LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 89, 22 April 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The cables have told us of the Australian record put up at the Quiriudi (X.S.W.) Show, when Eroni Bros’ circus horse jumped 7ft lin., but during the competition there were other feats worth recording. Betti it on’s Tiger (a Manilla horse) jumped 7ft, while others cleared 6ft lOin. '

The proposal that local bodies should subsidise the proposed Taranaki court at the Auckland Exhibition received short shrift at the hands of the Egmont County Council on Friday. In less than two minutes the matter was disposed of, councillors unanimously agreeing that the Council could spend the £SO required to much better advantage. “Let Auckland pay for its own exhibition,” remarked one councillor.

The religious scruples of some Maltese laborers was the cause of trouble at Zeehan, Tasmania, lately. A- gang of 24 were required one Sunday to complete an important job, on the Lake Margaret hydro electric power scheme being installed by the Lyell company, but they asserted their religious independence. They said they were not prepared to do so, as they desired to attend Mass. The Maltese did not turn to, but drew their time, and left the district sooner than be stood down for failing to obey instructions. The incident produced an unfavorable impression upon about 100 other Maltese employed on the works.

“Amongst the most deadly sins,” said Mr F. B. Smith, the American missioner to a crowded gathering at Pitt Street Congregational Church, in Sydney, ‘were those of intemperance and gambling.” To warn any man against whisky was , an insult to his intelligence, and tantamount to saying that he had not sufficient brain power to grasp the fact that alcohol in any form was poison. The definition of gambling in the dictionary, continued the speaker, is that of attempting to take away money from a man without offering to give him anything recognised by law as having value in return.

Speaking at a meeting at the Hotel Cecil, London, Mr T. J. Barratt, chairman of Pears’ Soap, said it is commonly supposed that advertising necessarily increases the cost of the advertised article, but his very lengthened and extensive experience proved entirely the contrary. “As a consequence of that expenditure,” he said, “the greatly increased output has resulted in enabling us so to reduce all our costs of production that our speciality to-day is obtained by the public at over 30 per cent, less than the price charged without the advertising expenditure. To-day, after twenty-three years’ lapse of time, bringing my total to some three millions spent in advertising, my experience permits me still to endorse that statement.”

An English-speaking conference on infant mortality is to he held in Loudon in August. The National Association for the Prevention of Infant Mortality is anxious for offers of suitable papers from experts, and promises to reserve places for them on the programme. Mr Charles dago, of Cross road, Midhirst, has disposed of his fine farm of about 100 acres to Air A. C. Mary, late of the Grown Stables, Stratford, who takes possession in July next. Air Jago, it is understood, intends building on his ten-acre section on the Flint Road, having decided to retire from active work. Fate is always considered a creature of moods, and in her treatment of one who was written down in the book, she seemed to have been particularly decisive. A train ran into a line of five horse and dray, teams that were crossing the rails at Inglewood (Victoria), picking out the third team driven by Edward AlcCormick, of Bendigo, and killing him and the horse and smashing the dray to splinters.

At the Eltham Court yesterday William Hunt, a half-caste, was charged with breaking into the house of Win. Bublitz, of the Fraser Road, Rotokare, on the 24th March, and •stealing therefrom a cheque book, one gold chain and locket, and some pearl heads. Accused was further charged with forging and uttering a cheque to a person unknown. Defendant pleaded guilty on each charge, and was committed to the Supreme Court, Wellington, for sentence in each case.

