LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 37, 12 February 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

As a proof of how It pays to keep choice dairy cows, it is interesting to learn that yesterday Mr Newton King sold the dairy herd of Mr W. H. Fenwick, of Tariki, consisting of thirtythree Grade Jersey cows, to a Palmerston North buyer at the fancy price of £2O per head. The Hon. W. H. Herries has a ready wit at times. On the occasion of the Ministerial visit to the Mount Egraont quarries yesterday, Mr H. J. Okey, M.P. (New Plymouth), had occasion to remark that it looked like bad business to build a line before the Department had found their quarries, to which Mr Kerries replied: ‘Acs, 1 see you’re putting in a refinery, when you haven’t the oil to keep it going; past like building a battery before you’ve found your gold mine.” Probably there are few people in Wellington who are aware that the cannon which was hauled up to the top of Mount Victoria with so much difficulty 40 years ago, and was for a longperiod fired precisely at noon each day, is one hundred years old. Some months ago (says the Evening Post) Mr James Harris, of Ellice Avenue, Wellington, wrote to the Cannon Foundry Company, Falkirk, asking when the field-piece in question vas cast, and he received a reply that the cannon was sent out of the works in 1813.

The Equitable Life Assurance So--> defy of New York is building a record skyscraper. It will be 500 feet high, and will have a lloor space of 1,000,000 feet. The ground on which the edifice is being .erected was purchased for £2,700,000, and the building itself will cost £2,800,000.

It is understood (says the Hawera Star) that, arising out of certain disputations at a dairy factory in this district relating to tests, a Supreme Court action is being taken to recover damages in respect of alleged tion in connection therewith. L

Interesting details required in the description of offenders by guardians of the law :—Nose : straight, pug, hooked, Roman, large or small; feet: large, small, or proportionate; gait: slovenly, smart, active, erect, stooping, etc.; chin: round or pointed; general appearance; doctor, clergyman, clerk, labourer, miner, sailor, hawker, pugilist, spieler, etc.; particulars. of whiskers, hair, eyes, complexion, build, dress when last seen, and numerous other clues to identity. These directions arc set forth in the new police regulations.

The report of the destruction of a church by lightning between Rata and Porewa, in the Rangitikei district, has been confirmed. It appears that a big flash of lightning was,, seen to strike the building, and in a very brief space of time it was reduced to ashes. The lightning also shattered a large tree near Rata at the same time, and it, too, burst into flames. The tree took two days to consume. The lightning was very severe, the oldest residents state that they never saw such a brilliant display for the short time it lasted. It was short, sharp, and destructive. The church destroyed was prized in the district for its earlv associations.

The “Journal” (Paris) published at the end of December a remarkable story regarding the plans of the Arcaduke Francis Ferdinand, the Austrian Heir Apparent, for the formation of a vast Austro-Magyar Slavonic Empire, including Servia, and the conversion of the provinces of Austrian Poland, Bohemia, Bosnia, etc., into autonomous States, affiliated to Austria-Hungary, making a huge federation similar to Germany. According to the “Journal’s” Vienna correspondent, such a federation would completely upset the present political groupings in Europe and would ensure peace in the Balkans. The Archduke’s ideas are entirely benevolent, and he desires to advance the interests of his country and the dynasty.

The Hon. Mr Herries, Minister for Railways, in replying to a vote of thanks passed at the conclusion of the meeting last night, said that this was his first visit to Stratford. Thirty years ago he had stayed at Hawera, and had gone over the Waimate Plains. He had thought of buying land thei’e, but, ho said with a smile, the price asked—it was from £5 to £lO per acre —then seemed enormous, now it seemed ridiculously small. There was a railway through the bush, and he remembered going through the district just about a month before the Parihaka affair. He remembered going up to New Plymouth, and riding round the Mountain through Rahotu, and Opunake, and down on to Wellington.

The Methodist Conference approved of the following divisions of circuits: New Plymouth, to include all the places in the present Methodist and Primitive Methodist circuits, with two married ministers and one probationer at Inglewood; that Midhirst be transferred to the Stratford circuit, and that in lieu thereof a grant of £BO a year be made to the Inglewood circuit for at least three years, and that the Primitive Methodist property at Inglewood be sold and the proceeds be devoted to the liquidation of the debt on the Methodist - parsonage. Stratford to include the places in the present Methodist and Primitive Methodist circuit, together with Midhirst (as above) and Bird Road, from the Eltham circuit, with two married ministers, one of whom shall reside at Midhirst. Eltham to include all the places m the present Methodist and Primitive Methodist circuit, except Bird Road, with one married minister.

