LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 72, 2 April 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Of the 511 teachers who were in the service of the Wellington Education Board at the end of last year, seventyseven are uncertificatcd. Hie percentage of fully certificated teachers remains stationary at 84.4. Whilst lying at the Melbourne hospital hovering between life and death, a young man named Stanley Lassan. aged 24, received word that ho had drawn the first prize in the South Sydney Hospital art union—a motor car valued at £SOO. Needless to say, although Lassan had been hit on the head with a stick and robbed, and was not expected to recover, he quickly took a turn for the better, and was soon making tracks after that car.

The number of electors on the Federal rolls for the various States is as follows:—New South Wales 939,041, Victoria 737,598, Queensland 330,462, South Australia 223,671, West Australia 148,002, Tasmania 103,527 ; total. 2,492,301. The total number of names on the roll exceeds half the total population of the Commonwealth. In Victoria the number is made up of 364,593 males and 383,005 females. The disproportion between males and females is exceedingly marked in some of the metropolitan divisions.

A sidelight on the baking trade was opened by a witness at the sitting of the Food Commission in Sydney last week, and the prospect was not alluring. Mr F. Heed, a flour merchant, expressed the wish that they could abolish the system of handmixing of dough, still prevailing in most of the metropolitan bakeries. His reason was that the perspiration caused by the heavy work in hot weather was insanitary. The men engaged in the work were, lie said, a good class, clean and careful, but handmixing was very undesirable. Machines saved labour, but the chief benefit derived from them was cleanliness. Special precautions were taken, but there were no legal requirements to bo observed. The master bakers were very particular, and so were the foremen ; but in spite of that the practice was undesirable. Houghmixing was hard work, and perspiration fell from the men in hot weather, some of it going into the dough. Asked as to the proportion of bakeries Where the dough was mixed by hand, witness said three-fourths of them 'used the system. Most of the larger bakeries had machines in use. Apart from the sanitary aspect, too, machine mixing was better.

For children’s hacking cough at night Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure, Is Gd, 2s Gd. Silver Goods for Wedding P-esents Wo have the largest variety in town. All British manufacture. Charles E. .Tamos, Broadway. x

Several students at a Methodist University in Connecticut were expelled recently when it was discovered that they were making a pastime of betting on the length of the morning prayer by the principal.

A gruesome sight was afforded an open-air •meeting of 2000 striking garment workers in a little park here the other day (says the New York correspondent of the Auckland Star). One of the East river bridges crosses above at a height of 130 ft, and a man

jumped from it. His body on the pavement was a flattened irrecognisable little mass. A letter was found in his clothing. It read: “Hope, courage, belief are everything. I lost all, therefore I cannot live. 1 am proud to die on the soil which gives equal rights to all men.”

Just as the biograph film entitled “From the Manger to the Cross” was about to be shown at the Buxton Hippodrome, a music-hall, the vicar of Buxton, Rev. Scott-Concrieff, went before the footlights and told the audience that the picture would place them in the gracious presence of their Saviour. He asked them no't to smoke, oat oranges, or laugh. Immediately cigarettes or cigars were put out, and the vicar requested his hearers to stand up. Ho then offeared up a fervent prayer, and the performance proceeded.

What he termed “a mean, contemptible act” was referred to last night by Mr R. H. Robinson, a member of the Stratford Retailers’ Association, when he stated that there were certain business men in Stratford who held aloof from the Association and did not close their premises on such days as the second day of the Stratford Racing Club’s meeting, but left their doors ajar and in other ways catered for business, when the majority had decided on a close holiday.’ “It time,” said Mr Robinson, “thpt such men should be educated up to a higher sense of business morality.”

A novel method of punishment was recently meted out to fifty young -women who were arrested in an antivice crusade in Cincinnati, When they were found guilty, the Magistrate, instead of levying fines or sending them to detention homes, sentenced them to four weeks’, consecutive church attendance* in the hope that a spark of womanhood might be raised, in them. They were given a free, choice of churches, the only stipulation being that they must report themselves to the mipister in charge.,; At,, ( the end of ,the month a statement, signed by j the minister, to the effect that the culprits have been regular in church attendance is to he presented to the Court, and anyone found guilty of evasion will then he sentenced to a period in a detention home.

When a man iiamed Arthur Smith was charged, at the Auckland Police Court on Tuesday with having assaulted a youth named Slade, Mr Hackett, for accused, asked Slade if he had not been engaged “foxing” Smith. Counsel explained 'to the uncomprehending justices who sat on the case that “foxing” practicaly meant spying and eavesdropping on lovers when the latter, in supposed seclusion, were exchanging sweet confidences. Slade denied the suggestion, though he said lie knew the Domain was notorious for “foxing.” Smith’s explanation of the case (states the Star) was that he mistook' Slade for one of a number of youths who had greatly angered him by “foxing” him, and dealt 'but’Nummary punishment.' He was ordered to pay the costs of the prosecution, amounting to, £4 8s 6d.

An exceedingly interesting discovery, from the Nature lover’s point of view, at least, was/recently made by a Mosraan (Sydney) resident. The Daily Telegraph says: While digging in his garden he unearthed a number of curious eggs, which, by their parchment-like covering, were obviously reptilian. After examining a couple—there were 13 in all—he sent the remainder to Mr le Soeuf, of the Zoological Gardens. Means were immediately taken to hatch them, with the result that four little lizards were produced. The, interesting point is, however, that these reptiles belong to the family of water dragons, which, though common enough to the eastern coastal district, are practically onknown so close to Sydney. Moreover, their habits lies in the vicinity of creeks, rivers, or lakes, and, as there are none of these near the place where the eggs were found, the discovery is the more interesting. Water dragons attain a length of 3ft. The specimens at the gardens are thriving well.

