LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 76, 4 August 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It is estimated that the measures already taken to check the spread of small-pox in New Zealand have cost the Dominion £25,000.

A record transpacific voyage oi by the new Canadian Pacific linenine days five hours lias been made Empress of Russia, which arrived at Victoria, British Columbia, from Yokohama, a 4200-mile journey, recently. The previous record was 1( days 10 hours. A Parliamentary return just presented stated that the number of ac indents caused by pea-rifles in New Zealand during the two years ended June 30th, 1913, was 41; and the number of accidents causeT by other firearms was 73. ) I’-iy-Postal matter delivered in New Zealand, including that received from abroad, during thesyear ended March 31st last, reached a total of 108,143,250 letters, 6,058,962 post cards, 54,068,196 other articles, and 1,735,567 parcels.

It may not have been noticed that tfip present Ministry is a most abstenipus one regarding tobacco. ; ,During the Hon. Bell’s , visit to it transpired that, only two members of the Cabinet smoked. The remainder were non-smokers, a rather remarkable fact in connection with public men in high places.

The following figures show the quantity of butter in cool store at tfhc( various ports throughout the Dominion on July 31st Auckland, 8751 boSes; New Plymouth, 1734; Patea, 2070; Wellington, 4619; Lyttelton, 1304; Dunedin, 394. Total, 13,872 boxes. Total at July 31et, 1912, 27,280 boxes.

That the Post Office authorities do make great effortfS to find persons to whom insufficiency addressed letters are sent, is well-known, and instances are constantly brought under notice. By a recent English mail a letter reached Auckland addressed “Messrs Pitt Bros., New Zealand.” The following day Mr S. Pitt had the letter duly delivered to him in Stratford.

I The services at the local Presbyi terian Church yesterday were well at | tended, especially the evening one, when there was a large congregation. Mr Frazer Barton, secretary of the Young Men’s Bible Class movement in the Presbyterian Church in New Zealand, conducted both services. His addresses were impressive and telling, and were much appreciated The object and claims of the movement were set forth, and an effort is being made to organise a young men's Bible clast in connection with the local Church during his stay here.

It will not be long now (states the Dunedin Star) before the passenger petrol locomotives should arriye in the Dominion. These locos, which, with their carriage, are all self-con-tained. are intended for use upon branch lines where the traffic hardly warrants the incurring of the expense of running an ordinary train. On what particular lines the new type of engine will be run has not yet been decided, and will probably not be known until the new General Manager has investigated the whole matter.

The “pure cussedness” of pedestrians Wiis the subject of some remarks by a delegate to a united burgesses’ conference in Christchurch. While other delegates referred to the alleged recklessness of motorists, this speaker took up another phase of the question, and asked why font passengrs should not be compelled to use the crossings, instead of wandering at will all over the streets. He wondered how many pounds a year the sudden stops that the traumars had to make in avoiding accidents, cpst the people. “I hold no brief for motorists,” ho added, “but I drive a horse and trap, and 1 know that pedestrians are extremely careless.’ ’

Dancers are reminded of the Foresters’ social, to he held this evening. The total rainfall at New Plymouth in July was 4.96 inches, extending over 23 days, as against 5.82 inches on 1 I dffys in the corresponding month of last year. A cricketer has hit a hall a greater distance than it has ever been thrown. In 1856, W. Fellowes drove a ball a distance of 175 yards at Christchurch Ground, Oxford; this is 35 yards farther than the record throw.

Adelaide, a member of the Shorthorn herd at Ruakura Farm of Instruction, has finished her season with a record of 4151 b of butter-fat. In the previous season, which was two months, longer, she gave 4381b5. This season she was dried off while still yielding lOOlhs of milk weekly, as she was about to calve in a very short time. A two-year heifer in the herd has reached 30001hs of but-ter-fat, and is still giving lOOlbs of milk weekly.

Designs for the New Zealand King George postage stamps have been prepared (says an annual report of the Postal Department), and sent to London for the engraving of dies. The following are the denominations proposed to be issued:—?,d, 1 Jd, 2d, 2*d, 3d, 4d, 4kl, Gd, 7£-d, 9d, and Is, The design of the penny stamp will not bo changed. It is expected that the new issue will he ready for sale towards the end of the year.

