LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 92, 13 December 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It is believed that the Waikato Hos pital Board will benefit to the extern of about £ISOO per annum by the pars ing of the Land Agents’ Bill. Dorset (England) Education Corn inittce negatived a proposal to supply certain of their girls’ schools with sewing machines, one objection being tiiai if they were provided, model raotoi cars would soon be wanted by the 110 VO.

When the alarm was raised that tin National Hotel was on fire (says tin Te Awamutu Post) a few local ‘sports happened to be within the building Appropriate to the occasion, the little party had a final bumper, singing ai the same time the popular retrain Oi “Just a wee doch-an-doris before w< gang awa.” They then quitted the burning house. The Clutha Free Press states that a well known Tautuku resident wil. come before the Magistrate’s Court at the next sitting at Owaka on ; charge of “sticking-up” the mail coach at Batanui. The facts arc alleged to be that the resident had been drinking, and that he went the length of blocking the mailman aha pulling him, off his seat on the vehicle used for carrying the mail, thereby causing a delay of over an hour.

A monkey is not often placed under arrest by the police, Imt a case, is now on record. A man, who was arrested for drunkenness in the Mount Cook district on Saturday, had with him a monkey running on a chain that was firmly fixed to his coat. The monkey had necessarily to ho taken into custody with its master, and on Monday morning both were convicted and discharged. Another item of news from Mount Cook is that a Chinese was convicted for drunkenness—an unusual occurrence.

Another fantastic club lias been discovered in London. This is the Black Bean Club, limited to forty members, each of whom pays an entrance fee of £lO, and a similar amount as annual subscription. They meet only once a year, and then a bag is passed round containing 39 white beans and one black bean. The member who draws the black bean is compelled to get married within the ensuing twelve month, and the remainder solemnly vow to remain single until the next meeting. A house is furnished for the prospective bridegroom out of the funds oi the club, which also bears the cost of the wedding festivities and a three weeks’ honeymoon.

As an indication of the manner in which the Auckland exhibition project is being taken up by intending exhibitors, it is interesting to note that 18,503 square feet have already been booked by 62 exhibitors, at a cost o. £jooi. J tie total available area is 56,000 square feet IVrlormanecs of “A .Royal Divorce” at a Strasburg music hall were suspended by tea authorities until the following passage was inserted in a speech by Napoleon: “1 am haunted by the most sombre presentiments. If it were not lor those Prussian (Grenadiers! They march to battle like a living wall, impossible to penetrate.” hat will happen if 1 don’t pay it?” inquired a 'Territorial at the Auckland Police Court on Wednesday when ordered to pay 7s costs when (Summoned lor not attending parade, lie having taken French leave when not excused from drill when he applied lor exemption in order that ne might spend the day at Takapuna. “he don’t, answer conundrums here,” replied Mr E. C. Cutten, S.M. An American inventor (according to a contemporary) lias evolved a bullet winch, il generally adopted, would render the “purple testament of bleeding war” almost as innocuous as a Sunday school tract. The bullet is loaded with a preparation of morphine, and he claims that everyone hit hy his patent projectile will merely go to sleep for a time, and will wake up none the worse for his experience. He is seeking to induce the United States Har Department to take up his invention. One almost hopes that he will succeed. The term “deathless” as applied to military glory would take on a new and happier .meaning if tne warriors were merely sent to sleep instead of to death.

the London Times Heflin correspondent says that tlie strain and 'uncertainty of the European situation is neighing heavily on the German pubJic. Except a statement regarding a British suggestion of a conference 9 the Powers, there is no fresh news in that quarter (says a Berlin cable to the Sydney Sun). But alarming stones are being told of .Russian milltaiy activity. Travellers in Poland declare that everything looks as if war were in progress. in all parts of Germany telegrams are being received recalling Austrian subjects home, and the people cannot reconcile the official assurances with the evidence ol their senses. There seems to be no doubt about the sincerity of the German Government in their desire for peace, but if tlie outlook docs not soon become better it is generally believed that it will quickly become worse. Many respectable men, said the Lord Mayor of Sydney a few days ago, sometimes take a little more than is good for them (he did not say of whata), escepially in hot weather. He urged that for such temporary lapses otherwise well behaved citizens ought not to be taken down to a police court. There ought to be a Mayor’s Court to deal with them; Jn many American cities—in New York lor instance—-a city patrolman, on finding such a citizen temporarily ‘‘overcome,” would call a cab and carry him off to the Town Hall, and then fine him—when be came to, of course. The same court might also appoint “patrol” officers. Ladies sometimes went on their knees to him at the Town Hall to bog that their sons or relatives might not be taken into court.

