LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 23 June 1924, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

—- Mr H. B. Burdekin (Hawera), delegate to the _ recent Dominion conference at Christchurch, will he invited to deliver an address at New Plymouth to the Returned Soldiers Association on the work of the coni’ereme and other matters affecting returned soldiers generally. The matter of a social evening after Mr Burdekui’s lecture was left to the executive to arrange, A Manaia resident (says the Witness) is securing letters patent for a handy device for Extracting broken and spent nibs from their holders, thus allowing them to be drawn without difficulty or mess. Another has obtained his patent for a hedge-cutting machine. The latter, though likely to. bq costly in the first place, should be of immense value, and is sure to be widely used in Taranaki. It will mean quicker cutting and fewer hoxthorn troubles. No time is being lost in getting to work with the improvements to the reserve in Gladstone Street, and that portion which is to be devoted to public uses has already been fenced off. The intention is to plant native shrubs, only, and those who have the work in hand have received gifts of trees and shrubs from several citizens and nurserymen. It. will take some, time to complete the whole- scheme, but it should not he long before sufficient is done to give, the place, some attractiveness. Any gifts will be welcomed from those who wish to assist in carrying out the scheme. At the Otakeho Farmers’ Union social on Friday evening (a report of which appears on another page), instrumental and voQal items were contributed by the following: Misses Mudford and Maddoek (pianoforte duet), Misses Davis, G. Bennett, I. Campbell, I. Calder, and Messrs J. Forrester, H. Wills and Master W. Maddoek (songs), Miss Holland, My J. Forrester and Master R. Holland ' (recitations), and a sword dance and highland fling by the Misses Mouatt. Speaking to the Council of Education the Minister for Education said that so far it had not appeared necessary to increase the school age, as had been contemplated, so large was the percentage of children remaining at school till the age of 15 years. Without any statutory compulsion 19,000 out of 23,600 children were remaining at school till they were fifteen. That was a splendid number, and in the circumstances he had hesitated to apply compulsion. It was evident the parents were alive to the advantages of keeping the children at school up to 15 vears of age. The position of the small farmer in New' Zealand to-day, said Mr. T. M. Wilford at Waimate, is like the position of the man described by Will Orooks. A young man went to ask his girl’s father for her hand in marriage, The father asked what he was earning. The young man replied £3 a week. At the end of the first week the young man took £1 home to his wife, and the latter said: “I thought you earned £3 per week?” The husband replied that he earned £3, but £1 was all he got. (Laughter.) During the Manawatu A. and P. smoke concert on Thursday night, Mr. M. A. Conway, in. proposing a toast, referred jokingly to “Sir James Nash,” and the sally was generally accepted and appreciated—as a joke. But the Prime Minister set everybody wondering a few minutes later, when he referred to and commented upon it. “There is many a true word spoken in lest, ’ he declared, “I have known coming events to cast their .shadows before them, and it might be so in this ease.” When replying to the toast of his health at Stratford on Friday the Hon. J. G. Coates stressed the value of sending departmental officers abroad to gain experience. Quoting instances, he mentioned that a hydro-electrical engineer while in England had been able to save the country over £40,000 on the A.wapuni- scheme, while Mr. Shrimpton also saved a similar amount by being able to recommend alterations in specifications for telegraph equipment as a result of experience gained while abroad. He said the Government intended to send its young men abroad, and he hoped soon to send a railway officer away, when he could acquire up-to-date knowledge concerning the competition of-motors with trains. The Minister urged that this was a serious question for New Zealand, and they had to decide which was in the best interests of the particular localitv affected. In some cases motors might give better service than trains and vice versa, and th.cv had to decide which was the best economically.

OUTRED’S. Sale in full swing with Outred’s usual bargains: Velour coats from 49/0; costumes, navy blue, 39/6; coat frocks, special value, 49/6; Burberry coats, £4 10s and £6 10s; children’s tweed coats, 10/6 (large sizes); children ’s rubber coats, 15/6; fur necklets from 19/6; millinery greatly reduced. Watch windows for further reductions. —Outred’s, High St. —Advt. THAT BOY AGAIN ! A FALL—A GRAZED KNEE ! That rough and tumble boy seems to be continually grazing his knees and hands. Bee Ointment will immediately soothe the painful smarting, protect against infection, and quickly heal his wounds; 1/6 buys a large pot, —1

A tender lias been accepted from Mr A. Pepper, on behalf of Messrs Johnston and Co., of £6372, for the erection of a wooL store at Castlecliff. The building will be 180 ft by 112 ft, and will provide for 2600 bales displayed to be shown.

