LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 18, 21 January 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At the meeting of the Se! .-.'l Committee a letter was road from the Secretary of the Education Board, statins that the Education Department refused to .subsidise the £5 grant of the Swimming Club towards the school funds. The Department drew attention to the fact that it had already refused a similar request from the local school. Regarding the career of the late Colonel M. Noake, the Auckland Star states that the deceased was not only an eye-witness of the death of Captain Nolan in the Crimea, hut also saw him ride up with the order for the charge of the Light Brigade from Lord Lucan to the Earl of Cardigan.

The following letter from the Prime Minister was read at this morning's meeting of the County Conned: "1 have to acknowledge receipt of your communication of January 6th, conveying a resolution with regard to the Government's action in connection with the late strike. In reply, will you kindly convey to the members of the Council my sincere thanks for their resolution, which J appreciate very much, it is to be hoped that the Dominion will not experience a recurrence of such troubles for many years to come.'' At last night's meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr Thomson moved that the Chamber urge on the Government to endeavor to ensure that the Lyttelton-WoUington ferry steamer connect with the Taranaki train. It seemed that the steamer as often missed the train as it connected, it appeared that since the'j, North Island trunk railway had been j put through, the Taranaki line had been side-tracked. The present arrangement was very inconvenient. — | The motion was carried, and it was decided to ask For the co-operation of i.titer Taranaki Chamb. rs <tt" Com-:

It was decided at last night's, meeting of tit..' Chamber of Commerce to urge ou the Government the necessity of having ;1 geological survey mad? of the district east of Stratford.—Mr Thomson broughi the mattor up, which was supported by Mr IliciiaiiiS, who said that it was well known that there were good coalfields iii the district-, The Canterbury Chamber of Commerce has decided to call the attention of the officer in charge of the Telegraph Department to the unsatisfactory form of telegram, and the manner of opening which resulted in the frequent tearing of rhp form and some times obliteration of a word or letter of great importance in the message. An exceptionally large sum of money was collected by the Customs Department at Auckland for the week ending the 10th itist.. a total of over £33,500 being paid by consignees. Home shipments, as a rule, prove much more remunerative to the Customs that the cargoes from America and foreign ports. The total of £35,000-is not'a record for the port, a sum of no less than £45,000 having been collected previously by the Customs officials in a week. | The monthly meeting of the exectt- ! tive of the Chamber of Commerce was held last night. Present: Messrs. J. B. Richards (president, in the chair), A. V. Grant, W. L. Kennedy, j P. Thomson. D. J. Malone, R. Masters, and W. A. Hewitt (hon secreI tary). Apologies for absence were I received from Messrs. W. P. Kirkwood, and S. H. James. The business done was chiefly in connection with the back country, these proceedings appearing elsewhere under a separate heading. "It is astonishing what things come j through the water mains," remarked I the Mayor of Grey Lynn (Auckland)

at the meeting of the Borough. Council. There was trouble about the water supply on Great North road towards the end of last week, and he put in a night with a waterworks staff to ascertain the cause. "At the strainer," he added, "we took out stones, glass bottles, boots, and jam tins., How they j got there it is hard to tell." The ordinary monthly meeting of bhe School Committee was held last evening. Mr P. Skoglund presided, and there were present Messrs Han- : cock, Smart. Staples and Fookes. On 1 account of the vacation, no Headmaster's report was forward, and a small amount of business was transacted. It was reported that the recent concert had netted £l3 in aid of the prize fund, but that the total amount of the prizes amounted to £24 12s 3d, the difference to be paid out of i the general funds. .[ The number of private wireless sta- | tions within the Commonwealth is | steadily increasing. The Sydney Morning Herald states that the PostmasterGeneral (Mr Wynne) a few days ago granted 20 further licenses to private persons to permit them to erect and I use wireless stations. There are now | !23 private stations in Australia, 194

being in New South Wales, 177 in Victoria, 8 in Queensland, 20 in South Australia, 15 in Western Australia, ; !id 9 in Tasmania. Before any one is allowed to erect and use a private wireless station, a fee of 21s per annum has to be paid to the Commonwealth. The stations are receiving stations only, and each -licensee is bound to secrecy as to the messages that he may receive through his station. Justices will again preside at Fri-

