LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 22 August 1924, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A company, of which Mr. E. J. M. Ferguson, of Hawera, is manager and secretary, has purchased the Criterion garage in Liardet Street, New Plymouth. The company will be registered as “The Criterion Motors, Ltd.,” and with its registered office in the offices, of Mr. A. C. Lawrey,. solicitor Brougham Street.—News. It is not often that a football referee is asked to answer a complaint of using objectionable language to a player, but such happened in a recent So'ecei match, states the Post’s Dunedin correspondent, and the Football Association, after hearing witnesses, decided to censure the referee. The Board of Trade Journal advises exporters in England that importers in New Zealand prefer that wood-wool packing should be used in eases where such packing is suitable, rather than hay, straw, or chaff without a disinfectant certificate. This is in order to obviate the trouble of having the packing material destroyed.

“There are two types of young men who are never likely to do very much for themselves or anyone else,” said the Rev. Father Hilly in a lecture at Stratford. The one was the “molly coddle” type, who was so wrapped up in himself and ’so securely tied to the apron strings of his maternal parent, that he just drifted into the only place in life lie could successfully occupy, which' was the existence of a selfish old bachelor, who was quite friendless. The other was the “dandy,” who spent so much time before a mirror that he had no time for anything else beyond whispering rubbish into the not unwilling ear of a giddy flapper! A few days ago a representative of the Patea Press was shown a patch of blackberry that had been sprayed with patent weed-killer. While being satisfied that the tbps of the plant were quite dead, he expressed some curiosity as to whether the roots could be dealt with as satisfactorily.. Last week the answer to the question was furnished in the most complete and satisfactory manner. The representative visited the patch of blackberry, and found that the roots, as well as the tops, were quite dead. The patch, which covered an area of approximately 12 square feet, had been treated to two sprayings only of a pint and a half of weedkiller. diluted with water. There was not the slightest trace of any young shoots. The roots, in fact, furnished ample evidence of the value of the weed-killer.

A dividend of 14 per cent, was paid on a net profit of £149,270, earned by Lovell and Christmas for the year ended 14th June. The company has big connections with the dairy export trade of New Zealand. The percentage of profit, said the chairman (Mr. W. G. Lovell) at the annual meeting, was 1 per cent. He remarked: “I read a statement made in the House of Commons to the effect that the Government intended to investigate the system of distribution of food in this country, .with a view to stopping exaggeration in costs of distribution and in profits by traders. I feel convinced that the .speaker could not have been alluding to the provision trade. T can assure him that the average margin of profit made by distributors of provisions is ridiculously small—probably smaller than that “of any other distributing trade in the world. f have been making inquiries with regard to the net profits of retail establishments, and I am informed on good authority that, in a general way, they do not exceed 3 per cent. ; in fact, in the case of some of the large multiple shop companies, they work out at comsideraoiy Jess.” OUTAED’S. Last few days of Outred’s Sale. Coat frocks from 35/6. splendid value; velour coats from 49/6, latest styles; Burberry coats, half price; marvellous reductions in all millinery; woollen jumpers from 7/11.—Advt.

A start was made last Tuesday by the Taranaki Education Board’s, workmen with the new school at Eltham. The plan is a very fine one, and includes five rooms and a dental clinic. The structure is to be of solid concrete, and the latest method of steam heating is to be emploj'ed, while the ventilation will be of the latest design. It is expected that the building will be completed early in the new \ear.

A suggestion that the jazz fever was abating somewhat in Wellington was made by Colonel Mitchell to the Winter Show Association as a reason for the smaller attendances at the Town Hall functions during the recent show. Mr R. L. Jones was of a contrary opinion, and said the weather was to blame. He said his reports showed that the fever was not abating. On the contrary, it was getting even worse. 1

“The English eggs are absolutely the dirtiest eggs that I saw marketed in London,” said'Mr J. B. Merritt, in the course of an address to poultry farmers in Oamaru (states the North Otago Times). Mr Merritt said that lie thought nothing could be more humiliating to the English people engaged in the industry than to see the Dutch and Danish products realising 4d or 5d per dozen more in the winter time than the English egg.

An unusual episode characterised the hearing of an action for damages which was opened before Mr Justice Reed in the Supreme Court on Monday (states the Wellington Post’s Auckland correspondent). Twelve jurymen were empanelled, but after the luncheon adjournment it was intimated to his Honor that one juror had been seen talking to the plaintiff and some of the witnesses. His Honor accordingly discharged the man, and the parties agreed to the case being continued with eleven jurors. Hie competitions executive has arrangements well in hand for the competitions next Monday. In the junior sections a large number of entries has been . received' from the local and district schools, and the competitions this year are being held during the first two days of the term holidays, so that there should be a good attendance of parents and scholars at the day as well as the evening sessions. The competitions souvenir programme has been well arranged, and contains full details of the various morning, afternoon and evening sessions, and the names and order of competitors, and i s obtainable at all the local music shops. A Wanganui Herald reporter had an opportunity of perusing some of the letters sent to Ratana in his absence. One of these was from a young lady in U.S.A., who assured him that his prayers for her had been answered and she had been materially benefited in health. The writer referred to the strangeness of the healing at so great a distance, and enclosed a Scriptural test. A Canadian lady wrote a pathetic letter asking for help and enclosing a dollar. This money, the reporter was informed, would be returned to the lady. Another writer explains how he has got rid of various vices, but to give up his favourite pipe appears to he the hardest task of all. Towards this end he Solicits Ratana’s help.