LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 71, 15 July 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A reminder is given of th*» dance and Michre party to he held in the Midhirst FT;ill this evening. "I know rents ar© gotting scandalously high," stated Mr Fraeer, S.M., at Auckland, yesterday morning, when the defondant in a maintenance case declared that lie was paying/20s a week rent for four renins and a scullery, and that he could not get a house for less, adding that he was asked 30s a week for a four-roomed house in Albert street. "I hope," continued his Worship, "that some day the Legislature or City Council will taks in hnnd a scheme which <rill enable tli» working man to get a house at d rent hearing mm* proportion of 't% value, instead of being unreasonably bled."

A meeting of ladies in connection with the Fire Brigade's annual ball will be held at the fire station at 3 p'clock to-morrow afternoon, and the first practice for juveniles will be held at 3.30 p.m. Butter in cool store at the ports named on July 14, 1914, was as follows:—Auckland 12,039 boxes, New Plymouth 6216, Patea 2016, Wanganui 850, Wellington 17,844, Lyttelton 3471, Dunedin 2620; total, 45,056 boxes. Total at July 14, 1913, 24,213 boxes. Mr J. B. Hine, M.P., who has been moving in the matter referred to for some time, has received the fo'Aiwing letter from the Hon. W. H. Herries, Minister for Railways:—'With reference to your letter of the I'iith May last, and your representations urging that a small loading hank for horses should be provided at Douglas, I have the honor to inform you. that instructions have been given for the necessary loading bank to be provided."

The timetable of the East train is engaging the attention of residents out there, and it is understood that meetings will be held shortly to bring the matter of certain alterations before the authorities. At Te Wera on Saturday at two o'clock, representatives of Strathmore, Makahu, Kiore, Douglas, and Toko, will melt to discuss the position. It is expected, also, that further out,.with Whangalnoniona as the centre, similar action will be taken.

Eltham's attempt to start a club on tHe line s of the Egmont Club in Stratford was taken up with great enthusiasm, but now, it appears, the movers are falling out about the details. At a meeting held on Monday night the matter of premises, which had practically been agreed upon, again came up for discussion, and eventually it was resolved that the incorporation of the club be not proceeded with until at least 100 signatures had been secured. The chairman (Rev. G. W. Dent), who was the originator of the movement, said it was appalling that the proposal should fall through at this stage. It was resolved that another meeting be called when the requisite 100 members had been secured

The big development iu the dairy industry in Taranaki is rellected in the output of the Egmont box factojy and the statistics now availatPe are interesting, because they royoa] the remarkable growth of cheese making. During the past twelve HiO'tths 190,980 butter boes and 251.190 cheese crates were made. '. Compared with last year's output, there is an increase of 8776 butter boxes and 32,185 cheese crates, or a total increase of 40.961 packages. In 1913, 11(5.093 Imtrwr boxes were made, as against 17.030 cheese crates, and each succeeding year saw butter boxes in the majority until 1912-13, when the <.'ht-ese beat the butter by 36,801 crates.

The Eltham Sports and Pastimei Club set a good example in the matter of encouraging healthy physical culture in the country, and there was reason for regret in the demise of this institution some time back, but there is cause for congratulation in the fact that the club has "come back." At a meeting of members interested at Eltham on Mondaynight it was shown that the sum of £24 4s remajned in the bank to the credit of the operations of the club in its halcyon days—or, rather nights. Mr C. Wade, who was one of the main £ supporters of the club, and who still recognises its worth, proposed that a sub-committee be appointed to draw up a programme, including a professional bout for £SO, with expenses of £lO each man, and a series of amateur bouts, and to report to a future meeting. It was agreed that Hannan and Heggarty, who would make a real good match, be approached with the idea of bringing them together. The date was fixed for August 5. or as near that date as possible.

Extensive alterations are to be commenced at the Opera House, Hawera, by the proprietor, Mr A. M. Conroy, who hopes to make the finished building thoroughly up to date and a big improvement upon the present house from, a theatrical point of view. "We learn from Mr Will Diamond, who was in Hawera yesterday conferring with Mr Conroy in regard to the matter, that the stage will he twelve feet deeper than the one in Stratford Town Hall. The roof will be raised to allow of flying the scenes direct to the roof out of the vision of the audience, which will necessitate the building being 45 feet higher from the stage plane. The stage itself will be of reinforced concrete with a fire proof curtain which will effectively cut off any fire that may occur behind the scenes from the front of the house. The present stage will be pushed out so as to enlarge the accommodation for the public, while dressing rooms will be allowed for under the stage. The building is lit with electricity generated on the premises, there being thirty-five tccumulators of the largest obtainable in the country. There is a reserve lighting plant with gas engine in case of emergency. The scenery and decorative work will be carriod out under the personal direction of Mr Diamond. It is estimated that the total cost of the alterations and improvements will amount to hetween £SOOO and £6OOO.