LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 23, 19 May 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A correspondent to a London paper has actually sought information as to tho way to make a proposal! Is there any accepted method? There must be as many ways as there are days in the year, and yet very few display any originality. Head all the great novelists, and mark how varied are tho ways they adopt of making their heroes put the great question (remarks a writer in an Australian paper). Think of Rochester, George Osborne, Mr George Knightley, John Halifax, David Copperfield, Robert Ellesmere, and hosts of others ,and each one will be found to propose differently, but quite effectively. Much depends upon the time and place and circumstances. It is useless to make plans. They fail at the psychological moment. A woman can upset everyone if she likes. She is really never taken by surprise!

The Rarawa will not arrive at New Plymouth until G p.m. to-day. Mails close at the usual time to-morrow night, instead of to-day, for Auckland. The Borough Council met last night to draw up estimates for the current year. The total is about £3OO more than last year, but includes £2OO for a new pound and £l4O for repairs to bridges. The Oddfellows (MX., 1.0.0. F.), held their usual fortnightly meeting in the Foresters’ Hall last night, when there was a good attendance. Four new members were initiated into the Order and two proposed.

The man who was charged yesterday with four thefts was in the afternoon committed to the Porirua Mental Hospital on the certificate of Drs. Steven and Cameron. The charges of theft were therefore withdrawn. Sir lan Hamilton will pass through Stratford by train about 11.30 a.m. to-morrow, and members of the Stratford Branch of the Taranaki Provincial Scottish Society are requested to meet at the railway station to give him a welcome to Taranaki. Some time ago a paragraph appeared in the “Post” stating that the driver of a motor car when coming to Stratford along the East Road Had picked itp certain articles which seemed to point to an accident having happened. These articles (a lady’s hat and veil, candles, etc.) now await a claimant at Davey’s stables. At eight o’clock last night it looked as if there would be no quorum at the Building Society meeting. c aid Mr N. J. King: “It seems that very little interest is taken by shareholders.” To this Mr C. E. James replied: “Evidently they are entirely satisfied with the way the Society is conducted.” The following business is set down for hearing at the Court on Friday: Eleven civil cases (two defended), three judgment summons cases, three informations for failing to destroy noxious weeds, three informations for disobeying an order of the Court. Two old-age pension applications are to be dealt with. The Electrical Supply Company’s repair staff was quickly on the scene of the fatality in Opunake Road yesterday, although they received no notice, of the horrible accident. The repair cart was galloped from the power station, and was on the scene in ten minutes. The boy had to climb a steep bank to enable him to touch the wire. On Friday evening the Public Works Department and the “Stratford Evening Post” staffs will try conclusions in a cribbage and euchre match. The teams are as follow:—Public Works Department: G. Hannah, E. Thomas, H. Arthur, P. G. Brennan, J. Jones, G. Lowe, F. Stewart, W. Tomlinson, A. Dav es, E. Jones, P. Beere, A. F. Wilson, C. B. Gollop; “Post”: C. L. Grant, C. Kelly, C. McLeod, G. King, T. Lawson, G. Ford, G. Kelly, D. Fisher, E. Hancock, J. Crofts. An adjourned meeting of the Borough Council was hold last night, when there were present;—The Mayor (Mr W. P. Kirkwood), and Crs N. j. King, J. Masters, J. H. Thompson, J. Fredric. J W. Boon, J. B. Richards and R. McK. Morison. The Council wont into committee to.consider the estimates. (The estimates decided on will be found in our advertising columns). The request of the Beautifying Society to take charge of the tiee-planting in Broadway North was agreed to. The work required at the abattoir was left in the hands of the Abattoir, Committee. Crs. King, Thompson and Fredric were appointed the Fire Brigade Committee. Cr. Fredric was added to the committee appended to confer with the Electrical Supply Co. over acquiring the Company’s business. It was decided that a light be placed in the coal cellar in the Municipal Buildings. The Mayor gave notice to move at next ordinary meeting that the following rates be struck: General rate of 3d, special rates of |d, 5-16 d, |d, l-12d, and a water rate of 6d.