LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 84, 30 March 1914, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The late Mr William Gibson, chairman of the \Coldsmiths Co. (.states a London cablegram) bequeathed a quarter of a million to the sons of farmers in Down and Antrim to provide educational and other advantages.

An Oamaru Press Association message states: T. Blair, an employee of the Pukewa Meat Works, had his right arm amputated at the shoulder as the result of an accident caused becoming in contact with an air*distributing faii.

Mr Bell, Minister of Internal Affairs, lias received the following message from the Governor: "Please convey Her Excellency's and my deepest sympathy with the relatives of those who lost their lives in the disaster in the ITpper Hutt— Liverpool, Governor.".—P. A.

The- Union Company's steamer Waikare, which was wrecked in Milford Sound some years ago, has not changed her position since she went over on her side shortly after the mishap occurred. This was learnt on inquiry from those who returned to Wellington by the Hinemoa on Monday. The steamer has been robbed of many of her deck plankings, but that is all.

A curiosity in the shape of a threelegged cow is the property of Mr G. McCauley, Thirroul (N.S.W.) The cow was born with ber present handicap, and has grown up in the locality. She is a grade Jersey, now five years old, and has had two calves. She gets about with little or no difficulty, and keeps in better condition than others of'the herd, though only hand-fed when milking. Her productive 1 capacity is about 12 quarts. .Mr McCauley refused an offer of 22 guineas for his pet.

' A case of interest to taxi-cab pro-. prietors ancl others is thus referred to in a Press Association telegram, to-day from Wellington: Mr Cooper, S.M., heard a case in which Geo. Waddle, a taxi-cab driver, was charged under the City Corporation by-laws with refusing to convey a police nonstable and a drunken prisoner to 1 the police station. The defence relied on a recent decision at,Auckland by Mr Cut ton, S.M., in the Police v.'Bopke, hi which a similar charge was dismissed on grounds that the by-law was unreasonable. Waddle contended that the prisoner being drunk and dirty would soil or damage the u'pholsterings of the car. The magistrate, in convicting the driver and finding him one shilling and costs, paid there was 7 'no evidence as to what the. Auckland by-law was, and i sympathised with Waddle.

The most; recent occasion on which Mr Tippins Cse\v Plymouth borough's inspector) has distinguished himself to the dismay of the offenders was on Friday morning (says the Herald). The inspector was making a house to house 'inspection in the*West End of vthe town, when he espied several wires leading from an outbuilding to the house proper.. He scented trouble, and asked the lady of the house-.what purpose they served. Receiving a non-committal reply, he asked to be shown over the house and found that "the wires' served the purpose of conveying electrical energy from the wash-house to the kitchen, where, two lights were installed. A private dynamo, driven from the borough water Supply", produced the light, and a cheap system of lighting was in daily use. Questioned as to what would happen, Mr Tippins jovially replied, "The borough solicitor will prosecute." v