LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 86, 18 April 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Letters to the editor will be found on page 7 of this issue.

Auckland has exported 326,358 boxes of butter this season, as against 286,630 last season.

One hundred children from the Hawera District High School, and twenty from the Hawera Convent School left for Wellington yesterday morning to visit the battleship New Zealand.

The Eltham County Council has resolved“ That tollgate fees to the amount of £2 14s incurred by the motor cars on' the occasion of the visit of the Hon. W. F. Massey and the Hon. W. Eraser, be paid by the Council.”

Referring to the fact that land in Central Otago was becoming valuable, and that a farm at Gimmerburn had changed hands at over £6 per acre, a correspondent of the Dunedin Evening Star says: “A notable fact in connection with that purchase is that the buyer already owns a big ■slice of Manitoto, amongst which is the fine old Maniototo Station freehold block. His purchase means another settler off the land, and is a sample of the reaggregation that is going on all over New Zealand.”

The efficacy ef spraying potatoes with the Bordeaux mixture has been amply demonstrated by the result of an opxeriment conducted by the Government expert at the garden plots of the Milton district high school, In February, which must be considered as rather late te spray (says the Otago Daily Times), two of six plots of growing potatoes were treated with the mixture, and while the tubers so dealt with have returned good crops, the remaining four plots were attacked with the potato blight and have proved an absolute failure.

A sensation was created iff the State Legislature of Indiana on February 20th, where the proceedings, as in other State Legislatures, open 1 with prayer. The Rev. Edward Henry, a Baptist minister of Indianapolis, : ‘ was praying! as tisna! WMle the legisl'a- ' tors were' assbffiblihg, when tile Gov- 1 " c rnor of the Sjate shouted “Stop makiug o political speech!” The minister Lad prayed (says the Telegraph) for the separation of the rum traffic from the State. The Governor, who had been showing signs of impatience, vigorously hanged the marble slab with his gavel, qnd commanded the minister to stop. He ordered the minutes to be read, and Mr Henry immediately left the Chamber.

The severity of the earthquake in Masterton last Saturday caused several women to faint in the street, and they were carried into adjacent houses and attended to. Two women residing in the “station section” went into hysterics, one rushing out of her house into the roadway, screaming loudly. In many other instances women clung to men who were strangers to them. In one case a lady seized hold of a man who apparently was undecided whether it was an earthquake or.not, for he asked, “Was that an earthquake?” On receiving a reply in the affirmative from the lady, lie flung her aside and cried, “Let go, woman; 1 must go to my wife!'”

A surprising position of affairs was revealed at a meeting of the Navy League at Christchurch. It was reported that the league had about £I2OO in credit, which it had been hoped the City Council would take on loan. The chairman (Mr J. J. Dougall), however, reported that money was now so plentiful with the City Council that it could not take the money, as it already had more on offer than it could absorb. It was mentioned that some firms about the city, which were usually in a position to take money on deposit, would hot do so because of the “glut” that existed. Some surprise was expressed at this state of affairs, particularly as the market was so tight when borrowing was proposed. The league, so far as its £I2OO was concerned, decided to leave its investment to the chairman and the treasurer, who were limited to the Bank of New Zealand and the Public Trustee for choice.

Ever since the world began, man bas been contriving iustrume,nts for the reproduction of sound, Nature’s sweetest music—the sighing of wind through reeds, the laughter of a brook, or the lapping of the waves: those have caused men to stop and ponder. We see the result in such instruments as the violin, tho harp, the flute. But most effective of all,' perhaps, is the piano. Imprisoned within its four walls hide the magic works which breathe forth enchanting harmonies. Just to run one s iingei s Mono- the kevs of an instrument such as the Broadwood, the Eonisch, the I nop. or the Steinway. is a supreme delight. The Dresden Piano Co., Ltd., Wellington, who are agents for these, and indeed every instrument of high repute, will gladly tell you about their ®isy time-payment system, which make s it. simple for everyone to possess this kin or of instruments—the piano. Local representative, G. W. MILLS, Stav »'P!\ Broadway vlat© Cargill s). x Ladies! Warner’s Corsets are comfortable? —guaranteed so—they shape fashionably. The hones carnet rosier can the fabric tear. Order P' b.v.ii draper?.

Th© Flour Millers’ Association lias decided to increase the price ot flour by 10s per ton from to-day.

Mr T. Lamason has in his Mart a fine exhibition of pumpkins grown by Mrs Walker, of Salisbury Road, from Cooper’s seeds-

|p There is at present on view at the local agency of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., two very fine samples of Purple Top Mammoth turnips weighing 221bs and 16lbs respectively. These fine t;.rn:rs£were grown by Messrs Hann Bros., of Skinner Road.

f Something quite out of the ordinary is promised concert goers on Tuesday evening next, when an entertainment is to be given in the Presbyterian Sunday School. An attractive programme has been arranged, and many of our best local amateurs will contribute items. *

Two lads under seventeen were charged with serious offences at the Stratford Court this morning. A charge of obscene language and drunkenness was preferred against one youth, while the other pleaded guilty tb robbing his mate, with whom he worked on the Egmont railway line. A report of the case appears in another column.

G-olf is now in full swing in Stratford, and there was a.big attendance at the links yesterday, the weather being almost perfect. Present indication© are for a very successful season, new members being greatly in evidence. The annual report to be presented to the meeting this evening appears on page 8.

The’ Stratford Hospital and Charitable Aid Board had a judgment summons case in the Court to-day. The judgment debtor was a labourer earning from 8s to 10s per day, but he stated that after leaving the Hospital he had been laid up with sciatica lor six months. Mr Fookes, for the judgment creditor, pointed out that debtor had still two clear years since the date of judgment in which to pay the debt, Mr Kenrick, S.M., mads an order.

