LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 22, 26 January 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Stratford Boy Scouts who have been on trek, returned to Stratford on Friday; coming by train from Pohoknra.

Mr W. R. Foley has succeeded in growing a wonderfully fine sample of Japanese plums—the best, in fact, we have seen for some time. The variety is named the "Ada Crossley," and should become a firm favourite.

The Secretary of the Stratford Tradesmen's Association has received a letter from the District Traffic Manager stating the concession asked for in connection with the School Excursion cannot be granted.

While preparing a duck for the table the other (lay (says the Lake County Press), Mrs T. McDonnell was surprised to find a small nugget of gold in the gizzard of the bird. The nugget weighed almost exactly a pennyweight, and ;l s the duck was bred on the farm, Mr McDonnell is now seriously considering the advisability of carrying out some prospecting work on the land in the vicinity of his residence. ' A young man in the Stratford district bad a game of billiards some months ago, but overlooked to pay the fee for the use of the table—one shilling. The other day he received from the proprietor of the saloon an account iiT proper form tor the amount due and the messenger who was sent across with the money came hack with a receipt in proper form for the amount. Truly, business is largely a formal matter.

A young man named Moor, oi Finnerty Road, was admitted to the hospital on Sunday morning suffer-

ing from injuries received on Saturday afternoon. He was proceeding in a cart along Mountain Eoad near Ngaere and at the railway crossing he collided with the afternoon train. He suffered slight concussion, but bis other injuries were not serious. The horse was killed and both the shafts of the vehicle were broken.

The new Toko Hotel is now practically out of the builders' hands. A visit to the building showed it to be up-to-date in every.respect and a credit to the architect (Mr A. D. Blicls) and to the contractors. The drainage is on the septic tank principle, embodying the latest ideas, and the fullest requirements of the Health Department are adequately met. The building is lighted with the Dreadnought light, and altogether the house is as up-to-date as any town house of the kind. Contractors in connection with the building were: Building, Mr ,1. W. Boon; plumbing and lighting, Messrs Smart Bros. ; painting and paperhanging, Messrs Howler and Pearce; brickwork, Mr J. B. Murray.

It is a direct financial loss to dairy I farmers if they fail to have their cows milked regularly (remarks the Otago Daily Tinies). This is why dairy farming becomes, as it is termed, a "slave's life," and even the joy of the district picnic is lessened hecause there must be a clattering of pails at sunrise, and no escape from the work at night when all are fatigued after a day's outing. There is no relaxation. In addition to the loss of a decreased milk cheque when cows are not regul-

arly milked there is danger of other expenses. At Owaka a Catlins Dairy farmer was charged with cruelly illtreating II head of dairy cattle by neglecting to mill; the same between December II and 10. thereby causing unnecessary suffering. Defendant pleaded guilty, and it was explained that the failure to milk the cows was unintentional. He was lined £3, in default seven days' bard labour.

The shopkeepers of Stratford will lbserve a whole holiday on Thursday n connection with the seaside picnic. Mr .1. It. Thompson, of Stratford, with a party of friends, had a very narrow escape from serious accident while motoring at \V:fnganui the other day. lie was coming down St. Johns Mill when the axle bearings of the ear broke and the car ran down the hill at a terrific speed. Fortunately, no other vehicle was met with, and the ear reached the Avenue without turning over. The champion sneak-thief has been unearthed. In consequence of a fire which totally destroyed the home, a local woman whose husband was away in the South Island was forced to live some distance away with her half dozen young children at a neighbor's. On "Dad's" arrival, he repaired to the potato patch, at the old home to get some for the Sunday dinner, but he discovered that the crop in about an eighth of an acre had been carefully dug tip and all the best tubers were gone An act so mean and contemptible under the circumstances hurts the chronicler some in his view of human nature, but in the interests of all the incident is worth recording. It is pleasant during the present weather to seek out some secluded spot in a stream and there enjoy a cooling bathe, but there are also disadvantages. For instance, three | young men in the Stratford district : the other day sought out such a secluded sport, but did not have the pei mission of the occupier of the land. They undressed, and were in

the midst of enjoying a splash in tin l water, when the occupier of the land, a lady, appeared on a hill at a little distance and told them to leave the place at once. They took no notice of her and wenf on with their splashing, but the lady was not done with, and soon appeared within a few yards of the pool and commenced a verbal bombardment.. In

the circumstances retreat was thought

desirable, and the young man were compelled to dress""without drying themselves.