LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 59, 2 November 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Rain fell on twenty days last month, the total rainfall being J.OOin. A movement is on font in Eltlmm to start a branch of'the Stratford Co-op-erative Building Society. There wore twenty-five births, four marriages, and nine deaths in Stratford during last month.

A novel prosecution took place at Feilding last week, when two men were fined 10s and costs for allowing their dogs to fiskt.

A loquacious parrot at Waihi is causing much amusement, having recently added to its repertoire the familiar and choice epithets, “Scab!” and “Dirty scab!” A well-known Maori of the South Wairarapa, when asked his opinion of the past winter, thus described it: — “By gorry, this the wettest winter I never see, the eel come up the street in Carterton.” The Eltlmm County Council’s engineer (Mr, Basham) wired to the secretary of the Federation of Labour at Waihi, offering 12s a day fo any number of men up to fifty, but a reply was received stating that no men were available. As showing the desire of school teachers to obtain appointments in or near the large centres, it may be mentioned that twenty applications were received recently by the Wellington Education Board for a position of assistant mistress at the Wellington South School, while only one aplication was received for an appointment carrying a similar salary at Shannon. Every effort is being made (says the Minister of Public Works) to complete arrangements for quarrying from the Mount Egmont quarries during the ensuing summer. The line is new being pushed forward to a vast deposit of stone on a spur some distance from the crushing site and in an opposite direction to the quarries it was originally intended to-work. A former butcher of Marten, who had supplied meat to a resident, and was obliged to sue for the recovery of the amount represented, said in the Court that of all the many account Von his books the case before the Court was the only one he had had to sue for. He did not mind wiping out deserving cases, but when a man was left £looo,' as the defendant was, he (the defendant) should 1)0 compelled to pay for the “tucker” that he and his family ate.

Stratford motorists appear' to" 'have been born under lucky stars. Early this week another motor accident occurred, and Messrs. J..H. Thompson and E. Rawles had a miraculous escape. Driving round a cutting at Strathmore, Mr Thompson ran his car right into a horse and gig. The animal reared, and its forelegs smashed the wind screen to atoms. The gig had long, steel shafts, which made the situation more ugly than it would otherwise have been. Yet no one was hurt, though the car was severely knocked about.

When people read of the enormous butter-fat yields of cows in England or America, they are often inclined to explain them by the fact that the animals are housed and fed in a way that would be impossible to the ordinary farmer in the Dominion. But there is no denying that, even under the ordinary conditions prevailing in this country, cows of the right kind will produce very big returns. At the recent Carterton Show Mr. E. Eagle’s Bilberry 6th, which won the butter-fat test for purebred cows, gave 321 b. of milk on the Wednesday evening, and 311 b. on the Thursday morning, with a 5.4 test. This was equivalent to 24J-lb. of butter per week. When it is remembered that this result was produced under the most unfavourable conditions, for no cow can be expected to show the best results on a show ground, it should certainly lead farmers to the conclusion that stock of a good strain is worth having.

Everyone who has followed the car-

eer of the late General Booth knows how much stress he has always laid on the importance of cleanliness and sobriety. Indeed, the ‘Hospital’ notes, General Booth’s “rule of life” is as well known as the tenets of his rival in

old-age recipes, Professor Eli Metchnikoff. It is probable, ,adds our contemporary. that in both cases the regimen so highly vaunted has had little to do with the length of years both renowned suggestors have achieved. “Professor Metchnikoff’s hypothesis is still on trial, and he is fortunately still alive. General Booth died a rips octogenarian, but his longevity is not startling, for many men who lived far less carefully lived longer lives.” As a matter of fact, we are assured, longevity is probablv dependent on factors altogether different from diet and regimen, the notable example of Cornaro notwithstanding. You Audra Fisher is a canny and a

thrifty moil (says the ‘Sydney Sun’). After shifting £4,000,000 of gold reserve from one strong-room to nilother, the Prime Minister, ns an old miner, decided that there might to he some colour of gold in the dust left behind. He swept it up; or, rather, ordered some free and independent elector to sweep it up!; and he had the