As evidence of the fact that land values m South Canterbury are being stabilised and brought back to pre° war standard, a Tiinaru solicitor who has a great deal to do with arranging mortgages on land, informed a Herald reporter that he iiad had cases which had passed through his office, iu: which the price at which laud had been sold in boom period had been reduced lately by from £l2 to £3l per acre, in order to give the purchasers opportunity to win through, and to place the sale and purchase transactions on a stable basis.

In the course of his speech at the opening of the Public Trust Office at Stratford, the Hon. J. G. Coates recorded the fact that the office had been in existence for more than fifty years, and that the business of the office had shown tremendous increases, the number of estates handled in 1889 having been 1678, and in 1924 10,537. The greatest number handled was in 1917, the number being 13,632. The value of estates in 1889 was £1,240,000, and in 1924 £32,404,000.

A Taranaki farmer, who has been in search of a new strain for his purebred Jersey herd at the Palmerston sale, remarked upon the average annual revenue per cow, which he said was £29. He says, however, that he owns a purebred Persian eat which has yielded a net revenue for the sale of its N progenv equal to that of his best milker—£33 in one season. Some of this, he adds, must be credited to the fact that his cats live upon Jersey milk, which is the secret of their selling value. Members of the Patea Hospital Board are bewailing the loss of another cow loaned to the institution by one of the members (says an exchange). Some time ago a heifer wandered away, and it was thought that she had gone to Poverty Flat, a locality somewhere in the Patea river bed. Probably the cow has now gone to join the heifer in this select locality. The board has been singlarly unfortunate with its herd, for recently one animal developed tuberculosis, and it was decided to dispose of all the cows and make a fresh start. “We are giving a lot of outdoor relief,” said the chairman (Mr. E. E. Fletcher), at a meeting of the Wanganui Hospital Board yesterday. The chairman mentioned a couple of cases at Castlecliff? and suggested that another member of the board, Mr. A. H. Rogers, should keep an eye on them. “There is no need for me to keep an eye on them,” replied Mr. Rogers. “They are generally round to my place about four times a -week to say that they are not getting as much as they want. ’ ’—Chronicle

A country correspondent sends the following item to a district paper: “A mild sensation was created at the school when Miss Blackie physical instructress, alighted from' the Eltham ’bus. Many of the pupils mistook the instructress for Dr. E. Gunn, bent upon a molar-extracting campaign, and a general howl of lament arose from the younger scholars. However, all -were soon pacified, and the instructress was well pleased with the acrobatic uerformance put up. The Tawhiti School Committee have experienced great difficulty in getting hedges to grow around the grounds. Though trees have been planted twice along one stretch, not a sign of a plant is now to be seen. The trouble is to some extent due to the cutting winds which are so frequently experienced. but the main difficulty is the boys who play around the trees before they are established. A member of the committee has come to the conclusion, after watching the results of the efforts made, that the only thing for boys is box-thorn and barb wire if they are to be kept in their places. Shelter for the grounds is urgently needed, and any advice as to how this could be obtained in the shortest possible tima would he welcomed.

A theft, which was followed by other serious consequences, was perpetrated by some person or persons during Friday night or the early hours of Saturday morning, whereby (says the Taranaki Herald) Mr. N. Fox, motor salesman, of Gover Street, New Plymouth, lost a three-seater Buick car valued at about £3OO. Mr Fox returned home at between 10.15 and 10.30 p.m. on Friday, and followed his custom of parking his car at the garage of Mr. L. H, Johnson, in Devon Street east. There was no room in the garage, and the car was placed in the yard adjoining the premises, in which at the time there were three other cars. At about 1.30 on Saturday morning the fire brigade received a call from a man passing along the South Road, who said that a car was on fire ipst beyond the Mission Hill. They went out and found the top portion of the car burned away almost entirely, hut the engine chassis and tyres were not damaged to aiiy extent, suggesting that the fire hail originated in the car through the side curtains catching alight rather than that the engine had fired. The memhors of the brigade took the number of the car, which was H.G. 171, and it proved to be Mr, Fox’s car.

The recent appearance of cheques without the usual impressed twopenny stamp duty has caused certain of the business community to wonder whether or not their hankers had made an error (remarks the Auckland Star). The position is that the stamp duty, though still payable at the rate of twopence per cheque, is no longer denoted bv an impression on the cheque form, and persons handling cheques may .accept unstamped cheques with confidence, that is so far as the stamp duty is concerned. The innovation is the result of suggestions made to the Government to expedite the issue of cheque forms. These had a habit of congregating by the million at the Stamp Department in Wellington for the purpose of having stamp duty impressed upon them before issue to the hanks for distribution to their customers. Under the new system the banks collect the twopenny stamp as before afd pay the amount over to the Government, and the Stamp Department is saved the very considerable labour of stamping each individual cheque.

