LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 54, 20 October 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The School Committee meets this evening.

The monthly meeting of the Stratford County Council takes place tomorrow morning.

No-license supporters meet in the Methodist schoolroom, Regan Street, this evening.

The annual meeting of the Fire Brigade, is to be held in the fire station this evening.

The official opening of the local bowling green will take place on Thursday. Visitors are invited to be present.

Fifteen undefended civil cases and ono judgment summons are set down for hearing at the Court on Friday. The only other matter to be dealt with is the charge of sheep-stealing against Reginald Gervase Hamerton, which has twice previously been adjourned.

i At the general meeting of j the Kia . Ora Tennis Club, held last evening in Messrs C. and E. Jackson's office, officers were elected as follows:—President, Mr R. H. Cameron; vice-presi-dents, Miss R. Everiss and Mr C. Russ; secretary and treasurer, Mr R. H. Nicholls. The club colours decided 'upon were black and white, and the official opening was fixed for-Thursday, October 22nd.

About half-past eight last night a fire broke out in the two-storied building in Juliet Street next to the Public Works building, owned by Mr N. J. King, two ground floor rooms of which were occupied by Mr Chignell, as a picture-framing workshop. The fire was caused through a kerosene lamp blazing up and catching some papers on the mantelpiece. Mr Chignell endeavored to beat out the flames, but they were too much for him, and he got out of the back window and gave the alarm. The brigade turned out smartly and confined the fire to one room, which, however, was badly gutted. The building was insured for £l5O in the Royal Exchange Office.

A case of the cruel practice of cat-tle-maiming, which sporadically occurs at intervals in this country, was recently reported to the Auckland pob'ce from Horse-shoe Bush, a remote gumdigging district at the hack of Dairy Flat (states the Auckland Star). Messrs Collin and Thomas Kelly, who have a small cattle run in the broken bush and scrub country of the district, recently discovered that about thirty young heifers had been killed, apparently by being hit on the spine at the back of the head with some blunt instrument like a spade, while over a dozen young bulls were found on the run dead and dying from injuries similar to those caused by the sterilising operation. The police, after inquiries, arrested a lad who gave his age as fifteen years, but who has the stature of a youth of eighteen. The lad is a son of a yjumdigger in the district, and made admissions concerning the offence. Ke was brought to Auckland, and on Saturday morning, on a charge of having maimed five young bulls, was remanded till next Saturday.

A Sydney cablegram states that coastal' shipping is practically at a standstill owing to the gale raging on the coasts. Rain continues, states a cablegram from Sydney to-day. Tho papers admit that the prospects are brighter, although the main wheat areas will not 'benefit to the extent, that the coastal districts will. The weatner bureau states it is the best October rainfall in Sydney since 1902.

We have received a copy of "New Zealand Illustrated," the beautiful Christmas number of the "Weekly Press." In its delicacy of coloring, its beauty of design, its . variety" of New Zealand pictures, and its New Zealand stories, "New Zealand Illustrated" for 1911 is, like its predecessors, a very artistic effort, and will be in great demand.

There was a la.go and appreciative audience at the Salvation Army last night on the occasion of the usual free - monthly social. Adjutant Gray, of Auckland, presided. After the concert refreshments were handed round. The following contributed to the programme: Misses Moon, Biimissouibe, Mesdames Adjutant Tatton, Walsh and Richards, and Mr C. Rchs vsoi'gs), Miss Jackson and Master Norton (recitations), Misses Everi3S (vocal duet). Mioses Hopkins (duet vph'n and piano). Mr Ross vi I Miss Hopkins played the accompaniments.

The devices vised by some people as a means to beat the totalisator are surprising. At the Hawke's Bay spring meeting (says the Tribune) one person produced at the pay-out window a ticket that had been issued at the Napier Park meeting. The ticket resembled the winning ticket in the particular race, but the code word was different. In another case, although the ticket was known not to be correct, the money was paid out. It appears this particular ticket was issued at a former meeting, and was a replica of those sold in the race for which the dividend was claimed. The person who tendered it, must have had it in his possession for some considerable time, and have awaited his opportunity until the same number and code word were reused. Many other instances occurred at the meeting of attempts to fleece the officials at the pay-out windows.