LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 76, 21 July 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The monthly meeting of the School Committee is to be held this evening.

The sitting of the Court on Friday will be devoted almost entirely to civil business, nineteen civil cases (two defended) and seven judgment summons cases being set down for hearing. The only other business is a charge of failing to attend.camp.

For the Eanfurly Shield football match, Taranaki v. Manawatu, at New Plymouth on Thursday, the train will leave Stratford at 12.30 p.m., arriving New Plyihouth at 2.30. The'usual 7.o'clock train Stratford to Whanga will be delayed to leave Stratford at 7.45.

Two bares of particularly weighty dimensions were on exhibition at Invercargill last Tuesday, their combined avoirdupois turning the scale :it 211 b. They were shot at Dacre, by Mr Joseph Lyons, of Liddel street, and provided a good advertisement for that district as regards its fattening qualities. Certainly, if other live &tor;k about Racre thrive as well, thorp should be a big supply of "fats" conir ing from that locality.

A dastardly act was perpetrated on a goods train between Moe and Trafalgar, in Victoria.; The train was ap-

proaching Trafalgar, at 7.30, and when about a mile from the station the driver and fireman were startled by the sound of a gunshot, and simultaneous ping a bullet as it struck the engine. As the van approached a second shot rang out, and a bullet passed through the window. This was followed almost immediately by another shot, and a second bullet entered the van through the woodwork at the rear. The guard had an extremely narrow escape.

The well-known breeder, Mr Albert Irvine, at Lindfield Poultry Farm, Ltd., Mount Roskill, Auckland, has announced his intention of commencing operations in the Liverpool (N.S.W.) district at the end of the present month. Mr Irvine is transferring the greater part of his stock, and will conduct breeding operations similar to those which obtained at Lindfield. The magnitude of his operations discloses the fact that in December, 1913, his stock on hand exceeded the enormous total of 33,000 head, Hi» poultry farm coyer* 100 acres,

A notice in the latest Gazette vests sections 4, 6 and 16, Block 111., town of Huiroa, in the Stratford County Council, to lie used as a site for a surfaceman's cottage.

In connection with the League football match, Britain v. Taranaki, to be played at Eltham on Thursday, special railway arrangements have been made and an announcement regarding the same is published in another column.

The revenue derived by the Defence Department from the dry canteens at the recent Takapau camp totalled £4OO. This has been distributed amongst the various units as follows: oth Regiment, £3S lis lid; 7th Regiment, £44 16s 4d; 9th Regiment, £33 19s 2d; 11th Regiment, £SB Os sd; 17th Regiment,£39 2s 2d; 2nd Mounted Rifles, £26 lis Sd; 6th Mounted Rifles, £3O 8s 8d; 9th Mounted Rifles, £32 14s 4d; Signal Company , £2 5s 3d; Signal Troop, £2 4s 7d; No. 4 Ambulance, £6 7s 3d; No. 8 Ambulance £4 17s; No. 4 Company Engineers, £4 17s 7d; R.N.Z.A., £3 0s Id; Artillery Brigade, £lB 9s 9d; Supply Depot, £l3 Is 7d; Messrs McParland and Dwyer, contractors (compensation for premature closing of camp), £4O.

That a salary should be paid to the leader of the Opposition in New Zealand, in addition to his honorarium as a member of Parliament, is the opinion of the Mayor of Auckland, Mr O. J. Parr, O r M.G. In referring to the matter the other day Mr Parr remarked that the leader of the Opposition in New South Wales, is paid £6OO a year in addition to the £SOO he receives as a member. Mr Parr said he supposed it really did not matter much to Sir Joseph Ward, but it might occur that a man in other ways entirely fitted for the post might be prevented from accepting it because he could not afford to give his time to the duties of the office. The leader of the Opposition should be the "watchdog of politics," and should have an offiical salary as well as his honorarium.

In presenting his report for 1913 the manager for the State Fire Insurance Department (Mr G. R. C. Robieson), states that the year has proved the most successful in the history of the office—the profits being the largest yet earned in any one year, and the business in all respects being most satisfactory. The net profits, after appropriating a further sum of £2014 to reserve for unearned premiums, amounted to £15,443, as against £14,023 for 1912 and £5037 for 1911. The total accumulated profit at the close of the year was £41,904. The net income, including interest on -investments, was £61,280. The net losses, were £27,975, compared with £25,111 for 1912. At the close of the year the reserve funds amounted to £65,671, as against £48.213 for the previous year.

It is understood that Messrs O. and E. Jackson, land agents, of Stratford, have just completed big land transactions in the Toko and Palmerston North districts, making a total value of property put through during the past week of over £30,000. During the last four months this firm has disposed of properties totalling .in value £llo,ooo', mostly dairy farms in and around the Stratford district, and including some 400 acres of dairy land ; n the Thames Valley and Whangarei districts. The firm arranges loans at b per cent for farmers buying through them', if desired, which is a great help, and is being taken advantage of, as recent sales prove. Messrs C. and E. Jackson say their motto is: "Look after the farmer; treat him fairly and he will look after you," and that their experience proves it to be a good one.

A Tuna correspondent writes:—On Friday night, at Mr Elder's tea rooms, a return cribbage match was played between teams representing Ng-ior© and Tuna. After a keen contest Tuna were again victorious, winning by 9 games. On the last occasion Ngaere entertained the Tuna team, wha this time the -compliment. A third match, the losers to pay, will be played in "a fortnight. Appended ate the scores, Ngaere being mentioned first in each case:—Thomas, seur. and Orr 7, v. Reed, senr. and Tristram 3; Taylor and Christian 6, v. W. and F. Kovaleski 4; Sim and Boon 6, v. Vinto and Ewan 5; Thomas, jr., and Wisnewski'4, v. J. and J. Groshinski S: Clarke and Swindlehurst, v. Wunch and Barford 8; R. and B. Orr 3, v. J. Kovaleski and Skedgwell 9; Willis and Morrison 5, v. Thomas and Reid, jr., 8; totals: Ngaere 36, Tuna 45. Tonight Tuna meet Denbigh Road at Midhirst.

A Solomon Island war canoe, about 40ft long, and fitted with brightly decorated prows, was an object ,of interest on the deck of the Kulamban-o-ra. The canoe is on its way to Sir Wm. Lever's residence, Bonnycroft Manor, Port Sunlight, England. Sir William wished to have a war canoe on the miniature lakes in the Bannycroft Manor gardens, and gave instructions that one should be built. This was done, but when the vessel was comploted and lying at Gizo, it wa,«? stolen by some time-oxpried Malaita natives from the plantation, who cleared with it to Malaita.. Eventually it was discovered by British Government officials, and restored to its former resting place. The canoe has now been taken along to Sir William Lever's factory at Balmain, where it will be hoxed up and consigned to England.