THE OTAKI MAIL. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1923. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Otaki Mail, 7 December 1923, Page 2

THE OTAKI MAIL. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1923. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr. W. McJvegg. of the Albion Hotel. Shannon, has sold to Mr. Curran. A slight shod-: of earthquake was experienced in Otaki and district shortly before one o'clock to-day. A suspicious looking character, who has been prowline round Waikanae. received a warning from the police on Wednesday. Another person is said to be in hiding in the bush. He makes midnight visits to meat safes, etc. After th.- meeting of the* Chamber of Commerce last night Mr. Morse kindle exhibited some films of Otaki scenery which will probably be used for the publicity campaign. Some of the views were very fine ones and should create interest wherever shown. f \s a means of raising funds to aid the Otaki Chamber of Commerce in their big publicity campaign to “Advance Otaki." a sub-committee have arranged a, flannel dance to be held in the Otaki theatre next Monday, December 10th. The cause is a good one and the folks of the district are asked to assist this boosting stunt by attending on Monday night. The Rikihana orchestra will supply the musical programme, and ladies are asked to please supply a basket of light refreshmers. j

If the age of chivalry is dead, there are indications that another is springini' tip in a “duel” jeeently fought by two boys of 16 years for the protection and favours of la girl of their acquaintance (relates Ithe Hamilton correspondent of the Auckland Star). The names of the yojthful cavaliers are Clarence O’Brien add Arthur E. Lee. Recently in Slate Park they fought over a maidenf for quarter of an hour, and then adjourned to a backyard to finish the constat. When the boys were charged before Mr. Young. S.M.. in the Police Court with having i caused a breach of thl peace. O ’ Brien j said the fight startedias the result of j p.n argument over a lirh The Magis- j trate: You decided ito have a duel i for her hand? O’Brfn declared that; Lee worked in a shop. End he (O’Brien) ! objeete.fi to the girl vfeiting him. One day he heard her shrink and ru shed to her rescue. Lee static! that the girl was a collector for “4 blessed Sunday 1 school.” and had bees pestering him • for donations. He hadlgiven her variou" -mall nmounf--. button" dav. being “ f H up ” hf. offered tfi give 2? 6d for a kiss. The girl consid®ed the bargain =. ror'l one. and she «as iust being kis-ed when O’Brien Entered. The girl did not. however. ri. The Court was highly anused at the aarrat:ve. Both boys were convicted and discharged. Fred Barren-, after winning all the way, now heads the lit* for boot t >4 “hoe repairs. He bar. row challenged for np-to-dste bcotr, and a wifi-, to bit shop wjii show what high-grade goods he keegs. Sgg his £aad-ihoe%—4dvt- _

The next, sitting of the Otaki S.M. Court will not be held till February 7tb. The Otaki Brass Band will play at the “.Stiii’-' on Sunday afternoon, when a collection will be taken up to provide Xmas cheer for the patients of the hospital and sanatorium. Life is longest In New Zealand. Here the average is 60 years. It is the shortest in India, where for thousands of years there has been no progress, except, such as England has forced upon an unwilling race. India’s average of lile is 24 years. Not long ago the second biggest city in France had neither man nor woman past. 50 years of age. Sixty was once very old, and 70 extraordinary. Montnino speaks of his old age at a time when he was not 50. in the London Zoological Gardens during September several valuable specimens of a collection were found dead. A hippopotamus died alter eatnn explosive hidden in tin cans ; three alligators had their eyes gauged out ; a famous grey monkey, the oldest member of the collection, died Horn poisoning, and an ostrich, which, desp' its reputation, was unable to digest pins which some strange luriati : had bidden in a piece of bread. The only clue to the crimes is a human Pager found lying in a lion’s c tgo 11 is r beheved to be that of the criminal, and ; t was probably bittc-n while he was trying to give the lion poison. Many theories are advanced regarding motives but no satisfactory one has been found.

There lias been a conflict of opinion , for many years whether white lead I pniints have an injurious effect upon i painters, and also upon people who live in painied houses. It is well 1 unknown that a. very line dust is given j off by paint that has lead as its basis. ! Scientists of recent years have given much thought to the subject, and have evolved a paint that has zinc for its principal content. A striking example of the hygienic values of such paint, occurred recently, not a lvund- j red miles from Tailmpe. where a tradesman was obliged to give up his 1 occnpaiion as painter because of his health becoming impaired. Later ho

decided to resume his trade, but decided to use only the new paint, composed of zinc. To his great satisfar- | thin, ho has never been troubled , since with his old compaint of “paint-, or’s colic.” Must of ihe great spectacles that . has,, been given In the screen, have , been, after all. mainly a series ol opi- , -ode- the |>i<-1 urizat ion of groat events ! Ilia! rail for massive elfoets and great numbers of people. In this particular ; * ■ Theodora.'' the I talia n production which has been hailed by the motion pic| a n press is I>y 1a r the most stupendous of all cinema creations, but j I here is a real story—probably one of I lie gTcalcyt dramas that the speaking singe has known, for the screen ereall.llf follows to the last detail Victorian 1 l-mi-don's play which was first produc- j ,d bv Sarah Bernhardt, and in which I mane of the world’s most famous no- • tres-es have seen. Many of the : basic facts of the drama are recorded history, bat iti developing the story. I Sardou called upon his sixth dramatic sense to make the appeal the greater j and the interest the more tense. With j only the settings of the painted theatre : drops, Bernhardt made this play one of the great e-t hits of her cii reel. A house is to lei, A small cottage is to let. j A st rung bov i- advert Ned for. j A nurse g-irl i- advertised for, j A lady de-ires a situation in a -hop Kresit vegetables are advertised fo: 1 sale.

A meet i tig of t hose i II! crest ell iII t lie radium fund will be held on Monda;. evening. A sale oi' work in ran-e funds I'm addi 1 inn:! a ~iiha.it ing ■<' I he <)ta k 1 state s-Ylinnl v, ill la- it<• i 1 tii Thursday. I limit i list. \ i .•'lll e on llTol .SI at t<! will be g... en I a the t he:,t !'I siim|de rooms m \\ ediie-day night a; ' o Vlm-k. Fur tier 1 .art icula r- wil : pp.-a. nrM is- j

Hoiv i ’niiiiii union ui ii im .-.-Irbi at ed, ai Ail Saints’ Church on Sunday morning at s a.ni.. while in tin- (weiiing th, re will be a thanksgiving service. • We remind athletes hi -ports ' gathering To be lend a t Levin 10-mor row. Entries are grind, and keen emi- i test- are expected. Tim programme j apinars id-yv.liere, 3,'r. .1. Sit:vers adverti-es crockery. I ot high-class quality, for -ale, the ant.onmwincnt that he i- holding ’> : -or-itaikiiig sale being incorrect. Aitmi.wars has now a lovely display of _onds ami residents should inspect. > AVe are fitting rubber heels free tilt Xmas or: ladies’ shoes from vl upwards, ('all and see our white shoes—ladies’ and children are cheap this year. Gem’s Best of: k shoes to clear 34s 6d. i Polish 4 tins Is. We am agents fori metal shoe laces.—lrvine’s, shoe store. Otaki.—Advt. .... . .