The suspension of a town clerk for failure to collect rates is probably unique, a case being reported from Wellington (N.S.W). It appears that some time ago the rate collector resigned, and no successor was appointed, as it was maintained by a section of the Council that the office was sufficiently staffed to carry out the duties of collection. This was not appreciated by the clerk, and the arrears increased alarmingly. Notwithstanding the request of the Mayor to collect all money due, even if it involved personal collection, the clerk positively declined to undertake the duty. The Mayor thereupon suspended him, and, at a subsequent special meeting of the Council, the suspension was endorsed, it being held that, so long as a Mayor’s instructions were with*' in; the bounds of reason, the clerk must obey. The Mayor said he had no wish to injure the clerk, but'he did not intend to stand idly by whilst the arrears of rates were piling'up. i If the clerk was censured and allow-* ed to | return to duty, rhe would be quite content to allow the nixatier to? drop. < This cohrae wps pursued, &d' the incident closed. - A meeting of the Council was then called to deal with the matter of appointing a collector, the Mayor being one of the strongest advocates for such appointment.

In Melbourne recently a number of master printers, who are not members of the Master Printers’ Association',* waited on the State .Attorney-' 1 ; and asked ; the protection]s’; . t]l9 Government against 1 the tactics of the Master Printers’ Association,'' whose members, it was alleged, had. formed a close combine to the detriment of other printers, The deputation ists urged that the “typhotae” formed by the Master Printers’ Association adopted methods which would either ruin them, or force them into tne “typhotae. The Attorney-Gen-eral, Mr Brown, in reply, remarked that, ill order to see beyond all doubt whether a combine existed, evidence would be necessary. If the deputation would give him a list of the names oi those who bad been refused goods, he would appoint an officer to take particulars, and on the facts obtained lie would see whether there was a breach of any State Act. If so, ho would have no hesitation whatever in taking proceedings to block it.( Hear, hear.) If the state of affairs was such as ought not to be‘tolerated in a free country, and the law did not provide a remedy, he would consult his colleagues as to what action should he taken.

“Mere man” is singularly long suffering as far as feminine headgear is concerned, but a lady travelling in a William-street (Sydney) tram car on Wednesday, 9th inst., is likely to remember tiiat there is a limit to human endurance. The car was carrying its complement of passengers, and included amongst them a young lady wearing a hat trimmed with a long pheasant’s feather, which protruded many inches beyond the brim. Every turn of the lady’s head resulted in the feather tickling her neighbour, a gentleman of portly build. He stood the irritation for a long time, hut finally requested the lady to keep her head moderately still. The advice was carefully accepted for a few minutes. but an animated discussion on winter furs, with an acquaintance on the other side of her, proved the lady’s undoing. She turned her head round sharply, bringing the offending feather in sharp contact with the ronionstrator’s. ear. Without more ado (says the Telegraph) the outraged objector whipped out a pair of scissors and neatly clipped off' a portion of the feather. As he was leaving the car at the top of William street lie observed, in honeyed tones, to the young lady:—“Madame, you ignored my polite request; here is a little souvenir of the occasion.” At the same time he presented her with the severed tin of her feather!— Probable feminine comment: “Oh, the wretch!” Ladies 1 Warner’s Corsets are com-bo-table—guaranteed so—they shape fashionably. The bones rust or can the fabric tear. Order vLocal drapers,

Progrcsisve candidate at a meeting at Tooting Graveney School: Can you name any one thing, any one commodity, that is not the direct or indirect product of the land? Voice in audience: Yes—fish!

A horse-dyeing establishment, with a perfect plant for changing the colour of stolen animals has been discovered by the New York police. Four animals were undergoing the treatment at the time.

Mr Thomas, Federal Minister, cnoaking at Korrumburra (Vic.), said that though he had always been in favor of industrial arbitration, yet he flfcbeed it was better to have strikes than stagnation. Men in the hopfields in Tasmania were working for 4s a day. Women and children were also working in those fields. It was better to have strikes than such a state of tilings.

At a meeting of the Footscray (Vic.) branch of the Political Labor Council, it was resolved that the branch place on record its detestation of the snobbery and bad manners of the legal fraternity in refusing to extend to Mr Justice Powers the usual courtesies on his access to the High Court. The mover said that the action of the legal profession in making flesh of one and fish of another must be abhorrent to all fair-minded people.

