LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 30 December 1924, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The extent to which motor transport is competing with the 'railways is becoming more evident. every day, says the Wanganui Chronicle. The latest payable scheme arranged by a. local firm was tile transference of lambs for the Christmas trade from Mangaiinaliii to Wanganui. They are carried in huge crates —similar to railway sheep trucks —built on motor lorries. The custom of Mangamahu farmers in the past has been to drive.sheep to l'ordcll for railage.

Burglars entered J. It. McKenzies fancy goods shop in Queen Street, Auckland', during the holidays and stole jewellery valued at £6o.—Press Association. The Postal authorities advise that‘■the mails which left Auckland o"n 25th November via. Vancouver, arrived in London on 24th iiist.

Picnic Frocks 7/6, 9/11. 12/11,. 19/6, at Tra then’s, the best shop for Ready-to-wear Apparel, discount for cash.*

Tlie third party of boys, numbering 20. for Flock House, is due hr arrive from England on J.-uiuary 4 in the ( Winthie. Of those who have received training at Flock House estate. the whole 25 available have been sent Ur farmers in various parts ot the Dominion, in order to continue their career. There remain 28 hoys at the estate, hut none of these is yet sufficiently advanced to lie sent out. Many applications have been made for them. all being from a good (lass of farmer. Only two of those sent out have been dispatched to the South Island, the others being distributed over almost every portion of flic North Island.

A resident of Edinburgh, writing to a friend in Dunedin, dwells feelingly <-i. the cost of living at Home. “Within the last two months,” lie says, "Hour ias gone up 22s per sack of 2801 b. to-day s price being 545. Bread is lOd per Mb loot, and wo expected to see it Is bef -re Christmas. All raw material without exception lias risen shillings per cw f Gas coke, which we use for firing .m ovens, is 38s 6d • pre-war price los, often 11s. Butter is 2s 9d pe rib. lo cheer themselves up. the people are going in largely for amusements, such as dancing, gambling, theatres, pictures, night clubs, and drinking. As whisky costs 12s 6d bolt if? (old price 2s and 2s Gci) not everybody can afford it. and When a. bottle is bought it is only half the strength of the old tack : 6s 3d for water and 6s 3d for whisky (perhaps).

A shipment of bullocks from Poverty Bnv was recently made to the Addingion market, but the transportation charges wore so high that it is unlikely further shipments will he made. It costs over £54 n liciul t-o Ifuid oulloclcs at Addington from Gisborne.

When the New Plymouth, express had steamed up to the Palmerston North platform a mother, father, am. ah me children clambered aboard with armfuls of luggage. Just as the party had settled in their scats and the train was about to move off tlie wife screamed, “Jo’hn, I've forgotten to turn oil the gas stove.” Time, tide, and railway 'trains wait for no man, but at the same time all the regulations of the department could not stop the father making r hurried exit from the moving tram, with Hie veil, “I’ll fix it.” He jumped off and tlie last fiis agitated wife nearcl was the announcement, “I 11 follow next train.”

The Medical Superintendent of tho Nelson Mental Hospital desires to acknowledge with thanks a further donation of 12/6 from Mrs E. «L Scantlebury towards the “Sunshine Fund” for invalid children. In this connection it is also desired to thank Miss Lomsson and Miss Sutherland and other members of trie “Y” branch of the W.G.T.U. for their kindly interest in entertaining a number of female patients at afternoon tea and for arranging outings for a number of juvenile patients. Such kindly actions are very gratefully appreciated by the patients.

A Wanganui Press Association telegram states that the question as to whether it was the remains of the lost steamer Ripple has been raised in consequence of the sighting of wreckage by the steamer Volsella, when approaching Cape Palliser on a recent voyage from Napier to Wanganui. The captain of the Volsella states that the wreckage was sighted when within a couple of hundred yards. It appeared to be the top of a inast with a wire rope attached to it. The mast was stationary, and evidently attached to a lai-ge submerged object . As the location was noted, it seems probable the matter can be cleared up by investigation. A London correspondent, writing on November 18, mentioned that ten date two shipments of New Zealand eggs hail arrived, one of 500 eases, the other of 900 cases. All the eggs were, in splendid condition, and met with a ready sale at very satisfactory _ prices. By the. time the next shipment is landed, lie said, prices should have harden- 1 eel .for eggs awe always dearer as December and the Christmas needs draw near.

