LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 96, 18 December 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ouo clay last week a Timaru Ann of solicitors received a letter from a client who forwarded payment for i property ho had bought. Ho sent over twenty; £SO notes in an ordinary on velopo, the letter being unregistered.

The call of the Rev. J. M. Simpson from Knox Church, Auckland, to the Coro Presbyterian Church, was read at a mooting of the Auckland Presbytery on Tuesday. Mr Simpson announced his intention of accepting the call. Ho said lie did not believe in a protracted ministry in any one place.

“New Zealand,” said Miss McLean, principal of the Wellington Girls’ College, in her annual report, “is sonictimes said to he enthusiastic over education ; occasionally it talk® as if it were, but who ever hears of sacrifices for education amongst parents or oi genorsity amongst donors? It is so rare as to cause hysterics when it docs happen.”

A sample of about half a pound of tea, grown near Melbourne, has been forwarded to Mr Watt, the Victorian Premier. Messrs Griffiths Bros., tea merchants, forwarded a letter with the sample, stating that the tea was grown by Mr James Griffiths, a member of the firm, and that the idea of sending ‘it on was to prove that tea eon Id be produced in the Commonwealth. The tea is said to he superior to the best Ceylon or Indian varieties. At Mr Newton King’s wool, skin, hide and tallow sale held yesterday, record price® were obtained. Firstclass lines of butcher cow hides realised 9,id to 10d per lb, ordinary lines 9d to/' !)£d, ox hides 9d to 10-gd, yearlings'np to lOd per lb. Calf skins were in keen demand, sound lines selling at Is to Is .‘kl per lb, damaged lines up to Is Gjd per ib. Wool and skins were also on the np grade, fleece realising up to 10.Vd per lb.

Ecclesiastical examiners are not infallible, and occasionally produce as good “bowler®” as those sometimes

supplied by candidates. It was mentioned at the meeting of the Dunedin Presbytery the other day that a candidatel for license had been given a poser that, would have gravelled more experienced scholars. Ho was instructed to prepare a sermon, the text of which was to ho the Kith verso of the 62nd chapter of Isaiah’s hook. Well, there are only twelve verse® in that chapter.

It is reported that the collection foi labour unionists of the Waihi levy will cease at Christmas. A Dannevirke resident at the Wood ville races went to purchase a couph of tickets on the favourite, but in stead hud handed to him two of* a little-fancied candidate.He had the satisfaction of seeing it beat his original selection by a bead, and enrich liiir to the extent of between £3O and £lO.

At a meeting of a certain public body (says the Press) an item on the pay sheet was a couple of pounds for whisky. One of the members of tin body expressed a certain amount of surprise that the item was put through so baldly, and remarked, “Why, on the road hoard we always put that down as nails.” A well known Christchurch lawyer is telling this one: A woman came up to my office the other day and wanted to know if she could get a divorcchecause her husband did not believe in the Bible. J told her that unless she had something else on him there would ho no use in bringing a suit. “But .lie’s an absolute infidel,” she insisted. “That makes no difference,” said I, “Doesn’t it, indeed?” she cried .triumphantly. “Well, you are a fine lawyer, 1 must say. The law says infidelity, if proved, is a ground foi divorce!”

The career of Italy’s first woman advocate, Signorina Tekesa Labriola, doctor of laws and professor of philosophy in the University of Home, has been out short by a decision of the Home Supreme Court that women do not possess the right to carry on the profession of advocate. The Court refused to allow her name to he enrolled, the Mail says. This is all the greater blow as Signorina Labriola has already made a successful appearance as an advocate, pleading with great success ou August 16th, before the military tribunal.

