LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 61, 5 November 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Waitara Freezing Works will re-open on or about Monday, November 11th.

The totalisator figures on the New Zealand Cup constitute a record for any one race in the Dominion, being £10,578. The directors of the Stratford Electrical Supply Co. and the members of the Lighting Committee of the Stratford Borough Council are meeting on Wednesday evening to confer with regard to a variation of contract in connection with street lighting. In vindication of the Ulsterman against the charge of having no tense of humour, Rev. A. Sims told a story at the sixth annual banquet of the Ulster Association at Sydney last week. There were two Uulster butchers in competition, one of whom exhibited ms ‘‘very best” sausages at 8d per lb. against others’ good” ones at 6d. Tne former retaliated with the announcement that his sausages “as supplied to the King” would be sold at lOd per lb., whereupon his rival posted a ticket op his wares reading “God Save t.ie King.”

His Worship the Mayor (Mr. W. P. Kirkwood) is in receipt of the following letter from Captain A. C. C. Stevens, of the Defence OffiW',vHaw.era,p n ; “As Area Group Officer in command of the Taranaki District, and on behalf of the Defence Department, allow me to express to you my warmest thanks for all the kindness shown by you, and those associated with you, to the visiting New Zealand Contingent of Cadets, whose prowess in Canada you so fittingly celebrated recently. Your arrangements for their comfort, instruction, and entertainment were, believe me, much appreciated by the officer in command of the contingent, the lads themselves, and myself. I feel sure that when these boys disperse to their homes in various parts of the Dominion, they will always preserve enthusiastic memories of your hospitality to them, and remember the many att-ac-tions of this fertile and progressive province.” 1 The American Bar Association has now proscribed coloured members, and 12,000,000 American negroes are making the most sarcastic comments,” says the 'Telegraph’s’ New York correspondent. “Such coloured folk as now belong to the Bar will not be expelled, but for the future no negroes need apply. It is pointed out that the European Bar associations do not draw the colour line, and if black doctors of medicine. are permitted, why not black exponents cf the so-called liberal profession cf the law? In cmdemning the ostracism of the negro, the ‘New york Evening Post’ snvs: ‘The drawing of caste lines in the Republic is both base and treacherous to the fundamental principles of democratic government. Soine coloured members of the association resigned on the ground that they have no wish to belong to a profession in which they are not wanted.”

At the special meeting of the Stratford Borough Council last night the Reserves Committee reported that an application had been received from Messrs. Webster, Uniacke, Dobson, and Smith, for the lease cf subdivision 1 (of section 326, for a term of ten years from July Ist, 1912. Acting under the powers delegated to them by the Council, the committee had agreed to the application under the same conditions as imposed when the reserves were offered by auction, and the lease 'has now been signed by the applicants. They bad instructed the Town Clerk to give Mr. Spence notice to quit the shops occupied by him by November 20tb, 1912. This had been done, and the committee asked their .actions to be endorsed. The report was adopted. It should bo explained that the notice to quit both shops is merely a matter of form. Messrs. Webster, and Co. have taken one shop, and Mr Spence will apply for the remaining one.

The latest round voyage of the Lusitania has witnessed a remarkable development of ocean journalism. Daily on board the great Cumv’der was published an enlarged Bulletin of 12 or 16 pages. In size, each page is about four times that of the first issue. which made its appearance nine years ago. So admirably printed is the paper that it is difficult to rea’ise that it has been prepared while the huge vessel was itself travelling nearly 600 knots in the 24 hours. There is the evidence, however, of actual news of the day—wireless telegrams, stock market quotations, etc.—*o show that the newspaper is actually what it purports to be—a daily chronicle in brief of the affairs of the world. Needless to say, the new Cunard Bulletin is highly appreciated hy passengers, who welcome the Bulletin newsboy bringing the day’s paper to their staterooms.

The careful mother’s purest winter safeguard—Tonking’s Linseed Emulsion. s

In reply to the Stratford A. and P. Association that the gate charge for their Show would be made 2s if Hawera did so, the latter association turned down the proposal at a meeting of the committee on Saturday by nine votes to four, and carried a motion that one shilling only be charged at tin' gate.

This quaint tale of a typewriter is told by an Anglo-Indian. A British Judge in India, an expert on the typewriter, used it for the taking of judicial notes. The machine was taken into Court, when a certain novelty was imparted to the proceedings by the click of the keys and the tinkle of the hell. The prisoner was found guilty and sentenced. Promptly lie appealed on the ground, that, instead of listening to the evidence, the Judge had w#led away his time by playing on a musical instrument!

At the Foresters’ Hall last night quite a large number of card enthusiasts assembled and took part in the progressive euchre party held under the allspices of the Oddfellows’ Ledge. A most enjoyable evening was spent by everybody present. Supper was supplied by Mrs. Brooking. For the gents’ first prize, a tie resulted between Messrs. J. Jones and Doggett, the former winning in the play off. Mrs. Miscall was again successful in carrying off the ladies’ prize, and Mrs, Blackett secured second prize. The “booliys” were annexed by Miss E. Stavely and Mr. J. Voyle, the latter after playing off with Mr. Marratt.

