LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taihape Daily Times, 29 August 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A well-known sportsman who possessed a small terrier calculated that if the 2525 rats which the dog killed during its career as a “ratter” had been allowed to live they would have produced 1,633.190,200 other rats.

The New Zealand Farmers’ Distributing Co., Ltd_, notify by advertisement that they can supply good sweet baled meadow hay at £0 10/ per ton, also oat-sheaf cow chaff at £6, free on /trucks at IfleiMiug, Orders should be sent in early as the supply is limited.

At the caucus of the Liberal Party or. Wednesday a resolution was carried that the party was in hearty accord with the general policy enunciated by the Liberal Leader, Sir Joseph Ward. There was only one member not quite in full accord with the programme enunciated. ■ Messrs G. W. Forbes (Hurunui) and R. J. Dickie (Selwyn) were re-appointed Whips #

Explaining the word “Digg' , r,” Bri-gadier-General Brand, the Victorian Commandant, stated recently that, it was the password used hy the Australian scout? on patrol in ‘Tfo Man’s Land,” and eventually the term wns applitd to fighting troops. At one time, he said, the greatest compliment that could h e paid to a man in France was to refer to him as a Digger. Since the armistice every man wearing the uniform of the Australian Imperial Force wa s dubbed a “Digger.” The word should be, protected, said General Brand, and should not be applied to men who did not know the sound of a “5.9.” • ;

It is understood that the Prime Minister has at his disposal the resignations of three members of the Reform Ministry, who have expressed their willingness to fall in with any scheme o-i reconstruction which may be deemed necessary.

A week’s mission is to commence in the Taihape Presbyterian Church, commencing on Sunday. Similar missions are being conducted in all Presbyterian churches throughout the Dominion. Special addresses will be delivered, and special well-known hymns, solos, and quartettes will be sung. Everybody is cordially invited to be present, particularly at the week-night meetings, Much ■are to be held every evening throughout the week.

The costly mayoral chain, to which each succeeding Mayor of Christchurch adds a golden link, has been further enriched (states an exchange) by a beautiful emerald, given by Dr. Thacker, M.P., to signalise his occupancy of the chair. The emerald, which was an heir-loom, has been set in a little cluster of small diamonds, and inserted in the chain in a triangular gold setting, ■yhich harmonises with the three jewelled triangles given by Mr W_ Reece, the (Hon. A. E. G. Rhodes, and the Hon. Charles Louisson.

The Commissioner of Lands for the Otago district (Mr E. T. Sadd) has been authorised by the Minister to at once proceed with the classifying and the surveying of the Mount Pisa run, and take all the steps that are necessary to open this run for the use of discharged soldiers. “At once” (states a Dunedin paper) “may be taken to mean that Mount Pisa will shortly be open to application. 'To correct such an impression, we mention the fact that this is one of the big runs, having an area of 147,000 acres, and the work that is to start immediately will take three parties all the summer to get through.”

“I would not be at all surprised,” said, a Levin dairyman the other day, to gee good cows reach as high as £SO or £6O in the next year or two. My reason for this is that the lucrative returns promised by the manufacture of milk products, such as casein, is going to enhance the value of cows. If the returns increase as they undoubtedly will, Avhen the new industries commence, then the price of dairy animals must rise in proportion.” This informant stated, however, that the new order would have its drawbacks in that there would be less calf and pig-rearing, which would send bacon Up to fancy prices in times to come.

I» . , ‘ 1 Wairakei is the coming pleasure resort, and Rotorua, will have to look to its laurels,” said a traveller to a Waikato Times representative in Rotorua recently. It is understood that the company which has purchased the whole estate will spend £IOO,OOO in ,-forming tenuis courts, croquet lawns, bowling greens, golf courses, etc. Work has already commenced, and building is going apace. It is said of Wairakei that it has all the sights ! and wonders to be seen at Rotorua within a small radius, and no long and tiresome trips have to be taken. The syndicate is said to consist of wellknown Auckland business men, with plenty of money behind them. The Hon. W. H. ( Trigg, editor of the Christchurch Press, writes to his paper from London that he has just returned from a very interesting tour on the Continent. He was met at Boulogne by Colonel J. Studholmc, who, at General Godley’s request, had very kindly consented to motor him t over the principal battlefields in Avhich New Zealanders were engaged. Coioncl and Mrs Heaton Rhodes, were also of the party, but had to return to Boulogne from Bailleul after having visited Ypres, Passchendaele, Mossines, Armenticres, Ploegsteert Wood, and other famous places. Mr Triggs went or. with Colonel Studholmc to Dnreo, near Cologne, where he stayed for a few days as the guest of General Godley, who is in command of the 4th Corps of the British Army of thcRhine.

During the month of June American shipyards (states the Guarantee Trust Company of New York) turned out 272 vessels aggregating 422,880 gross tons. Of these 72 were steel boats totalling 329,981 tons, 39 wood, totalling 92,362 gross tons, and 161 vessels nou-sea-going, totalling 10,546 gross tons. The problem of the American Government is what to do with the tonnage it secured during the war. Mr Charles 11. fiez, former president of the Emergency Fleet Corporation, pointed out recently that the prompt disposition of the fleet could only be made at ruinous sacrifices. Unless it was; sold in toto private shippers would secure the cream of the fleet, and leave only an ill-assorted and unprofitable remainder for the Government to operate. He added: “The sudden injection into business of ship operations of men inexperienced in its its risks, and its process is bound to result in unique and destructive cutting of rates among our own shippers, a contingency that may in a large measure prevent the establishment of a really effective American marine.”

A henchman, at £2B per month is wanted at Meredith’s Sawmills, Ohura.

An assistant housemaid —waitress is wanted by Mrs Shields, at Arcadia House.

The following vessels will be within wireless range to-night: Monowai, Maori, Somerset, MtJkoia, Manuka, Moeraki, Athenic. In range of Chathams. Westmeath.

It has been decided by prominent Liberals in Wellington to tender Sir Joseph Ward a public reception in the capital city on Monday, It is expected that Sir Joseph Ward will take the opportunty to say something of interest concerning th e present state of political affairs in the Dominion, particularly with regard to the manifesto issued by him last week.

In connection with, the shortage of tobacco, and the difficulty in obtaining the more popular brands of cigarettes, the sales manager of a branch of the Imperial Tobacco Company (Londbn) recently explained the apparent falling off in quantity by saying that the demand for cigarettes to-day is greater than at any time in history. Many men wdxo previously smoked a pipe, he said, had developed a preference for cigarettes during the war, and the increased and ever-increasing number of women who had developed the habit had made a very considerable difference. In the latter connection he alleged that most - people failed to appreciate the huge number of cigarettes consumed by wmrnen. "Recently,” he said, "two girls about to start on a fortnight's holiday called on one of our customers for 2000 cigarettes, which they hoped would see thorn through.”

The necessity for increased production in the primary products of the Dominion in order to meet the stupendous indebtedness entailed by the> ■war, has been emphasised by men of all shades of political colour. While this is unanimously conceded, the ques. tion arises, how is this to be done with a minimum cost to the farmer? The solution is not so difficult as would appear at first sight —the inauguration of improved niethods and the employment of up-to-date agricultural machinery. The latter phase of the problem has been solved by Messrs Reid and Gray, who lead the world in the manufacture of agricultural implements, every branch of farming being provided with a modern machine to meet the requirements of that particular branch. Mr Geo. Bray, of Taihape, is the district agent for this wellknown firm, and ho will be pleased to supply illustrated catalogues and all information on application. In a new advertisement in another column, Mr Bray brings under the notice of agriculturists two very important adjuncts to the farm.