LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 55, 29 October 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr. W. T. Hitch, of the live stock branch, of tJie Canadian Department of Agriculture, is on a visit to New Zealand, making enquiries on behalf of ah English company as to whether suitable country can be obtained hero for the Karakull or Persian sheep, the pelts of which are highly valuable. The purebred sheep require a mild climate, but the halfbreeds, from which the most valuable pelts are obtained, require a cold country to develop the proper growth of fleece.

In the Auckland Magistrate’s Court recently, Mr.' Kettle, 8.M., found occasion to remark on the general lack of intelligence shown: hy.-people concerned in accidents. In such cases, lie said, when an accident takes place, the people concerned should as soon as possible afterwards make a thorough inspection of the surroundings and circumstances, to facilitate the understanding by the Court of all the circumstances. Instead of that a solicitor was usually instructed a week or two afterwards, when it was too late to ascertain any definite facts.

Mr. J. Ruddick, whose name is still well remembered in New Zealand as an authority on dairy matters, writes from Canada : “\\ hen I left New Zealand twelve years ago 1 little thought that I would some day be eating New Zealand butter in Canada, and yet that is what wc are doing at the present time; we are using it in our own house, and we find the quality excellent. It retails at Is 8d per lb. The butter which is being sold in Montreal, Ottawa, and other eastern cities is imported from London, but the western cities get their supplies direct from New Zealand. Messrs Thomson and Co., Dunedin, are shipping four of the Clydesdale horses in their well-known Wairongoa stud at Palmerston North, where they will compete for the Union Steam Ship Company’s 50 guinea cup at the Show. The horses to make the journey are the unbeaten mare Baron’s Brilliant, Lady Wairongoa, Newton Chief, and Wairongoa Footprint, and more than ordinary interest will be shown in the venture of Messrs. Thomson, seeing that this will be the first occasion on which a number of valuable Clydesdales has been sent from the South Island to compete in a North Island Show ring. An instrument that promises to revolutionise telegraphy has been invented by Mr. A. MacDonald, a telegraphist in Adelaide, and is being brought into use throughout Australia. It is called the pendograpb, and it is claimed that it lessens by 75 per '(-cent, the strain on Telegraphists, and is productive of better work if properly manipulated. Under the old system of the Morse key, the operator has to make a distinct movement of the wrist each time he requires to make dots, while tjie new invention, being on a pendulum system, makes its own dots by a side pressure of the key, for example, the letter “H” requires four movements of the on the Morse key, and only one movement is required on th pendograpb. Mr, G. D. Hall, a Sydney operator, who has been working the pendograpb on the line between Sydney and Melbourne, has some very excellent performances to his credit. One performance of 1637 words in 38 minutes probably constitutes a record, the message being taken at Melbourne on a typewriter.

This is a story written hv a schoolgirl in answer to a question set hy the Vicar of Takapnna (the Rev. W. G. Mon ck ton, M.A.), during a visit to a scholastic institution ; “There was once a little girl, and as she was walking home from school she saw an apple on a tree hy the side of the road. She thought, ‘This apple is not mine, and I ought not to take it/ hut the longer she looked at it the more she wanted it. She picked the apple and carried it away. When she had gone some distance she thought, T ought to give this to mother.’ Instead she ate it, hut the apple was so sour that something inside her seemed to say, ‘lt would have been hotter if I had given it to mother.’ ” The large gathering of schoolgirls at the Synod Mission in the Choral Hal! that night treated Mr. Monekton’s joke as immense, and neither were the more elderly ladies blind to the humour of it. Needless to state, the story had reference to Eve, the apple and original sin.

Napier means to get busy. At a public meeting it was decided to form a “Thirty Thousand Club,” having for its immediate object the advancement of Napier, and for its ultimate aim the bringing up of the population to 30,000. Puketutu Island, containing 479 acres, which is situated in tlio Manakau Harbour, opposite Mangere, has been purchased by Mr. John Massey, brother of the Premier. At one time the island was owned by Sir John Logan Campbell. “The universal Saturday half-holi-day is coming fast,” said J. 11. Triggs, Conciliation Commisioner, during the hearing of a dispute before the Conciliation Council (says the ‘Lyttelton Times’). Considerable discussion took place on the subject, the general trend being in concurrence with the commissioner’s remark. A horse in search of grass strolled into the yard of Cameron’s Hotel at Mataura, and went through the trapdoor of the old cellar; which is about Oft or Bft deep. Some difficulty was experienced in extricating the animal, but a few willing workers with spades dug away the side of the cellar, releasing the animal, which, save for a few scratches (says the ‘Ensign’) escaped unhurt. ,

