LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 March 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

AU the schools in Hawara and district, which have been closed on account of the prevalence of inlluenza, reopen to-day. The Auckland licensed victuallers have decided to increase the prices all beer sold in hotels. Pint bottle of local beer will now be eightpenee, and southern beer ninepence. Draught beer has also been increased in price. At the Hawcra Motor Cycle Club's smoke concert on Thursday last, the president (Mr. J.-Gray), referring to the New Plymouth meeting, said that, considering 'it was their first year, they had done well in paying out £IOO in prize money.

At the recent cow-judging competition in connection with the Normanby bhow, for boys under lti years, the winners proved to be local boys:--. John Loretz. 1, Herbert J. Paine ,'i, Frank Mills 3. After the Judging Mr. Pettigrew kindly explained to the boys the good and' bad points of the two animals.

It is announced in the Gazette, that I interest on I'ost Office Savings Bank de-. posits will from April 1 bo increased by a quarter per cent. On deposits up to £3OO the interest will be increased from per cent, to 4 per cent., and on deposits from £3OO to £IOOO the rate will be 3% per cent, instead of 3J per cent. The first of the New Zealand 1914-15 Stars given for active service has been received byi a Hawera resident, who served during those eventful years. The design is very good, and is in the form of a five-pointed star merging at the top into the crown. Across the front are crossed sword bayonets, and round it a laurel wreath. In the centre is inscribed the years of service, and on the reversp is stamped the rank and name of the winner, surmounted by his number and below the letters N.Z.E.F.—Star. Under the headline "A Serious Exodus," the Dunedin Star states: "For •some time past there lias been a steady and serious drift of skilled craftsmen to the north. We question whether many of those who so readily acquiesced in the drift/a short time ago are as certain now that tiicv were wise in their original attitude. In the beginning the departure of a few craftsmen did not appear serious, but in its more recent developments it is causin? concern. The prosperous mid pushful north prepared to pay in sntisfnctb:i of iu ve>r.iiremcnts. while some of our more canny captains of industry refuse to compete in open market. The result was an exodus, which means a decided loss to our city from a wealtli-prodr.cing point of view."

The disparity in the returns obtained from one I'arjti us compared, in ma;, rases, with ;i neighboring farm of equal area and quality, was referred to by Mr. J. J!. Richards, chairman of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce, at the annual Meeting' on Friday Might, as positive proof of a great need for a levelling up of the whole. While some fanners were able to make as much as .Cl!0 gross per acre from their land each year, others were milking only about halt' It was these famers with 1lu» lower returns whom they wanted to get after and induce to strive for bettor results. This was being done in a small way through the medium of the model dairy farm, but he thought the people of Tnranaki hardly yet realised the wonderful possibilities of their province. There was no risk of drought or other scourges, which could paralyse the small fanr.-.'i. and there was great scope for increased production by the adoption of a short rot 'ion cropping system. Permanent pasture, once established and maintained liv top dressing methods, would certainly give excellent results, but the short rotation system gave much greater returns.

The present scarcity nr.i! high price of artificial manures was mentioned by Sir. S. Pitt at the annual u.jeting of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Pitt expressed the opinion tliixt it was the duty of the Government to see if manures could be obtained for the farmers at a reasonable price, to enable them to keep up production. He suggested that the Chamber could keep a watchful eye 0:1 what was being done in regard to placing restriction!? on the importation of manures and should endeavor to ascertain when New Zealand was likely to receive phosphates from the Nauru Islands. The president (Mr. ■I. B Richards) said the committee would be pieasc.d to do whatever it could in the matter. In his opinion the class of manure most, urgently needed was sing, which had been proved to be one of the most suitable manures for the Taoinaki district. If the Home Government had placed an embargo on the export of slag, then he thought it would lie the duty ol' the Chamber to make representations with a view to securing some concessions for New Zealand.

