LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 26, 13 January 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Bicycle stealing is a fairly common crime in New Zealand, and the days of motor-car theaves are evidently coning. Recently no less than four thefts of motor-cycles were reported to the Christchurch police. In three instances the machines were recovered, while the fourth is still missing. Making hay while the moon shines. A number of farmers in this distrct (says the Palmerston “Standard”) were so anxious to get in their crops that they were reaping and mowing during the recent moonlight evenings, evidently being determined to make the most of all the fine weather. That South Africa can and does raise tobacco of splendid quality, wirch 'threatens to compete in time with the product of the noted producing countries of the world, is manifest by the fact that the manufacture of tobacco there has outstripped any ether manufacturing industry, and tobacco factories can he seen which would do credit to any country in the world. Already a considerable export trade has been built up.

All the cranes at the Addington workshops ; are now .being worked by electrical power. The preliminary work of converting the cranes at the Hillside Workshops (Dunedin) lias also been done, and it is I'.oped that in about a month’s time the crane plant at Petone will also be. electrically operated. In the case of C.hristchurch ajjjd Dunedin power is available from the tramways supply, but at Petone a gas plant will be installed to generate the necessary power.

An old-time-wedding custom was observed in connection with a wedding at Iberley Church (England) recently. The bridegroom, a farmer, experienced no hindrance in proceeding to the church, hut as he was leaving with -his hr de he was “held up” by i party of his men, who had stretched a rope across the path of the bridal party, and be was not allowed to go further until he had “bestowed largesse,’’ or, to use less picturesque language, “paid Ids footing.” That Tribute having been paid, a pistol was (irod by way of salute, and the nuptial happiness was resumed.

Now and then somebody rises up io

talk about our birthrate, says the Hastings “Tribune.” It can’t really be bad, because yesterday morning somebody advert’sed in a contemporary for a perambulator which would accommodate twins.

As a result of the operations of youth Island sheep buyers in the North Island, it is estimated that

about ten thousand sheep have been exported from the Wairarapa district, eli cfly to Canterbury. In many cases the prices given were well in advance of the local values.

The display of frozen meat by tiie Now Zealand Government at lloubaix, in France, is likely (says a London correspondent) to have a* beneficial effect. A local paper named “La Croix” states that some eloquent speeches have been made in that district in favour cf frozen meat and tho revision of tho harassing Customs duty. The paper commends the action of New Zealand, and observes that if the French Government wishes to take all precautions from a sanitary point cf view it could make it easy for tho shippers by requiring a consular stamp on the carcase.

Cf late the prevalence of phenomenally heavy winds from certain quarters nave exercised a perturbing influence on the minds of master mariners, botn ashore and afloat. Sailing craft tiiat have been accustomed to uiaKe regular trips from port to port ,\Kii proverbial punctuality have been occupying three and four times the period usually occupied in such passages. Some idea of the vagaries of tno winds that blow along the New Zealand coasts may be garnered from the fact that a scow, wnich recently .ook only about three days on the passage from Kaipara to Wellington, has arrived ‘at Kaipara from Wellington after a protracted passage of 32 days. Her long passage recalls the very slow performance ot the big full-rigged snip Australia, which, a short time ago, took 31 days to cover the distance between Wellington and Auckland.

Every Mohammedan subject in Turkey is "Liable to service and remains liable for twenty-five years. At 2i die a oung Turk enters the, army, the Nizam, and remains in it for three years. He must _then serve six years .ii the reserve, called the Tchtrad, and after that lie remains nine years in the army reserve, called the ittedif, which resembles the German Landwehr. This reserve has a second line called me ivlustafis, in which the citizen bade to service is finally enrolled. Every 3 car produces about 100,000 men liable to service, and cf this number 70,000 are enrolled as recruits. The remainder, that is to say, the least affective, are given drill, and they may perhaps be compared with the extra reservists of the first class in Germany. They finally find their way into the Redif. Altogether, Turkey can place a million men in the field, and is far as material is concerned, Gcrnan officers who have instructed Turk’s.! troops declare that there is not in army in tho world that would not rejoice to get such men.

Casting stones at Society women seems an increasingly popular : pastime amongst clerics. The latest exponent n this art is the Rev, Charles Richmond, of Phi ladelphia, who is giving the residents of Fifth Avenue, this sort of feed to digest:—“The women of this country are responsible for scandals, divorces, and tfie demoralisation of American society. They aro money-mad, clothes-niad, and hunger and thirst for limelight. They regal’d homo solely as a place to eat and sleep in.. They scheme for any kind ■jf notriety, dress immodestly, lust for wealth, and evil leadership in fashionable society. In all these things they outstrip the women of any other nation. Nowhere else can women be found who frankly sell themselves and their children to the highest bidder.” What we can never understand about ■this kind of preaching is that the wrong people generally get the benefit cf it. By that we mean the poorer class congregati ons. The effect of such tirades is generally to arouse envy and not pity for the “terrible doings in high society, if such a thing exists among the Yankees.”

Since September 9, there has been in elfect in New Aork a law which permits the destruction of any commercial sign or advertisement on a nigh way. it authorises the destruction “oy anyone” of such signs and Advertisements “within the limits of a public bghway.” Taking advantage of the law a squad of automobilists, representing the Automobile Club of America, has been touring the State, armed with axes and hatchets, destroying thousands of advertising signs which have disfigured the country roads. On fences, ■ rocks, and trees throughout the State, the wandering advertiser had erected these defacing signs, and the law was the result of a general protest by automobilists and others. Of course, the law does not apply to oases where owners of land near cities, or elsewhere, have sold the privilege of erecting advertisement signs, hut it is made a crime to paint or erect any advertisement on private property without the written consent of the owner, although private parsons are not authorised to destroy such signs on private property. Already, it is reported, the appearance of the country highways of New York has been greatly improved by reason of the activity of the sign-destroyers.

