LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3402, 5 February 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

An advertiser desires to buy. for cash, a good second-hand piano. Particulars are to 'be sent addressed “Home Lover/’ care of this office.

The Government has accepted tenders for joinery and doors for 200 houses, all to be built in the North Island. The successful tenderers are Messrs Fletcher Bros., of Wellington, and the Wanganui Sash and Door Factory.

The Secretary of the Education Board has been advised by the. Public Health Department that it is unlikely the schools will re-iopen before the 16th February, but that it is impossible to forsee the developments of the epidemic. Parents and teachers should watch our columns for an announcement regarding the date of re-opening. Ample notice will be given. It is reported that several Christchurch musicians have bedai offered and accepted positions with the New South Wales Orchestra. In some quarters the fear i s expressed that unless the Dominion Grovemment does something to encourage music in New Zealand many of the Dominion’s best musicians will be snapped up by the visiting orchestra.

A startling experience befell two motorists at a level crossing a short distance from Stratford a day or two ago. A car was being towed to Stratford, and the leader had crossed the railway line when the train dashed up, striking the tow-rope, which was severed by the impact at the moment when the car s had been dragged parallel with with the tralin. TBe feelings of the occupants may be imagined as they sat, shocked, while the wagons thundered by.

Mr Alec. James of Wellington, formerly in Feilding in business as an architect, is in town in connection with further improvements at the Feilding Farmers’ Freezing Works. Mr James reports that his firm is carrying out the work of insulating the s.s. Admiral Codrington at Auck land for its owners, the Gisborne Farmers’ Freezing Co. This is the first time that such a work has been carried out in New Zealand. The vessel has a carrying capacity of over 10,000 tons.

The “vacant chair” is not always a thing to mourn over. A well-known settler at Silver,hope recently had cause to rejoice over his absence from home. Upon returning at evening he discovered one of the windows in the front door to be broken. Hater on in the evening he noticed a disarrangement in the back of his favourite arm chair at the back of the house. Investigation disclosed a pearifle bullet, which, after penetrating the window, must have passed across one of the front sitting-rooms, then through a door, and into the chair in the other room.

One would think that all commodities flower seeds would 'be one of the last and most difficult to corner. Yet. apparently, the Germans have largely succeeded in gathering to themselves the choicest of the strains of doubleflowering stocks ,the blooms of which are used in the manufacture of perfumes. Mr J. G. McKenzie, Director of Parks and Reserves in Wellington stated on Monday that it had been almost impossible to obtain choice strains of these flowers during the war on account of the monopoly held by the Germans. One of the leading firms of seed merchants in the Dominion ,said the Director, had been unable ’to meet orders for this class of stock at any time during the past two or three years.

Just how much Great Britain had to do with winning the war —despite 1 the bombastic claims of the United States —is proved by the cost of the conflict, financially by the different nations. As the result of the Great War, England is easily the greatest debtor, because her increase of her national debt has gone up by —157 5/ per head of population, whilst that of the United States is £55 5/. Japan has come out of it wonderfully well, with only 16/ per head, Belgium only £l4 8/, and Roumania £l9 3/. What did it cost Germany? £l2B 6/ —and she is still paying out. Frances’ debt increased by £ll4 4/. Austria-Hun-gary £B9, Italy £77 ,and Serbia £26 6/. Although non-participants, the war increased Switzerland’s public debt by over £l2 per head and Sweden’s by over £3.

A Sydneysider with big business interests all over his State was making a tour of New Zealand in the interests of his ! firm the other day. When he left Australia drought had the back country in its grip. On the run down the North Island from Auckland some friends took him for a half-hour run into the back country. He was so surprised and delighted with the freshness of the rolling paddocks, which were green-clad, 1 in every direction, that he. could not restrain his enthusiasm, but stood up in the car, flung out his arms and cried: “This is the country!’” Presently: “What price did you say this land is?’,’ And when told that it was £SO per acre, he retorted: “Get away With you! The land is worth £100!” Our land looks £ 100-good to Australians.

The majority of domesticated animals are Asiatic in origin, such, as torses; dogs, mules, donkeys, sheep, goats, lioney-hoos, chickens, ducks.

The total value of enemy property seized in the United States is estimated at being between, between £140,000,000 and £160,000,000.

The Government has accepted the tenders of Messrs Fletcher Bros., of Wellington, and the Wanganui Sash and Door, Co., for the joinery and doors for about 200 houses to be erected mostly in the North Island. ’ A meeting of the executive of the Freezing Workers’ Federation was ■held on Tuesday, when preparation of the union’s case for the conference with the employers yesterday was made.

The limit has been reached. Fullgrown men have foregathered at Palmerston North to decide the croquet championship. What manly exercise for robust Britishers! A champion marble player will be the next innovation.—Wairarapa Times.

