LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 18, 27 May 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The next sitting of, the, .Supreme, Court at New Plymouth; appointed to be held on Tuesday, June 17th, will be adjourned to Thursday, June 19th, at 10 a.m. , tin!

What have they been doing these past 37 years P” ‘asked Bishop Cleary, when speaking of the religious instruction given by the body of the Bible-in-schools clergy, in the course of his address at Timaru recently. Replying to his own question, the Bishop said: “They’ve slept beneath the sun; they’ve dived the life of going-to-do; and died with nothing done/’ ‘

Senator A. F. Ribot, speaking '.at the Hygienic Congress at Paris, took an alarming View of the French vital statistics. The speaker declared that the French race was withering because of alcoholism and tuberculosis. The lack of intelligent hygiene was decimating tho country. M. Joan Bourgeois (Minister of Labour and Social Providence) declared that as no steps bad been taken to remedy the low birth-rate in France, all the sacrifices made on behalf of the army must prove sterile.

The Te Kuiti magistrate was confronted with the question as to what constituted a labelled parcel of liquor The case in which the point was raised was one where the licensee of a hotel had wrapped the liquor in paper and labelled the same. The purchaser of the liquor placed the parcel in a bag, presumably for convenience in carrying. The magistrate said it was a reasonable thing to place the parcel in a bag for convenience, but the practice would leave room for abuse, and the 'Act evidently intended that the label should bo on 'the outside cover-

A rebuke was administered to the occupants of the public benches b\ Mr Justice Edwards in the Divorce Court in Auckland last week, which, in addition to the reproof, contained a piece of intelligence of which the public generally may not 'be aware. The answer given by a witness roused the risibilities of the onlookers, an audible titter being the result. “Some of you seem to think these proceedings to be very amusing, but this is not a place of amusement,” said his Honor, adding, “Although a cablegram which appeared in the newspapers a few days ago conveyed the news that the Lords had decided that the divorce proceedings should be held in open Court, I will inform the public that the New Zealand Parliament Inis made a Statute which enables me to hear all the divorce cases in private. I don’t believe in hearing divorce cases in private, but I will not allow the'Court to be used as a place of public amusement. It is not at all a place of amusement. It is a very sad place, and I will not have it turned into a theatre. If necessary, I will have the Court cleared, and allow only the newspaper representatives to be present, so as to avoid any scandal,” concluded the Judge.

Ladies! Warner's Corsets are com-fortable-guaranteed so—they shape fashionably. The bones cannot rust nr can the fabric tear. Order r~ Local drapers.

An ingenious piece of mechanism, in the form of a tell-tale clock (says tin; Gisborne Times) is being installed in the local Government buildings, which will ensure that the nightwatchuiuu conscientiously do their duty. The ; clock and recording apparatus is to be 1 placed in the District Engineer’s office, ; and will be connected with the Post ■ Office, the Land and Survey Buildings and tiie Supreme Court build- ' ings. Fifteen plugs will be used, and ■ as the two nightwatchmen go their rounds, they will be required to insert a key in the plug, which fact is shown on the deck register in the District Engineer’s office.

At Lake Ohia—which is practically a swamp—a huge kauri forest must have flourished aeons ago (writes the Auckland Herald’s Maugonui correspondent). The place is a veritable deposit of gum, and the dry summer has allowed of digging to a considerable depth, and tunnelling at low levels has revealed a large number if kauri trees of just what age, or the period when they were above ground, is hard to say. The timber, “heart” chiefly, is in a good state of preservation, but the upper portions of the logs have been worn as flat and smoot has a table top.

“Tins commission is in the position of a man who 80 years ago was asked to forecast what the world would be like in 1913.” This is how Dr Cockayne summed up the task of the Forestry Commission. “In 80 years,” he said, “the world has completely changed, and in another 100 years —who knows?” “Well,” said' the Chairman (Mr H. D. Haszard), “who can say that in 100 years’ time we will not be able to convert ordinary straw into hard timber by a three months’ process?” “Nothing is impossible,” said Dr. Cockayne, “judging from oui rate of progress during the past few years.”

A remarkable fact is mentioned by Dr. J. S. Purdy, Chief Health officer for Tasmania, formerly of New Zealand, in his report for 1911-12, viz., that more than a third of the people of the State live within a radius of ten miles of the general post offices of Hobart and Launceston. Dr. Purdy points out that in the other States of the Commonwealth there is also an unfortunate tendency for population to gravitate to the chief cities. Victoria has the highest density of population in the Commonwealth, and Tasmania come® next, with 7.39 per square, mile.

i A. rather interesting case is to be be heard in the Napier Magistrate’s .Court. . It appears that a certain young mam' left his lodgings without paying all the ‘ board fees due, and subsequently, when a letter came addressed to him, one of the lodgers, who was not in accord with the. action, and - 'knotting ( tlig lettejr (to, j.cpntain money, hit upon the idea ( of opening it 'lin'd handing over the money to the lair proprietress. This he did, never dreaming that the departed boarder would return. However, the latter cam© back, and now the gallant young man who opened the letter has to to© the mark before the local stipendiary magistrate.

i Pictures of actresses are among the home comforts allowed in prisoners’ cells at the ; ‘tree-planting camp at Ha timer: This was remarked upon by Dr. Cockayne at the sitting of the Forestry 1 Commission at Wellington, and he asked whether there was any reason why this indulgence was allov/ed at Hanmer and not at any of the other places. Mr B. Jordan, Under-secretary for Justice, stated that too many comforts of this sort were allowed at Hanmer. He stated that it was certainly not advisable to make prisons too comfortable. Whereupon Mr Clarke, a member of the commission, remarked: “Certainly not. If you do you will have half the community in the camp, and the other half looking after' them.’

