LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 83, 3 December 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

“A Visit to the Course,” being an article on the work of the Stratford Racing Club during the past year, togther with the list of nominations received by the secretary (Mr. Alfred Coleman) for the races on January 1 and 2, appear on page 8.

A scheme is afoot to federate the Maori tribes under one body, under the ‘‘kingship” of To Rata.

A claimant is wanted for a bottle containing 120,000,000 disease germs, which is lying at the Binghampton (New York) Police Station. Taft will not stand again for the Presidency. He is now inaugurating a campaign for the reorganisation of his party.

The winner of the Dreadnought Tea Competition proved to be Mr. W. Rowson, with a guess of 931bs to ins credit. Owing to the close competition Mr. E. A. Drake has decided to award a second prize.

The Panama Canal Commission have issued their report, stating that the work will be absolutely completed by July 1, 1913, and the formal opening will take place six months later. People who handle blighted potato haulms should be careful not to rub their eyes before they have washed their hands. A local resident has a

highly inflamed eye, due to incautiously touching it before washing his hands, when he had been removing blighted stems (states the ‘Taranaki Herald’). The nominations of the Eltham brigade for the Fire Brigades’ demonstration at New Plymouth on Thursday came-to hand only on Saturday, after entries had closed. The question as to whether the Eltham men will be able to compete now rests with the conference of Taranaki Fire Brigades, which will be held on Wednesday night. The death has occurred at Redding, California, of a man named John Broadhurst, who lived for two months without a stomach, and never knew it was missing. Broadhurst, who was an engine-driver, was taken to the hospital suffering from a malignant growth. Through an operation his stomach was removed, and, not to discpurage the patient, the surgeons did not inform him of the nature of the operation, , Some people have funny ideas,, remarks the ‘Times.’ On Thursday a countryman came into Opunake, with the expectation of spending Wednesday afternoon; another visitor bid his friends a cheery “Good morning” at 5 p.m., whilst at the picture-show that night a native fell off a pleasant seat on to the hard floor and slept soundly till the close of the entertainment.

Among the experiences met with by a party, of amateur fishermen'at Whangarei on a Sunday was one in which a shark over five feet long was lauded by its tail. The fish was hauled up tail first, and it was found that the books, line and sinker was hopelessly entangled round the tail-end of its body. The shark gave the party a lively time before it was despatched, says the ‘Mail.’

“That the publication of inspectors’ reports, which are critical and confidential reports to boards and committees, be made illegal,” is a remit submitted by the Wanganui branch of the Education Institute for consideration at the annual conference to he held at New Plymouth on January Ist. It was approved at a meeting of the Wellington branclh last week with the remark from the chair that probably there was only one district in the world where it was permitted. A member said this unfortunately was not so.

A cable to the Sydney Sun says: To discover whether, as many scientists believe, there in another continent within the Arctic Circle, Vilsjalmnr Stefansson, of the American Museum of Natural History, is preparing to head an exploration party to go to that part of the world. Stefansson is the man who recently discovered a race of blonde Eskimos. The expedition hopes to leave San Francisco in May next, and will be accompanied by six other scientists. Bases will be established at Cape Bathurst, in the Behring Strhits, at Victoria Land, and at Banks Island. Funds for carrying out the investigations, which, it is expected, will take three or four summers to complete, are being supplied privately.

The correspondence department of the Overseas Club brought into touch two Britishers—a lady, re's id in a in Italy, and a man whose lot had fallen in Vancouver. After a. lengthy term of communication by letter, it was arranged that the former should cross over in person. When she arrived at Vancouver, however, her correspondent was missing as the result of some misunderstanding. Members of the Overseas Club were soon to the rescue, and the missing one was located, “The two were married about eighteen months ago,” said Mr. E. Wrencli (overseas organiser), at Auckland,

“and some two or three months since I had the pleasure of being made god. father to their first-born.” Auckland members of the club appeared to relish the intimation of such practical Imperialistic results.

The Wellington (Somerset) ‘Weekly Xews,’ of September 25. reproduces the following from the ‘Western Flying Post’ of September 21, 1812: “On Monday last the victories of the Marquis of Wellington were celebrated at the town of that name, in Somerset, from which he derives his title, in the most distinguished style. Four fat bullocks, sixteen sheep, and six hogsheads of strong beer were distributed on this occasion to 1300 persons. This is true hospitality, and much more useful than the most splendid illuminations.” Some people doubt that the Iron Duke’s title was derived from the Somerset town. A s a. matter of fact, the full title was Marquis of Talavera and Wellington, Somerset. This was conferred after the Talavera victory in 1809. The Dukedom came later in 1814.