A solution of the puzzle created by the accidental mixture of type copied from a printer’s proof that came into my hand, says Sir Henry Lucy, was work for an infant in arms compared with another communication to me by an able editor, who found on a proof sheet of intelligence from Sydney and New Zealand the following two items composing separate paragraphs. Thej are here printed in te form in which they were originally typed:— “The volcano Tongariro (sic) in the province of Sydney is now finished, and has been handed over to the Government authorities.”—“The Macquarie lighthouse at South Head, Auckland, is at present in a state of eruption more violent than at any period during the past fifteen years.” Chas .Barry, butcher, employed by F. Hahne, of Wangaratta, had a narrow escape from being frozen to death in the refrigerating room last week. Thinking Barry had left the chamber, Hahne closed and bolted the door. Barry was busy hanging meat at the time, and did not notice that the door had been closed,but he became alarmed when he discovered that it would not open. After calling in vain for help for some minutes, he pulled down ah iron bar and hammered away at the padded heavy door until he knocked a hole in it. Through this his cries were hear by Mr and Mrs Hahne, at their residence 30 yards away. Barry had been locked in the freezingroom for over three-quarters of an hour, and collapsed on going into the fresh air. Dr O’Brian was called in, and under his treatment Barry recovered.

The question of the patronage accorded the local baths came up for discussion at the meeting of the School Committee last night. It was stated that this season there are only 18 a embers and one member pertinently pointed out (as the reason, no doubt) that a very large crowd of bathers now take their daily dip a little lower down the river. “Seven and six is too stiff they say,” the same gentleman explained. This did not meet with the views of tfie meeting as a whole, however, the chairman in a contemptuous tone remarking: “We can do without them. We got £'o last year at 5s and we have 18 at 7s Gd now.” As the fee had been fixed for the season there was no alternat:ve but to allow matters to remain as they are and keep the steadily in view for the future.

A young married woman, whose name is said to he prominent among those who are admittedly the leaders in New York and Newport society, recently offered, without disclosing her identity, a reward of £20,000 for the return of jewellery which she alleges was stolen from her on the night of 22nd October in one of the low resorts of the “Tenderloin” district in New York. *lt has become a fashionable fad for parties of New York’s “Four Hundred” to make nightly explorations anions the amusement, drinking and gambling resorts of the lower stratum of society, and it was evidently in o)io of these explorations that the lady lost her jewels. In her offer of this large reward the advertiser explains that this sum is in excess of the intrinsic value of her jewels, hut that for family reasons and because of their associations she hopes to recover them. She adds, however, that she would rather lose her valuables than disclose her identity.

Rather a curfous position has arisen at 'Wellington from the fact that his Honor the Chief Justice is also His Excellency, the Administrator, _ of the Hominion. As Chief Justice, Sir Robert heard the case of King against the Merchants’ Association and others, Now, it is understood the judgment cannot he delivered yet awhile, because it would hardly he compatible for His Excellency the Administrator to decide a question to which, as the vice-regal representative, ho was himself a party. A legal gentleman, to whom the matter was mentioned by the Post, remarked that he could not off-hand remember any exact constitutional rule barring the Administrator from deciding Crown oases, but no doubt the practice had been established in the past. To follow it out, th?\ Chief Justice, for the present, would not he in a position to preside at a criminal trial or to sentence prisoners. Practically, of course, the objection is non-existent.

The Economist has been working out the cost of the Balkan war, and why there hr,® been so great a shrinkage in the world’s securities in conse<l nonce of it. First over half a million men have been taken from productive employment, and on a wages loss of only 10s per week this is £250,000 a week. Then there is consumption of fond, ammunition, clothing, etc., representing a million a week loss. Then there is the loss in death and disease of able-bodied producer®, .put down at £250 per head, based on ten years’ purchase at £25 per year earning capacity. Fn to the end of October the Economist therefore sot down the cost in men and money to each country, side hv side, as follows; Bulgaria, .‘500,000 ‘men, £1,500,000; Serna, 200,000, £3,000,000; Montenegro. 10.000, £600,000; Greece, 60,00(), £900.000: Turkey, 500,000. £?,- 500,000. Since then there' is mere than another month’® wastage to he added.

