LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 43, 14 October 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

V 'The* gross* proceeds of- an -Oriental 'bazaar at' Gisborne last, week amount-, fed to*'£looo. f It: is remarkable how •dearly the public dove a gambles 'll ; • A new penny stamp has been issued, states a London cable. Mr. Pertiam McEennall (the Australian scxdptor)’ designed the 1 head and frame. “Liquor to you is like blood to a tiger; as soon as you get a taste you want more,” remarked the Magistrate at the Police Court at Gisborne the other day.

A general reduction in parcel post rates of 25 per cent, takes place from January Ist next, bringing the rates down to 3d for the first pound, and lid for each succeeding pound. It is stated that a company has been floated in Hastings for the purpose of manufacturing margarine at the Hawke’s Bay Meat Company’s works near the abattoirs.

The Invercargill Borough Council has been served with a claim for £SOO damages in connection with the death of Frederick Smith, victim of the recent tram fatality.

Edward Guest, of Narrabri, is claiming £IOOO damages from William James Walton for alleged libel (says the ‘Poverty Bay Herald’), in that, while Guest' was council clerk of Narrabri defendant had published a statement under the heading “Our Neglected Cemetery.”

Having completed the location of the railway line from Ngatapa up the Mangatoitoi Stream to the summit past Sherratt’s (states the ‘Poverty Bay Herald’), Mr. Thorpe, the railway engineer, has moved Ins party to Te Aroha, and is now working from the southern approach to the summit tunnel down to the Hangaroa. The tunnel is understood to be situated at an altitude of about 900 ft. The President of the Arbitration Court has a dry wit. An employer was applying for exemption from a certain award. The Court granted the application, but the applicant was proceeding to advance further reasons, when Judge Sira cut in with, “Your application is granted. You had better not say any more for fear you give some reasons why wo should join you.” The art in Court work is not so much in knowing what to- say, as what to leave out, and Ids Honour’s friendly advice has on more than one occasion prevented amateur pleaders from getting themselves into trouble. The performance of the suffragette who objected to the inclusion in the marriage service of the phrase which makes the man the head of the house has been equalled in America (states a London cable). At Boston, Mr. Holmes, a rich banker, was being married, and his bride interrupted the service to instruct the clergyman to omit the word “obey.” Mr. Holmes dissented, and, though obviously upset, said, “I insist upon my wife obeying my every wish.” The bride was in tears, but she would not yield the point, and the'ceremony ceased. The parties left the church by different doors. There was a large gathering of guests, and the incident caused great excitement.

A rather interesting live exhibit, in the 1 shape of a pure white mouse, lias been secured for the Masterton School Museum. There is a very good demand around Wanganui for all classes of pigs at present, and it is expected (says "the •Herald’) that as the milking season advances very good prices indeed will be realised. Thp public ought to know, said the Hon. Hr. Collins in tlie Legislative Council, on the occasion of the second reading of the Pharmacy Amendment Bill, mat a proscription Handed by them to a chemist is their property, and should be handed back to him alter being made up. The Hon. 0. Samuel said that in nis experience all .>h*t putable chemists followed that rice. The Waverley correspondent cf the ‘Wanganui Herald’ reports what appears co be a case of attempted suicide. A man named Jack Sneenan nad a prohiuition order issued against linn in Wanganui on Saturday last, and on Monday left for Waverley. There, it is reported, he gob on tno drink again, and Just night opened a vein in jus arm with a pen-knife. He was, however, discovered, and brought down to the Wanganui gaol, wnere he received medical treatment.

Southern papers record that work at me Otira tunnel is proceeding satisfactorily, albeit a snortage of labour still inconveniences the contractors. Up to tno present me Heading juis been driven lor a distance of two miles twenty-live chains, out of "a total distance of live miles twenty-five ciiaius. To date, the tunnel has been entirely completed for a distance of one mile seventy chains. The power available, thanks to the copious rainfall during tne month, is more than suihcient lor all requirements. At mo present some 2(ill men are employed in connection with the works, out me contractors could easily place fifty more men, particularly miners, if they were available. About £250,000 annually is lost, to cue stock owners of Australia because of tne hro orandiug of maes. Tins position has frequently ueeu commented upon, and tne latest oody. to oompiam is cue United raimers’ Eoamation of Great Britain, wmen* represents about 0U per cent, of tne total canning industry of that country. Tne f ederation has forwarded to tne federal Minister of customs, through die nigli Commissioner, samples of tanned nines showing the deteriorating enect of tne lire brand. The practice of lire branding is characterised by die federation as crude and unnecessary. } and attention is directed to it by die

