LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 29, 4 February 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

There were no special trains in connection nitli the Hawera races to-day, but a number of sporting men went south in the mail train and the 10 o’clock train was a long one and carried a large number of passengers.

Mr C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., telegraphed to the Premier at the end of last week suggesting that the occasion of the Premier’s visit to Taranaki for the New Plymouth Show on the 26th inst. would he a fitting one to turn the first sod of the Opunake railway, and strongly urging that a start he made with the work. The Premier has replied, says the Eltham correspondent of the Hawera Star, that he would confer with the Minister for Public Works with reference to the' proposal and would advise later oil.

A Stratford resident who was yesterI day on the Fpper Manaia Road is of opinion that tie saw the burglar who is reported to have been operating recently in the district between Cardiff and Klthain. The man supposed to be the burglar was riding a black horse and wore an overcoat. The Stratford man had the suspect described to him jby a fellow traveller. This man had been asked by the suspect if the road j led to the mountain, and gathered the j impression that the questioner was desirous of getting to the mountain : hut ' later word was received that he had j visited a house on the road and asked to he, told where some person ('unknown to the resident) lived. This is quite in accordance to the tactics employed by the burglar. It is alleged that lie visited one house which was locked up, and went from the front door to the hack door, hut decamped hurriedly when he saw that he was observed from a neighbouring cowshed, j It is also stated that he was chased) by some Mahoe residents.

A Sydney 'cablegram states that new street regulations have been adopted, prescribing that pedestrians keep-to-the-lefc, tlie old keep-to-the-right signs having been removed A meeting of the Liberal Party yesterday in Wellington decided on a plan of operations with a view to educating public opinion in the country. The conference is being continued to-day, states a P.A. cablegram. 'l’he nine-hundredth anniversary of the oak-walled parish church ,of Greenstead, near Ongar, Essex, has just been celebrated. The church, which is built of slit oak trees, is the only one of its kind in the country, and.bids fair to last another 900 years. A Palmerston North Press Association telegram states that thirty-three applicants have entered claims for the Government bonus of £12,000 for improved machinery and process of dressing hemp. The majority of entries come from Xew Zealand, but there are several from Australia and others from America, England and Germany. Three men who “took” beds at one of the local hotels last night were turned out about nine o’clock on a cold, unfeeling and more or less damp world. They were moneyless tourists, and | when the proprietor of the house found I them sleeping in his fowl-house he I promptly had them turned out on the street. I i Speaking of housing the Colonial | Offices together, Earl Grey (Foreign i Secretary), to an interviewer at Frei mantle, said the position was the most j central in London. His scheme was to ] secure the place for the dominions j and enable them to present an adei quale impression of Australia. As to j the advisability of visits from English I statesmen to the dominions, he would make this a necessary qualification. In other words, it was a compulsory part of a Minister’s education.

The date of the trip to the Ohura under the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce has been fixed. The paity will leave Stratford on Thursday, 19th inst., by 7 p.m. train. Members and others desiring to go should leave their names with Mr W. A. Hewitt, lion, secretary to the Chamber, without delay, and state whether they wish to return via Whangamoraona or to proceed to the Main Trunk Railway. This is definitely necessary in order that coach accommodation, etc., can be arranged.

Hie grand champion prize dairy cow at the Kiama fX.S.W.) show, was won by Mr V> . J. Cole’s famous prize-taker, Cold. The Telegraph states that this is the ninth year in succession she has non this honor, besides securing the coveted champion ribbon on four occasions at the Sydney Royal. It is an interesting fact that a week ago Gold ga\e birth to twin calves for the second time in three years, making the unique record of five healthy calves in three years. The same animal, with Elsie JJ. and Jewel, won the championship for a group of three milking cows, this prize going to Mr Cole for the twelfth year in succession.