LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 97, 24 December 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The other night a horse at Cowra. N.S.W., suffering from tetanus caused by a spike going into his foot, went mad. He escaped from his stable and galloped up a flight of stairs of a residence. The horse entered a hedroorn, smashed the furniture, and evidently jumped through the window, falling nearly 20ft. on to the roof of an engine shed. Considerable damage was caused, and the horse had to he slain.

I An experiment in human grafting, by which a violinist iias had the first joint of one of his toes transplated s to take the place of the atrophied . little linger of his left hand, is relat- . ed by the Paris Journal. The op era- : tion was carried out at a Kiel hos- > pital. The first joint of the pa- ; tient’s little finger was -removed, and . the corresponding joint of the second toe of his left foot transplanted, liga- . ments and all, the sinews of the stump of the finger being stitched on. The violinist is now able to perfrom a.s before. j Paris is said to have introduced a new dance, “the crawl” by name. An [American paper declares that the new dance—at least from a spectacular point of view—heats the Tango entirely. It continences as a languid waltz to dreamy music, hut after a few turns tin.' dancers arrive on the* floor more or less gracefully, and crawl in one direction for several lengths, then rise and continue their wait/.—a sort of obstacle race it would seem. There are several special dancing “caps” to protoot the hair from becoming uutidv. and specially padded black gloves for the crawling portion of the programme. I

Liniments and embrocations can’t permanently cure “Rheumatism. They! can give hut temporary relief—for they do not eliminate the cans? excess uric acid in the blood. HFTEEMO cures speedily, permanently j because it drives out the excess uric acid, tfs Od and Is Od everywhere, C-f j

Mr A. M. Samuel, of Lower Hutt, nephew ol the Hon. Oliver Samuel, announces his intention of contesting toe Hutt seat at the next general election. “Ibis is an age of talking, a great deal of unnecessary talk, too ” remarked the Governoi m addressing the hoys of Wellington College. “Do not, ’ he added, “Speak for speaking sake. Ifi is an annoyance to your follows and a had thing for vain self?”

In the married ladies' race at Pleasant Point on Tuesday (says tl> Timaru Herald) the result was a dead heat. The competitors who arrived level at the “tape,” and ran oft for the sugar and tea prize, seem to have *hcen pretty well level all their lives. They were twin sisters.

A London paper just to hand (states an exchange) reports that a party of eight wealthy English people, who do not at present wish their names made public, were to leave by the P. and 0. Line for Now Zealand in November,

bringing with them their motor cars, chauffeurs, and several other servants, and making their first stop at Auckland. If they like the country, they intend to spend two years in hunting, sea and fresh water-fishing, camping, shooting, and deer stalking.

Messrs Thomas Cook and Son have just issued the seventh edition of their handbook entitled “New Zealand as a Tourist Resort” revised to date. The information is given in a concise and readable form, which is intended for the tourist or visitor to Now Zealand. It is safe to say, it will become a popular little work. It is understood the firm’s system is to print ten thousand copies and distribute to enquirers through the medium of their word-wide , system of personal conduction.

The Xow York Department of Agriculture is authority for the prediction that there will soon he “crowless roosters.” The department is in receipt of a letter from a native of Beltsville, Ohio, explaining the discovery. A simple operation, in which a small noise-producing cord in the rooster’s neck is removed, is the secret which renders the rooster useless as a live alarm clock. Dr. Galloway, AssistantSecretary for Agriculture, believes that if this can he done it will he possible to insert one or more artificial cords of various pitches and thus turn the early morning crowing -into a 'delightful -harmony. The head •of the poultry division of tho department, is investigating the matter.

At the. Foresters’ Half last night there was a gay sight—it was the occasion of jlie annual Christinas Tree, given, by tho members of the local Druids’ Lodge to the members’ children., Over a hundred children wore present, and, each.’child received a toy., Some of the mothers will never forget the night. When the trumpets, busies, etc., got going, intermingled with squeakers, the noise was a sign that tho little ones were enjoying themselves. After Father Christmas had given each child a toy or two, the little ones sat down and did full justice to -refreshments, which were kindly provided by the ladies, to whom the thanks of tire Committee are due; also to “Mr and Tlrs Penn arid Brother Bunnester, who kindly supplied sweet music during the evening. Proceedings were brought to a close at 10 o’clock, everybody having spent one of the most enjoyable evenings of the rear.