day s sitting- of the Court. Mr Kennfk bad intended to preside, hut on ing to his accident while on holiday he null not sit in the Stratford Court until January 30th. In respect of only ofie of tho seven civil cases set down for hearing has notice of intention to defend been filed. The police have one information against a citizen for lighting a fire in the Borough without permission; and the rest of the business is supplied by the Borough inspectoi, who has four informations tor driving vehicles without lights and one each for driving loose horses through the street and one for riding a bicycle without lights. Arrangements for the Stratford School picnic to New Plymouth beach on the 29th ilist. were discussed at the school committee meeting last evening. The Bailway Department had notified the committee that 1000 childien s tickets {lid each), 200 teachers and senior scholars (Is 7d), and SlO adults (2s 3d), would he printed; the Department also stated that anyone (other than tiiose entitled to) found travelling on teacher’s tickets will have to pay ordinary fare. According to railway regulations, the number of adult tickets sold on a school excursion must nor exceed the number of children s tickets, and the committee lor every ticket so sold must make up the difference to the ordinary fare. In this respect, it was stated by the chairman last night that the Retailers’ Association had written the Department asking that in the event of there being an over-sale of adult tickets that adults he allowed to travel at excursion rates, as the picnic was more in the nature of a public holiday, but he understood no reply had been received as yet. Tickets will be available from .Mr B. B. Anderson as previously, and tho usual fruit.*milk, tea and sugar will he provided. The East End Bathing Committee will be requested to erect a marquee, and inquiries are to he made regarding the boating on the river.

""We have to-day to nay away £4OOO and we haven't tho money in hand." This remark was made very early in this morning's County meeting by the Chairman, to a Councillor who showed some inclination to move a resolution authorising an expensive work.

There is at present ideal weather for swimming, and it seems probable "that if there is a good attendance at the Swimming Club's annual meeting on Friday evening the ensuing swimming season will be as successful and enjoyable as any in the history of the Club.

Hospital Saturday collectors will be busy on the 24th with their .boxes endeavouring to eclipse all previous efforts in such a worthy object. Madame Bernard, of His Majesty's Pictures, will be doing her collecting at the Theatre on Saturday afternoon, where the takings at a matinee will be handed over to the Hospital Board. A- special star programme has been arranged, the principal film depicting "Napoleon's retreat from Moscow." A collection will be taken at the door.

A meeting of those interested in the formation of a motoring club in Stratford are requested to meet in Mr Fearon's office oil Thursday, evening. Mr Fearon has convened the meeting, and has collected some information relating to the working of these clubs, having written to several secretaries some time back, and is in possession of rules "and regulations which will be useful in drafting regulations for the proposed club.

The Stratford branch of the Taranaki Provincial Scottish Society has taken every necessary step to ensure the success of their 3rd annual Burns supper, to be held in the Tdwn Hall, on Monday, January 26. As has already been announced, the privilege of proposing "the Immortal Memory" has fallen to Mr J. Craigie, M.P. for Timaru, who is well-known for his knowledge regarding Scotland's poet. All other arrangements have been well looked to, and an enjoyable evening should be spent by all who attend.

It was notified at this morning's meeting of the County Council that, in conformity with a motion of the Council, two broken-down traps which had been left on the side of East Road had been removed. Cr Thomson said there was a dray standing on the road at Ngaere, and he suggested that the owner should be requested to remove it. Cr Smith said a disabled dray left on the side of Opunake Eoad had nearly caused an accident, a passing horse shying at it. It was finally decided to notify owners of such abandoned vehicles throughout the County that they must be removed.

"A rose', by any other name, would smell as sweet." And, in the same way, a rose would be none the better eating for being called a cabbage. And, also, though Strathmore Weed be

given the new name of Pimelea it is safe to presume that the said weed will continue to be the same sort of

nuisance it was previous to being re-

christened. Apparently the name "Strathmore Weed" is too vulgar for the Department of Agriculture, for in a letter to the County Council the weed is jreierfed to as "Pimelea."

**"ln discussing at the County meeting this morning the question of renewing tffe Te Popo bridge the Chairman advocated the erection of a toll-gate at some pointy on the Mountain Road. He was strongly supported by Councillors, Cr Thomson being especially anxious that motor traffic should be made to contirbute something towards the upkeep of the roads. Cr Smith said every other remedy should be tried "before the obsolete toll-gate was restored to, but Cr Anderson said that though he had once opposed toll-gates he had changed his view since seeing how successful the Eltham toll-gate i had proved. No motion was passed on the matter.