LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 93, 26 April 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Holland is marking feminine progress by means of an exhibition of women’s ways and- - women’s work during the., ,past 100 years .(says the. “Queen.”) i : Such an obvious oportnnity may be left safely, to a nation which -progresses slowly, vitli diginity, and no desire to make sudden flights back to the past. England, which may move forward rather faster, where women’s interests are foremost, has, on the contrary, lately developed a kind of responsive nerve for the past. The most modern individuals are prone to be seized with an ecstatic worship for the past, and it is unwisejto show some women the “glories” of anything a century old, lest they straightaway determine that it shall become the latest thing in reverent revivals.

Captain Hayes, of the American barque, Bernicia, now at the Dunedin wharf, was very well acquainted with Maine many years ago, and calls it “the only State in America to live in.” “How does prohibition work there?” he was asked. “It works all right,” but (states an Otago Daily Times reporter) the effect of this reasuring reply would be spoilt for some people by the prompt addition, “A men can get as much liquor as he wants.” He went on to explain that for those who were keen to have liquor there were easily discovered ways and means of procuring it, but for the man who wished to avoid it there was no temptation, and this he considered a very happy state of affairs. Men took home their small change to their children instead of wasting it at the. street corner in a saloon. There was more work in Maine State than in any other. Captain Hayes finally crowned his eulogy of his favourite State by declaring that Maine is “more like New Zealand.”

Packed nicely away in a large brief bag which was left outside the main door of the medical schol, Sydney University, were bones representative of every part of the human frame. Toe bag was i fastened, and its weight was sufficient to give the impression that the contents consisted of something really valuable, probably gold. This must have been the conjecture of a thief when lie decided to take the bag away last week. He, however, had not got far before he was observed by a number of students, who went off in pursuit. A warm chase ensued, but the undergrads, soon overtook the fugitive, and he was caught near the main gates. He struggled frantically and broke away, but Constables Prior and Elliott, who came along, re-captured him. He was escorted to the anatomy class at the medical school, where he nearly collapsed from fright when the bleached bones of a human being were shown to him. “This is about the limit,” remarked one of the students. “Fancy taking a poor dead man, who is not able to protect himself. It’s a shame.” Ladies! Warner’s Corsets are comfortable —guaranteed so—they shape fashionably. The bones cannot rust m can the fabric tear. Order v'bc.ai drapers, „•

A beautifying society has been formed in Eltham, and a public meeting is t° be held with the object of furthering the interests of the society. The idea as disclosd at a meeting on Thursday night is to obtain th sanction of the Council in tree-planting over about a mile of' streets.

In commenting on Mr W. P. Kirkwood’s career on the Borough Council, we stated in yesterday’s issue that he had been defeated for the Mayoralty by Mr Jonas Masters. W e were in error in making this stateas the only election Mr Kirkwood contested with Mr Masters was for the seat as a councillor, when Mr Kirkwood was elected. Mr Kirkwood was defeated for Mayoral honours by Mr Geo. Sangster.

A story is being told (says the “Gentlewoman” to the effect that in returning from his visit to Dr. Moore, the Bordeaux throat specialist, last month, King Alfonso of Spain broke his motor journey for the night at Pan on his way to San Sabastian, and in the evening had a box with two friends at the opera to hear the “Kreutzer Sonata.” Having been feted by the management, and enthusiastically received by the audience, his Majesty, as is his custom, sent his aide-de-camp with a bouquet for the leading lady. Much to his surprise it was at once returned, with out explanation. After scanning his programme, the King exclaimed, “Of course, she’s singing under an assumed name. Go and find out her real one.” The aide-de-camp went out agai% and returned looking somewhat nervous. “Well,” asked the King, “What is it?” The aide-de-camp hesitated. “Tell me the lady’s name at once,” demanded his Majesty. “Senora Ferrer,” was the reply. It will be remembered that Sonor Ferrer was shot as a revolutionary four years ago. His daughter, who made every effort to save him, afterwards took to the rtage.

