LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 13, 6 May 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At the Court this morning a firstoffomling drunkard was convicted and discharged.

Seventy-live names have re ceived by the Secretary of the A. and P. Association of those who are making a visit to the Experimental Farm at Moumahaki to-morrow morning. Tickets will bo issued by the Railway Department in the usual manner and intending visitors are requested to be in attendance early.

Mr E. F. Benson syas the Victorian girl suffered as much from chaperonitis as the girl of to-day does from appendicitis. The chaperon has been removed, and in his opinion the modern maiden is very much healthier in mind and manner for it. Altogether, Mr Benson thinks the jeuno idle of the present time a very great improvement on her predecessei. She may be outspoken, but she has greater individuality; she does more “shocking” things, but she is less impulsive ; she no longer pursues man, but she more often marries for love than the girls of previous generation. There is a groat deal in what this popular novelist says, too, about the old and the now woman in relation ic politics. While there are thousands clamoring and fighting for the vote, women really exercise far less political power now than they did in early Victorian days.

According to Mr Mitchell, who \\y been engaged in the pearl-shelling in dustry at Thursday Island for fh° past 16 years, and who arrived in Sydney recently, there is in the fin - ing of pearls an appalling destruction of "human life. “The life of a diver at Thursday Island,” says Mr Mitchell, “is about 10 years. Aftei that he is worn out—usually paralysed—and he returns to his home. The work entails a tremendous strain or the system, and unless a 'man is really constitutionally fit, ho has no chance of becoming a successful diver. Pa rah - is common.” The Japanese are flic best divers, Mr Mitchell says, because they are fatalists, and fear neither paralysis nor death. In ihc season there are between 2000 ana 3000 men engaged in the pearl and beehe-de-mer industries, representing every nation under the surj, but mostly Japanese and natives from the local islands and front Papua.

West Australia has joined the other States in their action for representation at the Panama Exposition, says a cablegram to-day. Mr Forbes, Liberal M.P. for Hurunui, delivered an address at Waitara last night. To-night he speaks at Awakino, and to-morrow night he will speak at the Coronation Hall, Toko. Mr 13. G. King, lessee of the Town Hall, notified to the Borough Council this morning that he did not intend to continue in occupation of the hall for the rest of the term over which he had an option. At the conclusion of the Mayoral installation ceremony the Mayor presented to Councillors small copies of the large framed group of Councillors which he had presented to the Council. 'l Messrs Campbell Jackson and J. Petrie had two days shooting at Mr James Jackson’s property at Makahu and secured a bay of 200 quail and 16 cock pheasants. Cook pheasants are reported to he very scarce and hard to kill, but hens are plentiful. Altogether, the party' had some enjoyable sport. That the meat-eating public is today afforded a large measure of protection against being supplied with the ‘flesh of diseased animals is fully recognised, but everyone does not quite realise what might happen if the public abattoirs did not exist. As.an example yesterday an apparently, to outward appearance, healthy dairy cow, about eight or nine years old, was sent in* to be killed for beef. After slaughter this morning the animal was found to he frightfully diseased, tubercle showing in every part of the interior. Mr* F. Copestake, who may claim a lengthy experience, informed a “Post” representative to-day that he had never seen a worse case of general tuberculosis in a beast.

The attention of our readers is drawn to the announcement in another column of the production of the cantata “The Haymakers,” by the Wesley choir. The cantata was composed by G. F. Root, and contains some fine music of the brightest character. The work is well interspersed with choruses, quartettes, duets and sojos, the whole making a splendid evening’s entertainment. This has been under rehearsal for some time past, and the choir has been augmented for the production. The choir is assisted by a strong orchestra, the whole being under the baton of Conductor C. H. Lawn, who is well nown throughout Taranaki as an orchestral and choral trainer. This will be produced in Regan Street Hall on Thursday evening, May 14th, and patrons can look forward to a good entertainment.

Yesterday a man named Alfred Hoy went into the back lobby of the County Hotel and selected the best overcoat he could find, rolling it up preparatory to removing it. But his actions had been suspicious, and Mr T. Kirkwood observed him taking the coat. Mr Kirkwood accosted Hoy, who endeavored to get away, ami it was only after a struggle that Hoy was confined in a room of the hotel. The police station was rung up and Sergeant McNeely came up and arrested Hoy, who was charged at the Court this morning with the theft of the coat. Messrs J. Black and J. Masters, J.P’., were on the bench. Accused pleaded guilty. Sergeant McNeely said there was an epidemic of overcoatstealing in Stratford, and there were more than the ordinary number of loafers about the town. They had no money, and’to get money for drink their most convenient method was to steal an overcoat though it was not convenient for tire owner of the coat. A sentence of one month’s imprisonment was imposed. Hoy was also remanded To appear at Wellington on a charge of failing to comply with an order of the Court for the maintenance of his wife and family.