LOCAL & GENERAL

Western Star, 28 October 1932, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL

Anglers report good sport in the various rivers.

A new disease is reported to be attacking French beaus.

Portions of India are suffering from tlie periodical plague.

The New Zealand post office last year distributed through lb© post 137,046,678 letters and packets.

Gardeners find it hard to grow peas as sparrows nibble all the young leave, as fast a. s they develop.

Babe Ruth, America’s highest paid professional base ball player, ha s had to retire owing to a weak heart

Henry Ford has given Ills support to Mr Hoover for the presidency of the United States.

A Dunedin taxi driver picked up a fare and when he arrived at the man’s destination lie found he Ava s dead.

Which lias the hardest work, tea or coffee? —Tea, because while coffee can Settle down, tea must stand and draw.

When you find th© larder is empty, which is the best dish to order? —Fillet, of course!

'The Otago Prevention of Cruelty to Animals condemned tlie shooting of live hird s released from trap s in the name of sport.

Both Wallace and Southland County Councils object to the Unemployment Committee’s rabbit- destruction proposals.

Se-'On thousand cows Avere tested in Southland last season. The average production of butter-fat of each for the season was 2611b5.

The Bawra liquidators which dealt with war wool, in sixteen year* distributed £179,936,60!). Bawra has been wound up.

Some manufacturers in the Doniinon long sheltered under protective duties are protesting against the Ottawa agreement. The Government -'anmu please every interest. The producing interests are vital, and must receive first consideration,

Scottish whisky distillers are of the opinion that prohibition in the United States will soon l-e a thing of the past.

The Orepuki farmers have purchased the dairy factory at Orepuki and it will be run on the co-operative system-

The Economy Commission recommended the abolition of Land 13oards. The Government considers they are necessary, however.

The Bible in Schools Bill passed its second reading in the Legislative Council by the casting vote of the speaker. The Bill ha s now been defeated.

The copious showers and warm weather at the end of last week greatly stimulated the growth of pastures, which are now looking splendid.

The Dairy Board considers that butter should be retailed at th e . same price as in London. An increase of one penny would mean £BO.OOO a year.

Dunedin Drainage Board’s renewal loans were taken up within a lew days, evidence that money is not scarce m the eastern city.

Commencing on the Till December the two expresses between Invercargill and Christchurch will run daily except Mondays.

The new French liner, a palatial ship of 60,000 tons, lias eleven decks. Its speed is 30 knots, and it will carry 2170 passengers.

Mr W. F. Furkert, head of the l’ublio Works Department, and Mr W. B. Strong, head of the Education Department, are reported to be about t° retire.

Asked how he was doing, a western small farmer said, “With one thing and another I’m making a satisfactory living. I milk fifteen cows, run a f ew sheep, rear pigs, and catch rabbits. I have my own firewood, milk, meat and vegetables- The rab' its last year returned £3O. Thank goodness my farm, though small, is clear.”

The members of the St Mary’s Social Club will bring their winter season to a close on Monday when a dance will be held in More’ s Hall, commencing at 8 o’clock. It is proposed to form a hiking and swimming Club for the summer season. A meeting was held last season for thi A purpose.

The iron bridge over the New River at Wallacetown was erected about sixty two years ago, and lias been a standing testimony to the wisdom of using permanent materials. T lie initial expense may be more, but in the long run first-class material and workmanship prove the most economical.

The birth of an abnormally large lamb is reported by Mr W. T. Lill, ill nr., of Westerfield, Ashburton County. Mr Lill weighed several lambs whicii were born on the same day, and they averaged between Gib and 71b-. but the lamb in question, which was a Romney-Merino cross, weighed 121 b. It has a perfectly healthy appearance.

“He owes- a deep debt of gratitude to the police,” said the magistrate when a first offender lor drunkeniies, who was stated to have had £771) in liis possession when arrested, appeared before him in the Magistrate’s Court at Christchurch on Monday'. “He was very lucky to have been brought- into our care,” remarked the senior-ser-geant. Defendant was fined 20s.

