LOCAL & GENERAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 22 October 1931, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL.

By special request Mr Phil Barry and Miss Berna St imp son will give an exhibition of eccentric sand dancing at the Opera House to-night in connection with the Y.M.C.A. Olympiad entertainment.

A loss of £5214/19/5 on the past year’s workings is revealed in the annual 'report of the. directors, of the Feilding Farmers’ Freezing Company. No provision has been made for depreciation. During the year 356,063 sheep and lambs, 6244 head of cattle and vealers, 5741 pigs, and 28,579 bobby calves were killed.

There was a large gathering at the conclusion of the Clarcvillc Winter Sports Club’s season in the Clareville Hall on Tuesday evening. A Yankee ping pong tournament was won by Miss L. Phelps (ladies) and Mr A. Fisher (men). At the clo.se of the tournament a presentation was made to Mr A. Scott in appreciation of his work in the interest of the Club. The shop day held in the Y.M.C.A. Gymnasium yesterday in aid of the funds of the Lansdowne Presbyterian Church resulted in a satisfactory financial return, considering the present economic conditions. An attractive array of produce, goods, sewing, cakes and other delicacies adorned the stalls, which were organised by the ladies of Lansdowne and also those of the country districts. Astonishment at the scarcity of pineapples and the high price of oranges in South Island towns was expressed by a Brisbane merchant in Dunedin recently. He said that in Brisbane pineapples cost 2d each, and oranges -Id each. A great many returned soldiers were growing pineapples, and were in despair of finding a market for their goods, not a small quantity of the fruit going to waste each season. “The pineapples I saw in the South Island shops were very poor ,yet they cost 1/6 or more," he said. “Those procurable ill Brisbane for 2d or 3d are much larger, and more succulent. It is the same with the oranges. Our 24-a-shil-ling ones are much larger than your 400. per cent, dearer oranges. It seems to mo a great pity that there is not some regular shipping service between Brisbane and South Island ports."

Cold is valued in London at £5 4s 8d ;in ounce.

A garden party and bazaar will be held at Solway College to-morrow' (Friday) at 2.30 p.m. Cars will leave Knox Church at 2.15 p.m.

Fresh milk and nut oil in London aie so treated that excellent cream is produced, said Mr C. D. Dickie, of Patea, who has returned from a tour abroad. Synthetic products generally are on the increase.

The agency of bees has ueen responsible for a most extraordinary instance of mixed pollenation on a farm at Whakamara (11 miles from Ilawera). A cabbage cut by a housewife contained, beneath 3 inches of cabbage leaves, a. perfectly-formed cauliflower which has puzzled gardening experts.

A very successful and enjoyable dance was held in the Masonic Hall last night by the Memorial Tennis Club. The hall was decorated in pal© pink and red. The music was supplied by Minifie’s Orchestra, and a dainty supper was provided by the ladies’ committee. Mr S. Frankpitt and Mr V. Gooding acted as M.C.’s.

Appreciation of the provision of relief camps for single unemployed men is very evident in Auckland, where in addition to the men already placed there is a waiting list of applicants, including a party of 34 men who will leave to-morrow. Three hundred single men havo been provided for under this scheme, and it is anticipated that the total will reach 400 within the near future.

The official presentation of the Mooreliousc Cup was made to the hirst and Second Carterton Troop of Boy Scouts on Monday evening at St. Mark’s Parish Hall, by' the District Commissioner, the Rev. E. M. McLevie, of Masterton, who congratulated the lads upon their creditable performance in competition with older and more experienced signallers in Wellington. Games of a competitive nature, and individual items by the Scouts occupied the greater portion of the evening. “In order to carry on and keep the coal mines open, most of the companies in New Zealand must forthwith reduce the working costs by reducing hands.” This statement was made by Colonel W. D. Holgate in his presidential address yesterday to the Now Zealand Coal Mine Owners’ Association. He expressed tho opinion that the time was opportune to insist on fresh agreements containing more reasonable working conditions. The coal industry for the past year from tho owners’ point of view had been most unsatisfactory, he said. The majority of the companies were losing money, which, if continued, -would obviousA mean that some of the mines must close down.

Consequent on a resolution passed at the annual meeting of the Otago Motor /.Club on (Monday night, recommending that the Government and South Island Motor Union be written to protesting ■ against money being taken from the Highways Board’s revenue to relievo the Consolidated Fund, the executive committee of the club' met last evening and framed the following message, a copy of which will be forwarded to, the Prime Minister and the South Island Motor Union: “The Otago Motor Club wishes to record an emphatic protest against the levying of further taxation other than that required for roading purposes and particularly, the use of funds accruing from petrol taxation for general revenue purposes; further, the club strenuously objects to aany transfer of moneys from the Highways Board’s revenue to the Consolidated Fund. ” The skeleton of a Maori who must have stood eight feet in height is reported by the ‘‘Marlborough Express” to have been found by Mr Hamilton Redwood at Okaha, Pelorus Sound. Particulars of the discovery aro not available, but it is believed that the local natives claimed to know the identity of the remains, which were accordingly re-interred. Discussing the report with a reporter, Mr W. J. Elvy, of the Lands and Survey Department, who is making a study of the Maori history of Marlborough, said it recalled the traditional existence of a race of giants known as the Rapuwai, in this district. Somo little time ago, said Mr Elvy, ho was informed by Mr Peter McDonald (Makitanara) that the tradition was quito clear amongst his people. The Rapuwai were reputed to be of abnormal height and strength, so much so that in combat they were able to handle two ordinary men, taking one in each hand and clashing tlieir heads together.

At tho monthly meeting of the League of Mothers yesterday, Mrs L. B. Maunsoli presided over a good attendance of members and friends. Miss M. McLean, C.8.E., of Wellington, gave a most interesting talk on “Ourselves and Some Notable Women." Miss McLean quoted the opinions of Lord Bledisloe, Sir Charles Fergusson and visitors to New Zealand with reference to New Zealanders and their characteristics. Sho said that, as a nation, we should try to remedy any faults and that women had a great power and influence. She then referred to the life and work of many notable women whom we might emulate. Among these were Queen Mary, Mrs Cecil Chesterton, who founded five homes for poor women in London, Mrs Pankhurst, Nurse Cavell, Lady Astor, Lady Heath, Miss Amy Johnson, Mrs Dan Crawford (who spent thirty years near Lake Tanganyika), and Mrs Jolly, the only woman in the South African Legislative Council. Miss McLean was heartily thanked for her address. Mrs J. Conly sang beautifully two songs, “Daffodils" and “The Wild Rose."

Ladies’ Matchless Shoes, made in New Zealand. All kinds to select from, at Carpenter & Evans’ Quality Shoe Store. *

After the rapid and unbroken increases recorded during recent years, the profits of the Ardath Tobacco Company—a subsidiary of the British American Tobacco Company —last year underwent a contraction, says ‘‘The Times.” The total for the year, which ended on June 30th, was £528,518; this compares with £715,171 for 1929-30, £471,441 for 1928-29, and £317,995 for 1927-28. No change is made in the dividend, which is again 12 per cent, free of tax, but tlio amounts reserved are necessarily less generous. A sum of £60,000 is placed to reserve for contingencies, and the “carry forward is raised from £125,569 to £ISO,OSS. The issued capital of the Ardath Tobacco Company is £4,400,000. The general reserve and “carry forward” amount to £600,000, in addition to which the company possesses reserves for modernisation and for depreciation, as well as for contingencies.