The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 1913. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 27, 31 January 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 1913. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Correspondence, leading matter, and other items, are crowded out of this issue. Latest results of the Stratford and Midhirst Testing Associations appear on our second page.

Sometimes even a lawyer is useful. To save £3 a farmer omitted to have a stock mortgage drawn up by a solicitor. Had he employed one lawyer in the beginning, there would have been no need of the presence of two lawyers in the Court to-day, holding an inquest on transactions extending over a long period.

Among the minor mishaps at the picnic at East End yesterday was the case of a little girl who fell from a see-saw owing to her companions on the other end of the saw suddenly “not playing the game.” The plank rebounded from the ground and hit the girl on the chin, causing blood to flow. The fright at the sight of the red fluid was worse than the fall and the blow.

An unusual incident happened with two Hastings ladies on Sunday last while out driving. The Tribune says that they were driving towards Te Awanga when the horse lay down on the road. The occupants of the vehicle alighted and a passer-by removed the harness, but when the animal was invited to complete the journey, it was found to be dead.

“I’m not much good at a remember and not the best of a handwriter,” said the plaintiff in a civil action, heard at the Court this morning. Taking these two facts into consideration, it can be imagined into what a hopeless state of chaos the cross-examina-tion of defendant would rapidly descend, when questions were asked as to dealings extending over a period of some years.

Easter Sunday this year falls on March 23rd, the earliest time since 1556, and it will not fall again on that date within this century—that is, iill the year 2000. March. 22nd is the earliest date upon which Easter can possibly fall. The last was in ISIS, and only in four years since 1500 has Easter fallen on that date.

A little child about five years old created quite a shock among the company of picnickers in the vicinity of the railway bridge at East End yesterday. The afternoon train was due in, when the little chap found his way on to the bridge, clinging to the rail. 'The whistle of the engine sounded in the distance, and all eyes were turned to the hoy. A railway porter leisurely walked to the structure 1 to pick the hoy up, but another blast of the whistle hurried him along. There was little breathing time until the train rumbled over the bridge.

So far as can be ascertained (states the .Mail), slaughtering operations at the Waitara freezing works will be suspended to-day (Friday).

For the month of December the New Zealand Fanners’ Dairy Union paid for milk supplied to the butter factory at Palmerston a total of £5900 Os Id, and the suppliers to the'various cheesefactories £2797 7s -Id. The largest cheque paid to one supplier to the butter factory was £2lB 11s lid. The expenditure in trade accounts was £OBO Os 2d.

Great excitement has been created in Beziers by the report of a miraculous cure that is said to have been effected in that part of France. The story told is that a woman, while visiting a cemetery, took her handkerchief and cleaned off the moss from a statue of the Virgin. Returning home, she touched her paralytic daughter with the handkerchief, and the girl, it is] averred, is now completely cured. Within 24 hours the miracle had become known throughout the Beziers region, and thousands of pilgrims are now visiting the cemetery.

A few of the St. Andrew’s tenuis players and their friends got very badly “left” yesterday aftornon. Tlfey were under the impression that the excursion train would stop at the Fitzroy station, but such was not the case, and the train crawled slowly past the little station, while they, like a certain noble lord, were “left lamenting.” Friends came to the rescue of the tennis players, and the majority took refuge under the roofs of the homes of hospitable Fitzroyites, returning to Stratford safely this morning.

From tlie Sydney Daily Telegraph: “Pwhat are ye?” the outback selector demanded in a brogue you could cut with the hack of a knife. “I’m a bush missionary.” “Pwhat’s that, then?” “Well, we are sent out by the Bush Missionary Society to carry the Gospel.” This was up in a North Coast district, and the missionary was Mr F. C. Stevens. He was giving an account of his travelling experiences recently. “The Bush Missionary Society,” the man with the brogue repeated. “Is it sanctioned by Archbishop Killy ?” • Mr Stevens could not say yes to that. “That’s all I want tc kn'oaw,” said his questioner, and Mi Stevens had to make for some other port of call.

The New South Wales Executive Council last week decided to commute the sentence of death passed upon Charles Bernard Roberts on December Ilth last for the attempted murder of Sydney George Parkes, licensee of the Captain Cook Hotel, to penal servitude for life. The Minister foi Justice, Mr Hall, stated that the factf which weighed in favour of the com mutation were, firstly, the youth of the prisoner, who is not yet 20 years of age; secondly, the comparatively crimeless record, his only previous cri initial offence being condoned in England under the first offenders’ provi sions of the Crimes Act; and thirdly, that the shooting was not attended by fatal results. It may be furthei pointed out (states the Daily Telegraph) that during the last fourteen years the death penalty has not beer carried out except in cases where at tempted murder has had fatal results, and that execution for anything bui murder has not been known in the State for nearly ten years.

