LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 4 November 1924, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Potato blight has made its appearance in some of the early crops in the Wanganui district. To be taken to gaol in a wheelbarrow is an uncommon occurrence, but such occurred in Gtaki recently, when an intoxicated female drunk caused trouble (says the Mail). The Waitara Mail reports that- the racehorse Maori Pa was gored by a bull last Wednesday night, one of the horns piercing the jugular vein, with the result that the unfortunate horse hied to. death. The horse, which ran well _ last year, was owned by Mr C. Terrill. of Motunui, and was being trained bv him for the Awakino. races next month.

“There has been increasing demand for farming land in the King Country during the last few weeks.” writes a correspondent, “due to the bright prospects for wool, mutton and butter. A large property close to Te Kuiti recently changed hands at £26,000, and several smaller farms have also leen sold.”

, “The ragwort menace, which created much concern in the King Country some IS months ago. is noiw dying out,” writes a Te Kuiti correspondent. “Last summer this pernicious weed, which was _ to be seen in every part of the district, was attacked by a grub, worked its way through the pith of the olant and destroyed its vitality. So far this season there seems to be scarcely any growth of ragwort.” A final reminder . is given of the Technical High School sports, to be held in the Show Grounds . to-morrow. Gnly fine weather is needed to make certain a very good day’s sport. The invitation race includes contestants from New Plymouth and Stratford. The trophy this year has been donated by Mr T. P. Donnelly. Afternoon tea will be provided by 'the girls of the school, and as a small charge will he made, it- is honed the school sports fund will benefit considerably. The first event will be run off at'll a.m. Lunch hour will be from 12.30 to 1.30 p.m., and the afternoon will be fully occupied with the main portion of the nrogramme. The school is indebted to the A. and P. Society for permission to use the grounds.

“Model frocks direct from London." Harrops Ltd. have just received per parcel post, an assortment of London model frocks, which illustrate present English modes. These have all been purchased at, a discount, off Home prices and cannot, be duplicated elsewhere. Inspection invited.—Harrops Ltd.—Advt.

Kipling says, “Be fit, he fit"— eliminate from your blood stream that deadly uric acid—the cause of Rheumatism, and destroyer of physical' activity and well being by taking Rheumo —the famous remedy. Large bottles, 4/6, everywhere. ’ —2OB

A heavy rainfall was registered at the Okato School between 9 p.m. on Thursday and 9 a.m. on Friday, the total fall being 5.7 inches. On a turnover of £22,400 last year the Hamilton Borough electricity department made a profit of £7163. A (reduction of 25 per cent, in the- price of current is now sought. The electric service failed at Auckland early on Thursday morning, resulting in the tramway traffic on the Onehunga, Remuera. Great South Road, and Mount Ellen circuits being interrupted from 6.15 to 7.25 a.m. A former resident of Auckland who returned after 24 years, during which he lived in Australia, expressed wonder at . the great progress made bv the city in the interim. Talking to a 'friend, he said he intended to take back some smcked schnapper, as that was what he missed during his absence from Auckland. He rather astonished the friend by stating that smoked schnapper was 3s per lb in Australia.

A recent visitors to Piatea, who has travelled extensively over both Islands lately, stated, in the course of conversation with a Press representative, that he had never in all his life seen the country look better. In Southland, Hawke’s Bay and Taranaki there was an extraordinary amount of feed, and farmers agreed that the outlook had never been brighter. Taking all things into consideration, the country appeared to have a wonderfully prosperous time ahead.

The Eltham Chamber of Commerce has received the following reply from the Premier (Hon. W. F. Massey), w ith reference to the work on the TaranakiAuckland railway: “In reply to your telegram of 29th ult., respecting the question of completing the TaranakiAuckland railway, I have discussed the matter with the Minister of Public Works, who, I understand, has replied placing the position before you. Apparently unforeseen delays/ such as heavy floods, etc., have been responsible for retarding general railroad construction. The interpretation of the Public Works Statement means that preliminary work to" accelerate action is in hand at. both ends, and this assurance should allay any cause for alarm.”

A certain elusive section of the community is at present engaged in the profitable hobby of collecting hats which _do not belong to them, their operations being confined, chiefly to the hotels. Speaking to an Otago Daily Times’ reporter, Chief Detective Lewi's pointed out that it was the simplest thing in the world for. a thief to enter a hotel and take a hat from a peg. “You see a poor beggar going into a hotel for a meal,” he said, “and trying to deceive himself into thinking that the place is far too up-to-date and. respectable for his hat to run any risk of being stolen. And yet his meal is a failure, because he is constantly trying to see round the corner where his hat 1 \ > .

The need for brains in a dairy cow was touched upon at the spring show at Epsom by the demonstrator, in outlining the essential characteristics of a good Ayshire milk producer, says the Auckland Herald. The forehead, be said, should be a nice width, giving room for the necessary brain. It was just as well that the cow should have a good brain, as the men who handled the animals were not always so well equipped as regards brains. If they had a combination of cow arid man without brains it would be a bad state of affairs.

In emphasising the urgent need for a laboratory for scientific research in connection with the dairying industry, Mr. T. A. Winks yesterday instanced the ease of a dairy company with which he is concerned. He said that the last two consignments of the company’s produce had' dropped to second grade, ‘and as a result a loss of £4 per day was being incurred. One of the departmental/experts had .been at the factory during the whole of last week, doing his best to solve the problem, and he had come to the conclusion that dirty machines: were the cause; but Mr. Winks said he had yet to bp convinced that that verdict was correct. B was not until a properly equipped laboratory had been established that the foot cause of such troubles would be found.