A Gazette notice states that Wednesday, December 25th, Thursday, December 26th, Friday, December 27th, Saturday, December 28th, 1912, and Wednesday, January Ist, Thursday, January 2nd, 1913, will be observed as holidays in the public offices of the Government of New Zealand. Owing to the arrival of cadet-uni-forms, the ordinary evening parade at 7.30 on Thursday next has been cancelled. Ail cadets will attend at the Defence Office between the hours of, 6 and 9 p.m. for the purpose of receiving their uniforms, etc. All record books will have to be produced. At the boxing tournament on Thursday, the ages of two youths-rdfenny-Juill and Bailey—who contested! a hoi| nore given at 15 and 14 respectivj©), It appears that Pennyliall, the win'll dr,y. according to his parents, has just' turned 13 years. For his age Pennyhall has capital knowledge of boxing. 1 here was a good number present at the Oddfellows’ euchre party held in tiie foresters’ Hall last night, and a , V( WV enjoyable evening was spent., vi taf l t 7 supper was provided by ‘ d l 'oo king. The prizes were won as toilows:—Ladies, Mrs. Maroney 1, Miss Neilson 2, Mrs. Lawson, booby. Gentlemen, C. D. Sole 1, M. Moroney -> Meyer, booby.

ihe ordinary life of a ship is given ova, paper devoted to shipbuilding, as follows: In the United States, 18 years; m trance, 20 years; in Hod and ft years; m Germany 25 years: in 1 Gieab Britain 26 years; 1 Italy Wars; and in Norway 3J If"?- J .' 1 , 1 , e anmial death’, rate ol the world s shipping is about 4 per cent., and the birtn rate 5 per cent. ~ ‘Oliakune Times’ understands tjiat a writ for libel has been issued mi beijalf ol W. Canning postmaster, O.iakune, against A. H. Wilkie - commission agent, Oliakune, for £5Ol damages. At a recent sitting of the Magistrate’s Court, Oliakune, an application was made for permission to pioceed for criminal libel in this case, but tLie Magistrate refused" the permit, stating that the plaintiff had his i emeuv in a civil action. The present proceedings are being taken in consequence ol that ruling. •

Ibe Methodists of Papatoetoo and sui louudmg districts have set on foot a pi ojoct lor the. erection of a new church in one day—Saturday, Decernher 1-! in emulation of a similar feat performed not long ago by the Hamilton adherents of the Church of Christ. About, sixty tradesmen have already ottered their services free of charge, and the plans have also been provided free. Refreshments for the workers wul he provided by the ladies of the district, and large gifts of food have' been promised from residents in the ” aucato. The building is designed to seat 300 persons, and if the scheme is carried out practically the only expense will be for the materials employ-

On the Victoria’s last trip from Sydney, a child passenger had a dummy white cat, holding in its paws a black mouse. The ship’s cat in its around came suddenly on this white stranger, and with hair 7 ' on end stealthily approached. Within : two feet they got “set,” and angrily eyed each other- they stared iimi ; 7 stared, till, finally overcome : by the ‘ ' white cat’s stony glare, ! “Blackie” ’• sprang at its adversary with savage intent. After a , fierce'-combat, the r - white dummy completed a series of • somersaults by standing on its head, still holding the mouse and glaring vacantly ahead. .had sprung ti back to dodge an anticipated assault,: but bis antagonist’s tactics were so' alarming that. •he became . quite jm-» narced and fled for his life. The passengers all agreed that the incident was too funy for words. An Auckland resident, who lias retunml after several.months spent-inT 1 the I-iiited Kingdom,- said' he was greatly struck during the recent troublous strike of the London dock workers with the manner in which the City of London authorities handled the food supplies from foreign countries. They were, he said, determined at all costs ” to keep the people supplied with the necessaries of life. The frozen meat • was forwarded from the docks to the metropolis in vans preceded by a •• strong force of police and constables every lew yards along both sides. Conflicts between the strikers and the guardians of the law were very numerous, and the policeman’s baton was much in evidence. “And the worst feature of the lot,” said the informant, “is the utter futility of it all. The strike has not benefited anybody: it lias not resulted in one penny increase in wages to the workers,”

