LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 19, 23 September 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The wrecked hiirque Okta at the TJlii/F lias been abandoned, and her cargo will he sold by tender. The Duchess of Fife, by her fath-

er’s will will come into an income of £IO,OOO a year on the clay of her marriage. Mar Lodge, the beautiful Scot- ■ tish home of the Fife- family, as well as thc> house in London, belong to the Princess lioyal, the Duchess’s mother, for her life. Eventually the Duchess will inherit both these properties and will have a total income of about £lO,000.

The secretary of the Oddfellows’ Lodge, M.U., at last night’s meeting, announced that the district officers wore nnahle to he present for the purpose of discussing the centralisation of the sick and funeral fund with the members of the Toko, Midhirst and Stratford lodges; but it is expected that a visit will be paid either on the next or following lodge night.

Pickpockets are reported to have been active recently in Wellington, especially at places of entertainment, and several losses have been reported by victims. Mr C. Lawi-ey, managing clerk for Mr T. C. Fookes, was married in New Plymouth this afternoon and passed through Stratford per motor car for the south on his honeymoon. Mr J. IF Hine, member for Stratford, has informed Mr J. 13. Richards, president of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce, that the survey of the Stratford-Kaponga railway route has now been, authorised. This morning’s train Tor the south had on board a number of New Ply-mouth-trained horses on their way to the Wanganui meeting. They included Sylvan Dale, Lady Ami, Rewi Poti, Patroon, Draft, Toatere and Paoli. X(’ro was also on the train, rctiuiunpj from Auckland to Hawera. Twenty-two civil cases (one defended), and four judgment summons cases are set down for Hearing at Friday’s sitting of the Court. Only two informations will be dealt with one Toi riding a bicycle on a footpath, and one or keeping a shop open after closing time. A certain resident of Stratford who recently planted two milestones on. his road of life at about the same time—getting married and witnessing the Auckland v. Taranaki lootball match—received a queer parcel through the Post Office this morning. It was a lady’s umbrella very much knocked about, which looked as if it had belonged to some feminine football “barracker” who had endeavoured to argue the point with an opponent per medium of her “gamp.” A covering letter stated: “Found after the Auckland-Taranaki football match. It may he handy to help to keep the dust off the Ranfurly Shield.” The quarterly meeting of the Loyal Stratford Lodge, T.0.0.F.' M.U., took place in the Foresters’ Hall last night, when a fail - muster of members were present. A good deal of business was got through, included in which was the initiation into the Order of six new 7 members, and the setting up of a committee to make arI rangenients for a social to he held shortly. A man who arrived in Stratford by last night’s mail train had a .narrow escape from death. The train was slowing up at the north end of the platform when the man in question jumped off. He missed his footing land fell between the, train and the platform, but managed to retain Jiis hold of the carriage. If he had lost his hold only a miracle could have saved him from death. As it was he escaped without injury. A merciful and most unusual course was taken by Mr Laurie, one of London’s minor judges, at the London sessions on August 5 in the case of Patrick O’Grady (2o), who was convicted and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment for theft. It was stated that the prisoner was not long married, that his; wages were only 22s per week, and that poverty had caused him to commit the theft. After O’Grady had been remitted to the cells, his aunt tearfully informed the Judge that prisoner’s child was dying, and she asked that he might have an opportunity of seeing the “little mite” for the last time. His Honor thereupon ordered the prisoner to be brought back, and addressed him thus: “You may go and see your sick child. I withdraw the sentence, and release you to come up for judgment a fortnight hence. I will not say what I will do with you then.” “Thank you, sir,” said the young father, with tears in his eyes, as he left the court.