Fifty-two Territorials, including members of the Field" Ambulance under Corporal Lawrence, entrained at the Stratford Station this morning by special train for Oringi. Staff-Sergeant Major Bonnor and Colour Sergeant Rabone were in charge of the local contingent. The train was crowded and presumably extra carriages were to be added at southern stations. Captain Steven, area officer, was in command, and with, him was Major Bellringer. , Very few people were down at thostatlon to see the “Terries”, ,off to camp. - J ■

■'*j, y j ii ■ 1 • * • 1 • ' Frederick ‘William ( Cranp, aged 16,, was charged at'the S.tratford Court this morning 'with using pbsCpiie, language,' a further charge of drunkenness being also preferred against the accused. < It was stated by the police that the language comjdained of was used by the accused in the main street of Toko on the night of the recent sports. Crann, who did not appear, was fined 20s and costs 7s on : the charge of using obscene language, and convicted, oUf tii'e charge,,of drunkenness.

An action arising, out of the late

slaughtermen’s strike was heard at 0. the Waitara Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, when H. Eversfteld claimed from E. Frost the sum of £2O, being damages for insulting behaviour and assault. Some time ago, it will be remembered, there was trouble in an hotel bar, and the contents of mugs of beer were thrown about. 1 Plaintiff deposed that defendant and another man threw the beer in his I face, saying at the time that they would like to kill him. A claim for £2O had been made against the other man, but this had been withdrawn when ho apologised. Plaintiff was willing to act similarly with defendant but he had not come to him. The defence was a denial of the charge of throwing the beer, which had been done by the , other man. Plaintiff was non-suited in this case, as well as in another charge wherein he claimed £lO from one Paltridge for a similar offence on other licensed premises. The following unfortunate circumstances are related by our correspondent at Whangamomona: Daniel Cleary, aged 62, employed on the railway construction works at Kohuratahi, died at his camp on Tuesday. He had not been at work since March * 17 on account of illness, and, it is Q said, had been drinking rather heavily. He died whilst being removed from his camp by Constable Scannell, who was intending to get him sent out to the hospital. He had lived entirely by himself, and was in a very neglected condition. It is not known whether he was married or single, but he told Constable Scannell that he had nob got any relatives. The jury, of whom Mr A. McMeekan was foreman, brought in a verdict of “death from natural causes, accelerated by neglect.” The following rider was added; “That the Government’s attention be drawn to tho fact that hundreds of men are sent up to this district to bo employed on railway construction, and that no provision

is made for medical services being rendered to such men, in consequence of I which several have died through such 1 want.” He Avas buried on Wednesday afternoon in the Whangamomona Cemetery.

In tent and gunyah, cot and hall, In whare, boat, or camp, The name of “Woods” is known to all, Each bottle bears the stamp. Wherever men and women live, Either on sea or shore, They know for coughs the thing to give I? Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure.

The Makahu settlers’ picnic and sports held yesterday, turned out a most enjoyable gathering. Visitors f j-om Stratford who were present speak in glowing terms of the hospitality extended to them.

“This is a highly technical I say frankly I don’t like technicalities; I would rather discuss the case on its merits.”—Thus Mr Kenrick, S.M., at the Stratford Magistrate’s Court to-day.

There was a large number present at the Foresters’ Hall on Wednesday evening, when Mrs Bianchi held the first of her fortnightly assembles. The floor was in splendid order, and the music was all that could bo desired. Mrs Brooking provided a tasty supper.

Several Territorials appeared at the Stratford Court this morning to answer charges for failure to attend parades. Sergeant-Major Dunham prosecuted, the men being all members of “D” squadron, 2nd Mounted Rifles. Albert Leslie Lyford pleaded not guilty, and” stated, on oath, that he had attended the parade which it was alleged he had failed to attend. Defendant stated further that on several other occasions he had not been credited with parades at which he had been present. Sergeant-Ma-jor Dunham explained that it was not feasible to call the roll of the squadron, as the men drilled “anywhere and eveywhere” sometimes in as small a number as three or four, but the officer in charge took down the names of all present, and forwarded the list to headquarters. Mr Kenrick dismissed the case. William Wright Vickers and Charles Edward Neal, on similar charges, were given a chance, th© former undertaking to attend the Mounted and Infantry camps, and the latter to put in six drills before July 25th. Mr Kenrick therefore adjourned the cases.

The committee of the Patea Harbor Board set up to deal with the question of harbor improvement has come to the decision that the scheme proposed, which would have entailed an expenditure of between £IOO,OOO and £150,000, is not feasible, and intend to present an entirely different one for adoption. When in Wellington last week the committee consulted with the chief engineer to the Public Works Department, and discussed with him the advisability of placing a flood gate in the Patea river. When the tide is fully in it is proposed to close the gate down, and to release the water at low tide. It is anticipated that the outriish of water would then create a big scour and have the same effect, >, but in a somewhat lesser degree than would be obtained were Sir John Goode’s scheme carried out. The .chief engineer looked! upon itho proposal favourably,- 1 1 1 and. estimated tnat the. work could beidone at a cost ,■ of. not more than UThe committee intend to recommend to the full Board that the idea be adopted, and that-i a loan of between £50,000 and £60,000 be raised for the purpose of carrying out the work and consolidating existing loans. It is anticipated that if the proposed scheme is adopted it will ! not be necessary to collect -the rate that would ‘have to be struck to pay interest and provide a sinking fund on the loan. The present revenue received from port charges exceeds the expenditure by £IOOO a year, or nearly sufficient to meet the charges on the new loan, i Out Third Annual Stock-Reducing and Shelf-Emptying Sale is now on. Discounts and reductions everywhere. See window and displays. Charles E. James. Broadway.