THE OTAKI MAIL. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1923. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Otaki Mail, 5 December 1923, Page 2

THE OTAKI MAIL. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1923. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

i .» The monthly sitting of the S,M. Court takes place to-niorrow. During November eight births were registered in Otaki. Against this there were no deaths or marriages. Foxton's total rainfall for last month was 1.02 inches. The maximum fall, .42 inche.-, occurred on the 11th. The vital statistics for Foxton for November with the figures for the corresponding month of last year in parenthesis, were as follows:—Births 5 (3); deaths, 1 (nil); marriages, 2 (nil).

New Zealand lamb will be on tha tables nest Christmas Day in many homes in the Old Country. Over 1000 carcases (most of this to be delivered during Christmas week) have been sent from New Zealand through the Meat Producers' Board, as Christmas presents to friends at Home.

Railway goods traffic at Palmerston Xorth has been extraordinarily heavy during the pa-st -week, so much 50 that four extra trains had to be despatched to help clear the congestion in the yards. These trains again were very long, 75 and SO vehicles being a common freight for an engine. Included in the money which was stolen at Aramoho, after the recent murder of a woman there were sovereigns. By a peculiar coincidence (relates the "Hawke's Bay Tribune") sis sovereigns were recently paid into a country bank in Hawke's Bay. The rarity of the appearance of sovereigns caused the police to make inquiries concerning the source from which the gold had come. It was established satisfactorily that the money was in. ao way connected with the murder. The Wellington City ifilk Department's daily sales of whole milk fluctuate over a whole year, between 4000 and 4500 gollons, and Of cream between 70 and 100 gallons. At Christmas time, however, the sales cf cream exceed 2000 gallons for the week, most of which is sold on or immedi-1 ately preceding Christmas Day. The I Department's milk sales reach their j highest point in the winter season, not i because more- milk is consumed in the eitv durin- that reason, but for the rtiLOn that production by nearby f&jfy tiers, wEo are licensed by the City Corporation to sell direct to consumers, ts at its lowest.

Sred Barrett, after -Tinning ail the ■fay, DO.w heads tta lis- for boot ard shoe repairs. He ha? ;iow challenged ■ tor up-to-date boot:, and a visit to his shop irill shoir -riit high-grade gaods ha Sea bis s.a^-aJip£j»Advr.

A rise of Id per lb in -wool means £1,000,000 extra tor the Dominion woolgrowers. Among tne chief prize-winners at the Levin show yesterday was Mr. Alex. Wilson, of Otaki, who had some very iine blooms of sweet peas. x\t a meeting of the benefit committee last night it was stated that there was a sum of £l3O in hand for Mr. Ayre. About £lO in expenses will be deducted. Among the cases set down for hearing at the Otaki B.M. Court to-morrow will be a claim for the valuable fur coat lost at the Otaki races, ft is understood that a substantial sum is being claimed from the Racing Club. The Wellington Education Board announces that all public school under its jurisdiction will break up for tin' summer holidays on the afternoon of Thursday. December 20th, and reopen on Tuesday, February sth, 1924. A novel defence was put up by a. youth who appeared in the Timaru Police Court the other morning, charged with failing to attend drill. He said he kept away because when he went to musketry practice the fumes after the discharged of the rifle gave him catarrh. On these grounds he was granted exemption after May 31, 1924, the end of the training year. Thanks are due to the residents of To Horo for assisting at the Rahui Cricket Club's dance, and special mention must be made of Mrs. Day and Mrs. Fielding, who worked energetically. The success of the streamer and balloon dances was due to capable workers. The next dance will be plain and flannel, and is being eagerly looked forward to. Jeff had saved up a little money, and when Mutt came over a few years | later the two brothers went into the I coal business. One day Jeff bought ' a roll-top desk, and when it arrived I lie said to Mutt; "The one desk will |do for the two of us. Am! here are i two keys, one for you, Mutt, and one J for hie.'' Mutt took the key. but | seemed to study the desk. "'That's i all right. Jeff." he said, "but where is my keyhole?" ' The Levin Horticultural Society's show, held yesterday, was most successful, and the hall proved quite inadequate for the display. There was a splendid attendance' of the public. ! while Mr. Hobson (Mayor) and Mr. Linklater. M.l-\, delivered speeches. The show of cut blooms was splendid, but the main attraction was the decorative class, especially the tables. These were greatly admired.

A patent device to lesson the risk at railway crossings litis been brought under ilie notice of the Wanganui Automobile Association by the inventor. Mi. John T. Walker, of Aramoho. Instead of a bell at a railway crossing, the engine on approaching a crossing causes a jet of water to play in the middle of the roadway about four feet high, which at night would be seen a long distance off in the glare of a headlight. It is claimed that for crossings- in country districts tin- device could be operated in conjunction with a water tank in the vicinity. An unusual mistake in the delivery of a part of electrical machinery for the Auckland Electric Power Board has been disclosed. At a special meeting of the committee of the whole Board the chairman, .Mr. W. .T. Hoidsworth. stated that tie- regulator of a new 5000 kilowatt set had been sent to Auckland by mistake instead of Pretoria, and the regulator which should have been sent to the Board lia,d 1 n sent to Pretoria. The Board decided that the makers be informed that as the Hoard's set was installed and in running order the Board required to have the proper regulator before the present one could lie returned.

