LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 62, 18 March 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

As usual at Easter there will he no issue of the “Stratford Evening Post” on Good Friday or Easter Monday, March 21st and 21th respectively.

Mr Robert Aitkcn, Morvcn, has a cow which three weeks ago gave birth to triplets, and they are reported to be doing well.

A boy named Robert Monzari, eight years of age, was fatally kicked by a draught horse at the Taraheru freezing works.—P. A. Wire,

Too Mastcrton Supreme Court sitting opened this morning before His Honor Mr Justice Chapman, who, in ids address to the Grand Jury, congratulated the district on tiie absence of crime, there being only two alleged perjury oases.—Press Association.

Local solicitors will observe the forthcoming Easter holidays by closing for business from one o’clock on Thursday next until 9 a.m. on Wednesday, the 26th inst.

A Press Association message from Wellington says:—Mr Riddell, in His reserved judgment, in the cases of William Eager and Samuel Jarvis, charged with keeping a common gaming house, fined each accused 40s with costs.

When asked to explain why lie had broken off the engagement, the respondent in an affiliation case at the Auckland Magistrate’s Court said “She wanted a five-diamond ring, and I did not like the hat she was wearing.”

Quite a number of homing pigeons, the property of members of the New Plymouth East Club, were released by the Stratford stationmaster at 10.5 a.m. to-day. The race to New Plymouth would apparently be flown under ideal conditions .

A very prompt answer was given to a question in the Auckland Magistrate Court on Saturday morning. It was one of the usual cases betAveen husband and wife, and when it was called, the lawyer for the husband remarked that he had not seen his client since lie was engaged. The wife was called into Court, and asked by Mr C. 0. Kettle, S.M., “Have you seen your husband?” The woman replied, “Yes, last night. He was drunk, and said he would take my life to-night.” The Magistrate asked: “Are you afraid?” to which the answer was: “I’ll take care not to be there.” The lawyer at this stage withdrew from the case, reports the Star.

A Waimate resident described to an Advertiser reporter an adventure he had on Sunday with a bull. He had cycled across a paddock in quest of a farmer, and was returning whence he came when, turning his head, he became aware that he was being pursued by a bull. Putting on all the pace the rought “grass track” would allow, the cyclist succeeded in reaching a gorse fence in time to throw his machine over and follow it to the safe side of the barrier. He then pelted the bull for some minutes till he thought he had showed him that he resented being chased. Remounting his bicycle, the man then made along the, fence ; he was surprised to observe the bull charging a straw stack, which be had well nigh demolished before the astonished spectator left the scene of his fortunate escape.

Bonders are sociable fellows. When a member of a club is about to leave he is invariably given ai seftd-off by his club mates. Such a social function had entered its second hour of existence the other night (says the Southland Daily News), and the club’s baritone had just got firmly established on his top note, when the door was flung open and the figure of a well known feminine temperance advocate appeared on the threshold. “You ought to be home with your wives and children,” she exclaimed, and, slamming the door, she vanished in the darkness. Eventually the gathering broke up. and a trio of courageous souls betook themselves to the lady’s stronghold. Her husband, in a voice of undisguised relief, informed the deputation that the lady had retired for the night. “Well, you might ask her what she meant by kicking up that shindy at our clubhouse,” said one. “Oh,” replied the husband, “she took you for a keg party.” and as the trio withdrew it is recorded that the precincts echoed with phrases which are regarded as exclusive bowling-green monopolies.

Dr. Crossley, Anglican Bishop of Auckland, has just made an extensive tour in the north of Auckland, where he had some interesting experiences. At Ouo (Hokianga) a settler at whoso house a service was held feared that his modest dining room would not hold die congregation, so he took down the partition between the dining room and the kitchen in order to provide more accommodation. This was only one (lustration of the willing self-sacrifice of the backblock settlers to assist the Church. In his address to the people at this settlement the Bishop urged them to erect a church for themselves, and, before he left, one settler offered an admirable site and another enough standing timber to construct the building. “Perhaps the most unique service T held was at a timber mill not far away from Kawakawa,” said Dr. Crossley. “We drove up about 5 o’clock as the men were coming from work. One man whom we called upon and invited to attend the service was working in his kitchen. ‘I will come if you will baptise my kiddies,’ he informed us. We gladly assented, but had some difficulty in finding a suitable place to hold the service in. The only building available was a shed containing a billiard table, and with this as my font, pulpit, and reading-desk combined, I held a baptismal service and baptised four little children.” Dr. Crossley was given two interesting mementoes of Bishop Selwyn. One was an iron punch he always carried with him, well worn with much use, and the other was one of the last letters he wrote before ho returned to New Zealand, “it is curious,” said Dr. Crossley, “in that it i« signed ‘Bishop of New Zealand and Lichfield.’ 1 am trying to make a collection of Selwyn letters which I propose to leave u 6 a legacy tc Bishcpsccuri,”

Two well known Stratford tradesmen are contemplating starting business in Regan street as cabinetmakers and upholsterers.

A movement is on foot in Stratford to start a gymnasium, and developments may be expected shortly.

The Town Clerk’s rating proposals wtafe submitted to the Borough Council last night, and were approved. A report of the proceedings appears on page 8.

At the monthly meeting of the Moa Iwad .Board on Saturday, Mr Smith, Ratapiko-road, wrote stating that the Stratford County Council’s workmen were now on the Stratford end of the Ratapiko-road, which offered a good opportunity for the Board to have repairs made to its end of the road, and offering to give assistance himself. It was resolved that £5 be handed to the Stratford County Council and they be asked to expend same on the work.

Regent Cigarettes are right for the inhaler. Smoke them an 1 share in the Great Free Gift Schemn Particulars from ail tobacconists. s