LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume L, Issue 175, 26 October 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Commenting in Christchurch on Wednesday night on the operations .on-the American Meat Trust in New Zealand, ■Mr H. D. Acland said that at the beginning of things the trust dealt-with small individuals on their own farms, but in time; it wouldi be open to the trust to take the meat home, deal with it there, and bring it back to New Zealand for sale there on the trust's terms, taking off a huge draw for the middleman and- accumulating enormous wealth.. The co-operative- system would prevent all this, enabling the producer to get 'the product of his labour ,and the_corisumer to get a share without a big draw off for the benefit of the trust. He had been struck while in England with the small meat shops everywhere bearing the same name. The combination of capital in New Zealand would bring about the same thing, unless the Government opened meat shops, or the. people adopted co-operation. The farmer in New Zealand to-day was getting about sixpence a pound for his meat, whereas the men- at Home' paid 18d. The difference was going, to. some "economic robber," and co-operation would eliminate him. .-.■■....

Mrs Massey.was invited by a well known shipping company while she was in England to christen one of their hew ships. She has just received the following cablegram from the owners: "Pleased inform you ship christened by you has sailed on. her first voyage after successful trial trip. May good luck attend 1 her." The steamer is a big 15,000 ton vessel, for the AustralianNew Zealand trade. . *'£. number of these soldier farmers would be entirely satisfied' except for the patriotic societies who are 'backing them up," said Sir Francis Bell in the Legislative Council on Tuesday, in speaking, on the. question of settling returned soldiers- on the land. "That is incorrect," said the Hon. J. T. Paul. Sir Francis said that from the resolutions passed by .patriotic societies ti would appear so. For instance, one resolution that all soldiers should .be placed on land situated* near the railways was nonsense. Some of the resolutions were carried with the ob-. ject of saving the money of the. 'societies. It was absolutely incorrect to say that the Government were not doing the best they possibly could for the soldiers.

Intending shippers will note that the departure of the s.s. Karamu ,for New Plymouth has been altered from noon Saturday to midnight to-night.* Thursday next it starts ! A huge Sale of Drapery just 'bought up North. Ladies' Black Silk Ankle Hose at- Is 63; pair.—Auckland Clothing and Draperv V,o* f . A bountiful harvest was predicted by the chairman of the Canterbury Threshing Millowners' Association at a recent meeting. Speaking with 60 years' experience in the province, he said that, the crops between Brookside and Dunsandel were the most promising he had ever seen. The Biggest Embroidery Scramble yet! At the huge Sale .next Thursday! we'll scatter beautiful 27 and l . 45inch Whit© Embroidery Flouncing® at Is 6d yard.—Auckland Clothing and Drapery'.'Co.* .Nelson ladies delighted with "NO RUBBING" Laundry Help—it - lightens their .work and, , whitens iheir clothes. 1b packets every, feme.. —Local grooera.

Several scenes of a comedy nature were witnessed at a fire in Takapuna last week. A crowd had assembled for a social evening, and when news was brought that a house occupied by one of them was on fire, all repaired to the scene of the blaze to render every possible aid. The house was well alight'when they arrived, but two gentlemen, filled with enthusiasm, decided to venture in and rescue things from the burning building. They made, an entry and dashed forth a minute later bearing—a gas stove. Its top was broken, and neither would take the responsibility for this piece of misfortune. So with the flames licking their backs they proceeded to fight over the question. It was not till they were dragged apart and away from the hot corner with clothes severely -singed, 'that their ardour cooled. No doubt, as both the gentlemen afterwards agreed, it was a fitting culmination to a glorious evening.

"I am not a superstitious man, neither is Admiral Halsey," said Sir Joseph Ward at the Navy League demonstration at Wellington on Friday night, in telling the story of the Maori mat presented to Captain Halsey when on his visit to New Zealand. Captain Halsey promised the "Maoris that when H.M.S. New Zealand went into action he would wear the mat, and when the cruiser was going into action against the Germans, at the time that she put in the shot that sank the Blucher ,the men in the turret were surprised to see their commander coming up with, nothing on but the Maori mat. {Laughter.) When Captain Halsey left the New Zealand he handed the mat to his successor, Captain Green en, and he also wore it in the battle of Jutland, "Whether there is anything in it or not," said Sir Joseph with a smile, "the fact . remains that, although the New Zealand has been in the thick of things, she has only been hit once, and the sailors are all very grateful to the Maoris for their gift."

