MISCELLANEOUS.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 16 August 1920, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS.

Twenty tons of potatoes to the acre for a first crop was the record made by a section at Feilding nearly fifty years ago. Mr U. J. Booth told the story. About the year .IST.'; he and three others bought from the Corporation an ticre each on the Kimbolton road, just about where Dr. Willis' residence now stands. They ploughed up the virgin soil and put in potatoes with the result given.—'"Star." Petrol, as well as coal and sugar, is in short supply. Why.' That is what other sections of the community want to know, .-ays the Feilding "Star." Even in America, whence New Zealand draws her supplies, the question of why the shortage has been insistent during recent months. For there does not seem to be any obvious reason for it. The oil is gushing out of the wells as generously and freely as ever —neither the oil nor the men on the "job having been doing any go-slow stunts. Indeed, we are advised that the wells have been porducing fur _ more oil during the past months of 1020 than at any period in their history. And yet the whole 4S States report a great shortage of petrol, with jo-ices soaring beyond reason, when the production is considered. The Federal Government at Washington, in answer to protests from all part- of the country, set up a board of investigators. , which reported last month that conditions in 1920 have greatly improved, and "the gasoline scare has been largely psychological." The figures quoted show that America has immense reserves of oil in hand —and yet—and yet —where is that oil. hy the shortage, and why the hi:rh prices? i A peculiar malady of "hiccoughing" I has lately affected a considerable num- ( ber of people in Auckland, says the | '•Herald." One doctor stated that six ! cases had been brought under his attention last week, while many others have occurred. A Queen street chemist corroborated this statement. remarking that several dozen peoplehad come to him for treatment. For some he had made up a prescription, others he had sent to a doctor. The attacks continue for several davs. leaving the patient in a very weak condition, in some eases aggravated bv a cough. A peculiarity of the ailment i is that only men appear to be affected.