LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 44, 16 February 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Large importations of dried and tinned Californian limits are now being landed at Auckland from American steamers. A revival has now taken place in the export trade of New Zealand horses to Australia. A recent steamer took ever sixty-one horses cf a good stamp,and were consigned to two oi the biggest dealers in \ ictoria.

At the Moumaliaki State Farm there arc two Dorset honied rams in use toi experimental cross-breeding purposes. Both carry an enormous pair of horns which give them a strangely uncanny appearanee. Fruit appears to ho phenomally cheap in Auckland at present. .Beaches and nectarines arc obtainable at very moderate prices, and apples as low as 5s a case. Tomatoes are offering at 3d per lb. “One woman actually herds her cows on the main road, and requests her neighbours to keep their gates s ! ul t.”—Extract of a letter from a Taita resident to the Hurt County Council, complaining of straying cattie.

As a result of the recent strike of students (states a recent cable message from Madrid) the Government has decreed that in future women.may be admitted to the universities on the same terms as men, and that they may practise any profession for which a university training fits them. No fewer than 37 relieving teachers had to bo appointed by the Otago Education Board, to commence duty when the schools re-opened .last month. The large number was said to be due to a variety of causes, such as illness, family , bereavements, resignations, otc., thus causing an abnormal demand for the/ services of relieving teachers.

A leading Home aviator’s latest exploit lias been to experiment with iiight in the inoonTght. He started from the Huntingdon Aerodrome just before 6 p.m., and at the height of over 1000 ft he made a number of circuits, with the moon as his only light. Finally lie made a safe descent being guided by petrol flares. The trial provided quite a sensation. Napier is going in,for a rather ambitions municipal undertaking. It is proposed to fill the public baths with fresh water in the winter time, and have it artifically frozen, so as to provide real ice-skating. The Mayor pointed out that it would cost about £.2 act day to provide ice-skating, but it is believed that the expenditure would be mere than recouped by the revenue.

A motor car in which Prince August Wilhelm, the Kaiser’s fourth son, was riding was said to be travelling at a speed l- of twenty-five miles an hour, and the chaffeur was brought up and fined. The- Prince appealed and the case was decided in lusi favour, the Prince stating on oath that the car was, making only nine!and a-half miles an hour. The Court hekUthat the policejn’an must have made some error or that His stop watch was mot reliable.

'•'Colonel Sam Hughes, 1 Minister ol Militia- in Canada.; Htof.iMde a popu : Mr 'hit with’ life- hropdsal to' tram 30,000 ; schoM .cadets at. next season’s militia calnps. Provision for the Cokt' is being made in the main estimates now being prepared by the Government. The majority of Canadians believe that the solution :of Canada s military" difficulties lies in ;arousjng the interest'of youths in mi lit toy matters'and by teaching them hoV to shoot.

Aii .instance pfjiqw land speculation' is going on in parts of the Tving C'Qiin•try is cited, by;.a. Xe, Kpiti. land .agent state's an Aucklapd correspondent), He sold ,a farm the other morning jin the ptqrohanga district for £SUO. _ The property was again put in his hands for sale, and he, turned it over next morning.' The new buyer instructed the agent to sell again, with the result that lie disposed of the property' for £1350. The . new purchaser st : ll considers that there is a margin left. Dr. Cockayne,, during a recent visit to Marlborough- re-discovered a native plant Which was found only once previously, GO years ago. The plant is Helichrysum . Sinclair, named in honour of the original discoverer, Captain Sinclair! It. 'N.,' who was drowned in the Itangitata river. Dr. Cockayne found it growing on rocks on the Langridge station, in the Upper Awatero at a height of about 3000 ft. It has “everlasting” flowers and some day it may lie an important garden

