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Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 1209, 26 November 1919, Page 4

It is reported that Mr Alex. Held, of Springvalc, luis sohf out to a Mr Talbert of Tjraarri.

There can not bo very many local soldiers still to return home. Another arrived back last Monthly evening, Lewis Spencer, son of Mrs Spencer of Alexandra, He was met at the station by the Major (Mr W. Black) and several friends.

. Following a boisterous day on Friday, there was .about si'm degrees of frost on Saturday morning. Tomatoes, potatoes; and beans were more or less affected, some orchards lifting hit worse than others, The Manuherilria Valley practically escaped. Tho only fruit affected was cherries, Strawberries were affect-. Ed in places.

Twenty points of rain were registered for the weekS 'making a total of 127 points for the month.

Three oases; of diphtheria occurred during the past week. TwOiwere removed to the .Groutwell hospitaj. Thcyouu" patients are reported to be progressing favourably. The mayor has asked the public health department': to send an o Uicer to enquire.into;the matter.

The .Roxburgh ladies have formed & howling club. Tho. next thing we may be hearing is that the gentlemen are starting a croquet club. Why not, there. is more in croquet than what meets tho; '■/-% eye of the onlooker. - C

It is proposed to run a special goods train between Clyde and Lauder duriug the rabbit, season to handle the extra traffic and thus avoid the late running of the passenger, train. At the height of the rabbit traffic last season the passenger train was continually late, having to deal with this extra traffic. The journey from Dunedin is tedious enough without annoying delays occurring- when nearing tho journey's end. The publie will appreciate this attempt to keep the passenger train up to time. Reilly's Central Produce Mart, Dunedin, r port receiving 3s pottle, equal to 4s 6d pound for the first consignment of strawberries. Ripe cherries realised 2s 9d. Their representative Mr Sanderson is visiting Central Otago this week. Another Welcome Home Social to several local returned soldiers will be held in the Alexandra Town Hall on Thursday, 2nd December. This will be, if not tho last, then about the second last of these socials. It is to the credit of the residents that these socials have been well patronised, and the boys being honoured must feel the heartiness of the public welcome home. There will be an attractive programme of music, and the members of the Women's Patriotio Association will as usual provide the supper. A dance trill follow.. All returned soldiers are cordially invited to be present.

Some astonishing examples of soaring prices, plainly indicating that the strain on slender purses is to be greater still in tho near future, arc to bo found in importers' manifests; and in the latest •' quote " cablegrams to hand. Tea, the universal beverage, has advanced 7d a lb (lauded price) since September, the latest quotes being 2s lOd (first grade) and 2s 7d (lowest grade). One reason given for this advance is'a rise of 33* per cent in value of the rupee in the last 12 months in respect of other grocery lines. Cocoa beans, which were bought last year at £BO per ton, are quoted today (uew season beans) at £241 a ton;. Java coffee, quoted from Java to-day at £ll2 a ton, has been cQstiug £45; and '_ysoro aud Xeilgherry coffees, costing £BO a ton at presnt, are now quoted for the uew season at £l9O.

Speaking to a representative of tho "JN./5. Fruitgrower" on his visit to Central Otago at tho end of October last, Air J, Longlon, president of the N.Z. Fruitgrowers Federation spoke as follows: -Pruning and spraying operations, as well as orchard cultivation, in the district had apparently been th .rough* ly carried out, and the' orchards were looking well. Frost at the end of Sep. tember thinned out some of the apricots, especially Large "Red, but good crops would be had of Newcastle and Oullins, as well as plums and peaches. Nectar, mes and gages were light. Mr Longton further stressed the fact that two main -essentials for the future development of the industry in Central Otago are tho immediate completion of the railway to Roxburgh and the installation of precooling plants, by which the temperature of the fruit would be reduced to 10 degrees. In this way also, ice would bo available to cool railway trucks, and this would enable the Central Otago fruit to arrive at markets iu a fit condition for sale over a few days.

