COUNTRY NEWS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17077, 3 September 1917, Page 5

COUNTRY NEWS.

ALLEGED OPERATIONS OS*

USURERS

PALMERSTON NORTH INVESTI-

GATING.

CHEESE REPORTED -AS BEINO ■ \ SENT TO DESTRUCTOR.

Mrs. ]Eniens, ; pf Marton, has received word that her son, Private L. , G. Emens, who returned to the trenches some time ago, has been admitted to the 24th General Kos--Bital, France, suffering from the old gunshot wounds received in the Somme battle last October. Constable J. Larmer, who succeeds Constable Esson, at Mangaweka; has taken up his new duties. The Maoris evidently consider there is money in billiards. Two different syndicates of Maoris are reported to have i^urchased billiard saloons at Waiitotara. There are some ugly stories going round Palnierson North concerning alleged ustiry in respect to soldiers 1 dependents.. It-was decided at the Palmerston Patriotic Society meeting that investigations be made and that such information be sent on to ■ the Advisory. Board. At a meeting of the Returned Soldiers' Ball Committee at Taihape,- a provisional balance-steet was' presented, showing that the profits of I the ball amounted to £]26. Mrs. Campbell's cake realised £3 12s 6d] and the supper showed a credit"' roughly of £12. According to reports there has been considerable mortality' amongst cows in South Taranaki this season. Whether this is attributable to weather conditions has yet to be determined. Providing the weather is normal - throughout the season, it is estimated that cheese production will reach 'I 50,000 tons and butter 17,000 to •"- ---18,000 tons. The official maximum English price for New Zealand but- •* ter is 208s. per cwt. Stores a,nd staffs are now preparing for the reception of fleece wool as soon as the season opens. Settlers in the Gisborne district are suffering severely as the result/ of the long spell of bad weather, and quite a number of roads have been | rendered impassable for wheeled traffic. The road from Tokomaru Bay to Waipiro Bay is exceedingly bad. The hillsides are slipping, and in doing so are causing great damage to the arterial, roads. Fur- : ther up the coast towards Ruatorea, conditions are even worse, and last week the mailman lost a valuable ~ hor.se which he was riding. The Presbyterian Sunday School. - concert at Taihap'e proved a huge success, reflecting great credit upon ' the organising ability of Mrs. Eddie Gordon. The "March of Nations" was most effective. At Hunterville sale on Tuesday, ]"' hoggets small made 2 0/9. At Tai-/; hape sale on Wednesday, 2-yearl steers brought £10, others £8 ss. The Raetihi Town Board has'agreed to submit to arbitration the-. ! claim made by "Littlewood and Co. '■ for £54 6 damages. There is considerable talk in1 ■ Wellington on the waste in cheese. Large stocks have accumulated, and deteriorated to such an extent that the stuff going bad is being sent to the destructor. It is looked upon as> scandalous waste, because it mights have been sold at lower than current' rates. At a meeting of the Waimarino branch of the Farmers' Union, Mr W. Harris presiding, it was decided to urge upon the district farcnin» community the importance of going m largely for growing winter feed li view of the probable shortage of shinning. It was decided to ask the-. Public Works Department to alter ' the trucking yards at the local railway station, and also instat a drinking trough.