LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 62, 15 March 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

English and Australian mails are due in Stratford to-day.

The Stratford Municipal Band will render a programme of selections at the Hospital Grounds to-morrow afternoon, commencing at 3 o’clock.

The monthly meeting of the Toko Branch of the Farmers’ Union will be held in the Coronation Hall, Toko, on Monday evening at 8 o’clock.

“They’re killing the goose which lays the golden eggs,” remarked Mr Spence at the Court yesterday. “They have charged £1 mileage on a 10s summons, and solicitors won’t issue these summonses if they charge like that.” The case was one where two defendants living in the same tent had to be served, and the constable who served the summons demanded 10s service for each defendant.

A well known writer has said: “To understand a thing, is to get intellectually into, beyond, and around it; to know the reason of, and for it; and to perceive clearly that it, and it only under the circumstances, is, and could by any possibility be true. Apart from such knowledge and understanding, belief is impossible. For that is not belief, in any sense worthy o! the term, which is not of knowledge.”

The back garden of a resident’s section in the salubrious suburb of Vogeltown) New Plymouth) was the scene on Thursday of a duel between the domestic tabby and a weasel. They never actually got into grips, but t( the lady of the house the sparring match provided no little amusement. Ultimately the weasel disappeared in a pumpkin bed, and the cat retired tc the kitchen. The Herald states that the human referee gave the result ar a draw.

Matters in connection with the East Road Sheep Dog Trial Club’s fifth annual meeting are pointing to another very successful series of trials being held. Competitors from as far down the lino as Wanganui and as far inland as Ohura are expected to take part. With these and the best of the local talent, some keen work should result. Intending competitors are reminded that entries close with the secretary, at Te Wera, on the 29th instant.

A Hastings P.A. wire says: The poll taken yesterday that the system of rating on the unimproved value: be adopted, and to apply to watei rates, electric lighting rates, sewage rates, and hospital and charitable ak rates within the borough of Hastings, resulted in the proposal being carried by 207 against 61. The roll contained 2000 names.

Lieutenant-Colonel Malone last evening inspected H Company, Xltli llegiment Taranaki Rifles, and, in addressing the men, congratulated them on their steadiness. The manner in which they stood on parade, and the quiet and orderly state h< had found the company in as he came into the drill-hall, showed that the men had in them the makings of soldiers.

An annual gift sale under the aus pices of the Wesley Church will Ik held in the old Masonic Hall on Tues day next, and will be opened at 2.3( o’clock by Mr J. B. Hine. M.P. Lollie, jumble, and home produce stalls wit be erected, and in the evening musical items and competitions will be held.

There were some warm passages during the hearing of a cruelty to animals case, heard at the Stratford Court yesterday. Sergeant McNeely vat quietly cross-examining the defendant and endeavouring to ascertain whethci the horse had been attended to since he had first seen it. Defendant ad mitted rubbing the alleged sore with a certain antiseptic preparation, hut state that this was his customary practice. Said the Sergeant: “And did you buy anything at all to- put on the horse’s shoulder?” “The question is an insult,” dramatically exclaimed the defendant, and it was some time before his Worship could restore the customary calm of the Court. A withdrawal was made and the question was emphatically answered in, the negative.

Tims Mr Spence at the Court yesterday addressed his Worship (Mr Kenrick)’, when appearing for the defendant. in a cruelly to animals case: “This case is a regrettable one—re-

grettable that it should have been brought to the Court at all, regrettable that it should have been prompted by what was an apparent sense of resentment—” Mr Kenrick: “I think, Mr Spence, it is not correct to say that. The evidence is in plain facts. They (the police) saw certain things and certain words were used.” Mr Spence: “The position is this: If there was a case that ought never to have been brought here, that ought never to have seen the inside of the Court, it is this case where the charge is absolutely unfounded.” Mr Kenrick, in giving judgment, did not concur with Mr Spence on this point, giving it as his opinion that explanations on the part of defendant as to the nature of the horse’s injuries might have prevented the case from coming into the Court. Regent Cigarettes are famed fori their purity and quality, and are not injurious to inhalers, Your tobacconist stocks them- x i

At the Police Court at Eltham on Wednesday last Thomas Henry Gooch, licensee of the Dominion Hotel, Kaponga, was charged with Sunday trading, permitting drunkenness and permitting violent conduct. Mr Spence, on behalf of the defendant, entered a plea of guilty to the charge of permitting drunkenness. Thereupon De-tective-Sergeant Siddels withdrew the other two charges. After hearing counsel for the defendant, and Detec-tive-Sergeant Siddells and two witness-

es, His Worship decided not to order an endorsement of the license and he accordingly fined the defendant £5 and costs amounting to £6 12s 3d.