LOCAL AND GENERAL

Northland Age, Volume 14, Issue 32, 19 April 1917, Page 7

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Captain Dyer, Quarter Master General was recently i 1 the district on a visit of inspection to the Wireless Guard.

The Concert in aid of the Library and Navy League fund great success, a really good programme was put on and was well received.

Fairburns, by their recent patriotic effort, raised over £i6o, a highly successful effort which reflects the greatest credit on the district.

Ahipara as a holiday resort is rapidly gaining popularity as Kaitaia grows, during the Easter holidays it was crowded with visitors, all of whom highly appreciated their outing by the briny.

The finance Committee of the Mangonui County Council consists of Messrs. Long, Holder, Garton and the Chairman

It is reported that there will be a general meeting of Shareholders of the Oruru Fairburn Dairy Co., at Peria on Saturday, April 28th, to discuss the amalgamation question.

It may safely be computed (reports the “Record”), that fully £IO,OOO, will go out of the Winton, and immediate district in the shape of war-profit tax. One settlement alone has been called on to part with over £t,oco.

On Saturday last at Mr A. Brent’s, a gathering of friends assembled to farewell Mr L. Cashbolt, of the Kaitaia Post Office Staff, who left this week for Camp. Mr Munn, Post Master, attended and presented Mr Cashbolt with a set of Military Hairbrushes as a parting gift from the Post Office Staff, the warmth of the farewell testified Mr Cashbolt's popularity.

The Government orchard test acre in Dargaville is worthy of closer attention from fruit-growers (says the “Times”). Established four years ago, it now demonstrated what results may be obtained from scientific cultivation. The plot contains 134 trees planted 16 feet apart, and contains assortments of peaches, nectarines, plums, apples, pears, lemons and oranges. Despite the bad season, all the fruits cropped well, and the lemons and oranges betoken good yields.

The Government scheme for settling returned soldiers on tiie land has made good headway in the Auckland district, despite the fact that a large number of the men prefer to take up a city life. A total sum of £120,000 has been spent during the last year in aquiring land for settlement by soldiers, two of the most recently acquired being large blocks at Warkworth and Matamata districts. An endeavour has been made in every instance to secure the best land possible, so that the men will have every opportunity of making their areas self supporting. Government makes to all soldier settlers an advance of £SOO, to be expended in buying a house, impliments, fencing material, and stockall these advances being secured to the State by mortgage, bearing a low rate of interest.

The effects of the Lupin on the Tauranga soils, says the “Bay of Plenty Times”, is a matter of the greatest importance, and one consequently deserving of the closest attention and study. In this connection Mr N. H. S. Law, Headmaster of the District High School, has been conducting an interesting experiment in the Kitchen garden of his residence. He has a small plot planted in tomatoes, one half of which was treated with farmyard and stable manure, and the other half in which lupins were grown. The product from each plot has been carefully weighed and the result so far is a striking commentary on the value of lupins. From the manured portion 29% lbs have been obtained, and from the other 64% lbs. Carter’s Sunrise was the variety grown.

At the annual meeting of the Farmers Co-operative Auctioneering Coy., the report showed that the business of the Company had increased by nearly 60 per cent while the increase in the capital was only about 25 per cent. More capital was necessary to cope with the business now offering. The profits of the company, including £2,100, brought forward, were £28,133, from which it was proposed to pay a dividend of 8 per cent on ordinary shares, and 6 per cent on preference shares, absorbing £14,121, leaving £13,711 to be carried forward. The reason for this step was to make provision for the extra taxation which might be imposed. The excess profit tax was over The retiring directors were Messrs. D. R Caldwell and T. Paterson. The former had been appointed a special director, as provided by the articles of association, and Messrs. T. Paterson and H. J. Gill were therefore, elected to fill the vacancies on the directorates. Messrs. Bruce and English were re-elected" auditors.

