LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 59, 5 March 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr W P. Mark left this morning on a month’s yisit to the Auckland district. A leading drapery firm in Napier has decided to have its half-holiday on Saturday instead of Wednesday, and others are likely to follow suit. Sportsmen of all kinds are reminded of the meeting in connection with the Sports Protection League, which is to be held in the Borough Council Chambers at 8 o’clock this evening. Tradesmen have often to put up with most unreasonable requests, but (says the “Southland Times ), an Invercargill firm encountered the limit” a few minutes before closing time one night last week, when a Georgetown resident purchased a small tin of pepper and asked that it be delivered immediately at his residence.

Mr James C. Dromgool, formerly master of the Hamilton High School, was yesterday morning admitted to practice bv Mr Justice Edwards in the Supreme Court at Hamilton. Mr Dromgool, who was admitted on the motion of Mr P. H Watts has the honour of being the first sohcitoi enrolled in the Hamilton registry. The staff of the “Evening Post” gathered together yesterday afternoon for the .purpose of presenting a case of pipes to Mr A. A. Brydon, who recently severed his connection with the paper, and who intends retui ning o Christchurch. Musical honours were mven on the gift being received, and the recipient suitably acknowleded the good wishes expressed. The little weasel is making its presence felt rather unpleasantly in Lawrence just now. A local fowl fancier had the mortification to find that about a dozen of his choice chicks had fallen victims to this little marauder. Another resident saw one of these animals the other morning (says the “Taupeka Times”) running over the roof of his house, where it had evidently been in pursuit of birds. It is considered satisfactory from the standpoint of the Health authorities that, notwithstanding that an average of 500 or 600 rats are examined every week by the Sydney Board of Health and City Council officers, not one suspiciously-affected rodent has been discovered for the last eighteen months. The rats examined were taken from all parts of the foreshores. The last case of plague occurred two years ago. If (says the “Sydney Sun”) you see a dignified gentleman in a frock-coat, carrying two baskets of cabbages on a bamboo polo over his left shoulder, do not think that he is a Legislative Councillor playing the fool for a wager. He is your vegetable John Chinaman, wearing the official costume of his native land. The edict of the new Republic has gone forth: “We shall adopt provisionally as our attire the frock coat and silk hat.” The death is announced in “Fail play” of Captain Horatio McKay. R.N.R., one of the most celebrated commanders of the great North Atlantic steamships. When he retired ton years ago ho had then crossed the Western Ocean “some 800 or 900 times,” as he put it—and never lost either a ship or passenger. Captain McKay, who was 76 years old, was born at Stonehaven, and joined the Cunard service when lie was 27 years of age. Very soon he became in succession fourth officer of the Canada, third officer of the Persia, second officer of the Africa, and two months later, in 1861, was made chief officer of the Corsica. Seven years later lie became commander of the British Queen. In 1884 he took command of the Scrvia—a great ship of her day. In 1889 Captain McKay was selected far the Aurania—the Atlantic greyhound of the period. From, this ship he was transferred to the Umbria, then to the Lucania, which then held the record for the fastest passage from Queenstown to Sandy Hook.

According to the Year Book of New South Wales, there were 58 strikes from July, 1908, to August, 1911, and half of these were connected with me coal-mining industry. M. Josef Madarasz, who represents the district of Keresztur in the Hungarian Parliament, is ninety-eight years of age. M. Madarasz has just contradicted indignantly a report that he intended to resign on account of his advanced age. He said: “However persuasive my political opponents .may be in trying to induce me to resign, I have not the slightest* idea of affording them this gratification. Besides, my age is certainly no reason for retiring from political life.” M. Madarasz carries with him a list of the oldest men in the world, and says that lie intends to outlive them all and to remain in Parliament until after he is 100. The Normanhy Horticultural Society’s Show, which opened to-day, is receiving good support from Stratford, Record entries have been received, and the Show promises to be one of the most successful in the history of the Society. The entries closed at nine o’clock on Saturday night, and establish a record, as they are over 1200 in number. In addition to the very unusual attractiveness of the Show—which will include flowers, poultry and general produce—there will he a concert on Wednesday night with a specially interesting programme. On Sunday last at the Kopvatami cemetery, the interment of the late Mrs Anne Goodwin took place. The late Mrs Goodwin resided with her Jiushand at Cardiff for the last twentyfour years, but lately they took up their residence in Stratford. Some sixteen months ago, the late Mrs Goodwin was seized with a paralytic stroke, and although she partially recovered was never quite herself again. The end came somewhat suddenly, and Mrs Goodwin, at the ripe age of 73 years, passed away on Friday last. Mr Goodwin, who is a native of Maidstone, in Kent, feels his loss very heavily, and will probably pay a visit to the Old Country.