LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 47, 24 February 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The clangers of turning cons on a crop of turnips was clearly demonstrated at Otakeho (says the Star correspondent) during the past few days, when a farmer lost four valuable cows through indiscriminate feeding.,

All the clocks in the new Auckland post office, numbering 'BO, are to be electrically controlled by the new “Mogneta” system, correct time being given at every period of the day or night.

From New York comes the startling intelligence of the venom from the rattlesnake being used successfully in the treatment of the terrible disease of epilepsy. Dr. Hicks, of that city, has just concluded a series of experiments, and out of 20 cases treated in this wise 19 showed definite signs of improvement.

“I am afraid of her,” said a big burly man, a witness in a case at the Magistrate’s Court, Auckland, the other day, when referring to his landlady. His statement was in answer to counsel, who asked him why he had not asked for certain moneys which he alleged, were being illegally kept from him by the landlady. “Why were you afraid of her?” asked counsel. “Well, you go and live with her, and you’ll soon find out,” said witness, and added that he would “sooner ask Jackson for anything” than the landlady in question.

A fine of £5 on each of two informations was imposed on a Georgestreet (Sydney) restaurant-keeper for keeping premises which were not clean. It was stated that under the tops ot the tables in tlio kitchen there was a number of cockroaches and cobwebs, there was a quantity of refuse under the shelving of a table, the legs of which were greasy, and an offensive smell was given oft from an open drain in the cellar. For a similar offence in respect of premises in Elizabeth street, another defendant was fined £3.

Writes the Oamaru Mail: —“A number of tho Oamaru public aro greatly moved by the abolition of tho local Customs House and threaten to besiege the local Parliamentary representative of tho district. They iorget for tho moment, perhaps, that they insisted on what is called economy, and returned a Government to effect it, and that they cannot consistently object now that they are lining called upon to suffer in the cause of that superior righteousness which is to obtain under the reign of tho Reform Party. If Oamaru had been politically strong the Government would not have dared to curtail its privileges, even though it might be desirable to do so. But, it should be remembered that, if money is to be found for the northern constituencies of a northern Government, someone must bo sacrificed, and why not the weakest, in pursuance of the methods of other savages. While sobering from tho disappointments of substantial benefits denied and blessing withhold, it must ho eminently consoling to tho people of Oamaru to reflect that they have at least a Government that is just surfeited with sweetness and hr.;-'ting with promise/’

The Executive of the Stratford A. and P. Association has set up the following committees : Advertising, Messrs Osmond, Richards, and Kirkwood ; grounds, Messrs Dingle, and Richards; finance, Messrs Dingle, Kirkwood, and Osmond.

The Id-ton travelling electric crane \ just erected at the Otago Cl raving Dock puts the dock (according to the Dunedin Star) in the position of being unsurpassed south of the line lor the facilities that mean despatch, in the

docking and repairing or overhauling of large and small vessels.

That very popular fixture, the Normanby Horticultural and Produce Society’s Annual Show, is to take place this year on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 4th and sth. Intending exhibitors in this district will note that entries close on March Ist with the Secretary, Mr George Ayre. There should he a large number of exhibits from this district.

A rather unusual incident took place at the meeting of a Dunedin suburban local body (says the Star). The Mayor, after advocating a certain course, embodied his proposal in a motion in order to test the feeling of the meeting. The voting was equal. The safe passage of the motion seemed assured, when the Mayor recorded his casting vote against it, thus defeating his own motion by his own casting vote.

The Minister for Public Works, the Hon. W. Fraser, visited the Winton district on Saturday and received several deputations on- railway and other matters. Replying to a request for the construction of the Winton-Heddon Bush line, Mr Fraser said that he could not make any promises. Many lines in the Dominion had been authorised, hut not a shilling was available for them, and it might be from six to eight years before the line could be started. The Government was not going to pay 6 or 7 per cent for money, and public works would have to wait if such a rate had to be paid. The Minister will go to Gore on Monday, Edendale on Tuesday, and Balclutha on Tuesday evening.

The Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants have just issued their annual balance-sheet which shows a record membership and record accumulations of funds. The membership stood at 7102 at the end of the year, an increase of 979, and the dues received from the branches (nearly 50 in number) amounted to £2508. Heavy items of expenditure were £3OO for a special conference and extraordinary meetings of the Dominion executive to deal with parliamentary matters. Despite these exceptional calls, the society’s accumulated funds 1 increased by, £360 last year, the total for the past four years standing thus: 1909, £3633; 1910, £3846; 1911, £4464; 1912, £4824.

