LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 62, 18 July 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Of the civil cases set down for hear ing this morning only one came Court, and this was adjourned for i

week, to enable the defendant (;. Native) to produce evidence that" he was not the owner of land fori rates on -which he was sued by the WKangamomona County Council.

The annual meeting of shareholders of the Stratford Farmers' Co-opera-tive Association will be held in the Town Hall on Monday j July 28. The principal .business will be the adoption of tho report and balance-sheet ana the election of directors.

There will be a special service in the Presbyterian Church next Sunday morning in connection 'with the ordination and induction of new elders. Recently the congregation elected foui of their members to this important office, and they are to be installed in their. new official position in tin congregation.

The following fines were inflicted at the Court this morning on charges-; of failing to send children to school: H. Beere 4s, without costs; Francis Belk, 7s, without costs; John Bead, 9s costs 14s; George Prince 4s, costs lis; William Goldfinch 6s, costs 7s; Thomas Robertson, 4s, costs 7s; Beorge H. Hogarth, 2s, without casts; Fred Muiero ss, costs 7s; Daniel Wildermoth, 10s, costs 7s.

During the progress of the Catholic social last night in the Town Hall. three strapping young gentlemen on being informed that a "pock" patient had been admitted to the hospital, thought that they were in danger of contracting the disease, and so they made a hasty departure for the vaccination quarters. They went through the ordeal without a flinch, and the trio returned to the hall at a latei stage, one of whom was heard to remark: "I wasn't going to chance my life among the crowd. I don't want to die just yet." Wise young men!

A mother at the Court this morning in endeavouring to rebut a charge of Jailing to send her child to school ad vanced counter charges against the school-teachers. Her chief charge was that pupil teachers had favorites among the children and described their attendance as good, when it

i really was not. Mr Kenrick said such I charges should not be made unless I they could be proved—it was not I right to make unsupported statements behind people's backs. The woman persisted that she could prove this <'harge and advanced another. Once, she alleged, new books were supplied to her child, and she not being able to pay for them at the time, was told that the child had better be kept at heme until she could This she had done. She held that she could prove this though she admitted having taken no steps to have the remark confirmed ; and the S.M. had to warn her on the seriousness of making unsupported statements in the absence of the parties concerned.

Last night the Egmont Club Parliament was to have considered a bill for tlie reform of the jury system, introduced by the Premier, Mr H. L. gpratt, but owing to the small attendance of members, the debate was adjourned till next week.

To-morrow €5320 will bo paid out to Stratford Dairy Factory suppliers, this amount representing I l-32d per lb on the supply, and including a small sum for June milk. Xgaerc

will pay out .€1033, and Cardiff £612 an extra payment of M in each case. The two last-named factories will make another payment, when final account sales are received.

An elderly man pleaded guilty at the Court this morning to having failed to send a child to school. He stated that he had six children under fourteen years of age, the total number of his children being twenty. It was explained that defendant could not pay any fine. The charge was dismissed and defendant was warned that unless the boy's attendance improved another charge would be laid, a heavy line imposed, imprisonment following on failure to pay the fine. The Truant Inspector (Mr R. G. Hooker) said it would have a good effect if some parents were imprisoned and the S.M. (Mr Kenrick) said that in the South Island he had noticed a big improvement in school attendance after he had a man imprisoned in default of payment of ; large sum in successive fines.

There was a good number present at the Catholic social in the Town Hall Lust night, but although a lot of work had been put in on the floor, it was not in very good order. The music for the dancing was supplied by Mrs Bianchi, assisted by Messrs A. Kelly (cornet), S. Parker (cornet), W. Walsh (violin) and T. Walsh (piano), and extras were played by Miss Robson. During the evening songs were contributed by Misses Tocker and Miscall, Mrs Massey, and Messrs P. Coe, A. Robson and Coleman. A sailor's hornpipe was given by Mr J. Wade. Accompaniments were played by Misses liobson and Keppell, and Mrs Bianchi, An excellent supper, supplied by the ladies, was served. Messrs T. Lawson and F. Jans acted as M.C.'s. A very pleasant function was brought to a close at 2 o'clock this morning.

■ In, the course of the hearing of a truancy charge at the Cpurt this morning a mother said her young boy had , been ipilking cows. The S.M. (Mr Kenrick) gave it as his opinion that children .should not be sent to,, milk cows until they, had passed, the age of fourteen and |, had. done j as much as possible at school., i It ivas a false , idea for patents to send their qhildren. out' working before their schooling was finished. It was of more importance to parents to have their children properly educated than to receive small earnings from them in their young years. It should be a punishable offence for parents allowing their children to work or for anybody to employ children before they have passed the sixth standard. When children were sent too early to work there was a possibility that owing to defective education the children would become' a charge on the parents. Even ii" children were sent to school after milk-' ing in the morning their schooling would not he of much use to tliem. Children who turned out to milk at four o'clock could not be expected to do school work at nine o'clock—at that time they would be just ready for sleep.