LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 28, 25 May 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Nominations for the vacancy on the Borough Council caused by the resignation of Cr. Dingle, close with the Town Clerk at noon to-morrow. It was decided at the County Council on Saturday to convene meetings as follows to consider the question of erecting a toll-gate in the East Riding: dune 3rd, Kahouri Bridge, Toko and Toko Road; June 4th, Douglas and Hniroa. Great prices were paid for Holsteins at the breeders' consignment sales in Xew York this year, 180 head averaging a shade over £IOO each. This is claimed to be the highest average ever recorded at a sale of Holsteins. The banner price was £B3O for a bull. Young animals said as high as £2OO. Commercial'fjJgnSfh hhhiar Is tveac A correspondent writes suggesting that danger notices be erected by the Electrical Supply Company as soon as a wire is down. The Company does better than that, for, as soon as it is made aware of the fact repairs are effected. There would be nothing gained by our correspondent's pro- . posal. Lord Denman, ex-Governor-General of Australia, speaking at the farewell luncheon tendered him by the Federal Ministry, told a story against himself. Now that he was going, he said, he would make an admission. He did not enjoy speech-making as some people did. (Laughter). He remembered once addressing an audience in England. In the course of his remarks, he had said: "The question I ask myself is this." Then from the back of the hall came the interjection, "And a damned silly answer you'll get, too." Loud laughter). "I never got over that set-back," added Lord Denman. A Wellington Press Association telegram to-day says: Under the Act of last session, the following have been appointed a Board of Science and Art to control the projected Dominion Museum, Art Gallery, and Library.— The Hon. Mr Bell (Minister of Internal Affairs), Mr Thomson (Director of the Museum), Dr. Chilton (President of the Xew Zealand Institute (these are ex-officio members), and five appointed by Governor-in-Gouncil are: Mr G. M. Thomson, M.P. (Dunedin), Dr. Thomas (Auckland), Mr Von v Haast (Wellington), Mr Morgan (Government Geologist), Mr Ewen (manager Commercial Union Co).

The Union Company's steamer Kaiapoi arrived at Wellington yesterday with the Norwegian barque Lilla in tow. The barque has been purchased by the Union Company for use as a coal hulk. Adelaide was left on May 10, and the 1900 miles were covered at an average speed of six knots an hour. This is a record tow to New Zealand waters. Very stormy weather prevailed during a large portion of the voyage, and at times there was a risk of the barque breaking away owing to the rough seas. By skilful handling of the towlines, however, the ;tearner hung to the sailer. Occasionally both vessels used their sail to steady the strain on the lines.

In criticising some of the items on the A. ■ and P. Association's balancesheet at the annual meeting on Saturday, Mr R. blasters drew attention to the item "Horse £l6" appearing as an asset. The horse was purchased a.year ago, and could hardly be as valuable us when bought, and therefore some portion of the price should be written off as depreciation. Against this Mr Dingle pointed out that since wring bought the horse had been leased on several occasions and had earned a total of £ll,. which sum Mr Dingle thought should be shown to her credit in the balance-sheet. Another member interjected that the horse was very good value. The discussion was not taken seriously, and the executive was not censured for withholding the honor due to the Association's mare.

The following from the "Taranaki Herald" bears out what we have already found desirable to direct attention to in these columns:—"At the Stratford County Council meeting on Wednesday reference was made to the 'appalling' amount of bad debts of the Stratford Hospital Board. From the remarks made it might be gathered that the Stratford Hospital Board is lax in its collection of " accounts. The fact is, however, that all Hospital Boards find a great difficulty in collecting the fees due to them for maintenance and treatment in the hospi-V

fcals. The Stratford Board's record, as it happens, is better than the average in this respect. Indeed, the official report of the Inspector-General of Hospitals for 1912-13 shows that the Stratford Board collected more-money from patients for each occupied hed than any of the fifty-six hospitals in the Dominion, excepting only Otira and Mangonui. The actual collection at Stratford was £SO 2s per head, at Wellington £l4 16s, at New Plymouth £43 10s, at Hawera £39 16s. For the year ended ;\rarch last even better results were attained, the collection per occupied bed being £72. When it is remembered that about a third of the patients at Stratford come from Whangamomona County, many of them being co-operative laborers who are not usually overburdened with means to pay hospital fees, it will be recognised that the Stratford Hospital Board really does remarkably well to collect so much from its patients."

It seems a long time since Stratford residents had such a clear view of Mt. Ruapehu as was to be obtained this morning. Xgaurnhoe was also in evidence, with its usual trail of smoke.

Professor Pallouey's burlesque band, which is giving performances throughout Taranaki with the object of gathering funds to equip a drum and fife band for the Senior Cadets, was in evidence in Stratford on Saturday afternoon and evening, causing a good deal of amusement. As a result of the day's operations a total of over £5 was collected.

There should be a big attendance at the Town Hall to-night, when a meeting, called by the Mayor, will be held to consider the question of holding polls of ratepayers on loans for sundry works.' The committee recently set up by southern ratepayers will, no doubt, be present in full force, and the whole loan question can be expected to be thoroughly discussed from all points of view.

The Egmont A. and P. Association will hold its second annual Gymkhana and Military Sports Tournament on the Show Ground's, Hawera, on Thursday, June 35th. A fine programme has been arranged, including trotting races under the rules of the Now Zealand Trotting Association, hunters and leaping competitions, quickstep band competitions, and novelty events. Mr E. P. Cox, the Club's secretary, will be glad to supply full information. Entries for all events close on June 18th, at 8 p.m.

"Should Wives Obey Their Husbands?" is the chief topic of discourse in the latest "Everylady's Journal." There also appears, amongst other interesting matter, an interview with Miss Adela Pankhurst, in which she explains the position and the aims of the fighting suffragettes. There is also a talk with Lady Helen MunroFerguson, in which she discusses her position as the wife of Australia's new Governor-General; and a chat with Lady 1 Baden-Powell on the subject of the Boy Scouts, with particular reference to the youngest Boy Scout, who is her baby son.

A large and influential meeting of the Taranaki Teachers' Institute was held in Stratford School on Saturday afternoon. An able paper on "Ideals in Infant Teaching," which will be published in our columns later, was read by Mr F. J. Morgan, M.Sc. The remits to be considered by the- Teachers' Council which is to meet in Wellington in the first week in July were considered in detail. A good deal of discussion took place on the suggested decrease in the number of Education Districts, and Mr Tyrer was responsible for a resolution affirming the desirability of retaining the Taranaki .District in the new scheme. Mr McIlroy was appointed as delegate to the conference. A quantity of detail business was 'attended to.