The Wellington Post says editorial ]y: The difference between the Ward law and the Massey law, a< regards the conversion of leases in perpetuity, is as follows: Under the former a lessee in perpetuity could purchase the freehold by paying tin capital value (less improvements) which—vide section 177 of the Land Act, 1908—“ shall include the value ol all minerals other than gold or silver.” Under the Massey Act the price which a lessee in perpetuity pays for the freehold is based on the original value (surface only) at which ho took up the lease, and the freehold carries with it the right to coal on or undei the surface, and, it seems, to any minerals other than gold and silver. Parliament, at the instigation of Mi Massey, lias bound itself head and feet. The State has given up whai no one had the assurance to ask for and the Crown tenants have received from Mr Massey the whole of thei: price and more.

Last week a ballot was taken as tc what salaries the officers of the Kai tangata Miners’ Union (an arbitration body) should receive. The balin' resulted :—Secretary : £52, 24 votes ; £SO, 9 votes; £4O, 17 votes; £3O, 23 votes; £26, 131 votes. President: £7, 33 votes; £5, 55 votes; £2 10s. 108 votes. Treasurer: £ 20, 24 votes; £ls, 21 votes; £lO, 146 votes. With the memory of the recent trouble in Kaitangata mines still fresh it is easv to conceive that the officers of the union are not popular with many ol the workers. Commenting on the ballot, the Kaitangata correspondent of the Clutha Leader says that “the majority of members joined the union only at a late date, when they were given to understand that it was imperative to do so, and as this is the hrst opportunity upon which retaliation could be obtained it was fully expected that party feelings—federation versus arbitration—would crop /.up once more.”

The tone of New Plymouth is decidedly healthier than it has been for years. This is the opinion of a visitor to the old town yesterday. 'The splendid advertisement that the place has received under the auspices of the “boost” league is responsible for this happy state of affairs, and now closer than ever appears to be the long-looked-for “boom” on which the optimists of Oil-opolis have pinned Their, faith for years. A resident, speaking of a section of his fellowtownsmen, remarked, “They’re beginning to see now what boosting can do. Why, we haven’t had such a full town for a long time. People have come up to see what the place is< like, and are going away with their minds fully made up to come again. E'very year,’ in fact, one lady and gentleman said, and no doubt there are others imbued with the same splendid idea ; while many who revisited us after years of neglect expressed their surprise and delight at the advancement New Plymouth has made. All those people are spreading the good news wherever they go, and there is now no doubt we will benefit more in the immediate future. What is now wanted,” continued this enthusiast, “is for some of the shopkeepers to waken up to the fact that we have a tourist resort second to none in the dominion, and then probably they will brighten up their premises with a coat or two of paint, and Devon street! will he something like the thing. .As the street front is at present, it is little less than an eyesore.” There is, a lot to he read between the lines of the foregoing, and for the salve of the old-time capital of Taranaki it is to be hoped such pleasing optimism will soon be rewarded, as it deserves to ho. *

The South Otago Freezing Works will probably be opened for the season next week or the week following, but it is considered that there will not be many sheep or lambs forthcoming for a few weeks. It is considered unlikely that there will be any difficulty in finding sufficient butchers when the works ope*,?

A recent visitor to the Dawson Falls Mountain House informs the Patea Press that visitors to the house are being given an opportunity to bute towards the cost of a chain W> stretch to the top of Mount Egmont, as a guide for climbers. A shilling donation will provide a yard of chain.

The total amount paid out to suppliers by the Kaupokonui Dairy Co. for the month of December represented a sum of £17,072.*,. The supply is keeping fairly steady, and has not as yet been seriously affected by the prevailing dry weather, says the Waimate Witness. The Riverdale Co. paid out to suppliers last week £5477. The daily milk supply at present amounts to 80,000 gallons, which is 10,000 less than at the same time last year.

At Hastings last week a Territorial who had failed to render personal service, besides being fined £s', was deprived of his civil rights for five years. The Magistrate explained that loss of civil right meant that the defendant would be incapable of employment in the public service, and he would not be entitled to registration on any electoral roll; so, therefore, he could not vote at Parliamentary or other elections.

At a social evening given to visiting and local bowlers at Christchurch, a gentleman said that he had recently heard a good story, and with the permission of the company would tell it. He commenced: “An old bowler died and went to heaven.” The incongruity of such a thing tickled the company immensely, and it was some time before the laughter died away. However, the speaker told his story to the end and everybody seemed satisfied with the conclusion, because tjje bowler’s stay in heaven was short'/

Hen roost thieves appear-to be profitably busy in Manaia just now, states the Times. Some little time ago a resident’s poultry yard was raided at night and a couple of prize hens were carried off, as well ffs such eggs as were found about. A night or two ago there was another visit and a couple of hens disappeared. Hen roost robbing is said‘to be unusual in Manaia, but it looks as if it was going to become a settled industry, unless something happens and the law steps in and has a word or two to say. '■

Whilst being driven along the road on Friday last (writes the Hampden correspondent of , the Palmerston Times) a draught mare and foal walked through the front entrance of the Hampden Hotel. The sound of the heavy footfalls Inought the landlady quickly on the scene, but the vision of a troupe of summer visitors was immediately dispelled by the sight ‘of tlie intruder. Aftef ; much patient manoeuvring the animals were got out, but not before, -tlie foal had investigated the visiting dentist’s room and tlie mare had carried away the sidelights of the doorway.