Inst sent to the mint for treatment. It panned out at £1 8s 1 Oil. less 10s 6J

for cost of treatment. “Sweating” sovereigns by shawing them vigorously in a bag is an old way of getting a little gold-dust; one wonders whether Mr. Fisher heard of it. The most im-

portant thing in his experiment, however, is the example it sets to private citizens. Year in and year out, we carry in our trousers pockets gold, silver and copper in small or large quantities—generally small. In the aggregate the dust lost from these precious metals must represent a vast annual loss to the community. Our trousers pockets must be lined with a sort of

matte, containing all the metals mixed together. This ought rot to be wasted, but everybody ought to submit' his trousers pockets for treatment in a

blister furnace, or a cyanide plant, cr something of that sort. (It would, of course, be advisable for the citizen to remove his trousers first). In this vav a great economic saving would pro-

Imlily bo offootod for tho rnntinna'iv. Tito careful mot lior’s -'uresf win tor safeguard—Ton king’s Linseed Lin nl siou

A London cablegram states that the estate of the late Mr Graham, formerly inspector-general of asylums in New Zealand, has been proved at £12,188.

This morning at the local Court, before Messrs. J. McCluggage and C. D. Sole, J.P.’s, a first-offender for drunkenness was convicted and dis, barged. On accused’s own application a prohibit ion order was taken out against himself.

Messrs. E. Jackson and R. Masters have had bad luck at the Palmerston Show. The latter’s pony kicked the front out of the gig while trotting round the ring, thus spoiling chances of both gentlemen, as the gig was to have been used by Mr. Jackson :n another event.

In recording a nasty injury 7 that the manager of an aerated manufactory at Wavorley received the other day,

and which necessitated six stitches being put in a gash in the muscles (f his arm, the correspondent of the ‘Patca Press’ refers to another striking incident of the same nature. Recently at the Commercial Hotel four dozen bottles of soda water exploded, the result it is thought, of one bottle in the case exploding. Fortunately the case was under-a counter, and therefore no one was injured. Had the explosion occurred before the bottles were placed in that position serious damage must have been done to those in the vicinity.

A cow to the acre and 5001 b. of finite r-f at per cow is a standard well within range of practical possibility, and it is one which wo have urged on our dairy farmers as well worth working for (says the ‘Auckland Herald’). We should not reach it, of course, for some years, but there is no reason why we should not reach it. It would mean 2,100,000 cows instead of 700,000, and it would mean close on £50,000,000 a year instead of £6,300,000. This seems an extravagant estimate, but no one can deny that it is possible, and the £50,000,000 worth or dairy produce would just as easily find a market in a few years as our present output does.

A nice legal point lias arisen in connection with a trap which has been in operation for cyclists in a Chris.church uJioroughfare. A plain-clothes constable has been taking the names of cyclists who ride on the footpath, and ne has already got a big batch of offenders, who will be proceeded against at the instance of the, City Council. Some of the cyclists who were caught regarded the constable as a possible blackmailer, and enquiries go to show that no offence is committed by a person who refuses to give his name to a plain-clothes constable who has no proof of his identity. The case is different, however, when the constable is in uniform.

The past glories of Lake Wakatipu as a fishing ground of years ago appear to be a matter of history, and die numerous theories for the dying out of the fish were frequently reviewed during the Earnslaw excursion. It is now acknowledged by even the old hands along the line that the trout are more scarce than they have ever been since their introduction. A Southland •‘Times’ reporter who visited Queenstown during the week and saw about fifty ifish, ranging from one to about seven pounds, at one spot at a time when it is usual to feed them

with minced meat, but at.r.o ot}ier time was there any. indication of the presence of fish, despite the fact that a number of likely-looking spots were examined and watched.

“The parson is a parasite,” cried a “soap-box orator” in Kai«mgahapo Rpfid, on Saturday : night (says the ‘Auckland Herald’). After severdl repetitions of this cry, a man in the crowd plucked up sufficient courage to ask: “How can the parson be a parasite, when he’s voluntarily paid by a voluntary society ?” “He doesn’t produce anything,” answered' the “orator,” (gesticulating wildly. “Xo,” ventured the man in the crowd, “neither does the ship’s captain, nor the policeman, nor the fireman.” The “orator” saw the philosophy of this retort, and wandered on into further statements which no one but himself understood. • ■ • .

