LOCAL & GENERAL.

Northland Age, Volume IV, Issue 48, 20 July 1908, Page 5

LOCAL & GENERAL.

“Off the Hoad.’

On Saturday, 11th instant, our old friend Mr. 0. Usher, formerly a traveller for Messrs. P. Hay man and Co., severed his connection with the firm to tako up

business on his own account. To celebrate the event, he entertained bis fellowinployees to dinner at King’s Court, establishment has just been taken over by him. During the evening Mr. W. B. Eyre, on behalf of his colleagues, presented Mr. Usher with a handsome English chronometer. Eulogistic reference was made to Mr. Usher's personality, and many good qualities, and the evening was passed with song and story. Westfield Potato Manure. The attention of our readers is attracted to Messrs. Kempthome, Prosser and Co.’s new advertisement, appearing in this issue, placing their Westfield Potato Manure l>efore the farming community. The position with regard to potato frops throughout the whole Dominion has for some years been very unsatisfactory to the grower, few crops being fortunate enough to entirely escape the ravages of blight, which plays such havoc with the tubers. Westfield Potato Manure, which has stood the test of time, is the beat friend the farmer can employ to assist him in his battle against this dread disease. The proprietors of the Westfield Works, Messrs. Kempthome Prosser and Co., will bo happy to supply any desired information about Westfield Potato Manure on application. The Arbitration Act Speaking, last Tuesday, in the Legislative Council, Dr. Findlay sum that the uniform wage had reduced the productivity of the worker in mast of the principal trades, and that was a national calamity. The country suffered an enormous loss in actual production, and, > worse still, it was threatened by a lowering of the general standard of skill and exertion. Tho Government therefore proposed to meet the danger by a “ needs” wage and an “ exertion ” wage. He believed the worker would find the exertion system one of the greatest blessings. In New Zealand to-day only 1810 persons received £3OO per year or more in wages and salary. An exertion wage, he believed, would bring the workers an increase of from 10 to 20, and even 30 per cent. The man who came to stir up revolt was the worst enemy of all classes. The professional agitator was tho man who made a living by keeping tilings in a state of war, and was simply a parasite on Labour. He urged the granting of equal opportunity for each individual to Start fair in the race of life. A Mangonui Dance. Friday evening last was spent most pleasantly in Garton’s Hall by some of the ladies and gentlemen of Mangonui who arranged a little social among themselves. Dancing, to the music of the various fair ladies present, was kept up until weH into the small hours of Saturday morning by the younger and more energetic, while for the sedate cards, were the attraction. Miss Ballance and Miss Blythe and Messrs. C. Hands, L. Littleproud, Gazzard and C. Ballance contributed vocal items to the further enjoyment of the company, and we understand that similar functions at regular intervals during this winter are being arranged. Much annoyance was caused by a few larrikins who, outside the hall, persisted in unseemly behavior, shouting rude remarks and creating foolish and irritating noise. “Life.” The July number of this magazine seems even more full than usual of current information. A description of work at the guns, on the American fleet, reference to the Presidential election, discourse on the Indian revolutionaries ; every topic of the month is touched upon. Articles of excellence, such os “The Controversy on | Socialism” and “How we rule India” culled from other papers, support much that is original and frequently of the highest order of originality. The continuance of the detective stories by Jaques Futrelle would make this numtier worth #- buying but in tho fiction there is also * good work in each new “ Story of the Dixons” and throughout “Life” is strong terse, clear and bright- the magazine to , buy and read.

Tfce Country Party. The question of reviving tho country party in Parliament has been resurrected by the evident intention of the Farmers’ Union to take a more active part in politics. The desirability of suck action beI ing taken will form one ottnc principal subjects for discussion at the approaching conference of Farmers’ Union delegates in Wellington. Mr. Hogg, of Masterton, a staunch advocate of the farmers’ interests, on being interviewed said “ We had ' guch a party in the House three years ugo. That party was not a success, ’ and I am not desirous of seeing a further attempt to revive it. That is not desirable, and in my opinion it is infinitely preferable that country and city members should work together for the general benefit of the community.” And this seems to express the views of most of the country members. Mangonui Beach Road. Thus friend Mackenzie of the' Northern Luminary ’ gets in a quiet hit at the Mangonui County Council : North Auckland “ Age ” wants the County Council to buoy Mangonui Beach Koad, as at present a pilot is needed when strangers attempt a voyage from Mrs. Berghan’s Hotel to the post office. But where in the creation of whisky arc the County Clerk’s Three-Star lamps along this road, which also has another pub between Berghan’s and the G.P.O. ? And what about using a little phosphorus on the nose of strangers who need a pilot ?