THE OTAKI MAIL. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1923. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Otaki Mail, 14 February 1923, Page 2

THE OTAKI MAIL. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1923. LOCAL AN D GENERAL.

A meeting of those interested in an athletic meeting for Olaki was held on Monday night, but it was decided to postpone the business till Tuesday next.

The pressure of Lire Hawcra borough water supply was so low at the end of last week that it was impossible to use the church organ at a wedding- ceremony which took place on a recent afternoon.

Mr \V. li. field, ALT'., has given notice to ask the Minister for Railways what steps his department proposed to take to reduce the large number of serious, and too often fatal accidents at level railway crossings.

The Otaki Horticultural Society "Hi hold their autumn show on March the 20th. The trophy presented by Mr L. G. Lowry for antirrihinums, and by Miss Millie Baker for one rose, are on view in Mr li. Cockrell’s window. There are also ‘ • plums ’ ’ in special prizes in the domestic class, and keen competition is expected. .“Schedules can be obtained at tho “Mail” Oilice, stores, and from the secretary.

The shearing has been delayed shockingly thi3 season, says a writer in a Christchurch papor, referring to conditions in Canterbury. Even down country one may seo flocks that are still in the wool, a most unusual sight at this time of tho year. There must be many thousands of sheep still unshorn, and dozens of owners who hoped to get their clips into the coming sales will miss the opportunity of doing so. Mr J. A. Nash (Palmer-Aou; has asked the Minister for Public Works, whether the recent flooding will interfere with the completion of the Mangakao hydro-electric scheme at .or about the end of 1923. This, urged the non. member, was a matter of great importance to the various Power Boards, who were taking steps to complete, their arrangements for the utilisation as soon as the scheme was completed.

“ I can’t understand why the people interested don’t clean out the drains through their property in their own interest,” said the norowhenua County Council chairman (Cr. Monk) at Saturday’s meeting, when the question of the Pahiho drains was mentioned by Cr. Ryder, who said some of the owners were .very negligent. The chairman added that if . they failed to do the work the Council would do it and take action to recover the cost.

.-v 200-mile walking tour was recently undertaken by four young women. Having procured the necessary equipment of sleeping bags, cooking utensils, and necessary toilet articles, they left Auckland about a fortnight ago, and proceeded up the east coast as far as Mangapat, where they crossed over to the .west coast. After various exciting experiences, they reached Waimaku, eiri route for Auckland, via the coast, which they expected to reach on Saturday,

a northern man (relates- an exchange) met a Maori whom he had not seen for some time. The Native looked the picture oi health, in contrast to his former appearance. On being questioned, he stated he had been having a holiday and furtherquestions elicited the fact that the holiday had been at the Government’s expense—some wc-eks in gaol for financial reasons. Asked if he had any means of now meeting his obligations, the Native said: “No; I suppose Igo back again. Plenty kai; no work; that place good enough for me.”

Twenty extra men have been placed on the road widening deviation at the Manawatu Gorge, and the work is progressing satisfactorily. “I have travelled the world over, but never have I experienced such hail, thunder and lightning as there was at Eketahuua last week,” remarked a motorist who was passing through that district at the time. After having been closed down for some two years, the cheese factory at Parawanui, near Bulls, resumed operations on Tuesday, under the temporary auspices of the Rangitikei Dairy Company, pending the negotiations of a company of local suppliers. The present season, says the Pallia - tua Herald, has been a heart-breaking one for the horticulturist and cottage gardener. Rain, snails, and gale, frost, rust and blight have till had a good innings. borne poachers in the Waikauae district got an unpleasant surprise whilst engaged in their nefarious work last week-end. They were detected by a party of anglers, who secured the names of the culprits. More will be heard of the matter. Mr Vic. Leifurd and party yesterday went to Paraparaumu, and to-day made a start with the construction of the telephone exchange, which will take six months to complete. Already some 36 subscribers arc waiting tu be connected. "There are a terrible lot ol' bridge experts about Chau,” said Chairman G. A. Monk, at Saturday's meeting of the liorowlienua County Council, when the Chau bridge repairs were being discussed. The Council’s staff had made an excellent job, lie said, in spile ol the local experts.

