LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 February 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Wtness reports that a number of farms are changing hands around Otake. ho. J. he prices range about £75 per acre. The Hon. Oliver Samuel, M.L.C., has sold his picturesque "MeetiDg of the Waters" property. Mr. C. H. Burgess is the purchaser

The Chief Postmaster writes:—"Official advice has been received that it is hoped all 1016 men of the Expeditionary Force will embark on their return to the Dominion by the end of April; 1917 men by tha end of May: 191S men by the end of June. Correspondence should thw fore restrict mail matters, more partial, lurly parcels and papers."

In speaking last night of the effect of wet weather in delaying tarring work on the borough roads, the engineer (Mr W. H. Cook) stated ho had kept records, and it might come as a surprise to most people that CO per cent of the working days in January had been wet.

The presence of sharks in the vicinity of the beaches should put surf batnera on their guard against iheae unwelcome visitors. Yesterday morning at the iiast lind beach a well-known local resident and his son were bathing, and at th-j time, when in about 3ft. of water, a shark, estimated at about 7ft. in length, came up just between. Fortunately neither of the bathers was attacked, but the shark wa3 certainly in 100 close proximity to make matters pleasant, and the incident brought the morning dip to an abrupt ending.

The Arbitration Court will sit in New l'lymouth on February 21 under tht> presidency of 'Mr Justice Stringer. One case lias been set down for hearing so far. It is a claim for £3OO, made by Rosina Kvelina Harland against Ebenezer Wooldridge, as compensation for the death of her husband, which occurred in September, 1917, as the result, the claimant alleges, of injuries received in a motor accident.

An interesting test between two kinds of potatoes was recently made- by Mr L. B. Webster, of New Plymouth. The selected varieties were the well-known Gamekeeper and Sutton's 26.. Five sets of each potato were planted in trie one row late in September in ground that hud little or no fertiliser. On digging the tubers it was found that the yield from the Gamekeeper was 71bs, amongst which nearly half were too small for table use. * The Sutton's 20 variety yielded 141b, and all the tubers except '/ a \b were easily large enough for table UK'.

According to the official statistics the value o? the cheese exported from Paten for vha twelve months ending November 30 las', wae £1,240,318. In regard to the works more stock is being offered than can be dealt with. The new stori!;a ocpomniodation la nearing completion, and will provide storage for an additional 44,000 or 45,000 carcases, thus giving the works a total storage capacity of 150,000 caresses. Some five or six years Eg?; (here was storage accommodation for only 15,000 carcases,

A little girl eight years of age, belonging to Kpsom, who has been visiting the North Fg-mont mountain house with her parents, jately performed the praiseworthy leat of walking with a party of others to and from the Dawson Valla house— x. distance of nine nliles each way, or a lolal of eighteen miles altogether. So pleased were the older members of the party with the child's performance that at tha end of the journey they entered the detail!) in the visitors' book under the girt'.-: name, mentioning the fact that it was rJ'uught that it was the first time one so y< ung had accomplished the journey oi foot. Speaking of sharks in Australian waters, a writer in the Sydney Telegraph said recent'y:—"A white pointer captured off Eden some years ago measured 20ft; a tiger 18ft long was hooked near the Quarantine Station. Usually the tiger does not exceed 13ft or 14ft; the grey nurse mostly runs to 9ft or 10ft, anil the whaler 9ft to 12ft. There seems to be no reason, however, to suppose that some sharks do not attain a greater length, Mr Stead has said that he has seen teeth freshly shed (not fossils) picked up by the exploring ship Albatross, which were about oin across the base and about the same height. They were of the same type as the white pointer, and must have belonged to a shark not lees than 80ft in length. (Fancy meeting him when your sailing boat capsizes!) It seems that sharks shed their teeth, the back ones growing forward in rows and pushing out the front. Some Greek fishermen in Port Stephens reported not long ago that an I enormous shaTh came among them, eating their crayfish, pois and all, though the pots were built of wire, were 4ft across, and held four or, five dozen crayfish each. These men/have seen many sharks, and would not easify he thrown into a panic. Mr Sr,ead. after hearing all they had to say, irtil noting the excitement that prevailed accepted their storv. and set down/ the length of the Rhark as at least 50fV." Searchers for ?ood farm properties are directed to W- H wiS A. MeOarry'S advertisement on gage. 1,

Seven permits were issued in Palmerston last month for the erection of new buildings valued at £43,040-

The libel action Lieutenant Grierson v. Dr. H. T. J. Thacker, M.P., a claim for £SOOO, has been fixed to commence at the Supreme Court, Christehurch, on Thursday next, February 13. One of the large pure food factories in Chicago has discontinued the manufacture of sauerkraut. The anti-Gcr-nian prejudice was stronger than the k-aut, and the public refused to buj it, even when disguised under the alias of •'liberty cabbage." Our fr.od question is still a difficult one, writes a lady from London at the end of November, but I trust it won't be long before New Zealand can fiend i>> some of your good lamb and mutton, for you cannot imagine what horrible stuff we have been living on. The beef has been so tough that we often cannot pat any of it, even at the prices of 2* lOd and 3s per pound. Very little cocksfoot seed is going to waste this season (states the Ashbiirton paper) Along the railway linos north and spilth of Ashburten, and in everj nook and corner where it is impossible to get a reaper and binder, men and buyi are to be «een at work with sickle? High prices are at present ruling for this commodity, and gleaners are reaping a substantial harvest financially.

A denial to the statement circulated to the effect that an agreement had been reached by the directors of the N.Z.D.A. and the Waikato Coop Dairy Association on all the important points bearing on the proposal to amalgamate tite respective companies has been given out by Mr H. E. Pacey. managing director of the former association. Mr. Pacey states that the negotiations are still proceeding As was the case last year there exists in Wellington quite an epidemic of sores among young children, that, whilst not affecting the general health of those afflicted, are not pleasant to see and are difficult to heal The outbreak is not confined to any particular locality, but is fairly general throughout the city •and suburbs The sores should be kept clean and a cooling ointment with disinfecting properties should be applied at suitable times.

An exceptionally fine lot of men's felt hats is on sale at the Melbourne, Ltd., at prices ranging from 8/6 to 21/-. Also men's new tweed hats at 7/6 and men's fine quality panama hats at 19JG. These lines are recommended as being special value.

In their replace advertisement in this i«9Uo Messi'3 H. Derby and Co. announce that they have appointed Mr Geo. Gudgeon, of Inglewood, their parts stockist and salesman for that town This should prove a great boon to Inglewood residents, as parts can always be obtained there now and orders left for new vehicles. 1-ate e.itries for the Stratford A. and P. Association's Show, close with the secretary on Wednesday next, 12th inst. Intending exhibitors should forward particulars of their entries at once ,

The secretary of the Citizens' Band Committee announces in this issue that the junior band classes will be resumed to-night (Tuesday), beginners being asked to assemble at 5.30 p.m., reeds at 030 p.m., and more advanced lad 3 at 7.30 p.m. All last year's boys must attend the first practice, otherwise their instruments will be taken from them, as other lads are wafting for vacancies.