The capacity ‘of the' Wellington wireless station was further demonstrated (says the ‘Post’) early on Friday morning last, when signals were exchanged with H.M.S. Cam* orian, lying at Hobart, and the naval depot ship Cerberus, stationed at Williamstown, Melbourne. The distance covered was thus between 1200 and 1400 miles, and both ships congratulated the local operators on the clearness of their signals. \ That a church is more easily “moved” than a bank was clearly demonstrated on Tuesday last (says the Waipa ‘Post’), when the old Presoy tenan Church passed through the town at a brisk trot, the team consisting of a fine pair of traction engines driven tandem. The shedding of a wheel opposite the new bank caused a temporary stoppage, and/Wednesday morning saw tne old church safely deposited beside the handsome new structure in Alexandra Street.

An uncommon occurrence happened in the birth of a baby on the steamer Waiotahi on the journey from Aucklamd to the Thames on Juesday. The important everlt occurred when the steamer had covered about half the distance down,, and the- passengers were quite excited over the strange appearance in their midst of the little mice. It is probable that the seababy will be called ‘‘Waiotahi” as a remembrance of an important event. A point of some interest to both newspaper proprietors and the public was decided at Dannevirke by Mr. McCarthy, S.M. The question involved was whether a person who had given notice to the proprietor to cease - supplying him as from the end of his term, was liable for payment if he continued to accept and read the paper on it still being delivered to him? His Worship said the rule had been laid down that in the event of a. subscriber discontinuing a paper, if ho subsequently had it delivered to him, and did not return it, he must pay for it.

The Hev. Mr. Burgmann, who has acted as Curate at Gbsford, New South Wales, for some time, was presented by the Men’s Club with a set of boxing gloves. In thanking the donors the rev. gentleman macie an appeal to mothers not to prevent their sons from taking part in ,healthy exercise, such as boxing, and urged wives not to cultivate the folly of trying to make old women of their husbands. He held no brief for pugilistic priz.o fights, but said there was nothing degrading about tlm art of scientific boxing. There was nothing wrong, he said, about the youth or the man who went in for healthy sport, in preference to becoming a puny-minded weak-kneed, flat-chest-ed, drawing-room lounger. The railless system of tramways is a great success, according to the statement made to a ‘Star’ reporter by Mr. Walter Hill, an ex-member of the Christchurch Tramway Board, who arrived by the Zealanclia on his return journey. Mr. Hill explained that the railless system did not require any rails, but only necessitated the overhead trolley and gear. The “railway” system ill London, of course, was tiro motor bus, but it was intended to utilise the' system on many prospective lines. Mr! Hill was appointed by the Christchurch Tramway Board to make investigations into the system, and will present his report soon after his return to Christchurch.

At 5,30 p.m. last "Wednesday a solitary individual, armed with a Jug over coat, a camp stool, and provisions, took up his stand outside Messrs. Milner and Thompson’s, Manchester Street, Christchurch, awaiting the opening of the box plans for “Kismet,” at 8.30 next morning. Two and a half hours later he was joined by a second enthusiast, similarly equipped. By half-past 11, when a reporter happened to pass that way, there was a third, and a fourth, put in an appearance a few minutes later. The night was fine, though cold, and the campers-out ensconced themselves good-humouredly on their stools prepared to face the long hours. Pipes and cigarettes were lit, and the aid of light refreshments was involked at intervals to help to beguile the tedium of the night watches.

The master farriers of South Canterbury have formed an association to protect and further the interests of their trade. Two very enthusiastic and well attended meetings have already been held, and strong hopes are entertained (states the ‘Tiinaru Herald) that within a week or ten days every farrier in South Canterbury will become a member. The prices of shoeing have already been revised, and the new price list will come into operation on November 1. The position has been forced upon the farriers through various rises in the price of iron and coal, and also in wages. It is the intention of the association, however, to keep its prices as reasonable as possible, and at the same time do away with the undercutting and contract systems.

Fourteen years ago a Hastings business man gave a client a receipt for 10s in advance of payment, explained .that it would convenience her in some way. When he subsequently requested the money the woman barefacedly refused to pay, saying that she held his acquittal. The trader simply wrote the debt off his book as bad, and thought no more about it. The woman recently died, and the business man was amazed to receive a letter from her executors last week enclosing 10s as conscience money, as a result of instructions under her will. The merits and demerits of the new road roller were thoroughly evolved at a special meeting of the Borough Council last evening, but as the discussion was taken in committee burgesses will have to he content to await developments before being made cognisant of the particular references thereto. It is just possible that the denouement will provide interesting tit-bits for readers.