The return of persons assisted to employment prepared by the employ* ment office of the Labour Bureau for the month of January,, shows a total of 150 applications during the period. Of these 123 applicants were placed in employment, and 24 were" assisted by reduced fares The number of applications by employers during the month was 19.

A leading firm, in Palmerston North, has just introduced a saving policy for its employees. The firm has practically established a bank for its hands and allows them 7 per cent for money placed On fixed deposit for twelve months, 6 per cent for six months, and 5 per cent on current account. In the latter instance the employees are furnished with cheque books.

Owing to damage by fire, smoke, and water, and the condition of the building, on account of fire, for displaying dainty, artistic goods. Miss Harvey has decided to sell the whole of her beautiful stock of millinery, blouses, underclothing, and other artistically made articles too numerous to mention, by auction on Saturday next at 2 p.m. About £2O worth of the goods are slightly damaged by fire, but the balance is all in perfect condition, and unsoiled in every respect. Miss Harvey’s stock w'as only just received in New Zealand when she started business here a short time back, so everything is the last word in fashion and material.

An owcr of three years rates to the Taumarunui Borough Council had been missing, when the Town Clerk at last located him the other day irt a backblocks , district not many miles away. So he sent a letter requesting payment immediately. The reply was brief and well to the point. The person in question stated he had been on active service for three years. “So try the Minister of Defence, or some other responsible person, and mo doubt he would be only too pleased to give you a cheque,” he wrote. The novelty of the suggestion was not lost on councillors, but it wag resolved to ask him to forward his paybook and discharge as proof of his term of soldering. —Press.

Interviewed by a N.Z. Times representative last week, a number of wholesale produce merchants stated that the best -potatoes were firm at present at £ll a ton wholesale, and had been so for some weeks past. - They were quoted, however, as low as £7 a ton for delivery in April next. When the new southern crop conies in it was expected that the price would be reduced at least two or three pounds a ton. There will be no downward tendency in the price of potatoes, it was stated, till they came in from the South Island. At present North Island potatoes are all there are coining in. As a matter of fact, the South Island is draining on the North Island. A lot of p'Atoes went from Wellington to Timaru last week, and Christchurch is also asking for potatoes.

J A N.Z. Times representative was told the other day of a Christchurch firm which is anxiously awaiting the lifting of the embargo on hides. They have been hoarding for many months past, and they expect to make a clear £75,000. “Docs Mr Massey know about this?” asked the reporter. “Oh, yes, he knows about it alright,” said the informant. “What about our Board of Trade,” asked our guileless representative. At this the man in the know had a sudden paroxysm of laughter, and walked ’away. Then he came back a few steps and composed himself sufficiently to remark; “It’s the old, old story: 'Twice is h ft armed who hath his quarrel just, but three times he who believes staunchly —as Mr Massey does, in the “inexorable law of supply and demand.” These Christchurch people have got the boot manufacturers where they want them, and the man who wants a pair of boots for Ms eldest radical has got to pay, pay, pay.’ ” Then the man in the know walked off down the street still chuckling. Still, it is quite possible that there are people who do not appreciate the joke.

Two records —those for the largest amount of revenue collected during one month and during ten' months—have been broken by the Customs revenue for the present year, the receipts to date as shown by a statement made on Tuesday by Sir W. H. Berries, Minister for Customs being exceptionally large.

Considering that Benzine tins cost :i shilling each to make, it is strange that so little use i s found for them. Hundreds of thousands go to waste in thisdistrict alone. A littl 0 fortune awaits a man who can utilise them. American users are forbidden to make an opening in both ends, so presumably they are used. The only use made of them here is as a boxing for concrete house blocks.

In several of the mines Just before tire holidays (says the Dunedin Star) shoulders,” and in one case a Scottish collier and Ms son in an Otago colliery made together for II days the paltry wages of £42! That is not capitalists’s propaganda tale; it is a proven fact The miners are not discontented over their wages at all. They want to control the industry on their own terms.

Persons who have travelled about the Island of late speak in terms of astonishment of the remarkable contrast presented by Taranaki land to. other land just at present. Most places, they say, look very dry and some ar e burnt up, but in Taranaki all is green and fresh, and grass is plentiful. The dairymen in what the old geography books used to term “The Garden of Now Zealand” are said to bo having an excellent season. —Those travellers have evidently not yet visiter] the Taibapc district. A lad named Williamson, 16 years of age, pleaded guilty at the Magistrate's Court to the theft of a bicycle from a Te Aroha resident. He said he had stowed away on a New Zealand transport in England, arriving at Wellington about four months ago. He had. made his way round the country districts since, gradually working northwards. At Taihape and Ohakune he had forged cheques and obtained goods under false pretences. The bicycle stolen at Te Aroha he sold for £2, and cleared off to the Haurald Plains, where he was arrested on Thursday. The lad. was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. He was committed to Taihape in connection with the faTse pretences charges.