The extent to which King Edward Park is patronised may be judged from a remark made to a member of the . Stratford Beautifying Society the other day. The member mentioned the work the Domain Board had done in the Park, and the citizen replied: “Do you know, I haven’t been in King Edward Park for eight years.” Perhaps that is the reason why a signboard directing all and sundry to King Edward Park has just been erected at the corner of Broadway and henton streets. When welcoming the members of the Chapman-Alexander mission to Auckx land on Friday night, the Rev. I. Jolly said that he welcomed them to the fairest city of the Dominion. In replying, Dr. Chapman said there was a familiar ring about Mr Jolly’s remarks. Dunedin had claimed to be the finest city—(laughter)—but Dunedin Was not in it with Christchurch. (Laughter.) They were simply “blowing” at Wellington—(laughter)—and now the mission had come to the fin|Ost city in the Dominion (Renewed laughter.)

The Stratford Beautifying Society advancted one stage further in its existance last night,: when the rules and di]awn up by Messrs C. Wright andi-P. Thomson, were adopted. < The,President, (Mr W. Pi Kirkwood) and Messrs Ec!H. James and P, Thomsen-were appointed a sub-com-mittee tqi arrange for the fencing Off of the piece of I ground which lies between the railway and traffic bridges, and adjoins Davey’s Stables. On this piece of land the Society will commence operations.

A startling incident of domestic life, due to the shortage of labor, is recorded ' 1 as / having • taken ‘phu?e on a farm on thie Flint Road. The settler in question and liis wife went out one evening to milk, leaving a four-year-old don in bed and an infant in a cradle near the fireplace. Judge of their cdhsternation and horror when on their return, they found that the little scamp had taken a shovelful of live embers from the fire and had deposited them in the cradle, where the clothing was an fire, and where in the course of a few minutes only the baby would assuredly have been burnt to death.

The Mid-Sussex Times, n commenting on the address given by the Hon. Thomas Mackenzie at the Balcombe Working Men’s Club on the evening of Thursday, February 13, the audience at which consisted almost entirely of men and women workers on farms, together with a representative gathering of country people, says: “Before the close of the address it was felt that New Zealand had a splendid representative in the lecturer, and his patriotism and expert knowledge, which he can display in so entertaining a manner, is bound to win for the colony new friends and fresh blood.”

The philatelic writer in the London Daily Telegraph says that the New Zealand Government’s decision not to issue a 5d denomination in the new r set of stamps is an indication of the effect on stamp issues of the recent reductions in postal rates. r lhe 5d served for double the 2sd rate for a }oz. letter within the Postal Union, hut New Zealand has now Id rate throughout the Empire, and to certain foreign countries, while the second ounce in the union area only costs lid. Consequently the 4d stamp is more used both in New Zealand and elsewhere.

A dog at Dannevirke on Tuesday (says the “News”) cost somebody about £BO. The dog was lying on the roadway at the junction of R:v whiti and Stanley streets, and a motorist who was returning to town endeavoured to pass it and then pull over to his right side again. Unfortunately his intentions were mistaken by a native—a novice at driving—who rPas proceeding from town; he altered his course, wdth the result that the cars met head on. None of the occupants of the cars were injured in any way, but the damage to the European’s and native’s cars respectively is estimated at about £3O and £SO.

We hold one sale each year. This is our third, and it is our intention to make it eclipse all previous sales. Charles E. James, Broadway.

The Oddfellows at a meeting last night passed a hearty vote of thanks to Mrs Brooking for the capable manner in which she has carried out the duties of caterer to the Lodge.

It will be seen from the list of fixtures arranged by the Taranaki Rugby Union and published on page 8, that the first serious game for the Stratford Club will be at Eltham against the “Red and Whites” on May 8. The juniors of both clubs meet at Stratford on the same date.

The Eltham Dairy Company paid out £8262 3s 4d for cheese and £220 for butter this month, the cheques being based on Is per lb. butter fat for cheese and 11 Id for butter. The average test for the month was 4.07, and the number of cheeses, made, 5240.

