LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 90, 23 April 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Government offices throughout the Dominion were closed to-day in Celebration oi St. George’s and St. David’s Day.

It is reported that Mr Vernon Reed, M.P., has issued a writ for £IOOO for libel contained in an article published by Mr F. McKenzie, in the “Bay of Islands Luminary” at Kawakawa.

The Federal Government has decided to appoint a photographer and two cinematograph operators to travel continuously over the Commonwealth and take views of rural life and industry for purposes of using them afterwards to attract immigrants. They are to be paid £5 a week and 12s 6d a day expenses, with free transport by rail, steamer, and coach.

'A country correspondent of the Sydney Daily Telegraph tells a story of a nine mourns never, which developed symptoms of illness. As the animal could not be cured, it ova's' killed., A post-mortem revealed the fact that the stomach contained a table cloth, a veil, a child’s night: dress, a buckle, some hide, a spfety pin, and other odds and ends. Apparently the heifer was a martyr to indigestion.

The Bishop of Madagascar, who recently returned to England for a holiday, tells an amusing story of a native “prelate” of his diocese. Some years ago a small mission in the north of the island was abandoned for political reasons. The natives did not cease to be Christians, and were led in their devotions by an old man who called himself the “bishop of the north.” His wife made him a hood, and he was robed like a bishop. The old man ordained about 16 “deacons” and nine or ten “presbyters,” in accordance with the rites of the English Church, but in dedicating new churches he used the baptismal service, sprinkling water over the buildings and giving them names. Yet the Book of Common Grayer was interpreted by the old man with a fidelity which the bishop defies anyone in England to surpass.

The late heavy rain was responsible for an occurrence which might have ended much more seriously (says the “Wakatipu Mail”). On the night of Friday, March 28, after Messrs. T. Kennett and 0. Lynch had retired to rest in their tent on Mount Judah, some 6,000 ft. above sea level, a heavy landslip came down the slope on which they were encamped and cut away a portion of their tent. The debris just partially caught the bed in which the occupants were sleeping, and was the means of giving them a good shaking. ft, however, carried away the whole of their tucker and a quantity of other materials, and completely disarranged their temporary abode. If the tent had caught the full force of the landslip the whole concern would have been carried into the Bucklerburn river, some thousands of feet below.

An English journal thus refers to what must he a phenomenon, for it is evident from the context that there is no question of flood waters in the story:—“All streams are not like that described hy Tennyson as going on for ever, for in Kent there is a miniature river called the Nailhourno which at one time has nothing to show for itself but a dry bed, and at another a rushing stream of clear water, which flows through the ,Alkham Valley. More than once we have walked along the dry hod of the Nail bourne and have heard the local folk contend that it flows regularly and religiously every seven years, hut no more frequently. Perhaps the Nailhourne may have done this in the past; we do not know, but, it if so, it has evidently become more active in recent years, for it has filled its bed with water and flowed through the valley no less than five times during the period from 1910 to 1913. To the people who are acquainted with it, the coming and going of the stream is taken as a matter of course, but to a stranger it is a curious sight to observe the brook fill up until it is a small but quickly-flowing river of the cleanest of water, and then after a time the stream becomes less until it eventually dries up and parts of its bed are again used as a road,”

“Tailor.—Can anyone recommend from personal knowledge, a really competent West End firm of tailors capable of fitting properly?” This somewhat extraordinary advertisement iii the “Times” has aroused considerable ire in the trade in London. The “Tailor and Cutter” expressed the opinion that the type of garment required to fit well by the advertiser was a strait jacket. And the editor could hardly find type big enough in which to say what he thought. He succeeded in giving that advertiser “fits,”

The whole of the time of the Hawera Magistrate’s Court was occupied on Monday afternoon in the hearing of a case against James Miles, charged with an offence against a little girl under the age of 16 years at Meremore on April 11. After the evidence had been taken (says the Star), accused, in reply to the usual warning, said lie had nothing to say. He pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Mr Kenrick, S.M., was on the bench, and Sergeant Griffith prosecuted.

Mr J. Lomas, Secretary for Labor, and Superintendent of Workers’ Dwellings ; Mr Bullard, Commissioner of Cown Lands; and Mr W. Slaughter, Labor Department Agent for Taranaki (who are the Board for Workers’ Dwellings for this district), and Mr Temple, Government Architect, were in Hawera last week inspecting land for the purpose of erecting a number of dwellings. Several (docks of land were inspected, and plans were left for the convenience of those who wish to take advantage of Hie scheme. The Star says the Board also inspected blocks of land at Manaia and Eltham.

r l hey certainly do tilings on a big scale in America, whether it be business or burglary, creating cities of mammoth buildings, or wiping them out with flood and fire. For example, in the current issue of “Life,” one reads that New York has more fires annually than all the capitals of Europe put together. The annual fire loss of the United States is £53,000,000, and it is asserted by the writer that one-half of the fires are intentional—in other words, are crimes, committed for insurance. “In a word,” says the writer of this fascinating article, “arson has become America’s national crime.” This article is perhaps the most striking feature of the May number of “Life.”

