LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 40, 17 February 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

To show the amount of enthusiasm being taken in the newly-formed Stratford Mountain Club, it should In mentioned that already the number of subscribers totals close on forty.

Clocks without hands or faces are new common in Switzerland. The timepiece stands in the hall, and when a button is pressed, by means of phonographic arrangements, it calls out "half past five," or "five minutes to six," as the case may be.

A little girl named Ivy Gwendoline Ingram, 2 years and four months old, died iu the Newcastle (X.S.W.) Hospital on the 7th inst., from the effects of arsenical poisoning. The child's mother had purchased some fly papers, which she put in a saucer of water. The little girl, during her mother's temporary absence, took up the saucer and drank the water, with fatal results.

Jii connection with the death in Mel- ' bourne of the girl Alice Morris (10), whose arm was cut off by a passing train on Saturday night, 7th inst., it appears from Australian papers to hand that she had her head out of the window, and was waving her arms Another train rushed past with a door swinging wide open. This struck the forearm of the child, smashing it off at about the elbow, and lulling it through a window into the next compartment. Tiie child toil back into th« carriage in a state of collapse. She was taken to the Melbourne H?i»pital, where she died soon after. The f.mpuputated arm struck the face rf ai.other girl, Dyllis Ballows. She received a shock, and became hysterical. She was also taken to the hospital.

The Toko train this morning brought in a contingent of Whangamomona residents who were on their way to Xew Plymouth to make picnic on the East End beach. .Mr G. E. Bocoek, secretary of the Toko Settlers' Picnic and Sports, writes stating that there is a general impression that the sports and the Show are to be held on the same day. As a matter of fact the sports are to be held on April 2nd. The Whangamomona Medical Association are. it is understood, in receipt of an application tor the vacancy for a medical man for the district. The Association will consider the matter at a meeting on Wednesday. A thirsty thief broke into a Sydney bond one night last week and stole 12 gallons of port wine and 13 gallons of whisky. Xot satisfied with this haul, he loosened a bung in a wine cask and allowed a large quantity to flow over the cellar. The school concert at Whangamomona on Friday night was a great success, reports a visitor to Stratford, who was present. The programme was a credit to the teachers (Mr Mills, Miss Hill and -Miss McMeekan). The hall was crowded, standing room onlybeing the notice that greeted late comers. Mr T. A. Bradley presided, and congratulated all concerned on the huge success of the evening. A "beer" strike was reported among the men employed on the additions to the Criterion Hotel in Hunter-street, Newcastle, because two of their number were dismissed. During-the forenoon, a bricklayer sent his laborer to get a glass of beer, and was in the act of quenching his thirst when the contractor's official put in an apparance, and dismissed both men. Another laborer gave an hour's notice, and in the afternoon all the men refused to turn to unless the dismissed men were reinstated. This was refused, and none of the men resumed after lunch.

In a lecture given before the members of the Xaturalists' Society of Xew South Wales recently Mr Finigan, secretary of the Bird Lovers' League, stated that he knew of a pastrycook in Victoria who bought annually 1000 dozen mutton birds' eggs, which he used in his business as a substitute lor new-laid duck eggs. The egg of the mutton bird, Mr Finnigan explained, is about 3in long, and almost perfectly resembled a duck egg. When fried or boiled the difference might be discovered, but ity the case of an egg being used for cake-making detection would be impossible.

Miss Edith Carr put up a remarkable shoot for a woman at the Bathurst rifle range (states the Sydney .. Daily Telegraph). Shooting 15 shots fc art the (500 yards, at a 20-inch bull, Bathurst's champion woman rifle shot secured 12'bulls and three aimers, thus making 72 out of a passible 75. The * performance was all the more noteworthy by reason by the adverse conditions. Miss Garr is only 18 years of age, and shoots with the same rifle and under similar conditions to other memhers of the Civilian Rifle Club. The Telegraph states it is probable that Miss- Carr 'will visit Randwick for the X.R.A meeting. ! , i

The Ohura Advocate, of Friday last contains the following :—"ln connection with the coming visit of members of the "Stratford Chamber of Commerce, it was decided at a meeting of committee and settlers on Saturday last to entertain the visitors at a dinner at Mr Aves' boarding-house on Saturday evening, the 21st inst., at S o'clock. The visitors expect to arrive in Ohura on Friday evening, and next morning they will be driven out as far as Matiere and Otangiwai, returning to Ohura in the afternoon. It is the intention of some of the party to leave here for Auckland on the following morning, the remaining members returning home via Whangamomona."