plant. Dairying is carried on Under some difficulties in some parts of the Dominion. A creamery has recently been opened at Coromandel, but the majority of the settlors live a long distance away, and a launch makes two or three trips a week. Calling at the various bays for the cream, amid it is then taken to the creamery, a d:stance of half a mile from the wharf. Although the cream is kept for several days, all the sourness is taken cut of it, and the manager so far Ims not made any 'second-grade butter. There are about 30 suppliers with between 350 and 100 cows. To the lover of books there is hardly any occupation so fascinating as going through a good catalogue, and', mentally, at any rate, making large purchases. The same .is true ef catalogues of garden seeds, though even, hero economy has to be practised by most people. An English firm of seedsmen has, however, liit upon the splendid idea of making up penny packets of even the rarest seeds. Provided with tin’s firm’s list, no one need envy the millionaire, for he can plunge as wildly as he pleases and yet have no fear of imminent bankruptcy. The discovery of a pockot-Uook containing over £BOOO by a man who was trimming a hedge opposite the railwav line near Pan had an extraordin-

ary sequel. The owner of the pocketbook is M. (Listen Vinghot, whothrew it away in a lit of religious fre/.y on his way by train to Lourdes. .Ha threw all Ids clothes out of the window'after Ids money. Ho was arrested and sent to a sanatorium, whence he was released as cured. When it was announced to him that iiis money had been recovered, M. Vinghot (says the “Matin”) relapsed into mental delusion once more. The generosity of the late Lord Janies of Hereford is illustrated by some striking episodes in a paper of recollections which Sir Algernon West contributes to the new number of “Cornhill.” “While James was still a. young and a comparatively poor inan he bad made in his profession about CloOO or £2000; hearing of the death of a schoolfellow, who had left

his widow in a state of destitution, ho at onco made over to her the whole of Ids sayings. On another occasion he unexpectedly came into a considerable sum of money, and said to (Sir

Francis Mo watt: T am going to give myself a troat-M shall distribute it all in lots of £loo',niid £2OO each upon some poor .fellows who 1 know will bo the happier for it.’ ”

We again specially remind ratepayers of the fact that the Mayor’s postnoiied address with regard to the loan m-mwisMs is to ba delivered tins evenin'/ in the Town Hall. It is to be hoped that there will be fine weather and a large attendance. s W J. O’Dowd was yesterday fined 15 at Hotorua for supplying a.Maori wth liquor for consumption a%\ ay from a publican’s booth at tlic races. A meeting of those intercstcd iir ~ a Stratford branch of the North ~Ta. anaki Hunt Club will be iMoms next Tuesday evening. The Caroline Bay Association (*imain) yesterday afternoon formally onened a “marine parade, an cx C ollent promenade formed by smoother and fencing the top of the north "‘Se of the harbour. The Association has other important woik m hand for increasng the convenience, and attractiveness of the seaside rcsort. . The Mayor of Whangarei has received notification from the Munster for Works that the Government, xulj not itself undertake f hvdro-electnc scheme, but the \\ nan garei Borough Council may do so, that licenses authorising tnc use ot the falls for motive power purposes, also for the construction and use of electric lines, will be issued if the legislative requirements be. conformed " The results of prohibition and local polls taken on December 7th were published in last night s Gazette The totals are as under Number of electors on rolls, 590,042; votes against National Prohibition, 200,66 i, toi Prohibition, 259,943; valid votes recorded on Prohibition issue, 4b0,b04, local option for continuance (or restoration) in no-license districts, ‘'37 025; for no-license (or again sr restoration in no-license districts), 234,656; valid votes recorded on tins issue, 471,681. Tno v sual monthly meeting of thf Srratfm d County Council will be held at the County Office, Stratford on W''-h esdav 21st February, 1912. a* 11 am. Cr Hathaway will move: “•'lilt 25 pci cent, of the creeds or the CTovdo . M to M, Makar* Most j„d Mi.rpi.otea Roads be to tho Salisbury ISoad.” -Or. \\al-ei will move: “That the resolution passed 22ml November, 1911, accepting Messrs. Needham’s tender for contract No. 858, be rescinded.” The London Standard reports (says a cablegram to a Sydney paper) that th.e Communion table recently placed in the parish church at Crathie, Aberdeen, by King George as a memorial to Ids father has been the cause ot. considerable agitation in Scotland. It is said that the table does not conform to Presbyterian law and usage, and the Rev. Primmer who is leading the opposition has denounced Ins Majesty's gift as Poofch. A movement is on foot for the presentation of a petit ion demanding the removal of the 1 table.

