LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 75, 2 August 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

During duly eight marriages, live leaths, and twenty-three births were •egistered in Stratford.

The dates for the Stratford A, and I’. Association’s annual show have been fixed for Wednesday and Thursday; December 3rd and 4th.

Footballers will he pleased to learn that the Stratford A. and P. Association have decided to erect a showerbath on' the showgrounds for their benefit.

In Stratford during July the total rainfall was 7.(Join. Rain fell on twenty days. The highest falls were on the 2nd (2.06 in) and 19th (I.72ini, but on the other wet days the fall was light, the nearest to half an inch bo ’ing .Join on the 20th.

The Stratford A. and P. Association has now received the trophy presented by the Jersey Breeders’ Association, consisting of a handsome silver rosehowl. It is to ho presented for three Jerseys in milk, owned and bred by tho exhibitor, and is to be won three time, not necessarily in succession.

The final for the Rugby Championship in connection with the Taranaki Union will be played at Elthara next Thursday, the contesting teams being Tukapa and Waimate, winners of the northern and southern divisions respectively.

On Wednesday evening an entertainment and display will be given in the Toko Coronation Hall by the Stratford troop of Boy Scouts. The demonstration given recently in Stratford was highly enjoyed by those present, and the people of Toko and district can confidently look forward to a unique entertainment.

A Salvationist promised the local Army corps £lO (if they themselves raised £5) towards making the hall more attractive inside. During the last fortnight the interior has been painted, and the walls adorned with texts. New linoleum has been laid in the isle and across the front, and also upon the platform. Adjutant and Mr-s Brown from Eltham will conduct special services to-morrow in the Army Pall,-and on Monday'night at 8 p.m. Will give a special lantern with beautiful slides and interesting scenery and illustrated song service. Admission Gd, will be devoted to the funds for above renovations.

Mount Athos, where the mopke seem to have been falling foul of the Russian authorities, is the home of a remarkable religious community. It is a mountain ip Rumella, nd among its forests are numerous monasteries, some of them of very great antiquity. The libraries of these monasteries have long been regarded with covetous eyes by collectors and students. They contain thousands of priceless manuscripts, many of them unique, and present a wonderfully rich held of research. But these storehouses of knowledge are closed to the world under existing conditions. Lately the suggestion has been made that the Balkan States should sign their treaty of peace on Mount Athos, as being holy ground where the delegates could meet on an equal footing.

All is not well with New South , Wales railways. The Sydney Herald writes as follows: “No one imagined I 10 years ago, when the great drought | broke, that at the end of the decade there would be such a state of things in our railway sysera as exists toj day. In many ways the period has j been full of surprises, pleasant and otherwise. The unpleasant surprises ! are multiplying in the present year, and the end is not yet. Not the least of them is to be found in the disappearance of the railway surplus, in the advance in fares and freights, and in the ever-mounting cost of mainlining the services. The latter item, of course, must be linked with the other two as cause and effect. But as one studies the situation it becomes clear that much more would be earned by our railways if the most urgent works could be got speedily out of hand.”

The story which the Kaiser loves most to tell his intimates, the best ho ever heard as he declares it, says .Air William Armstrong in The Girl’s Own Paper and Women’s Magazine, concerns the visit of his brother, Prince Henry of Prussia, to America. This incident happened just as the Prirjce was landing at New York. Beside him on deck stood Admiral von Tirpitz. On the deck was a dense crowd. From its .midst a stentorian voice called “Henry! Henry!” The Prince failed to grasp that this was meant for him until the Admiral, smiling broadly, said: “Your Royal Highness, I think someone wants to speak to you. Then Prince Henry, now in his turn broadly smiling, looked towards the human megaphone still echoing his name. Seeing that lie had caught the Royal gaze the owner of the voice bawled out: “How’s Bill ?”

A telegraph, pole about five miles from Blenheim fell down at 12,30 this morning and cut off connection with tho South Island by the Cook Strait cables, and the only outlet left was by Wanganui. Cable communication, howe\er is now restored.—P.A.

The most complete set of meteorological instruments in Hawke’s Bay was installed at the Waipawa High School yesterday in the presence of members of the education Board and the public (states a Press Association message to-day,. The instruments were imported by the Education Board, and paid for by the High and Technical Schools. The visitors were entertained at luncheon by the pupils of the Technical School. Complimentary speeches were delivered by Messrs Kirk, Morgan and McLeod, Gisborne members of the Board.

A Press Association message from Palmerston North states :—Referring to a question asked in the House by Mr Dickson (Parnell) concerning the use of featherbeds, carpets, and heaters by English officers at the Palmerston camp, 'the Standard’s representative, from inquiries, found that in the first place no English officers were in camp at all. Those who were in Palmerston as instructors were staying at hotels, paying personally any expenses above the camp allowances. They were granted the privilege of lodging outside.the camp owing to having to remain six weeks in town, whereas the Territorial officers were here three weeks at the most, and some only for a week. Japanese matting was provided by the Department for the use of Territorial officers and noncom. ’s in the camp, while the temporary barracks were also heated at the Department’s expense. The mattresses used are personally hired by tho men.