Y> anted.—“ Seven dozen box snails” -—so stated an advertisement which - * appeared in the Auckland Star last week. A reporter sought out the advg tiser and inquired for what purpose the snails were needed. He was met i with the rather startling explanation s that i the snails were required as food 1 > for a sick girl. Further inquiry elicited the information that a snail diet is regarded by some people as something of a panacea with special eonsumption curing powers. There is, of course, a turtle virus, and other equally uncertain remedies for tuberculosis, but someone has yet to startle the world and make the fortunes of many local gardeners with the dis- ihi.ij covery of a snail virus.;

“A notion seemed to be abroad that a person could commit one crime and go scot-free,” said Mr Justice Pring at the Armidale (N.S.W.) Court in reply to an application for an extension of the provisions of the first offenders’ section of the Crimes Act in respect to a girl of 19, who had admitted a charge of forging and uttering a cheque for £4 10s. Continuing, the Judge said he would never encourage such an idea. The merciful provision was only for minor offences committed under stress or the influence of the moment. Accordingly, ho sentenced the girl to two months’ imprisonment.

Mr King O’Malley, the Federal Minister of Internal Affairs, is not afraid to say what he means, and he generally manages to hit off something original. His latest was reeled off at a Labor rally in Sydney the other day, when the crowd were giving another politician and him a rather rough time. But when Mr O’Malley got on the cart to speak and opened by addressing the crowd as “Dear Christian Friends,” the gathering “sat up” and prepared to listen without interruption. The orator—for Mr O’Malley is one, there is no doubt—proceeded: “You, brothers, you are up against great combinations of capital, rings, and trusts ; and this battle is between the people and money. Which side are you on? God made the people and the people made the money. Our opponents fall down and worship the thing which man made and kick the thing which God made. They send their hired accomplices here to break up this meeting, but all you young Labor men have to do is to gently take them outside and lose them. Don’t hurt them, mind you. Oh, no; they must not be hurt, just lose them.” (Laughter).

Describing the recent flood in tho Mnlyneux river, which played such havoc in Clutha Valley, a resident of Alexandra (Otago) in a letter to a Stratford friend, says it must have equalled the flood of 1878, which proved so disastrous to Balelutha. At that time the town had no protective bank and the flood waters inundated Balelutha to a depth of several feet, and swept away many houses. Last month the river at Alexandra was 35 feet above normal. A big gold dredge had broken from its moorings and had not been seen since. .. -'VI

Ladies! Warner’s Corsets are comfortable—guaranteed so—they shape fashionably. The bones cannot rust or can the fabric tear. Order P”' Local drapers, tas

A number of pheasants for the Stratford Acclimatisation Society expected last night have been delayed in transit, but should arrive by this evening’s mail train.

There is now on view in Mr D. rGraham’s window, Broadway, a vegetable freak, grown by Mr H. Kivell. It is a sort of three-in-one marrow of a quite unusual sort, three apparently perfectly-fqrmed vegetable marrows being joined in the middle.

It is estimated 65,000 people visited tko battleship New Zealand during tne nine-days she Was open for inspection at' Wellington. This number includes 20,000 children, half of whom came from the country districts.—P.A.

Twenty thousand persons in England and Wales were without a birthday this year. This estimate was carefully made at the end of February by a census official with the aid of the available census returns. The exact number of people then alive who were born on February 29 within the given. Among the famous men born on a leap-year day was Rossini, the composer, who was born on February 29,, 1792. Burke’s Peerage provides a modern instance in the case of James Edward, Marquis of Hamilton, son and ' heir of the present Duke of Abercorn. He was born on February 29, 1904, King Edward standing sponsor at his baptism. According to a German lecturer, Dr. Abnel, the world’s well-being is threatened by the. unnatural adoration of strong-minded women for rakes, love-laces and Don Juans. “The more solemn, detached and political a woman becomes,” says Dr. Abnel, “the more certain is she to choose a dissolute man as the object of her affections.” He asserts that clinging, domesticminded women are attracted to honest and reserved men, and their instincts seldom betray them. The “women politician,” however has lost the selective instinct of the female, and is destined to be fooled and deceived. ‘•‘Nature usually intervenes to protect such women by making them nnat tractive,” continues the erudite doctor; “if they are attractive, they are doomed. They flutter towards the first Don Juan like moths, and are consumed before they realise their own folly. The rake is the counterpart of the woman vpte-seeker; and when all women have votes, all men will be rakes.”

For the trials of mechanical milkera, organised by the Royab Agricultural Society of, England, which are to be held this month at Grange-hill, Bishop Auckland, county Durham, ! 17 entries have t been made.' Scotland will be represented" by -two '■ machines, England .by seven, Wales' by- one, New Zealand by two, Australia by one. Sweden by two,.and Denmark and the United States by one each. All machines competing must be exhibited in the showyard at Bristol. Every machine entered must be capable of milking at least two cows at a time, and the number of cows to be milked will be left to the discretion of the judges. The following are ; some of the points to which the special attention of the judges will be called -—(a) Time taken in milking; (b) weight of triilk exclusive of strippings; (c) convenience in attachment to the cows, taking into account ease of replacing where machine has become detached from any cause; (d) security of attachment to teats; (e) gentleness in operation; (f) ease in regulating speed of machine; (g) condition of milk; (h) ease and thoroughness of cleansing; (i), lightness of milk receptacles; (j) minimum of supervision during milking, so that man in charge can leave cows to carry milk to the dairy, etc.; (k) price of machine, with cheapness of renewal and durability of working parts.

How a horse reported as missing or stolen passed 36 hours in it® own staid© without its owner knowing anything about it, while detectives, professional and amateur, followed various false scents, was related to an incredulous lieutenant of police in the Bedford Avenue Station, Williamsburg, according to the “New York Press.” The horse disappeared on a Thursday morning. For 21 hours detectives hunted in vhin; finally they found the horse had walked upstairs to the feed loft. The animal rvas unable to get down the stairs even with aid, and finally had to be slid down on a plank. Pillow's were tied on its knees.