LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 32, 6 February 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Minister of Justice (Hon. A. L. Herdman) hopes the new police regulations would be gazetted this week. It is understood that some important alterations will be announced.

A lengthy meeting of Cabinet took place on Tuesday, but the Prime Minister (Hon. W. F. Massey) told a member of the Times staff that there was nothing of general interest for publication.

The 10 o’clock train this morning was unusually crowded, large numbers of Stratford residents travelling down for the second day’s racing at Hawera. The one engine was pulling two trucks, a goods wagon, two cover-ed-in trucks, twelve carriages, and the guard’s van.

Young lady assistants are evidently hard to obtain in Eltham, remarks the Argus. A prominent business man is said to have recently left for Auckland principally to secure girls necessary for his establishment.

Out of 760 samples of milk examined in London in three months 106 contained consumption germs., and the task of tracing this milk necessitated the examination of 8,175 cows at 102 farms scattered over the country.

The Official Assignee at New Plymouth is taking proceedings in the Magistrate’s Court to-day against A. J. Tuthill, late licensee of the Taranaki Hotel, who is being charged with fraud in connection with his late bankruptcy.

From the point of view of employment November was the best month during the past ten years in Great Britain. This satisfactory information was derived from a recent issue of the Board of Trade Labor Gazette, which shows that the percentage of trade-union members unemployed was the lowest in that period.

“Pelorus Jack,” the strange white “fish” which used to frolic around the bows of the steamers passing through Pelorus Sound, is now believed to have been killed by mischance by foreign whalers. “Jack” was last seen shortly before Christmas between the Chetwood and Clay Point by a resident of the Sounds.

The Horticultural Society’s schedule for the Autumn Show on March 6th and 7th next, is now in the printers’ hands, and will be available for distribution shortly. The prize-list has been enlarged and is drawn on a liberal scale, which should attract a bigger number of exhibitors than ever at this popular event.

Away back in 1866 the first show was hold at Mangapai—47 years ago, and the secretary on that occasion was Mr B. Ormandy, who is still hale and hearty, and who took an energetic part in the recent show (states the Northern Mail). Strange to say, the Mangapai Show at that distant date was stronger in certain exhibits than it is to-day, and notably cereals, and particularly wheat. But the lapse of time has seen the rise of the dairying industry, and it must be confessed that this diversion has meant that in certain directions agriculture has not made the headway that it gave promise of in the distant sixties. Also the Mangapai Show of to-day displays the resources of a wider district, and a progressive one. Of the old Mangapai Show pioneers of 1866 there remain only Messrs Ormandy and Harrison, and the latter, popularly and affectionately known as the “Father of Mangapai,” is as keen as ever when the district’s annual event comes round.

Women as a rule are tlie most consistent tea drinkers, and the multiplication of tea rooms and tea kiosks throughout the Dominion affords striking evidence of the increasing popularity of tea. The women of New Zealand may be classed as connoisseurs, as they show a decided preference for Crescent Tea, which is rich and strong and of delicious flavour. Sold by all grocers at 2s, Is lOd, and Is Sd per lb. s

Writing of the second annual Oh Ufa Show, the correspondent of the Taranaki Herald says “ There; were 800 odd people present under th©i most trying conditions. The entries reached 9 cows, 8 sheep,2 pigs, and 20 odd horses, and so began the fun. Mr Howe carried off the principal horse events, but the cattle and sheep were of too ordinary a class to mention.’ There are various ways ofAiving an alarm of fire but perhaps most novel is by the screeching of a pet cockatoo. This actually happened at the residence of Mr McMullen at Weber (says the Hawke’s Bay Tribune) on Saturday week last. At 2.30 o’clock in the morning Mrs McMullen was awakened by the bird making a noise, and on investigation she found the house, which was a six-roomed wooden building, in flames. She aroused her husband and both beat a hasty retreat, only “cocky” and a few articles being saved. The origin of the fire is thought to have due to rats.

At the last meeting of the Patea Harbor Board the following resolution of importance to the district and Taranaki as a whole, was passed:—“That a committee be set up to decide what shall be' done to improve the harbor to meet the requirements of shippers, the committee to have power to consult some engineer of eminence* to confer with settlers and business people, and also to consider the question of promoting a Loan Bill in Parliament, fixing a rating area, and the amount of rate necessary, such committee to consist of the Chairman, Captain Johnston, Mr Corrigan* Mr Death, and the mover.”

“There is a- critical time ahead for Auckland builders,” said a prominent Auckland contractor last week. He was referring to the scarcity of labour in the city and province, and especially to the shortage of good plasterers,, carpenters, and plumbers. “I have just been over to Sydney, and there is a scarcity, I was told, all over Australia. So what is New Zealand going to do ? There is a prospect of this and next year being the busiest building period we have ever experienced, but with the shortage of labour a number of buildings will be kept back.”

The persistent hospitality of Southlanders assumed rather amusing proportions in connection with the tout of Parliamentarians on Saturday. After breakfasting well at Gore about 8.30 a.m., the members of the party were conveyed with expedition to Waimumu, reaching the. public hall there about 9.15. Refreshments awaited them (says :the Dunedin Star), but only those who had breakfasted early were able to do justice to them. Within half an hour the cars drew up in Mataura, where a heavy “spread” awaited their passengers, who strove valiantly to ma e

some tangible jieadway . in appreciation of the hospitality displayed towards them. “When we reached Dunedin we joined the expansion League, and we have been expanding ever since,” said one feignedly breathless Northern member.