In response to a request proffered by Messrs C. Jackson and J. B. Richards, Madame Bernard has kindly agreed to give a benefit picture show in aid of funds for the Stratford Mountain House road. The entertainment will take place in about three weeks’ time.

The Municipal crushing plant was installed yesterday in Fenton St., and about seventy-one yards of river shingle went through the crusher. The road roller which is now properly equipped with governors is doing its work excellently, and the whole plant is working very smoothly indeed. Twelve hundred yards of shingle and boulders will be crushed at this site, and Mr Sullivan estimates the cost at something like 2s a yard.

The Stratford Golf Club will formally open the season on Thursday at 2.30 p.m., when mixed foursomes will be played for trophies presented by Mrs Budge. Players who have arranged partners are requested to enter at once. Intending players are requested to hand their names to the secretary, who will endeavour to arrange 1 partners for them.

The Startford A. and P. Association’s dairy farm competition i® being judged to-day and to-morrow by the judges, Messrs Cuddie, Reakes, and Lambie, senr. Itinerary of to-day’s judging: From Durham Road along the Beaconsfield Road to Toko, and thence to Stratford; to-morrow the' farms closer at hand will be visited. The first prize is a very handsome sideboard, presented by W. and E. Brocklebank. It is now on view in the firm’s window, and reflects great credit on the makei n, being, indeed, a prize well worth winning.

When asked to become a member of the newly-formed Stratford Beautifying Society, a prominent citizen reiplied;: “Why, I thought that, Society had petered out long ago ?” In case other residents are of the same mind, it should be stated that-the only reason Stratford has not heard more of the Society is that the inaugural mee ting was held when it was too late to start planting. For some months the Society has been lying dormant, intending to blossom out shortly wit a work that will justify its existence.

l!: One of the ash trees planted by the Domain Board in King Edward Park is'likely to become the subject of a prosecution. Ib is alleged that a prominent member of the Domain Board came across a man with an axo cutting into al well-grown tree, and when asked what he was doing replied that he wanted some wood, and thought this was a piece of native bush. Advised to get over the fence the modern George Washington is stated to have replied: “Can t I have it, now I’ve almost cut it down?”

The usual euchre party under the auspices of the Oddfellpws’ Lodgo was held in the Foresters’ Hall last night, when there was an attendance of about 50. In the ladies competition Miss Scott was successful, and Miss Sole secured second place after a play-off with Mrs Walsh and Mrs T. Lawson. Mr T. Lawson beat Mr F. Miscall in a play-off for first honors among the men. Mrs Brooking supplied an excellent supper, and an enjoyable evening closed at 11 o - clock.

An adventure with a shark on the foreshore opposite the Wanganui railway engine-sheds provided a little excitement for a while on Saturday afternoon. Some children were paddling in the water when a fitter’s l>oy, who happened to be handy, noticed a shark making towards the children, and gave the alarm. Ihe children hurried ashore, but the shaik, not slackening its speed, found itself hard and fast on the shore, where it was killed by some men from the railway sheds. When measured it was found to be oft Bin in length. The Herald says that sharks have ft equently been seen in the river lately.

In Brown County, South Dakota, U.S.A., over 300 boys and girls have joined the Boys and Girls’ Better Farming Clubs. These young farniei s are interested in better farming, and are going to enter a number of contests that have been arranged for them. They will compete with one another in growing corn, tomatoes, garden products, and in the production of pork. Substantial prizes have been arranged for the boy or girl w io wins in any one of these contests. Already these young people are deeply interested, and are rapidly becoming enthusiastic supporters of the Better Farming Association.

Only when tea is absolute,y pure do you get the highest stimulating power and the least waste. Pnnty m tea is secured by the utmost care in every branch of the industry, from the picking of the leaves to the marketing of the finished product. Crescent Tea fulfils every condition of a high grade pure tea. It is rich and strong and uniform in flavour. Sold m three grade? a: 2?, Is 10d, and Is 8d pe’lo *