The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 1913. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 37, 19 June 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 1913. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Leading an other matter is crowded out of our present issue.

i lie takings for the six days of the A\ inter Show at Xew Plymouth amounted to £400; of which sum the two additional days contributed £3O.

The first annual social of the Toko Settlers’ Association is to be held in the Coronation Hall, Toko, this evening. Mr H. H. Judd is lion, secretary. The function promises to be a very enjoyable one, and all the district is likely to be there.

Mr X. J. King asked Mr Hine last night if the line now being surveyed from Te Roti to Opunake was the permanent line. Mr Hine replied that nothing had yet been decided. So far as he knew the survey was merely being made to collect data in order (o enable the Government to come to a decision regarding the route.

Cr Hathaway moved at yesterday’s meeting of the County Council that this year’s separate rate on York Road be a half-penny. He said that last year the rate was 2,k1, and in the two previous years 3d. He thought the York Road settlers 'deserved every credit for the manner in which they had taxed themselves, voluntarily assuming responsibility for heavy rates. The motion was carried.

A Wellington Press Association wire states that tlio TTiiion Company lias decided to enter the recently-acquired vessels of the Grange fleet in the Anstralian-Xew Zealand-Pacific Slope trade owing to the greatly increased demand for refrigerating space. The vessels are the Limerick, Roscommon, Tyrone and Westmeath. The date of starting of the augmented service has not vet. been decided.'

At the -New Plymouth Winter Show (writes n correspondent) Miss L. Kirhman and Mr C. Downey had twentythree entries in the poultry section, the former with four birds securing a lirst, seeom! anil third prize, and a highly commended. These two exhibitors between them secured nine prizes.

A leading Christchurch tradesman in conversation with a reporter, remarked that though he had not yet made up his returns for last week lie anticipated that consequent on the establishment of the Saturday half-holi-day In’s receipts would show a decrease of close on £2OO. It is reported that another tradesman in a fairly large way of business took only Is Gd on Friday night.

Arbor Day (Wednesday, July 1G) will be observed as a public holiday by Government offices throughout the Dominion. A Gazette notice states that, in order that the movement may be made as successful as possible, the Government hopes that the Mayors of various municipalities and chairmen of local bodies will place the matter prominently before the people of the Dominion, and do all they can to encourage the planiting of public reserves and other valuable lands, both public and private, with trees suited to the locality.

When the County Council yesterday was considering remits to be forwarded to the conference of the Counties Association, Cr Young said he thought the Government subsidy on rates should be distributed among the ridings in proportion to the rates collected in each riding— at present the distribution was on a valuation basis. In the Mangaehu riding they were heavily rated, and they should receive more of the subsidy than ridings in which the rates were light. The chairman said the matter could he fixed by the County itself; and Cr N oung thereupon withdrew his motion that the matter be the subject of a remit to the Counties Conference.

At the Court this morning a firstoffending drunkard was convicted and fined ss. On a charge of wife desertion a man was remanded on warrant to appear at Lyttelton on June 23rd. The Stratford Co-operative Dairy Co. did very well in tile factory 'butter classes at the Palmerston Winter Show, securing first prize in the class for one box suitable for export. The pointing was:—Flavour 46|, body 24. color, salt, finish 25, total 95|. Mauriceville(9s) was second and Gplden Bay (9-Uj third. For the championship of New Zealand, Stratford with 188$ points tied with Canterbury Central for second place, Bunnythorpe (189) being first.

A Press Association .message from Palmerston North says:—At a representative meeting of dairymen addressed by Mr W. D. Lysnar, of Gisborne, last night, the following resolution was moved by’ Mr A.’ E. Washer (director pf the Allan Dairy 'Cbmpany), and seconded by Mr Powdrell (chairman of the Kaupokonui Dairy Company and the Patea FreezingWorks), and carried: “That in view' of the. very unsatisfactory results regarding the handling and marketing of our dairy produce through London, this meeting recommends the daily factories to utilise the proposed Bristol and Dominion Producers’' Association for receiving and marketing the. produce in England on the lines sug;gested, and that we give it our practical support by each individual factory taking a few shares in the Association.”

The Mount Egmont railway line was touched on by Mr Hine at his meeting last night. He had had, he said, to make,some very hard remarks to the Government on the matter. Mr Herries seemed to think like Mr R. McKenzie that the line should either be ended or mended. The Railway Department said the line was built for ballast, and therefore could not be used for goods traffic. That should not be the system—the railways should l)e used for every possible purpose. If an engine went up the line with empty trucks there was nothing to stop goods being carried. He would not let the Government rest on the question—neither would the settlers interested.

At his meeting last night Mr Hine made an important announcement regarding the branch railway. He said the line was far from satisfactory to those who travelled on it, and for the past few months he had tried to impress on the authorities the desirability of having a day train running out two or three times a week. At first the Minister had said that as the Railway Department would be taking over the line to Whangamomona early in the spring it was not worth while making any alteration before then; but he (Mr Hine) was now pleased to be able to say that the request had been granted, and that the train arriving in Stratford at 8.30 a.m. would leave again at 0.15 a.m. for Pohokura, returning in the evening as at present. Tin's, lie said, would he highly welcome news to the settlers Out East.

Tho groat winding-np business solo nt A. Spenre’s drapery and cl fit bin a .-.tore, is still booming. The inteiost which this economy > event has aroused is certainly icm a rim hie. 01 course the bargains are ’indy exceptional in then money saving character, Ladies who are keen bargain buyers are surprised beyond measure at’tho ruthlessly reduced prices on seasonable goods which are everywhere apparent. To those who want to make their money do its full share, this is a grand opportunity. Espeeially are the bargains attractive in the showroom, where high quality goods are offering at prices that ar° deeidetllv favourable to modest purses, I adh's’ Coats and Costumes, am' Maid’s ami Children’s Coats are eon spieuons for their greatly reduced prices, any are certainly worthy of tho consideration of every economical huver. \