LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 45, 23 October 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Railway Department advertise excursion fares in connection with Labor Day. At a meeting held last night the Retailers’ Association decided that retail businesses should remain open on Monday next. Labour Dav. “A Cow-testing Association is to show the dairynfeu what- cows are keeping him and what cows ho is keeping.” was the way the position was described by a speaker at a meeting in Dannevirke a few days ago. Enormous success has been achieved by Hawke,s’ band instruments at the Crystal Palace World’s Championship ! contests. The Trwell Springs Band are now the world’s champions, having won the thousand guinea trophy. The Hull's regimental hand won the military championship, and the Poplar School band won the Buffs championship. all playing Hawkes’ instruments. The Hawke’s Bay Herald was shown last week by the registrar of old age pensions a certificate which is something in the nature of a curiosity, for (his Dominion at all events. It was given by one of New Zealand’s early settlers, a patriarch of 107 years, who was certifying that his grandson .aged 05 years, was eligible for an old age pension.

“Every Lady's Journal” for October is now to hand and commences a. serial “What happened to Mary.” The story is the most attractive one published tor some time. The number maintains its usual attractions. A young married man at W iuton was fined To and costs for failing to attend the annual training camp, notwithstanding that he had pul in a doctor’s certificate with regard to his wife’s health and could not, therefore, leave home. Two milk vendors were found guilty at the Auckland Police Court yesterday of selling milk with less milkfat than is permitted by the regulations. The magistrate remarked that the fact that there was no trace of watering was in favor of the defendants. and therefore he would make the tine what he considered should bo the minimum for such an offence, £5. “During three and a-half years of married life I’ve never come home drunk yet,” a defendant advanced when giving evidence in a maintenance case at the Magistrate’s Court at Wanganui. “She doesn’t allege you have,” said the Magistrate. “I thought she did,” the defendant explained. The Magistrate said that defendant’s statement referred to a negative virtue. “It’s .no credit to a t man not to get drunk, but it’s a dis- , grape to a man to got drunk.” During the discussion at the Opunake Town Board meeting on Eriday night, it was asserted that Opunake is on the highest rated list of the Insurance Companies’ risk, and that it was not likely to be reduced until a water system was in vogue. One member stated (according to the Opunake ’ Times') that the insurance on his pro# perty in the Main Street cost him as much per £IOO as £ooo on a private residence off the Main Street.

Last week the police constable at Mangaweka charged a publican with allowing the chimney of the hotel to catch fire. The defendant, in pleading not guilty, considered the police were treating him unfairly. The constable, in answer to the magistrate, said" he 7 had not informed defendant of the intended enforcement of the by-law, which was a new one. The constable suggested that if the defendant considered he was being unfairly treated he should report the matter to the inspector, whereupon the Magistrate (Mr W. R. Haselden) said that he was quite competent to deal with the matter himself. There was an impression that the publican was being baited, and Mr Haselden looked up the records, and referred to throe previous trivial cases, and he felt there was something in it. He inflicted a nominal penalty of Is. ! ! 1

The final Band of Hope; meeting for this season was held in the Methodist School, Regan Street, last Tuesday night, when a fair audience gathered to listen to another popular programme. The items rendered, were all heartily applauded by both adults and children alike. Songs were nicely given by Miss Keitha Martin, Miss Olive Masters. Messes Eycriss.and Mrs .). Richards, Master Fred Barry, Mr 1. Nelson and Mr C. Russ. An amusing duet was given by Miss Ivy and Master Ronald, Barry, also a pretty quintette was nicely rendered by the Misses Everiss (2), E. Hopkins, and Messrs I. Nelson and C. Russ. A suitable temperance dialogue entitled “Wanted, a Coachman,” was well delivered by some of the Band of Hope boys and girls. Mr Foster, the chairman of the meeting, delivered a very interesting and instructive address to the children. After the entertainment supper was partaken of' by all present. The proceeds of the meeting, less expenses, will be devoted to the Stratford No-License League.

At last Monday’s meeting of the Directors of the Ngaire Dairy Co., a very pleasing little function took place, when Mr White, of Hawera, on behalf of Messrs Lovell and Christmas, Ltd., London, to which firm the Ngaire Company’s season’s output has again this year been consigned, waited on the meeting and on behalf of his firm handed over a very handsome silver rose howl in commemoration of twenty continuous years of business with the Ngaire factory, during the whole of which time its entire output has been steadily consigned. This, it is believed, is a record in the dairy produce business of the colony. The secretary of the company, Mr T. Harry Penn, states that the handsome gift will be shown at the Hawera and Stratford shows. By an unfortunate mistake this record was yesterday wrongly credited to the Cardiff Dairy Company, though most people who know anything about the latter are a ware that it has followed an entirely different policy to Ngaire, so far as its output is concerned.