LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 40, 9 June 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tllfe musical and vocal items to be rendered at the Catholic social on Thursday night will be of a high order, and the audience are promised a treat. Many well-known local talented artists are taking part.

A meeting will be hold in the Regan Street Hall this evening under the auspices of the Methodist Rand of Hope. A good musical programme has been arranged. A collection will be taken up to defray expenses.

At the Magistrate’s Court- at Timaru yesterday, a man was lined £2 and costs for shooting seven paradise ducks, which are protected this season, and another was fined 20s for one duck. Counsel for the defence argued that “wild geese” may be shot and 'the “paradise duck” is a goose.

Cr. Masters asked at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council if a reply had been received from the Electi ical Supply Co. regarding the letter sent after last Council meeting. The Town Clerk reported that a reply was received but had been referred to the special committee set up to deal with the matter, the committee, however, not being yet in a position to report .

The lioness at the Wellington zoo. which has been seriously iii for some days, was considerably improved last night (states yesterday’s Now Zealand Times). It will be remembered that the beast was purchased by public subscription a year or two ago foi the sum of £IOO from Messrs Mirth. The space around the lions’ cages has beam roped off, and tho public are not allowed within it for fear oi disturbing the sick animal. The trouble, in the opinion of the veterinary suigeon, is fits to which she h.-.s neon subject for some time. It is honored that the lioness is about fifteen years old, and that she is anproachmg a critical period of her life, i he fits have been very severe, and chloiot'oiin has been administered on the end of a long moo to alleviate the pain. The keepers at the zoo are taking it in turns to watch al! night, and they keep a lire going at the back of the den. There appears every probaoiliiv that “.Mary” will soon recover.

A Sydney cablegram reports that good general rains are falling. A meeting will be held at Ngaere Hall on Monday at 2 o’clock to consider the question of a toll-gate on Mountain Hoad South. “You will be pleased to see,” said the chairman (Mr J. McAllister), at the meeting of the Hospital Board this morning, “that the amount of patients’ fees received keeps up; and you will also be pleased to note that the local authorities’ contributions are down.” “A stereotyped reply,” said a Councillor at last night’s Borough Council meeting. Ihe remark was called iorth by the reading of a letter from the Postmaster-General, who wrote that the Council’s request for a new post office would have consideration when next year’s estimates were being framed. “But if there is no amount put on the Estimates,” said the Mayor. “We will have something to say—and something strong too.” The Works Committee is to report to next meeting ol the Council on the question of storage of dangerous goods in the Borough. In introducing the matter, Cr. Hichards said he had looked through the by-laws, which seemed to give the Council ample power to supervise the storing of dangerous goods. He had especially in his mind the storing of benzine, which was highly dangerous and which was being generally used owing to the increasing use of motor cars. In the course of a short discussion on “infantile paralysis” at the Hospital Board meeting this morning, Mr C. D. Sole said that there seemed to be some doubt as to the steps taken to deal with.infections'cases when reported ; and he thought it could not be too well known that when a case of infectious disease is reported, the chairman and secretary at once take the necessary steps to carry out disinfection. The Chairman said the Board had every reason to have confidence in the Health Inspector (Mr Gray) who was always prompt when called upon to deal with cases. The discussion took place when the Health Inspector’s report was read, and on Mr Sole’s motion, seconded by Mr Smith, it was decided to express full confidence in the Health Inspector.

Meetings of County ratepayers in the East Riding were called last week to consider the question of erecting a toll-gate in the Riding. At the Kahonri Bridge meeting only a few ratepayers attended and they did not display much interest in the matter. The Toko Road meeting was unanimously against the proposal, ratepayers holding that they would use the gate more than any ratepayers. The Toko meeting was pretty evenly divided on the question. In view of the' feeling expressed by those who would mostly use the gate it was decided that the meetings at Huiroa and Douglas be abandoned, and the proposal for a toll-gate will not be gone on with. At the meetings the opinion was expressed that the Government should tax motors —if they did not move soon, steps would be taken to force their hands.

The question of giving powers to meat inspectors at abattoirs to grade meat for local consumption was discussed by the Borough Council last night. Cr. Masters jocularly suggested that there was no need for such powers, as only third-class beasts were killed at the abattoir. Cr. King suggested that in addition to first, second and third classes, fourth, fifth and sixth classes would also be necessary. The Mayor stated that some really good meat was killed at the abattoir. It was not quite right to say that only third-class meat was killed. Cr. Masters said he could tell third-class meat when he got it for dinner. “This provision will enable yon to tell it before you fake it from the shop.” replied the Mayor. The discussion arose from a general discussion on a remit on the matter which the. Council had previously decided to forward to the Municipal Conference.

The following letter from the Minister for Public Works was read at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council : “1 am in receipt of yours of the 12th May. I see no reason to depart from my former decision, viz., to decline to giant the renewal of the license asked for by the Electrical Supply Co. I have already informed the Company that 1 must recognise the Borough Council of a town as the exponents of the will of the ratepayers in preference to the request contained in a petition signed by a section of said ratepayers. 1 may as well inform your Council, however, that if it has not made arrangements for the lighting of the town a reasonable time before said license expires, 1 may feel constrained to renew the saict license for a limited period.”—Cr. Boon queried how long before the concession expired would it be necessary to make arrangements for lighting the town. —Cr. Masters questioned if any step except purchase could be taken before the concession expired. —The Mayor replied mat a legal opinion procured by the Council was to the effect that steps could be taken at any time.