LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1420, 25 October 1923, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A number of members of the Hamilton Plunket Society executive visited Te Awamutu on Tuesday to confer with the local executive on various matters of interest to both branches. The water drunk by animals passes directly into the blood, and if it contains organic elements in solution they are carried along with it, and cause liver and other disorders. Therefore it should be pure. The Governor-General in Council has authorised tthe Lower Mangapiko Drainage Board to raise a loan of £1250 for reconstructing portion of the Mangapiko stream and widening and deepening several drains in its area. A recent issue of the Bay of Plenty Times contained the following: "We have again received an account from a local firm for goods purchased printed in another town. Isn't it the limit?" Tauranga is not singular in this respect. Woodville has its troubles. At the last meeting of the Chamber of Commerce in that town complaint was made by members that trade frequently went elsewhere. It was also caustically suggested that it was time several of the business premises in the main street were re-built. The latest venture in the newspaper world of New Zealand is the Putaruru Press, the first copy of which is well printed and very readable. It sets out to do for Putaruru township and district wlhat other country papers have done in their own respective districts. A successful farmer who plants extensively for shelter and timber said recently that the main factor in good results is that in growing all pines and macrocarpa he leans them at an angle of 45 degrees away from the prevailing winds. When strong and well established they straighten themselves. Last year it is estimated that nearly 40,000 calves were inoculated in the Taranaki district, of Which less than 100 were steer calves. The obvious result has been a shortage in steer cattle, a shortage which will become more acute as time goes on. The dairy farmer finds it more profitable to produce pork in the vicinity of 6£d per lb than to give the milk to steer calves. \ cwt. of good, rich grass consumed by a cow in one day, yields approximated 281 bof dry feed, nearly 81 gallons of water, and constitutes about 2.70 per cent protein, 12.00 carbohydrates, 0.50 fats—a nicely balanced ration. But this grass is watery and lacks body in the spring, is poor in quantity and succulence in the late season, it is then that production can be kept at the peak by supplementing the grass with fodder crops, ground grains and meals. "The more I think about it the more I am convinced tjiat motor trains are the only solution for the non-pay-ing lines in the Dominion," said Mr H. Holland at a recent meeting ,of the Canterbury District Railway Committee (says the Lyttelton Times). He added that whilst travelling in the North Island recently he had noticed trains with 30 or 40 passengers that, some years ago would have been crowded. Mr W. H. Nicholson: Like sending a small child to school on a draught horse. Mr Holland said he understood that the Department was taking action to secure two or three motor trains.

With a view to more effectively advertising the many attractions of this Dominion, the proprietors of the Auckland Weekly News are arranging to despatch a large number of copies of tine 1923 Christmas number to England for distribution at the forthcoming British Empire Exhibition, where, it is to be hoped, they will do good service in making our kinsmen in the Old Land better acquainted with the characteristics of New Zealand than some of them seem to be at present. The Christmas number is a beautiful production, turned out in a style that is distinctly creditable; in fact, the illustrations are mucin superior to any overseas productions, while the theme of all the pictures is typical of life and scenes in this lovely country. The Rev. G. T. Robson, vicar of St. John's, Te Awamutu, has been attending the annual Synod in Auckland this week.

The design on the penny postage j stamps issued recently has come iu j for considerable criticism, which no j doubt has had some effect, for it is believed that the stamps have been \ recalled. ;

For supplying liquor (beer) to a j prohibited person, a young man —a \ first, offender —was charged at the j iocal S.M. Court this morning. A fine of £5 was imposed on the accused, and the prohibited man, for procuring, was fined £3, costs 7s in each in- j stance. A well known builder recovered a j lost plan in a distinctly unusual man- j ner a few days ago (relates the King Country Chronicle). He lost the plan, j which was of some value, and had given up all hope of its recovery. A few days later, noticing from the top '• of a building a fox terrier trotting briskly along with a bulky paper package, he quickly descended, and was pleasantly astonished to find that the package was the missing plan, , which the dog had apparently found ; on the street. 1 A Blenheim wag lias the honour of originating the best motor story yet. The other day a well-known local : owner of a popular make of car was | performing prodigious feats with the • starting handle, without the slightest response from the sulky engine, When the joker happened along. He witnessed the winding process for a minute or two. and then drawled: "Say, why don't you get an eight-day one?"

Several youths were proceeded against at. the local S.M. 'Court this morning for failing to register for territorial training. The Magistrate merely convicted them, and ordered ttiem to pay the costs of prosecution, as evidence was given of defendants' bona fides. All were given a good character by the police, and a penalty was not pressed for. His Worship remarked that la er cases would result in a fine being imposed.

A magistrate's life is not a happy one, and those on country circuit experience quite a number of difficulties in attending courts in the various centres. Yesterday Mr P. W. Plaits, S.M., left Kawhia at an early hour bound for Te Awamutu, arriving some eight hours later. The heavy downpour of rain made the roads very treacherous, and car troubles occasioned thereby occupied a lot of \he time. The trip in fine weather usually occupies less than half the time. Gardening becomes an obsession to some folk. A local resident relates that he woke up after a refres'hing sleep and straightaway looked at the clock to see if it was time to make a further onslaught on his garden patch. In the dim light the clock showed five minutes to four. The lure of the sheets and blankets was great, so he decided to postpone the turning out for half an hour or so. Imagine his thoughts when the town clock boomed out twelve strokes! With a thud he collapsed for a further snooze.

" This prosecution is brought for the purpose of impressing on the general public that Where incomes reach £250 income tax returns must be furnished, and that a person in business, no matter what his income may be, must also supply returns in the same manner." This statement was made by Mr J. A. Tudeihope. of the Crown Law Office, in the Wellington Magistrate's Court, when a draper was charged with neglecting to forward his tax returns to the Department. No defence was offered. Mr Tudehope explained that the defendant was only in a small way, and in receipt of an income of a little over £4OO, but it had to be remembered that neglect on the part of a " small " man caused the Department as much trouble as that of a man whose income amounted to £SOOO. The magistrate imposed a fine of £2 and costs.

Two local residents were charged at the S.M. Court this morning with being on licensed premises on tho evening of July 19th. The charges were laid under section 194 of the Licensing Act, 1908. Constable Doyle detailed the circumstances, stating he was himself on the premises when the men came in. On seeing him both accused hurriedly left,, but the"constable followed and questioned them. To Mr Swarbrick, Constable Doyle said both men went straight to the hotel otlice. The bar was locked up. Cooney was certainly under the influence of drink. Stitt was sober. The latter said he had gone to inquire for a wholesale traveller. Counsel submitted that Stitt was genuine in his contention that he expected to find the traveller. Cooney had driven Stitt to the hotel in his motor sidecar, and then went through the hotel to the lavatory. Stitt denied that he hurriedly left, contending that he merely stood aside until the constable had finished his conversation with the licensee. There was no concealment. He certainly had not sought to procure liquor. To the police, Stitt said he did not g,o back again to inquire for the traveller "after the knock back he had received by the police Inquiry." Cooney, in evidence, corroborated the previous witness. He was sober, but had had probably a uouple ot drinks during the afternoon. After the incident he drove off with Stitt. The magistrate said neither of the accused had satisfied him that they were not on licensed premises in contravention of the Act. They were each fined £1 and ?osts.