LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 79, 26 November 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Owing to the unsettled state of the labour market in shipping and other circles, also to ’ increased freight charges, many Taranaki growers are, this season, disposing of their clips through local agents, Mr. Newton King reports the sale of a 90-bale clip at a satisfactory figure, besides several smaller ones.

It is stated in a volume of the census report recently issued that if the total population of England and Wales at-the last census—36,o7o,492—was distributed at equal intervals over the whole surface of the country, a distance of 76 yards would separate each individual from his nearest neighbour. In 1901 this interval was 80 yards, in 1891 85 yards, in 1881 90 yards, and in 1871 96 yards. In 1801 it was 153 yards. I

There seems to be no limit to the ingenuity of inventors. The latest novelty is what a Paris contemporary terms “un bcrceur electrique.” The berceur is fixed to a balance, and this is connected with a phonograph. As I soon as the baby cries vibrating tablets of the apparatus arc set in motion and these in turn affect the phonograph, which emits a lullaby. The rotation of the cylinder causes i the cradle to rock, and this pacifies the baby. lAs soon as the baby’s cries cease the cradle no longer rocks. IP this means the domestic occupation? of the mother are not interrupted to look after the infant.

A meeting in connection with the proposed Farmers’ Co-operative Organisation Society will be held in the Borough Council Chambers, Stratford, on Saturday, November 30th, at 1 p.m. As the time is eminently suitable for the convenient attendance of the farming community there should be .a large gathering present. The convenor is Mr. G. IT. Buckeridge. The committee which was elected at the very successful meeting held in Hawora recently will be in attendance, and it is hoped that all interested—and the pro posal vitally affects every farmer, and therefore should interest all—will be present to discuss the proposals.

An incident of interest to lovers oJ natural history occurred recently in a garden at Peterborough, Northamptonshire. Fired with its first attempts at flight, a fledgling blackbird alighted on the garden walk, and was unable to get up to the wall, where its parents, with much concern, were observing it. At this juncture the household cat appeared on the scene, and began to steal stealthily towards the fledgling. The parent birds started screaming at him, and that having no deterrent effect, one of the birds (lew on the cat’s head and began to peck vigorously at it, aiming at the cat’s eyes. The other parent bird joined in the fray, and alighting on the cat’s back, tore beakfulls of fur off it. The cat beat a hasty retreat. In the West Coast county, where it often rains, and the occasional tourist on the top of the coach is hardly visible for macintoshes, various humans ruh wet shoulders. Among the passengers lately on a coach was an Irishman and a plain everyday truth-loving New Zealander. Tliey spoke of echoes, and Patrick mentioned that in Child Oiroland there was a plaace called the “A : glcs N'i.st” wid an echo that thravels from the beginning to the ind ol K blarney iviry toime it sets going. The New Zealander suggested that there was nothing at all extraordinary about that, for in the Healey (forge (or thereabouts) one bad only to shout “Comeanaveadnnkbill” to receive a thousand echoes, “Righto, mine’s a ninb.”

Fined at Willesden (London) Police Court for drunkenness, an organ grinder said it was his regular practice to hire a street organ, and also to hire from the same place a one-legged or otherwise deformed man to take round with him for the purpose of exciting sympathy. Ferny hurst Estate, 1G miles to the cast of Masterton, .has been placed under cll'er to the Government for closer settlement purposes. The estate (says the ‘Ago’) comprises about 4500 acres, of which 2400 acres are flat and ploughable. None of the property is what may be termed broken, and it is considered that the land would cut up into farms of from 300 to 500 acres in extent.

Lord Chelmsford scored in great style at the expense of a Salvation Army officer at last week’s Booth memorial meeting in Sydney. It occurred when responding to a vote of thanks passed to His Excellency for presiding. “While Commissioner Hay,” Lord Chelmsford observed, “was saying this was probably the last time" that I should be present at a Salvation Army gathering, Lieutenant-Colonel Birkeiishaw said ‘Hear, hear.’ ” This remark caused great laughter, which was repeated when the speaker added, “1 think it was ‘Hear, hear,’ lie said, and not ‘Hallelujah.’ ” I have had pleasant relations with the Army since I have been in Australia, except on one occasion, and that was on a Christmas morning, when your band woke me about 3 o’clock. (Laughter.) Hunting for Spanish treasure in the sunken Armada galleon at Tobermory, the divers have found the almost, complete skeleton of a 'hoy of about 14 years of age ,and a man’s jawbone in which arc set three perfectly-shaped teeth. Large quantities of" African oak, cannon balls of stone and iron, broken pottery and wine flagons, encrusted cutlasses, daggers, swords, and muskets, lead and copper have also been recovered. Metal plates, showing the same embossments as on the specimens discovered last May, have been found in comparative abundance. Among the more peculiar finds are several feet of copper wire cable, a graduated brass bar (supposed to be a tangent used for sighting purposes on a l) g gun), and a hollow shell containing a remarkably light and soft metali

