LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4361, 16 January 1909, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The scoria, to be used in the reconstruction of the bowling green is being carted on to the ground by Messrs Baine and Co's teams.

The Executive Committee of tiie Te Aroba A. and H. Society meet at the Secretary’s office this (Saturday) aftern >on at 3 o’clock.

The welcome raiu- which fell yesterday will be the means of doing an immense amount of good to pastures and gardens Whilst several postal officials were examining a suspicious-looking packet addressed to a w6ll known Brisbane person, at the post office, a brown snake poked out its head. A scramble ensued, and the snake was despatched by means of a heavy mail bag. A remarkable find is reported from Port Robinson (says the Cheviot News) The other day a lifeboat, supposed to belong to the Elingamite, which was wrecked at the Three Kings some seven or eight years ago. was picked up On the beach in a very fair state of preservation. On one side were the letter's EL I T E, with the Southern Cross below. On the other side were the letters EL MIT E, also with the Southern Cross below. An Oxford don, at an anti-woman’s suffrage meeting in London, put forward as an argument against votes for women the extraordinary statement that the “ bad manners of the New Zealand students at Oxford were evidently the result of their mothers devoting too much time to politics and too little to the training of their children !”

Some amusement was caused at a ericket match in Wanganui recently (says the Chronicle) by the sudden oppearance of a bare on the field of play. The startled animal made a bee' line for the pavilion, and players and spectators tried to corner the fugitive, which was just missed by a lightning shot from Wordsworth, who happened to be in possession of the ball at the time. Swerving from a straight run, however, the hare made a “ break ” for the fence, and maintaining a fast pace, soon reached the boundary, and was neither caught nor bowled.

Now Zealand dressed flax is now worth £1 10s more per ton than dressed Manila hemp. The explanation of this great change is the fact that machinedressed Manila is not nearly so good as the hand-dressed variety ; and since the United Stases have taken possession of the country, machinery has been substituted in nearly every case, for the old - time processes of manuel preparation. New Zealand flax, being naturally of a coarser texture than Manila, is not deteriorated by mechanical preparation of the hemp that it contains.

With two members of the clan Mackenzie in the Cabinet there is likely to be some lively confusion when “ Mackenzie,” the Minister, is referred to, for whichever way it is spelt, “ McKenzie, ” “ Mackenzie, ” “ M’Kenzie,” the spoken words convey the same significance. A correspondent writes : —“lt puzzles a good many people why one of the name should insist on spelling one way and another should grow choleric if it is not lettered some other way, and I call on some intelligent Scot to say why M’Kenzie, Mackenzie, and McKenzie should not be spelt one and the same way. In the case of the two Scots of the historic name in the Ministry doubt as to which is meant will doubtless be brushed aside by calling the one ‘ Roddy ’ and the other ‘ Tom,’ as they have always been distinguished among men.”

An excellent idea in connection with the encouragement of elementary agriculture in rural schools has been adopted in Taranaki. The master of the Kakaramea school gave each of his pupils a dozen plants of Kohe Rabi, which has been grown very successfully in the school garden, offering a prize, to be awarded at Easter, for the best specimen produced. This is a plan which could well be copied with considerable advantage in other districts.

The Rev. Mason, of Otahuhu, the well known water-diviner, is in great demand wherever he goes. On Saturday he arrived in Cambridge by the afternoon train, and he was at once driven to Taotaoroa to try if he could locate water there. The inhabitants of that district are anxious to have a creamery erected there, and the greatest necessity for the well-being of such an institution is a good and plentiful supply of pure water. To settle that difficulty as far as possible Mr Mason was induced to try his skill at water divining on -their lands, and he located water in a most convenient spot. It is very probable a creamery will be erected there in time for next season.

We draw the special attention of our readers to Mr A. W Edwards’ cheap clearing cash sale, for 511 days, which commences to-day, Saturday, Jan. 16th. He is offering the whole of his large and updo-date stock of general drapery, millinery, clothing, boots, etc., and in many cases much below cost price. There are no exceptions—every article is reduced. Those in search of bargains would do well to call in at once and see for themselves. The Post Office officials have not delivered a couple of important Christmas letters posted within the past few days (says the “ Sydney Morning Herald”). One is addressed to “ Santa Claus, Greenland,” and from the caligraphy the writer is evidently a child. ; When the great belief children have iD the great toy distributor is remembered, it is not difficult to guess the nature of its contents. The second letter is even more remarkable, and is also apparently from a little child. It is uddressed to God. and has affixed to the envelope a halfpenny New South Wales stamp. There was exhibited at the Tauranga Show recently a bullock, the property of Mr J Brown, auctioneer, which for size oug t certainly to hold the championship prize. Thi.) beast was bred on the fertile lands ar. tnd Opotiki, is at present five years old, and weighs considerably over a ton ; in fact, its weight is set down at 22J cwt. The animal stands over 6 feet high, and is a striking illustration of the quality of the land on which it was reared. Its owner, we learn, intends exhibiting it at the coming Cambridge Show.

