THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1922. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Otaki Mail, 4 January 1922, Page 2

THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1922. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Reader? of the "Mail" are notified ! that subscriptions in advance for the current quarter arc- due. By paying in advance Is on the quarter's subscription may be saved, and all who wish to ' take advantage of this concession ( should do so before the end of this j ' month. j ! During the past year the deaths j have been recorded in one Auckland I | paper of 224 persons whose age; are j ' over eighty years. i The recent heavy rain« were re-pon- ' sible for considerable injury to crops in this district, many acres of oats, etc., i being levelled to the ground. .Though over 40.000 acre; of land on the Hauraki Plain; has been opened up by the Lands Drainage Department. there are still large areas of swamp lands a'pproximtcly 50,000 acres, yet to be made fit for settlement. Presents for old and young —White 1 shoes just arrived. We have a good variety in 'walkjng shoes, in lace, court .or strap., tennis or bowling shoes; also "shoes rubber "spies for, , holiday wx-ar; cheapest and ■ best- ; "Haueakers for' the *\iddies free. \Late'; night" Saturday. and at StoreJH|B^.

Two pairs of shoes, new, are adver rised for sale at a low price.

The stock inspector reports that at three recent stock sales at Whakatane and Mahgaroa a total of 535 head of cattle have been found infected with tick, which is reported to be rapidly spreading, and is believed 10 be at (Jpouriao. About fourteen dairy farms are also affected and spraying operations are going on apace. Farmers are urged to take all precautions and either spray or dip infected animals. —Whakatane Press.

A Masierton resident who spent some some days pig-hunting in the fararuas informs the "Age" that he went in from Makomako in the vicinity of the track from Pahiatua to I'almerston North. Though pigs were formerly very plentiful there, they are now conspicuous by their absence. Neither pigs nor recent signs were encountered, but opossums were plentiful. It is very fine country for them, with many hollow ratas and good undergrowth. The Fiance, the biggest sailing ves.sel in the world—s6Uo tons and 480 ft i long—which left the Dominion a few \ months ago with a cargo of 11,000 bales of wool and other produce, was docked at Tilbury early tins month. According to a Loudon cable to the Sydney Sun, the ship hailed the Quest during the voyage, and the little craft, the skipper said, appeared to be doing badly. Sir Ernest Shae-1 kleton was at the wheel. All aboard . were well, working hard, and enjoying themselves immensely. In conversation with a farmer who had lived for years on an exposed farm on the coast, an advocate for treoi planting asked him why he had never planted shelter belts, as then his cows would have given him a bettor yield (says the Tiiranaki Herald). The far- ; nier declared that he had always rugged his cows, and that was good enough for him. "Ws," said the critic, " but have you ever rugged your feed?" After a 1.'.U0 thought, rh.e farmer admitted that ihf re was mucn to be said for shelter. The Waiigunui Chronicle, under the heading "Buy i" Your own Town," says: It. is but lair to traders in the towns that they should be patronised by the local residents. The promoting and encouragement ol successful businesses in a. town is to lite advantage of everybody in that town. In some places Hie custom ol having a

"buy in your own town" campaign lias grown up, the object being to prove to the public that they can purchase as well in their own town as anywhere else. Local patriotism ;;s expressed by the slogan "Buy in your own town." will prove a profitable investment to everyone.

Satisfaction is expressed in produce and mercantile circles in Wellington at the news that Mr Massey has induced tin: British Board of Trade to postpone the forced sale ol surplus butter, it is thought- that ii should be possible to dispose ol stocks in a way which would have a less detrimental ('fleet on the market. Though the surplus is considerable, well-in-formed persons slate that its absorption by the British market would, not take long, especially il British economic conditions improved. It lias been staled that some of the butler has deteriorated, but official circles do not confirm this, at least so far as New Zealand butter is concerned.

