LOCAL & GENERAL.

Western Star, 23 March 1920, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL.

As a prelude to the equinoctial gales, abnormally heavy tides have been recorded during the past two days. The Invercargill stock agents hold a sale of stock at Otautau on Friday, 2Gth and at Tuatapere on Monday, 29th hist.

The Riverton District Brass Band, under the baton of Mr E. Hunter, rendered a first-class programme; of music at The Rocks on Sunday afternoon. The band has been engaged to play at the races at Easter.

A harvest home ball will be held at Gummaes Bush on Friday next, commencing at 8 o'clock. A strong committee lias been formed to carry out the necessary arrangements, and first-class music will be provided. No less a sum than £1,118,160 was sent to America for oil imported into New Zealand in 1918. Of this amount £167,202 was paid for kerosene. The installation of electric power will rectify this evil to a large extent. The property in Dee street, Invercargill occupied by Messrs Wcsuey Bros., was last week sold by auction, and brought £II,OOO, representing more than £351 a foot for the frontage. Mr 11. Caws was the purchaser. The property in Don .street occupied by Messrs Sargood Son and Ewen, was purchased by Mr D. Morton for £B,IOO. Every week the price of boots has been going steadily up, and last week they madje a further rise. A local dealer informs us that fromt 10/- to 15/- a pair has gone on to ordinary wearing boots bringing them to nearly £3. Repairers prices have increased. Local bootmakers are paying; 6/- a lb. for sole leather, and it is not by any means the best at that price. This adds to the burden of the working man, and his family. Where it is all to end is hard to foresee, but statesmen should seriously take the matter in hand.

Tlie fourth Southland egg-laying competition. closed last week, and the winner in tight breeds ..(White Eeghonw) was H. T. Stratton, Invercargill, with 1364 eggs; H. S. Woodnorth, Invercargill, 1356, second; J. Pauli, Riverton, 1344, third ; and Mrs Gorinski, Invercargill, 1338, fourth. C. Thomson, whose fowls laid the largest number of "eggs, could not draw the weight, and 1 E. Williamson, who was fifth on the list was similarly treated. In the heavy breeds Miss King. Riverton, was first, with 1098, the team being Silver Wyandottes. The local breeders are to be congratulated on their success.

A patent for a specific has been taken out hv Messrs J. Sang well and IT. E. Hill,’ says the Poverty Hay Herald, by which it is claimed that no. disease of any sort can live on a fruit tree, including the latest scourge of-fire blight. The specific is injected' into the sap of the tree, and is claimed to be effective for seven years. Negotiations are in progress at the present time, and if satisfactory arrangements can be made the Prime Minister has promised to have a test made in the four chief centres of the Dominion. Mr Sangvvell is a professional orchardist, formerly of Westport, bub now residing in Gisborne,

lu the Auckland Supreme Court the other day the jury awarded Arthur Lloyd Cremer £6OO general and £B3 special damages against William Hazel i, a farmer of jMaaigere, arising from the plaintiff being kicked by a cowbo was milking. The verdict is subject to motion for nonsuit on the reserved point that there was no evidence of negligence on the defendant’s part. A former town councillor, Walter Thomas Suton, a milk dealer, at Doncaster, was fined £IOO and committed to three (month’s imprisonment in the second division, and Louisa Birlay, j his assistant, was fined £IOO for selling adulterated, milk. One sample ‘contained 49.4 per cent, of added water. Both had been twice previously convicted. The representatives of the Maori tribes who are to -welcome the Prince of Wales at Rotorua will be to a certain extent under military control, for the Defence Department will exercise a general supervision over the camp and the necessary supplies. The five or’ six thousand Maoris will practically be dealt with as a brigade in toe field. The meat allowance is to be at the rate of two pounds per bead per day, a ration that would make the average soldier in the field green with envy. The sleeping tents will cover an area of about 15 acres. The Winton A. and) P. Association intend holding a. Winter Show on May 26th (says the Record). A sheepdog trial will be held in connection with the show'.

A Press Association message from Daunevirke states that another New Zealand record has boon established in calf skins. At a, sale on Wednesday 60d alb was realised for one lot, while another lot sold at £1 15s per skin. Hides of grown cattle netted np to 14gd per lb, and of ■ half-grown to 29k1.

There is hope yet for cheap houses and the man of modest means to secure a home of his own, if a statement which appeared in the Manchester Guardian of recent date can bo ' fully accepted. Under the heading of “ Built in a Fortnight,” the English journal states that the Clif-ton-Ewart system of concrete building, enabling an artisan dwelling to be erected in a fortnight, at a cost, of £3OO, is being investigated by the Housing Committees of Manchester, Liverpool, Bradford, Bolton, Stalybridge, Llandudno, Scarborough, Bur-ton-on-Trent, and Skipton, and successful demonstrations are being- carried out. In Nottingham all the tests have proved satisfactory, and it is hoped to erect 50,000 concrete houses in the United Kingdom durng the next 12 months. The use of standard units, which imay be fitted together in an unlimited number of designs, will enable builders to construct houses of various sizes. Contracts are to be let to a prominent builder in each locality in which the systemi is adopted, and he in turn will sub-let. Speaking to an Otago Daily Times reporter last week on the subject of the penguin oil works at Macquarie Island, concerning which there has been some correspondence between the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Premier of Tasmania, Mr Joseph Hatch, the former lessee of the island, said that the allegation made that it was the custom of those working on the island to boil penguins alive was absolutely without foundation. He said that during the time he held a lease* over the island he had never known an act of cruelty to take place there. Further, owing to the irresponsible statement made concerning the works ait the island, an oil industry which should be encouraged at the present time was being crushed. He purposed delivering an address in Dunedin on this question, when he hoped, by a. series of lantern slides, to show the people how the industry had 1 been conducted.

Suits-to-measure, smart patterns, good style and finish. Orders being taken now for Easter. Prices from 115/-, 125/-, 135/-, to 155/-. We have also a good selection of Men’s Ready-to-wear Suits in Colonial Tweeds and Worsteds, from 95/- to 135/-. Men’s Tweed and Raincoats from 85/- to 210/-. Men’s Lounge. Felt Hats, newest shapes and shades, from .19/6 to 35/-. Men’s Caps from 4/11 to 10/6. Men’s All Wool Underpants and Singlets from 9/6 to 18/6. All Wool Socks from 2/6 to 4/11. Men’s Sweater Coats from 25/- to 1 39/6._ A large selection of Men’s Shirts in Stripes, Poplin, Silk, etc., from 9/6 to 25/-. Suit Cases frclm 27/6 to 59/6. Men’s Tics, Collars, Braces, Handkerchiefs, Pyjamas, etc., a good assortment to chouse from at H. and, J. SMITH, Ltd., Progressive Stores, Tay street, Invercairaill, and Main street, Gore. — (Advt.) " ■