Cyclone! sheep and pig fencing kept in stock, also iron fiold gates. Catoh no wind and take very little painting. Wigg & Co.-Advt. b Call on S. Lovy, Watchmaker Te Aroha, oppoß to Bank of New Zealand, for repairs. Conn try ordors promptly attended to. Twelve months guarantee with all work, All work at town prices —Advt.

Mr William Wallaco, Tarrawarra Roto, via HUlston, N.S.W., writes : " I make it a point to always keep Chamberlain’s Cough Remody in the house, having never known it to fail when given for coughs or colds.” For ale by J. B. Johnson, Agent.—Advt. ’Xmas and New Year—A useful gift, a box of handkerchiefs, Gahagau’s Economic.—Advt.

Inspector Franklin appears to be determined to ma,fee Te Aroba beyond reproach, as far as sanitary matters are concerned.

What a curiosity a paper would be, says an exchange, that was conducted by the people who are always growling about the manner in which editors do their work.

On Wednesday next, 20th inst., nominations close for the approaching Piako County Council election. Messrs J. and G. Lovegrove, land, estate and Commission agents, advertise a number of new properties to their list.

Although the South Auckland Rifle Association meeting takes place here on the 29th inst., there are very few, if any, programmes, etc., available for the information of local Shootists. The pity is more is not being made of this rifle meeting. The whole thing appears to be kept in the dark. We would suggest that a local Shootist be supplied with a bundle of programmes for the use of Volunteers and Rifle Club members in Te Aroha and district.

In response to a numerously signel requisition Mr Thos. Hanna, has decided to allow himself to be nominated for the Manawaru Riding at the approaching Piako County Council election. Other names have been mentioned as probable candidates for this seat, but up to the present Mr Hanna is the only one who has publicly announced himself. Mr Hanna is well-known, and bis work, during the time he has b.en chairman of the Hungahunga Drainage Board, is beyond reproach. Read Mr Hanna s reply to the requisition handed to him.

On the stroke of 8 o’clock one night recently 12 white-clad cooks set to work peeling potatoes at the Cookery Exhibition, Horticultural Hall. Westminster (says the Daily Express). There was a large audience to watch this “ Murphy Marathon,” and stem-faced judges of both sexes watched the peelers’ every movement from a raised jury box. A great tin pail containing 281 b of potatoes was in front of each competitor, who was armed with a patent Lancashire peeler resembling a “J” nib. At the word “ Go ” the twelve began work, and the silence was only broken by the clattering of the potatoes in the tin pails and the heavy breathing of the competitors. The winner’s time was 9min. 188ec., and the slowest 13min. -

The eleventh annual show in connection with the Ohinemuri Agricultural Society will be held at Paeroa on Wednesday 29th inst. Entries close to-day. Schedules and entry forms may be bad at the office of this paper.

The fact that Mr D. McL. Wallace has bought Mr T. Davenport’s blacksmith and wheelwright business at Morrinsville, is a sufficient guarantee that residents and settlers in that locality will be able to get up-to-daj;e vehicles without sending the money out of the town, Mr Wallace’s work speaks for itself; everything neat and of a lasting nature. They have some Bmart policemen at Waihi—too smart in some respects. The other day a case was dealt with in the Te Aroha Court, which necessitated one of the “ men in blue ” from Martha land being present. Before the case was heard, particulars had been supplied to the Waihi newspapers ; by whom, we wonder? A few months back a lad of tender years, in a foolish moment, signed someone’s name to a cheque—there Was no attempt at forgery. To give the young fellow a chance in life, and not have him branded as a criminal, the newspapers in this district refrained from publishing the boy’s name. Full particulars in this instance also were supplied to the Waihi paper, and the lad’s name in full, address, etc., published.

The writ for the Thames election has been issued, and the date of election fixed for January 28th. At the last meeting of the Thames Borough Council a lengthly report from Mr Fenn, electrical engineer, on the proposed electric lighting scheme for Thames was read. The total cost was given at £BBSB.

We be» to acknowledge from the Secretary (Mr E. Veale) a copy of the schedule of prizes and regulations of the Waikato Central Agricultural Association’s 6th Annual Show to bo held at Victoria Park, Cambridge, on Wednesday and Thursday, March 10th and 11th. By skilful management this show is forcing its way to the top, until at the present time it is acknowleged to be one of the best shows in the Dominion.

Although the feeding value of potatoes is undoubted, they cannot be successfully fed to pigs unless they are first cooked and meal added. A few foods appear to require the modifying influence of heat and moisture to render them palatable and digestible. The man who is willing to cook food for his stock usually gives his animals many attentions which others paß3 by as - not t being worthy of the time. It is this extra care and the larger variety of foods supplied, rather than the cooking, which muke animals of superior quality. For the puipose of affording variety, the various grains, roots, tubers, together with clover and chaff, may be boiled or steamed and used as part of the ration.^