In his letters to Prime Minister Lloyd George regarding the Peace Conference, President dt Valera hegun with tiie usuai friendly Irish formula. "A Chaia." This is shown in Bail Eireuiin's first Blue-book, recently published. It gives Irish and English versions ol Mr de Yalera's communications. "The Bight Honourable David Lloyd George," sounds no moie dignified than "Daithi Uasal" "Uriorach in one cast; ■ Leod btorifi 'I he Premier's address becomes "10 Sraid Downing in Lour.daiu." The United Kingdom is; disguised as "Bioghacta Aontuighthe," and the American President as "Uachtaran Stat Aontuighte Ameirice."

A humorous after-races experience is being related by the Mayor ol Te Awamuiu. When motoring borne on Saturday he offered a lift to a couple of strangeis. who apparently discovered in a secluded place near) the back seat a bottle ol well-known size, shape and colour, and although the label had been removed, the bottle evidently aroused the curiosity of the

new passengers. Next morning, said the Mayor, the bottle was gone, but on the floor of the car was a knife and a corkscrew; though there was no record of what the strangers said when they discovered that the bottle con-

tained nothing more appetising than water for the radiator. Perhaps the utitte and the corkscrew were silent evidences pi their disgust.

An interesting suggestion was put forward in an article in a recent issue •j of the New York Herald. The wilier e suggests that Japan's long-standing n problem of superfluous population could be solved by buying Australia, a!lowing the Japs to have it and sending the rive million white people |in Australia to New Zealand and ~'■ Canada. The writer, who signs himIseii "Pro Bono Publico/" says "There 3 i are about 5,000.000 white men inha■l | biting the continent oi Australia, e I -.vhich is large enough to support and I contain 50 or more millions oi peoi pie. It is a continent lax away and t- remote from the white men of Europe s and America. Why should not the .. 5,000,000 white men move to Canada, : which has room for many more millions oi increased population, and sell i Australia to the Japanese? The white men would be amply compensated '' and given new land in Canada or New P Zealand. The Japanese would be re--0 mote and happy, California free from the Japanese question, and Canada ree joicing in a much-needed addition to d her population. The Japanese could t cultivate the interior of Australia, so o long untouched by the whites."

* Sull to the iore witi the be** lea- ; ther, the best workmanship, and fie 1 lowest -prices. Try ice and see for yourself.—T"red Barrett, Daastaa Bt, Otaki Hallway. — Advt,

A dark grey coat and macintosh rug :ire advertised as lost. .

The next sitting of the S.2J?. Court at Otaki will be on February -uii., A pink and grey parro: is advertised for. A party of Otaki-ites left this morning for a day's outing at Kapiti.

Miss Wethey has generously made a further donation to the funds ol the Otaki Brass Band. The world's sculling championship between Arnst and Hadiield will take place to-morrow. tjT Some local residents made a splendid . haul of flounders, which are reported , as being very plentiful, off the Otaki beach last night. :

Messrs James, Swenssori, Letts', and two others visited Hokio one day last week and in a short lime shot no less than 74 rabbits. The Mauukau sports, to have been held on Saturday, had to be postponed on account of the heavy rain. They will now be held on or about the 11th inst.

Mr W. H. Field, M.P., and party last week made an ascent of Tongariro and Ngaruhoe. Of their eight days' sojourn only one hue day was experienced. On this occasion, howVver, the mountain climb was greatly enjoyed, the flowers Dei.ng seen in all their beauty. The recent, heavy rains were the means of doing considerable damage along the banks of the Otaki liver, and an area of laud directly above the bridge was carried away. The Hood waters at Te Horo also caused trouble, being about three inches over the railway line. New Year's eve in Otaki and district was noticeable for the tiuie'. manner in which it passed off, due, in a large measure to the heavy rain. Several parties, however, serenaded various parts of Khe township and enlivened proceedings by hakas, etc. Lurrikiuism was noticeable by its absence.

The cricketers' dance, held in the theatre last night, proved very enjoyable, and was well at I ended. The

floor, thanks to energetic workers, was in line order, the decorations were effective, while the ladies deserve every credit for the supper provided. Miss Rikihami supplied good music, while Mr B. Bcvan was an eilieiout M.C.