On January 7th Mother Mary Clare, foundress of the Convent at Hokitika, celebrated her diamond jubilee as member of the order. The occasion will be celebrated with religious and social gathering. The Bishop of the diocese and many church dignitaries, friends, and old pupils ,are expected to be present from all parts of New Zealand. The reverend mother was the' pioneer of the movement on the West Coast, and has resided at Hokitika for the past 47 years. In order to repair the damage done by the recent Hood, the South Wairarapa County Council considers that 'a loan of £IO,OOO will be necessary. . A headmaster of a State school in South Canterbury, finding himself at the end of the year without a sixth standard, amused" 'himself with the fifth standard. He put them up for the sixth standard proficiency examination, and five out of the seven pnsscilf He expects to be expelled from the Teachers’ Union (Says the Timaru Herald). Mr Parr will claim the record is another reason for his establishment of junior high schools. Meetings of fruitgrowers to. _ meet Messrs Campbell, Rice and Isapier will be lipid in various centres next week, particulars being advertised in this issue.

The Union' Company’s ferry steamer Wahine broke her own record for the W ellington-Ly ttelton run on Wednesday, and clipped about 10 minutes off her previous best time, made only tins week. The vessel made the trip in b hours 21 minutes, from the time orders were received in the engine-room for “full-ahead” until the telegraph signalled “stop” at Wellington. This run is particularly creditable to tne cmei emniieer and the engine room staff, and (says the New Zealand Times) is line time for sucli a voyage. The vessel averaged 20.9 knots an hour on the trip up, while last, time her average was 20.4 knots per hour.

Attention of readers is called to an advertisement in this issue, relative to trains for New Year’s Eve and New Year's Dav. Owing to the outstanding success of* the trial of cheap fares for Christmas Eve it. has been arranged that same fares will operate on New Year s Eve and patrons from Belgrove and intermediate stations will have another opportunity of coming to Nelson at very cheap fares. • Special tram for Axemen s Carnival at Tapawera- is accelerated to a journey of two hours only, at a faie of 5/8 return. . Open until 10 p.m. to-morrow night. Tea Hoorn also open.—Tratlien and Co.* Open New Year’s Eve until 10 p.m.. Ices, 'Raspberries, and Cream, etc., Trathen’s Tea. Rooms.* Shop early to-morrow. We close at 10 p.m. and re-open again on Monday. Tratlien and Co. for Drapery and Apparel.* Four Days Closed ! Open until 10 p.m. to-morrow, and then closed until Monday. Trathen’s for Apparel and Outfitting.* A dance will be to-morrow night, (New Year’s Eve) in aid of the Titoki Tennis Club. Silk Hosiery, and Holiday Apparel, best shop is Trathen’s.* Don’t forget Tratlien’® Dig Drapery will be closed Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Open until 10 p.m. to-mor-row.* DAWSON’S, Reerton, the leading Hotel on the West Coast. Patronised by F-R.H. the Prince of Wales, Francis B. Sts Hard, Proprietor.* Tourists'! Look! Round Trip! 75 miles for 12s 6d! Enjoyable day’s outing—through , beautiful apple lands —by Emms' Motor Service. ’Phan? 527. Office, 29 Hardy Street-*

11,,. dfcct of hist week’s frost, wlifeli apnears lo have- been general all oyer South Otago,, is now distinctly noticeable in the potato crops on the Tokomairiro Plains, the haulms having received a bad scorching. The crops are bound to be prejudicially affected. A. strange seabird was a visitant to the farm of Air «Jolm Copland at Stony Creek recently (says the Balclutha Free Press), it appeared to be halt stunned nd fell against tile telephone wire in an exhausted condition. .1.1 is now being cared for, and seems very tame. It is described as being of a blue colour, with a white breast and web feet.

A horse belonging to n storekeeper at .Rockhampton, Queensland, recently frustrated an attempt by burglars to steal its master’s money. The burglars broke into the store and loaded the sale on a cart. Then they took the horse from the stable, harnessed him to the cart, and started away with their booty. The thieves, however, had reckoned without the horse. First the horse ran them into a tree guard, and when they untangled themselves ho refused to gofurther. A householder nearby saw them struggling to make the horse go, and when a policeman was sighted a few minutes later they decatnpod. Hie policeman' found the horse standing in tiie street, and led him quietly back to his master's yard. The unrifled safe was still in the. eait. It contained £IOO.