LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 9, 15 May 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

_ T,! e Egmont Club’s Debating Society meets on Wednesday next, when, besides formal business, there will be an interesting programme of impromptu speeches.

Quite unconsciously, it must be assumed, the works committee of a local body in Taranaki recently recommended that the road from the residence of the local doctor to the cemetery should be metalled at an early date! It would not have mattered much had an outside paper not have mentioned the doctor’s name.

Notice of sections being opened in June for sale or selection under optional conditions in the Taumatahoe Block, Mahoe S.D., and in the Whakailniwaku Block, Kapara, Taurakawa and Tua Survey Districts appears in our advertising columns. Nearly 13,000 acres are in the two blocks.

The modern schoolboy doesn’t have to go to school early, and “compare answers” with hie chums, so as to get all his sums right. A reporter, who was anxious to use a telephone the other night, found the line engaged and heard the following conversation:—“What do you get for the third sum, I can’t get it to come out? Yes, I got the same as you for the other ones.”

The Stratford Operatic Society held their first annual meeting under very promising auspices last evening, and the ensuing season bids fair to be a source of enjoyment to members and the public in no small measure. The Society commences the year with a membership of over seventy-five, including fifteen who were enrolled at the meeting last night. A performance of “The Pirates of Penzance” from which rehearsals will shortly be in full swing, is the next attraction to be staged by the Society.

At the quarterly criminal sessions in Dunedin the only work on hand was to try two men for offences that were only technically serious (states the Star). As it chanced, both offenders pleaded guilty. Though their crimes were unlike in character, they had a common origin, drunkenness within an unlicensed area, and both of the defending lawyers pointed out that inebriety in such circumstaces was more likely to be injurious and menacing than in places where the sale of liquor is permitted and therefore controlled.

Regarding the statement that . a strong Hawera man is coming out to contest the Patea seat at the next general election, the Eltham Argus says:—“That gentleman referred to we have no doubt, is Mr R. H. Nolan, and there is not the slightest doubt but that be could win the Patea seat with the greatest of ease if he would offer bis services; but he is not enamoured with public life, and we do not think he can be persuaded to enter politics. However, we believe that the Patea seat is waiting for him if he would take it.”

“Don’t do it! Help!” This cry, given in an agonised voice, startled some residents of the Terrace, in the 'vicinity of Mount street, Wellington, at a very early hour on Tuesday morning. Immediately afterwards two shots were heard. Then followed- a dead silence, during which the imagination of those whose attention had been arrested drew vivid pictures of some dread tragedy. Nothing further, how--1 ever, was heard, and the disturbed neighbourhood was soon at rest agairt. The incident was reported to the police later in the day, but, though diligent search was made, no trace of any assault, tragedy, or other like happening could he found. Ihe Times says that the police soon came to the conclusion that in all probability the scare was the result of an attempt at a practical joke. Every article in stock reduced in price during our Third Annual Sale. Fancy Goods, Stationery, Glassware, China, etc., Charles E. James, Broadway.

The total number of railway tickets issued yesterday and to-day, available from Stratford to Hawera racecourse was 353, as against 298 on the occasion of the Egmont Racing Club’s last winter meeting. The detailed figures are:—-On 14th, ordinary, lirst class 21, second 34; excursion, firstclass 1(5, second 103; on the 15th, ordinary, 24 and 25, excursion 14 and 120. Total, ordinary 45 and 59; excursion 30 and 223.

At the Wellington Supreme Court to-day, Allen Moody and Harold Bronson were each sentenced to eighteen months’ imprisonment on < a charge of conspiring to defraud,' *by means of the confidence trick.—P. A.

Mrs Bianchi hold a very successful assembly in the Foresters’ Hall last night, there being the usual largo attendance of dancers. Music was supplied by Mrs Bianchi and extras by Miss Jans, Mr Tocker being M.C. Supper was supplied by Mrs Brooking.

Groves, one of two escapees from Palmerston North gaol, was re-cap-tured last night after ten days’ liberty. Gaoler Glesson, accompanied by detectives Quirke and McSweeney and Constable Thompson effected the capture in a house at Terrace End. Groves was found under a bed, and gave no trouble. He was remanded till tomorrow.—P. A. wire.

“ I’here is only one little complaint I have to make,” said Captain Halsey during his address to the children at the Auckland Town Hall last week. “At Victoria Park yesterday I saw some men and boys who did not take off their hats when the National Anthem was being played. Ido not suppose that they did not remove their hats purposely, hut it is a duty wo owe to our King. .Respect is everything, and I hope you will remember what I say—whenever ‘God Save the King’ is being played, every man and boy should remove his hat, and show that lie is a patriotic Britisher.” '(Applause).

The weekly meeting of the Stratford Poultry Society was held last night, there being a record attendance of members as well as a record in interest and enthusiasm. There is a very marked determination to make the coming show a tremendous success. Many striking novelties have been introduced, and Stratford is to have the best Show ever held in Taranaki. Many very fine and valuable trophies are offered for competition, and as the prize money is on the most liberal scale, record entries must result. Already many enquiries are ebing made, and new members are being made, and new members are be published shortly as to some of the Society’s special attractions.

Some details concerning an open-air pleasure park about to be built in Sydney was given by Mr C. Spencer, of Spencer’s Pictures, Ltd.; who is travelling to England, via, Vancouver, by the Niagara. Mr Spencer said that he and two other fellow promoters (Messrs Davies and Carrol) had decided, in view of the ardent love of Sydney people for outdoor amusements,, to build a pleasure park that should be superior (at least for size) to anything of the kind hereto attempted in Europe or America. Mr Carrol is already in America for the purpose of securing the best attractions available, and Mr Spencer will perform a similar undertaking in Europe. Plans have been carefully prepared, and they will be executed under the direction of Mr T. H. Eslick, the builder and general manager of the Durbar Exhibition, in India. Rushcutter’s Bay (of Stadium fame) has been selected as a site, on account of its proximity to the city and its nearness to the waterfront.