Sprinkle London Ballroom Floor Powder on - any floor in your house and in a few minutes you have a first-class dancing surface. It has no disagreeable odour, nor does it rise in dust from the floor during dancing. Improves as the dance progresses. A large tin costs only 2/G. All stores. Prove its value. K6B A DASH FOR HEALTH. Countless thousands of New Zealanders owe their virility and fitness to a dash of Stevens’ Health Salt occasionally in a glass of water. Take a dose when you’re seedy. “Stevens” bucks you up wonderfully. Drives wastes and poisons from the system and purifies the blood. Large bottle of 60 doses 2/G. All chemists and stores. —5 Progandra cures corns cuicklv, 1/G. — Advt. *

The llawera Miniature 11 ifie Club’s range is now closed until after the Winter Show. Re-opening date will be advertised.

The Hawera Amateur Athletic Club’s dance on Thursday night, for which the Premier .Orchestra supplied the music, was a financial success, the sum of £2 16s being shown as net profit. A good deal of credit is due to the hard-working ladies’ committee, and in this connection the club’s committee wis to thank Mesdames Old, Spr H gcr, tee wisli to thank Mesdames Old. Spragg, Rudge. and Weir.

The New Zealand Pig Breeders’ Association has notified the secretary of theEgmont A. and P. Association'that the council has allocated the Perr-et-t Shield to the forthcoming Egniont Snow. _The shield, which carries with it a £5 5s trophy, is fo*r the most points in the purebred Berkshire class, and all stock in this direction must Ire registered in the Herd Book.

The bittern is a comparatively rare bird nowadays—indeed many a .towndweller must be unaware even of the existence of this fine native bad, which seeks the seclusion of lonely marshes, and is generally driven away by settlement. Near Napier, however, (notes the Telegraph), bitterns aire occasionally seen, and a local' sportsman records having observed one several times recently in the swamps near Awatoto.

Said counsel to witness, in the Supreme Court at Hamilton (reports the Waikato Times): “You are a man of considerable property, are you not?” Witness: “I was.” Counsel: “But yon are yet, aren’t you? How many motorcars have you?” Witness: “Four.” Mr Justice Herdman: “Motor-cars are not always a sign of wealth, you know!” (Laughter). Mr Gillies: "“A certain American said that he could always tell whether there was a mortgage on a property or not. When there was, there was a garage there.” (Laughter). An Auckland magistrate has set an example in the way of dealing with convicted bookmakers (says the Christchurch Sun). He fined one man £4OO and another £3OO. In each case the alternative was a fairly substantial term of imprisonment. For most of its practitioners, bookmaking is a lucrative business. The majority of them soon amass a competence, provided they restrict themselves to laying, not taking, the odds. It is the bookmaker who joins the ranks of the punters who crashes. The big men laugh—can afford to laugh— at some of. the penalties imposed in the lower court. Making thousands per annum, they can write a cheque for £SO or £IOO without worrying about the state of their bank account. But £3OO or £4OO is a horse of another colour. When they soar well into the hundreds, the figures begin to have real value as a deterrent. To be violently punched on the jaw, robbed of a sum of money, and left in a right-of-way beside a church, was the experience of a Timaru resident on a recent evening (states the Post). The man concerned states that he was going home at about 8 o’clock when, in North Street, he was accosted by an unknown individual, who invited him .to have a “spot.” Several refusals enraged the unknown, who dealt the other a blow on the law that sent him to sleep. When the resident came back :to life and was able to take an interest in things about him, he found himself seated in the midst- of a pile of papers in the grounds of the -Congregational Church. The assailant had gone through all his pockets, scatering papers right and left, but- retaining the money he found. The narrator states that it was some time in the early hours of the next.morning before he regained consciousness. During the- week-end the Tawhiti School Committee, in company with the headmaster (Mr. Jackson), made an inspection of the school grounds with the object of deciding upon a scheme of improvements. The work agreed upon includes further concreting around the school, a concrete -path from the turnstyle entrance from the street to thehack door, concrete around the base of the flagpole, the extension of two sheds, partly to provide additional shelter accommodation for the children and partly for the housing of fuel, the planting of trees on the north-west side of the. latrines, and improvements to the drive winding from the main gates to the back door by covering it with cinders. Tt was also decided to obtain .some seats, which are to be placed around the plagpole. As the programme is a big one and will mean an expenditure of about £l5O on what may he classed necessary and permanent work, the .secretary (Mr. Duncan) wa,s asked to write to. the Education Board giving particulars of the scheme and asking for financial assistance. It is Imped to have the concreting done during the next school holidays.