• That great care should bo taken when petrol is used for cleaning purposes says (“The Autocar’’) was evid- . onced by an accident which occuned recently at Tiverton, A;garage work-. .... man at the close of .the day put. Ins-.. oroasv overalls into', a ./.bucket and poured over, them a small .of j petrol .for .the purpose', ; of cleaning; , them/ ,i iml .took tliomihopie._ ( Here poured upon'.them so,me boiling water, ~.j, and The petrol fumes dispersing the, steam', bccaine a, can--,. .. die i which was standing ,in ■ d near by/’ although the" capclle, was jff- s'.f side, while the operation was 'being performed outside the house. The man was severely burned, and would no doubt have lost his life but for. the presence of mind : shown by his younger brother, a hoy of thirteen, who extinguished _ the flames by smothering them with his own coat. ‘‘SA critic has written to one of the Kei r Zealand judges .commenting upon d a sePieuce parsed! upon, ;a crimindßndl His advice to , the. judge-is- given-iiftr v y. 'veijy/confidental ternfg thuiss-rrr' 4 !)? f'ed you heliyc \ ip ;planetary influence ? ■ .it ,/I .•not, you are ignorant, of: one.;of the >r. main "causes of .affairs that goes AAvay ' I with mankind. I would, advise yop.i/.h .to get a Raphael’s or ZadkieTs Alman- ,•••< ack of last year dr this. Jtwou have •, the patience with your judicial train-' iug, *1 guess, the contents of trfeso alt, " nuniaoks which foretold the .pasC-nnd present unrest all over the world many months in advance cf their occurrence may astonish you.” Hereon- \ skleratoly .adds a ipostcript: —“P.S.. .'• If I know you was a man of-, the world, visa, broadminded towards others I would cf put,my full name and address to this.”

About two years ago, or perhaps a little more, a swarm of bees made their home in the railway station at Onehnnga. They entered through a tiny aperture under the troughmg at the corner immediately over the verandah inside the station, and, descending, lodged finally between the studs and lining of the public waiting room. As the bees gave no trouble to Mr. Cole, the station-master or his staff of officials, they were allowed to remain undisturbed until last week, when Mr. Westbrook, Government bre expert, visited the station ana removed them; 61b- of good honey was the reward received by the authorities for allowing the bees bo remain for such a lengthy period in their comfortable quarters.

The “New Zealand Herald” reports that in the Supreme Court at Auckland recently. Mr. Justice Edwards found occasion to scverly rebuke the carelessness of some young law clerks who are sometimes entrusted with the preparation oi papers for the consideration of the Court. The case was one in .which a woman petitioned for a divorce from her husband because of his misconduct with a woman whoso name was mentioned in the body of the petition. But the clerk who prepared the documents had gone a step further and joined the woman as corespondent to the suit, an action which can he only lie taken by order of the Court. His Honor strongly commended to all clerks the necessity of making them solves acquainted -with the rules of law affecting the matters they are required to deal with, instead of leaving it to the judges to find out and rectify their errors.

Founders’ Day the tercentenary of Charterhouse was celebrated in December, and it is interesting to record that Mr. Francis Espinasse, one of the brethren, has talked with Wordsworth and dined with Thomas Camphell, lias seen Sir Walter Scott, and was a resident in Edinburgh when Mrs M’Lchose, the “Clarinda” of Burn’s passion was still living in the northern capital. Mr. Espinasse , now eighty-eight, is the author of “Carlyle and Ids Circle,” and the last survivor of the intimate friends of Hie Chelsea Sage, to whom, as an

assistant in the British Museum lie rendered invaluable help when engaged on “Cromwell’s Letters.” Mrs Carlyle, is her husband was inclined to he irascible, has wont, the venerable Brother relates to say;“Don’t bo angry with Mr Espinasse; he is not to blame.” “(Lice I asked Mrs Carlyle, v.dio had a pretty voice,” said .Mr. EsI'inassc not long ago. “to s’ng “Anld Enbin Cray,” but she delicately refused—for an unspoken reason.”

