LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 31, 5 February 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The exports from Taranaki ports during 1912 amounted in value to £1,719,097, as compared with £1,320,770 in 1911. This is according to the official statistics in the Gazette. The meeting which was to have been held in the Parish Hall last night for the purpose of forming a branch in Stratford of the Overseas Club was attended by the convenor and a pressman. It is probable that another attempt will be made to form a branch here. A statistician has been at work, and he writes: “it may surprise many people who scoff at bowls to know that at present there are 11,000 people in New Zealand who are doing heir best to ‘kiss Kitty,’ and that the property they hold in bowling greens is worth from £300,000 to £IOO,OOO. How is that for high?”

Petition forms in connection with the movement to secure a poll on the half-holiday question are now being circulated by the Wellington Trades Council. The two trade unions which are, perhaps, most nearly concerned in the universal Saturday half-holi-day proposal, the drapers and the grocers, have formed a sub-committee to take an active part in the canvass for signatures to the petition.

in these days with the souml of a five-days’ working week in eur ears, it is interesting, to say the least, to hear of the innovation of a six-days’ Veek. The Northern Mail (Whangarei) states: It is reported that the innovation of a six days’ working week instead of a seven days’ week, as has ruled in the past, will shortly bo introduced at the cement works at Limestone Island. The men will greatly apreciate the change, as even with the lure of overtime, Sunday work did not appeal to tuern strongly.

Tho inconvenient and dangerous site of the Borough Council’s stone crusher was tho subject of some remarks at the meeting on Monday night. The fact that the machine had been allowed to stand on the roadway without a light being attached, a menace to life and limb, was strongly commented upon. His Worship the Mayor, in reply, stated that his instructions were that a light should he attached to the crusher, but the engineer had not * done so, giving as his reason that there was no need owing to the nights being moonlit. His Worship also stated that it had been arranged to have the crusher shifted Into a section close to the present 'site, and have the work done off the road altogether.

Epsom salts is not usually thought to be “good for fires.” There was a big fire at Rocks Tomsitt’s drug and chemical stores, in Flinders street, Melbourne the other day, a big fivestoreyed bluestone building, with concrete floors, and all modern fireresisting appliances. the brigade recognised the great danger to such a crowded commercial quarter of the city if the fire once got a fair hold. Operations were begun at once on the Mirth and fifth floors, where , large jars of methylated spirits were burning through the excessive heat, and thus adding most dangerous fuel to tho flames, but then the work of fire-fighting was aided by the flames igniting barrels of Epsom salts, which assisted to quench the outbreak, and within forty minutes what threatened to be a most dangerous and. extensive conflagration was completely stopped.

An unusual consignment which will be seen at West Smithfield some time during the next two months is; says an English paper dated November, a lot of 30,000 frozen sheep from ,Jceland. A boat is being specially chartered for this freight, and the mutton will probably come in three lots, of 10,000 each. Iceland seems a curious quarter to tap for meat, but there are many places which may have to occur to one in the near future. The Icelandic flbck are put at a million, but these probably are very widely and awkwardly distributed. Once* before when some trial sheep came Iron there, Smithfield men expressed ;surprise at the neat and good appearance of the sheep.

A local resident, speaking of the mystery mostly associated with the origin of fires, told a reporter of the Evening Post of an experience he had a week or two ago. The übiquitous sparrow had annoyed him for a morning or two, a .1 he -ingested to In® “better half” that he should get up through the roof and clear away their nests. He did so, and what was his surprise to discover among the straws and fluff and stuff a bundle of melted wax vestas, the head of anyone of which was easily ignited' in the ordinary way of striking. This, he pointed out, may very well account for the mystery of fire that so often is read of in the papers. A fire occurred at Strathmore on Sunday night, whereby the premises of Mr T. Jordan was destroyed totally. The building was a four-roomed one, comprising a saddler’s shop, billiard room, and two rooms in occupation as a dwelling. Mr Jordan left the place in the afternoon on Sunday, when everything appeared safe, and the first news he received of his loss was on Monday morning after spending the night in Stratford. The origin of the outbreak is a complete mystery. The front of the premises was occupied as a saddler’s shop, behind which was a billiard room, and at the back of these were two dwelling rooms. There was an insurance of about £350 on the building and stock, but it is understood Mr Jordan estimates his loss at quite equal to this amount. Considerable sympathy is felt for Mr Jordan in the district in his loss. Speaking from what might have been bitter experience, a local “sport” says that the parable concerning placing all your eggs in one basket is a horrible fallacy. The man in question won a very large sum at the Auckland races, and, returning, by boat, was somewhat perplexed wlere to stow his golden hoard. He decided on several different places, and finally got it all hidden away under the mattress, under the pillow, in various pockets, and wherever else fancy suggested. Leaving the boat, ' he discovered to his horror that he had left £25 in a purse under his pillow. In his consternation he wired the purser, who happened to be a friend, and has now received the welcome news that the money is safe, and will be duly forwarded him. Moral : Don’t place your eggs in one basket, or in several baskets, but when it’s on a boat, place them with the purser.

