LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 15, 16 January 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Quo first offender for drunkenness was this morning fined os at the local Court.

The Wesleyan and Primitive Methodist Sunday Schools are holding their annual picnic on the 23rd of this month on the Stratford A. and P. Showgrounds.

“Can calves on the bucket he impounded?” is the question that a ratepayer asks the Stratford County Council. In defining “cattle” the Impounding Act says in effect that a cow and its calf, if the latter is under six months, are one animal. According to the Chairman, calves cannot be impounded, but the owner of straying calves is liable to prosecution under the Police Offences Act. Mr Hathaway added, the Council was not a legal adviser.

At yesterday’s meeting of the Stratford County Council, Mr A. A. Cuthberlson was re-appointed Dog Tax collector, and given power to sue, in cases where owners refuse to register their dogs.

A youth, supposed to be a Burnside Industrial escapee, was brought before the Court tnis morning on a charge of theft, and was remanded until to-morrow to enable the police to make further enquiries.

In addition to the sum collection by Messrs Holmes and Rutherford in aid of tne widow and family of the late K. Smith, of Stratford, further amounts totalling £1 Is have been handed in direct to this office. Subscriptions are still being received, and will bo duly acknowledged in detail when the lists close.

“1 would like, as a ratepayer, to put in a word of praise to the Engineer and staff for the good job they nave made of my bridge,” remarked Councillor Young yesterday, referring to the bridge over the Puniwhakau Stream, and on the Tapuni Road deviation.

Stratford’s own particular annual holiday—the Seaside Excursion—is to take place this year on Thursday, January 30th. Special trains are being arranged for and particulars of timetable will appear in due course. Tickets must be obtained at Mr 11. B. Anderson’s shop in Broadway.

“I must congratulate the Engineer; he made a very good job of it.”—iA remark by Councillor Smith at yesterday’s meeting of the Stratford County Council in referring to that portion of the Opunake Hoad adjoining Mr W. G. Malone’s residence, where the grade has just been reduced from 1 in 15 to 1 in 22.

Members of the Wesleyan Church commemorated the anniversary of the Christian Endeavour Society last night, when an enjoyable function was held in the Foresters’ Hall. Songs were contributed by Misses Cooper and Everiss, and Mr Everiss, and violin solos by Miss Rogers. The Revs. Reader and Metson gave addresses suitable to the occasion.

Stratford is to have another permanent picture show, the films coming through Hayward’s Syndicate. Mr R. W. Baker wrote to the Council last night stating that as soon as the Eltham Borough Council installed electric light at their Town Hall, he would commence business at Stratford in the Town Hall, supplying his own lighting power.

Casein operations are in full swing at the Midhirst Dairy Factory, and while the scheme was at first, according to the Npws, only intended for the main factory creamery suppliers are now bringing their milk to the main factory so as to participate in the casein benefits. It is intended to hold a big representative meeting at Waitara shortly, when a big co-operative casein-manufactur-ing scheme will be discussed.

The regulation county dog collar is thrown in with the license fee, irrespective of whether last year’s is 1 worn out or not, and consequently farmers are well supplied with collars. Now Taranaki farmers know how to make use of any old thing, gnd consequently it is not surprising to learn that clog collars are used to tie up the calves; and hitch up the old horse, the collars make ideal hame-straps. Illustrative of this utility talent, it might be mentioned that a certain local farmer uses an old spring trap for a gate.

The cost of living nowadays hits other than the human body pretty hard. Local bodies, the country o'er, know only too well that the shoe pinches harder than ever it did. “Timber’s up,” was the cry of the poor councillors at the Borough Council meeting last evening, and although the quality was right—it was stated to bo “rough heart”—the fact that during the last week or so timber had gone up from 13s 6d to 15s was a matter of considerable moment to the municipal purse.

The County Council’s new Aveling and Porter road roller was christened yesterday, and “Jimmy Junior” (the name is a compliment to Councillor Thomson) was given a trial spin. Councillors “put their hands in tlxeir packets,” and celebrated the christening right loyally. In proposing the toast of the day, the Chairman said that the putting of the road roller into commission marked another advance in the Council’s road-making history, and he trusted it would prove the success they expected. Cr. Thomson, in reply, said that roadmaking had advanced from the pick-aud-shovel stage to the grader, and now the most modern road-rolling system. Then followed the toast of the health of the engine-driver, proposed by Cr. E. Marfell, after which the Council got back to business.

The matter of providing the' Fire Brigade with a convenient ground on which to practice was revived at the meeting of the Borough Council last night, when Mr E. A. Drake, Secretary of the Brigade, wrote stating that the Brigade had ascertained that the laying on of a main to Victoria Park would not in any way encroach on the ground proposed to be used by tenuis clubs, etc., and that there was ample room for all. His Brigade hoped, therefore, that the Council would make an allocation in the 1913 estimates for this urgently necessary work. The Mayor stated that satisfactory temporary arrangements had been made, and the money would be duly put on the estimates, Councillor Ward objecting strenuously to the work not being put in hand immediately.