Considerable interest attaches to the experiment regarding the treatment of the mentally afflicted which is being carried, out by the Danish Government, under the supervision of Professor Kellers, the well-known psychological expert. About eighteen nonths ago the Government acquired the island of Llyoe, which is situated in Limfiorden, and is about a thousand acres in extent, of which about 100 acres are well wooded, the oak tree predominating. Professor Kellers has for some time been a persistent advocate of the out-of-door treatment of lunacy. His chief contention is that fresh air tones up. the nervous system while the varied natural objects are calculated to arrest the attention of the patients and dissipate the more distressing symptoms of nononiania eftimes prevalent. The authorities however, preferred to effect a compromise relating to the new sanatorium many of the criminal lunatics Pftlurto held in practically solitary durance. A peculiarity of the system, is that under the comprehensive classification adopted by the authorities men of the more degenerate class tho/th as regards crime and vice, are regarded as mentally unfit, and are removed to Llyoe for treatment. The method of “cure” of confirmed laziness is somewhat Spartan. Either the ■■“ cm must settle down to regular habits of work—chiefly of a rural character—or the “rest cure” is pushed

’•‘mu’ to its logical result- -they are forced to He in heel for terms varying from a day to throe or f .nr days. Py ’hat tinv*' the ennui heroines sompiy unbearable and the men aie plad io escape from the torture •• : : i hcer inactive v.

Mr. Cecil Wright, of New Plymouth, has entered into partnership 'with Mi. F. W. Wake, of this town. A meeting of the Domain Hoard was to have oeen hold yesterday afternoon, bht lapsed. Mr. and Mrs. Broeklebauk returned to Stratford yesterday from a holiday trip to Gisborne. Mr. David Gray, of East Hoad, who has been on a trip to England, returned to Stratford last night. Mr and Mrs P. Thomson, of Invercargill, who have been on a visit to Stratford for some weeks, return home by Monday’s mail train. The Oddfellows of Stratford Lodge will hold a euchre party in the Foresters’ Hall on Monday, loth January. All cordially invited. The weather man yesterday told us to expect “misty rain.” Anybody who was on the street without overcoat or umbrella about half-past six last night will now probably be able to say what, “misty rain” is like. We have received from the secretary, Mr F. C. Stubbs, Ward Stiect, Dannevirke, a copy of the schedule for the Dannovirko A. and P. Show, which is to be held on February lot.i. The guards on the railways are at present keeping a chary watch on parents who are travelling with cnildren over the age at which they aie allowed to go free, says the Hawera “Star,” and a number have had to pay for a ticket on the train. The children who took part in “A Dancing Tour of the World” arc requested to assemble at the Fire Brigade Hall at 10.30 o’clock on Monday morning, and the adults at the same place at 7.30 o’clock the same evening.

There were various conjectures made by those assembled on the sta-, tion platform last night as to the fate of the mail train, when 7.20 p.m. arrived and no train. However, there ■was no accident along the line, the late arrival being due just to “slow going.” In this issue the clerk of the Whangamomona County Council (Mr ! A. Coleman) notifies the result of the by-election for one member to represent the Strathmore Riding held on January 4th. It will bo remembered that the voting was equal. In conformity with the Act lots were cast, Mr John Diggins being successful. The unseating of Mr Diggins and Mr Jones’ resignation as a result thereof caused the by-election. During the year rain fell at Patoa on 128 days, the total rainfall being 43.69 in. The heaviest rainfall was experienced in December, a total c,.f 6.46 in. being recorded, rain falling on no less than 17 days. Though the rainfall was excessive during the last four months of the year (says the “Press”) the total, 43.69iu., was less by 1.62 in. than that for 1910, the total fall for that year being 45.31 m., rain falling on 151 days as against 128 in .1911. Mr. jGeorge Hall,'who some months ago visited ,England on urgent private business, returned home to Stratford last night, Mr. Hall was too busy to devote a gVoat deal of time to sightseeing,* but managed to spend a week or soih‘ the 'Highlands of Scotland. Ho returned'to Sydney h|y the Orontcs. Mrs. Hall, who‘had to go;Home after her soh'V ‘arrival' in England, reached London 1 about \x. fortnight 'before • Mr. Hall R’ftj'bri his return journey to NeaV Zealand, and will remain in the Old Country until he goes back, which will be necessary very shortly. ■ The, London County Council's Year Book, “London Statistics for 191011,” has just been issued, and contains many interesting facts. The latest statistics relating to Greater London—the recognised area used in the census and other publications by the Registrar-General—show thatpulation: in its area of 682(9 square miles is. 7,202,963, while the assessable value of the property therein is £60,496,000.'; The total parliamentary electorate." in ..the London County Council area is. 670,110. At the last general election ! 95.4 of the electorate were given the opportunity of voting, but 74.6 only availed themselves. London is well provided with places of amusement, for in the County Council area there are 50 theatres, 48 music halls. ’292 cinematograph theatres, skating links, concert halls, and dancing rooms. There are 6778 on licensed premises in the metropolitan area.