LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 December 1926, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

As a result of the recent wool sale at Wanganui £121,202 was distributed among the woolgrowera of the district. This amount is smaller than last year, when £164,000 was paid. This year 1300 bales less were sold owing to bad weather interfering with shearing. A meeting of the Fitzroy branch of the British and Foreign Bible Society was held at the residence of Mrs. C. F. Foote, the preseident, when the various amounts of the annual collection were handel in. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the collectors. Mesdamee Chivers, Day, Cooper, Binns and Cossum. and to the honorary secretary, Mrs. L. Chivers. The total sum collected was £l4 7s 3d. If the Wellington Industrial Association has its way the Duke of York, during his visit 4° Wellington, will make a public appearance clad in goods totally manufactured by New Zealand labour. The chairman stated that lie wanted the Duke of York to be dressed from head to toe in things manufactured rn New Zealand. It would be a fine advertisement for the country. "They will be good elothee.” he added, "for, as you all know, we can manufacture things as well as they can. in any other part of the world.” Ladies will be interested in the Melbourne, Ltd.’s, holiday offer at a bargain price of dainty pure Silk Knickers and Cami-knickcra of the best heavy quality Fuji Silk, beautifully hemstitched and finished. Special bargain prices, 10/6 and 11/6. Ask to see them in the showroom.

From information that ean be gleaned among the mining population, it is likely that sensational developments may be expected when the inquiry concerning the Dobson disaster takes place, writes the Greymouth correspondent of the Dominion. The 1927 Taranaki lawn tennis tournament is to be held early in January on the New Plymouth and Rotokare courts, in place of the New Plymouth courts sbne, which have previously been used. The loss of two courts by the New Plymouth club and the increasing number of competitors each year necessitated the use of additional lawns and Rotokare can provide if necessary, four grass courts in splendid order. At a meeting last night preliminary arrangements for the tournament were made, and the various subcommittees were set up. Asked whether he considered the dimming of motor ear headlights a safety measure, the chief traffic officer in Wellington, Mr. R. S. Drake, summed up the position as follows: "The eye cannot adjust itself in a second, and it is in that second that the accident occurs. Anything that is left to the courtesy of the driver is useless, for although nine will be courteous the tenth will not. The only practical way in which dazzle can be overcome, in my opinion, is to tip the headlight down so that the divergent rays do not rise sufficiently to confuse the oncoming driver.”

It comes somewhat as a shock to the present generation to find that the practice of settling disputes by means of the duel was not unknown in the early history of Wellington (says the Post). Generally, even after the challenge had been issued, the parties managed to settle the matter by less drastic means, but there is on record at least one fata) duel. In March, 1844, Messrs. W. V. Brewer and H. Ross, each belonging to the legal profession, had a dispute on a legal matter. A challenge was issued, and a duel with pistols was arranged. At the first shot, Mr. Brewer fell wounded, and he died a few days later. The practice being then quite legal, no blame was attachable to his opponent, but nevertheless the verdict at the inquest was that the deceased died from a wound inflicted by some unknown person.

"The indications are that the last influenza outbreak originated in Wellington provincial district,” states th® Government Statistician, “the number of fatal cases recorded therein maintaining a consistently high level until the eighth week is reached, after which normal conditions are resumed. Canterbury, and Auckland are districts worthy of special note. The former appears to have suffered most in the earlier weeks, and in the fifth week it recorded the maximum number of deaths (21) for any district throughout the period. Auckland possesses the distinguishing features of having a fairly high number of deaths from influenza from the commencement to the close of the epidemic, and also the greatest sum total of deaths registered for any district. When the population of the various districts is taken into consideration, however, an entirely different situation is revealed ns will be seen from a table whieh shows that Auckland comes fifth in the percentages.” The unremitting toil connected with dairy work spread over a day extending from 3.30 a.m. until 9 p.m. is made plain by the following letter from a Maori girl of 18 years of age to a friend, forwarded by a correspondent: “Now I must tell you about my work. We have been milking forty cows now, but when they are all in there will be a hundred. There are three of ns, Mr. , his boy, and me. We don’t have time to ‘spell’ at all. We work at half-past three in the morning till 12, and from 1 to 8 or 9 at night, but today it’s too wet to do any outside work. I don't do the inside work much; I do the outside work most.” The girl explains that when milking is done (and it is all done by hand) she works on the farm, but on Friday evenings she goes to a dance. There is not a word of complaint in the letter, but the correspondent, who forwards the letter, hopes that the other sixty cows will show some consideraion in not “coming in” in a bunch, or that there may be more hands to milk them. An extensive soil survey of the pumice lands in the Rotorua district, which la expected to be of invaluable assistance in the development of these areas, and also in defining the limits where bush sickness prevails and in ultimately overcoming the complaint, is at present being carried out on behalf of the Government (states the New Zealand Herald). The first stage in the survey has been completed by officials of the Department of Agriculture, under the direction of Mr. B. C. Aston, chief chemist of the Department, and president of the New Zealand Institute. "Upwards of 500 square miles have been mapped, and the boundaries of the different soil types defined. This survey extends to the Tauranga county boundary. It is hoped that the scientific officers who are now tempofarily stationed in Rotorua, will shortly visit Tauranga and spend a period there, so as to include the Tauranga county in the soil survey. Mr. Grimmett is representing the chemical branch of the Department of Agriculture. Professor Cotton, who is in Rotorua, is reporting on the origin of the land forms in this area. Another officer, Mr. Grange, Government volcanologist attached to the geological survey, Is studying the volcanology and geology of the district for his Department. A new shipment of Kasha Coats in the latest styles and colourings, has just been received. Priced from 42/6 to 65/-, these are very good value. Champions, Ltd., Devon Street.

You’re bound to find exactly the suit that looks best on you at the Melbourne, Ltd., because there’s such a wide range of good suits to select from, and you’re bound to save money because the prices are always the lowest at the Melbourne. Ask to see the fine Indigo Serge Suit at 90/-. Ideal holiday suit, and the most wonderful suit value we have ever offered. Cut on lines to accentuate slimness and to add grace and charm to any figure, the showroom models at Besley’s are indeed a revelation to the woman who is seeking for exclusiveness in the clothes. For the summer holidays, or that specially nice Race Frock, you’ll be sure of achieving correct styles in a dainty frock with Ensemble coat to match. In Besley’s showroom there is a veritable galaxy of summer style and beauty. Come in any time you’re in town. "I don’t see how Besley’s do it,” that's what you’re going to say when you see their suits. The quality of the material is undoubtedly good, the cut and fit is that which an expert cutter alone can achieve, the result is that well dressed appearance which no man or woman can afford to disregard. The price, however, is no more than you would pay for the “just ordinary suit.”