LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 84, 29 May 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

T' l " Boroiudi Council holds a special meeting 1 o-nilc! 1 1 to consider the Hospital Hoard's request to close Portia street, and will afterwards continue consideration of the lean proposals.

■ The n 'v.V.s pr;:';. », d -:i.5 Fr»■yiv: !-i >:1?f cl’ t> F'thm ■ _IC n:gh CVmAtil conducting in hv the ii ;s:t «.f J>i.-i\v.fu hrr.Txmo while the town in prov itled wilti an np-to-dai e imuw io.d_ gas installation. Mo woven, that is ta he remedied, an a motion was carried that pas ho laid on the Borer.}'!i Chambers forthwith. A very detailed scale oi chargor; for the usd of the Tmvu Hall was brought before the Kltham Borough Council on Friday night. One councillor / remarked that there was one class of entertainment not provided for, namely, piauw-pla.ving endurance tests, which were day and night shows. It was explained that the committee had considered those anti had resolved to bar them tor the sake of the piano. “We want none of these maniacs hero,” added a councillor.

Fat stock is reported to bo scarce in the Manawatu, hot it is not scarce in the Wairarapa. The representative of a leading stock linn states that • there is an abundance of ox beef offering- in the Wairarapa at 25s per cwt. His explanation is that so many had been holding their beef, that now feed was getting short they must sell. Those who could hold out till after July would he on a good wicket, hut at the present time there is plenty or hoof offering. A witness in the Napier Court admitted to counsel that he was unable to pay his debts,but cross-examination by Mr. Cfesswelf revealed the fact that he had not a penny with which to do so. ' “Just a moment,” said the contending lawyer, “you say you are unable to pay your debts? That it so.” “Yes,” replied the witness. “Did you pay Mr. Cresswell this morning for his professional services?” Mr. Cresswell showed considerable warmth, and talked about professional honour, but Jus' Worship ruled that the question should he answered, and witness answered “Yes.” “The best olive oil has been scarce and clear for some considerable time,” remarked a Palmerston chemist to a “Standard” reporter. “There is a large quantity still buried in the cellars that were destroyed by the Messina earthquakes. They may be recovered some day. There arc three qualities of oil. The first that comes ; is of a greenish tint, the second between a green,and a brown, and the third a darker brown. The second is the best and most expensive. 'The finest olive oil is coming into more general demand day by day as an article of diet, and its use is said to be attended in certain cases with marked beneficial results.”

The annual meeting of the North Taranaki Ploughing Association was held on Saturday, there being a good attendance of rtiembers, despite the inclement weather. The balance-sheet showed a credit balance of £6 ss. The following officers were appointed:— Patron, Mr. W. T. Jonping's, M.P.; president, Mr. W. Birdling; vicc-pre-* sidents, Messrs. W. F. Jenkins, Jas. Ilattenhiiry, and Alex. 1 Kerr; committee, Messrs. W. Rook, J. George, G. V. Tate, E. Colo, G. N. Skelton, 0., Foreman, C. Gaustad, T. Lnstonp J, Mitchell, G. Taylor (Inglewood), Walter Hoskin (Bell Block), H. Foreman, S. Topliss, and R. Giddy (Bell Block). It teas decided to hold this year’s competition on the last Thursday in July, and to add. two jumping events in addition to the ploughing, one an open event and one for maiden-' jumpers and riders. Football being considered unfashionable for girls, cricket too exciting, lacrosse too exhausing, tennis too selfish, and, hockey too rough, the principal of the girls of an Eastbourne college have discovered and adopted a gams.; called “gO;li ! Va]l,'” \VhiclVhah 'only hitherto been known in the North ,of "England and Canada. Eleven is a match side for goalhall, but-the game can bo .played by smaller number* The field is arranged as for hotkey, but a. football of the regulation size is used. Instead of being kicked, the ball is thrown about with a 4ft. long bamboo racouet with a netloss loop at the Gild. The scooping of the hall from player lo player is a feat which requires considerable dexterity, hut involves no undue physical strain. Only the goalkeepers are permitted to toucij ■the ball, except with the raccuots.

An invention known as the Bron'nan switch was recently designed wit!) the object of removing a difficulty from the wprk of making an triform gauge on Australian railways. The idea is to have a third rail laid, so that the rolling stock of different gauges can bo used. If a third rail were laid, for instance, 4ft B.Vin from’ a side rail on the main ' Albnrv, lino, trains from Sydney could run through to Melbourne. It is believed that difficulties of arranging the rails ab shunting points and crossings can 1)C overcome, and the Victorian Minister of Railways hits expressed a desire tlmt the design should be used to. sec if it will work. The Minister has communicated with the- New South Wales Government, and asked that' the expense of an experiment on the Alhnry-Wondohga line should be shared. If the invention is successful,, it will permit of - the use of present rolling stock after the gauge lias been altered in accordance with the Railway War Council’s scheme.