••enormous economic waste” occasioned. The tire brand is perfectly legible even after the tanning has been completed, and in addition it penetrates rigut through the hide. , It is estimated that the loss on a hide so branded is about Id per lb. Writing to a friend in Wellington on August 13, Captain A. H. Kostroa, oi me steamer harpatina (.wiucli rescued all thpse saved Trom the Titanic) says“l thank , you for[ ail the iuce tilings you say, but to 'tell yofi'the truth,-■ dear friend, it ,has piaffe mo • more humble than proudu; ■ 1 api jpfflud, 11 nit ti t is , i not,, the ~. pride, ~of 'conceit,; it is a humble j and) jaj thauk- . mil plido-rr-that il was given. Al 9 -ME® 01 ’" tam ty to,- do it, Top uuders tpud 1, ; j,n ow don'e-i judge, ; Ismay, har,shly{j ~\Vt ty [.•should he he slated t■ J. dpp’)t gi.ye.niy personal opinion, hut 1 can pssurp you I no.-is more'to be i' sympathised, av.itli I I than blamed, { and —be, just-,. ilj)o ,you j know I’ve received hundreds of; lexers i from all over tho world, and of course, I'-mostly ‘from pedble ‘’l dhri’.fflkbow— oi ,; tfleiA''beautiful ifetffefSr' 1 . 1 attended the enquiry and then the (Junaid company Icmdly gave me a holiday, and 1 wanted it. 1 haven’t had any time to-myself, and was very tired and really dohe 1 up. Everyone has been most kind and sympathetic. I’ve had lots of presents, and, yes, I understand I’m to get a medal and a vote of thanks from Senate. The j ‘Specthtor’ Was ff'athbrd OutCofi#! as | regards nly' silMOoff’an'd'l dfd not'feet Ihliy!'message >from'ithe; President. I | didn’ t' give any:details; simpJysbecjinse I it took us all our. time to send nalpes hud addresses of survivorsjq andhwe ■ cmild not get- into 1 touch from-Monday blight until-Wedriesday .night,; but!all • the same, i I did ■ keep a very istrict censorship on all messages or elsO.' we could never have done-ahythi.ngj’Af A monkey was Crhelly drtAVned'tho other afternoon hear the-shoei-legs at Fort Chahuois, states ' ‘Star;’ The Calcutta trader Aparilna was lying under sheer-legs for the' purpose of renewing her big vermilhoncoloured funnel, and as she was also under overhaul in other respects, a considerable number of people in addition to her coolie crew were employed about the decks. A monkey ran along the, deck, and was observed by some of ithe people in its vicinity. They chased it, and to escape from its pursuers, the monkey ran along a iiig hawser which stretched seawards from the steamer’s towering stern. Down near where tlie> hawser dipped underneath the surface to the water tJie monkey came to a standstill, and, clinging to the rope, withstood the endeavours made by its pursuers to throw it into the water by violently shaking the rope to which it so tenaciously hung. Tired of their ineffectual efforts, its tormentors halted. Tile monkey sat upright, but as it did so a violent shake of the rope threw it into the harbour. The little animal was evidently dazed by its sudden immersion in the cold water, for it swam backwards and forwards until it became so exhausted that it could no longer keep its nose above the choking water. Not the least painful feature of the animal’s five minutes’ unsuccessful struggle was the evident gloating over its extremity bv those responsible for its death—and they were not members of the coolie crew.

A truancy case embodying an interesting point, came before Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., at ytlie Opunage Court on Thursday. Arthur F. Chapman was charged under the School Attendance Act with failing to send his boy, Percy, to the Rahotu School on 17th June, 1912. In evidence, defendant said he kept his son from school on account of excessive cruelty. The Truant Inspector objected to the evidence, ias it had reference to the discipline of the school. The Magistrate noted the objection, and, the defendant gave evidence as to the state of the hoy’s hands. He had spoken to the school mistress three times about the excessive punishment meted out to his children. Percy Chapman, the subject of the case, aged 11) years, also gave evidence of the treatment received jjiy him. He said he did not like tile school teacher because she strapped him too much. The report of the Opnnake Times’ goes on to state that the Magistrate said he did not intend to decide the case without giving the school teacher a chance of being heard. The Inspector said ho was quite willing that the Magistrate should give his decision. The Magistrate: The school teacher should have been here. The Inspector said the Board’s solicitor advised that the erne should not he decided in Court, and the chairman said that he would not give her .permission to attend the Court. The Magistrate: I will give him an opportunity to reconsider bis decision. The case will be adjourned until November 7 th.