Splendid as has been the record of the fighting families who have been sent out from New Zealand to fight for the British Empire and the cause of righteousness, all instances yet recorded are eclipsed by one which came under the notice of a reporter on Tuesday. The household of Mr J. A. Saies, Totara North, Whangaroa Harbour, has provided no less than seven soldiers for the army, while an eighth offered his services, but was obliged to stay at home, owing to medical unfitnessSix of the young men left New Zealand in one reinforcement draft. The names of the eight are: Albert, Joseph, Arthur, Edward, James, Alfred, Frederick and Charles Saies. Alfred Saies was killed in action on September 16th, 1916. Albert and Frederick have returned with honorable wounds, and been discharged. Joseph, Arthur, Edward and James Saies are still fighing in France. Charles Saies is the man who was debarred from following the patriotic example of his brothers through a physical defect.

We recently received from our old friend Sergeant K. G. Hume of 21st, Reinforcements, a copy of an interesting little Journal entitled “Our Ark”; this contemporary is the official organ of the “Ulimaroa”, which conveyed our friends of the 2lst, to the “old Dart”. It conlains much humorous and interesting matter.

A number of soldiers including H. Vercamcr, Donald Matthews, Harry Carse, G. Parvin and N. Jacentho were recently up on final leave, all looking in really good form as the result of their training, Mr N. Jacentho was farewclled at Oruru, Mr Carse at Fairburns, while the Kaitaia detachment were officially farewelled on Wednesday, April nth, in the Hall.

It is regretable to find that there is a mean skunk at large in this district, Mr Percy Choat found his horse on a recent morning, purposely tied up with barbed wire, obviously the deed of a spiteful individual, it is hoped that anyone who can shed any light on the subject to please inform the police.

There will be a meeting of Delegates in Auckland on April 27th, representing County Councils, Borough Councils, Chambers of Commerce, Road Eoards and A.M.P., Societies throughout the North Auckland to discuss and form a permanent constitution, and elect an Executive for the North Auckland Development Board. The Parliamentary Tour Executive will also meet to settle accounts and clean up all business in connection with the Tour.

Notices appear in the current “Gazette’ respecting the acclimatisation districts, in New Zealand which are given authority for an open shooting season from May I next to July 31 inclusive. The districts include Mangonui-Whangaroa, Bay of Islands, Whangarei, Hobson, and Auckland. In the Whangarei area the specified species of game which may be killed are cock pheasants, Californian and Australian, quail,-grey duck, pukeko, and black swan. It is opportune to remind sportsmen of the provisions contained in the Animals Protection Act, of 1908 and 1910. Section 36 states that no person shall kill, destroy, or shoot at any native game with anything but a shoulder gun, and no such gun must exceed 10 lbs in weight nor size No. 10 at the muzzle. The use of cylinders is prohibited under Section 2, and it is laid down in Section 36 that “every person who destroys, or injures or captures any bird which is indigenous to New Zealand, or who robs, or destroys the nest of any such bird is liable to a fine not exceeding £2O”.

A plan whereby cargo tonnage can be created in the United States “faster than Germany can sink it” has been devised by F. Hutington Clark, an American engineer, according to announcement in New York before a joint session of the Automobile Club of America, the Aero Club of America, and the Motor Boat Club of America. The new type of vessel, it was said, could be built in great numbers quickly at small cost, and by men of little skill. Each vessel would be mastless, smokeless, and of diminutive size and would have such low visibility as compared with the great steel ships now afloat that it could be seen by a submarine at barely more than a third of the distance at which the 10,000-ton steamships now are detected. It was estimated that 1,000,000, tons, or a thousand vessels of 1,000 tons each, with a speed of nine knots, could be built at a cost of 160,000,000 dollars in a year. These boats would be 185 feet over all, with 36 feet beam. The same amount of tonnage, with a speed of 14 knots, it was said, could be built for 150,000,000 dollars. Clark’s plan is to utalise all of the costal wooden shipyards.

