NEWS IN BRIEF.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18157, 31 January 1921, Page 10

NEWS IN BRIEF.

A slaughterman (ii single man), who gave evidence in the Magistrate’s Court at Masterton, stated that he averaged about £7 per week at his employment. The epidemic of English cholera that is prevalent in Greymooth is spreading to the country districts (states the Westport Star). Whole families have been attacked. Our new bottle department mis a longfelt want. We sell a flask as readily as a case. The best only. Oban Hotel, the small house with the big reputation.... For the last tour months the average number of men-at work on the Napier end of the Napier-Gisborne railway was 181. On January 15 the number was only 96. On. the same date 80 were employed on the Gisborne end, and 158 at Waikokopu. “The Government tells us to produce more and promptly increases taxation on the increase. The bankers din it into our ears, and with equal promptitude raise the bank rate of interest,”/ stated Sir James Wilson at the Science Congress last week. A. Durie and Co., 32 Octagon, Dunedin, are specialists in coffees, peppers, and spices. If their high-quality goods are not obtainable from your grocer, please send direct.... For the 12 months ended November 30 last 2228 cwt of butter, valued at £20,160, was exported from Greymouth, against 2721 cwt, valued at £24,213, for the corresponding 12 months in 1919.

During the 12 months ended November 20, 1920, produce valued at £463,001 was exported from Graymouth, against £328,269 worth for thS' corresponding period in 1919. Hokitika exported £62,003, as against £49,469. Specially recommended for invalids hecause of its refreshing and strengthening qualities—M'Gavin’s oat malt stout.... The marvellous growth of dairying in South Auckland is shown by recent payments made by the New Zealand Co-opera-tive Dairy Company for the months of November and December. For this period no less a sum than a million pounds was paid in milk cheques to suppliers in tlje Waikato, King Country, and Thames Valley. The largest individual payment made was £I7OO for one month’s supply to a Waitoa settler.

You con depend on every hamper sent from the Waterloo to open to your satisfaction. W. Grossan....

The need for having constant examinations of rats was emphasised at the Auckland City _ Council meeting last week in a communication from the district health officer, who complained that “no rats had been received from the council” since last September. The chief sanitary inspector reported that the last rat-catcher . left his job because he was not. allowed to accept 3d per rat paid by,the Health Deportment. The inspector’s recommendation that a, ratcatcher should he engaged at, say v £5 a week, with a definite instruction as to the amount paid by the department, was referred to the' Works Oommittee. It was pointed out that without public co-opera-tion one man could not materially reduce the number of rats.

Supplies of coal for thrashing mills at Tin wold have so far proved sufficient, although but for the spell of wet weather fuel would probably have run short (reports the Ashburton Newcastle and Reefton coal is used principally, and further supplies, of the former are expected at Tinwald next week. Lignite coal for household use has been in better supply of late. “Etta, Etta! Calm thyself! I will go to Barton and Trengrove’s next time for the bacon.”...

A New Plymouth butcher, advertising in the Taranaki Herald of January 25, 1871, quoted beef from Id to 4id per lb; mutton. 2id to 4d; lamb, from 3id to 4d; pork, from 4d to 4£d; veal, from 4£d to sd; steaks, sd; chops, sd; cutlets, 6d. About the same time a tailor was advertising his, willingness to make up gentlenien’s own materials at the_following rates:—Sac coats, from 12s; trousers, from ss; vests, from 4s 6d; find their own trimmings.

Vi-Oatta is unequalled-ipr sunburn; 2s.— Waters’ Pharmacy 0n1y.... “The pastoral interests of New Zealand are ; I believe, run on very sound lines, and it is not likely that any groat increase of E reduction can bo looked for from it (stated ir James Wilson at the Science Congress). The long experience of the soils and climate with which pastoralists have had to deal; the knowledge of class of stock best suited to the locality; the expert knowledge and experience of the stud masters and theiF* success is a credit to the class dealing with this branch of agriculture.” He)'fay gifts this year must be useful.. Our stock of mens and boys’ suits and sports_ coats is well assorted and moderate m price. Other sundry lines, such as braces, sox, handkerchiefs, ties, pocket books, silk hose, umbrellas, and gloves, are ' also suitable.—A. F. Cheyne and Co., Mosgiel .. -

