LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 53, 27 February 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr T AY. Kirk stated recently at Christchurch that one man m New Zealand had spent £53 Its per acre on manure for his tomatoes.

“It’s very indistinct—l might have written it myself, almost. —A statement made by Cr. Paget, when getting to the bottom of some figures last night. The social which was to have been held on Wednesday evening m bt. Andrew’s Hall has been unavoidably postponed. On Saturday afternoon there will arrive in Stratford Brigadier A mce of the Salvation Army, who at one tune was in charge of the Stratfoi d district.

Should the present weather continue for Thursday next, it is expected that laro-e numbers will be present at the garden party ,ut Mr. Sanders, AVaiwick Hoad. Excellent arrangements have been made by the Primitive Methodists for an enjoyable outing. We have to acknowledge front the E.e<>istrar-(Jeneral’s office, receipt of the” New Zealand Official Tear Lopx for 1911. The present is the tyventieth year of issue of this very useful hook of reference.

The electric light loan poll was not allowed altogether to sink into oblivion so far as the Councillors last night were concerned. One or two veiled remarks were made, but Councillor Paget was the only one to bring the matter up directly. He remarked that the report before them was luce the Mayor’s report on the electric light loan— “misleading. The loun Clerk rose in explanation. “I brought down that report,” he said, “and there’s nothing misleading about it.

The president of the South -1 a' naki Cricket Association has received a communication from the new Zealand Cricket Council suggesting the sending of a New Zealand team to Australia next season. The New Zealand Council thinks an endeavour should lie made to raise £6OO by way of subscriptions, and that of this £26 should be raised by the South_ Taranaki Association. It is estimated that two matches, New Zealand team v. Wellington and versus Auckland would produce another £3OO. Replies had been received from nearly all the Australian associations, and they had agreed in each case to offer the net proceeds of the match towards the visiting team’s expenses. -A meeting of the South Taranaki Association Will be called to consider the matter.

At the special mooting of the Borough Council last evening the Mayor ’applied for leave of absence, and it was fotimh necessary,’ to appoint dc T puty-maybr for the period. The inci- , (lent, provided'food . for, amteh laughter., : First, ICr: Paget was'proposed;-by'Or. Sangster,'Gr. Henly seconding. Then Crl Lawson moved that Cr. King he the,- chosen •one. - (This- was! also seconded} CT. ’ Paget( remarking aij the 'time that l lie wished to withdraw.’ tb. the matter being put to the meeting, a division was called amidst much laughter. However, Cr. Paget remarked a little more, loudly that Lei dak Slot want the position, and that he wished to withdraw, and no ballot was taken. Cr. King was then declared to be.the deputy-mayor for the period that the Mayor will be away. Wiiile' ( 'drivin ! g k'.'milk: 'cart' to ! tlife factory at Midhir'st' yesterday morn,iilgi‘MrV W. 1 Baker' tnet 'With ’’a:,somewhat serious' aedideht. 1 His horse 'became frightened at the near approach of a trhih, find halted. ’ Olih 1 ‘of ! f. uw reins broke, and in his efforts to pull ih 'the liorsc, Mr. Baker drove the trap,into 1 a bank, where the whole affair capsized; The engine driver stopped his train, and, with the fireman, went to Mr. Baker’s assistance, extricating him from his perilous position. While badly bruised; we understand that Mr. Baker’s injuries were not so serious as to necessitate his removal to the hospital. The milk was, of course, spilt, and the cans badly damaged. An interesting fact not generally known in regard to the Macquarrie Islands (says the “North Otago Times”) is that cats have been introduced there at some time or other, and that their descendants have grown to a very large size,, and have worked havoc among those birds of the islands which were not gifted with flight. The flightless rail, it is thought, have disappeared, as it is many years since a specimen has been seen, and the same story lias been told of a semi-flightless parrot which used to feed on kelp on the beaches, and which could fly about 100 yards in one flight. No specimen of this bird has been sighted for a long time, and it is feared it lias also fallen a victim to the cats. There are also plenty of rabbits on the islands, and these will lie available as a means of food supply for the members of Dr, Mawson’s expedition should they be required. The following new railway by-law Ims been brought into operation; “Where in any consignment note, way-, bilk or other document required to he delivered in respect of any goods delivered upon a railway, there is any understatement of ‘the quantity, weight, measurement, or value of the goods, or any misdescription of their nature, which if undetected might load to their being charged for at less than the ordinary rate, then in lieu of charges at the ordinary rate, and whether the understatement or misdescription is wilful or not, there shall be payable in respect of all the goods referred to in such document double the ordinary rate of charges on the wno c consignment, and these charges shall bo payable irrespective of any nno that may he incurred under subsection (1) of section 2 of the Govern--1910 ” • 1 " a ‘ ys Amendment Act,’ A large number of turned out ol bed tins morning i n response to the very energetic ringing of the firebell. liy the time they arrived on the semn But.r cordial factory, there was. H,Vever, little sign of a five. Mr. Rhodes, the owner of the factory, was awakem i al 4 /inarter to four by his chef who to d him that the factow wa? on lire. He got to the spot quickly, and found one corner of the factory in blaze. A bucket of water and a J,os« soon got tins under control, and bv I’le tune the brigade arrived there was little fear or a conflagration. The men under Captain Grubb, got a line cf hose on the remains of the lire and made everything safe. How the five started is a mystery, hut it probably igniated m a bax of waste placed in the eorner. Had the place been gutted, Air. Rhodes would have been a heavy loser, tor the insurances were only £IOO. The damage done was not considerable, and a few pounds will replace the charred wall.