A contractor down Eltham way is in sore straits to fifid labour to take charge of his bullock teams. Failing to secure anyone in his own district, bo paid a visit to New Plymouth yesterday, and on the return journey, while strolling on the Stratford platform last evening, unburdened himself to a ‘Post’ reporter. “Goodness knows,” ho said, “eleven day should he enough to fetch ’em'. Some contractors give 12s, including river work, but I bar putting my cattle into the water. Oh, well,” he continued, with an air of resignation, “if I can’t get anyone. I’ll just sell out—that’s aIK” And thus labour wags the world.

The total value of the linen discarded in one year by the Union Shipping Company amounts to £IO,OOO. The usual stock held in the company’s new laundry at Wellington, ready to go away, may be roughly valued at £IO,OOO, or about equal in value to the yearly “discard.” Altogether M 6 persons are employed in the laundry—2s women and 11 men. With this staff the average output per day amounts to nearly 10,000 pieces of linen, the maximum for one week being CO.OOO. The Maori, as a rule, sends 2500 pieces to be washed, but in the busy season she often sends ashore as many as 4000 pieces. The Maunganui runs from 7000 to 8000 pieces, and even to 10,000 in the crowded tourist season. But, in one day, the laundry is capable of doing the washing of any boat in the company’s fleet. '

Statistician Knibbs has discovered Australia’s champion mother (says an exchange). He brought her record to light three or fopr weeks ago, but so far we find no evidence of any attempt on the part of the Government or the people to properly recognise her splendid service to the State. This matron has been married twenty-two years, and is a mother of twenty-six children, a child and a fifth per annum. It’s a grand performance—26, 2iot out —better than anything an Australian cricketer has ever done, yet, while the cricketer’s record is remembered, and his name honoured, the identity of the foremost female patriot is not even known,' and there is no whisper of any presentation or public recognition of her endeavours to fill up the waste spaces.

The porters at, Abbeville Station "(France) oh” a recent Saturday night noticed the curious attitude of a man who had been standing for a considerable time motionless before the board on which the delays of the train service are recorded. It was observed that his eyes were tightly closed. As he still remained without movement, an official touched him on the shoulder. The man immediately fell into his arms, his body absolutely rigid. A doctor who was called diagnosed the case as one of catalepsy. It seems that for a considerable time the man had been standing in the middle of the busy station in an unconscious condition. Catalepsy is a sudden loss of consciousness, accompanied: by more or less rigidity of the limbs, so that they remain in any position in which they are placed. The American newspapers give the office which Sir George Reid so ably fills a more high-sounding title than its official designation. The ‘Chicago Examiner,’ for example, refers to him as “the Lord High Commissioner for the Commonwealth.” The ‘Examiner’ features a story about Sir George and Mr. J. B. Forgan, the president of the First National Bank, singing a duet at a luncheon given by the Illinois St. Andrew’s Society. First, Mr. Forgan sang a verse of “Auld Lang Svne,” it says, and then “Lord High Commissioner” Reid and Mr. Forgan together sang the second verse with a fervour that only native-born Scots can instil into Burns’s lines’ and finally the rest of the guests joined in. The reporter makes no comment on Sir George’s singing, except the somewhat vague statement that “the listeners had not been so stirred for a long time.”

In regard to Dunedin’s Sunday trip, we give the shocked ones all due /creclit for worthy motives in voicing/ their protest (says the Wellington ‘Post’), but it is our belief that'their attitude is unfortunate. Such an incident incites persons who call themselves “sports” to raise the strident and much-abused cry of “Wowser!” Wo have heartily acknowledged that New Zealand owes much to many so-called “wowsers,” but the work of the solid improvement cf the people is hindered rather than helped by narrowness regarding the observance of Sunday. It is well not to give opponents of reasonable reform a chance to gird at ea’nest workers by a clamour about such remonstrances as those reported from Dunedin. We cannot imagine how healthy breathing cf God’s ■ ir on blue water flanked by verdant hills in the glad inspiring springtime can bo a wicked! misuse of a part of Sunday. Surely there can be upl’fting sermons in the bright sun. the shining sea, the green trees, and the flowers.

The cynicism of this wore or less advanced age came in for some criticism at the hands'of the Rev. I. Sarginson, of Christchurch, at the Congrega-Du-alist jubilee celebrations. One of the gravest of present-day dangers was the cynical spirit that ho, the sneering unbelieving spirit that laid itself ont to discount and discredit everything that was high and roble; that- "Ski uted good deeds to selfish mo'ivWs, and asserted that good was only good in the seeming'; that the world was only a market where gor-d deeds were bought and sold. He advised Irs hearers to put away from them + hat sneering, snarling philosophy of life and the desire to he thought ‘-mart nd up to date. The cvni""l 'uHt was d adly,. and would spoil all the moral ertlur iasm of life with its unrighteous and hurtful influence. D was a f n’-er at the root of character, and : ts deadly effect was ip Mie arresting of growth and the ■ nailin ’- of the flower and fragrance < f life. It w-s ho cl nelly enemy of life and everything that was associated with that holy name.

