LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 93, 11 April 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Parliament lias been further prorogued until May Bth. A largely attended Methodist conference is being held at Puriri, says a P. A. message from Thames. Tho usual monthly meeting of the Stratford County Council will bo held on Wednesday next. The Soddonvillo State Colliery is to close down at the end of the month permanently, it is understood, states a Press Association message from Westport. A Press Association telegram from Christchurch states that tho two men arrested yesterday on a charge of \agraiicy will be charged with the burglary from Tucker’s jewellery shop on Wednesday. Farmers and others interested aie reminded of tho meeting to be held in the Borough Council Chambers at 3 o’clock next Tuesday afternoon for tho purpose of discussing the erection of freezing works for tho Taranaki district. It was stated in the City of London Court during the hearing of a claim for £3l 11s 3d f0r.5000 tearing dogs’ teeth that a trade had recently sprung up-in the Pacific for tearing and corner teeth (numbering six in each dog’s mouth.) The tooth were used as currency and as ornaments.

Tiro Wellington Sunday School Union is holding its annual convention at Feilding. About 200 delegates are present from the whole of the Wellington province and Nelson and B onheim (states the Press Association, and all branches of Sunday school work arc being dealt with.

A remarkable funeral took place recently at Querenburg, a little mining town, where three men were killed by a fire-damp explosion, i Thousands of people attended the funeral, at which the service was read by the pastor over three empty coffins, as the bodies of the three victims had been blown to pieces.

A Thames Press Association message to-day reads The Thames Hospital Board has purchased the land and buildings from the High School Board. The former intend to enlarge the hospital, and the latter intend erecting a new school in brick on a central site purchased from the Defence Department, who in turn nil) erect a drill hall on a sio provided by High School Board. Mr W. I’. Kirkwood notifies in another column'that, acceding to the wishes of burgesses, as embodied in a requisition presented to him. he has decided to allow himself to ho nominated for the Mayoralty, the election for which takes place on April 29th. On April 20th Mr Kirkwood will deliver an address at the Town Hall, when matters of interest to the Borough will lie dealt with, with special reference to the license proposed to he issued to the Electrical Supply Co. Those wishing to act on Mr Kirkwood’s committee are requested by advertisement to forward their names l o box 11.

It is reported in San Francisco that a Japanese company, with a capital of £4,000,000, has purchased 200,000 acres of land in Mexico, ou the United ♦ States border. The Yokohama Specie Bank is said to be financing the enterprise. A unique incident took place at Gisborne, where the daughter or an old-age pensioner was also granted a pension. She was sixty-two years of age, whilst her mother, who also receives a pension, is over ninety years of age. v . Burglars entered the post office at Whakamatau, near Springfield, terbury, and burst open the safe jvitn explosives last night. The building was damaged (states a Christchurch wire), but it is not known if any money was taken. . “Eva Bishop,” called the court or- " derly at Christchurch ou Tuesday. Mr A. W. Bishop rose and intimated that he was counsel in the case. “Suppose the name is only a coincidence?” asked the magistrate,, Mr H. W. Bishop. “Yes, sir—that’s the worst of having such a common name!” responded Mr A. W. Bishop, amidst laughter.

It is understood (states the Sun) that Mr J. Menzies Gibb, the wellknown artist, has, through his solicitors, Messrs Kippenberger, 'Franks, and Hunter, issued a writ against the Christchurch Press Company for £250 for alleged libel. The circumstances are as follow, arising from the con-' troversy in connection with the paintiug “Up for Repairs” executed by Mr R. Wallwork, instructor at the Schoo lof Art. Mr Gibb wrote defending the painting, and two letters subsequently appeared in the “Press,” not criticising what Mr Gibb had said, but criticising his ability as an artist. Extension ladders, which can be “shot” to a height of 85ft almost instantly by power, and a “water mast,” which ’ throws a stream into places which cannot be reached by men on ladders, were novelties exhibited be- ' fore the Kaiser during the “Imperial Review” of the Berlin Fire Brigade lately. The review was brought to a close by a fireman who wore a diverlike fireproof suit, tramping unconcernedly through a blazing pile of petro-leum-soaked wood while putting out the fxames.

An interesting operation was recently performed in Philadelphia by which portions of bone taken from a young woman’s arms and legs were substituted for a faulty structure in her spine (says a cable message to the Australian newspapers). The surgeons say that the operation was quite successful. The woman was previously unable to hold her head erect, hut after five weeks’ treatment, during which the faulty tissue and bone were gradually replaced, a complete cure was effected.