LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 99, 26 April 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Schedules lor the: following Taranaki Winter Show may now be obtained at tin.’ Stratford A. and P. Association a office, Broad way. Some doubt has arisen as to wbetuer

it is legal to shoot pigeons tins year, and the secretary ol die Acclimatisation Society is in communication with the Minister on the subject. The adjourned meeting ol the Stratford Lawn Tennis Ciuo takes place tins evening at S o’clocK, in the ofIkv of Mr. W. H. .11. Wing. At the Magistrate’s Court this morning, before'Mr W. CL K. Kenrick, S.iVl.. 11. Pearce was charged with

riding a bicycle on the footpath on Pembroke Hoad. He was lined 10s and 7s costs.

Representatives of _ the Elthaoi, Stratford, Kaupokonui, Manga toki, Kapongi, Awatnn.i, Lowgarth, Hawora, doll, Rivordalo, and Norman by dairy companies arc on a visit to the Egniont Box Company’s new mill, near Taihapc.

The poll taken at Patoa on Wednesday in connection with the proposal to raise a loan to erect a Town Hail and Opera House resulted in 125 voters being recorded for and .‘sl against the proposal, which was therefore carried by a four to one majority.

Owing to the inclemency of the weather on Tuesday last, the Toko Farmers’ Union had to postpone their annual meeting till Monday evening next, the 29th hist., when acceptances in the root growing competition will close. A good attendance of members is expected. The annual meeting of parishioners of Holy Trinity Church, Stratford, will lie" held in the Prfrish Hall, on Tuesday, 30th April, at S p.m. All parishioners are invited to attend, but only those whose names are registered in the churchwarden’s hook are entitled to vote. The Vicar appoints one churchwarden and the parishioners elect the other.

The. Bucharest correspondent of the Pall Mall Gazette writes:—Miss Taeanesco, a lady lion-tamer of Jassy (Roumania), fainted in the cage at a moment when the animals were perfectly quiet. She was removed before they did more than show signs of restlessness, and on recovering consciousness exclaimed: “Until the beetle crawling on one of the bars is taken off, I am not going in again.”

Alec Nelson was charged at the Magistrate’s Court, before Mr W. G. 1 K. Kenrick, S.M., with driving horses through the Borough, such horses not being under proper control. He pleaded guilty. In giving judgment, Iris Worship said he thought enough fines had been made to warn people that they were committing an offence. They should understand that they were, liable for damages in a civil action should any one be injured by their horse. A fine of 10s and 7s costs was entered.

An interesting and unlocked' for find was made in Messrs Kirk and Co.’s wool store on Friday .ast (remarks the “Southland Times”). A bale of wool was being unpacked, -and deep down in it one of the employees discovered a hen’s egg snugly ensconced

among the fleeces. The explanation as to how it got there is fairly < b? ous. The bale must have been standing partially filled, and an impatient non evidently seized the opportunity to do the duty expected of it. The egg must have been in this unusual in st since November last, but when opened for inspection it Was quite fresh, the wool evidently possessing prcsmvai ive qualities. v There are some queer fish in the

sea, judging by one which was ii'ntly taken out of it and plated km view at the Kensington fish shop 'says the Dunedin “Star”). It resembles a jew fish in a general way, but lias marked differences as to fins. There are two side fins, each about a Riot long, a propeller fin 6in long, a row of nine fins on the back, and eight on the under side. It lias_ a poJpliiw tail. The fish is almost sft long, is

3ft 6in in girth, and weighs about 2241 b. It was hooked outside the Heads on Sunday afternoon by a pany of fishermen in a motor boat, and captured otter an exciting half-hour’s struggle. The prize was landed l,y an ordinary groper hook. The fish is believer to be a silver tunny, and is very rare in these waters. It lias been presented to the Museum. The question of where and under what circumstances a statement made to a police constable is privileged was raised during the hearing of a slander case in the Supreme Court at Masterton. It was shown in evidence that a woman had complained to the police that she had been charged with t aking money from her employer. The police made' enquiries concerning the complaint, and in the course of these enoniries certain statements were made. These statements formed the basis of an action for slander. Mr. Justice Edwards stated that the police were not acting in the execution of their -dujy when they did what they were not required to do by law. It was a question whether statements made in shell circumstances were privileged. As far ar his Honour was concerned he was not aware that a decision had been given on the point. The mails received at the Immigration Bureau bring shoals of letters from all parts of the world, and many are very interesting (says the “Argus”). A resident of Oklahoma (U. S.A.), a hairdresser by occupation, desires to know the conditions which prevail. Incidentally lie writes:—“l am a first-class workman, and can deliver the goods.” He is also a musician, and indicates that if there is no-band in Victoria be will take

steps to organise one. This correspondent also forwards a design for a dingo trap, although admitting that lie has never made the acquaintance of a dingo. He probably has hazy ideas of setting his trap in Bourke street. This is the sort of confide it, enterprising settler who should make his presence felt.