A rather amusing story of the Prince of Wales, who was in London recently, is related by an American correspondent in one of the Chicago newspapers. It seems that the future King of England had retired for a short period from the war front in France and was walking with a brother officer when he found the woman driver of an official car in difficulty owing to a breakdown. The two young officers came forward to help her, and the Prince of Wales, who is somewhat of a mechanician himself, spent nearly twenty minutes in energetic efforts which happily ended in the engine again running smoothly. As she was thanking her unknown assistants the Prince looked at his watch and remarked, “Heavens! I shall be late.” So the young woman aid, “Jump in, and I’ll take you anywhere you want. It’s the least I can do, after the trouble you've pulled me out of. Where do you want to go?” “Thanks, awfully,” was the reply. "Home, please.” “Where’s home?” she inquired, smiling at the way he had naively imagined his address would be known. It was only when he replied “Buckingham Palace,” that she realised that her principal mechanician had been none other than the the Heir Apparent of England and the great British Empire. The Prince laughed good humouredly over the incident throughout the trip to the Palace.

The sum that goes to the Government by way of taxation from the Auckland Racing Club’s Autumn meeting at Easter amounts to £5,110 Bs.

Polling day for the Special Flood Damage Loan of £2,000 has been fixed for May I2th, there should be no doubt as to the result.

Between friends, the gift that conveys the most of personal thoughtfulness—your photograph. Make an appointment to-day—North wood.

There is a serious building epidemic in the “Maria” family, Mr Albert Maria is having a new house built for him at Komiti, Mr W. Maria at Rangitihi and Mr Alec. Maria at Waimanoni.

Tickets for the School Concert to be held next month are selling freely already, the entertainment will be worthy of general support. In addition to musical items thtire will be some novel demonstrations of pretty drills.

The last seven years figures of the Waikato Co-operative Dairy Co., are an object lesson of the value of successful Cooperation. Season 1909—1910 output of butter 130 tons; annual turnover £15,000. Season 1915 —1916 output of butter 1,500 tons annual turnover £250,000.

The New Zealand Farmers’ Co-op., Bacon and Meat Packing Co., (Bell Campbell & Matthews), beg to notify the Public that from this date the price of porkers is increased to 5%d., per lb., and baconers to 6d., per lb. Next receiving day Tuesday May Ist, up to I o’clock.

Discussing the coming session of Parliament, Sir James Allen, Acting Prime Minister, stated to-day that it would be a purely war session, the Chief feature being a new War Loan Bill, which will result in extra taxation. Until Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward, returned he could not indicate what, if any, general measures would be gone on with. Though the weather has been unfavorable to construction work on the Kaikohe northwards line, good progress has been made in clearing the big slip on the Kaikohe side of the tunnell and in putting in culverts. Work on the big cutting will not be commenced until the steam navvy arrives. After the big cutting is through the rest of the line to Okaihau lies over easy country, and if money is available and the gangs kept up to strength, there is no reason why the rails should not be laid as far as Okaihau by the end of this year.

Mrs Lunn, Secretary of the Kaitaia Branch of the Victoria League received word that as the Victoria League is engaged entirely in this district, Mrs Gunson and Miss Spedding will not visit Kaitaia in order to organise any other body which might conflict with the operations of the Victoria League. Mrs Lunn advises us that collections on Sale day have been most successful, the money thus collected is transmitted direct to (he Y.M.C.A. fund in England. Mrs Lunn also desires to acknowledge receipt of £2O share of proceeds of Church Bazaar held at Kaitaia for the Church and Red Cross.

As a result of the recent visit of the Chief Postmaster, Auckland, to the district, it has been arranged to speed up pos tal communication between the Hokianga and Mangonui Counties in both directions. Under the new arrangement letters posted at Kaitaia up to 9 a.m. on Tuesday will reach Rawene about 2 p.m. on Thursday, and Kohukohu an hour later, while correspondence in the opposite direction, posted at Kohukohu on Tuesday at 5 pm. and at Rawene an hour later, will reach Herekino at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, and Kaitaia about 7 p.m the same day. This, should meet a long felt want, and result in bringing the two counties into close touch with one another.