A crew from the Gisborne Rowing Chib’s shed got into difficulties in the bay on Sunday week. The oarsmen'paid a visit to the wrecked Star of Canada. As they were returning, the skiff, being lengthy, would ride one green sea, but before recovering, the next came along, with the result that the boat had to dive through part of the roll. There was a small hole in the canvas covering of the bow, and this was gradually: made larger, so that by the time the rowers were a little more than half-way between the Star of Canada and the Breakwater, the bow was under water and the stern high up. Eventually the skiff capsized, and the occupants were soon floundering about in the sea. Fortunately for them, they had been watched from the Kaiti beach by persons who feared there would be trouble. A boat which was handy was launched, and was rowed nearly a mile to the men in the water. The rescuers did nob arrive any too soon, as the men were becoming exhausted in their efforts to cling to the upturned racer. A most remarkable piece of evidence was adduced by a solicitor at the Invercargill Police Court during the hearing of an adjourned case, in which a wife made application for a prohibition order against her husband (says the Southland News). The complainant was in the box, and the solicitor for the defendant inquired if witness was a believer in clairvoyancy, otherwise witchcraft.,: or fortune-telling. After a little persuasion she admitted the fact, and that she had attended lectures by a lady who spoke on the subject. “Didn’t you ask the clairvoyant about your husband?” “Yes.” “D'dn’t she tell you to get rid of him, and you have been trying to do that ever since?” ‘No, she only said he never treated mo as a wife and never would.” “And as the result of her advice you have been trying to kick him out and drive him to drink?” Witness refused to commit herself, and the cross-examination changed to a discussion as to whether husband or wife was more addicted to “throwing things.’*

Chatting to a representative of the Press recently, Mr Len E. Bassett, of Wanganui, gave some interesting particulars with regard to the narrow escape of H.M.S. Thunderer, at Plymonth, when a live lyddite shell fell whilst being conveyed to the magazine. Mr Bassett happened to be on board when the accident occurred. It appears that the shell which weighed llcwt 281hs fell fnnn a sling a distance of thirty feet whilst being loaded into the magazine which was almost filled with similar shells. It fell fuse downwards ou to the deck and in falling struck the foot of an officer, crushing it to pulp. It was this breaking of the fall that is believed to have saved the ship and all its crew. Experts declare that the fuse was only prevented from acting by the 1000th part of an inch. By all accepted notions the shell should have exploded, in which case nothing could have saved the ship and those on board. Mr Bassett vividly described the situation which reigned for some moments after the shell fell, everybody expecting the explosion to occur. Some rushed away, whilst others stood transfixed with horror. So great was the, effect on the nerves of the crew that work was completely suspended for some time. As a result of the accident live shells are in future only to bo loaded at sea.

The iiorce antipathy of a cow to motor cars and motor cycles was a serious danger to motorists on the Riverton road at the iron bridge on a recent afternoon (says the Southland Times). The cow seemea uo be suffering from some violent form of insanity or delirium tremens or other disorder. As soon as the animal sighted an approaching car it erected a militant tail, lowered its head, and generally prepared for action. One car after another was violently assaulted. A rider on a harmless pushhike was hurled to the ground, and the bike was very seriously damaged. A motor cyclist escaped the cow’s horns by the narrowest margin. In fact there was quite a number of more or less narrow escapes, until, about 4.30 p.m., the cow fought its last fight with a two-seater car. The owner of the machine was travelling into town quite innocent of the fact that there was a mad cow in his path, when lie saw the animal coming down the road. It was not until it was within a few yards that he realised that it was bent upon mischief. Then he applied the brakes, but the cow charged and came into violent collision with the car. One of its horns pierced the rad - ’tor and was broken off, and the shock was so severe that the airmal’s neck was broken, and it died almost instantaneously. After the storm comes a calm. After a puff of a Regent Cigarette comss contentment to the smoker. Try them •<ml share in the .Great Free Gift Scheme. w

The secretary of the A. and P. Association advises local exhibitors that their dogs will be taken at the showground up to 10 o’clock to-morrow morning.

Arrangements have been made by the Postal Department for opening a' “receiving” ohice at the showgrounds on both show days. Telegrams may be presented, at the Department’s office underneath the , main grandstand, and these will be despatched at regular intervals to the town office for transmission from there. Accidents during wood chopping contests are of rare occurrence, remarks the Waitara Mail, but one occurred at Mokau, where an axeman’s j. a* broke, and the end flew off The steel struck the w.elder, but fortunately 'P 1 was the flattened top. The man, however, received a bruise on the head, but not sufficiently hard to hurt much.

