LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 97, 14 June 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Supremo Court sessions at New Plymouth open next, Tuesday before Mr Justice Edwards.

A mooting of the Borough Council committee in connection with the Coronation celebrations will be held to-morrow at 7.30 n.m.

Tire Rev. C. H. Mann, President of the Primitive Methodist Conference, was to have been present to conduct meetings in Stratford to-day, but word has been received that he is unable to visit Taranaki. “In a Court of Justice a witness is sworn to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,” said Mr. Justice Edwards recently,

“but as a matter .of .fact tho witness only tells as much of the truth as counsel and the Court allows him to.”

At a meeting of the Stratbad brunch of the New oealand Jersey Bleeders’ Association, ludd •mi Saturday, the secretary was to a rite to tho widow of too Into Mr. ilugh Richmond, con/ y.ng the Association's condolences.

Tho Minister of Railways, in replying yesterday afternoon to a deputation from tho New Plymouth Borough Council in reference to Leach street, said that tho Department would not Eaway a single foot of land to any body. Tho Department, ho continued, had to pay through the nose for anything obtained from local bodies ' ,and they would lie met in the same spirit, Mr Millar adding that tit-for-tat was fair play.

Tiio A'uckliiucl Chamber of Commerce Council, at its last meeting, decided to initiate an effort to liavo tlie former representation of chambers of commerce on harbour boards reverted to. Mr. J. M. Mennie pointed out that while some members in Auckland had recently been elected by thousands of voters, there were two who had been elected by 41* votes and 23 votes respectively. The effect of the now r franchise had been to enable one or two men to create seats for themselves on the Harbour Board. The majority of the Council present agreed that the matter required consideration. A small consignment of New Zealand ducks which wore sent Homo to a dealer in Loudon with other frozen produce, arrived in good order. The linn to whom the ducks were consigned express the opinion that there appears to bo no reason why poultry farmers should not pay more attention to the industry, and more particularly to the rearing of, ducks for export. He says that the average of the consignment is up to that of the English chick, and when ready for the table -their appearance is similar to that of the Homo bird. The quality is reliable and the birds realised the standard price of frozen produce—viz., a little oyer 6s per pair, which should pay all right. The Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister of Railways, yesterday paid his first visit to the Taranaki Petroleum Company’s bores, and was much interested in, the boring operations, the steady flow of oil at No. 2 bore, and in the use of natural gas and crude’ oil as fuel. He was taken for a .drive about the environs of the borough, visiting the Recreation Grounds, the Racecourse, and other places of interest (says the, “Daily News”). In the afternoon, he received a number of deputations party to the Standard Oil Cb.’s bore oh the Carrington road, crossing to the Frankley road to see the peculiar sight of a steady blaze of natural gas on Mr Grooby’s farm. Mr Millar returned south by this morning’s mail train.

i Tlie Kihikihi correspondent of tlie Te Awamutu “Post” writes:—Whether duo to an entire lack of interest in affairs municipal, or to some other cause equally inimical to a proper regard for questions of local government, the fact remains that two meetings called in this township for the consideration of important loan proposals, have had to lapse through an insufficient attendance of ratepayers.' The proposals themselves may have boon .good or bad; public opinion, if it exists, may have been favourable;. but it shows vitiated civic consciousness or warped public intelligence when matters so closely affecting the good government of the town commanded so little attention. If a town is worth living in it is worth living for, and none of its concerns should l;o outside the. interests of any resident with the slightest aspirations to good citizenship.

Grateful references were made by the Mayor of Woolston (Christchurch) to the services rendered the borough by Mr. Geo. Lauren son, M.P. In the course of a speech Mr. Laurenson said that a rather extraordinary position had arisen in connection with the finances of their towns since the abolition of the provinces. In the days of the Provincial Government reserves wore sat apart for each new town when the town area was declared.. Lyttelton was a notable example of this, and the revenue from their reserves now amounted to a subsidy of Ifis in the £ on their rates. Akaroa had nearly a £ for £ subsidy on their rates, from its reserves. After .tlio abolition of tlio provinces no serves were set apart for tlio new towns, and places like Sumner, New Brighton and Woolston had to dspend on their rates. Ho had been astonished at what those towns could do with the small sums they had at their disposal. As long as lie was in Parliament lie would “barrack” forgrants for towns which had no re-' venue from reserves.

There arc some exceptionally mean sneak thieves in New Plymouth, says the “Nows,” and some instances of this have come under notice. For some weeks past, an elderly man, apparently a very pattern of industry, lias hoon cutting firewood in the Rocroaiion Grounds. It is worth noting that when the Hoard announced this was available there was no rush of applicants, so that it seemed that there was no demand for the firewood. The demand came later, when this old gentleman started operations, and it was then found that the demand was for cut-up firewood. The neat little heaps of blocks, all ready for the stove, had an unfailing attraction for some person or persons unknown. These people must have hcon grown up, too, for the log of wood weighing nearly half a hundredweight, which had been tied across the wood-heap, was lifted off, blocks stolon, and this big log put in their place. Yesterday the thieves went further, and stole the old man’s lunch from his hag. Now, firewood thieves are apt to have their stoves and fireplaces damaged, because they can’t be expected to know in which log fho gunpowder has been placed. Thieves, please r.qte! / Peppermint Cure. Never fails. Is For influenza take Woods’ Great Gd, "2s Gd •

.Co.p.ctable Percy Felton,, of ibo Auckland police force, is at present on a short visit to his parents in Stratford.