While a Socialist was regaling an audience in Cathedral Square, < Christchurcli, on Sunday afternoon with his propaganda, two women, who for the past few weeks' have been carrying on a vigorous opsn-iiir cvangcJisiug crusade in the city, arriving on tho scene, coolly appropriated the audience, and proceeded to tell it things about its salvation. The audience at first contented itself with making remarks, and the orator, still mounted oil Ills soap-box, bore the intrusion with commendable* patience, and showed a sense of humour which alone prevented him from being angry. A more unruly element in the crowd' however, soon grew tired of the evangelists, and bustled them out of the way, leaving them to conduct their service outside the ring of the propagandists. Mr James Quigley, an Ashburton tanner, recently returned from a visit to his native home in Waterford, Ireland. Speaking of the improvements in the general methods of farming throughout the County of Waterford and other parts of Ireland during his fifty years of absence, Mr Quigley stated that the methods had been quite revolutionised. The most up-to-date ploughs, harrows, grubbers, and sowers, rollers, reapers and binders and grass mowers were being used. The best of cattle, mostly well-bred Shorthorns, were kept, and good results were obtained. The draught horses were similar to those in New Zealand, though many of them showed better breeding. With reference to the light horses, it was rare indeed to sec one which was not purebred, and the owners took great delight in them. The Prime Minister (the Hon. Mr Massey), at Lawrence banquet to the Hon. Mr Allen, said lie was not given to boasting, but lie wanted to say this: that he honestly believed that a huge majority of the people of this country were at the present time satisfied with the legislation of last sess on. (Applause.) They were delighted with the administration of the different departments of the Government, and with the personnel of tho Government. He knew of nobody

who had expressed the position better than a gentleman he met on the Balclutha show grounds that morning. It was the first time he met him. He came up to him, shook hands with him and said: “I am a New Zealander, and lam going to d : e in New Zealand, and when 1 am gone my family will lie here; but I want to say this'; I thank God for the first time in 2j years we have a Government to-day worthy of being called a Government.” (Applause.) That was what he (Mr Massey) believed was the opinion of the people throughout the length and breadth of New Zealand. (Applause.) In the Harleian Manuscript, Nos. 78 and 980, in the library of the British Museum, mention is made (writes a correspondent in a London paper) of the most extraordinary family that

has ever been known iii the history. The parties were a Srotch weaver and his wife (not wives), who were the father and mother of G2 children. The majority of the offspring of this prolific pair were boys. Exactly how many is not known, for the record mentions the fact that 46 of the male children lived to reach manhood’s estate, and only four of the daughters lived to be grown-up women. Thirty-nine of the sons were st’ll living in the year 1630, the majority of them living in and about Neweastle-ou-Tyne. It is recorded in one of the new histories of Newcastle that “a eertyne gentleman of large estates” rode “thirty-and-three miles beyond the Tyne to prove this wonderful stor\.” It is further related that Sir J. Bowers adopted ten of the sons and three other “landed” gentlemen took ten each. The remaining 'members of this extraordinary family were brought up by the parents.

Interesting figures relating to herdtesting by the Stratford and M.dhirst Associations appear on page 8. A branch of the Society for the Promotion Health of Women and Children was formed at Eltham on Wednesday night as the result of an address on tne subject by Dr. Truby King. I Damages to the amount of £I2OO j are claimed by an Albany (New York)! trarncar driver against a restaurant; keeper for serving him with a bad egg. The swallowing of the egg caused a violent fit of coughing, which broke blood-vessel. A fttrther remand was granted in the local alleged forging and uttering c..so. Willson will probably appear j before a. Bench of two justices on December 23rd. Mr Kenrick, S.M., said this morning that as the case would probably last a whole day, he could | not see his way clear to personally hear the case.

A Washington cable to the Sydney Sun states: What the actual loss of life was in the terrific typhoon by which some of the Philippine Islands have just been swept is not yet known, but there is little doubt that the death roll has been a very heavy one. Despatches received by the Bureau of Insular Affairs report that grobably no fewer than 15,000 people ave perished. The profits of dairying on good country, under efficient management, are demonstrated by an authentic example of a farmer on the Richmond river, north coast of New South Wales, whose dairy herd numbers 41 on 71 acres, and who for the past nine months has averaged £4B 17s 9d. The average number of cows per month is about 30. During that time he has paid into the bank £440 9« lid. Judgment by default was entered for , plaintiffs at the Magistrate’s Court to-day in the following cases: McMillan and Fredric (Mr Fookes) v. Haine and McAvery, claim £8 17s lOd and costs £1 3s 6d; Official Assignee (estate D. Duncan) v. Frank Hickey, claim £1 2s, costs 13s; T. D. Colson (Mr Thomson) v. Mary Hassall, costs only 7s: Public Trustee in estate of F. S. Pollock (Mr Duff) v. F. K. Gooch, claim £2O 17s 9d and costs £2 14s.

A clever swindle was perpetrated on a local business man in one of the King Country towns recently. A well dressed young fellow presented him-1 self, and, after suggesting that local! tradespeople were charging extort :onate prices, submitted a list of articles he could supply from his Auckland headquarters. The business man fell into the trap, gave the man a cheque for £6, and has heard nothing further about him, except that the rent of a small office occupied by the visitor has not been paid and the office is again to let. | The usual placid calm of the Pctone Court was, says the Chronicle, turned to humour the other day by a mistake on the part of one of the presiding justices. A pressman, instead of taking his place at the usual table, stood surveying surroundings, leaning on the barrier with a look of innocence. The defendants in the case before the Court did not appear, and the justice in question mistook the pressman for one of the accused. He gave him a severe look and said: “You will be fined 55.” The Court convulsed, the pressman got very red in the face, while the police hurriedly explained the mistake.