A man was fined £4 (in default one month’s imprisonment) at tlie Opunake Court on Thursday, for supplying a prohibited person with liquor. A meeting for the purpose of establishing a branch of the Taranaki Provincial Scottish Society at Hawera is to bo held on Thursday. Advice has, been received in Wellington that a raising of the Bank of England rate to 5 per cent, is imminent. The passengers by the train that left Auckland at 9 o’clock on Thursday night, and was delayed by slips, reached Wellington at 3.50 o’clock on Saturday morning. Permits for the erection of buildings to the estimated value of £2116 • 15s were issued bv the Stratford Bor- ' ough Council for the month of September. A consignment of ten thousand brown trout fry was liberated in the streams around Tariki on Friday, and ten thousand rainbow fry in the Waiwakaiho River. In Dunedin a petition is in circulation asking that a poll be taken as to whether the system of rating on nnunj proved values should be introduced m ' the city! Hastings is making a similar move. The Judge of the Supreme Court of Chicago ordered the inventor of a hair restorer to demonstrate the value of his invention by applying it to the head of a bald policeman. With the Normanby Factory, as with others, the supply of milk is increasing fast. Six vats are now in use and th 6 seventh will be required irt a few days. A very prosperous season is assured, should prices at Home continue right, says the correspondent of the ‘Star.’ Attention is being drawn in District Orders to the following, extract from the King’s Regulations erations or discussions by officers or soldiers with the object of conveying praise, censure, or any mark of approbation towards their superior, or any others in His Majesty’s service, are prohibited.” An interesting event took place at the Onehilnga Zoo on Wednesday last, when one of the lionesses gave birth to three »cubs., It is unusual for lions to breed in captivity, but the proprietor of the Zdo believes that the cubs will live and thrive, as they are healthy and vigorous youngsters. The man named Jackson, whom the long arm of. the law laid hold of at Hukarere, in Westland, for desertion from H.M.S. Powerful, and who was ordered to join the warship at Lyttelton, returned to Grey mouth on Tuesday last, the term (twelve years) for winch he had signed on. having expired some

two years ago. The members of the Loyal Midhirst Lodge of Oddfellows propose holding their annual social and dance in the Midhirst Public Hall on Thursday next, October 17th. Messrs. C. Vickers and F. Huso are the joint secretaries, ad they are leaving no stone unturned in their, efforts to make the 'coinipg function the biggest, brightest ( apd best'that Jtfidhirst has .vet seen.

A'-GisbOrne' resident lias offered to -’■'hdy'ahce £IOOO to obtain an extra enJt gine" required for ballasting work on •■' the : Otoko-Rakrf.urau line, nOw under ; " bdnstfiicti'on;! To the request 'recently " ,t madO , 'tO , t)hb : Miilister l of Public Works \ 1 for the 1 engine-, ; bhe' reply was- to the I! efl:edt 'tlldt kn' Engine was' not -avail-' ' ,: 'ablP/^and' l the -suggestion'was thrown •• 1 ’ Put- that' the ballast should be sent; up ''rtJtvvmete ßood'S'-train,! now? ‘running. •B'WHteye tk'offdr. \ -nha i‘ 1

Council' re the; isuggestioji to pipe works at some central position, the Egraont County Council state that, their Own, system of making pipes on the spot where they, were required had. proved to"be the"most economical. As an instance of this, the Chairman mentioned at the meeting on Iml ay a case where the carting of pipes from Kaponga to Awatuna bad cost more th ( .the pipes,, apart doifrom tte .ibroakage. a i. 1 point arose at,the meeting h* l of-the:Egraont. County Council on hriaoiday (says the' ‘Star.’), as to the Counov/ciV'S'- position van regard - to.i forcing a vp ioontfractor’ to make, good damage done ilist&itil rojtd in the Parihaka Road s Board k>(district.'/ 1t.,; was decided to- ask Mr.' y/’Martin, the -.Counties’ Association solicitor, - tb- decide - whether a local - body M ‘may,,dedpct,/money from a contractor w to make; good damage which may no. {i [dope ito a road under a road board s , pi- town board’s jurisdiction within the County boundary. ■' Under a Magistrate’s Court proce'duro adopted a year or two back, it is incumbent upon the defendant in a civil action to give five days’ notice of his intention to defend. Intimation to this effect is given ,on the back of summonses, but it is in such an obscure position that litigants are likely to overlook it. Mr. L. G. Reid, S.M., has made representations to the Department (says the ‘Wairarapa Age ) with a view to having the notice placed in a conspicuous part of the front of the summons.