The face is no longer an index to the mmd. is the, opinion, of Dr. A. B. itt, professor of education, who gave evidence at the Committee of Inquiry into problems connected with the mentally deficient and sexual offenders at Auckland (reports the Star). Almost invariably, he said, on entering a class of so-called backward children, he would be asked bv a teacher: “What do you think of them?” The question sometimes came after he had been in the room only a few minutes, and the teacher expected him to judge the children by their faces. He always refused to give an answer, because the question was unreasonable. I n one class of backward children lie had seen only one child who looked deficient. On‘questioning the child, the professor found that her nights were almost a perpetual nightmare, and that her home surroundings were not all that they might be. T nder such circumstances, how con'd the child’s mind function normally p

Acrostics on the name of Mr Massey was the feature of Mr. A. F. Bennett’s speech in proposing the toast of the “Government” at a complimentary banquet at Mount Albert (Auckland). “Using the language of the statutes,” said Mr. Bennett “for the purpose of this act the New Zealand Government shall he deemed to he Mr. Massey. The speaker then found in the letters of Mr. Massey’s name an indication of his qualities—a man, able, sincere, smiling, energetic, and with years of service to hi s credit. Mr. Bennett enlarged each of these heads to the great and express enthusiasm of the gathering.

The Melbourne Limited have been advised of a big advance in the cost of Palmer nap trousers, popularly known as “Hardwear. ” These are now being sold at 9/G a, pair, but will soon be 12/6 or more. Buyers are advised v to “get in early” and save the difference. This firm has full stocks of Canterbury, Roslvn and Bruce underwear.—Advt.

Save your hands from long immersion in strong soap suds; “No-Rubbing” Laundry Help contains no caustic at all, and so cannot harm you.—Advt.

Ladies can thank “No-Rubbing" Laundry Help for shortening the once dreaded washing day to a brief hour or so to-day. It works wonders, and only Is for 7 weeks. Galloway and Sons, Normanby.—Advt.

When the purchase of a motor lawn mower, at a cost of approximately £94, was under discussion by the Wanganui Hospital Board yesterday, one of the country members said that with the kind of labour in general available it was a mistake to get any machinery that was more complicated than a wheelbarrow.

i • ‘.‘Excursion fares at present are too Ingli, said Mr. J. M. Johnson (preside n A when speaking at the conference , an d P. Societies at Palmerston North yesterday. He urged that strong representations should be made to the Rally ay Department- to have the fares reduced to the pre-war level. He pointed out that in eases of shows the department limited the area in which excursion tickets operated. For instance. the limit for Palmerston. North was Wanganui on the New Plymouth fine and Waipukurau on the flawkes’ Bay line, whereas previously excursion tickets were available from' New Plymouth. Moreover, the difference between excursion and ordinary fares was ver\ • slight from Wanganui, beino - only 2s second class and 2s 6d first "class, and, of course, the difference was less the nearer one came to Palmerston. Jn fact, at Feilding it cost more to purchase an excursion ticket. Various members spoke of anomalies in connection with their shows, and on the niotion of Mr. J. A. Nash, M.P., it was decided that a representative deputation sho.uld place the matter before~the Minister for Railways.

very noticeable that amongst i 6 klty jurymen empanelled at the Auckland Supreme Court last week not one man wore a beard, and most were clean shaven (remarks the Auckland otar). Only a short time ago many .jurymen appeared who wore beards* and it was a standing ioke in the Court precincts that a man who wore a beard was invariably challenged because, as a wag said: “Such a person must either be a ‘wowser’ or be oldfashioned. There is always a good deal of speculation why certain men are challenged on a jury, and one sage person suggested last week that no one had a hope of sitting on a jury yho wore a very high stuck up collar,’ or "wno cultivated one of those massive moustaches which, .were so common in the days before the war A fellow who wore tan shoes had not much of a show either, another thoughtful person observed. “How can the lawyers see a mans’ feet?” asked some one. “Oh, those beggars don’t miss much,” came a chorus of replies. Then the men entered the Court to wa+.ch developments and, sure enough, their observations had more than a grain of truth in them, as a look at tbe picked men showed.