A correspondent in the Manchester Guardian of October 21st, writing in condemnation of what he igttoninth terms “conscription in New Zealand,” cdntradicts the Hon. James Allen on the meaning of the New Zealand Defence Act, His matter and his manner may be ganged from the folloiving excerpt: “Mr Allen also states that the scheme has been received ‘remarkably well,’ and that the prosecutions are ‘exceedingly few.’ Does Mr Allen know that • there are 65,000 workers in trade 6r labour unions in New Zealand, and that, with one exception, all organised bodies of toilers are against the scheme? The Christchurch Press of May 30th stated that 450 prosecutions were pending in Wellington then. That there is a strong and growing feeling in New Zealand against this dangerous scheme is a matter for which all lovers of freedom at Home and in the colonies should be deeply thankful.” Some sportsmen spending the weekend with rod and gun on the Puerua stream at Lochindorb, espied a shag enjoying a dinner of eel (says the Clutha Leader), there being about two ipches of the tail end of the fish protruding out of the bird’s bill. On the bird being shot and the eel drawn out, it was found that the feathered diner had “bitten off more than he could chew,” so to speak, for the fish was fully 2ft long, and the head was undergoing the process of digestion. A photograph was taken, and it clearly proved the devoured to be longer than the devourer. Later on the party gaffed a large eel, about a 14pounder, and on it being opened it was found that he had been dining well, for four trout weighing between half a pound to three-quarters of a pound, as well as a lobster, were brought to light. The “fish” were brought back to Clutha to convince sceptics of the truth of the story.

Mr William L. Falconer, a well known Masterton farmer, is in Wellington at present arranging for the production of a life-raft that he has patented, and which he believes will be found superior in every way to any other kind of life-saving apparatus on sea-going vessels. The raft is extremely simple in construction, says the Times. The body, consisting of cylinders sandwiched between sheet iron plates, is unsinkable. It is sup- ( plied with handrails secured by hinges that can be raised or lowered when necessary. Armed with propellers, shod with fine steel blades, and furnishedj with rachet wheels worked with chains,! it can be driven by hand at an aston-| ishing speed. The material used is' fine galvanised iron. The estimated weight of a raft 10ft by 14ft is 2 cwt, and this will carry thirty persons safely in any sea.

The strong feeling that still prevails in Waihi was demonstrated by a little incident which has just happened in the township. A small barefooted schooU&y drifted into the office of the new (Wion, and remarked to one of the officials who was behind the counter, “Say, mister, can we schoolboys take up subscriptions among ourselves to pay the Arbitrationists’ fines?” The official was busy writing at the time, and did not hear the question. A shadow if disappointment flitted , across the lad’s face as he imagined he was being ignored. He repeated the question. This time the official looked up with a glance of incredulity. “What’s that?” he asked. “A lot of us boys in the top classes want to know if we can put in so much each to pay some of the Arbitrationists’ fines?” again queried the lad. “You bet you can,” replied the official with enthusiasm, “and good luck to you.”i With a beaming face the boy rushed| outside and informed his waiting school-fellows of the verdict, which was greeted with much satisfaction.

Ferdinand Wolfe, for riding a bicycle on Celia street footpath, was mulcted in os and 7s costs at the Court to-day. A visitor to Masterton was protecting himself from the rays of the sun on Tuesday with an umbrella. He was also smoking. The umbrella suddenly burst into flames, and was completely destroyed.

An unusually hold theft was committed in Invercargill-on Friday (says the Southland News), when a man hurriedly entered a fay street shop and asked to lie allowed to use the telephone. Permission was given, and after a brief conversation with either an imaginary or real acquaintance he as quickly departed. A sound as though the till had been drawn out aroused the suspicion of an assistant in the shop, who went round and found that IDs was missing. The stranger was followed, but had so speedily covered the distance to the corner of the street that when the man in pursuit reached it there was no sign of him. The local cadets turned out to parade last night in their so-called uniforms—perhaps costumes would be the more correct designation. But whatever they are called, it cannot be said for a moment that these are a credit to the authorities, who should immediately change their tailor. If ever an exemplification that “clothes make a man” were wanted, the sight of the boys in their new “gear” afforded one. Some of them cut such a sight as to appear ridiculous, and staid men and women in spite of their better judgment could not refrain from smiles, while the younger element openly “threw off” their opinions, which were anything but complimentary, and cut the more .sensitive natures among the young New Zealanders to the qu.ck. Those who saw the members of Die New Zealand Cadets and not the local squad last night will wonder that the turnout such as the famous travellers wore should deserve such condemnation. But the knickers on our boys in some cases got the length almost of being termed trousers, while others looked as if “father’s pants had been cut at the knees and put on Jerry! The tunics were big and baggy in proportion, but did not appear to such d sadvantage. After all, most of us are sensitive about our pants.,