The value of organisation was strikingly exemplified by a link in the chain of events in Stratford last week; On Friday night the Stratford Club—an institution promoted in the interests of mountaineering and of the general advancement of Mount Egmont's claims as a scenic resort—was brought info being, and by half-past ten o'clock next morning the following highly encouraging telegram was received from the Tourist Department at Auckland in reply to a communication informing the authorities of the formation of the Club: "Does conveyance connect with mail train for the Mountain every evening? Urgent—advise particulars of the service. 1 ' The recent election of Mayor for the the Municipality of Wollongong (X.S.W.) was surrounded by a series of novel features. Owing to the late Mayor (Mr. Jas. Dean) having been defeated at the recent election, it was necessary to elect a successor to fill the vacancy until February 28 next. The names of Alderman Jas. Kirby, Walter Lance, and J. A. Beatson were submitted, and as a result of the exhaustive ballot Aid. Kirby was selected. It then devolved upon the council to elect a Mayor for the ensuing term of three years. Alderman Lance, Beatson, and Kirby were again nominated, and the ballot resulted in the voting being equal. The council then decided to place the names of the -three candidates in a hat, the candidate whose name was drawn first to stand down altogether. Aid. Kirby proved to be the unlucky one, and on the remaining two going to the ballot Aid. Walter Lance defeated Aid. Beatson by eight votes to four.

The train from south.this morning was unusually loug, and .two engines were required to haul it.

On Sunday a pair of field glasses were lost on the higher slopes of the Mountain, and the owner would be obliged if the finder returned same to the caretaker at the House.

A Sydney cablegram states that under the will of Mrs Annie Weisner, widow of Frederick Weisner, jeweller, the estate is valued at £28,434. The bequests include an annuity equivalent to £1 10s weekly to Clara Humffray, of Puendin.

The annua/ outing of the Midhirst School will be held at the Fitzroy beach yon Friday. A large crowd is expected '■ to make the trip, as besides a pleasurable hour or two in the surf the opportunity may be taken to hear the RA. band in the recreation grounds in the afternoon.

A coincidence in connection with the blockage of traffic at the Fenton Street crossing this morning on the occasion of the advent of the ten o'clock south train was the fact that there were two motor cars, two spring carts, two riders on horseback, two push-bikes, and two pedestrians held up on the two sides of the train.

The residence of Mr John Burkett, Ngaere, was totally destroyed by fire yesterday afternoon. The cause of the outbreak is unknown. The family were all at the back of the farm, and though they saw smoke they did not connect it with the house. The building was insured in the South British Office for £3OO.

A Press Association message to-day from Oamaru state's: Following the lead given by the Wanganui Collegiate School, it is understood that the Waitaki High School will next month be placed under complete military control ,for a period of one or two weeks, and that the whole time will he devoted to training in military duties.

The following paragraph appears in the latest District Orders (Wellington) :—"lt has been directed that the wearing of a white collar and black tie, with the Service Dress, When not on parade, is to be abolished. A khaki collar and tie will be worn at all times with the Service Dress (khaki) -in future. On no account are tie-pins, etc., to be worn in the tie."

The Borough Inspector figures most prominently on the list of cases set down for hearing at Friday's sitting of the Court, he having no less than ten cases against sundry persons for divers offences which come, under his purview. Two informations for failing to clear noxious weeds wilt also be dealt with. Nineteen civil cases are set down for hearing, one judgment summons case and one application to take evidence-. >

Following is an extract / from the latest District Orders (-Wellington) : "Men who live a distance of more than one hour's journey (two hours', if mounted) from a drill centre, will, in future, perform their training with the General Training Section, and will not be posted to the Territorial Force; subject to the upkeep of establishment. In relation to this ruling it has been decided that no more drill centres will be established unless special circumstances demand it, in which case the matter will be referred to District Headquarters."

The Swimming Club's working bee had a busy time last night and got through a good deal of work with pick and shovel and hammer and saw. The club has made all arrangements for smooth working, the crack swimmers of the province have entered in good numbers, and there only remains the bumper "house" the club deserves to make the carnival the biggest all-round success in the history of the club. The spectators have beon liberally catered for, as in addition to the usual men's races there are races for ladies, girls and boys, and a water polo match.

lii the Bank of New Zealand's latest. produce circular appears the following paragraph:—"Prospects for 1914. —Prospects for the coming season are unusually difficult, to gauge. Trade in this country shows unmistakable signs of slowing down, but judging by the recent sales in Australia and London it seems as if Continental buj'ers were looking forward to a good year. It is probable that the trade will have to deal with an increase of 100,000 bales —not a serious item—and which should not prove excessive for present requirements, in view of the fact that American demand in some form is likely to make itself felt during the coming season. Personally we hold the strongest hopes of the prospective requirements of this great country."

The motto of the Mountain Club is: ' 'Come to us: if you want anything, except money, come to us: if you want to get rid of money, come to us." This morning a telegram arrived at the County Hotel asking for information regarding the whereabouts of a gentleman named Holden, whose place of residence is Hastings, Hawke's Bay. As he was not on the books of the hotel, the staff were at a loss how to reply; but Mr J. B. Richards, of the Mountain Club, happened upon the scene and resolved all doubts. He was at the top of the Mountain on Sunday. At 1 the time he was there, there was a party

from the North Egmont House on the spot. The guide of this party <poke of one man as Holden and later told Mr Richards that he was from Hawke's Bay, and so, putting .two and two together, Mr Richards was able to inform the hotel staff where Mr Holden was on Sunday, which information was duly telegraphed to Hastings.