Though the next General Election is not likely to he held for some 18 months yet, political prophets have been busy of late forecasting the probable results of certain of the Taranaki seats. One of these gentlemen who have assumed the mantle of Elisha for the time being, boldly avers (says the Patea Press) that the Egmont seat will be captured by a certain “strong man” allied with the Liberal Party at the next . election, whilst another prophetic genius holds a similar opinion with regard to the adjoining electorate of Patea. The Waimate Witness, referring to the matter recently, delivers itself as follows: “At the last election for Egmont, Mr Astbury contested the seat in the Liberal interest, and if strength consists in -ability, a very taking gift of speech, a clever and very effective power of exposition, an impressive personality, he surely was entitled to the description of being what is popularly known as a “strong man.” And yet look at the result of his candidature. But even more striking and illuminative are the facts of the Patea election. In tins contest the Liberal party was represented by Mr O’Dea, a man of uncommon intellectual force, a trained and disciplined thinker, an eloquent and vigorous speaker, a man who indeed had in him the stuff out of which statesmen are made, a man with a personal history, one would surely think that should appeal successfully to a democratic people. And again look at tho result, Facts such as these knock latter day prophesies into manifold splinters.”

The monthly meeting of the Vv'hangamoraona County Council takes place at Whangamomona to-morrow (Wednesday).

A Wellington Press Association wire toAlay states: The Acting-Minister of Defence informed a reporter yesterday that he was obtaining the ful official report of the ducking ot a reporter at Sutton Camp (Otago) recently, and of the subsequent proceedings in Court, but he did say definitely what further action rvmihl he taken hy the Defence Department.

The list of cases to be heard before the Magistrates Court on Friday, include 20 civil cases (two of which are defended); live judgment sum mouses; one application for an order to bo made absolute; two informations against persons for placing o >- structions in a public place; two informations for driving gigs at night without lights; and four informations against persons driving loose horses.

The Stratford Chamber of Commerce have received for distribution a consignment of booklets, drawing attention to the annual show of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, which will be held at Bristol during the first week of July. The pamphlet, contains about sixty pages, giving a comprehensive description of Bristol, illustrated by numerous photographs, and refers to the desirability of attracting show exhibitors from the Oversea Dominions of Great Britain. This booklet furnishes much interesting information, and copie.may be obtained at the office of the Chamber of Commerce.

Mr Newton King, accompanied hv bis son. Mr Elliot King, glided into Stratford this sunny winter morning in a magnificent new 37-h.p. Hudson car—absolutely the last word in motor cars, so far as this part of the world knows, at any rate. With self-starter, complete electric lighting controlled from the interior, the lat-est-improved silent engines, the bestknown method of springing for safety, strength, and comfort ; and a

handsomely designed body, the car } looks what it really is—a perfect polished gentleman amongst the many motors one daily sees.

A deputation of keepers of labour registry offices waited on the Plon. Mr Herdman (Minister of Justice), yesterday morning in Wellington, to protest against the reduction in the fees recently gazetted. It was stated that the old scale was a starvation scale, and that the new one was apparently an attempt to blot out registry offices. The Minister promised to bring the matter before his col-

leagues in the Cabinet, and stated that he did not doubt that if any injustice had been 'done would they

do their best to put it right

' !: A ! correspondent write® lightly and •a ■appealingly as follows: —In your issue * ; of ‘ April 14,' in which appeared ' the Mayor’s annual report, he stated in connection with lighting “That tenders have been accepted for the erection of twenty-six new lights, to be equally distributed in the northern and southern portions of the Borough, sanctioned by the Council, and should be ready to be lit this month.” I, should like tp ask, Mr Editor- if the Mayor made a mistake by saying “this month,” a® it is now about a month overdue, and the lights have not yet made their appearance, at. any rate; in some portions of the Borough where they are badly needed; in fact, some of the poles are yet lying on the road, side. Winter is here, “Mr Mayor,” and the lights would he very acceptable.

The accident which occurred at Regan Street railway crossing last night again brings* to notice the facilities offered for such events not only at that spot but also at Fenton Street. The upper crossing was in darkness when the accident occurred, as the electric light which is supposed to provide illumination was “on strike.” As for the electric warning bell, several bystanders say that it was scarcely audible above the sound of the engine of the stationary mail train, and which would also drown to i certain extent the sound of the ap preaching train. Taken altogether, the conditions were such as to even a more docile animal than the one in question, and unless something is done towards amelioration there will occur, sometime or other, a more scr ious accident than that of last evening*

As far back as tlie last Stratford Show Mr 'Newton King’s local staff received the season’s orders for basic slag, the number of tons amounting, it is understood, to some thousands. On the 13th hist, the first of the three steamers to carry tire consignment from Leeds (England), arrived at Wellington wharf, and during the past week members of the Stratford staff have been extremely busy supplying the men on the land from far and near. When it is. mentioned that the district over which the Stratford branch of* this well-known firm has jurisdiction extends in a rough line of circumference from Inglewood M Pohokura, down to Moumahaki, and ; round again to Oeo in the centre of the rich country bordering on the Waimate Plains, it will be recognised that an enormous amount <of land is being improved by t|ie importation of this popular and highly efficacious j manure. And it speaks volumes for | the quality of the Leeds slag that Mr King has been favored by the farmers of the whole of Taranaki with such large and repeat orders. The Stratford railway yards presented a busy appearance during the past few ' days, • when farmers had their drays backed into the truck; on the loop lines. Besides the Ath enic, which arrived on 13th May, two other steamers with further consignments will arrive in the middle of June land July respectively.