Mr Brown, a retired schoolmaster, from England, who is at present the guest of the llev. H. A. Walke, of Eketahuna, intends (says the Express) to give a series of addresses on New, Zealand when he returns to the Old Country. “What do you think of this country f?” asked an Express reporter of Mr Brown. “During my short stay,” replied Mr Brown, “I have travelled about four thousand miles, and what impresses me most is the want of population. You could do with another three millions of population here and then not be overcrowded.” “What will you tell the English people, about New Zealand?” was a further question put to the visitor. “I will tell them that New Zealand presents excellent opportunities for the man with a small capital who is not afraid of hard work, , and who is prepared to be taught something of agricultural life of which your methods make him a total stranger.” Every farmer will find that a few toe Hives will prove a most beneficial investment. While only raising mough honey to keep his own ui polled, he can a + the same jam that practical knowledge and ex*enence which will enable him to aunch out on more extensive opera*mns, with a good prospect of success, the occupation possesses a peculiar fascination, and is almost a form of elaxation to many farmers and their amilies. Beginners should commence i. a small scale, learn the ways of >ees. bow to handle them, and what kind of equipment to use. Make the „>os pay lor themselves and for aditional appliances, as well as providng some profit, and allow the business o grow gradually, until it becomes a uge money-making concern.—McMil- ; n and Fredric, Specialists in Beo■eopers 1 Supplies. Sole Agents for Al* Dove-tailed Hives and Acces- ' m s-4

Report of the proceedings at the deputations to the Minister of Railway last night appears on page 2.

It was reported at the New Plymouth Expansion and Tourist League meeting on Monday evening that the Rev. D. C. Bates, Government Mete-

orologist, is about to visit Mount

Egmont, with a view to establishing a •V weather station on the northern side.

As the Adelaide express passed over the city crossing on Tuesday night last, the passengers were surprised at I'e sudden sickening of speed, • At the railway to&n station it was ascer-

tained that someone threw a quan-

tity of sand at the engine, struck the driver full in the face, and temporarily blinded him.

Sorrell and other weeds delayed the special train which conveyed the Ministerial party yesterday nearly to the terminus of the Waipuku railway. The grade is very steep, and the weeds spreading over the line acted like grease in causing the wheels to slip. It was only by means of the continuous application of sand that the train was able to crawl up thoj slopes of the mountain.

Fashion’s Fantasies! Under this dreading the writer of a woman’s column says; ‘‘Ubiquitous buttons; Buttons, buttons everywhere, and not a button to fasten! They are a delusion and a snare. Nearly all the tailormades are trimmed profusely with them. Whai a relief it would be if we could really button ourselves into our skirts. Buttons are made to be buttons, and seem stupid that we do not have them for use as well as ornament. The buttons are there all down the skirt probably, and the buttonholes are there too, aggravatingly useless.”

The Hon. W. H. Herries, Minister for Railways, and party, which included Messrs H. J. H. Okey, M.P., C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., and J. B. Hine, M. P., paid an inspection visit to the Egmont Branch railway yesterday afternoon, and travelled as far as the line would permit. Unfortunately the last half mile or so was not coupL

ed to the main line, and consequently

there was little of note to be seen, farther on, the Public Works Department are busy with the last bit of formation which takes thd line to the quarries. The gra&e here is so steep that an overhead line and hauling arrangement will be used for the trucks that are to carry the rough stone to the crushing site already installed farther down the line.

The Hon. W. H. Herries (Minister for Railways), Mr T. W. Ronayne (General Manager), Mr H. Buxton (Chief Traffic Manager), and Mr J. E. Armstrong (District Traffic Manager) were present at a specially arranged demonstration in the Town Hall this morning of Mr Le de Launay’s patent railway crossing alarm. The party was much impressed Avith the simplicity of the invention, and questioned Mr de Launay on several points (says the Herald). Mr Ronayne, who is a practical engineer, and has seen several similar patents, expressed his opinion that this one was superior in many respects to any he had seen. Those promoting the invention offered to pay all expenses for * practical trial, but at Mr Ronayne’s Suggestion the Minister promised to send the department’s chief electrical engineer to report on the patent at Inglewood, and, if his report is favourable, then a public trial will be undertaken.