LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3648, 8 December 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The new meat flour mills to be erected at Rangataua will employ a large number of bands, including about 200 girls.

A sea lion, estimated at 12ft or more in length, came out of the sea on to the rocks at St. Clair, Dunedin, about noon the other day. According to the Christen urch Press, it is understood that one of the largest and most successful engineering firms in Invereargill—that of James Macalister, Ltd. —have sold out their business to Booth, Macdonald, and Co. Ltd., of Christchurch. The deal, it is stated involves a large plant and heavy stocks, and also the patent rights for some of the best known agricultural implements in New Zealand, while a large block of city property is also included.

A fortune-telling woman, taken before a Gateshead (England) bench of magistrates, declared that by her foresight she knew the girls who would consult her. She had been forewarned. The Chairman: "Were you forewarned of yotfr appearance here, and do you know what the result will be?" With hesitation the woman replied: "Well, I suppose I shall have to pay something." 'The Chairman: 'Wrong. You will suffer one month's imprisonment.''

The estimated average lambing in the North Island for the current season (computed from estimates furnished by the Inspectors of Stock in the various districts) is 87.95 per cent. On the basis of 5,838,704 breeding ewes in the North Island, as shown in the last sheep returns, the estimated number of lambs works out ' at 5,135,524. The estimated percentage in 1910 was 81.57, and the number of breeding ewes 6,311.797. South Island and Dominion estimates for the current season will be published in next month's issue.—Journal of Agriculture.

Five seamen on the steamer Opawa we're arrested on arrival at Auckland on a charge of embezzlement of cargo vauled at £SO during the voyage.

The Government have received a cable from the British Legation at Pckin appealing for funds to relieve the famine which is attacking whole provinces.

"The pipers ~represent a race that will never decay, whose glory will never fade; a race that never fled from a foe."—Mr K. Cameron, at a piping and dancing reunion in Dunedin. . "

Eabbitskins are depressed about 85 per cent, below prices ruling last March (states, the Ashbureon Guardian). A local dealer states £ls will buy as many rabbitskins to-day as £IOO would eighf months ago.

The. Government steamer Tutanekai, which left Auckland recently to search for the missing schooner Jubilee, arrived at Niue'lsland on the 4th December, after unsuccessfully searching the various islands en route. The Tutanekai will return via the Kermadees..

Santa von Klaus will apparently figure largely in many English homes this Christmas. The correspondent of the Daily News at Berlin states that British firms continue to importune German manufacturers for articles of almost every conceivable kind, the cry for toys being particularly loud.

The Premier states that the whole of the Billoela's shipment of Newcastle coal, from 4000 to 5000 tons, will be set aside for threshing requirements. The greatest care will have to be taken to make the allocation go as far as possible. Every effort will be made to allot further supplies as opportunity offers. Mr Massey says that brown, or Hew Zealand coals, should be' mixed with Newcastle to make it go further.

Mr E. W. Dalton, Trade Commissioner for Britain, advises that he has received a cablegram from his Boad of Trade, London, stating that "deflation and credit restrictions at Home combined with the temporary congested states of the markets abroad has stopped extension of trade experienced early this year. Unemployment has increased gradually, dull conditions are likely to last for a few months without any sensational collapse and with a fair prospect of recovery next year.''

''' There is nothng in civilisation which excites moTe vice than the cooping of growing children in a school desk," said Professor Shelley when lecturing to the Social Hygiene Society at Christchurch. "No emotional control is built up from passivity. No emotional control can be built up until the emotions are aroused and worked out in physical activity. From the aesthetic and physical points of view also the cooping up of children in desks is the most abominable tyranny of modern times. The child is not allowed to be anything but dead —there must be absolute stillness. That, however, is not discipline. True discipline is ordered action —not repression."

During the visit of Lr>rd Jellieoe to Hastings a bibulous individual made a semi-coherent interjection while the Governor was delivering an address. "I beg your pardon, r> said the Admiral. The interjector was somewhat taken aback at being taken such direct notice of, but having obviously previously acquired courage of the variety which is reputed to come from, the Netherlands, repeated Ms question: "Why didn's you stop at Home," "Because his Majesty the King sent me here," replied the Admiral quietly. "And I repeat,," continued his Excellency, "that it is a great pleasure for me to come here, in spite of the fact that (looking in search of his questioner) there is one gentleman in Hastings who is not pleased to see me. Oh, I'm afraid he is gone." (Laughter.)

New Zealand fanners are faced with more troubles than those which arise out of the slump in wool (says the Dunedin Star). The oats market ■is in a queer states. Australia, expected to be & buyer, is now a seller, since the drought did not affect the oats so much as was feared, and there is a fair crop there. Another factor in the present situation is that the New Zealand yield of oats is considerably above calculations. Moreover, the British market, following the American market, has dropped appreciably. As a result of these influences Otago oats that were at 5/ per bushel three months agefcan be bought to-day at 3/ ex store. One agent told a Star reporter that he was "advising his clients to feed off their young oats, so as to be sure of an immediate return in the improvement of stock; also to plant for wheat instead of oats at next sowing whenever the land is strong enough to carry wheat, since wheat is to sure to command a firm price, whereas oats may tumble to 2/ or even 1/9.

Entries for Taihape stock sale on j 15th December are advertised. j A three-ton wool wagon in good order is advertised for sale. Notice re Christmas and New Year holidays is given by the Taihape Tradesmen's Association. The Rarigitikei County Council invites tenders for two metalling con- j tracts and for the right to cut grass- j seed on the County roads.

Messrs Dalgety and Co. advertise the sale o£ Crown leasehold at Utiku, to take place at the Taihape saleyards on Wednesday next,

As the Christmas Season is drawing near, the Matron of the Taihape Public Hospital will, be grateful for the rceeipt of any donations of articles or cash in order that the patients may be enabled to participate in some of the joys of the festive season.

A man named Harold Thompson managed to get his hand caught in some machinery at the Horopito sawmill on Friday, and lost three of his fingers. He was attended to at the Taihape Public Hospital, and is doing well.

All cricket matches arranged for to-morrow rave been cancelled on account of the death of Mr T:'Bradley, vice-president of the Taihape Cricket Association. All members are respectfully requested to attend the funeral wnich will leave St. Mary's Church at 2 p.m. for the~^emefe"ryT A Wanganui farmer had occasion a few days ago to order some benzine in "Wanganui. When the invoice came to hand, he was surprised to find that he had been charged £2 2/ case. He communicated with the Board of Trade, asking for the retail price of that commodity in Wanganui. and received a reply "38/ per case." ; The Taihape Annual Rose,- Sweet 1

Pea and Industrial Exhibition will be held at the Town Hall on Wednesday next, Dec. 15. In addition to Flower, Vegetable, Photography,; Industrial, and Domestic exhibits, there will be a number of Children's Classes. Entries are already coming to hand and it is expected that the affair will prove a huge success.