LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 29 October 1913, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Kennedys touring musical entertainers intend to pay a visit to Helensville at an early date If the hall is available. Mr C, Ketterer, jeweller, announces that he has a lovely lot of Christmas goods just to hand. A notice is published in th;s issue about some stray cows. A social is to be tendered the Parakai footballers on Thursday at 8 p.m in the Parakai hall. Hunter's bus leaves Helensville at 7.30 p.m. The Dominion imported £488,392 worth of tobacco m 1912, the total entered for consumption being 3,027,347 lb, and the consumption per head of population, including Maoris, 2.78 lb. ''A Cow-testing Association is to show the dairyman what cows are keeping him and what cows he is keeping," is the way the positioa was described by a speaker at a meeting in .Dannevii'ke. A typographical error in our last issue made it appear that the Kaipara Co-op. Dairy Co. had sold 300 tons of this season's output of butter, whereas the information supplied to us was 200 tons. ' Arrangements have now been completed for the erection of a large boarding-house at Parakai, and the work will be commenced by Mr J. Simcock when he has completed the pavilion now being erected at the Hot Springs. In referenc to medical examination of school children the Timaru Herald remarks : It is difficult to see how the children's physical qualities are to be observed and tabulated with the detail which the department's forms prescribe, unless some part of the educational syllabus is to be neglected, or unless teachers are relieved of the nessity for compiling some of their other multitudinous returns. It may be that some fancy subjects in the syllabus, which has been growing for years past, could be cut out with ad. vantage to the rest. The miners at Huntly have come out on strike, and have deliberately broken the agreement made with the Company a few months ago. They allege victimisation as their action, but this is denied by the Company, who explain that the shortening of hands was necessary by reason of the de-> creased demand for coal consequent on the approach of summer weather. Awahuri land is known to be exceptionally rich for dairying, but when it was reported to the Manawatu County Council lately that one farmer there had a herd of sixteen cows and only throe ncres to graze them on, the members o f tbe council thought the story of the richness of tho soil too rien itself and decided to impress on the couuty ranker the necessity for a stricter supervision of the roads. From November 1 next year a New Zealand Savings Bank depositor may transfer his account to any branch of the following banks in Australia:—The Government Savings J3auk of Victoria, Government Savings Bank of South Australia. Government Savings Bank of Queensland, Government Savings Bank of West Australia, Commonwealth Bank of Australia • (with branches in every State and in Papua). A depositor in any of the above named banks may similarly have his account transferred to Now Zealand. A sensation was caused near To Kopuru ono night last wook, when it was reported that a highwayman with a revolver, had held up two citizons and demanded of them their money or their lives. It is stated that a Maori and a gumdUgger were travelling the road, one on horseback and the other on foot. At a quiet place they were suddenly startled by a tall, well built white man jjpiino-ino out of the ti-treo and covering them with a revolver. He demanded of then: their money, el so ho would shoot them. Reluctantly, the two parted with the fifteen shillings in their possession, and then they were allowed to proceed. It is believed that the highwayman was really waiting for a couple of gum-buyers who were reported to be earning big sums of money. A return secured by Mr Coates from the Lands Deaprtinent shows since 1901 kauri timber has gone Up in price to tho extent of 66 2-3 per cent first quality, 56 per cent medium, and 26 t-3 per «eut 4 second-class. The cvi dence of Mr.W. B. Ley land before the Cost of Living Commission is quoted showing that the increase in wages actually paid to 76 men and boys in his own mill during the last six years was £57 2s 6d, or 41 per cent ; while his bush wages during the last ten years hdd gone up to the extent of 22s 6d to 25s per week and found—equal to an increaso of 671 per cent on the wages paid in 1902. The advance sheets the "Year Book" contain an interesting table showing the am. nut of Customs revenue per head for the last twenty years. After rising fairly steadily until 1907, the rate fell iv the two following yeais this being duo principally ( to the alterations in the tariff, oouse- | queut on the revision of 1907. Since 1909, however, when the rate per head was £2 14s 7d, each year has witnessed an increase, the figures for 1912 being £3 4s 3d. It is pointed out, however, that the increased rate of Customs re- 1 venue per head is entirely due to in- j 1 urease in the total value of imports.

An area of 40,000 acres in the North Auckland has been acquired by the recently-formed Parenga Gum and Fruit Lands Company, Limited. The capital of the com-pany is £40,000, and it has purchased 20,000 acres of freehold and the lease of another 20, 000 acres of land known as the Parenga Estate. This estate stretches from the North Cape to the West Coast. Pruit farming on a largo scale is to be followed.

The Kaukapakapa Rifie Club opened their range last Saturday, when an enjoyable function took place. Not only the members but their wives and friends also attended in full force and showed, a good deal of interest in the Club. Mr F. L. Stewart, president, when opening the range, urged tho members to observe discipline and gain proficiency, and hoped they would derive much pleasure and profit from the sport. Sergt-Major Collier and the president afterwards selected teams the former's winning by 21 points. It is intended to hold practicesjwaekly.