LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taihape Daily Times, 12 September 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The volcano Aso-san, in Southern Japan, has the biggest crater known. It is 14 miles across one way and between 10 and 11 the other. Record prices were obtained at the Shrewsbury wool sale at the end of June, when 25,000 fleeces were disposed of. The top price for Shropshire wool was 4/11 per lb.

Mr MeCallum, M.P. for Wairau, who introduced the State Control of Hotel Licenses Bill in the House on Wednesday afternoon, advocated the appointment of a Minister to control the Liquor Traffic and the reduction of the number of licenses, with compensation

Replying in the House on Wednesday to a question concerning Nimot the traitor. Sir James Allen said Nimot had not yet been repatriated to England, though the War Office have agreed to Repatriate him as soon a s possible. It was presumed, in the absence of definite information, that he was still in Germany. On repatriation, ho will be tried by court-martial.

The Minister for Public Works, replying in the House to. a question by Mr E. E. Y. Seddon (Westland) said, that it is hardly probable that the Otira tunnel will be completed within two ; years. • Mr Seddon expressed great dissatisfaction at. the reply. Only a. mile remained to be completed, he urged, and the work should be pushed on with all ■ speed, as it would help largely to solve the coal problem in the South Island.

“Such a large number of private estates arc being offered to the Government voluntarily, and also as the result of my appeal on behalf of the Government to landowneis, float it does not appear necessary r.t the persent time to put into operation the clauses of the Land for Settlements Act providing for the compulsory acquisition of land,” states the Hon D. H. Guthrie (Minister for Lands), in reply to a question by Mr G. J. Anderson (Mataura)_ >

“This matter has been engaging the attention of the Department and is at present under consideration,” is the reply given by the Hon. D. H. Guthrie to a question by Mr R. W. Smith (Waimarino) as to whether during the present session he will introduce legislation to make available for returned soldiers’ settlement the land situated on the left bank of the Wanganui riper to the north of the mouth of the Retaruke stream, now vested in the Wanganui River Trust.

Mr A. W. Pearse, proprietor of the Pastoralists’ Review, writing from London, says: “The position of meat just now here is peculiar. By July there will be enough purely British moat to feed the whole of Great Britain for three months and frozen won't be wanted. The stores are now full of frozen meat,’ and ships are arriving rapidly from all parts of the world with more. The British Government dare not liberate meat because they have pledged the British farmer a certain price till the end of September.

Notice was given in the House oa Wednesday by Mr J. Vigor Brown (Napier) to move for a return giving (1) the names of all persons from whom the Government has purchased land for soldier settlement; (2) the area of such purchases; (3) amount paid per acre for each purchase; and (4) the names of all persons who have offered to the Government for sale for soldier settlement land which has not been purchased by the Government, the price . asked for such land, and the area of land not purchased.

1 understand, says “The Clubman” in the “Pall Mall Gazette/’ that the inhabitants of Havre, .where the first of the old and gallant “Contemptibles” landed in those fateful August days, intend to erect a suitable monument at the entrance of the harbour to their memory. The Havrais, more than any other section of French people, seemed to have imbibed British manners, and I should say at least twenty per cent, of the population i can speak English more or less fluently. I am told that over 2000 or the young ladies of Havre have married British soldiers.

k > A permanent man is advertised for | by the Ohura Town Board, with a sal- ( ary of £5 per week. Applications I will be received by Mr S. E. Meredith, Chairman of the Board.

Earlj’- potatoes and other delicate plants have received a set-back by the sharp frosts experienced during the past three evenings. The potato crops of the Chinese gardeners at Aramoho and have suffered severely.

Messrs White and Sons have made a striking display of their new spring goods, for which they are quoting special prices, .which appear in our advertising columns. A line of particular quality and 'low price is their 27inch Check Zephyr, in various colours.

The Prime Minister informed the House on Wednesday, in answer to a question by Mr Newman whether the Government intended shortly to put standardised boots upon the market, at low rates, that a scheme is about to be launched which it is hoped will ensure the public obtaining boots of good quality at a reasonable price.

Lord Fisher reveals that the most striking feature of the pre-war period was the ridicule and cost of the submarines. They were regarded a s to}*?. A young submarine commander during British manoeuvres torpedoed the hostile admiral three times and claimed the ship as the prize, but the admiral signalled back, "You be damned.”

A trade circular from the United States says the rblord of strikes during the past few weeks is a long one, and each adjustment has been on the basis of higher wages, or shorter hours of work or both. A shipping strike which affected 70,000 men, and 500 ships was adjusted on the basis of an advance in pay, but demands for an eight-hour day and the employment of only union members were refused.

Another one of the popular ' series of socials and dances under the auspices of the—-local Returned Soldiers’ Association is scheduled for Wednes day next, and promises to he quite as enjoyable as its preccessors. The tickets, are priced at: Double, 3/; Gents, 2/; Ladies, 1/6. The returned men are determined to make the coming function as equally successful as any of its predecessors.

An extraordinary general meeting of the Taihape Returned Soldiers’ Association will be held in the Town Hall Supper-room on Monday evening next, at 8 o’clock. As the business to come before the meeting is urgent and important, a full attendance is earnestly requested. Members of other Associations are invited to attend, and non-members may join the Association at this meeting.

The Government statistician reports that the value of New Zealand exports for the 12 months ended July 31, 1919., increased by £11,903,335, the totals being respectively £29,372,954 and £41,276,339. Compared with the year ended July, 1918, the imports also show an increase in value, but not in volume. The imports for the first seven months of 1918 were valued at £13,391,165, and those for the first seven months of 1919 at £17,583,778. The volume of goods lias been greatly reduced especially from America, where the rate of exchange is against the Dominion.

“Where the valuation $f tlie land that a discharged soldier desires to acquire under section 31 does not exceed £2500 an advance up to the full amount may be made if the valuation made for the Government sustains the amount applied for and the board recommends the advance. This has been the practice all over the Dominion, and although detailed figures cannot he given at this short notice n very large proportion of advances made under this section are cither up to tlm jjull amount of purchase price (a s supported by Government valuation) or very close thereto, after allowing for any small deposit the soldier may be in a position to make.”—-This is the reply given in the House of Represenatives to Mr G. J, Andersen (Mataura) by the Minister for Lands.

The Special Committee set up to consider the question of sending representatives of the Dominion to inquire into the ramifications of the frozen meat trade in England met at Palmerston on Wednesday to receive replies to letters which had been sent out to various bodis interested. About 20 replies were received, all but two being favourable to the proposal. Those who declined to endorse the suggestion were the Canterbury Meat Committee of the Canterbury Sheerowners’ Union, at which only three members were present, and the Hawkej’s Bay Farmers’ Union. It was decided that the matter should be further discussed at the Dominion Conference of the Farmers’ Union, to be held in Wellington next week when representatives of the Sheepowners * Federation will be invited to attend.