The kauri tree can be got to grow in/ Otago. Mr D. Tannock, of Dunedin, has proved it (says the Star). Near his residence at the Dunedin Botanical Gardens, in a sheltered situation, he has a young kauri now 7ft. heigh and doing well.’ Members of the Forestry Commission, when here, regarded this tree as one of the sights of Dunedin, since its presence shatters the common belief that the kauri will not thrive in the South Island. There i? also further evidence on the point. We remember having heard rumors of kauris at Otago Heads, and an inquiry brings the following interesting statement j—Two kauris were, planted at the Heads about 30 years ago by the Hon H_JJ.. -Taiaroa. One of them struggled on for 20 years, and then .died, the reason being, it is thought, that some gum trees near by robbed •it of sustenance. The other is still growing; It measure's 12ft. in height t ; and 3in; 'diameter. ' ' This is a poor record in the way ‘of development, but the Heads is hn exposed place, and it is something to know that the tree is alive.

Numerous stories are current of young linen and young women being ruined at West End (London) gambling establishments (says the “Standard”). Gn© story concerns a young lady from the country, who came to London to buy her bridal trousseau with £3OO, which was given to her for the purpose by her parents! She stayed with fashionable relatives in Lopdon, and one of them took her to a gambling house. The girl could not resist the temptation to play, and before she had left the house she had lost the £3OO she had brought to London. In deep contrition she wrote home, and told her parents what had happened. They sfent her an angry letter and another £3OO. The foolish young woman went back to the gambling house with the intention of surprising her parents by winning back the money she had but it was with the tearful confession that the second £3OO had been lost like the first. Her parents, to punish her, refused to trust her with more money for her trousseau, and the wedding had to be postponed.

Was it not a Scotchman who prayed : —“ Lor-rd, gie us a guid conceit o’oorsels!” Listen to the from the Star;—“To the ordinary man about town Dunedin has of late taken a very sober appearance. There is no rowdyism' about the streets of an evening; the spectacle of ,a drunken man is rare, and so far as one can see the publicans are not serving boys. It occurred to one of our representatives to ask from well-informed sources whether things are really so, or whether it bad been his personal 'luck to steer clear of troubles, and the answers, which may be absolutely relied on, are so satisfactory as to warrant a pat on the back for our good City. The agent of a pbilantrophic society states that comparatively few ‘wasters’ now go through his hands, and these few are mostly elderly incorrigibles. The younger men are drinking less and working more. iA police officer say® the same thing. Drinking to excess is decidedlydecreasing. He does not search very high for the cause of the improvement noted, but puts it down largely to the fact that the enhanced monetary value of a hotel license, caused by the reduction in the number of house®, is making the publicans careful to observe not only the letter but the spirit of the law. Another informant, whose occupation takes him round and round the Dominion, says that in the matter of sobriety Dunedin may challenge the rest of New Zealand. He frankly confesses that he has tried unavailingly to tempt Dunedin publicans to serve him after 10 p.m., whereas in Wellington and some other place® one has only to know the run of the ropes to get drink at any timo up to midnight or later.”

The Prime Minister announced at an address at Piopio last night that the surplus for the year was £709,000.

A London cablegram states that Sims, an ex-New Zealand engineer, had the confidence trick played on him, whereby he lost £SOO.

Government sections to the number of 11, an-J containing 10,509 acres in the Taurakawa, Titiro, Minn, M.apara, and Mahoe Survey Districts, will be opened for sale or selection under optional conditions at the District Lands Office, New Plymouth, on May 15. Further particulars are given in the advertisement elsewhere in this issue.

A meeting of old subscribers to the Whangamomona Doctor’s Fund was held in the Whangamomona Town Hall on Wednesday evening, when Mr Joseph McCluggage presided over an attendance of twenty. After a long discussion, it was decided to hand over the funds (which the trustees have at fixed deposit with the Bank of Australasia) to the Whangamomona Medical Association, provided that this can be done in legal manner. The

Chairman was empowered to take legal advice on the matter.

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 Is Woods’ Great Peppermint Cur?.