Ab the special meeting of the Stratford Borough Council last night, it was decided that the sum of £2OJO he included in the loan proposals for the re-metalling of Broadway from Regan Street to the Bridge. It would not be supposed that mice welcome the introduction of the gramophone, yet such is the case. This morning a dealer showed a reporter half-a-dozen gramophone records. They showed unmistakeable signs of having been gnawed by mice, and in some cases were quite ruined. The official opening of the Stratford Lawn Tennis Club is fixed for .-'Cnursviay afternoon. Given fine v weather the afternoon should ho an enjoyable one. The courts are said to bo m very fair condition, and the

prospects tor a successful season are bright.

Labour Day was celebrated in peculiar fashion yesterday. Banks, lawyers, auctioneers, and land agents closed; barbers and stationers knocked off at half time. Most of the rest closed intermittently as they grew tired of waiting for customers, though some of them hung out manfully. One wonders what the employees said! Prosperous times must he attending the Taranaki Chinamen. Last week a local Celestial laundryman left for China to spend his last days in Lotus Land; to-day a young fruiterer of the same nationality also departed for China. But this one is coming back in 18 months’ time, and is bringing a wife with him. He was escorted to the station by half-a-dozen brother Chinese, and given a stolid Eastern farewell.

A letter was received at the special meeting of the Stratford Borough Council last night from Messrs. Webster, Uniacke, and the other partners of the new firm, offering tp lease one of the shops in the municipal buildings, providing certain alterations were made. It was resolved that the Council could not entertain any proposal entailing alterations to the buildings. r

A local Chinaman lias set an example to the business men and citizens of Stratford. “On Kee” left this morning on an eighteen months’ trip to China, where he intends lo get married, but, before leaving, he approached a local business man and proffered a cheque for five guineas in aid of the funds of the local hospital. The gift is surely a unique one.

At a meeting in Hawera on Saturday of farmers interested iu the formation of co-operative auc icmeering company, the following resolution was carried: “That this meeting of farmers is in sympathy with the movement, to start a farmers’ co-operative organisation for Taranaki, and will support it if it can be successfully started and adequately capitalised.” The following were appointed a committee, with power to add to their number (says the Star) to forward the object of the meeting:—Messrs Barclay, Death, Tarrant, Gibson, Batten, jun., Wills, and Buckeridge.

A school-house adorned with a hell Avas erected'on one of-the islands of the Melanesian Mission not very long ago, An elderly native cultivated a passion for the sound of the tinkling metal, and he would frequently steal up to the building for the joy of pulling the rope Avhich set the bell aringing. Then the villagers would laugh at him, and such was the dire effect of this ridicule that the old fellow chopped down the supports of the bell, burnt the building, and, carrying off his grass idol, he buried it. “That avas the. end, of the school on the island ' for some considerable time,” said the Rev. T. P. Williams, in illustrating difficulties of the Melanesian Mission at the Synod meeting in Auckland.

What might easily have been a disaster, but Avhich fortunately ended in a-comedy, occurred at the small trestle bridge south of the raihvay station on- Monday morning (states the ‘Patea Press’)._ A youthful couple Avere Avending their Avay southwards along the raihvay line, and had got nearly half Avay across the bridge, Avhen round the corner sAvept the midday train from Waverley travelling at its highest rate of speed doAvn the steep incline 'that constitutes the southern approach to the bridge.. The young couple apparently did not hear the noise of the approaching train, and only became aware of its presence Avhen it Avas almost on the bridge. As the latter is barely Avide enough for the train there Avas only on© means of escape, and that Avas to vacate the bridge in favour of the train, and this the couple resolved to do. With great presence of mind the representative of the sterner sex lost ilo time in throAving his partner into the Avater, and fortliAvith jumped in after her. The driver of the train Avho had noticed the couple just as he neared the bridge, immediately shut off steam and applied the Wostinglior.se brakes, hut could not pull Up until the train had crossed the bridge. The guard and passengers ran back and Avere able to help tAVo someAvhat forlorn individuals ashore, none the Averse for their adventure beyond a thorough drenching. What the young ladv said at being unceremoniously bundled into the Avater is not recorded. It is clear from the position of the train Avhen pulled up that but for the prompt action of her companion a catastrophe Avoukl have occurred.