Mr L. Riera, of Mr Newton King’s Stratford staff, returned at the end of last week from a pleasant holiday trip to Australia. Mr Riera met many old friends on “the other side,” and experienced generally a very good time.

Messrs A. Coffey 7 and W. Diamond, assisted by Stratford amateurs, intend on June 26th producing the Irish drama “Handy Andy” in the Eltham 1 own Hall. The new scenery painted for the hall by Mr Will Diamond will bo used on this occasion for the first time.

Miss Eileen Bernard, daughter of Madame Bernard, of His Majesty’s I neatrr took part in the skating poster cai nival at Eltham on Monday. She was awarded prizes for being the best-dressed girl, musical chairs, and she was also the winner of a halfmile race in company with Master shearer.

The following business is set down for hearing at the sitting ct the Magistrate’s Court on Friday; Nine undefended and four defended civil actions, three judgment summonses, one breach of the Slaughtering' and Inspection Act, one breach of the Borough by-laws, one breach of the County by-laws, and one application for a prohibition order. . At 10 o'clock on Saturday morning 'an examination in cooking will be held at the Stratford Technical School under the auspices of the City and‘Guilds of London, it having been recognised that Stratford is' the most central position in the province,. Jvf esdames N. J. King and H. A.‘ Clayton . Will assist the supervisor,., Mr Whet ter, Education Board Inspector. Candidates will be present from all parts of tho province.

In four years’ time the private company which owns'the Palmbrstoff ‘ North Gasworks will have come to the end of the long term during whuh. it has had a lighting monopoly in flu* horoughT In view of this the Borough Council has set up a commitLef; to investigate the whole position, arid lieat with the company, if possible, to take over the works at once. Councillors made complaint about the very high price of gas in the town, and the general desire for puuuV owneiship of so important an institution. “

_ At St. Andrew’s Church this morning Miss Lucy Felton, second daughter of Mr F. C. Felton, of East Road, was married by the Rev. J. M to Mr Chas. Colson, thiid son’ of Mr T. D, Colson. The bride’s sister acted as bridesmaid, and Mr Percy Felton, the bride’s brother, was best man. After the ceremony the wedding breakfast . was held;.,at the residence of Mr J. Faulkner, East Road, brother-in-law of the bride. The happy couple left by the 3 o’clock train ,on route for. their future home in Auckland. ' '

A gentleman, who had "nearly.' forty years of exper.enca in th* A shim.) ton Coiinly, informed a repeUcr that he could not 'Ciiij'ii jjr Hit* 'g* !»'•*• grubs, having been so destructive ak.-they have been during the past twelve months, and he had come to the can-' elusion that the time had arrived V when the Government, or the controll- 1 ing local authorities, should make it ” .compulsory on the part of farmers and others to do their utmost towards destroying the post. The agucul- . ,tim'd department might suggest sbnio' ~ way of dealing with them, but the only, known remedy at present is the ploiVgo. " '

The success of that very important' the Stratford' Hospital ball, winch m to ' take pliibfe 1 '6u' ‘the bvehitig ofjthe King’s Coronation, June 22nd, must, of course, depend very largely oil tlio good work of the ladies. It will .therefore ho noted with interest that a ladies’, meeting is to be held at 4 o’clock on Friday afternoon'' in the Borough Council 'Chamber, and the secretary, Mr. T. H. Penn,: sincerely hopes that there will be a large attendance, so that the arrangements which are usually undertaken by the ladies may be properly mate. Wo are specially asked to stale that any lady unable to attend and yet is desirous of "assisting in this very laudable object,, is requested to lea/3 I er name with;.the secretary. Tin* Girls’ - Peace Scouts have agreed to hel;' on Hospital Saturday. ani Mrs. Bernard'is to ,give a matinee for the benefit of the .hospital on that ciij.

“The Hawke’s Bay people have been very backward in looking .after the development of the outside country,” said Mr. G. W. Russell, ALP., in the course of an interview at Christchurch. “The cost of carting supplies to 'the Taupo district, though it is only one hundred miles from Napier, is ruinous. The trade is likely to. be with Auckland, the nearest Government railway being to Rotorua, 270 miles from Auckland. There is, howevciV' a private line, which branches off the Government, line at Putaruru and Aoes in a direct line to Taupo for ’SO. iiiiles, and is now within 17 miles of 'Taupo. It is generally stated in the cohfitry, that the company owning tlie line, of which the Hon. Dr. Findlay is a large shareholder, is going lb extend the line into the town,, and that it will he completed within 18 months. If that is so, Auckland will got tlio trade of the East Taupo; district'.; Directly tlie line reaches, Taupo th'mF will bo tremendously rapid devolopnionts, and dairy factories will bo established at Runanga, with an outlet for the produce at Auckland.”