LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 1914, 7 September 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Corrugated iron, Orb brand, lias declined in price, and is now quoted at £45 per ton at main porta. A Dunedin message states that Robert Goinlay, widower, committed suicide by throwing himself into the harbour. Mr Harry Holland, leader of tho Parliamentary Labour Party, has christened Mr Statham's new party, tho "All Blacks." This is evidently a subtle joke at the expense of the secretary of the new organisation. The Wellington watersiders yesterday passed a resolution emphatically protesting against, and deploring, the action of the education authorities in victimising Miss Weitzel in such a manner, and calling for lovers of free thought in New Zealand to immediately express their abhorrence against the action of the Minister of Education.

Wreckage consisting of pino beams and decking painted red in a good state of preservation has been found on tho beach at Mangere (states an Auckland message). An American dime and a pair of scissors were amongst tho timber. The scissors were not rusty. Apparently the wreckage was washed ashore in tho westerly gale about three weeks ago. Producers generally aro awaiting with interest the announcement of somo details of the farmers'shipping scheme, formation of which is understood to be on hand. Strict secrecy is being observed, and it is not likely that anything will be done until the Premier returns to New Zealand. The general impression is that a large fleet will be proposed, involving a large sum of money. It is said that it is likely that, the State will have an interest in the line.

A Masterton farmer informed a "Daily Times" representative that lie recently used up tin last of his store of,benzine, purchased ut 17/- a case shortly after the rmtbrook of war. The s'jmc farmer purchased a ton and a half of sugar at leas than 3d :t ib for use on his tabid shortly before the acute shortage took place. The only thing his keen foresight :lid not prompt, him to do was to sell his farm at the top of the boom—and for this he is eltrcmely sorry.

A large attendance is expected at Thursday afternoon's meeting of farmers at the A. and P. buildings. A number of the prominent officials of the Farmers' Union, including the Dominion president, will be present. The president will outline the future cooperative programme of tho Union, dealing with handling, shipping, marketing, and finance. The policy of the Union in regard to Labour questions will also be touched upon. Other speakers will deal with questions of interest to farmers generally. • Really .smart footwear for ladies will be again in great demand for Spring wear. Out of a host of new models the C. M. Koss Co. are giving prominence to a nice shoe at 35/-; style glace kid Oxford, invisible eyelets', no toe cap and high shaped leather heels. For smarter footwear, moderately priced our Shoewear Section is hard to equal.

A match between the Springboks and Maoris is to be played at Mapier today. The Maori population of New Zealand has increased by nearly 0000 in the past ten years. The death of a woman forty years of ago, occurred at Hastings on Sunday from pneumonic influenza.

The steamer lluapehu' w;ll arrive at Auckland from Lon.Lui on Monday next, with a larfjfi number <f passengers.

The Hawke 's Bay ' Acclimatisation Society has sent away a large order for quail, and it is expected to have the. birds for liberation at an early date.

A public subscription is being raised in Timaru in aid of .the widow and family of the late Constable James Dorgan. It is expected that there will be about 200 lady hockey players iu Palmerston North for the championship tourney, which commences at the end of this week.

Chinese gardens arc about to be established on Walker's Eoad, at Longburn, Mr A. Synersen having leased a portion of his property for the purpose.

The New South "Wales footballers havo played nine matches in New Zealand, winning every one. They have scored an aggregate of 2'21 points, against OS. It is the intention of the Hawke's Bay Acclimatisation Society to wage determined war against shags, and with this in view drives of shootists will eventuate shortly.

A visitor to Masterton from Eactihi states that that thriving centre on the Main Trunk is now being kept going by sawmills, of which there are 20, employing about 400 men. If these closed down, Baetihi would be badly hit.

A returned soldier was charged at Feathorston a few days ago with failing to attend Territorial parades. The charge was dismissed, and the ex-sol-dier was allowed £1 expenses, the Magistrate remarking, "If you can collect it."

The Loudon "Economist" states that portion of the last New Zealand loan underwritten in London was taken up in New York at a rate of interest yielding over 7 per cent. It is surmised that the underwriters unloaded a portion of the loan there before its success in Britain was assured.