Among the successful tenderers for mail services in the New Plymouth district for the term 1913-1915, are: Mr A. 0. Williams, Kaponga, Rowan, Mahoe. Cardiff, and Stratford daily; and Mr R. Taylor' for Strathmore, Huiakama, and Te Wera, daily, Half-an-hour was spent by the ciglit members of the Stratford Hospital and Charitable Aid discussing the site for a fowl yard. Even then this momentous question was not decided, and. the whole of the Board will swoop down upon the Hospital grounds this afternoon and endeavour to effect a settlement.

A special vote of thanks was passed at the meeting of the Stratford Hospital and Charitable Aid Board this morning to Mr Louis On Kee for ins handsome donation of £5 towards the funds of the Hospital. “An example that many might follow,” was the Chairman's comment. Sheep worrying by dogs has been a very considerable nuisance in the Car•diff district of late, and settlers have suffered considerable loss. On Saturday, Mr G. A. Marchant had a number of well-bred ewes and lambs considerably knocked about, while a number of them were destroyed. Settlers would therefore do well to be on the look out for these depredatory canines,.

Referring to Mr G. A. Marchant’s recently-purchased Holstein bull, it should have been stated that this fine animal came from the Weraroa State Farm.- The youngster, which is named Co/.ak, and is by the famous sire, Sir He Kol Inka Pietertje out of Lqnore, has been accepted for registration in the highest position in the Herd Book. The state of the funds of the Stratford Hospital and Charitable Aid Board make it more than ever necessary that a “Hospital Saturday” should Ire held this year. Mr S. Ward, at the meeting, of the Board to-day, suggested Christmas Eve as a splendid day for making the collection. This was agreed upon, and a meeting of ladies and all sympathisers to take up the matter will be held at 3 o’clock on Tuesday afternoon next. The following list of books have been added to the Stratford Library : “The Net” (Rex Beach); “The Band Box” (L. J. Vance); “.Designing Fate” (John Sandes); “Grit Lawless” (F. E. Young) ; “The Knight Errant” (R. A. Wason); “The Price She Paid” (Phillips); “Business Rivals” (F. H. Deans) ; “Between Two Thieves” (R. Delian); “The Cos tof It” (B. Mordaunt); “A Hoosier Chronicle” (M. Nicholson); “The Daughter of Brahma” (A. R. Wylie). To-day (November 5) is the anniversary of the raid on Parihaka when the Maoris were dispersed and Te Whiti, Touhu and the murdered Hiroki taken prisoners. It was a hot sunshining day, and the bayonets of . the volunteers on the hills surrounding the Maori settlement glistened in the sun, and when leaving the place in an express, the wife of Te Whiti took a good look round and remarked that she did not know there were so many people in all the world. On the way to the Pungarohu blockhouse, Te Whiti shook his hand in farewell to some Maoris assembled on a bid near the road and shouted, “Kia manawa nui!” (Have a big heart). It has been suggested that members of the late Taranaki Mounted Rifles should have a re-union and rifle match in com- £ menaoration of the event, but (states the Daily News) as the time is now too short to arrange matters the function will be postponed for a little while.

■ • r ; Some of the 1 side shows at the Palmerston Show were absolute takedowns.. One raucous-voiced showman informed the public that he had on view “a burlesque wild man with teeth . ■ .three inches long—he won’t huft'ybli!' He won’t hurt you! He is in the pit! Now, girls, get busy, he wants a , wife!” he megaphoned to the crowd, and they parted up and went in. The alleged wild man was an ordinary individual whose, face and hands were liberally smeared with some red colouring matter; horse hair partly covered his face and two enormous temporary teeth protruded at right and left angles from his mouth. He was seated on some straw, which he involuntarily clutched and released with one hand, while in the other he held a shin bone. He was clothed in a cap, singlet, trousers and socks. Occasionally ho would glance up with a look of amusement, no doubt at the gullibility of his patrons. Another side show .which did good business with a certain section, who richly reserved being taken in '(remarks the ‘Manawatu Herald’) was billed as follows:—“For men only. A three-legged female undressed.” Tne three-legged female was a cat, minus one leg’. A telegram to the Melbourne ‘Argus’ from Bombala says:—For many years past this portion of Monaro has been credited with being the possessor rf a hairy man. Bushmen at various times have reported that they had seed’ an immense ape-like animal, but it had always managed to escape them. On the afternoon of October 15th, word came through from Mr. Sydney Jephcott, owner of Creewah Station, twenty miles from Bombala, that in the thick bush on his property on the previous dav he discovered tracks of an apparently immense animal. The tracks were like those of a human foot, but measured 18in. in length and Sin. across. Mr. Jephcott ordered a quanity of plaster of Paris to be sent out from Bombala for the purpose of taking impressions. Word was also received that a man named Summerell, while shooting in the bush, came across an immense object resembling a man. On Summerell approaching, however, the creature picked up a stick and emitted a growling noise, and disappeared. Portions of Creewah are very rough and scrubby, giving the mysterious animal excellent opportunities for hiding. Two Guineas for tour Tines of r entry i Read Tonking’a Linseed Fmulsion Intimation every Saturday amuur<d news