LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 48, 13 October 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The weather records at Timarft show that last month was the driest September for at least 20 years. The rainfall was only ten points, and the average for the month is 250 points. The Shannon correspondent of the Levin paper writes:—ln consequence of the depression accompanying the war, Mr T. Lind has very generous!} reduced the rents of his cottgages at Shannon to one-half the former rental. The Borough Council’s Town Hall Committee reported last night that they had no recommendation to make in reference to Madam Bernard’s request for remission of rent of the Town Hall. In sympathy with the widows with families who lost thair bread-a Miners in the Huntly disaster, the Singer Company has presented each customer with a clean rece pt in full ioi sewing machines held by thorn.

Intending exhibitors at the Stratford A. and P. Association’s coming Show are asked to note that copies of the schedule may be obtained or. application to the Secretary, Mr Sidney Ward, at the office of Messrs Jackson Bros., Broadway.

Cr. Richards urged on the Borough Council last night that < the water supply by-laws be move strictly enforced. He said he knew of taps at troughs which were left running constantly, and before the recent rain hoses had been in use all day and aH night. In justice to the public he thought the provisions of the by-laws regarding hoses should he publicly advertised; and this course was decided on.

The public are invited to attend the civic reception in the Council Chambers to-morrow night at 7.30 o’clock sharp when His Worship the Mayor and councillors ! will welcome Mr and Mrs Snowden, on behalf of the citizens of Stratford. On Wednesday night at 8 o’clock, Mr and Mrs Snowden will speak in the Town Ball, and as the funds are to go to the relief funds which are now greatly needed, we hope to see a large attendance.

Mr W. Short, Assistant Under-Secre-tary of Public Works, sat yesterday at Christchurch as a commission to allocate the cost of construction of the causeway at Sumner to minimis© the danger of rocks from the cliffs, the parties being the Christchurch ’ Tramway Board and the Sumner Borough Council. The Commissioner heard evidence, and will make an award at a future date.

The Health Inspector reported to the last meeting of the Palmerston Hospital Board that he had disinfected nine schools. There was one form of disinfection that some of the schools needed very sadly, and that was scrubbing the floors. “I can well understand,” said the Inspector, “that tne difficulty is the lack of funds. I do not consider that once or twice a year is sufficient, and I would suggest every quarter. I consider this of more importance than our treatment.”

At last night’s meeting of the Borough Council a letter was read from Mr C. I). Sole, who asked that a civic reception be granted to Mr Phillip Snowden.—The Mayor said that personally he would not welcome anybody on behalf of a body other than the Borough Council, though, as a member of the British House of Commons, Mr Snowden was entitled to a civic reception. The Council, therefore, would have to decide in favor of the reception.—lt was stated that Mr Snowden would arrive at 6.30 o’clock on Wednesday evening, and the desire was that the civic reception should take pi •toe at 7.30 p.m.—The Council decided that the reception asked for should he given.

The programme screened Inst nigh+ proved a great amusement for the largo house present. The feature drama, “The Silent Witness,” is a fine photo-play, and is acted to perfection and every scene is full of action and pathos. A line coinedvdrama hy the Edison Co. and entitled “An American King,” is really a. very humorous story of an American citizen who becomes King of Balkia. His American methods bewilder his ministers, and ho soon gets tired of a monarch’s life, and clears out. The following feature pictures were also screened ; “Australian Gazette fshowing some very interesting news from the Commonwealth), “From Pen to Pickaxe” (a comedy), and “Stung” (comedy). Madam Bernard is giving a matinee in aid of the gallant Belgians next Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock, ivhen the great war story of “Rorke’s Prift” will bo shown.

The meeting of the Borough CoomO last night was of an extraordinary lealm nature, and proceedings wer« completed by 9.15 p.m.—from an houa to an hour and a-halt earlier than usual. Something in the way of big going was accomplished by a “Rover” motor car yesterday, Mi Les. Curtis driving. Mr Curtis and Mr S. Macalister left Stratford yesterday afternoon at 3.15 o’clock and reached Wellington after a non-stop run at 11.30 p.m.,the trips thus taking under hours. A private meeting of the creditors of a Christchurch business man whose unexplained lengthy absence is causing concern, was hold yesterday. It was stated that as a result of an audit of the books, the liabilities were shown to he only one half of the assets, and a proposal to make the absent business man a bankrupt failed to get support. The meeting adjourned for a fortnight.