The kitchen garden is not without its, worries this season. Several vegetables seem to Imve been a general failure (says the Waverley correspondent of the “Press”). Foremost among these is the broad bean, but its failure has nothing to do with the seed or soil. A representative was shown the other day a plot of this' vegetable in flower. It looked strong and healthy, but on examination it was found that almost every flower had been bored into by the hurahle bee, causing them to wither and fall over. Onions do not seem to have been a success, one grower having planted half a dozen varieties only one or two cf which have grown. The same man did not have success with his carrots, but whether this failure is general we cannot say. It would appear that such delacacies as pork and beans, steak and onions, and corned beef and carrots will be very scarce this season. Out of 28 Chinese armed with naturalisation papers who have applied for admission into Victoria within the last three months, 24. have been sent back summarily to the land from which they came. The papers were issued in the" old State days to departing Chinese, in case they were not satisfied with China when they saw it once more, and wanted to return to Victoria. The Chinese who apply for admission are ordinarily adventurous youths. In one case the Customs officials declined to believe that a youth of about 19 years was the rightful own-

er of a set of papers according to which his' age must have been at least 32 years. Another, aged about 26, presented papers, the genuine owner of which ,must have been at least 72, and quite a number of Celestials' of about

30 years of age are alined with papers relating to departed Chinese, aged 70 years. All the careful coaching u : Victorian geography and conditions, and all the money the applicants have spent on instruction, papers, ind steamer passages are thrown away. Apparently some families treat the naturalisation papers as heirlooms, and the grandson hopes by means of his grandfather’s papers to find similar fortune in Victoria.

The following authentic tale comes from Mr. J. Strang’s “Glenside,” (reports the ‘Patea Press’), and shows the immense power possessed by a bull. Two shepherds were driving the bulls from various paddocks and bringing them down to the homestead. As each fresh hull was added to the mob there were trials of strength ancLsavage skirmishes between the vaPfems members of the herd. At one gate a large roan Shorthorn hull was waiting for the rest, and as soon as the gate was opened ho charged out, and, after

lie usual roaring and grunting, came to locks with a well-grown red Shorthorn bull of equal size. After several bouts with horns locked, the red bull slipped past the roan’s guard, and getdug him fairly under the body, heaved him bodily over the fence into the )>'ddock where be bad just come from. The roan bull weighed nearly a ton, and his body cleared the fence, me of the posts being broken by his horns. Another remarkable event from a spectacular point of view was when ‘■ix or seven bulls attacked one, pitched him down the side of a hig hill, hustled him through a gate, and over another x fence,

Mr. Thomas Webb, a prominent member of the A. and P. Association, and one of the best kno.vn dairymen in the district, was tha victim last week of a nasty .accident, one of his Ayrshire bulls catching him unawares, and tossing him some feet into space. Mr. Webb was not actually gored; in fact, only sustained a few minor bruises, but the shock has been very severe, so much so that he stated some days ago tluit it was his intention to “give up thej game” and sell out. Mr E. F. Toby, eyesight specialist, Wellington, notifies elsewhere that he may be consulted at Mr W. Abbott’s Stratford Hotel, from November 2nd to 7th. Mr Toby brings to h«RV bn his profession over thirty years’ experience, and may therefore be relied on for skilful advice and treatment, he is the holder of a large number of flattering testimonials from patrons who acknowledge, the immense benefit they have received from his treatment.' Mr Toby has not visited these parts for several years, but will probably make periodical visits if it is desirable by those consulting him. x A' rumour is abroad to the effect that the Public Works Department are reducing the number of men employed on the Stratford-Main Trunk line at the rate of fifty per week, and that this will continue until Christmas. A reporter who visited the Public Works office this morning was unable to learn anything either confirming or dening the ; rumour, the officer-in-chargo being away on official business in Wanganui. •''lt is, however, absolutely certain, that the services of many of the mert are being dispensed with, and the rumour as to the number to be “sacked” is backed by fairly reliable authority. At present the number of men employed on this line is from four to five hundred. Two Guineas for tour linos of rootry l Read Tonking’s Linseed Emulsion Intimation every Saturday amergst news items.