‘T have been forced to the conclusion that pupils are kept unduly long in preparatory classes, and consequently are retarded throughout their whole school course,” says the Inspec-tor-General of Schools, in his last report. “Several of the boards’. inspectors have argued that the time spent in the preparatory classes should not bo curtailed, but that pupils might be passed quicker through the lower standards. Such a course, however, has certainly not been generally followed in the past few years’ as, the time spent in passing from St. I. to St. VI. is 4 years 10 months, and it was the same in 1905. It is further argued that in a large class the dull pupils retard the progress of the bright ones; also that the secondary schools are existing for the comparative few, and that these should not be considered when the well-being of the majority, who leave school after pass-, ing the sixth standard, is at stake. To such objections I must answer that it is unfair and disheartening to clever and ambitious scholars to be thus retarded, and that at the least their promotion need not affect those who are not so well favoured intellectually. The proportion of pupils proceeding to the secondary schools is now, moreover, very considerable.”

The sensation of Grand Prix week at Deauville (France) was created by all American woman, Mrs. Ogden L. Mills, with her hoop skirt. Mrs. Mills is a step-daughter of William K. Vanderbilt, who is highly regarded at Deauville on account of bis public spirit and interest in the races that have made the resort famous. She appeared at Deauville Casino in a dress which caused consternation, and shocked the good taste of the most fashionable and elegantly gowned gathering ever assembled at any resort. Mrs. Mills’ costume was of white satin, over which hung a tunic effect of black not. heavily embroidered with a large design in silver. But the startling part of the dress was the hoop which held the tunic out fully five ' inches from the skirt all around. This / made an effect of a hoop overskirt X reaching to just above the knees. As r soon as Mrs. Mills entered the Casino )K----she was followed everywhere by a curious, throng, who, when they wei'e not commenting adversely upon the taste of a woman who would dare to wear such a monstrosity, were ridiculing her. Many of the throng took her for a mannequin from the Hue de la Paix, trying to launch a new style, hut throughout the grilling Mrs. Mills seemed .absolutely unconcerned, and went about as if she wore the most insignificant and unnoticed person present. When she finally donned a cloak to depart, the effect of, the hoop holding out the wrap was so ludicrous that people broke into laughter.

The total receipts of the Hawera Show this year were £1194, as against £1094 the previous year, an advance of ,£IOO.

The rainfall for Stratford for the ilionth of November was'B.sßin. Rain fell on 19 days. “\Yhat’s wrong with a ‘Wild Man Show ?’ ” queried a member of the Hospital Board this morning, when the raising of funds for the .Hospital were under consideration, “i might do that, myself,” said Mr. Sidney Ward.. f

A painful accident was sustained'on Sunday by the youngest son of Mr. “Dick” Cottier, of \Vhangamomona, the Vv falling off a bank and breaking hi#4fKa. Strange to say, this is the Sid" time the lad has sustained this •y. He was conveyed to the hos:yesterday, and was attended by Hr'.'‘.Steven.

Sudden cold following intense heat is a favourite feature of the bathing or almost all peoples. In the Arctic regions of Lapland they take what we should call a Turkish oath in«the following way:—ln every village stands a hUt, in the centre of which is a hollow mound of stones. A great fire is lighted in this. When the stones have become red hot, water is thrown upon them. This instantly turns to steam, which fills the hut, in which the bathers go, each armed with a switch. They lash each other to ensure lively skipping about, and when they are dripping with perspiration they rush out and roll in the snow until they are cooled off. Nominations for thirteen races, out of the sixteen on the Stratford Racing .Club’s New Year programme, closed at 9 o’clock last night. During the day and in the evening, the secretary, Mr A. Coleman, was kept . very busy receiving entries. Nominations came from as far south as Dannevirko, and were exceedingly heavy, all the races, including the open events, filling remarkably well., with the result that the total entnes received exceed those of any former year and establish a new record for the Club. It is quite evident that the Stratford fixture is fast gaining a most important position in the minds of the racing world on the west coast, and the favourable feeling evinced by the number of entrants is a further indication of their appreciation of the treatment received here. Entries for the Borough and Cardiff Stakes and the Farmers’ Plate do not close until the 23rd inst., and when to hand will further swell the already heavy list of competitors. Regent Cigarettes are famed for their purity and quality. Smoke them and get particulars of the Free Gift Scheme from your tobacconist. x