LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 12 August 1930, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

As an instance of an early spring, says the Waikato Times, several plum trees in Hamilton are blossoming. Most of the trees in bloom are in low lying and sheltered positions.

Speaking at Lepperton last night Mr. J. M. Smith, of the Fields Division of the Agricultural Department, judge in the fields competition,, notified that Mr. P. A. Openshaw, Lepperton, had won the championship for North Taranaki in pit ensilage. King Frost apparently is out for an endurance record, says the Blenheim Express, as the eight degrees recorded on Saturday morning gives him a score of 50 consecutive nights when the mercury has descended below the 32 mark —freezing point.

The milder weather conditions of the past few days have been of inestimable value to Taranaki. The warm rain has given the pastures a thorough soaking and grass is showing distinct signs of growth. Dairy cows are coming into profit freely and young grass is needed for milk supplies. Generally speaking herds have wintered well because of plentiful supplies of hay, root crops and ensilage. The public examination in bankruptcy of Bert Thomas was commenced in New Plymouth yesterday morning before the Registrar (Mr. H. Gilmore Smith). Bankrupt declined to answer any questions and the proceedings were adjourned till Monday at 10 a.m. Mr. R. H. Quilliam represented the deputy official assignee and Mr. C. H. Croker appeared for Thomas. A meeting of the Oakura branch of the Farmers’ Union called last night to discuss the proposed veterinary service scheme lapsed through lack of attendance. There was a very fair attendance at the Omata meeting, which did not decide whether to participate in the scheme or not. The farmers were in (sympathy with the move but wanted more information.

“Thousands of honest, solid, intelligent workers would gladly break away from unions if- they could,” said Mr. C. W. Wood, when addressing the Timaru Employers’ Association. “From what I can learn, a very large number of men out of work would readily accept work at lower rates to keep their homes going during this crisis, but for the threats of the Red Feds and agitators. There is much work about, but employers cannot afford the high labour cost demanded.”

A start has been made with the clearing of the site for the new post office in McLean Street, Waitara. Construction work is expected to begin shortly.

The interest taken by farmers in matters affecting their interests was shown by the representative attendance that assembled at Lepperton last night to discuss the proposal to establish a veterinary club in North Taranaki. The scheme was expounded by Mr. H._ E. Blyde, president of the North Taranaki executive of the Farmers' Union. No finality was reached in the discussion.

It certainly is an excellent thing to economise in these days, but an Ashburton ■•man has surely reached the limit, says the Guardian. Four months ago he had a horse fitted with shoes. Recently he took the horse to a local blacksmith who found that one of the shoes had been worn down on one side till half of its length was missing. The other side was very little worn. The blacksmith was overwhelmed when the owner of the animal asked him to cut off the worn side of the shoe and weld on another piece.

With cold weather and lack of rain combined, Hawke’s Bay is passing through a very trying time, according to a King Country grazier who returned last -week from a visit in search of stock. “The whole country is dry and burnt up,” he said. “Too much dry feed is having a bad effect on sheep and cattle, and many that I saw were in poor condition. The outlook .for lambing is not good. Sheep are freely offered but there are no buyers. Prices for store cattle were attractive.”

That the owners of vacant sections would be doing a gracious and publicspirited act if they allowed them to be used by unemployed for growing vegetables/ was the opinion expressed to a Wanganui Chronicle reporter by Mr. W. Bruce. There were hundreds of these sections in the suburbs, he pointed out, which could be profitably turned to the growing of vegetables. This would help many to balance the household accounts and would provide interesting work.

It is said that beggars cannot be choosers, but certainly at least one of them can choose his mode of conveyance. It is related, states the Dominion, that a few days back a taxi-man on securing a passenger, was given instructions. On reaching the destination the passenger duly paid his fare of 3s. 3d. and, bidding the taxi-man a cheerful “Good-evening,” said: “That’s where I’m parking to-night,”' and walked off in the direction of a doss-house conducted by a charitable organisation.

Nearly everybody was sorry when the one-piece earphone and microphone went out with the manual telephone, remarks the Christchurch Press. Having them in two separate pieces is not regarded as being nearly so convenient. Realising this the Postal Department is introducing a type of monophone, common in America, where the microphone and earpiece are all in one. They are painted in colours to harmonise with the furnishings of a room, but Mr. T. H. Moffatt, South Island business agent for the department, states that it will not import them in large numbers until it is ascertained whether there “is a demand.

Unskilful handling of the victim of an accident may do great harm. The transport officer of the Auckland St. John Ambulance Brigade states that there have been several cases in which persons, motorists in particular, were guilty of this mistaken kindness. In one accident several motorists almost demanded the right to take the victim to the hospital. Fortunately a first-aid man who Was present refused to allow the victim to be shifted, otherwise the consequences might easily have been fatal. The officer emphasised the fact that an accident victim may be made as comfortable as possible and an attempt may be made to stop any bleeding, but only in very exceptional eases should an attempt be made to move him.

A Marlborough pastoralist states that the grass shrub has been playing havoc with the pastures in the Awatere district, largely as a result of the dry weather, for the pest seems to be more prevalent under these conditions. It is many years, it is stated, since the Awatere district has been so short of feed and most of the properties are stocked to their full capacity, as a result of the low prices for stock during the autumn months. Fortunately, almost all the farmers have wisely provided for a hard winter by baling lucerne hay, and, so far, sheep everywhere are looking very well. A few small shoals of whitebait have been noticed recently making along the shores of Paterson’s Inlet, Stewart Island. They seem to come more freely in August, which no doubt corresponds to the time they make up the .rivers on the mainland. Their presence in the rivers on the island, is soon demonstrated by the flocks of shags which enter the rivers and wax fat on the small fish. Owing to the waters of Stewart Island rivers being dark coloured no one has as yet tried to make a livelihood out of procuring whitebait, says the correspondent of the Southland News, but there should be some means of getting over the difficulty, as apparently they are numerous.

A misty afternoon terminating in rain marred the operations of the small group on Baines Terrace on Saturday afternoon. However, in spite of these conditions work was carried on until rain, put a stop to it. Mrs. Harry Mace provided afternoon tea at her residence. One of the workmen distinguished himself in a rescue from a drowning fatality. Observing . a Iman throwing a bag into the Huatoki he dragged the bag ashore and untied it, much to the relief of a half-drowned tortoise-shell kitten.

At the annual meeting of the Moa Dairy Company the chairman (Mr. R. B. Sutton) referred to the benefits to be derived from herd-testing and remarked that Mr. F. Bracegirdle, jun. (Kaimata), had the highest testing herd among the Taranaki groups. While Mr. Sutton was correct as far as 50-cow groups were concerned, actually the highest testing herd in Taranaki is that of Mr. J. Perham (Midhirst). His 20 cows averaged 4381b5. of fat in 282 days. A collection taken among listeners-in to Saturday’s match resulted in the sum of £3 17s being added to the funds of 2YB. Following are the details: R. Cock, 7s 4d; V. Sisarich, 5s Id; Grundy’s Motors, 15s 9d; Moore’s Garage, 17s 3d; A. Marett, £1 Ils' 7d.

Oaonui bachelors will hold a “wind-up” dance on August 27. No efforts are being spared to make the dance a success. Henderson’s big six orchestra has been engaged. Novelties will include Monte Carlo, balloon, lucky number and snowball dances. Good cash prizes will be awarded.

Don’t fail to call and see the wonderful bargains in our millinery showroom. Flannelette nightdresses in excellent quality long and short sleeves at 6/11. Ladies’ Lumber Jackets in fancy mixed designs with collar. A useful winter garment at 12/6. The Hustlers, Devon Street.*