A Government amendment to the Widows Pensions Amendment Bill provides that if a widow in receipt of a pension under the Act dies, the guardian or other person for the time being having, the care or control of her children to whom the Act applies, shall, subject to the" provisions of the Act, and with the approval of the Commissioner, be entitled to receive the pension to which the widow would have been entitled in respect of her children if she had lived. An intoxicated Chinaman, is a “rara avis” (states the ‘News’), and .a celestial in a state of inebriation while in charge of a cart is an even greater curiosity. One of the latter species, however, promenaded in Devon Street, New Plymouth, on Saturday afternoon, creating considerable diversion. Whether he was celebrating the Chinese equivalent foj* “The Glorious Fourth” is not known but the fact remains that a constable jumped into his cart and drove the equippage and its owner to the police cells. There he was deposited for the night. A Chinamen, however, is never without friends among his own countrymen—have iyou ever seen a celestial absolutely on the rocks?—and it was not very long before he was bailed out by a compatriot.

Several milkmen have been getting a shake-up in the Courts of late for adulterating lacteal fluid with water, the majority of cases being secured by inspectors taking samples from milkcarts. The fines in some instances were substantial, and this fact, probably, /iffas assisted to sharpen the wits of the perpetrators of the fraud, which is as old as Methusaloh, and of which the least, scrupulous member of the Cow family is not by any means proud. Now, however, the übiquitous inspector can be turned out for a spell. Acco Hi no to our informant, a “milkio” not a hundred miles from Eltham has hit upon a revised version of the scheme. Usually “milkio” gets in early. when the household is asleep, and nothing is easier as ho stands alongside the tank at the hack door than to add the desired amount of aqua para to the family basin or hilly can. As he slams the gate and the cart rumbles away, all hope of creaiGpwith the matutinal rolled oats disappears.

A double shock of earthquake was experienced at 12.23 last night at Napier.—P.A. A first-offending drunk was convicted and fined ss. with costs 2s (cab hire) at the Court this morning. At a Cabinet meeting on Saturday the Government decided to give a straight-out advance of £IOUU to keep the U'ailii Hospital running.—-Press Association wire.

A cyclist had a very narrow escape from serious accident on the Victoria Bridge this morning. Two milk-carts were racing to tho_factory. They made a dead heat of it on the bridge, blocking the passage of the approaching cyclist, who, very fortunately, somehow managed to jump the keroing with his machine, and to seek safety on the footpath next the railings. Messrs Robert Spence and J. R. L. Stanford had an excellent day’s hshing recently in the Otakehu liver, roughly some twenty-six miles from Stratford. They brought homo 22 fine fish, averaging from aoout it to 3lbs, but the total number caught was something like forty, the smaller ones being returned to the stream. The road is stated to bo in an excellent condition for motors.

The October ‘Windsor Magazine’ reaches us through Mr. H. J. Hopkins, and is a fine number. Austin Chester’s interesting contribution this month deals with “Music in Picture,” and is accompanied by some of the best reproductions of well-known paintings the ‘Windsor’ has yet published. In other respects the magazine is quite up to its usual high standard.

A Christchurch telegram states that it is understood a company was registered on Wednesday with a capital of £75,000 to establish a new evening paper. A statement to this effect was made on Saturday night by Mr. F/. C. Rule, late editor of the ‘Evening News,’ who will be editor of the new journal. The promoters are said to be prominent supporters of the Reform Party.

’Discussing rangers generally at Friday’s meeting of the Egrnont County Council (says the ‘Star’), Chairman Dudley said complaints were constantly being made by settlers all over the County about horses, cattle and working bullocks wandering on the roads. Some people felt injured if their own stock was impounded, but immediately complained if they found other people’s on the road. Other local, bodies had the same trouble, and it was a question whether it would not be better to pay one good man to act as ranger for the whole County.

On Saturday morning the Taranaki Comity Council’s steam roller went through the woodwork of the Maketawa Bridge, which is situate on the Mountain Road, about three miles to the south of Inglewood. Fortunately the driver was not hurt. The engine, after sinking through the decking, rested on the new concrete bridge, which had recently been constructed underneath. A number of workmen were soon on the scene, and after considerable difficulty, succeeded in raising the engine, and repairing the bridge and horse traffic was able to be resumed on Sunday morning as usual.

The annual meeting of the Inglewood Bacon Company took place on Saturday, the attendance_ being , only forty put of, a. membership of 511 'shareholders: ‘ lii moving the adoption of ’ the report and balance sheet,'the ) Chairman! of Directors (Mr. Arthur - Mortpn), said phe, company, was •not gopd a, ppsitiop as,any of their rivals in t'urn-out knd Up-to-flatc- ' a'rticle'. The 'election of - directors' rp-i suited; in Messrs! IJq Brofrn and J, j Hall being re-elected- Approval was given for a system of insurance to indemnify against condemned nigs, in this case Is being deducted from the .price'of‘-every-pig slaughtered, and a fund thus established.