By a perusal of the report of Mr. Newton King’s hide sale, which appears in another column, wo notice that all classes of produce are selling exceedingly well. Inero appears to be an excellent market for butchers’ hides and skins, hides in particular, selling at advanced values. Calfskins at Is per lb should be a sound return for the farmer. The ‘North Auckland Times’ says: “A movement is on foot for the formation of a New Zealand dairy secnetaries’ institute, ou the lines of a similar society in Victoria, with branches at the various dairying centres, such as Whangarei, Hamilton, Stratford, and Palmerston North. It is claimed that such an institute would benefit the dairy industry, as it would enable the factory secretaries to annually discuss matters connected with their calling. The scheme is being warmly supported in North Auckland.” \

Very few people are aware of the meaning of drinking a cup of sake in Japan. It. is a part of the marriage ceremony for the bridegroom to offer the bride a cup of sake, “Drink tins, my bride, and you’ll be mine,” and the act of drinking it completes the marriage ceremony. This will 'help some of our readers to better understand one of the .scenes in *‘The Geisha,” in the second act. The Marquis imari holds the cup of sake to Juliette thinking it is his English sweetheart, and upon Juliette drinking it she becomes his bride.

An evilly-disposed person at Te Kiri chopped down a telephone post on Thursday or Friday last, and Mr Hume the lineman connected with the Stratford office, had to go out and effect repairs on Saturday. It cannot reasonably be suggested that the axeman was training for the forthcoming Carnival at Christmas tune, as the post was ironbark, and there is not much fun associated with a chop of that description, and, further, it should be stated, on each side of the post and blocking the view of the road for half a mile on either side, are two mounds of earth, in the hollow between which the miscreant prosecuted his designs without fear of discovery. However, the police are now taking a hand in the gqme.

With reference to the rumour published in our columns yesterday regarding the dismissal of men on the Stratford-Te Koura railway, an officer of the Public Works .Department informed a representative of the “Stratford Evening Post” to-day that one hundred, and not three hundred, men had so far been dismissed. He could not say, however, how many more men would be- given notice, as this depended on how the money already voted would last. The question was simply one of keeping the limits of the expenditure authorised. Many of the men, who had lost them jobs, had signed oh'' with the Hoads Department; a number had been engaged by the Eltham County Council, and others bad obtained work on farms throughout the district. There was, in fact, plenty of work available. The War in the Balkans has cut off the supplies of otto of roses, on which the manufacturers of high-class perfumes so largely depend. Prices have already risen, and should the war be prolonged the crisis which has threatened for some time will be reached. Otto of roses, though used in minute quantities, forms the main ingredient of numerous perfumes, notably all the rose perfumes, and to a smaller extent of violet, “bouquets,” and opopanax scents. Bulgaria is practically the world’s only source of genuine otto of roses. The roses are grown largely by peasants in the valleys at the foot of the Balkan Mountains, the distilled oil finding an outlet through Constantinople. Efforts to get the same results from roses grown in France, Germany, and South Australia have failed.- While the war clouds were ga-j thering merchants irt the East hurried all available supplies out, of the troubled urea. Buyers in London, Pans, and Mew York took up all they could deal with even at almost prohibitive, prices. Five hundred ounces at 65s an ounce—the present price—was by no means an uncommon purchase. “Time and tide wait for no man,” is an old adage which, in the light of the unenviable experience of three visitors to Bluff on Monday (says tiie Southland News), may be added also “intercolonial steamers.” _ The party, including one lady, had Journeyed to the port for the purpose of bidding adieu to friends, who were leaving b\ the outward-bound steamer for Melbourne. As. is customary in cases of the kind, the party went on board prior to the hour appointed for the departure of the vessel, and, as the result of a somewhat prolonged farewell, and in the excitement which attends such occasions, found themselves still on board a considerable time after the last bell had gone and ( gangway had been hoisted up. The captain, on being advised of the position, the boat by this time having been swung-out into mid-channel, decided to put back to the wharf. This, however, was not necessary, as a dinghy, propelled by only one oar, proceeded to the side of the steamer, and a rope ladder was thrown over. By tins means the male members of the party descended without much trouble. The undertaking was somewhat venturesome for a lady, but there was no alternative. A burly seaman came to the rescue, and with arms firmly fastened around, his neck, she was carircd on his back down the swaying ropa ladder and placed safely in the dinghy, amid cheers from the spectators who lined the wharf and the decks off the boat from which they descended, a distance of some 30ft. Regent Cigarettes are pure and cool Smoko them and share in the Great Free f|H Scheme. _ Full particulars from your tobacconist. x