A correspondent of the "Wanganui Herald writes: —“Is our Government logical? For 30s a year my friend secures a license for a radio set and enjoys the benefit of having the correct time announced at various intervals duriug the day and evening. For £7 10g a year I secure a telephone, but 1 havo no benefit of a time servic© such as my friend receives. He who pays most receives the least seems to be the process by which the Government makes such decisions.”

How- a wasp’s sting caused the death of a woman was related at an inquest at Hatfield, Herts., on Mr* Minnie Carter. Mrs Carter, it wa s stated was helping to serve tea when, she was stung on the thumb of her right hand. Soon afterwards she almost fainted and became discoloured round the lips and on the finger nails and hands. A doctor stated that death was due to heart failure and wa ri accelerated by shock caused by the wasp’s sting. A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned.

The supply of boys for farm work appears to be running out in Gisborne, for repeated efforts of the Gisborne Y.M.C.A. and Rotary Club committee to find boys willing to accept work in th© country have met with but poor response of late. At present there are 17 positions open and a dearth of applicants. All til© boys placed to date, more than 100, have retained the positions found for them and have apparently been satisfied with th© terms of their employment.

Th© local branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association held a “free and easy” social i u More’s Hall on Wednesday evening when flier© was a good attendance of members. The first part of th© evening wa s devoted to cards, the country members carrying their objective by the narrow margin of one game. After refreshments had been par taken of community singing led by Mr H. E. Pliilp was indulged in and songs were rendered by Messrs T© Au and Philp. A short toast list wu s gone through. Dr Gordon proposed the toast of "Fallen Comrades." The toast of the “Farmer Diggers" was proposed bv Mr J A. Martin and responded to bv Mr Weir. I hat of “Town Diggers” was ably dealt with by Mr R. Stevens and responded to by Mr 11. Dickson. A most successful evening concluded with the singing of Auhl Lang Syne.

I‘or years now prices of primary products have fluctuated, and to base the price ol laud upon current prices is a mistake. Discussing the subject a small holder said h e bought lijs farm when butter-fat was high, paying £l3 an acre. Butter-fat fell in price, then came the slump, and hi s greatest difficulty now was finding the £7l a year interest—rate 6} per cent.—on tile purchase price. Were it not foi tliaf he could manage quite comfortably-. In connection with the mortgagors’ relief legislation, after an examination of Ids property the committee said at. present price* In’- 1 ’ wa s worth £3 an acre —a drop of £lO. Pro'aldv the real value, if has-d oe price of produce taken over a series of years wotdd he £7. There i* nothing of more importance to a country than’ sound land values,

The Bluff Harbour Board has received notification that it s new tug Awarua left Albany last Saturday and is due at Port Chalmers on November 5.

Ou Wednesday afternoon a friendly match was played between the Otautau and .Riverton B Gratis tennis teams on file local courts, and resulted in a win for the seasiders.

A first offender was brought before Mr Jno Crawford, J.P. this morning oil a charge of drunkenness. Having no money in which to pay a fine he was convicted and discharged, and ordered to leave the town.

Country schools in the sparselysettled districts of the Ashburton County are gradually disappearing as buses are employed to carry the children to the schools in the larger centres. The Seaview School, which was erected nearly 50 years ago. >s at present being dismantled and will be reerected in the Alienton School grounds. With closer settlement the attendance at this~’Ashburi.on suburban school has gradually’ increased and it ha s been found necessary to provide additional accommodation.

A woman who bad been on board seeing friends off very nearly liad an enforced trip to Sydney by tlie,Makura last week (says a Wellington exchange) The gangway had been lowered and the doors in the ship’s side were being closed when they were suddenly opened again, and a feminine figure appeared. Tli e woman stepped forward and looked apprehensively down to the wharf, some 10 feet below. Two of the ship’s crew, holding her arms lowered her down the ship’s side, and two officials on the wharf stretched up their arms and brought her safely to the wharf.