The Moa Dairy Company paid out £5147 7s as the milk cheque for the month.

The presentation of prizes for the, junior classes of the Station! District High School takes place at the school! to-morrow at 2 p.m.

India has 147'vernacular languages, the chief of are Hindi, Bengali, Bihari, Marathi, Panjabi, Tamil ami Telugu. The Court list for Friday’s sitting of the Magistrate’s Court includes 28 civil caJs, 2 defended 4 judgment summonses, and one information for alleged forgery and uttering. This evening and up to Christinas the stationery and fancy goods suops i. t Stratford will remain open eacn evening for the convenience of those requiring cards, toys, etc. A very promising young journalist remarks that: “When an enthusastic editor describes the bride as bonny, and an envious compositor sets her as bony, as was done the other day, hope for a season bids the world farewell, and freedom shrieks as the compositor falls at his formes, brained by the brother of the blooming bride.”

A little diversion was caused at a meeting of the Auburn (N.S.W.) Council by Alderman Long insisting on keeping Jus pipe in his mouth. He was not smoking, but Aid. Page felt it his duty to draw the attention of {Mayor Ritchie to the matter. The Mayor requested Aid. Long to put out his pipe, but there was nothing to put out, an despite threats to have him dealt with under several ordin-j ances, Aid. Long kept the offending 1 article in his mouth. Then the Mayor adjourned the Council for live minutes, and on resuming, finding that the alderman still kept bis pipe in Lis mouth, the business was allowed to proceed.

A communication from the Chief of the Live Stock Department of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition intimates that a commission will shortly leave San Francisco for Australia for the purpose of interesting the States in the representative display to be made at the exposition. He will urge particularly the importance of Australia being represented at the exposition by exhibits of live stock. 'lhe company which is running the exhibition has set aside £35,000 for prizes. As this amount is to be augumented by substantial appropriations from herd book associations in the United States (says the Sydney Daily Telegraph) there will be, apart from any trade advantages to Australia that may result from exhibits of stock, a liklihopd of big prizes coming to this country.

Regarding the suggestion that thej inebriates’ homes at Rotoroa and Pakatoa may be taken over by the Government, Commssioner Richards, of! the Salvation Army, says: “It is my opinion that the homes cannot bo run better than they are by the Salvation 'Army, which cures about 60 per cent of those who pass through its hands, most of them permanently. Red tape and iron regulations do away with violation on the part of patients, and are apt to produce a sense of aggrievement which tends to destroy willingness to remain. Our cuics, with few exceptions, do not care to advertise their former weakness. Were our right tp use discretion in the admission of doubtful characters replaced by State legislation, turning the homes into inebriate prisons, irrespective of criminal tendencies, the most successful factor in the treatment of dipsomaniacs, that of appealing To their self-respect, under isolation from drink, would be removed.” “Four donkeys are plying for hire on the beach.” This sentence in a letter placed before the School Committee at its meeting last night arrested the attention and raised a smile among the members. No doubt the thought of the children enjoying themselves was uppermost in their minds, as the business before them was the matter of the annual picnic. That delightful stretch of beach at Fitzroy, New Plymouth, is the rendezvous which has been decided upon on this occasion, and the date will be Thursday, 30th January. Arrangements are already well in hand. For the information of parents and others it may be mentioned that there is plenty oi accommodation, while many conveniences are at hand. Two coppers oi 50 'gallons each are built in. The ladies’ and gents’ bailing sheds are always ready with shower-baths, anti the boat swings, see-saws, and swings are all available free of charge. A large marquee 20ft by 40ft lias been secured and arrangements have been made for the train to carry passengers on to- New Plymouth.