Referring to the question of national shipping, the annual report of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce states:— '•ln the spring of 1010 huge increases of shipping freights were announced by the shipping companies and steps were initiated here to arouse interest in the establishment of New Zealand-owned shipping adequate to the needs of the Dominion. A scheme was submitted to various meetings of producers- Tlife scheme suggested that the necessary capital be provided by the. producers, with a measure of Government control and the limitation of dividends. A very representative conference of producers was hekl in Wellington and the committee set up therefrom adopted tbi:s scheme. (Government support, however, was not accorded, owing probably io war conditions, and no further progress has been made The prosperity of New Zealand is utterly dependent on ocean transport Without adequate carriage of our produce to overseas markets the country wony soon lie in a sad plight, and excessive freights proportionately reduce values of exports and increase prices of imports The control of our ocean transport is at present in the hands of people whose primary obiccHs to mVce profits, and the trend of 'business organisation is towards trusts and combines, for the same purpose. I he Chamber should always support a proposal, whiiji has for its object organisation of adequate means to ileal with this matter."

The annual Irish national entertainment, which is to be repeated aiiaiu this year, is to lie one of exceptional merit,The committee have, been fortunate in securing the assistance of the best of local talent, and music-lovers should make it their special business to be present at this function, which will be held in the Workers' Social Hall on the 17th inst- at 8 p.m. Farms of various arc-as and in various localities are advertised for sale by Messrs. ffrant and Campbell, of Ha-w-era. Those in search of farms should peruse the advertisement which appears on page ? of this issue.

There was a slight shock of earthquake in New X'iymoutii at about 10.20 011 Saturday morning. When n juryman was called upon for service nt rhc Hamilton Supreme Court a few days ago, lie claimed exemption, as he had strong religious objtf.t'r.u* His Honor said it was the fi.ft time he lad heard a juryman claiming exemption on religious gvounds, and asked the ruin to what sect he beiongd.l Jte rtplied that he did i'ot belong to any sect, but liad strong religious objections. "Well, I will exempt you," said His Honor, "for it is quite clear you would lie a most unsatisfactory juryman." An interesting point arose in a maintenance ease which came before Mr. .f. E. Wilson, S.M., in the Auckland I'olice Court. Hose Hannah, a young married woman, admitted that she received an allowance of £2 a week from her husband, but applied for more because she did not see why she should work when he could afford to keep her. The parties had lived separately since 1912. Her husband, she declared, had plenty of money.- She admitted that she could earn a living as a tailorcss. The Magistrate explained that a husband's liability extended only to providing against his wife's destitution, and accordingly the application must be dismissed.

The high price of rabbitskins seems to have made bunny a profitable asset to the Southland farmer, who intends (says an exchange) to realise as much as he possibly can from this source while the industry is in a flourishing condition. Men with guns, traps, or ferrets are being warned off the properties presumably unless they give the price asked for the use of the ground, and a couple of Invercargili young men who drove into the country with ferrets were peremptorily ordered oil" the farm by the owner, who told them that they must not toiieh the rabbits. There was no evidence that anyone had been working the ground, and the visitors went away with the impression that only those prepared to pay for the privilege could interfere with what wae formerly regarded as one of the worst enemies the farmer had to contend with.

A rather important, point was settled at the Magistrate's Court at Wanganui Inst week, when a yoting man wax charged with being on licensed premises at a time when they were required to be eloßed, the defendant not being an inmate, servant-, or lodger on the premises, or a bona fide traveller. The evidence of the police was to the effect that a const-able "irt the defendant speaking to another man at the entrance of Chavanne'!; Hotel, a little after midnight. The defendant," who was represented by Mr. F. K. Turnbul), said that lie hail been invited by a soldier pal, who was staying at the hole!, to spend the evening with him. He did so. and vras in the act, of saying gond-iiight at the entrance when the policeman came up. His Worship accepted the defendant's explanation- He said that the defendant, if he were not the l'odge's bona fide guest when lie I entered Die premises, became so during a stay of a couple of hour-'.. The defendant's rtay upon the premises, wa« not in contravention of the provisions of the Licensing Act, so he dismissed the information.

As indicating the rapid rises which have taken place on cotton goods, a certain well-known sheeting made in Scotland advanced thirty-three 'and onethird per cent, between Ist. November and 20th January, and there has been a further advance since then. The Melbourne Ltd. advise the public to buy all Kiev can before Colonial prices arc advanced.

Members of the Kquitable Building Society of Now Plymouth (Second Uroitpj are notified that subscription* due and payable to-day (Monday, Mnrch 15th, l!)2(l), nl the Secretary's Ofliee. Currie Street, from 0 a.m to 12.30 p.m., from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p m to 8 p.m.—Advt