Court or of taking his departure to Sydney. He wisely, chose the latter course, and on Friday night he sailed by the Manuka, several representative* of the detective branch being in attendance to bid hue farewell.

The effects of the coal situation arc very noticeable in WwApart, where a state of inactivity prevails. The Westport “Times,” commenting upon the state of affairs, says: ‘‘At Id o’clock this morning there was a good tide, brilliant weather, and not a steamer in

tight. The wharves looked spin und ,ran. ready to receive lb tor Id £OOO- - steamer.-'. A well-equipped railway system was at hand to deal with 700’/ tons of coal a day. The district abounds in coal —they make reads with it at Charleston, in the Duller Gorge cte can obtain a sack of coai for themere aririny. The %Ve=tport Coal Corcr;acy and the Stockton Company could saoply .almost the whole of the Dominion’s needs in cod.” But somebody won’t work —there is some-

thing radically wrong when such a fine coal port as this is idle.

Ait the last sitting of tie Levin e_M. Court Charles Henderson, for a-:a’sit-ing John Knight, was j-entc-need to a month’s imprisonment, while Mr, Henderson was grunted a separation order. Jobs Glee-son sued Knorina to Bata for £l3 and possession of a house. Judgment was given for the amount and possession. G. H. Piumridge claimed from Mr® Jan?.- Collier £k 17k and possession of house. Defendant was <jr•uereu to v-aeate the premises by March I»tit. despite the fact that she was a v. Mow with . seven. children and had failed to secure another hoc -c. A Kmiiar action was brought l.*v Mrs Petit against Mrs iludgwsy, Dot was struck on*. In the civil eases judgment was given by <jeia»;lt in the fob. lotting;— -John KcbheSi v. Nelson Ptnwiii and other., claim £2O. outs £3 ISfj -:ss v. Zaks Perawitti. claim £l3 15*, casts £ss 6d. In the case John Kebbell Jack Knits, claim £1 Its, and counter-claim, of £l6 5» 7d, jadgnaent was gives for ylsiuriff sn j the conn- 1 ter-daixa disallowed.

There is a report that another large runnier resort is to be opened at Otaki.

New season’s dales are advertised by Mr Harold Cockrell, in packets or loose.

A movement is on foot to form a brass band in Otaki, and it ia hoped that persons willing to assist will at once hand in their names.

Mr J. W. Whelan, the Government Orchard Instructor, will be is Otaki *ll the week, ;uul anyone wishing to consult him can leave word with Mr Minton at the Byko.*

The sale of furniture, etc., ou behalf of Airs (Dr.) Huthwaite ou Saturday was splendidly attended, and very satisfactory prices were scoured for most line's.

An unreserved clearing sale of dairy stock, furniture, etc., will be held by Messrs Abraham and Williams, Ltd., on behalf of Mr S. J. Atlcnborrow, who has sold his property, at Parnparnumu on the 27th inst.

Air and Hansom, who have been in business in Otaki for some time, have sold out lo go to the Taranaki district, where they have secured another business which will bo on u much larger ■scale than their present one.

The flaxeutlers at the Miranui flaxmill, Shannon, are to resume work after about a week’s idleness, during which time efforts were being made to arrive at an increased rato of pay. An agreement has now been come to.

A statement issued by the Defence Department shows that expenditure oat of the War Expenses Account from the beginning of Hie war until 31st December, I DID, was £71,<180,113 Is Id. For the quarter ending 31st December tho expenditure amounted lo £6,919,6-13 11a

In conversation with a “Wanganui Chronicle’’ reporter at the XI aw ora Show a well-known land agent mentioned that iirst-class dairying land in Taranaki was now bringing from £IBO to £2OO per acre, and everything pointed to the probability that vulues would soon soar even higher.