Mr J. Stranehon. Under-Secretary for Lands, who retires on March 31, has had a long and honorable career in tho Xew Zealand Public Service, having entered the Provincial Engineers’ .Department of Otago when he was fourteen years of age. -It was as long ago as 1860 that Mr Strauchou joined the Lands and Survey Department, and for many years was distinct surveyor for Mat-aura. He successively held the positions of Commissioner of Crown Lands for Westland, Taranaki and M cilington, and in IPO7 succeeded Mr T. Humphries as Surveyor-General. Mr Strauchou’s place as Under-Secre-tary of the Department is to lie filled by Air James Mackenzie, at present Surveyor-General. Mr Alackenzie is also a very old servant, having graduated from the old Otago Provincial Survey Department. He has been Commissioner of Crown Lands in Taranaki, Auckland and Wellington. A good many Stratford people have

already takfu steps to spend a Merry Christmas, a fair number having left by train for distant parts in order to spend the festive season with relations or old friends; but there remain still a few people in Stratford, w hose business keeps them in town or whose inclination does not run to an extended holiday away from the town. Holiday attractions close to hand are the Axemen’s Carnival atEltham and the Taranaki Jockey Club’s meeting at Xcw Plymouth, both of which fixtures have always been popular with Stratford residents. The East Egmont Mountain House will, no doubt, he visited by a good number ot residents, the weather at last making a trip to the Mountain a matter of pleasure. At His Majesty’s Theatre full arrangements have been ,made to eater for the amusement of residents. On Christmas Night a special Bihilical programme will ho shown, a new programme will he submitted on Boxing Night and another fresh programme on Monday. The Municipal Band will render carols this evening. The usual special Christinas services will he held in tile Anglican and Homan Catholic clinr-:-hes.

Mr T. I. Lamason lias been elected secretary of Lodge Triumph, A.0.0.F. (A.C.)

A cablegram from Hooart states that the Mamari, with 550 .m.uigrants .aboard for New Zealand, owing to running short- of coal, called in for si ppiics.

The annual meeting of Lodge Trisecretary of Lodge Triumph, 1.0.0. F. on Monday next in the C.B.A. Buildings, Broadway. An announcement concerning same appears in our advertising columns.

i Four large carriages crowded with passengers was the contribution from the East towards Stratford’s Christmas Eve crowd. Tne train an ived iu Stratford about a quarter past one.

A Melbourne cablegram Mates that the added money of Caulfield Cup has been increased to £SOOO, of the Australian Steeplechase to £I7OO, and of the Futurity Stakes to £3OOO. Those, with the increases in other erents, make the total £3550.

Stratford exhibitors in the dog section at the recent Wanganui Show who won special prizes have now received their prizes, which, as in past years, are remarkable for their good value. The Wanganui Association has now an established reputation in this respect.

For the convenience of residents of Whangamomona and visitors to the township during the festive season the Public Works Department has decided that its tram shall run front Pohokura to Whangamomona on arrival of the late train from Stratford on Saturday, December 27th. The train from Pohokura eastward will not run at noon of the same day.

M. Jules Claretie, director since 1885 of the Theatre Francaise, Paris, is dead, reports a Press Association cablegram. He was born in 1840. In 1866 he was a war correspondent in Italy, and in 1870 he was at Metz in a similar capacity. In 1871 he wa,s Officer with the Staff at Paris, and in the same year he stood as a Republican candidate for Haute Vienne. He was created an officer of the Legion of Honor in 1887, and was made a Commander of the Order in 1894, being made u member of the Academy in 1889. Other posts he held were : President de la Societe des Gens de Lettres, president de la Societe de la Revolution francaise and membre de I’Academic du Canada.

The Government Ijas appointed Mr W. G. Riddell, SIM., senior Magis-

irate at Wellington, in succession to the late Dr. M'Arthur. Mr Riddell will be succeeded by Mr 1). G. A. Cooper, who has occupied the position of Registrar of the Supreme Court at Wellington for several years. Mr Riddell has occupied the Magisterial bench since 1904, and has been- at Wellington since 1907. Mr Cooper is

one of the most popular members of ' the Public Service, and is a qualified barrister and solicitor. He is a native of Wellington, being the son of the late Mr G. S. Cooper, Under-Sec-retary, and began his career as sec-

retary to the Chief Justice in 1879

Three years later he was appointed Deputy-Registrar of the Supreme Court at Wellington, and in 1889 he was appointed Registrar of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal which positions he has occupied up to the present time. '

The attention of those who have not yet decided the question of where to spend their Christmas or summer holidays is called to the Wanganui river steamer service advertiseraer in our advertising columns. Boats leave Wanganui every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday morning, and leave Taumarunui, daily (Sundays excepted). Those going to the Auckland Exhibition should certainly include the magnificent Wanganui River trip in their itinerary. Those who have never travelled the famous New Zealand Rhine should no longer postpone doing so, and those who have already traversed it should not fail to again witness this beautiful river’s countless diarms and replenish their memory with the wondrous beauty of its ferny banks, the bushclad hills, splashing cascades, the foaming rapids, and the smooth lovely reaches of this now far-famed Wanganui. The accommodation both at the Houseboat and Xew Pipiriki House is excellent, both place > beiug quite unique in accommodation and hostel ries.