On the site where the first Christian service was held in Australia — Macquarie place, Sydney—-about 5000 people on Sunday afternoon (26th ult.) attended a commemoration service held under the auspices of the Church of England Men’s Society 6f New South Wales. A procession, headed by the State Military Band, started from St. Andrew’s Cathedral at 3 o’clock, followed by a combined surplice choir of 300 under the leadership of Mr Joseph Massey, cathedral organist. The first two verses of the hymn, “Onward, Christian Soldiers,” were sung as the procession left the cathedral, and the remainder as it approached Macquarie place, where short addresses were delivered by Dr. Wright (Archbishop) and the Dean of Newcastle.

A rather good story is told by a well known Stipendiary Magistrate, Mr F. V. Frazer, rather at his own expense. At the time of the Waihi strike trouble, the' Magistrate had occasion, as visiting justice, to pay a visit to the Mount Eden gaol. During the morning of his visit a prisoner had been released, and about an hour later the Magistrate left the prison. Before he had gone far he noticed a man who from his appearance showed unmistakable signs of having been an inmate of the prison. 7’he man was evidently waiting for someone whom he expected out that day. To the worthy Magistrate’s Surprise, the ex-convict lurched up to him, and said in a confidential whisper, “Say! any more coming out to-day?”

The Auckland Star, referring to the case of the young woman who masqueraded as a man and attempted her life by poisoning, says the young woman gave the name of Florence Marks, and said that until a week ago she had been working at the factory of Archibald Clark and Sons, Ltd. She stated that he parents reside in George street, Onehunga. When she arrived at the Rescue Homo on Monday evening she her possession a number of unused postcards, a. silver tie-pin with the initials 5.M.,” a small jar of ointment, and a phial containing some perchloride of mercury tabloids. It was with some of these that she attempted to poison herself. Although the patient had recovered sufficiently on Tuesday morning to make any statement, no information was forthcoming from her a& to why she donned male attire. She said that her life had been made miserable, and that in a mood of depression she bought some boy’s clothes in the city yesterday with the intention of covering up her movements. When she took poison she was in an excited condition. It isfthought she will bo about again in a day or two.

How ungrateful, how ill-judging aind undiscriminating as to the relative difficulty and importance of human efforts is "human approbation!

(says Filomena in the Illustrated London News). But at last, and : in oho place at least, a proper position has been yielded to the cook. ■■ In the staff provided by the United 'States Government for making the

Panama Canal, which is most comorganised, every necessity and every requirement fore'Heen—an elaborate scientific arrangement that has reduced the previously excessive death rate to one lower than the lowest recorded in any other community—in this perfect scheme of social life, the cook at last comes into his rights! The pay for the cooks is higher than that of the physicians! The cooks begin at £25 per month, with board and lodging; the doctors at £3O, but without subsistence.

Miss Alice Jakes, third daughter of Mr S. Jakes, Fitzroy, was married to Mr’ Norman Berridge, of AVestown, at the Te Henui Church, Fitzroy, on Thursday, January 30. The ceremoney was performed by Rev. J. A. Xvempthorne. The bride, who w r as given away by her brother, Mr AV. Jakes, Tariki, was attired in cream silk, and wore a veil and orange blossoms and carried a lovely bouquet of white flowers. The bride was attended by her two sisters, Misses Nel- , He and Annie Jakes, who w r ere dressed in cream cantona and wore hats to match. They carried bouquets of asparagus and sweet peas. Mr A. McGiven attended as best man. After the i ceremony a reception was held at the residence of the bride’s parents. The bridegroom’s gift to the bride was a gold brooch set with rubies and pearls, and to the bridesmaids gold brooches. The happy couple left later for Auckland, where their honeymoon is to be spent. The bride’s travelling dress was a dark green tailor-made costume, with hat to match.—Herald.

For the benefit, of our Scotch friends who celebrated the Burns’ anniversary in Stratford, both wisely and well, we publish the following from the pen of an Occasional Correspondent of the Bay of Plenty Times: — “Burns’ anniversary was celebrated at Omanawa Falls last Monday, when Mr A. Floyd kindly granted the use of his house for the occasion. Proceedings were of a jovial nature from the start, and about an hour after the company assembled the five-gallon keg of ‘Tbwer’ brand was being tip-

ped. As the meeting was so merry another five gallon keg was tapped 1 to prevent it from going flat. The stoties told by Messrs Foulis, Pettit,

. and T. Edwards were greatly appreciated. A couple of bottles of ‘overproof’ were handed round before the guests departed. There was no singing during the meeting, but it is

alleged that some of the guests indulged in 'some similar form of vocal recreation on their way home. The gathering was so successful that it is proposed to hold another Burns’ anniversary at an early date.” It mtisb hae been a’ guid Scotch nicht, but what would Secretary Henderson, of the Taranaki Provincial Scottish Society, say to two, or more, Burns’ Anniversaries in one year!