When the question of a County Council's responsibility in regard to lords was mentioned at the Horowhenua Council meeting on Saturday, the chairman i.Cr. G. A. Monk; said il a ford was on a main road tlie Council had to keep the road open by putting the lord in a fit stale for traffic. The high standard of milk received at the Ruhui factory does credit to every supplier, and this year has been exceptionally good, ranging from 4.1 to 5 test, borne 12,000 - gallons are sent to Wellington daily, independent of cream. The Milk Committee of the Wellington City Council was in Otaki last week and spoke highly of the factory as a whole-

While the Wairurupa bouth County Council is putting down Id chains of bitumen macadam on the main road leading northward from the borough of Carterton, the Groytown Borough Council is tarring and sanding about half a mile of the main road on the Featllerston side of the borough. Both pieces of work are experimental and a comparison of the surface and cost should prove interesting. The last bridge on the A uikanao to Upper Mutt Road has now been completed, according to information supplied by the Minister of Public Works to Mr W. H. Field, M.F., last night. The Automobile Association has been advised accordingly. Mr Field has requested the Minister to allow the steam rolller at present in use on the Kimutuka Road to be transferred tor a time to the Waikauae-Upper Hutt Road, in order to improve the surface, which in some places is rough and uneven. The Minister of Defence (bir Heaton Rhodes) on Friday repudiated a suggestion by Mr R. McHeen (, Wellington bouth; that a rule regarding llge provision of rations would inflict hardship on a number of Territorials who are to go into camp at an early date. The Government, said the Minister, had supplied rations when the camps were compulsory, but the present camps were voluntary, and were entertained by Territorials who chose seven days’ camp in preference to 20 evening parades and 12 half-day parades. The men were taken to camp in the morning and returned home in the evening, unless they wished to stay under canvas.

The familiar adage that lime and tide wait for no man was 'veil demon* suatcd at the departure of the L'lima10a for .Sydney on Friday, for just as the vessel pulied out on the stroke of 111 a sailor appeared on the wharf with a heavy list to port. He climbed out to the end of the wharf and after calmly surveying the distance from the vessel, which was about 50 yards, he performed a neat dive, and struck out for the vessel, emitting streams of water from his mouth much to the amusement of the onlookers. His progress was slow, hindered by his heavy- clothes, but he accomplished his impromptu swim, and to the accompaniment of cheers from' his stokehold companions was hauled on board on the end of a rope, his body swinging like a pendulum,

In sending an Auckland bookmaker to gaol f#r two months, with hard labour, Mr Justice Herdman said: “The Legislature ha.-, made bookmaking, carried on as an occupation, a criminal offence, and it bus prescribed the. kind of punishment that should be meted out to those who break the law, In my opinion, your ease is not one which a ling should be imposed, ike poifet is’ i ported unfavourably gbout you, ai- | though making it plain that you have I never before been convicted of a crunfinai offence. It is said that in carrying on your business you represented a =yni dicate. It is notorious that since the i passing of the legislation in lfi2o, book- [ makers have looked on the Jaw as an emptv form. They boldly c-arry on their business, notwithstanding it is prohibited It must therefore be made plain that the statute is not to be treated with contempt, and bookmakers must be made to understand th2t the sooner they give up their trade the better will it be for themselves. I shall send you to gaol for a ihort time, and hope that my judgment will b# a lesson to yon aad ft wegrdng 10 otaere of ybtrr flaff. ’’

Good young dairy stock is Being inquired for in this district just now. There is an outside as well as a local demand, and large numbers of young heifers of Jersey or other good milking strains could be placed at satisfactory prices if available. The Palmerston Chamber of Commerce has decided to agitate for the alteration of the name of the town from Palmerston to Manawaiu, because "a great deal of confusion is continually" occurring on account of there being a Palmerston in the South Island.’’ The Feilding Star suggests that the new name should be "Nashtown” or “Nashville.”

As a train from Auckland was approaching Whangamarino station. Guard H. Watts tried to light the gas in the van when the lighted match fell on to a parcel ol' cinematograph lilins, which ignited and blazed up, severely burning the guard about the right hand and arm. He managed to throw ihe burning mass on to the permanent way before injury was done to other contents of the van.

'That there is plenty of money available in Marlborough for investment fn solid securities is demonstrated by tiie fact that the Giver Board has quietly raised £IO,OOO on 6 per cent debentures in less than a month, and then there were considerable sums offering when the board’s requirements had been met. The £IO,OOO was subscribed by twelve people, in sums ranging front £.IOO to £3OOO. states the Marlborough Express. The California citrus industry during the year 1022 shipped 12,020,3 jS b»xes of oranges and grapefruit, and 4,054,771 boxes of lemons, according to the annual report of E. G. Dezell, general manager ol the ftulifoniia Fruit Growers’* Exchange, issued recently. These figures show that California received 71,366,164 dollars for the citrus crop of the season, and that this crop had a delivered market value of 05,003,485 dollars, or nearly twenty million pounds sterling.