Old residents of Carcoar (N.S.W.) assert that never in their recollection have they experienced such a pest ol flics as exist this season (says the Sydney Daily Telegraph). Horses an simply being driven mad through their attacks, and it is a common sight to witness horses and cattle galloping wildly round paddocks in order to dodge them. Not only arc they at tacking animals, but human beings an experiencing a bad time of it. Fly veils are at a permium, but scores ol persons who never wore a veil in theii lives before have been compelled tc seek shelter behind them this year. Their prevalence is attributed to the abundance of green feed, and theii Jioisonous stings are traced to tin arge number of sheep which died through the winter months. Anothei theory advanced for the prevalence ol the pest is that so much bird life bar been destroyed through rabbit poisorfing that sufficient birds are not now alive to destroy the flies. Serious cases of blood-poisoning have resulted from their attacks, and several persons have had to seek medical ad vice. Tr many cases the poison caused swelling of the face, from the eye to down under the jaw.

“Your finger-prints, please,” is tin novel demand ifow,. being made by clerks in increasing numbers in Nev York banks of all ladies and gentlemen desirous of. cashing cheques. Tht customer sa'- the correspondent of the Daily Mai!, is given an ink-pad ant a card, pn tits lie or she is directed to place three fingers and the first joint of each thumb. The clerk compares the impressons with records ii the cashiei-’j, office, and presents tin customer with a little bottle of spirit; of turpentine and a piece of cottor wool for the removal of the ink stains Only after this ordeal has been successfully accomplshed may the cus tomer receive cash for his cheque. According to the Evening Post, tin leading financial newspaper in New York, the new system of finger-prints is rapidly growing in favour with hankers who have been victimised by swindlers and forgers. The Williamsburg Savings Bank was the first institution to adopt the system. Other banks, finding that it entailed much delay, appointed a special clerk, whose duty it is to persuade ladies to remove their gloves and to submit to the inkj' operation. Brisk demand for Hoyle’s Prints (fast dye), Roslyn Summer-weight Underwear, and Warner’s famous Rustproof Corsets,

Settlers are now taking advantage of the tine weather for burning. This morning huge clouds ot smoke could be seen rising in the northern amt eastern directions from the town.

Mr Sptigg, the caretaker of the Foxton Bowling Club, on Saturday attained his seventy-sixth birtnday, when he was presented by the members with a valuable case of pipes and tobacco box.

The committee of the Stratord Pacing Club met last night, when the execution of final improvements to be made to the grounds and buildings were authorised. Arrangements for special trains were submitted by tne railway authorities, and were considered and approved. These arrangemerits, which will bo advertised in due course, include special trains from a-, uganui, New Plymouth, and V> hangamomona.

The attempt made by the Methodist people of Papatoetoe district to build a whole church for themselves in one day was successful, for during the hours between dawn and darkness on Saturday a line little building was erected, and in a major sense completed ready for the first service which was conducted by the Bov. W. Beady on Sunday morning. The work was startetd at daylight and completed by gaslight in tile evening. All work, except plastering and some ot the plumbing, was given free. As it is the building will now cost some £4BO. It will be used us a hall on week davs. for the congregation wishes to swell its fund to pay off tile debt. A Press Association message from Auckland states that up till Saturday last the total amount placed to the credit of the Clyde Bedshaw relief fund came to £1212 10s. Several lists are still to come to hand, iso that tne grand total will be close to £ISOO. Thej response made to the appeal by school children of the Dominion has been magnificent. The schools from Cape Maria to the Bluff contributed to help the little fellow who lost both hands: in the railway accident several months! ao-o. Of the total contribution noi less than £920 As lias come Horn pupils of New Zealand schools. In connection with an article which appeared in our columns some days ago referring to the respective merits of crushed shingle and mountain metal. Dr. Paget, in conversation with a “Post” reporter, pointed out that the motion moved by him, when on the Council, was against the practice of laying shingle direct on the roads and ' then napping the larger stones. Crushed shingle was an entirely different matter, and he quite believed that it would prove excellent for road making purposes. As to mountain metal, they knew it was entirely unsuitable for that purpose. He had advocated obtaining metal from Sentry Hill, and could not understand why a supply of metal from these quarries was not available.