An orchid, valued at DOO guiucas, whose production iepresents nearly half a century of experiment, was exhibited at the Boyal Horticultural Hall (London), and declared by the judges to be the most wonderful specimen ever shown there. Named Odontaglossum

Armstrongii, the flower has been cultivated by Messrs Armstrong and Brown, of Tunbridge Wolfs. It resembles a white slar, with a heart of gold. The new orchid, it is said, is a hybrid, and consequently cannot be reproduced.

The Auckland "Star" of Wednesday .-ays:—The position at the moment of tiie market is ham, bucon and 'butter ia somewhat indefinite, but people dealing with these commodities aro agreed that prices to the consumer will show a decided drop within a few days. Already ham is being retailed locally at threepence per pound less than was the ruling price last week, and a proueclinc in the price of bacon

and butter is anticipated. It seem::

most certain that a drop in the price oi buHcr will be announced next week.

Rarely have the VYaikato t'arun.rr experienced such a good year from the climate point of view as this one \,says the Auckland "Herald.") The grass and crops are now in luxuriant condition, while haymaking i.- procecduiy apace. .Nevertheless the fanners »M disturbed at the tailing prices of but-ter-fat and point out that their land, which was bought during the last few

years for high prices, is aksu depreciating in value, although the price of manures and commodities has not been reduced to any great extent. One returned soldier of lengthy farming experience who purchased land two yuare ago has a gross annual income of abouj £#ou, of which £7OO is paid out in inteiest and general expenses.

■•] can't say 1 am pleased to see you people so possessed oi the racing mania." said Mr Charles Hemmtns, a Chicago business man. to a Dunedln reponer. "It strikes an American as being abnormal. We have practically done away with racing, the sport being allowed: on only one .or two courses in the whole country. The reason lor this was that the people got a gambling lever so absolutely, and the young men became such confirmed gamblers that the race was being morally affected. I wouldn't like to se e a fine people like the New Zealanders dull to that. In America we cleaned up baseball, which had become corrupt owing to the gambling and professional element. .As a general thing you can't call .America a gambling nation." The holiday-makerg at the Otaki seaside resort are hard to surpass in their ideas of enrertainirig. New Year's eve being wet they were all obliged to

keep in doois, and a very suitable programme was arranged amongst the young and old. A dance was first held, and alter that everyone indulged in a game oi progressive five hundred which lasted for abottt an hour and a half. The winners were—Ladies: Miss H. Talbot first and Miss Galvin second. Gentlemen: Mr F. Taibot first and Mr Finch second. The "boobies" were won by Mis; Soilings and Mr Monro. At the conclusion of the tournament

dancing was recommenced. The floor was in excellent condition, while the hall was decorated with flags, streamers, etc. At midnight all present joined hand- round the mom and went through the usual performance of seeing the New Year in. while hearty greetings were exchanged. Daring a break between dances the Misses D. and M. Talbot obliged the company with an excellent pianoforte duet, which was highly appreciated. Supper was served during the evening, and oa the whole the guests spent "the time of their live*."

A number of spurious half-crowns are in circulation, and the public are warned to examine their change for the detection of these valueless coins, several of which have been passed in hotels and other business places. The coins are excellent imitations, but rough, worn and dented in the milling, and they will not. ' 'ring." Th* holiday sea:on was a gay one as far as the orphans of Paraparaumu »e:-i concerned, end thanks to a donation by the Otaki-committee of the Cominercial Travellers' Club the matron of VUie home, Mrs Pratley, was enabled to give the children a very pleasant time.' Credit is due to Mrs Pratley for the manner in which she provided for the children, and the royal manner in >ve h , she entertained them. ' There is now being built in a British shipyard the world's largest vessel, which will bo called Hie "Majestic." 1 The total length is said to be nearly a 1 thousand feet long, by a depth of 102 ft and breadth of nearly as much. Sho 1 will be capable of carrying 4000 passengers and will have a speed of 23 t knots an hour. Crude oil will bo used 1 in the furnaces and the vessel will car- - ry four propellers. There will be about . 10,000 electric lamps on the ship and i the electric power installation is as s large as that usually found in a small town. There will be four wireless telegraph installations installed.