LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 53, 26 October 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A join in the water mains at the junction of Page and Miranda Streets burst at a late hour last night. It was fixed up by the Borough staff before 1 o’clock this morning. The new road roller christened itself yesterday by scarifying a fire plug. There was a fine flow of water, till the Overseer and his staff got to work and repaired the damage. Members of the Royal Aero Club are allowed to fly on their aeroplanes, airships, and balloons a flag with a portrait medallion of the King within a wreath of laurel. The shellfish known as the pipi has been phenomenally plentiful at the Fox ton Heads during the past few weeks, and Maoris have gathered cartloads of them and sent _ them on to their friends in the interior. A fire broke out in an Eltham billiard saloon about half-past 1 o’clock this morning. The outbreak was caught in its incipient stages, arid the hire Brigade suppressed it before much damage was done. The saloon was owned by Mr. F. Bischoff, of Hawcra. and occupied by Mr. Wadham. A case of mistaken identity occurred in Stratford the other day, when a prominent Borough Councillor was accosted by a lady who enquired: “Arc you the butcher from Whangamomona ?” None appreciates the joke more than the gentleman concerned.

A ballot is about to be taken among the Federated Drivers of New Zealand on the following issues;—(ll Join ing the United Labour Party; (2) join ing the Federation of Labour (register cd); (3) remaining independent of eitncr, as at present. A Feilding message states that four to six inches of snow foil on the high lauds last night. The weather was bitterly cold. Continuous rains during spring have prevented gfarmers from ploughing, and verv little lias yet been done. The milk suply is falling away, but sheep and lambs are do ing well. The definite conclusion of the Ward-Hine incident seems to have been accepted by both sides in the House in a spirit of philosophy, says the ‘Chronicle’s’ Wellington correspondent. When Sir Joseph Ward apd Mr. Hine met on Wednesday they shook hands in a friendly way, and tin procedings of the House were in strong contrasts to the acrimonious debate of the day before.

If Stirling’s can be taken as a criterion, cheese factories are paying con cerns (says the ‘Clutha Leader’). A dividend of G per cent.' has been paid, while the price paid for milk averaged 14d per lb of butter-fat for the whol esason. The new season has been com • raenced by Is 2d per lb being paid for butter-fat, and the annual report says ‘‘the prospects for the coming season are very encouraging, and it is practically certain that the highest price yet received will be recorded.” With the advent of two road rollers, it is just probable that for some time frightened horses will be the cause of many accidents. Yesterdiiy' a 1 ftaip,' 'c obtaining Mr. W. H. Rogers, Miss Rogers, and Miss Richmond, was overturned. The horse became frightened at the roller, and one of the men went to its head. However, it broke lodse, and, kicking and rearing wildly, precipitated the occupants on 'to the road. Escape from serious, or even minor injuries, was, under the circumstances, extremely fortunate.

Tiie revival winch has been noted i» the West End of London of the dress ideals of the young man of 1830, with his side-whisker, stock, and strapped trousers, is attributed by an artist to the desire for beauty of line. “It is our craving for the line,” he said, “that sends us back to the 1830 periods. We want the straight line up and down—the longer the better. Women’s fashions are following the same ideal of beauty—the slender elegance of the line, as opposed to any redundancy of figure.” This idea of I'ne-beau-ty is also to be traced in the evolution of the walking-stick. A year or two ago it was the fashion for young exquisites to be seen with canes that were curved at the top in the form of a crook, and before that the thick stick was in vogue. But the latest fashion is the thin, long, gold hcadei cane, tapering from, handle to tip. The day labour policy of the Labour Party in Australia is thus criticised by the ‘Sydney Morning Herald’ “There have been many who have realised that the principle of day labour as applied to public works, though speciously beneficial to the worker, is not in the long run favourable to his interests. The shirker may profit by it for a time; but the genu-ine-worker does not need it. It places a premium on idleness, and some will always be found who are ready to take advantage of this. The private employer is able to weed out undesirables, but the Government, with an eye ever cast upon the ballot box, must be careful to offend no one. The system lias had its chance, but even the most bigoted advocates cannot honestly say that it has been satisfactory, or show's any promise of ever being so. Already, as we have seen, it has been found necessary to modify its spirit, if not its letter, and that this should bo so is by no means surprising. The accumulated experience of the world has proved the efficiency of the contract system. We, in our self-sufficien-cy, know better, and have adopted a rule which will bring as its consequeneo everlasting delay and ruinous expense.” At Ashton Park, Mosman, on Monday last (says the ‘Sydney Daily Telegraph’) Mr. McGowen told a little story concerning an incident of his trip to the Old Country. He was visiting Promo, and had been invited to plant a tree as a_ memorial of the occasion. The squire of the place was to plant another. Mr. McGowen’s tree was a big one, and there was a big hole to be filled up. He was wearing a long-tailed coat and a hat the like of which his colleagues had not seen him in before. The position was an awkward one, for if he got the handle of the spade tangled up in his coat-tails it might suggest that lie did not know how to use it, and if ho put the hat on the ground and inadvertently filled it with dirt they might think he was not accustomed to wearing it, so he took both hat and coat off and plmedfTom aside, at which the squire smiled. Then he planted the tree and filled in the hole without any trouble. When Hie squire’s turn came, lie also discarded his frock coat and top hat. Thereupon one of the bystanders remarked to Mr. McCowen, “I’ve knowed him ever since he was so high, and I never seen j him take off his coat afore!” “Well,” i said Mr. McGowen, “that’s the way wo do things in Australia,”