An unusual incident occurred on board the ketch Rira, which arrived at Auckland from Grafton. Clarence Fiver, a. few days ago. When the vessel was oil' the" Three King- she was visited by hundred., of seagulls, which few aboard shortly after midday and isjmainod on the vessel for about ten hours. The birds walked about the decks ami on ten of tie- deck houses. They showed very little fear, and moved iiway slowly when approached. The mate Of the Rira. with '■'■'> year.-' rxpuriencu at sea. -aid he had "never before had such an experience. ft seemed as though the birds had flown aboard the shelter from some unknown danger. The crew fed the birds with meat and bread.

A Palrnerstonian who has been visiting Hawkes Bay told u Standard reporter that rain Is badly needed in and around Napier and Hastings. "There are," he states, "some very yood crops of oats and wheat to be seen, but, unfortunately, they are ripening imrnaturely. The wheat, too, has been.heading nicely, and unless rain falls very soon nueh damage will be done." Potato crops, lie added, were very fair, but rain was needed to save them. Some of the hills already presented a burnt appearance. Our informant also mentioned that around Hastings could be seen an area of native land badly farmed by the owners, with good grass going to waste. This, however, was a common .sight in the Dominion, where natives were 'arming their lands. In concluding his addres = on. the occasion or his re-enthronc-ment as Grand Master or the New Zealand Freemasons, Viscount. Jeilicoe said: "The power and influence of Freemasonry are just what Freemasons choose to make it. It can be a great force in the world for good, uplifting and elevating, bringing'cornfort, light and happiness to all.' Alternatively, it can be merely a body practising secret signs and symbls, with a ritual beautiful in itself, but. meaningless unless it leads to the practice of what is preached. My own short experience has convinced * me that, generally speaking 1 , here in New Zealand, the righ* path is being, trodden, that the brethren are striving to uphold the principles of the craft, and are succeeding; and that the steady growth; in numbers does signify also a corres- J ponding increase in the influence for j good which is exerted for the benefit j of the whole community." " j

A social and dance will be held at Manakau to-night.

A gramophone and record.- are advertised'for sale, cheap. A lady's bicycle (second-band) is advertised for.

Tenders are invited for the erection of a classroom at the Otaki State School.

JMif. S. Vwors£c/ld, jeweller, tLeviri. advertises lines specially suitable for Xmas gifts.

A general meeting of the Otaki United Football Club will be held tomorrow night at 7.30. Full particulars of the Levin sports' meeting* for Saturday are advertised. Rapid progress is being made on the construction of the North Auckland Main Trunk; railway. Mr. L-. G. Lowry, stationer, advertiser books, especially suitable for gifts f for sale. His stock includes all the i latest and best. I

W 6 £.re fitting rabbeT heels free till j Zcas on ladies' shoes from £1 upwards. I Call and :ee our white siioeo—ladies'i and children 'a are cheap this year, j • Gist's Bestock shoes to clear 34s 64. Polish 4 tins 1?. "We are agents,.fjr mat*! shoe Iscss.—-Irvine's, shoe stete,