The Chinese Consul-General for Australia (Mr Yung-Bang-Hwang), speaking to an assembly of his couhtrymen at the celebration of the first year of the presidency of Yuan-Shih-Ivai, said:—“They had read of the French Revolution, the revolution of the United States, and the revolutions in other countries, and China had learnt from these outbursts of public feeling the good results that had accrued to the people. There was one question to be answered —and that could be done by the smallest child—why was it that the Chinese wanted a republic? They wanted a republic because (1) it meant the lifting up of the people from outer darkness into light; (2) because in time China would bo called to the counsels of nations in all matters affecting not only the -welfare of China, but all 4,h0 rest of the world; (3) because it meant better conditions of both social and commercial life with the teeming millions of their great country; (4) because' it would bring about the development of their undeveloped resources; and (5) because it meant the building up of their railways, the establishment of manufactories, and the closer association of provinces, which made for their well-being as a nation.”

Heretofore it has not been considered that the steamship offers much scope for lady doctors, A case has, however, just occurred in which the medical welfare of a vessel conveying to Australia, among other passengers, a number of emigrants, was placed in feminine hands. The steamship in question was ready to sail from the Chde. All that kept her at the Tail of the Bank was the lack of a surgeon. A qualified lady doctor, the daughter of a member of the Institute of Marine Engineers, heard of the difficulty, and was disposed to offer her services. Her father was at first inclined to veto the plan, as the young lady was on holiday, and was not very strong. Finally, however, ho withdrew his objection, and the Board of Trade officer, for the first time in his life, certified that a ship with her surgery in charge of other than a male doctor was duly complying with the law. It; is hard work for a. ship surgeon if tiie vessel carries any considerable number of emigrants. The lady doctor must, therefore, have had a busy time. She took the appointment, however, for the outward voyage only, and is possibly now on her way home, resting agreeably after a decidedly unique experience. Whether this lady doctor’s experiment will encourage others to follow her example may, perhaps, he doubted, more particularly in long-voyage ships of the class chosen in this instance. The case is interesting (says the Daily Telegraph), as showing that under Id'e Merchant Shipping Act the male doctor has by no means an exclusive right to practise on shipboard.

The neatest little Shopping Bag is tho Japanese Dorothy, Is 6d, Is 9d, 2s. Charles E. James, Broadway, x

A farmer who made £l7 os per cow out of a herd of twenty-two last year, expects this season to make £2O per cow at the factory alone. The farm, which is situated on the Waitara road, is a 43-acre one, so that it is stocked by practically a cow to two acres.

After a fierce debate, the committee of the Doncaster (Eng.) public library, by a majority vote, banned Fielding’s Tom Jones,’ and passed a resolution to publicly burn the only copy of the work that the library contains. It .that a member of cornmil :oe got hold of this solitary copy, read it for the first time, and was so shocked by is contents, that he determined to get rid of it on the score of its grave immorality. He succeeded on the first time of asking.

Asked at Invercargill concerning whether the three-million loan would have any effect on his public works policy, the Hon. Mr Fraser said that the obtaining of the loan would not have any effect, because all the money to be devoted to public works was earmarked, according to last year’s Estimates. The loan money would probably supply funds to carry on the works until the end of October.

Some speculation was indulged in on 1 the Bluff wharf on Tuesday (says the Southland News) concerning the quantity of liquor consumed in Southland. The cause of the debate was the discharging from the Maunganui of an unusually large weekly consignment, which, if accepted as a criterion, would give Southland prominence in liquor consumption. The shipment consisted of 621 cases and 11 quarter cases of whisky, 15 eases of champagne, and a quantity of ale. It may be mentioned that each case of “Old Scotch” contained 12 bottles, thus making a total of 7,452 bottles of whisky.

There was an accident on the \ ictoria Bridge on Saturday evening, but congestion of traffic could hardly be ascribed as the cause thereof. Mr Coleman, of Cheal road, Ngaere, was driving over the bridge, when his horse slipped, precipitating the occupants of the trap on to the decking. They escaped with, damage to clothing and a severe shock, but the horse was very badly cut about the knees.

Reads a recent Gazette notice: — “From and after the 17th day of February, 1913, all shops, excepting tobacconists and hairdressers, in the Borough of Stratford shall be closed on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday at 5.30 p.m., and on Saturday at 9 p.m., excepting that during the week preceding Christmas Eve fancy goods shops may close at their own option. The weekly half holiday for shops in the Borough is at present on Thursday, from 1 o’clock.”

Nelson is always given credit for possessing a remarkably healthy climate, and a recent issue of the Nelson Colonist,- though it records no less than fifteen deaths during the course of a few days, supports this claim. Two of the deceased persons were 84 years of age, three were over seventy, and seven were sixty or over. In one case the age was not given, and there was but one death which might he termed premature, the age being 48.

A large number of transfers, which carry with them promotion and increase of salary, are being arranged with Stationmasters at most of the failway stations in the Wanganui trict. The Stratford station has not been overlooked in this respect, and official has ako been received that the station has been raised to the next grade. This carries with it promotion to two members of the staff, Mr J. B. Campbell (stationmaster) and Mr E. P. Beauchamp (chief clerk). We join with their friends in extending our congratulations to both these officials.