LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 56, 30 October 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

“Dog Lore,” by Laverock, appears on page 2 of this issue. Sawmillers on the Main Trunk line are experiencing difficulty in secunng labour, and many of the mills have consequently to work short-handed. Vegetable gardeners in the Waikato have again to contend with the blight, which has already made its appearance amongst early vegetables. “If a man is respected by his neighbours, and is not feared by his own family 7, he is a good man,” was a remark made at a function in Masterton on Monday. The Rev Cleary, of Waihi, said that the miners there had no time whatever for the Church during the strike, and not sijety of the 1500 strikers could be seen in any of the six churches of the town. Complaints that, strychnine poison is being laid for dogs in the streets of Palmerston are being renewed. Two dogs are stated to have picked up the poison at the_ end of last week, and one of them died. The ‘Northern Mail’s’ little par: The hand rails on the Walton Street bridge are being repaired. This work was urgently required as the bridge is a favourite trysting place for Wliaugarei’s youth and beauty, and leaning over the rails watching the waters ripplingp below has been an occupation that has been attended with some little risk for some time past. The Druids held their fortnightly 7 session last night, when several important matters -wore discussed. The chief item of business was the panel system of medical benefits, which embraces all the friendly societies of Stratford district. After the lodge business bad been finished, the members went into harmony, and a “Dutch auction,” caused great merriment, the host of the sales falling to the Arch Druid. Everyone was very sal. isfled. Bio. T. J. Ladd made a successful auctioneer, netting £2 8s for the Xmas tree. The last social of the season will he held on Wednesday next.

“If any poor, bashful man in my congregation lias fallen in love with some worthy woman and wants to meet her for a wife. I will see that he is introduced, .has a place to court, will hell) him to get his license, pay for it, if necessary marry him free of charge, and furnish him will) a wedding certificate, which ho may hang over the motto ‘God Tlloss Our Home.’ ” This offer was made in a sermon preached by the Rev. G. L. Merrill, at Minneapolis (11.5.). “Woman was made to marry and not to be a religiously recluse old maid, or a typewriter,” he concluded. After lln sermon Mr. Merrill was approached by several young men, who asked him to introduce them to girls they thought “worthy.”

“Though ninny nre now going in for tlio mnuufncturo of chccso, 1 think those who are keeping to butter will come out on top in the long run,” declared a speaker at the annual meeting of the Canterbury Central Co-cp-erativo Dairy Company. A “cheap-jack,” who Lad been giving away pound notes for 18:3 in .Newtown, and auctioneering cutlery and watches wilnnut having a license, was lined CIO, tlie minimum at the Wellington Court, it was stated by tho police that lie did not have even a pedlar’s license. The Court list for Friday’s sitting of the Magistrate’s Court includes eight civil cases, two defended, three juvtgmentsummonses, three informations for riding bicycles on the footpaths, two for failing to send children to school, and one for breach of prohibition order. Poultry men have had several serious setbacks during the past few weeks owing to a peculiar and disastrous effect that thunder has upon eggs sot for incubating (says the Feilding Star). Earthquakes are also dreaded in this connection, and seriuos effects on eggs are expected as a result of Wednesday’s shake. Mr L. Frost in

one instance found 80 eggs spoilt, and in another lot 96, after 1 recent thunderstorms, nearly all the eggs showing signs of fertility up to that period. It is rumoured'dhat in a department closely connected with Parliament House a public servant is causing trouble—or attempting to cause trouble—the only discoverable motives being jealousy of and disloyalty to his chief. The matter is one as to which the head of the department, who is a wise and tolerant man, will say nothing; but the facts are not entirely hidden. The public servant concern'd has deliberately (writes Frank .Morton) attempted to embarrass his superior officer for his own advantage. Ihe offender is not by any moans a popular officer.

Politics obtrude into everything—?ven into the game of bowls. Naturally observes an exchange) the trouble is found to be most acute in Wellington. Ihorndon Club has three Cabinet Ministers enrolled—Prime Minister Massey, Attorney-General Herd man and Public Works Fraser—-while Marine Fisher is reported to bo thinking of taking a spell from the 'more violent tennis and seeking the reposeful bowls on the Wellington Club green. Also, hr Joseph Ward and 'Lady Ward and Mr T. M. Wilford, M.P., were lookerson at the opening of the Hutt green, and to look on, it is said, is fatal. Just to illustrate the necessity for learning things thoroughly, opening in ambulance station at Portland (New South Wales), Lord Chelmsford .old a story of a man who didn’t. It aappened a year ago, he said, when no was watching some ambulance exuninations in the bush. “One of the examinees,” Lord Chelmsford said, “was asked what were the symptoms if shock. He replied, ‘A dry tongue aid a great thirst!’ I am afraid wo should find a great many sufferers from shock at that rate. I would impress on'those who are going through this ambulance training not to : take ;uch an everyday occurrence as a

symptom of accident!” Ernest Barry, the sculling champion of the world, speaking at a dinner given in his honour, supplied his own modest version'of the way he beat Arnst last July. His plan, he said, was to cling to Arnst as tightly as he could; to give a big man like him a blow was apt to prove disastrous. When they had travelled, half 5V mile he thought the quicker he could overtake his rival the better, because by that means he cchild hold him'the better. The race was not really hard till they reached Hammersmith, when he pulled up to the side of Arnst. There lie found out that Arnst was a rater, and was not going to allow him to jjass as some competitors in other races had done. So he dropped back again. Hie then made several attempts to get ahead, but Arnst “was not naving it,” and going up to Chiswick Eyot, said Barry, “I had some very funny feelings—anyone could have bought me for tuppence.” But he knew that if he could hold Arnst to the top of the Eyot the station would win him«the race, so he nursed himself as best he could, and whep he got into his own station, having the best of the water, lie let go what little reserve power ho had left, and it was just sufficient to win the race. Mr. Barry added that he had tried for many years to keep himself “fit,” and prepared for such a great occasion as that was, and no one was more pleased than himself at his success in regaining the sculling laurels which England had lost.

So sure are a number of the evani gelical clergy and laity of Melbourne 1 of the nearness of a second coming of Christ to this world that conferences have been organised to discuss and prepare for it. No. date is assigned—it may be a month, a year, or several years ahead—but it is declared that many symptoms exist in present-day conditions which fully warrant the belief that the great Advent is drawing nigh, There is said to he an abundance of the signs presaged in Holy Scripture. Among them ahe slackness of faith in the Word of* God, the fact that the Church is hardly holding its own, the extension of the Zionist movement with an increasing rainfall in Palestine, increasing worldliness, a growing love of pleasure, the spread of spiritism, preparations for and rumours of war, the partition of Turkey, and high tension in commercial and industrial affairs. These and other things are declared to point plainly to Christ’s personal and corporeal coming again in the near future. We are told, also, that this movement of expectation and preparation is worldwide. At the first conference held in Melbourne last week the attendance was very large. Men constituted the major proportion of those present, though perhaps most of them had reached years suggesting that in the ordinary course of nature they will not live to .see the second Advent unless it happens soon. The proceedings consisted largely of addresses emphasising an early Advent. Considerable space is being allowed by the Melbourne Press to the discussion of the movement in print, and there is keen disputation, in which appeals are made to logic as well as to faith. Thus far there have not been similar concerted demonstrations in the other States.