LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 100, 30 December 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

There will he no issue of the Strat ford 'Evening Post on Thursday, Xev Year's Hay.

•Sweden is being urged to pass a law giving women the right to propose marriage.

A Press Association cablegram fron Rome states that the report of tin exhumation ,of Cardlnaj Rampolla's remains is officially denied.

'.' Wo h.Vr'e' lx'-ard, sari the Waitara Mail,.that one of our shopkeepers has possession of a parrot whose education must have readied the sixth standard. It is said thai the bird is ro discriminating that on seeing a likelyloojtirig customer approaching 'it ;p6Utcly passes the time of clay, and ex'tends a welcome to "walk- inside." But when'-there is anyone rear who look.. like a tramp, the ■bird will issue a

peremptory order to ''pet off ili<' path 4 ," or "don't spit." The Mail adds that it docs .not hold; itself' responsible for the accuracy of the story.

It is proposed to organise the Territorial battalions in New Zealand in tlu- same maimer as the guards and infantry battalions arc now being reorganised in the Imperial Army, The battalion will he commanded as heretofore by a lieutenant-colonel, and his staff will- be as before, but two

companies, as at present in existence, will-be amalgamated and tunned into a company at war strength—24o strong —under a mounted officer (a major). who will have a e'aptain, as second in command. These new double companies will lie further subdivided into -I "platoons" each under a subaltern officer. Each double company will have its own company sergeant-major and company quarter-master sergeam. The Rev, James Flanagan js again on a visit to New Zealand, and Is preaching and lecturing in the more important centres of the Dominion. The Methodists of Stratford have been fortunate enough to obtain his services. Many of the inhabitants will have vivid and kindly recollections of this great missionary "evangelist. He is a great preacher and an exceptionally entertaining lecturer. 3lr Flanagan will preach in the Broadway Church on Sunday next at tf o'clock and at 8.!o p.m. in the. Town Hall, when large congregations are expected', ft is very probable that is Mr Flanagan's final visit to this land.

The last numberof the Xew Zealand TaMet lias the Following:—"We have excellent authority lor saying that it is practically certain that the lion. .( A. Millar will resign his seat in the near future, am! that there will he a by-election in Dunedin "West in February or March. It is understood that there will he at least four candidates —a straightout Government .candidate who is a resident in the electorate, a well-known La hour leader who will steand in the Opposition interest, a Tinted Labour party representative prominent in church and prohibition

circles, and a class-conscious Socialist. We urge all Catholic voters in the electorate to see that .their names are on the roll, as the writ for a new election, in tin' case of a vacancy arising from resignation, has to lie issued immediately after the'Speaker receives notice of the vacancy, hi the comihf by-election there will he no second ballot, so that the first past the post wins."

The Catholic bazaar and fancy fair at Eltham concluded on Saturday after a huge financial success, .a. credit balance of JL'JOO is stated to be the icstilt, the gross takings having amounted to i'oUO. The llev. (■'. I). .Nicholas, vicar o( Clewer St. Stephen, near Windsor, writing in his parish magazine for November, says: "In some places (Brighton, lor instance) it is becoming common to see women in public willi no covering on their heads. Sometimes a grown-up woman will be cycling thus; and we say. with St. Paul, •Judge in yourselves: is it comely? . . . Doth not even Nature itself leach you' that it is horrid, bold, unseemly? And ye;, many of those who transgress do it innocently. None the . it is a transgression of propriety." A friend in the Old Country writing to an Eltham resident gives news of the latest in labor unions and its results (states tiie Argus). In the course of his letter he remarks: "We have also had other innovations here lately, iu the way of strikes. The creamery department of Aplin and Barretts, foodstuffs manufacturers, of Yeovil, struck for more money, and got it—in quick time, too. Then the. farm laborers of East Chinnock, South Somerset, struck in consequence of one of the farmers taking on a nonunion man. They bad to have the mounted police out there, who every morning used to escort a waggon load of milk to the creamery. One Sunday morning when they came in with the milk there were three mounted police in front or the waggon, and seven others, on cycles, behind. It : caused quite a sensation for a time, I I can tell you. However, everything j seems to be quiet again now." The Okahu tunnel ou the Stratford I Main Trunk line is now well under I way, a large number of men being new employed upon it. The contract undertaken by Mr W. Forrest is for the construction of the tunnel and the approaches from the Okahukura staj tiou, the commencing points being on the western side of the river, and terminating at a point four miles distant. The tunnel will be the largest on the line, and the second largest in the Dominion. Two bridges have been erected on the eastern side, and the

necessary traction engines, oil engines and other appliances are on the scene of operations awaiting favorable weather conditions for transport to various points. The valley around the tunnel is assuming a settled appearance, and where, twelve months ago, there was not even a tent, there'are now houses, billiard rooms, accommodation houses, tents and Public Works offices. Jt is expected' that over 250 men will be employed after the New Year, it is proposed to erect a school early next month for the workmen's children. A post office rs already in existence, and the Depai imont is about to establish a telephone bureau. There is every indication of the contract being carried out successfully. Mr Forrest is personally superintending the work.

That the consequences of disregarding a summons are sometimes costly was impressed upon a judgment debtor who appeared before- -Mr C«. Cruickshank, S.M., at the Invereargill court the other day. The defendant, wh.en asked by the counsel for plaintiff why the amount had not been paid, stated that he did hot owe the money and could produce the receipts which he held for the payment of the full amount, of the account. In. fact, it wnii explained by defendant's solicitor, that, according to the receipts, plaintiff was in his client's debt, to the extent of Is 6d. This, however, the solicitor for plaintiff contended was evidence that should have been brought in when the case was first set down for hear-

ing, and as judgment had been given against him by default the plaintiff was entitled, to an order against him for the amount. It was explained, that the claim in the first place was about 15s, but costs amounting to some .30s had since been incurred', the mileage fee in connection with the- service of the summons amounting to 12s. The magistrate remarked that had the amount been very large he might have considered the matter, but in any case it was not. the right thing to disregard a summons, whether the money was owing or not. .Judgment was entered up for the amount claimed, with costs.