LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 42, 25 June 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

(A. visitor to Dunmore, near Shellharbor, Sydney, recently, shot a rabbit which, on being opened, was found to have. 18 young ones in it. This is. supposed to he phenomenal, as the usual production at one time is eight or nine. Mr M'Culloch, of the Australian Museum, says it is extraordinary, and he has made a record of it. Cadets competing at the Territorial Gymkhana at Hawera on Thursday may travel down only by the 9.27 a.m. train. Tickets will ho available at the railway station. Cadets are reminded that if they travel by this train they can make post entries at the Gymkhana.

The Senior Cadet parade called for Thursday evening has been cancelled owing to the Territorial Gymkhana at Hawera. Stratford auctioneers close to-mor-row all day on account of the Winter Show at Hawera. The annual meeting of the United Friendly Societies Hospital (Association will be held in Stratford, to-morrow morning. A good deal of interest is centred in the football match to be held at Hawera on Saturday, when Taranaki Representatives play Wanganui. Wanganui team hasi been considerably chopped about this last fortnight, and Saturday's team is reckoned to be the best available. A good game should result. On account of it being Winter Show week in Hawera, excursion tickets will be available by certain trains.

The Borough Inspector will figure prominently in ten cases to be heard at Court on Friday, the offences being driving vehicles and riding bicycles without lights after dark. Twentyseven civil cases and eight judgment summonses are set down for hearing. Five charges under th© Defence Act will be dealt with—two for failing to attend drill, two for failing to attend camp, and one for failing to deliver up Government property.

The annual meeting of the Acclimatisation Society was to have been beld last night, but as a quorum did not materialise the meeting was adjourned till Friday evening. The bal-ance-sheet to be presented shows that the receipts for the year totalled £282 6s lid and the expenditure £172 15s. showing a credit balance of £lO9 lis lid. The chief item of expenditure was £6l 2s lOd for pheasant charges. On the credit side the chief items were:—Fishing licenses £23 17s 6d, shooting licenses £ll3 2s.

Movements'have been initiated by the Te Awamutu Chamber of Commerce to endeavour to secure the support of all local bodies in New Zealand of the following motion: "Resolved that the attention of the Government be called to the shocking waste of human life caused through accidents at level railway crossings, and we, respectfully pray that immediate action be taken to reduce these accidents by minimising existing risks, which to a very great extent are reducible by the removal of obstructions"; and to resolve similarly, and to forward copies of the resolution to the Premier to reach him on 20th July. ✓

In reference to the acquisition of land in Stratford for the erection of Workers' Homes, the Premier (Mr W. ~F. : Massey) writes as follows to Mr J. B. Hine, M.P. ■:—"I am in receipt of your letter of the 9th instant, and in- reply have to inform you that the matter of purchasing a block of land at Stratford has been in the hands of the Crown Law Officers since the 27th of March last. The cause of delay in the completion of the purchase is on account of some tunnelling rights held by Mr N. King. In' consequence of these rights the Crown Solicitors have some difficulty in securing for the Government an unencumbered title. I have seen all the papers and am satisfied that everything possible is being done to complete the purchase. As soon as this is done, you have my assurance that no time will be lost in making a start with the erection of houses at Stratford." • •

A marriage service purged of all "moral indignities to women" was adopted in April at the wedding at St. Paul's Minnesota, of Miss Flora Louise Dart, a suffragette, and Mr Nathaniel J. Pousette, an artist. It consisted of the following formula, composed by the bride and recited by tho clergyman:—"Because, according to your avowed .belief, there exists between you friendship genuine enough to warrant lifelong companionship, and love so deep and enduring that it justifies deathless union of soul and body, I am here this evening to marry you according to the laws of this State, and your own ethical standards. Will you, Nathaniel J. Pousette, and you, Flora Louise Dart, now signify by exchange of rings your willingness to Jive together according to tho law, and endeavour to maintain between you the love of truth and honor which make tho state of matrimony holy?" The rings were then exchanged, and the service concluded.