HERE AND THERE.

Bruce Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 14, 19 February 1920, Page 3

HERE AND THERE.

A ram killed at the Taraiiaki Meat Works weighed, when dressed, 1461b. Up to December 21, 4944 soldiers were settled on 1,417,25)5 acres at a cost of £9,082,210.

At an auction sale at Pahiatua last week, a bag of 1401b of sugar was submitted. It was keenly competed for, and realised £4 4s, equal to 7Ad per lb. Objection, was raised by the police to an application 'made for a second-hand dealer's license to the last meeting of the Auckland 'City 'Council. It transpired that the applicant was a German, and councillors, taking the view that a 'German should not be allowed to compete ini this business, the application was declined. The council also declined to grant the applicant a dangerous goods license.

In reporting a meeting to discuss the influenza precautions convened by the.mayor of a borough not many miles from Balclutha, a contemporary states: Only two or three.persons turned up, and it was decided to leave matters in abeyance until either the epidemic passed away or 'made it imperative that the public should' take a "liver" interest in its welfare.

Two Wynd'han anglers have bagged, so far this season, avcll over 600. trout from local streams, says the Farmer. Mr John Brand has close on 450 "spotted beauties" to bis credit, all lured from the Wyndham 'River; -while Ulr Albert T. Ross's exact total to date, landed from 'both Mimihau and Wyndhani' waters, is 2io. Brand's biggest fish weighed ilflb, and Boss's •Mb.

In an address at the annual field dav of apiarists at the ißuakura State Farm last week, Mr T. W: Kirk, Director of .Horticulture, gave some interesting figures, showing the increase in tire so-called small industries of the Dominion, and their importance. He said that in It'll the total output of 'honey and honey products of the Dominion was worth £51,00'0, w'hile today at present prices it was worth something like £250,000. The capital invested in the industry in hives, colonics, plant, machinery, land, etc., represented £1,01:5,600. Referring to the non-registration of apiaries, Mr Kirk urged the different beekeepers' associations to insist upon their members registering, as it was absolutely necessary for the good 'management of tlic industry- and to facilitate inspection. . The return of the estimated population of the Dominion of Xew Zealand on December 31, 1910, shows the csti-

mated population! (exclusive of Maoris and residents of Cook and other Pacific Islands), males 542,046, females 566,327; total 1,108,373. By excess of births over deaths, 13,683, by excess of immigration over emigration (including members of 'Expeditionary Forces) 42,352, estimated population (exclusive of Maoris and residents of Cook and other Pacifis Islands) 1,164,408. Total estimated population on December 31, 101 J), males 621,303, females 605,588, total 1,226,981. The Maoris total 4!),776, while the population of Cook and other Pacific Islands is 12,797. Some interesting remarks were made toy Mr J. S. Barton, S.M., last week in concluding judgment in a motor car repair case, in which the decfondamt on a counter claim had obtained substantial damages as the result of toeing held up on a holiday tour through the negligent workmanship at a motor garage, lie said: "'At first sight these (£7B 18s 6d, with £2O costs) may seem heavy damages to rise from an act of negligence in replacing a broken axle. It may toe well to point out, for the benefit of garage proprietors, 'that the case seems to me to establish a 'principle that is fairly self-evident. Two considerations point to an ever-present liability to heavy damages in such cases. The first is that from the nature of the car itself, and the uses to which it is ordinarily put, the results of negligencci may 'first become apparent, wben the car and its owner are far from 'headquarters, in the form of serion.s injury to property, human 1 life and liiiib. These facts must, I think; be taken to toe in contemplation- of tooth parties when a repair joto is offered and accepted. The second consideration is that garage proprietors ordinarily hold themselves out as providing highly j skilled labour, and their charges arc based on a high scale of wages. The liabilities must be measured accordingly. ''

'The Queens-town Borough Council and offenders against the by-laws should have no fault to find with the J inspector of Nuisances on the ground iof partiality. .Among the cattle-wan-i'during cases set down for hearing at itlie last 'Magistrate's Court •sitting was • a charge preferred by the Inspector i against his own wife. The punctilious ' performance of his duty naturally made j the magistrate curious to know if there j was any relationship between inspector land offender. On his being told that j the offender was his wife, there was a ! momentary silence, which quickly re- ' solved into a hearty laugh in which the inspector 'himself joined, and 'decorum was only restored, by the Court orderly j ejaculating "'Silence in the Court." On assuring his Worship that he had no interest in the straying animal, the inspector was allowed to prove his ease, and the usual fine was inflicted. j The 'Canterbury 'Labour (Representation .Committee, the body which runs candidates for Parliamentary honours, is greatly hurt that the ■Ohristchurch iCity Council should propose to spend invouey upon, the reception and entertainment of the Prince of Wales. This is how the cominitttee, expressed itself through * a resolution passed at its annua! meeting: "This meeting of the Labour 'Representation • Committee strongly protests against the proposal of the" Chmtehureh City Council to use .material, labour and money in • welcoming Royalty, especially when .material, labour and money can be diverted into better channels, and more especially -when it is realised that royalty Is the keystone of aristocracy, and that the perpetuation of aristocracy is inimical to the best interests of Labour." ,

Time may come when, the rasher of bacon may repose in a glass l:ase in the ethnological- sections of the iiiiuseuins of the Dominion as food; that our forefathers ate, 'Competition for. pork has been so keen', and diversion of skim milk to other purposes, combined with dear pollard and grain, has affected so great a. reduction in the Dominion'stally of hogs that a bacon crisis has been reached (says the Dominion). The rasher is not to 'be 'bought much under Is S'd to Is. lOd a pound, and not always the 'best and, therefore, the most economical cuts at that. With a view to easing the position, and following the conference recently of the, Prime 'Minister with representatives of farmers, bacon' carers, wholesale distributors and retailers of bacon, the Government has decided to revoke the Oiders-in-Council fixing 'maximum prices for .bacon and hams. The effect of this revocation will be that prices l ot' bacon and hams will be no longer controlled. The \\ J hole of the ibacon cured in the Dominion will, however, bo available for Dominion consumption, as the export is prohibited, and-, in addition to this, with a view of augmenting supplies, the duty on bacon and hams imported from Australia has been remitted, In this connection it may be recalled that when on a former occasion the duty on bacon and hams from Australia was removed, the price for export to New Zealand immediately advanced in Sydney and Melbourne to an amount corresponding to the duty.