The recently installed 6 p.m. mail train Mom Wellington is growing in popularity (says the Palmerston Standard), more particularly among

business men on the southern portion ol the route. The seating accommodation is not ot the modern type and makes the lengthy journey to Palmerston somewhat unpleasant.

I hat she and her husband lived in an old fuwlhou.se because they wanted to pay off a debt, was the remarkable statement made by a witness in the New Plymouth Magistrate’s Court. They now desired possession of the cottage, which they had rented to defendant, she said. Their present place of abode had no flooring or lining, and the only means of ventilation was the door. The lack of wireless Is a serious handicap to ocean-going vessels in these modern days. 'This fact was brought home to those on hoard the Pukaki, which arrived at New Plymouth from Walpole Island. The ship spent the week-end tossing round Cape Maria van Diemen, having been intercepted en route to Auckland by flag signal. The vessel was obliged to remain near the Cape front Saturday to Monday to await instructions, being- then diverted to New Plymouth. Had the vessel had a' wireless equipment, this delay in a heavy running sea would not have been necessary, as the desired message could have been communicated direct. Tlie Workers' Travel Ais.ic.aiio t was founded at Toynbee Hal!, .'.undo:., a year ago, and it uas erti yved an astonishing success .svys 'he \\ tniinster Gazette). During k sunt nter season of only six weeks a u uu

s-1:11 1 working men anti women, under ilit auspices of the associ dibit, have penetrated lor the nr it time mu. loreign countries, have looked up.-m many of the great cities oi the Continent, and, notwithstanding dilficuities oi ‘ language, fraternised wholeheartedly with Frenchmen, Belgians, Germans and Austrians- The associarnandy, Berlin and Vienna, as well is visits to Bruges and Oberammergau, and it succeeded everywhere. It has stirred up interest among working people in Great Britain and the Continent, and it is already being imitated in Holland. It hopes to promote an early interchange of visits between workers of the several European countries, and assist to create machinery which will organise these visits on the grand scale. Travelled

people will most readily understand what a first trip to trie Continent may j mean to an imaginative man or wo I man. A workgiri, born and bred in j East London, joined a W.T.A. party ito Vienna. She does not say she enl joyed her holiday. She speaks of it !as a great revelation; as a turning 1 point in her life. | A bicycle is advertised for tale. , A dog-cart is advertised for sale, cheap. j Entries for the Xe Horo sports close i on Wednesday next (21st). Motice is given that the District ! Electors - roll is open for inspection. | Messrs Dalgety and Co. will hold a j .’clearing sale at “Tangimoana, ’’ Okau, . ' on Wednesday as advertised. Mrs Muir, Te Horo. is holding a great ; summer sale and bargains are numerous, j See price-list published elsewhere. •TBa fshjab&w of fha gsaki pnotal So- j ciety are reminded of the annual IBSS?* i ing to be held to-night at S o’clock. j Messrs MeDougall Bros., Ltd., adver- j tise their goods at lowest rates, and also | announce that drapery bargains are j still being offered. ( Mr E. Looser, iocai jeweller, .etc., is j holding a sale of all his high-class ar- . tides, many of which are being sacri- 1 need. Mow is .the time to bay, and Mr Looser’s is the place. If you require a pair of boots or shoes call at Irvine's. We have plenty of odd sizes in ladies', gents’, and 1 children’s to clear at sal# prices. Try a pair of our sandals for the school opening.—lrvine’s shoe Store, OtakL — Mrt, ; 1

During a recent visit to Europe, a New Zealander went to St. Moritz for the alpine winter sports. “They are sports,'’ he says, “to which New Zealanders ought to take very kindly, and there should he facilities provided for such healthy recreation both at the Tongariro National Park and in tlie Southern Alps.”

A truck loaded with wool and covered with tarpaulins, bearing the words in big letters: “Beware bees,’’ created considerable attention in the Stratford railway yards recently, it appears there was some need for the warning, as after the truck had been loaded at Douglas the previous day a swarm of bees settled under one of the ‘ tarpaulins. As it was not possible to dislodge them when the truck was placed on the train, the notice was put on the tarpaulin as a warning to the railway officials who had to handle the truck in transit to Wanganui, whither it was consigned. When the truck left Strat- , ford the bees were still there.