LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 51, 2 March 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Twenty-four births, six marriages, and two deaths were registered in Stratford during February.

A man charged at Willesdcn, England, with assaulting his wife said lit 1 did it because she would only allow him to kiss the baby through a window.

The steamer Suffolk has arrived from London (states an Auckland P.A. telegram to-day), and brings 108 assisted immigrants, including 20 families who are joining husbands or fathers already in the country. The thirdclass passengers include 51 boys under contract to work on farms in various parts of the Dominion.

The Government has erected a monument at Kihi-Kihi, near Te Awamutu, Waikato, to mark the spot of the last battle in the Maori war—the battle of Orakau; but the monument has never been officially unveiled, and a committee lias been formed in Hamilton to promote a suitable unveiling ceremony. This committee is now appealing to Maoris to join in the celebration.

A little stranger found its way into' the wide world under curious cir-

cumstances on Friday afternoon, states the Xew Zealand Times. A lady and her husband were walking in Newtown Park between 2 and 3 o'clock, when they became aware that a young woman was in an unfortunate plight. The lady went to her aid, while the husband sought further assistance. The services o! the police matron and a doctor were secured, and ultimately the young mother and her child girl) Were accommodated in the public hospital. A number of notable people were recently asked by the Editor of Votes for Women, "What, in your opinion, woidd be the most significant change likely to lie brought about in the political, social, and intellectual world by the ei;f 1 anchisement of women on equal terms with men?" Amongst other answers was the following from Professor Gilbert Murray: i( l think that the enfranchisement of women is likely to have the following results : (1) To improve the general relations between men and women. (2) To better the soßial and economic prospects of the most oppressed classes of working women. (3) To help forward the Temperance movement. (4) Probably, after the first shock is over, to steady and make more conscientious the political judgments of the ordinary voter.''

An interesting table has just been published by the London Times showing the reduction of son route distances that will be possible when the Panama Canal is open, it gives the present distance from Liverpool to Wellington as 11,981 miles. Coming via Panama the distance will be 11,058 miles—a reduction of 923 miles. The figures given.—in the same order—from other regular trading ports to" Wellington are as follow:—From London, 12,207 and 1 1,270—7-57; from Xew York. 11.571 and 8500—3071. One of the greatest reductions in distances will be that between Xew York and San Francisco. A total of 13,358 miles of sea travelling now separates these ports, but with the opening of

the canal this will be reduced by 8069 miles to 5289 miles. The distance from London to Vancouver or San Francisco will be reduced by 5755 miles. Other big reductions will be: Liverpool to Honolulu 4060 miles, to Valparaiso 1813 miles: Xew York to Honolulu GSOS miles, to Melbourne 285 S miles, to Sydney 33-17 miles; Xew Orleans to San Francisco SS7S miles, to Vancouver 9078 miles, to Valparaiso 1070 miles.

A Napier Press Association message states: A meeting is afoot to build a babies hospital in connection with the Plunkot Society. Already £535 has been subscribed. Mr E. W. Knowles has donated a site worth Colli) ami also £2OO to the building fund, and Mr J. Vigor Brown M.x . has given £IOO. Perhaps the greatest attraction at; the forthcoming show oi the Horticultural Society on Thursday and Friday next will be the music by the Egmont Club orchestra. Those who have not had the pleasure of hearing this combination of musicians should not miss the opportunity. On Thursday next the sports in connection with the Stratford School are to be held in Victoria Park. The sports will commence at 1 p.m., boys' events being kept going till 5. Between 3 and -1 swimming and diving contests, in which only girls will take part, are to be held in the baths. Some of the preliminary events —the heats for the "100yds and 220yds handioape—are being run off at midday on j Tuesday and Wednesday, so that all the finals can be decided on Thursday. ' Paces for the little children will be I kept going the whole afternoon.