LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 39, 14 February 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

St. Valentine’s Day. Captain Cook killed at Owhyhee, Sandwich Islands, 1779. At tho llodfoi'n Court, Sydney, last Thursday an owner of two cottages was fined £lO ami £5 Ids costs in each case for failing to prevent, as far as practicable, the harboring oi rats. The evidence show d that the premises were in a. bad state of repair, and rat infested. The alternative to the lino was three months’ imprisonment.

The rates of pay for membere of tae Xew Zealand Territorial force while at annual camps this year will be the same as on previous occasions, except that colour-sergeants will receive os 6d per day, instead of s*s, as in the past. ! “J)o you know what the. Borough Council price is?” queried Mr Buff, of a witness in a gravel case at the Court this morning. “Yes, 1 know 100 well,” replied the witness (a contractor), they charge a shilling a yard, or two shillings a load as royalty on all gravel taken from their pits.”

Both Brigadier Vince and Adjutant Gray are officers of long standing in the Salvation Army, and the meetings conducted by them on Sunday next ought to be of a very interesting nature. No doubt good crowds will be along at tho Barracks to hear these veterans.

The boy who was caught last Satur day breaking into tho premises of Messrs George Thomas and Co., Allen street, Wellington, and against whom two other charges of theft from business premises were preferred, appeared before Mr W. G. Riddell, &.M., in the juvenile court on WednesdayOnly a few days ago the lad, who is eight /years old, was ordered to be birched for stealing. He was committed to the Weraroa Training Farm.

As many claim, not in accordance with the regulations, have in the past been received at Defence headquarters, it is to be made clear that where Territorials present at camps or parades meet with an injury while taking part in football or other sports held thereat, the medical expenses, etc., incurred in respect of same will not be accepted as a charge against the Defence Department nor is the person so injured entitled, under the regulations, to the pay of Ids rank while incapacitated.

It is wonderful the interest that is being taken in the forthcoming New Plymouth Show, which is to he held on February 26th, and 27th, and we find that the reason is that it is the suitable time of the year for all classes of tho community and also that it is the first autumn show in Taranaki. Tho secretary of the Taranaki Agricultural Society reports that entries for tho coming fixture are rolling in well, and as entries close to-morrow, Saturday, tho 15th, those who have not already forwarded entries should do so as soon as possible to\ avoid disappointment.

“Everything possible that could happen to a motorist happened to me,” said a motorist at the Stratford Court to-day, and he went on to explain how—with a “spare” on one side, a punctured tyre on the other, his battery run out, and his carbide perished—he had been hauled up by the Borough-Inspector on the Victoria Bridge, for driving at night without lights. Like Caesar, when Brutus stabbed, “this was the most unkindest cut of all,” and the motorist could not help giving vent to his feelings, in a somewhat forcible manner, as well as refusing to give his name. A fine of 10s and 7s costs expiated the offence.

A correspondent of the Hawke’s Bay Tribune wishes to commend to the! attention of the women of New Zealand the example of their Swiss sisters who refuse to have anything tr do with young men who have not served for the prescribed time in the citizen army. When a suitor falls on his knees before a Swiss maiden, he is not asked to show that he can support a wife, but to prove that he has done Ins duty to the country. If he cannot do this, lie is immediately sent about his business. General Beyers, the Commandant-General of the South African Forces, speaking in London a few weeks ago in reference to this inspiring practice, said that the loyal enthusiasm of the Swiss women for the defence of their own country had given a greater impetus to military training than had all the legislative efforts of the men put together.

Members of the Federal Parliament have recently been giving more attention to the naming of the Federal capital than they have done hitherto (says the Sydney Telegraph). The Minister for Home Affairs stated last week that he had received quite a number of, letters from legislators on the subject, and it appears that there was a majority in favour of “Myola,” which is said to mean “the meeting place.” The transposition of the letters “Omaly” gives a good imitation of the name of the member of the Ministry who has the Federal capital under bis administrative control.

Interesting figures concerning the average length of life which may he expected at different ages in various States of the Commonwealth have recently been prepared by the Federal Census Bureau. It appears Tasmania is a good place to be born in and a good place to live the long life in. Taking the statistics for males during the decennium 1901-1910, it seems that a child at birth may be reckoned to have a chance of the longest life in Tasmania (57.7 years), New South Wales (55.9), Victoria (55), and Queensland (54,2), and shortest of all in West Australia (51.4). In the latter seventies a man’s best chance of living longest was in Queensland, then South Australia, then New South V ales, and then West Australia.