Copies of the Spanish appeal, by a military man who has been sent to gaol, who has a fortuno of some £78,000, and who w f ants to contribute a. quarter of this sum to any person who will adopt his daughter and redeem his luggage, are at present reaching residents of Palmerston North. A Maori judgment debtor told the Magistrate at Pcatherston that he had received £ll2 from his father's estate. His father died while he was away at Gisbornc, and his friends indulged in a tangi without his consent. This had cost £2OO, and he had borrowed on his return sufficient money to pay his por- j tion of the expenses. The repayment of this had absorbed the greater portion of his legacy. Tho Hawkc's Bay Acclimatisation Society recently communicated with Mr F. Moorhouse, Conservator of Pish and Game, in regard to the re-stocking of streams adjacent to the Taupo Hoad with rainbow trout ova. The Society has now been advised by tho Conservator that it is the present intention of the Government to liberate fry in the ltangitaiki and Waipunga Bivers, provided that there is a sufficient supply availablo* Both these streams cross the Taupo Road and afford good fishing. • #- "I am glad to be able to assure you that our brand has become well established, and is looked for on the London market," said Mr Hugh Burrell, at the annual meeting of the Feilding Farmers' Freezing Co., Ltd., held yesterday. "Careful grading throughout, the Imperial purchases has had its affect, and 'Feilding Three Star Down Lambs' already enjoy a reputation second to none in New Zealand. It should be our aim and object to continue to produce lambs of equal quality in everi ncreasing quantities.'' Mr B. O'Connell, representative of the Western Electric Company, described the automatic telephone system to the Palmerston Luncheon Club yesterday. Asked when tho system would bo installed, Mr O'Connell said he could not givo.a definite answer. The task of installing the system was very complicated, and there was a scarcity of experts. The system hero was built to accommodate 4000 subscribers, but could be extended so as to serve l-',OOO. In London there were 400,000 subscribers attached to one exchange. Asked if it was possible that the system might prove a failure, the speaker replied in the negative. A defective system had been -installed in Wellington and had been partially replaced, but the Palmerston exchange was being constructed on proved lines. He invited the members of the Club to inspect it.

In the course of his address to the annual meeting of the Feilding Freezing Company, held yesterday, Mr Hugh Burrell, chairman of directors, said there was great difficulty in disposing of over-weight carcases of meat. Lambs over 431bs in weight were quoted, at the present time, at 22d per lb below lambs'under oGlbs, whilst it was almost impossible to quit heavy wethers and ewes at any price. The English market required ' sheep under GOlbs, and lambs under 431bs, therefore New Zealand farmers must use their best efforts to see that the market was supplied with what it wanted. Gross, heavy stock must be avoided so far as was possible. There must in future be no boast about wethers averaging between 70 and SOlbs. The boast must be on the fact that a much larger number of sheep and lambs had been o-ot off in a given time, at a range of weights within requirements.

A reminder is given of the Dannevirkc R.S.A. ball," to be held in that town next Wednesday evening. Arrangements arc well in hand, and intending patrons are assured of a capital evening's enjoyment.

For children's nacking cough, Woods' Great Peppermint Cure,*

The lifeless condition of the southern potato market continues. The maximum price to farmers at the present time is about 00/- per ton, and even at this price many are quite willing to sell, one reason being that money is not so plentiful as it was lust year. Just now farmers want all the money they can get, and believing that "half a loaf is better than no bread," they are willing to sell their potatoes at a loss. The prospects of a rise in tiie price of potatoes are not particularly bright at present. The Auckland market continues to be well supplied, and merchants up there arc not keen buyers.

A Christchurch resident recently spent a busy time resowing his lawn, and with a view to scaring away the small birds, had a number of cardboard cats cut out and placed in different parts of the lawn. He tested the "scarecrows" on his house cat, which was so deceived that it immediately arched its back and began to spit as cats do when annoyed. Quite convinced as to the success that would attend his ingenious plan, he went away, and did not return until late iu the afternoon, to learn with deep disgust that the birds, having discovered that the cats were incapable of harming them, were eating their fill of his seeds. As if to add insult to injury, some of the birds were actually using the cats to perch on.

A good story is told of a first year bowler who wanted to buy a new set of bowls. Ho saw an auction sale advertised where the best "willow bowls" were offered. Here was his chance, he thought, to get what ho wanted. Not being able to get to the sale, he instructed a friend to bid a high figure for the bowls, not telling him what kind he wanted or for what urpose he wanted them. A set of willow bowls were put up, aad, backed by the instruction given, the friend continued to bid against all comers and got the lot knocked down for £3. When he brought them home there was consternation in the camp, for they were the willow pattern china bowls, and not playing bowls at all! "I'll consult some one who understands bowls before I set out to buy them again," was the ejaculation of tho buyer.

An "old boy" who had seen better days, and who as a young man played football for the crack team that had represented his school in one of the classic cities in England, recently carae befrre one of our charitable institutions for h'-lp. He had hsoa earning an hiiifst penny at f™eeping chimm-vs, b»lt Lug ixvomt r.iii aown in tctr?th ami had a medical man's certificate which said that he wanted at -least four weeks' complete rest. "I've got a little shack in ono of the suburbs," he said, "and if I can only got an allowance of 10/- per week I would be quite contented, for I've learnt the art of living on that amount." The allowance was granted for tho month as recuested, whereupon the "old sport" said he had been made as happy as a "Springbok," and he hoped that those whom he had interviewed felt the same.

