The Levin Daily Chronicle WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 1931. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 29 April 1931, Page 4

The Levin Daily Chronicle WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 1931. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An epidemic of distemper is prevalent among the dogs of the Gisborne district, and numbers of deaths have been reported from this cause. Sheep dogs are mainly affected, although in the town, too, cases have occurred. Some owners in the country have lost several animals, including valuable dogs. Although the present Outbreak is serious, it does not appear to be nearly so bad (says the Poverty Bay “erald”) as the epidemic which occurred a few years ago.

A cabbage tree, which ordinarily flowers in November and December, is at present in full florescence in a Levin garden.

The annual meeting of the Levin Operatic Society is to be held in the Regent Theatre meeting room this evening, when the work to be undertaken this year will be decided upon. A full attendance of members and intending members is requested.

The first of a series of euchre parties to be conducted by the Levin Volunteer Fire Brigade during the winter months will be held at the Fire Station on Thursday, May 7th. Good prizes are being given and the price of admission has been fixed at Is Cd for gentlemen and Is for ladies.

A mishap with painful consequences befel Mr W. S. Salmons, off Queen Street East, last evening. While he was chopping a piece of willow-wood, a lump flew off and struck him between the right eye and the temple, rendering him momentarily unconscious and inflicting a gash which required a doctor’s attention. Although the accident was a simple one, the result might easily have been ''serious as a diverence of half an inch in the place of impact would probably meant the loss of the eye.

A pair of garden gods (atua) found in a swamp at Waverley have been deposited at the Wanganui Museum (says the Herald). Each is about a foot in length, and' beautifully carved. Many years ago these atua were used by the Maori women to protect their gardens. One of the gods has a likeness of a man carved on one side and on the other side' the representation of a bird. The atua were presented to the Museum by Mr W. Johnson, of Waverley. The swamp in which they were found had considerably dried up owing to the dry spell, and in it were also remains of ancient eel traps. Some time ago a fine totara canoe was found in the same swamp.

One of the finest Maori adzes .in the country is on view in the window of Mr G. Wise’s jewellery shop, Oxford Street. It is of the type that was used in olden times for the hollowing out of canoes, and was turned up by the plough at Anderson’s Bay, Dunedin, 80 years ago, the finder being the late Mr G. E. Brown, one of the Otago pioneers and father of Mr or. E. Brown, of Levin. The perfect finish produced on the hard black stone goes to prove that there were wonderful craftsmen among the old Maoris. The face is bexutifully bevelled to a keen edge, and the tool has a uniform polish except for a few chips of the butt end. It is about ten inches in length and of a weight approximating 121bs.

Mr W. C. Childs, of Otaki, received the sad news yesterday of tne death of his younger brother, William Ernest Childs, aged 21 years, as the result of a tragic shooting accident. Deceased and a friend, both residents of Lower Hutt, went shooting at Wainui-o-mata on Monday. They were returning early in the afternoon. The friend, who was leading, had 'just got through a fence, when he heard a shot. He turned and saw his componion hanging on to the fence. On going back he found that Mr Childs had been shot, the bullet from his 22-ealibre rifle entering the corner of his right eye. The injured man was taken to the hospital, where he died shortly after his admission.

Two years ago, it was stated, there were 1400 empty houses in Auekland. To-day, states an exchange, most of these are occupied, and the demand has practically caught up to the supply. In view of this position, builders expect that there will be a revival of activity in house-b.uilding. Costs are £IOO to £l5O lower in Auckland than they were two years ago for an £BOO house, and there has been a similar fall in building costs in the south. At the end of last month the list prices of timber were reduced by 20 per cent, above the pre-war price level. In other directions, too there has been a cutting of costs. Bricklayers have made reductions, and baths and fittings ar e cheaper than for many years past. “You can build a fine type of house now for £900,” said a representative of a city firm. “In some respects there is not much difference between 'present-day costs and the pre-war level.”

The ladies! Why, bless their hearts! at one time sooner than enter a smokeroom or a smoke car they'd run a mile! That was before they learned to smoke themselves. Nowadays they fairly rush smoke rooms and tumble oyer one another to get into smoke cars on the railways and tram-lines. They can’t be kept out! It’s useless for male smokers to protest. The adorable sex takes no notice. Well, tobacco is harmless enough so long as it’s pure. And there’s the rub! The imported stuff so seldom is pure! Too much nicotine in it to be safe smoking. Our beautiful New Zealand tobacco, oh the other hand, contains hardly any nicotine. How’s that? Simply because it’s toasted! The toasting, you see, expels the nicotine, or at any rate most of it, leaving the baccy sweet, cool, mellow, and absolutely harmless. That’s what toasting does! Its effect is almost magical! There are only four brands of toasted: Eiverhead Gold, Navy Cut No. 3, Cavendish, and Cut Plug No. 10. But beware of imitations.—l74*

Skinny? Till out your figure by taking British Yeast-O-Cod Tablets. 71b. increase 9 weeks.—C. S. Keedwell, Chemist.*

Note these New Winter Goods from Clark’s, Ltd., Fancy Department; — Ladies’ rich Rayon Scarves, wonderful value, smart designs in pretty contrasting colourings. Prices from 4/6 to 19/6; also New Winter Fur Sets in rich dark brown and light tonings, the collars and cuffs are in the popular pointed shapes and will impart style to any coat. Prices from 24/6 to 27/6.*

Bowels kept free from poisons by regularly eating Yeaston Tablets.— drown Pharmacy.* ,

The W.E.A, season in Levin opened promisingly last evening, when, in the Band room, the discussion course was inaugurated with an attendance of 26. Mr P. W, Goldsmith occupied the chair. A lecture written by Professor T. A, Hunter, being the first of two covering an introduction to the study of social problems, was read by the Rev. W. G. Slade, and a discussion followed which lasted about an hour and a-half, most of those present taking part in it. Next Tuesday evening will 'be devoted to further discussion of the same paper, as it will be customary in this course to receive one written lecture each fortnight.

The desirability of using a cheaper class of paper for writing in schools was advocated by Mr Griffin, senior inspector, at the Nelson Education Board’s meeting on Monday. Mr Griffin said it seemed only a small matter, but the accumulative 'effect was very great. Slates had been practically abolished from schools and children were using expensive pads, the waste of which was enormous. It had been suggested that newsprint be used in place of the' more expensive paper. The use of ink had become common, and he thought that teachers should be advised to use pencils for arithmetic lessons. Mr Griffin suggested that the secretary and himself should draw up a* circular for teachers and school committees asking them to use caution in the use of pads. The recommendation was adopted.

The series of monthly eutihre and dance parties organised by the Catholic Church was successfully opened in the Regent Hall last evening. The attendance was gratifying, some sixty people taking part in the card tournament, while double that number engaged in the dancing. Music was provided > by the Alhambrian Orchestra, and extras were kindly played by Mrs J. Ropata, Miss Bull, and visitors. The duties of M.C.’s were capably carried out by Messrs N. Ryder, H. Lynch and P. ensuring all the guests a good time. A much appreciated supper, superintended by a committee of ladies, was handed round. During the evening a competition was won by Mrs J. Smith. Th e winners of the men’s prizes, in the euchre contest were Mr Rankin and Mr Judge, and of the ladies’ Mrs Henderson.