During the holidays the children are bright and happy and no better time could be chosen for having them photographed. At the McAllister studio special attention and extra trouble are taken to secure pleasing pictures and faithful portraits of the little one* The charges compare favourably with any in the Dominion, and you are in vited to compare the results with those obtained elsewhere. No effort will be spared to add you to our long list of satisfied customers. Your patronage is solicited] for the McA'liste’ Studio- Broadway- Stratford. ■

A first offender for drunkenness was this morning “given a chance” by Mr Kenrick, S.M., at the Stratford Magistrate’s Court, and was convicted and discharged.

One of the light-fingered gentry had a good win at a circus at Dannevirko last week. A son of a wellknown business man exhibited a wellfillod purse, while getting change when purchasing his ticket, replacing it in an inside pocket. Later in

the evening ho missed it, and was thereby the poorer by between £lO and £SO.

There are still some honest people who go to race meetings, observes the News. At yesterday’s meeting of the Taranaki Jockey Club a visitor to the course picked up a purse on the lawn containing about £3O. He promptly took it to the secretary’s office where a notice announcing its finding was posted up.

It was stated at a meeting of tho Canterbury Typographical Union on Saturday that one of the life-mem-bers of the union, Mr G. S. Porter, would reach his hundredth birthday on March 18th, thereby earning the distinction of being the oldest known living compositor.

At his political meeting at Reefton a questioner asked the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher: “Why, being a leaseholder, have you joined the freehold party?” He replied: “Because consistency is the refuge of fools. 1 had a right to change my mind and would do it again.”

A store not many miles from Opunake, says the Times, issued a number of orders .for bottles of draught vinegar. Some of the bottles came back with indignant notes that the stuff did not taste like vinegar and the colour was abominable. It will be a surprise to them—that the barrel of “vinegar” was nothing worse than the very best wine. Somebody will kick themselves.

“You’ve made a mistake in y rT ppper,” said the .indignant man, entering the editorial sanctum. “I was one of the competitors at the athletic match yesterday, and you have called me the well-known light-weight champion.” “Well, aren’t you?” said the * editor. “No, I’m nothing of the kind, and it’s confoundedly awkward, because, you see, I’m a coal merchant.”

The Ballance Dairy Company Will make another large payment to milk suppliers on Saturday (says the Pahiatua Herald), when about £7500 will be paid out for butter-fat delivered to its butter factories and creameries during January. Payments will be made at the rate of Is per lb of butter-fat. As far as can be ascertained the Ballance Company is the only butter company in the Bush, Wairarapa, or Manawatu districts that will pay Is per lb.

An interesting reception took place in the Masonic Hall on Friday night last, alien over 90 Melbourne .surgeons and physicians assembled to interview two little English girls who are joined together in a similar manner to the Siamese twins. The children are named Daisy and Violet Hilton. They were born five years ago at Brighton, England, and though their anatomical organs are separate, they re joined together at the lower extremity of tho spine. The Sydney Daily Telegraph says they are pretty and intelligent little things, and apart from the fact that they seem to suffer no inconvenience under their unusual state of existence. The Hiiton children, who are orphans, have been brought to Australia to visit relatives in Victoria and Queensland, and subsequently they will travel to America • Apparently there is no limit to the enterprise of the artful “dead-head.” Mr George Wirth, head of the famous combination, which to-day is on its annual visit to Stratford, in conversation with a member of the staff of the Stratford Post, after having replied to queries regarding “Lizzie’s” health, .and told of some of the Polar bears’ tricks, got on to other subjects, and incidentally related that even telegraph boys sometimes delayed wires so that delivery of the message might gain them admittance to the show. The limit was reached, he said, when a bright Australian boy stepped into the ring with a “wire” for Mr John Kelly. A few minutes after, Mr Wirth was approached by Kelly, who was very keen on finding that boy. “He’s somewhere over in the three-shiLing seats,” replied Mr Wirth, and added, “Do you want to send a reply?” “Send a reply,” echoed Kelly. “Look at this!” Tho message was a blank! Loewe and Co.’s celebrated Pipes, from 5s 6d up a large range to choosv from. Charles E James. j x