A singular accident happened on board the Tyser steamer Star of India while on the voyage from London to Australian and New Zealand ports (says the New Zealand Herald). The vessel was running her easting down in line weather, and a number of apprentices and engineers had fcfouped themselves on the fore deck to have their photographs taken, when a large albatross flew over the ship, and in its flight struck one of the stays. The force of the bird’s impast with the wire smashed one of its wings to pieces, and it fell headlong to the deck. In its fall it struck an apprentice named H. Hyams on the head. He was picked up in a dazed condition, and was confined to his hunk for several days suffering from a slight concussion of the brain. A remarbkahle thing is that Hyams does not now remember what struck him, although he has completely recovered from the severe blow which he received. The bird’s wings measured 12ft from tip to tip, and in its fall these swept several of the group off the bridge ladder. The albatross, which wembed 1611), was killed by the force with which it struck the deck,

To-day’s “Post”; Pago 2, School Esga,ys on the Stratford Show ; page 3, County Council; page 8, Borouga Council reports. Grandmothers of Chicago are to have a clubhouse of their own, as they consider* they are the most neglected portion of the population, and are not welcome at young people’s clubs. The junior free places earned in the Taranaki Education District are: Alice M. Barnes, Madge Bayly, Hilda B Bishop, Herbert H. Crockett, Gladys R. Gilbert, Alan Haynes, Vera Julian, Mary A. Lynch, Newton Solo. O'.' V The weekly half-holiday question

has been easily disposed of this year, ine matter engaged the Council’s attention for half-a-minute last night, when a motion was passed that Thursday continue to be observed as the half -holiday. | Tire Napier Telegraph states that consternation reigned supreme amongst certain well-known “sports a few days ago when it became known that an embryo bookmaker. had decamped, leaving them all more or less with unrealised expectations.

The frozen meat salved from the e.s. Star of Canada, which was wrecked at Gisborne, arrived in London per the s.s. Muritai and Star of Scotland, and considering the exposure which of necessity it had undergone when being transferred from the wreck, it has, says the London correspondent of the Pastoralists’ Review, reached Home in veny good condition, and reflects great credit on those handling the goods at Gisborne.

An unusual case was heard in the Court at Auckland, when a man was charged with having harboured his daughter, knowing her to have absconded from licensed service. The girl was under the control of the Auckland Industrial School, and while in licensed serviqe she absconded. About three months afterwards she got married, and the two nights prior to her marriage were spent at the place where the defendant was boarding. A fine of £5 was imposed.

Consequent on the unfavourable season, exceptionally light crops are anticipated in the Tokomainro district this harvest (states the Otago Daily Times). At the meeting of the Milton branch of the Farmers’ Union, the doleful anticipation was expressed by one farmer that the same amount of binder twine required for one acre last year would suffice for ten acres this season.

The Taranaki Hospital Board’s Inspector (Mr Kendall) at the request of, the Inglewood Borough Council, in-, spected the septic tanks used m con-j nection with the sewage of the town, and has reported very favourably on their working. “In'my opinion, concluded Mr Kendall, “the town of Inglewood is to be congratulated upon the possession of such satisfactory and efficient outfall works for dealing with the town’s sewage.”

In connection with the tabulated matter appearing in our issue yester-j day with reference to herd-testing by; the Stratford and Midhirst Associa-j tione, attention is drawn to the fact| that the last sixteen lines in the table of the Stratford Association had been inadvertently misplaced. These have appeared under the Midhirst re- ( suits. The introductory matter, | comment, and analysis, which appear, are, however, not in any way affected hy this mechanical error, and are correct as published.

A suggestion that something should he done to commemorate the life work of the late Sir Harry Atkinson was brought before the Prime Minister at Cambridge. Mr Massey expressed his sympathy with the proposals, and stated that he considered that much of the prosperity of the Dominion was due to the work of the man whom he; described as one of the greatest patriots New Zealand had known. He pointed out that it might be difficult ( to rouse the interest of the people after twenty years, but he would place the matter before his colleagues, j

The peregrinations of a letter Sed to a Stratford lady afforded for interesting speculation, considering that the missive dated 22nd November has only just reached its destination. It appears that the letter was wrongly re-addressed by the postal authorities to another Ta-ranaki-town, and the addressee being there unknown the Dead Letter Office was the next temporary resting place of the .communication. The writer's name was obtained by opening the correspondence, and on receipt by him the letter was immediately j forwarded to the original address. It. was then received by the lady, with all, its variegated markings and additions 1 in the shape of envelopes, and the contents read with exceptional interest.

An ex-resident of Waihi, who was, absent during the latter half of thej strike and its closing scenes, was ac-i costed at .the Paeroa station whilej on his way back to Waihi by a Fed-j erationist, who advised him on no; account io return. “You will be shot; down as soon as you step off the, train,” said the Federationist. Con-| tinuing, he said: “They are all armed with revolvers and big sticks, and they’ll shoot and kill- you directly! they see you.” “Bpt,” protested the} returning one, “I have nothing to do with either side.” “Oh, that won’t matter; they’ll shoot you all the same. They are all strangers, and. the Maoris are the worst.” Needless to say, the ravings of the Fed-: erationist were not heeded, and the ex-resident returned to a quiet and peaceful town and a community of! well behaved people, which, as he said, was not in evidence when he left during the strike period.

It would appear that there is still a prospect of steel sleepers entering into competition with the much-dis-cussed karri in connection with the construction of the trans-Australian railway (says the Melbourne Age). The Minister of Home Affairs, asked whether this class of sleeper was to be regarded as completely out of the running, stated, in reply, that he certainly obtained fresh quotations, and foupd the prices altogether! too high. He . was, however, making inquiries regarding the use of steel sleepers on some of the South African railways, and in view of the prices asked he would await the result of those inquiries before placing any orders. Contracts had been let for a good supply of tfooden sleepers. In his last budget of South African news, the commercial agent for the Commonwealth at Capetown stated that in pursuance of its policy to provide its own supply of sleepers, the South Africap railway administration had now upwards of 8800 acres of land planted with suitable timber.. The trees consisted of cedars, eucalyptus, pines, gums, and cypress. The total area of land now reserved for this purpose was 42,737 distributed throughout the Uni-