LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 78, 9 April 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

For failure to destroy rabbits a Lake County runbolder was fined £2O.

An open cheque for over £IOO payable to a Mandeville resident, was picked up in Main street (says the Mataura Ensign), and returned to the drawer, a local firm.

In a debt case at Lower Hutt last week it was submitted by Mr Neilson, who appeared for the defendant, that, according to an English law, where a husband allows his wife a stated amount for household expenses, the husband is not liable for debts contracted by his wife beyofid the allowance unless by bis consent. Further, the question of the allowance not being sufficient for such household requirements was not considered, it being contended- that a wife must confine her purchases to an amount coverable by the allowance made.

The universally popular breakfast on ham and eggs (ham and egg really) is somewhat of a luxury in Dunedin these mornings. The Evening Star says that pigs are scarce and hens appear to be on strike, thus forcing merchants to pay heavy prices for hams and eggs. In the market-places to-day (Saturday) eggs sold at from Is 6d to Is 8d per dozen, the retail price being Is lid. That is high, but still about sixpence below the record, which is comforting, more or less. Good bacon is sold in the shop at about Is per lb.

Concerning tobacco-growing, and the possibilities of its introduction into New Zealand, Captain Preece, of Palmerston North, states that as far back as 1879 a man named Gotch grew tobacco in Opotiki, with results which gave every promise of its becoming a thriving indusry. Capain Preece says that the industry was nipped in the bud by the Government of the day. who feared that the establishment of tobacco growing on a large scale would have a disastrous effect upon thte revenue. In Captain Preece’s opinion, tobacco growing would do well in many parts of the North Island, and ho points in support of his opinion to tbo ease with which the Maoris cultivate “the weed.”

A single Pose of Tanking*s Linseed Emulsion will stop you sneering. Two or three doses mere u ill make vou well. x

In connection with the visit of the' gift warship New Zealand, a Palmerston North lady has suggested that it would be a splendid idea to rehearse the children into forming “a living battleship” for performance on the day of the big fete in honour of the crew of H.M.S. New Zealand. The idea lias been worked out thoroughly, and it is understood with 2000 , schoo 1 children a really magnificent spectacle could be formed. Stratford business people are complaining that the arrangements made by the Public Works Department in regard to the carrying of goods “out east” are unsatisfactory. Mr Robert Masters, at the meeting of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce last night said that owing to the Department being unwilling to charge the freight up to the settlers, all the goods have to go through the hands of the storekeepers in the country district. Mr Masters contended that this was obviously unfair both to the settlers and to the Stratford tradesmen. He pointed out that while the local tradesman could pre-pay the freight to the Maugere siding, it was impossible to do this with the tramway. Messrs R. Masters and W. H. Young will enquire into the matter. During the recent interruption of railway communication in Southland through severe floods, some of the‘passengers were placed in rather unfortunate positions. A lady, who had four children with her, and who it transpired afterwards had only 2d in her pockets, spent the first night in the carriages, and the result in regard to the children may be easily imagined. On learning her plight the better circumstanced members of the marooned party thought of an expediency to relieve the situation, and a concert was quickly organised. This resulted in a net return of £3 11s, the handing over of which brought intense relief to the. troubled mother, and proportionate satisfaction to the people who promoted the happily-con-ceived venture.

Mr “Pip” Powell, pantomime actor, Had a narrow escape, together wi,th His wife and dresser, from being drowned in the harbour at Sydney one day last week. The party was fishing from an open boat off Parsley Bay, when an out-going steamer, the Wiltshire, almost ran them down. Mr and Mrs Powell, seeing that a collision was inevitable, jumped overboard, Mr Powell supporting his wife in the water. The third member of the party, however, Mr H. Joyce, remained in the boat, and managed to keep it clear of the steamer’s propellers. The fishing-boat was entirely undamaged, the Wiltshire only grazing it. As soon as the steamer had passed Mr Joyce picked up Mr and Mrs Powell, and the three landed at Watson’s Bay, Mrs Powell suffering from shock, but the' remaining two being all right.

An unfortunate ending to a mocktrial took place on Friday night, March 28th, at the Artillery Camp, Middle Head '(states the Sydney Daily Telegraph), when Gunner Mclntosh, of the Garrison Artillery, was accidentally wounded with a bayonet by one of his friends. The usual pleasantries which are common to the close of a camp were in progress, and of these the chief was a mock court-martial. Several offenders had been “tried” and dealt with, and when the turn of one man came round, he put up some slight resistance. A scrimmage took place, and Gunner Mclntosh received an injury which was so severe that he had to be taken to the Royal North Shore Cottage Hospital, where he now lies in a low state. The officer in charge of the men placed another man under arrest, and he was subsequently handed over to the civil authorities.

At the inquest on the unknown man whose body was found in the Auckland harbour last week, Mr T. Gresham, coroner, told an extraordinary story of a similar fatality. Some years ago, he said, the body of some person unknown was found in the harbour, and was placed on view in the old water-front morgue, in the hope that someone would identify it. As it happened, no fewer than four women wanted to identify it as their deceased husband, each apparently being very anxious to establish her widowhood. Some warm disputes between the females took place in the presence of the corpse, each of the disputants claiming it as her dear departed. How the matter was settled Mr Gresham did not say, but presumably none of the four was able to make good her claim to relationship.

The monthly meeting of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce was held last night, when Mr W. P. Kirkwood presided over an attendance of the following members: Messrs W. H. H. Young, E. Jackson, J. Munro, R. Masters, and J. B. Richards (secretary). Mr E. Jackson reported having, in conjunction with another member, interviewed the Stratford County Council in regard to the Upper Pembroke Road, and the Council offered £4, provided £4 was raised by the Borough Council, and a similar sum by private subscription. Mr Jackson added that Madame Bernard had offered to give a benefit performance at His Majesty’s Theatre. Consideration was deferred, the matter being left in the hands of the secretary and Mr Jackson. The Borough Council will be asked to contribute its quota. With reference to the recent banquet, the secretary said lie had not yet made out a balance sheet, but be was certain the finances would be satisfactory.

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