At Christchurch the other night the anti-militarists had a field night, and carried a resolution pledging those present to oppose by every means the re-election of those members of Parliament and City Councillors who have supported the Defence Act. The Eltham Borough Council last night unanimously passed a motion approving of the Mayor’s action in wiring the local member requesting him to oppose the passage of the Water Pollution Bill now before the House of 11 epresentatives. ith her usual generosity, Madame Bernard has offered to entertain the New Zealand Cadets at His Misty’s Picture Theatre on Monday evening, and tire offer lias been accepted wita thanks. It is particularly fortunate that Monday’s new programme should happen to be such a good one. Members of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce were congratulating themselves this morning on the immediate effect having been given to their request that a more powerful engine should be run on tiie Toko line. Abe secretary, however, was not so sanguine, and, on enquiry, it was found that a breakdown had occurred on Tuesday, and that the new engine was only running temporarily.

Information was received at noon to-day by the local Telegraph authorities that telegraphic work fiom the South was showing an hour’s delay in reaching Wellington, and that this de r lay would become greater as the congestion of work increased, 'there is a total break iri the communication south of Kaikoura, and all work lias to be sent via Nelson, Greymouth and the West Coast line. ( The Cromwell correspondent of the ‘Otago Daily Times’ suites tiiat general indignation is being expressed throughout the district at the member ior the district practically shelv.ng trio continuation of the Otago Central railway. His most prominent and persistent supporters are as indignant, if not more so, then tiiose who opposed him, as the Hon. Mr. Fraser (toe member fqi" Wakatipu) was looked upon as being absolutely sincere in Jus strong advocacy for years past cf the continuation of the line. It was intended to entertain him at a banquet shortly, but there is now spine doubt ;f the function will he carried out, owing to strong feeling over trio matter. No further light has been thrown on the mysterious disappearance of Mr. fi. Marriott, hairdresser, who left Pahiatua on the evening of the 13th inst. A close search lias been made of the Mangaitainoka River, on the bank of which an overcoat and cap belonging to the missing man were found. It transpires that Marriott effected a change of clothing before leaving home on the Sunday evening, He also took a razor and a pair or scissors with him. It is reported (says the ‘Herald’) that Marriott a while ago received a letter from a former employer in South Africa, offering an inducement for him to return to that country, and that Marriott had since been of a dissatisfied turn. It is thought that he may have taken the eai;ly morning train at Woodyille on the 14th inst., either in the direction of Napier or Palmerston North. ‘ .

A month ago (a Toko correspondent writes) the School Committee arranged a concert to raise funds for .fencing round the school baths, but they were very unfortunate in having a rough night. Nothing daunted, they decided to give holders of tickets' another chance, and arranged a futher concert, which was held last night. Again there was a very stormy night, but a fair number turned out, and were well repaid by the excellent items rendered. In the absence through illness of Mr. ■CL Bain (chairman of-ithe School Committee), Mr. M. Gernhoefer very efficiently filled the position of chairman. The following items, were given;— Songs: Miss Fieldes (3), Miss N. Maxwell (2), Mr. Burg-ham (2). Pianoforte duets: Miss Coleman and Miss Cameron (2). Recitation: Master George Were. Mr. M. Gernhoefer gave several selections on the gramophone, and these were greatly enjoyed, especially by the small fry. Mr Joseph Gould, well-known in business circles in Christchurch, died suddenly in London. Death occurred at Mr Gould’s London residence, Cadogan place, on Ocotber 22nd, from heart trouble. The news came as a shock to many friends in Christchurch. Mr Gould was the eldest son of Mr George Gould, who came to Christchurch from Auckland in 1851. Mr Joseph Gould was born in Christchurch in 1852, and received his education at Christ’s College. He went to live in England in 19U4. Mr. Gould was closery identified with a number of important commercial enterprises in Christchurch, and in the Dominion. He was a director of the New Zealand Shipping Company, 'and held office on bota the local board and the London board. He was also a director of the Christchurch “Press” Company, the Chi istc...urea Gas Company, and the Permanent Investment and Loan Society. He took keen interest in matters affecting the agricultural and pastoral welfare of the province, and was for some time president of the Canterbury A. and P. Society.

Some amusing excuses are often offered by Maori parents for the non-at-tendance of their children at school, but Mr. Small, the Truant Inspector for the Auckland district, who has just returned from tlie Waitomi district, reports one more than usually novel reason advanced by a native father for the trnnacy of two of his olive branches. Repeated efforts were made to get the father to send his children to school. They were in vain, however, and the children failed to put in an appearance. The native declared that lie would not send the children until he had been fined. An information was thereupon laid, and, in accordance with the recognised European custom, the .dusky father at once engaged a solicitor, who earned his fee by mere y admitting a plea of “Guilty.” ’ In Court, the native, in defence of the truancy, stated that the chi ldren had not been sent to school because the schoolmaster went about shooting the horses in the district with an air gun! Which (states the ‘Star’), considering the schoolmaster in question is an eminently respectable, esteemed, and lawabiding member of the community, was merely laughed at by the Mag strate. The father also stated that he called one of his children “Lion,” because it was “a Biblical name.” This was indeed news to the Court, and aroused great merriment. The schoolmaster, in Ins report, stated that the children hung a Lout a billiard saloon, and Their conduct, if allowed to continue, would have a very demoralising effect on the other children. The Magistrate held this view, also, and a substantial line was indicted in both instances.