Sir Jospeh Ward, speaking of his flight in the “Britannia,” New Zealand’s aeroplane, while in the Home Country, described it as quite eventful. “We travelled,” he said, “at the rate of 90 miles an hour, and the noise was so deafening that it was impossible to hear one’s self speak At one stage the voyage became decidedly exciting. We struck a pocket of air, and when the machine turned quickly it assumed an angle of 45 degrees. From my position in the car I looked down perpendicularly at the earth, and I really thought we were going to capsize.”

An awful tragedy was witnessed by a number of people at Decatur, Alabama, on July 17 (says a cable in the Sydney Sun). While a new locomotive was being tested, an engineer named Huston Fleming was hurled on to the track by a passing engine,-and when the driver of the new locomotive tried to pull up promptly his engine turned over, and Fleming was pinned underneath. For some time he suffered terrible agonies, pleading with the bystanders to . kill him and end his suffering. At last ho drew a clasp-knife from his own pocket and cut his throat, dying a few minutes later: ‘ ' ;•/ . ,

A petition, 6r round robin, has been in circulation amongst the men of the Auckland police force disclaiming a rumour that had gained currency that the administration of some of the officers in the city was causing trouble and discontent among the men. This disclaimer, which states that the men are perfectly satisfied wth the administration of the Auckland officers, and that what dissatisfaction existed arose from sources quite apart from the present Auckland officers, has been signed by nearly every constable in tbe Auckland city and suburban service, and has been forwarded to headquarters in Wellington. There are sixty-nine signatures to the petition.

The annual meeting of the New Plymouth branch of the Veterans’ Association was held on Saturday. Mr S. Stidolph, secretary of the Wellington branch, wrote notifying that the date of the annual gathering would ibe August 16, and inviting members of the local branch to be present, and intimating that free passes had been arranged for. The election of officers resulted :—President, Colonel Ellis (re-elected); bon. secretary, Capt. Black (re-elected); treasurer, Capt. McKellar; auditor, Mr F. W. Brooking; committee, Capt. Mace, and Messrs R. Wells, G. A. Adlani, F. Oliver, and 0. Oxenham. Archdeacon F. G. Evans was elected an honorary member and chaplain of the association. It was decided to hold a meeting early in January to decide on the steps to be taken to celebrate Waireka Day.

General Botha, on the occasion of the unveiling of a statue to President Kruger at Pretoria, sent a message in which, according to a Reuter telegram, he said that when “his Dutch fellow-countrymen contemplated that simple patriot of extraordinary ability, iron will, and deep piety, a pioneer of civilisation, the blood coursed quicker through their veins. His personality also compelled the admiration of their English fellow-country-men. The thoughts of all turned to that other great man whose name was indelibly inscribed in South African history, that sombre form on the slopes of Table Mountain, Rhodes. They meditated on the conflicting ideals of the two races which these two men personified and on the enormous impact as they met in a life-and-death struggle. The ideals of neither had been realised in their entirety. They Ijad to be brought into harmony, and the necessary bond had been found in the love of both races for a common country.” If General Botha can keep up to this standard he will bid fair to rival even John Bright as a public letter-writer. .

The millinery intrustress in connection with the local Technical School Will impart the first lesson to the High School girls to-morrow afternoon, and between 4 and 4.30 o’clock in the Technical School she will be pleased to meet intending pupils to the class to be set up under the auspices of the Board.

“Heaven helps those w'no help themselves,” is a fact generally quoted if nob generally believed, but still there are occasions when a little practical help from mere mortals is >cry gratifying.' A case in point is the production of the musical cantata “Dame Durden,’s School” by the Stratford pupils. The children have beep assiduously practising this bright little piece for a considerable time past, and judging by the manner in which they acquitted themselves at the last rehearsal, a faultless production is assured. It is worthy of note that the children taking part are giving entirely their own time to the work, namely, after school hours, and Saturday afternoons, which fact alone entitles them to the heartiest support the public can extend. Those interested in school matters will of course be present, but all others can also rely on getting full value for their price of admission. In addition to this playette, a variety of action songs, etc., many of which have taken mnch careful preparation, will be submitted. Altogether, this entertainment can be strongly recommended, apart from the object for" which the funds are so urgently required, and it will happen on Thursday next, in the Town Hall.