A remarkable story of workhouse inmates who fought for food in a piggery was told at a Local Government Board inquiry in Dublin, a few days ago. The allegations were made by an inmate of South Dublin Workhouse named O’Brien. O’Brien alleged that had, sour milk was given to the workhouse inmates, while fresh milk was given to the pigs, and that food was plundered and sold. “I complained one day that the milk was sour,” said O’Brien, and the officer said, ‘lt is near turned.’ ‘Yes, indeed,’ said I, ‘lt is nearly round the corner.’ fLaughter.) “The tables at dinner were covered with rotten potatoes, the bread was wretched half-baked sl ll ft, the soup was evidently made from peas—hut not many—(laughter) —and the tea was sloppy, watery stuff.” On one date, said O’Brien, he saw three cans of milk, 16 gallons in each, being sent to the piggery. Milk-cans full of milk were brought to the piggery, and several inmates actually fought to get the milk that was being given to the pigs. There were roars of laughter when O’Brien added, “Every time I complained I got castor oil, and I hadn’t a natural taste for it.”

The new school at Waingongora will he opened on Friday night with a social. Mr George Calvert’s boarding-house and store-keeping business at Strathmore has changed hands, Mr Athol Meredith being the new owner. The vital statistics for Stratford tor the month of March are births 27, marriages 6, and deaths ‘A the quaiterly returns are; Deaths, 12; births, 80; and marriages, 11.

' Stratford bowlers have an interesting game billed for Thursday next, when “smokers” will play “nonsmokers.” A big attendance is requested.

The N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., have on view a fine sample of Romney Marsh turnips grown by Mr George Sangster, of Beaconsfield Road.

The first practice of the “Pirates of Penzance” was held on Monday evening, and the Stratford Operatic So ciety is to bo congratulated on the success so far. achieved. Over forty were present, but the parts will not he allotted for some three or four weeks.

The following is the re infall recorded at “Riversdale,” Inglewood, for March, by Miss N. Trimble: —Ist, .11; 2nd, .21; 4th, .05; 6th, .01; 9th, .11; 10th, 1.01; Hth, 2.97; 12th, .59; 13th, .11; 14th, .78; 17th, .12; 19th, .09; 20th, .23; 23rd, .01; 27th .23; 28th, 1.36; 29th, .56. Total, 8.61.

Every year the Ngaire Co-operative airy Company manufacturers a mammoth cheese for the Manawatu Winter Show. The feature of this half-ton cheese is that it contains £ls worth of gold and silver coins, which will go free, gratis and for nothing to tho lucky purchasers of shilling slices.

In addition to the great events which are to happen in Holland in connection with the centenary celebrations of that famous country’s regaining freedom, there will be the opening of the Peace Palace at The Hague, which function in itself alone, will make 1913 a memorable year in Holland’s history.

A movement is on foot to form a gymastic, wrestling, and boxing club in Stratford, and the project has received fairly solid support. An inaugural meeting is'beihg held on Thursday evening in Mr W. G. Malone’s office,' the' ’ hhnVenors being Messrs C. H. 1 Crdltor ; and H. Leo. O .. • •< l l " ■f I. I. Sprat t. ,

The Advances Department recently refused an application of the Stratford County Council for a special loan of £3OO for the Makuri Road, but more recent advices state that the loan has been “provisionally approved.’’ The matter was to have been the subject of a deputation to tho Prime Minister.

On Tuesday morning (April Fool’s Day) a well-known figure in Toko was sent by Ms employer to a certain business place for a “half-round square” (writes a correspondent). The boss of the firm informed the messenger thqt he had not got one, and he then directed him across the street to the blacksmith’s shop, and from there he was sent to the store. At last, the messenger was informed by one of the. business people that it was April Fool's:Day* “I know it is,” was the reply,. Pjhutbwe want; to hang some gateahi ,cm. w; v ■■( ■■■:.

Burgesses are again reminded that the Supplementary District Electors’ List will close on Wednesday, April 16th. It would be well for all burgesses wishing to be enrolled to at once make application for enrolment, and any one who is in doubt as to whether he or she is enrolled should ascertain by inquiry at the Towfn Clerk’s office . It must be remembered that the municipal elections take place this month, and this will be the last opportunity of enrolment before the polling.

The following is an extract from a letter just received by the Wellington branch secretary of the Navy League from Lieutenant Knox: , “All our thoughts here are fixed on the Antarctic regions, where the five heroes laid down their lives. Scott was an old shipmate of mine, and I saw him off in the Terra Nova in 1910. A brilliant explorer, a very distinguished naval officer (who would have risen much higher), a man of high scientific attainments, and a charming companion was Robert Falcon Scott; and the Empire is the poorer for his loss. The great lesson I think we oughts to learn from Oates and Scott and the others is not to hoard life, but to work, work, work. ... I have given several lectures on New Zealand lately and at alhlectures now I show H.M.S. Now Zealand, ‘the gift of the million patriots in the dominion,’ and she is always greeted with rounds of applause.”

A sample of “Younger Auckland” : Tho other day two youngsters were to bo seen wending their way citywards from tho waterfront. The Jjigger of the two was dangling a wishing rod over his shoulder and whistling a quickstep as he walked. A closer inspection revealed the fact that the end of the line was attached to something, and that something proved to he the smaller boy’s nose. The howls the youngster emitted from time to time showed he objected to tho “quickstep” pace at which his companion was going. A good Samaritan came along and hailed the bigger boy as follows: “You little beast, can’t you see you are hurting Jpour brother, why don’t yon cut tho line?” “Gar’n,” was tho reply, “it’s mo new line, and ’o ain’t my brother anyway,”