'That rain is badly needed in and | around Wanganui is evinced by the fact that the tree ferns In several private gardens are beginning to droop and wear a very dejected appearance. "We have planted 7200 acres of tr e e s in New Zealand during the year. That is more than in any other'Dominion in the Empire," remarked Captain Macintosh Ellis, Director of Forestry, to a "Standard" reporter. Sixteen delegates, including three ■natives, attended the annual conference of the New Zealand Maori War Vettenms' Association in Palmersjton the average age being just under 7S years. A Maori named Pourere, from Poverty Bay. was the youth of the coni'erenca, his age being 71. : •'The feed is better now than 1 have seen, it at this timet for the last l."> years," a Kuku farmer remarked to a , "Mail" reporter on Saturday "It should turn out a clinking good season. Most people will do pretty I weil, except those who have overstocked. The milk flow is exceptionally good and tests »ro high." We have v e ry enthusiastic officers in the State Forest Service," remarked the Hon. Sir HeatOll Rhodes in Hie ■ course of an address at the I Forestry Department's camp at Oroua Downs." "Even to tihe Maori plantorg, who have developed the 'tree planting sense' which is latent in them," he jidded. The Levin branch of the Fanners' Union met on Saturday, when it was decided to support the Dairy Council's ticket, lor election to Hie Dairy Control Board, and recommend all members of the Union to vote lor Messrs K. Dalrymple, H, D. Forsyth. W. Coodfellow, W. Grounds, W. A. lorns and W. C. Motion. Mr U. L. Horn's (Kuku) prize pedigree Jersey cow Ugjhtl'oot under semiofficial test is producing 831bs of bu.tterfat per month. Mr Horn told .a "Chronicle" representative on Saturday that with anything like luck Lightfoot should do easily 7001bs wit'tiin the 36a days. Lightfoot is a daughter of 17-year-old Havenswood Lily, one of the "two foundation cows ol Mr Horn's herd. Despite, her age she is still a great producer and is giving over -lbs of butterfat a day. A live.-acre block of land was sold in Waipukurau some time ago. There was a plantation uf 100 bluegum, trees on the properly. Apparently the original owner was ignorant as regards the value of the trees, but the new owner was mote shrewd. The trees were sold as they stood t«> the Railway Department, and the fortunate seller received enough for th|e trees to more than pay.lor the freehold of the land. The original owner is still dazed at the thought of a. lost opportunity. Wild pigs are still numerous along the Wadiganui River banks, and are doing much damage. One uy-riv,er eetUer states that he lias lost 100 lambs this season through the ravages of wild pigs. A rather strange fact is mentioned by another farmer who declares that when shorn sheep are turned out on ground usually run over by wild pigs, the latter disappear He expresses the view that the pigs mistake shorn sheep lor dogs. - A prompt alarm given by a Utile girl to the wife of the custodian of the municipal bath at Uunedm, prevented a drowning fatality recently. The little girl saw an elder girl lying in the bottom ul the. bath. The custodiall Of the. baths. Mr Olds, applied artificial, respiration and the girl was brought round alter three minutes. j and was able to go home in a taxi. , There were many people iu the bath at the time. ! One woolgrower with a very large ic-lip under offer at the Wanganui sate was unsuccessful in selling a. single bale. Ho could lmve sold the lot il ie. had been guided by the advice of riis bioke-r as to the value ol ins wool. But he was apparently ignorant of the. fact that sellers aic sellers and buyer- buyers, and that buyers '.'. :;l only purchase in accordance with their own ideas and limits. At the end ol the sale buyers invariably withdrew; their final buU for lots. passed in.—Chronicle. ••Why can't we get a system <>' dealing with motorists who deliberately offend other pfeople on the road'.'" was a question asked at a meeting of the Wanganui Automobile Association. It was" suggested that licenses should he taken from driveis who persistently broke the rule of

the road. Cases were instatised where a speeding motorist .would fly past ■< slower car, and then travel at ; i pace and block the road. "Men who do that axe pigs, not car drivers," said a member. In connection with the Stella I'ov.or concert season in Auckland, Dame Melba lias purchased one thousand seats for the first concert. Thesu j*re to be presented with her compliments to the students of the venous colleges ajid consents. Writing from the R.M.S. Makura, .\b;iba says: "I earnestly exhort the music-loviug public of New Zealand to hear Stella Po.wer. There are few singers like her in the world. The natural beauty of her voice and her effortless style are to be marvelled at. ; ' It is. probably not generally known ; that, members of fire brigades are exempt, from jury service .s'-ates the TafaJiaki Herald;. A member oi the New Plymouth brigade was called as a common juryman for service at ' :e Supreme Court this week and to be excused on that account. "How long have you been in the brigade:-" asked the Judge, the reply "Twenty-seven years." The juryman said he had never been called for service before, and his Honour intimated That- fire brigade men were exempt.

it is not oiten wiat a man forgets tlie names of his children, but such, was trie case when a man was purchasing a book of iil tickets in the Art Union being run by the Poverty Bay Horticultural Society. He has ten cmidren, and decided to take one j ticket in Ids wife's nane, and two tickets in each child's name. After he had filled m. the ninth child's name he was stuck, as he could riot, remember the name of the tenth, so he decided to put down "the baby of 1 the family." Albert Stout, who pleaded guilty at Wang an ui to the theft of a bicycle, aTjpeared lor sentence before the Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout, at the Supreme Court, His Honour stated that counsel's contention that the lapses were due to drink was supported by the. probation officer's report, and he would therefore admit accused to probation for three years, during which time he is to remain on the farm and avoid drink. He was ordered t-q pay £3 towards the cost; of the prosecution.

I The Queensland .Government put into force, from November Ist, an Act passed last year, prohibiting the usa o* white lead on ay. public schools and buildings, and private residences within, four feet of the ground where aui'.dreE. ar& likely to come into contact 3Bsh it The houses in .Queensland sre> sll built on wpodeit Piles., and haya Eeraadihs around .. jsem whiGh, am enclo&jd wit& patotaa teaChildren handled the reuings; ana ' 'go-, tie whir* lead Borssjler on j thefir "hazds and so to their mouths, j it "S believed that, this is re- * kpoJasiWe -0/ iha 'act thg/t initntii.e Btfateris is a* w&ai&s& ia Sias state.

A Chinese fruiterer in New Plymouth ha s becomo bankrupt with 'i deficiency of £BO4. He attributes hi! failure largely to a slump in the busj ness of Chinese vegetable sellers j,i New Plymouth following on the con. victio.u of one of their number for tin inSuMitary act. Over 90 shopkeepers have agreed tu join in with the scheme, promoted by the Xew Plymouth Retailers' Association, for the brighter illuming lion of window- fronts by placing un. derueath shop verandahs a line . ,',> brilliant electric lights.