LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 38, 14 February 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Gazette extraordinary further pro rogues Parliament to March 13th.

The amount to the credit of the Civil Service Superannuation Fund in January was £581,531 11s. an increase during the year of £112,307. Exhibitors are finally reminded that entries for the Taranaki Agricultural Society’s Autumn Show to ho held on February 25th and 26th close to-day. Saturday, 14th inst., with the secretary, P.O. Box 19, New Plymouth, or with the Society’s agents. Replying to the Sydney cablegram. I)i-. Yale says he did not state in Ids paper before the B.M.A. Congress at Auckland,' that four per cent, of Australian children were feeble-minded or that twelve per cent, were nientally dull. He did net say that 4 per cent, were feeble-minded and that 1.2 per cent, were mentally dull. Dr. Yale concluded, “The Congress intended no slight on Australia in their report, as the figures showed favorably in comparison with Great Britain.” Mr T. H. Penn made some strong remarks at yesterday’s meeting of the Domain Board in pointing out the danger which existed of King Edward Park, one of the town’s best assets, being swept by fire and thus having its real beauty .completely destroyed. All the members expressed their sense of the importance of the matter and showed a disposition to take every possible step to safeguard the town’s interests in this respect. A full report of proceedings at the metting will be found on page 3. “Siamese” twin girls a few months old, who are joined face to face by a strip of flesh over an inch thick between their stomachs, have been brought to Paris to be separated by a surgical operation (says the Daily -Mail’s Paris correspondent). A radio, graph examination suggests that the twins have no vital organs in common. They fight so fiercely and continually with their little hands that they have to bo clothed with woollen vests inside of which their arras are imprisoned. This does not, however, prevent them from doing their best to bite each other. On the,occasion when the Stratford Municipal Band visited the East Mountain House the weather militated against the outing, but present indications point to a good day tomorrow, when the Eltham Band will visit the House and render a programme. The track is reported to lie in excellent order, and it is stated a push-bike can be ridden right to the House. Air and Airs M illiams have already earned a reputation for the heartiness of their welcome to visitors and in respect of attention to their wants those who visit' the ' House can rest easy.

At tho Medical Congress at Auckland, Dr. W. E. Jones, 1 nspector-Cen-cral of Insane for Victoria, quoted figures showing the rapid increase of insanity in New Zealand. The proportion was one in -17!) in the year 1877. In .1912 it was one in 2(19. Among the principal causes .three showed out prominently. Inheritance of insanity and its allied neurosis, syphillis and alcoholism. He spoke strongly ol the importance of dealing with the early stages in some way different from the present method of committing persons to asylums where chronic cases are detained. He advocated a special ward where voluntary cases could he sent without the painful process of patients being declared insane hy certifi-cate.—-Tho Congress passed a resolution on these lines.

The Rev. Mr Pattison will speak lin St. Andrew’s Church to-morrow ■ evening on the call of St Matthew—- ■ a. special subject for the young people. A number of local gentlemen have ottered their services to provide a programme ot music at the Swimming Club’s carnival on Tuesday evening, and it is expected that a fairly large ■ band will be in attendance. The destruction by explosion and five ol the small coasting- steamer Moa v oh Wanganui Heads removes from the colonial shipping list almost the oldest steamer in active service in New Zealand waters, and in Austrain an. The venerable iron coaster Stormbird, which is still plying sturdily between tVellingtou and Wanganui just as she did . half a century ago, is the Moa’.s senior by ten years, and is not only the doyen ol steam trait in New Zealand and the South Pacific, but also is believed to be tiie oldest full-powered steamer trading in any part of the world. The Australian bowlers, who made - the Wanganui river trip from Tauraarunui to Wanganui last week, were 1 greatly pleased with their visit to the 5 Dominion’s river and, judging from the roma rks made when responding to the f welcome given then at Wellington, • were charmed at the magnificence of the scenery. The M edieal Conference now being held in Auckland has, we , understand, arranged for a special k trip, leaving Tauniarunui on Wednes- - day, the ISth prox. The howlers had ■ the misfortune to strike showery wea- ? ther. We hope the medicos will be s more fortunate and see New Zealand’s Rhine under the most favorable circum--9 stances.

It should be generally and widely known that a trip up the Mountain can be made in comparative comfort between the arrival of the morning trains and their departure in the evening. Air T. Kirkwood made special mention of this fact during his remarks at the meeting in the Municipal Chambers last night, when turning thanks for his election as secretary and treasurer of the newly-formed Stratford Alountain Club. Mr Kirkwood said he spoke with practical experience behind him, and he was sure the Chib could do a great deal towards popularising the Stratford, which was the shortest and most convenient, route to the mountain top.

Regarding the earthquake last Sunday, a story is being told of a visitor to Wellington, who was being shown by a friend the principal places of interest around the city. The two were standing in Bolton street cemetery.

viewing tire monument to the memory of the late Mr Seddon, the local man descanting upon the many good ties of the late Premier and of the wonL derful command lie had over men. Sm. denly the railings around the monument began to rock, and both men realised instinctively that an earthquake was in progress. “Well,” observed the visitor, after the tremor was over, “he might have had wonderful command over men, but he didn’t have much command over that.”

The most surprising feature of Shackleton’s plan to cross the South Polar continent is his proposal to march at least 1000 miles, and possibly 1700, without the aid of depots of food. So daring a scheme lias never been attempted before. The usual plan has been to make a depot every 70 miles or so, and no other polar expedition has ever tried to carry enough food for the whole journey. Sbackleton said:

, “I know that many people say it is • not possible. I say it is, and lam go- : ing to show that it is. For [ two years I have been working down to the last ounce of food, antF'so far I can see there is no reason why . we should not do it. AYe will start with 120 dogs and about 12,0001 b of iood, and as we go along the dogs will eat oath other, and by the time wo reach the Polo or thereabouts, we shall probably be reduced to fifty dogs and six sledges. That equipment will see us through the 700 miles or so that are still in front of ns. In working out the equipment 1 have allowed ten days for delay by blizzards.