At the special meeting of the Boroa"h Council Jiold on Monday evening :t was decided to procure the timber for the Swansea Hoad bridge.

.V rmctiuo- of those interested in forming a branch of the Ncrtb Tarar iki Hunt 01 id) in Stratford will take place in the A. and R Association s Office, Broadway, to-night at t .39 o’clock.

“1 move as an amendment that before going into the matter of buying a road roller, wo find out what money we’ve got with which to buy it. Some reasoning from Cr. Paget at last night’s special meeting of the Borough Council.

Cr AVard: 1 say they’ve been starved! The Mayor: I beg your pardon. Cr. Ward repeated the remark. Tiie Mayor: That’s what you say!—An extract from the desultory debate on the roads, finance, and other matters at the Borough Council meeting last night.

There was a rather small attendance at the euchre party held last night, under the auspices of the Oddfellows’ Lod<>-e. The first prizes were won by Mr Hov Calvert and Mrs. Crofts, the “boobies’ 1 going to Bro. Harston and Sister Moroney. After the games an excellent supper was provided by Mrs. Brooking.

“If the Councillors are going to talk like this, we’ll be here all night,” said the Mayor last evening at the road roller meeting, as he asked for a motion to bring the discussion within the rules of debate. “Let’s get a lead from his Worship,” replied Cr. Paget, “we don’t often get it.” “I wish these reports were circulated sooner. There’s a great amount of detail here, and we should have had it two or three days sooner to properly understand it.”—Cr Paget, last night, after consulting the papers prepared by the Town Slerk for the edification of the Council.

Mr. Herbert Bloy’s appearance at Miss Resina Buckman’s concert next Thursday will give all lovers of the violin an opportunity of ,hearing this talented violinist for the first time in Stratford, and this opportunity should not he missed. Both press and public are unanimous in their praises of Mr. Bloy’s playing, and everywhere he has boon spoken of in the most eulogistic terms.

It came out at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council that, while road rollers were subject to a duty of 20 per cent., traction engines were admitted free. In considering, therefore, the cost of a convertible traction engine and road roller, the Council are faced with a considerable saving through paying no duty except on the wheels. “It’s a wonderful Government we’ve got—a wonderful Government,” remarked Cr. Paget. Cr. Sangster was not one of those to express an opinion on the many points raised at last night’s meeting cf the Borough Council. When it was just about over, he. sgid: “I don’t know what all this squabbling is about. It’s getting on my nerves. It’s these budding mayors .sitting round the table.” Cr. Paget thought .it. was.,,' those “what-you-call-’em” Mayors sit-,' ting round,the table, and it is presumable that by this : he/. meant*“past” mayors, but That as it may. be.nL-. mV p .. : '