A great many family Bibles have boon discovered in Victoria since the collection of the census cards. Such, at least, is to be gathered from many of the letters to the Commonwealth Statistician confessing that ages wore understated on ( tho cards. r l'iiq usual excuse given lV the ladies is that they have found the family Bible, and round at the same time that they !»>■«' several years older than they thought they were. Another popular form of letter is: “Since stating my age I have boon informed by my mother that a mistake has occurred, and, that J was honi on fsn-an-so.’ ” One morning's mail hroght 371 confessions to the. hand'enumerator, one being from a Ballarat doctor; 1 tic* day’s pile had grown to 500 by the last postal delivity is being given to the Statistician’s threat of legal proceedings if correct ages are not given, and a similar rain of corrections is proceeding.

“Wairarapa Standard” remarks editorially : —General Godley the other day at Gore, expressed Jus disagreement with the objections which have keen made to the foundation of companies of Senior Cadets by the churches. He is reported as having said that “ a mountain Vas being made out of a molehill.” Thai may ho, doubtless is, Ids opinion, hut it docs not stand for nmch. On any question affecting onr neve army which is in process of parturition just at present, we should unquestionably bow to his authoritative opinion, but in a matter which is quite outside hie. particular professional province, the value of his opinion ..is simply that of the ordinary individual. • A ny p;dposal to permit the churches to rake a hand in onr Military Training lye;;--tern is a dangerous one, the outcome of which must inevitably he the widening of i he distances between onr religions seels, and the mention of n much keener sectarian feeling titan at present exists.

: 1 - v t-io IVpufy-Of-J• •• i! Assignee (}.':• A. Colovaatojh cn-tnnf-rata:-; a ilnvruar of haulifiliit cs=r.t.a of the r.ddnm>.traf.i,V:i of whitu he intends to apply fa ho released.' She \ a'ner-Ccnoral has written to the Borough 'Council stating that the Council's application for a revision of the valuations -in tiio bourugh will come up for consideration shortly, when', in ail probability, the request would he granted.

J* •i* -1- it. f>. Stanford (of the Stratford firm (Spoilt?© and Stanford) has returned from a seven weeks’ holiday trip to Australia, having spent most of tho time in New South Wales. Mr Stanford .is'looking well after the trip, which has proved a thoroughly enjoyable one.

A “now chum” trapper at To Wharau, East (least, reports that in three : clays' 1 10 caught one sheep, two wild cats, a stari.imr. _ a Imek ferret,; and three fingers' of his own hand. Besides tins collection, lie also caught six rabThe hawks, cats, ferrets, weasels, and other enemies took charge of five of those, while Brer Rabbit took tiiQi sixth trap homo, and lias not been .■rsga about since. This is not bad going Jar twelve'. traps-in three days', i to the Stratford telephone exchange * will regret to hear of the departure of Miss" M. L. Theo.bald, who for the past four years has been engaged at the local office. Miss Theobald lias been promoted to a position ,at the counter at Te Aro, \?cl- ; ling ton. At the close of business ,on Saturday the combined staffs of the Stratford post, telegraph and telephono exchange branches* assembled in the postmaster’s room for the purpose of farewelling her. After many happy remarks had been made regarding the fine qualities of the departing I member, the presentation of a handsome silver toilet-set was made by the acting-postmaster, and Mr James made a suitable response oiuhehalf of the,'.recipient. Miss Theobald left by this morning’s express for Wellington. it seems fated that any sporting event attempted between Paris ’ and Madrid brings death and disaster in its train. In 1903 a big- international motor car' race was organised from capital to capital, and attracted a tremendous entry. The contest proved a race to death', the loss of life, both to competitors arid spectabeing so appalling that the authorities stepped in and the race was stopped at Bordeaux. New, eight years later, an attempt, to hold an aeroplane race over the same course has resulted in disaster, one of the j aviators-falling into an assemblage of | Government officials at the start of the contest, killing the French War Minister and seriously injuring M. Monis,. Premier of France. After this second attempt at a Paris-Madrid Race, it is safe to assume that it will he some time before a sporting contest j will again he organised over this ill--1 fated course.