The Tc Araha Mail changed proprietary on Monday, having been purchased by Mr H. J. Greenslade.

A Garden Fete in connection with the Presbyterian Church will bo held at the new Manse, Regan Street, on Thursday, February 20th, in aid of the church**funds. A concert will be held in the evening.

The following will represent the Stratford Fire Brigade at the big demonstration at WanganuiLieutenfijßrWilson, Foreman Burgess, Firekv.3Boon, Davis, Sullivan, and emergency, Crossan. Lieutenant Rowson has been appointed delegate to the demonstration by the local brigade.

As reported in our columns some time ago, Mr Newton King intends converting the Royal Mail stables recently purchased by him into an implement store and garage for the firm’s motors, as well as providing for up-to-date showrooms. The contract for these alterations has been secured by Mr N. J. King.

A woman named Mary Donaghue while viewing the sights at the mouth of the Blowhole at Kiama (New South Whies) fell a considerable distance to the rocks, and sustained injuries from which she died. When the woman fell she carried with her a child in her arms) which escaped from injury.

The south train this morning was crowded, quite a large number of local people travelling down to the Hawera races. At the station bqoking office there was unusual congestion, the trouble being that tickets were being issued which included admission to the course. People who had complimentary tickets did not relish paying the extra two shillings, the fares being 6a ard 4s return. To avoid future trouble, the Department wishes it known that people who have complimentary tickets, and pay for the excursion tickets issued, can get a refund from the Secretary of the Hawera Pacing Club.

It is said that the Pomohaka river in Southland would be one of the best fishing streams in the Dominion were it not for the number of monster trout infesting its waters. These cannibals, it is alleged, simply live on the smaller fish, and once tasted of this diet will not seek for any other food. It has been suggested as a remedy for tfais sort of thing that the Acclimatisation Society ought to get men to net all these big fellows, and that the price obtained for them would go a long way towards the cost of their destruction.

A councillor at the meeting of the Borough Council on Monday evening said that the contractor for the Public "Works building at Stratford had relinquished his contract. This is

incorrect. We have it on good authority that the trouble lies in the estiiriated amount of filling-in required. The contractor made an estimate for this that was too low, and he is com-

munication with the Department with "‘'the view to ’getting out of his difficulty in some way other than giving up the contract. As yet nothing definite has transpired.

Would-be suicides could not do bet- , ter than look out for a trip on a ves-

sel like the Cape Finisterrc), on© of the Vacuum Oil Co.’s steamer® that arrived in Auckland last Friday. If the vessel missed catching fire on the voyage, it cpuld be put down as only equal to the odds when other means of “passing out” are attempted, but given even a fair start, the end would surely be reached very quickly. Fancy i travelling with a cargo like the following: 426,000 gallons of petroleum, 667,200 gallons of benzine, 542,400

gallons of naphtha, and 14,400 gallons ,of turpentine. The total of 1,648,000 i gallons was brought to AucklantT without any aeqident (significantly remarks the Star), and the cargo is in good condition.

Dunedinites are noted for those estnnable qualities of faith, hope, and charity. The first two relate to the future of their town, and are with them now and always, but it is not generally known that they possess in a marked degree that other abiding virtue, the greatest of the three, charity. While the former exude , from their every pore, the last named, when opportunity offers, pours from every pocket. Here is an instance of what was done during a three-hours’ collection on behalf of a deserving case and the establishment of better lifesaving appliances for the Ocean Beach The coins received were as follows: Note, 1; sovereigns, 3; half- sovereigns, 4; half-crowns, 444; florins, 204; shillings, 928; sixpences, 1260; threepences, 1622; pennies, 2924; half pence, 658. Total £193.

“Fair and Fifteen” writes to the Sydney Sun with regard to the recent discussion on the youth of Australia by the Science Congress:—“What a lot of rubbish these professors do talk! What do they know about boys and girls flirting? If they were ever human enough to flirt themselves it was so long ago that they’ve forgotten all about it. Silly old jossers! What’s the harm, anyway ? I’ve been giving the boys the glad eye for years, and I don’t think I’m worse than a lot of other girls I know who never go {T\t without someone to look after Mm. At least, their mothers and rahers think they don’t go out, but I know different. I’ve been to a boarding-school myself. What’s the harm in mashing a boy—so long as he’s nice? Boys were made to mash, i What the professor said about some boys is quite right. Boys of 15 or 16 are awfully gawky, and need a lot of encouragement; but when they get a bit older you don’t need to give them the glad eye. My present mash is 18, and he started it. All girls don’t look as old as I do, so what are they to do if the boy’s won’t come of their own accord? Are they going to miss all the fun? Not on your life.”

Eggs are very scarce and costly. In the wholesale market in Dunedin on Monday guaranteed stamped eggs realised from Is 3d to Is -Id per doz.; ordinary case eggs from Is to Is 2d. The Star adds: Merchants say that there are many eggs of extremely doubtful quality “going about”—a usual experience, it is said, at harvest time.