Intending exhibitors of vegetables at lorthcoming Horticultnral fcsiiow will ease note that two classes have been omitted from this section—namely, class 158, onions, best 6; and it>B, vegetable marrow, finest. The Gazette contains a proclamation removing the embargo placed last month on money order and postal correspondence for the International Investment Company, William Noton (Auckland) and Robert Noton (Wellington).—Press Association.

The Dannevirko ram fair was held yesterday, about 1600 rams being offered. There was good demand for first-class Lincolns, and fair enquiry for Romneys. A stud Lincoln ram, bred by H. Gaisford, realised 20 guineas, the top price of the sale, block Romneys realised up to guineas, Lincolns 7 guineas, Southdowns 5 guineas.

At the inquest at Hamilton on John Graham, who died in the hospital as a result of being stal.'Vcd at Franklyn Junction on November IS, the jury returned a verdict that death was due to septic pneumonia. Axel, Snttringe, who is responsible for the deed, appeared in Court charged »v.<th unlawfully wounding three men, of whom deceased was one. Hie defence was reserved; and accused comma led Kt trial / ■ V / The secretary of the Lyttelton Harbour Board lias telegraphed to the Harbour Trust at Fremantle, asking that he .should be' advised by telegraph of the arrival at that port of the Lyttelton Harbour Board’s new dredge ‘.‘Canterbury.” The dredge left Port Said on December 21, and no nows Iras been received of her since. In ordinary circumstances the dri lge ought to have reached Fremantle by this, and news of tier arnvfcf there may come to hand at any time. At the Magistrate’s Court this morning, before Mr. W. G. Kenrick, S.M., A; Herbert was charged with riding a bicycle on the footpath in Broadway. Defendant pleaded not guilty, and stated that he 'had put ins bicycle on to the footpath to inflate the tyre. He was,.given the benefit of the doubt, and' ho conviction was recorder!. For driving a horse and gijr at night without a light attached/ Harry Boyle was fined 16s and costs. A similar fine was inflicted in the case of Elizabeth Till, who had allowed her cows to wander in the Pao-e Street pastures. / y At the Supreme Court last week a /■man was sentenced for housebreaking and theft near Timaru. Two men were concerned in the offence, but the second had .not been found. He was however, arrested ,at Christchurch on Saturday, and, appearing before the Magistrate s Court at Timaru yesterday, pleaded guilty, and was committed for .sentence. After that offence he separated from the othei man, obtained work on a station i ear Waimate, and within a week left, taking £l6 belonging to a fellow-em-ployee. He pleaded guilty to botli charges, «ukl wxi-b commlt/tcd for sontence.

' Further particulars have been received in Auckland regarding the fatal accident at FaithfulPs Bush (Taheke), resulting in the death of G. White, a youth of eighteen. White ,and several other bushmen were rolling a log out of tho .bush; when the chain'grips at- 1 tachcd to 'the log caught Whitens leg, and as the log rolled it drew him under.- The log foiled several times over him -before 1 lie .could be rescued, and 'when picked tip 1 he was found dead, mfe Head being terribly crushed.. Fifteen 6f' his 'mates'' carried him in relays ten miles to the Taheke Hotel. /

At the Magistrate’s Court this morning, before Mr; W. G. K. Keiinick, S.M., plaintiffs were given judgment by default in the following civil cases:—J. E. Parkinson (Mr. (Stanford! v. John Harvev, claim for £7 ''l2s; k'lodc ir eosts ; - £1 3s 6d; (Mr. k Thomson) v. Sanderson, 'claim £1 14s 6d, and costs ss; Ev Handley (Mr.” Thomson) v. A. A. Outhbertson, claim 12s 6d, costs ss; William Abbott J (Mr. Stanford) v. Fred: Calgher and E. H. Campbell claim £IOB 2s 10d. costs £5 17s: B. Smith (Mr. Fookes) v. D. McCnrthv £7 18s-td, costs £1 3s 6d; V. Smith v. Ei'A. Smith, £4 17s 6d, costs 10s; Brbadway Tailoring Co. v. E. Hine, claim £2 ss, costs ss; same v. W. Holtz, claim for £5, costs 7s; G. W. Calvert v. W. Cumsing, 12s Bd, costs ss; same v. Charles Eaton, claim for £3 4s 9d, costs 8s; same v. W. Brown £7 ss, costs 13s.