At the gathering in Cathedral square Christchurch to commemorate Nelson's Day, Professor . Blunt said that not everyone knew that a Christchurch man had.given an ancient Maori tiki—reputed to have miraculous luck-bring-ing properties—to Captain Halsey, of the H.M.S. New Zealand, on the condition that it was to I>e worn by the captain when he took his ship into action. Another condition was that after the war the tiki was to be returned to Christchurch and deposited in the Museum. iSteps were being taken to find out if the tiki had been worn at the battle of Jutland; for certainly "the New Zealand had been remarkably lucky in that big fight, receiving hardly a scratch- }

The calm of Mawh'era quay was disI turbed on. Wednesday afternoon by a scene, that, for- the few minutes it lasted, was a source of much amuse: to the sprinkling of onlookers on the wharf (says the -Grey River Argue), j Whilst the attention of these people w_, being taken up by the somewhat exciting sight of the tug towing the Hazel Repton to its berth, the shrill cries of a child in distress diverted their interest from the river to the road in front, and the unusual spectacle of three young women fighting for the possession of the child met their gaze. While it lasted the little tot was in in danger og being decapitated, for with one woman holding its legs, and the other two sharing holds of its head, a spirited little struggle ensued for possession. Eventually thei force of numbers told, and.while the victorious pair carried.the infant off in triumph the other. made a dignified retreat in the opposite direction.

A (Dunedin business man who has just returned fTom a visit to Otago Central states -that he had a rather surprising isidelighfe on the agitation aHDout the increased cost of living (says . the' Otago Daily Times). As everyone probably knows, the Otago Central lias more rabbits to the square mile .than a,ny other district in the Dominion. The rabbits are so numerous that rabbi tcanning factories are fully occupied, i» the season, at both Alexandra andCromwell Residents in Alexandra, Clyde, or Cromwell can, however, with very, little trouble, shoot or trap rab-r bits within, say, a half.mil© of the centre of any of these towns. That- ibe* ing so, the visitor said his- surprise had; resulted from the larere demand in the Central towns -foT the canned rabbit, at about Is lOd, tin. Of course, these canned "rabbets are cooked and -are ready? for eating. Some peo* pie would- apparently sooner cry out about the' high cost of living, and 7 buy cooked rabbits, than take the trouble to kill, skin; and cooE raUbitw themselves.

A recent storm in Sydney is referred to as under in a letter received by Mr Walter Fuller, from Mr Ben,J. Fuller:

—"We had a severe storm here on Wednesday, and a lot' of damage was done. White City is an absolute wreck, while the roof of the Stadium was blown off. A ship foundered just outside the Heads, and two or three cargo boats were blown on to the shore,; and damage was done to, shop windows, in the town. At the National our sliding roof was blown off, while at the Opera House :big ; plate-glass windows were blown in, and; at the Newtown Majestic, where the storm was very fierce, two -wing doors leading to the stage were taken off. their" hinges and blown on to the etage. The under the roof and some bricks, were loosened, which fell on to the stage. The electriclighting wires were blown down, with the result that we were not able to show up there last night. The telephone communications were interrupted and disorganised all around and about Sydiey, so you see what with war and strikes and storms Sydney is having, a Tough time of it." Ribbons by the mile next Thursday ! Glorious Pure Silk Ribbons—2 to 10 inch—in every plain colour and glorious fancy effects —all to go Tfrursdav next at 6d yard.—Auckland Clothing and) ■Drapery Co.* Tliere'll be wild times next Thursday! Right then the big Sale starts, and we'll scramble. splendid Brown Towels 20 by 36 inches, at 2 for Is 3d. —Auckland 'Clothing and Drapery Co.* Ribbons—Never again at the price! Thursday! next we'Ql flood the town with Wide Silk Ribbo'ns—2 to 10 inch—in black and all leading colours, as well as beautiful Fancy effects, at 6d yard. The last sixpennv ri'bbons we'll ever offer.—Auckland Clothing and Drapery Co.*