Roniember the concert and variety entertainment in the local Town Hall to. morrow (Thursday) evening. The concert party have boon practising hard practically every night for some .considerable time, so a good evening's "amusement can bo dopendod on, The proceeds are for the Alexandra Fallen Soldiers Memorial Fund. A valuablo door prizo of a silver teapot is being offered, and every ticket purchased carries with it a chance of securing this trophy. Sweets Till be on sslo, the proceeds from which will help to swell the total receipts. Donations of sweets are asked for. A dance will follow the concert.

In recording and congratulating th° local Navy League Essay prize winner" ot the District-High School, we were no* aware that pupils of the Alexandra Con. vent, Earnscleugh and Galloway had also gamed the .same distinction. Our information iu regard to the local public school was received direct from the headmaster, who handed to us for perusal tho official report received by him, with the number of marks gained by each oompetiter from his school. The complete list as published in the daily paper, was not noticed. The successful .competitors from the local Convent SehooLwcro •—Standard VI, Hachel Scott j standard V, Vera Harrington, John Carroll; standard IV Thomas Murphy, Galloway School, two sisters woro successful j Standard VI, Marguereta Govan; standard V Ena Govai. Earuscleugh School, Christen lversen. Lauder Hailway : Standards VI and V, Jessie CloustOH, Thelina rhurlow ; standard IV, Leith Sheppard. lo all these pupils we extend cougratula. turns, on the well deserved success attending their essay writing efforts.

The serial which Ims been running «t Si' ir !?™' e a tor the ,ast weeks entitle, « The Scarlet Bonier/' came to " a fimsh last Saturday. The closing chapter was closely followed by tho largo audience which completely filled every part of live hall. Tho main feature in the final episode was a most realistic and cxeiting motor car race, and the tremendons shout which wont up from juvenile port,on of the audience as car number 13 - dashed m first in a dose finish, proved that tho sporting instinct is still very keen m the rising generation of young Britons, Christopher B» oe won his raoo and a w,fe at t>- same time. Aw > S? on Saturday -4 Mysteries at Myra," described as all tho H| startling wonders of white and black magic m 15 dramatic episodes. Tho usual programme will also bo screened, the star picture being titled "The \V oman Beneath." A tenderly beautiful love story, pictured in the wonderful settings ot tho great mansions of tho i\ow Four Hundred. Ino supports include (he usual toiioat ' and humourous pictures.

A cure that is surc-V Sends coughs and colds packing fa-douhk-quiek time. ISasj'to takiy '

"We commend the verses of our young Chat to Creek poet to the attention of our readers. Has recent humourous lines " When the water comes along " 5 and *• The. Cricket Pitch " were both very ape and readable. In this issue we publish another contribution of a serious nature which we hare titled " Why." In this effort, he touches on the et jrnal question of why pain, loss, and suffering, being inspired to these reflections by the recent happenings on . the hills where young lambs die from the effect* of cold sleet and snow. Nature creates on the one hand, to immediately destroy, and the thoughtful person is puzzled, and wonders why. And yet perchance the answer is supplied in the closing last two verses. The suffering of the helpless and innocent has possibly done more than anything else to ennoble human character and enrich human experience. Air W. J. P. MVulhvh, motor agent. Duncdin. lias been on a business trip to the district demonstrating the Silent Alamo electric generating plant. He gave a few demonstrations in Alexandra, and impressed hi< audience with the several good features of this new lighting plant. With characteristic enterprise 3lr M'CuHoeh saw and seized tinopportunity given to him by the recent late sitting of the Warden's Court at Blacks. Taking his motor np to the court door, he ran the wires into the court room, put four lights into position and in a remarkably short space of time had a beautiful clear light switched on readv for the court starting again at 7 p.m. The four lights bsrocd steady and absolutely noiseless throughout the sitting, the energy Wing drawn from the { storage* batteries. There »■»« general comment front the crowded court on the clearness of the light and its rest fulness to the eye. The power i< generated by a small petrol engine and with the aid of storage batterie- the energy is stored for immediate or future u<e. This petrol engine is so smooth running and has so little vibration that on a test the running engine stood on 3 ordinary glass tumblers. A gallon of oil will generate enough energy to light up a farmhouse for a fortnight. This is the same Silent Alamo electric plant, the particulars of which are to be found in our advertising column-.