Many shelter belts have been planted this season by dairy farmers in the Pahiatua and Eketehuna districts (states the Gisborne Times) A farmer at Hukanui has planted 500 trees with the idea of having good shelter trees, when his pedigree Jersey herd, the. foundation of which he has just started, 1 is well formed. ■ It is stated that dairy farmers cannot afford to neglect shelter _ for stock in that district, because the spring' usually comes in with cold winds, and consequently cows suffer considerably.! Korn bane will cure the wogst corns painlessly ; Is, posted Is 2d.—Waters’ Pharmacy... A proposal for the acquirement of the Opera Bouse as a municipal theatre f with a view to controlling the type of, pictures which should be shown to the public (states the Poverty Bay Herald), was inuje in. the Gisborne Borough Council meeting by Cr Hill. • He was ruled out of order by the Mayor, who declared that there were proper authorities at the capital to attend to that business, and that the council was not required to touch the control of pictures.— “He wants to stop Mary Pickford showing,” remarked a councillor, amid laughter. When the steamer Maori was steaming from the ferry wharf at Wellington on a recent evening a member of the crew of the Dorset, who had been talking to a friend on board, realised he was being taken away to Lyttelton against his will (reports the Post).- Without hesitation ho jumped overboard aft and swam to the wharf steps in the vicinity. While swim'ming nonchalantly past the crowd on the wharf he informed the lookers-on that he was “quite all right.” Wo need your business. We cater to meet your wants. We stock nothing but the primest beef, mutton, lamb, and pork Srocurable. We specialise in smallgoods, aving one of the most up-to-date smallgoods’ rooms in New Zealand, tiled throughout, with up-to-date machinery.—Barton and Trengrove, leading butchers.... “It was not till I met New Zealanders and Australians who had been to this war,” said Mr Boyoe, the visiting Chicago newspaper proprietor,'to a Wellington pressman, “that I found that England had never taught the United States, teat our war was with a German King on the English throne. As a matter of fact, on looking into it, I found that the original orders to the-English troops—many of them Hessians— in America were sent in German; Those original orders are in our Congress Library now.” ' A menace from the drifting sand on the West Coast, in the vicinity of Wcodhill, a little this side of Helehsville, has become so serious that the Waitemata County Council has applied to the Minister of Internal Affaire to proclaim a special area under the Sand Drift Act of 1908, so that rates may be imposed on the properties threatened, in order -to provide funds for checking the onward march, of the sand (reports. the Evening Post). This is absolutely necessary if farm hinds are to bo saved from being lost for cultivation purposes. The Minister has notified' that the request is under careful consideration, and it is expected an order will bo gazetted

Shortly. Aeroplane flights cost guineas, and perhaps you cannot afford them; yet you, like others, would love to be luted “above things*' so as to experience that .delightfully exhilarating feeling of being “on top,” to enjoy a new and enlarged view of your surroundings, and live in the sunshine. Well, you may, and the benefit will 1 last and Only cost 2s 6d by taking Marshall's Fospherine; 100 doses for 2s 6d. Sold everywhere.... An Oamaru merchant who has returned from a three days’ tour of inspection of the wheatfields, gives his opinion that the average yield in the Incholme, Moheno, and Utepopo districts will be over 25 'bushels, and probably nearly 30 bushels (reports the Mail). The principal crops are Bordier and redohaff, and ho was struck by the comparatively small amount of Dreadnought and Velvet. Generally speaking, the wheat crops in the area traversed • —lncholme, ICauroo, All-Day Bay, and Otepopo—are looking fairly well, and barley appears to have done satisfactorily. Unfortunately, the oats crops da not give the

same promise. A farmer, in conversation with a Wanganui Herald reporter, had a word to say against the methods of the Immigration Department. Some months ago he stated that he was attracted by the department’s advertisement, which led him to believe that he had only £o write |md he would obtain the services of a farm hand within a. reasonable time. Ho immediately communicated with the department, but, after j waiting two months, received no reply .to his letter. A further communication was sent, and this time the reply came back to the oect that when the department could find a suitable farm* hand he would be sent along. The Taieri branch of New Zealand Beekeepers’ Association will hold a meeting in Coronation Hall, MoserieU Thursday, February 3, at 7.45 p.m., when Mr F. C. Baines, .editor New Zealand Beekeepers’ Journal and secretary New Zealand Beekeepers’ Association, and Mr Kentoul, director of the Honey Producers’ Association of New Zealand, will be present All interested are invited to attend.... Approximately 1200 weapons have been registered in Wanganui to date under the Arms Act (states the Wanganui Herald). The percentage of shotguns about equals all other classes of arms, and the pea-rifles

exceed the number of ordinary rifles. Ono local resident called at the_ Police Station and informed the registration officer that ho possessed 200 arms. The officer was all attention, for he naturally imagined* that a person so well equipped must be either a Sinn Feiner or an agitator preparing to organise a small army. However, the resident soon made it clear that he was only a collector of small arms, and he had no more'intention of trying to create a civil war than he had of shooting his neighbour’s tomcat! A Palmerston North car owner, whose faithful terrier guards his property while the car is parked, and rides proudly beside his master while on pleasure bent, had a shock the other day (says the Manawatu Times). The car was left, with the dog in full charge, while the owner went to his tailor’s to fit a new suit, which he decided/ to wear 'home as a surprise to his wife.' After cranking up the car he sought to take his seat at the wheel, but the guard was too sharp for * this apparent stranger in new raiment. The encounter was so severe that the new suit had to be returned to the maker for extensive repsire. On the master’s return, clothed onoe again in the long-familiar shabbihess, the terrier mutely, bub eloquently, sought to,.explain the big fight with the would-be oar thief. The man in the soiled clothes was cold and disdainful, leaving the terrier to reflect bitterly upon man’s ingratitude to dogs.

To down the cost of living the American * Wax Department decided, when the war ended, to dispose of its stock of canned goods at reduced prices. In New Zealand, however, anyone can purchase at a reasonable price St. George Camp Pies. These deliciously flavoured pies are composed of highest quality meat. Cooked ready to'serve. No waste, no delay, no trouble.—Advt. .