The sessions of the Supreme Court in Palmerston North will bo resumed to-day, before his Honour Mr Justice Hoskiug, who returned from Wanganui yesterday. Besides considerable business in chambers, the following cases are set down for hearing:—Fred Allerby and others (Mr Taylor) v. Francis Allcrby and others (Mr Elliot), application for cancellation of lease; the Official Assignee in tho estate of J. W. Nilsson (Mr Smith) v. Sven Nilsson (Mr Pago), for delivery of stock and chattels, or £I2BO 2/-, the valuu of same; A. Saunders (Mr Cooper) v. Louisa Mary Barrett (Mr Ongley), for recission of agreement. In banco: Wilton and Vautier (Mr Cooper), appellants, and David Pringle (Mr Oram), respondent, an appeal from , Magistrate's decision; Thomas Bain (Mr Abraham) v. James Barrett and others (Mr Lloyd), motion for assessment of damage.

In an interview at Christchurch, Mr G. A. Green, Dominion secretary of the New Zealand Association of Nurserymen, gave somo interesting information bearing on the durability of pinus insignia and its suitability for housebuilding purposes. "There is no doubt about its suitability," said Mr Grec.n. "Where the timber has been sawn from trees grown under forest conditions and at least 25 years old, it has outclassed other timbers possessing a fair reputation for building purposes. In fact, clean, well-seasoned pinus insignia timber, cut at the right time and used on hardwood or brick foundations, will last indefinitely. I know a case where a four-roomed cottago built of this thirty years ago, is still incxccllent condition and the borer non-existent, while rimu and other timbers in the locality and of the same age are riddled. It is evident that in Australia the value of pinus insignia is realised, as largo quantities have been shipped from the.mills as ordinary building timber."

The courthouse at Ngaruawahia was filled with natives when the case of the Eaglan County Council v. Kiti To Bau, in a claim for rates, was called. The secretary of the native council at at Huntly said that the rates had been paid to "King" Eata, who told all the Maoris that rates on native land, should be paid only to him. The interpreter urged the Magistrate to inspect pago 343 of the Consolidated Statutes, to seo where Rata got hia authority, but a search disclosed reference to Maori councils but nothing regarding rates on land. The sum involved was £l2O, and defendant stated that £9O had been paid to the Maori king who only levied three-fourths of the county council rate and gave the ratepayers printed receipts. Mrs Mahuta, widow of the late "King," was sued for £22. She also Btated that her rate had been paid to the present king When it was explained that the king had no statutory power to collect county rates, which must be paid to the county clerk, natives asked for an adjournment to consult their solicitors, which was granted.

\mong the smart costumes shown by Collinaon and Cunninghame is one in dove grey garbicord with tailored collar and rever. Loose straight coat belted and effectively embroidered In self stitchery and with touches of paon. Inset side pockets, lining of Paisley silk. Two piece skirt gathered at back and belted. 15 guineas.

Further additions are about to be made to the woollen mills at KaiapoL

The South Taranaki branch of the Jersey Breeders' Association has a membership of 112. A slight shock of earthquake was experienced ■in Palmerston North at I'2AO o'clock this morning. The Wanganui Education Board had 420 teachers iu its employ last year. Of these, 120 were uncertificated. The retail price of beef has been reduced one penny in Auckland except tor rump and fillet steak and sirloins.

The sculling match between Arnst and Hadfield for the world's sculling championship will bo rowed on the Wanganui Kiver on Boxing Day. The total roll in the Wanganui education district at tho end of last year was 15,748, being an increase of 303 over the previous year. The average attendance for tho year was 13,394.

The number of civil cases heard in the Magistrate's Court at Palmerston North last year was 869. The total amount sued for was £9552 5/4, and tho amount received was £7812 11/8.

At the close of Jaat year there were * 198 main schools and four side schools in the Wanganui education district. During the year, seven new schools were opened and eleven schools closed. In its annual report the Wanganui Education Board says:—"Organised lunch is now a feature in most of our schools. One needs to be present during the lunch hour at one of the schools to fully appreciate the value of the innovation."

Present weather indications are for moderate to strong north-west to southwest winds. The skies will be dull to overcast with scattered rainfall, especially in tho West Coast' and Southern districts. Tho barometer shows little movement in the north, but is unsteady in tho south. An assertion that not more than 50 per cent of the farmers on the Hauraki Plains and in Ohinimuri pay income tax was made by a solicitor at the sitting of the Eivers Commission at Paeroa. He said there were very few prosperous farmers in the district. Land transfer work had waned considerably of late. It was exceptional to get a property which was not mortgaged heavily, the greatest number of mortgages being five, and the average three. Ha had not put through a single property that was not mortgaged. Land had declined so much in value that not more than £SO per acre could be secured by way of an advance on a £IOO per acre farm.