What, is a hogget? The Musterton A. and P. Association appears to be uneertnin as to its exact meaning. Webster's Dictionary states that in Englaml it is a young sheep that has not been shorn. Chambers’ Encyclopadii say., that “a sheep two years old is * hogget:.’’ In Scotland, according to the same authority, a “hogget” is a sheep that bus not lost its first flceee. Wliat, then, is a “hogget” in Now Zealand

Dow to make money without working A man bought .a dairy farm near I’ulmersion North jnst one year ago at £1 ft an acre. He has now sdld it at £1 so—.a £4O per acre increase in a. year. Better stilt, a local speculator bought a Kairanga block one morning la -i week, arid before sundown had Bold j- at. a clear profit of £I2OO. These are not isolated cases, similar instances occur almost dtrily. However, there arc -till a few people working for * if. ing—perhaps they prefer it—there’s no accounting for tastes.—llaaawatu

A goods train from Waipnkorau to Napier came to grief on a curve on the Opapa grade at II o’clock on Saturday morning. .Six waggons of sheep became derailed and piled Dp, the balance of tbe train pushing cm and over them. In ail seven sheep waggons and five containing chaff, timber and eoal, etc., left the permanent way. Many sheep were killed and maimed. No railwaytoen were injured. A breakdown train was despatched from Napier, and the line was cleared by midnight on Saturday. Passenger* had to be transferred past the obstruction, and in consequent# the trains were considerably delayed. The cause of the accident, is problematical.

A speaker at the meeting of dairy farmers in Jsavin recently stated that it war anticipated by the authorities at Home that hotter would reach unheard of prices nezt season, and as much a* 0- per lb had been mentioned. Personally, the speaker said he did cot anticipate that figure being reached, but it had to bo remembered that there were many millions of people in Europe who had to be fed in countries where production bad been reduced to a minimum owing to the war. Their requirac.onts had to bo met, hence the call on the resources of all producing edtatnes at the present time.

At a meeting of the Palmerston North branch Of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants held cs Saturday, the following resolution was carried: “That the Executive Council of the feoeiety be requested to draw the Prime Ministerht attention to the hoarding of hides throughout the Jjor&iztioD * thereby causing inflated price-? for boots nut] boot repairs, and that the Government be requested to take immediate step.* such as will cause the release of the hides to boarded, as provided ibis i- done we can assure the Prime Minister that it will be the s.i.rm? of preventing an industrial upheaval witbia the. near future.” Tins price of new boot* sa prokibiav* in many families, and in cesjequese« it is advisable to hav* old beets repaired. Take them to F- Biirati, who "Aks-s them 'ns sew with :h* b#*t o' leather sad werkatsship. Don’t deity, send your boot* and thee* t: one*—l*. Bamit, Dz-.v~z Street, Ottki Kail* way.—Advt.

• It is stated that a Levin land agent gave a donation of £.IOO towards furthering the chances of the Fairfield queen at the recent Mardi Gras.

The Faparoa (Greymouth) mine is closed; having been declared ‘ 1 black by the men, who have divided the sick and accident funds, sold the hall and piano, and left the district. There has been discontent at the mine for some time. There were eight disputes last year. A wireless message has been received by the Union Company from the Kanna, en route from Newcastle, stating that the vessel will arrive at Wellington to-day. She has about 2200 tons of coal to discharge there, comprising bunkering mostly. The Kokiri is due at Wellington late to-night from Greymouth with part load of coal for there and the remainder for Now Plymouth. The vessel is to sail for the Taranaki port on Wednesday.

At the Palmerston North Supreme Court, C. W. Dale, employed at Lake House, Waikarcmoana, sued .John Gillespie, of Palmerston North, for £IOOO damages for alleged libel contained in a letter to the Minister for the Tourist and Health Departments complaining of the loss of a rug and implicating Dale. The jury returned a verdict for plaintiff and assessed the damages at £275. Counsel for the defendant opposed the entering of judgment on a point of law, which is to be considered s on Tuesday.

'A fire broke out at midnight on ' Saturday in tlio wool department of the Longburn Freezing Works. The flames spread rapidly and the buildings, housing wool and fellmongery plants, were completely gutted and only the concrete wall remains. The efforts of the amateur lire brigado saved the ■ remainder of the. works. Portion of the burned building had been erected only a few months. Fortunately there was not much wool or skins in the store ■ at the time. The building and contents • are insured iu the London and Livcr- ! pool office for £3OOO, and the building is much under-insured, and the loss is about £4OOO. Another outbreak occurred a week before. The causes of both ■ fires arc unknown.