LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 30, 6 October 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

That most popular function—the East i\oad Sheep Dog Trial Club's annual social and dance—is to be held this year in the Te Wera Hall, on Friday next, October 10th. Mr 13. Boyle is hon. secretary. '

The New Plymouth Operatic Society are staging "A Country Girl" in Eltham to-night. A special train is leaving New Plymouth at 5.30 p.m., passing through Stratford about 7.10 p.m. for Eltham, returning after performance.

Joseph Gray,- a second offender, was convicted and. discharged at the Court this morning on a charge of having been drunk on Saturday. Mr Joseph McCluggage was on the bench.

What is iii all. probability'the.Jarg-j •est block of land in New Zealand to be devoted to lucerne Ims been sown down in that 1 seed; this season by Mr S. Mi Neville, the well-known, Marlborough settler (says ,the< Express;).; Ti ; is r an area of 200 acres at .U&bcooke, 'Awatere, in' ; frhieh| . e?cplleut results 'have 1 - already; been obtained with lucerne.

A meeting of delegates from the gun- clubs in Taranaki was held in Hawera on Thursday last. All the clubs (seven) were represented, and M' - E, presided. It was decided that; a, league for' teams matches : be formed,' ftp be called the Taranaki Gun ; Club jLeague.' , It "was further resolved to hold a"iheei;ihg during thi? month for the final adoption of rules and regulations.

In response to representations made by the Chamber of Commerce, the Stratford County Council agreed to expend £-1 6n the top end of Pembroke Road, provided the Chamber and Borough Council each ' contributed a like amount. The necessary contributions were arranged, and the work has to-day been put in hand. Visitors to the Stratford Mounatin House will, therefore, find access very comfortable and convenient. The road within the Reserve is in good order.

The Wairarapa Natives have decided to erect a large totara obelisk as a monument to their recentlj'-deceased chief. A party of Maoris is now engaged at Taumarunui removing a fine specimen of this tree from Moore Brothers' bush. A shapely branchless bole 50ft long, containing 3000 superficial feet of timber, has been cut, and removed to the railway for consignment to the Wairarapa. When this block of timber is suitably carved •and erected, it should make a most imposing monument.

Tn the mind of at least one individual the well-known Maori legend "Kia Ora," is tmdergoing a searching scrutiny. The carpenter on the stranded steamer Tyrone was instructed by his family before leaving Liverpool to write and furnish them with ■ full particulars about New Zealand, I with a possible view to their eventually becoming settlers in the Dominion. j The Tyrone made Auckland her first port of call, and, being mindful of his instructions and those left behind him, bur visitor bought a greenstone brooch with "Kia Ora" engraved on it, as a gift for his daughter. His subsequent movements he describes as being fairly satisfactory until the Tyrone ran ashore at Wahine Point last Saturday morning, but since that movement he has found it difficut to believe that his purchase is endowed with all the good lnck usually attributed to the words' "Kia Ora." At tlie present moment, however, there is still a chance of the i Tyrone being refloated, in which event the Maori legend will no doubt become j endowed with more than its ustial, share of the attributes which the words suggest.

Tho tender of Messrs William Ci. Price and Company, Wellington, for salving the cargo and fittings of tho wrecked Devon has been accepted.— I\A.

The two patients at the hospital iu whom the police are interested do not yet show signs of improvement, the condition of both still being critical.

The Stratford Operatic Society desire that attention be drawn to a rule that no persons other than those

actively interested in the production are admitted to'rehearsals.

The case against the "Observer" for alleged contempt of court will not come before the court till Wednesday afternoon or Thursday, states a f Wellington Press Association message to-day.

'Twas ever thus. The Opunake paper, in its report of the recent disastrous fire, has the following par: It was wonderful how quickly assistance came to the hotel to carry out bottled contents, and what was saved seemed to have been carried to a safe distance by the rescuers!

Local ■ anglers continue to report good catches. From the Mangawhero stream Mr L. Riera took six fish weighing 19|lbs, while fishing for two hours in the Otakeho Mr W. A. Rennell landed four beauties of a total weight of 15|lbs, and was unfortunate through using last year's tackle in losing three nice fish. Mr R. Spence took 13 fish from the Otakeho. All the fish from both rivers were in splendid condition and great fighters. Everything augurs well for a good season's fishing.

A Press Association from Marton says: Hector and Seaforth McKenzie, the latter only 16 years of age, continue to make good flights at Fern Flats in an aeroplane. Yesterday, Hector rose iOO feet in a fairly strong breeze and flew 500 yards. Seaforth did not get so high, but flew 500 yards, turned on the ground, and flew back over the heads of the wildly enthusiastic spectators. He was heartily congratulated.

The contractors for the erection of the Te Awamutu town dock, which is being installed in the tower in the post office buildings, anticipate that the erection will be completed in ten days' time" (states the local paper). This clock was the first of its kind made in the Domihion, having been made to the order of the New Zealand Government by Messrs - Littlejohn -and Son, in' 1881',Mfor installation in the post - office tower at Timaru. It has been replaced bv aichimihg clock, the gift of Mr Craigie; M.P.' The ; Te Awamutu u cldckihhs four oft'.' dials.. strikes' thej--' ! hour,! f the . bell of the 1 'striking : gear*'' '• weighing ; ocwt. The pendulum' weighs : SOOlbs. and beats' at intervals of'T^" 1 ' seconds. ■ The total weight of the clock is slightly over two tons. The dock is the gift of Mr William Taylor.