LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 286, 1 December 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

During November five deaths and .six marriages were registered in Stratford,

The following business ; s set down to be dealt with at Friday’s sitting of the Court: Eighteen civil cases (three defended), three judgment summons cases, one information for rding a bicycle on a footpath, and tnrae under the Destitute Persons Act.

The central proficiency examination is being held in the Technical School to-day, Inspectors Ballantyiie and Whetter presiding. The University examinations for matriculation, solicitors’ general knowledge, medical preliminary and University scholarships will be taken to-morrow in St. Andrew’s Hall, the Rev, Pattison acting as supervisor.

Those present at last night’s concert were high in their praise of the fare provided; and the general opinion is that if the concert were repeated, probably with changes in the musical items, , reasonable admission charges could be fixed, and the Fund benefit even more than it did as a result ol last night’s operations. In any event the military teams should be kept in training in order to supply items at concerts any other body might give for the Fund.

The Australian High Court delivered an important judgment in connection with the Seamen’s Compensation Act. A second officer of a steamer was killed at sea, and the widow recovered £SOO damages from the Australian Steamship Company, which appealed against the verdict on the ground that the Commonwealth Parliament had no power ,to pass the Act relating to ex-tra-territorial waters. The Court, by five to one, Judge Barton being the only dissentient, dismissed the appeal.

A young man named Alhan Smith, whose parents reside in the Homeland, attempted to take his own life hy cutting his throat with a razor, writes our Douglas correspondent. The doctor was immediately in attendance, and he pronounced the case not serious. After medical attention Smith was conveyed to the hospital, -Stratford. The sad event caused a shock and surprise to the residents of Douglas, hy whom he was known to be of a quiet and reserved disposition. The cause is understood to be brooding over real or imaginary troubles.

Latest subscriptions to the Stratford Patriotic Fund are: Sale fowls 10s 6d, M. O’Xeill £1 Is, 1). Yandle £1 Is, .1. Hodgson ss, Midhirst Hall Committee £3 17s, gift stock auction £l, A. Coyne £1 Is, M. Ford £1 Is, J. O’Connor 10s, Stratford Hairy Factory Co. £IOO, M. Fenwick £1 Is, J. Butler £l, J. Thomas £l, Smith Bros. £l, Lady ss, J. Savage £2, J. Dons £l, A. Clothier £l, Taurakawa Co op. Works £8 ss, X. Baxter 10s, X. Davey 10s, L. Bennett 10s, Lowgarth Dairy Co. £2B, Ngaere Dairy Co. £IOO, G. Sangster £5. Total to date £2203 0s Id.

Where to spend Christmas, New Year and summer holidays now that so many will be prevented from leaving the Colony by reason of the war—the Wanganui River will no doubt claim a large share of holiday traffic. Steamers leave the head of the river (Taumarunui) every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning, and the same from Wanganui. On and alter the 23rd December,- the service from Taumarunui is a daily one, Mondays excepted. Itineraries, time-tables, and all particulars • may bp obtained from the various offices of X’ook and Rons, all X.Z. Tourist Bureaus, and from the proprietary. Messrs A. Hatrick and Co., Ltd., Wanganui A nolification regarding the service will be found in our shipping column on page one of this issue.

Mr W. H. Hawkins, Liberal candidate. is advertised to speak in the Town Hall, Stratford, on Friday evening next.

Weather Forecast .—The indications are for southerly winds moderate to strong and squally at times. The weather will probably prove cool and changeable with'passing showers. The night will probably be very cold. The barometer has a rising tendency temporarily.—Bates, Wellington.

Last Friday afternoon Mr John Rea, of Douglas, met with an accident when returning by trap to his home from Stratford. In the vicinity of the Toko School the horse bolted, and Mr Rea was thrown out on the road. He was attended to by local residents, and Dr. Paget wa-> summoned, finding that -hough badly bruised and shaken, Mr Rea had sustained no more serious injury than a sprained ankle.

The local manager of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Go. Ltd., has received advice from the Inspector of the Company at Wellington that the directors report a very successful business year, and that £SOOO has been placed to the Staff Benevolent Fund as well as paying the usual dividend and carrying forward a large sum, making the Reserve Fund now £284,208. Nine out of sixteen of the local staff participated in substantial increases fo their salaries as from the Ist October, 1914. , The Town Hall was properly packed last night, and the air naturally soon became other than “fresh.” and there was a demand for the opening of the windows serving the floor of the house. But the air outside was decidedly fresh, and the strong breeze blowing generated a good draught, so that not long afterwards there was a request for the closing of the windows. In the dress circle there was also a constant closing and opening of windows. In. the new Town Hall, no doubt, there will he provision for an ample supply of fresh air without an undue draught.

The bazaar, which was held at Whangamoraona on hriday and Saturday last was in every way a success, and had not the elements been against the deserving enterprise it might have had a better financial result. To the stall-holders, the ladies in particular, must he given a word of praise for the energetic way they plied their wares. During the evening the result of the voting for the Carnival Queen was announced, viz ; —No 3 candidate, Miss A. Hodge, 5467; No. I candidate, Miss McMeekin, 4203; No. 4 candidate, Mrs McCutchen 1752 ; Miss Mantle 1452. The crowning takes place on Friday next, when a grand ball and supper will be held in conjunction. A special train has been arranged to leave Kohuratahi at 7.15 p.m., returning at 2 a.m.

The weather to-day did not hold out much promise for the opening of the Stratford A. and P. Show to-morrow, and Mr Bates’ forecast is not very promising—moderate to strong southerly wind, with passing showers—but the weather may very probably he better than residents (or even Mr Bates) expect. Anyway, all Stratford residents will wish for a day somewhat better than those we have had recently. It is needless to state that the Association office staff is working at full pitch making preparations lor the Show, which gives every indication of being even more successful than last year’s. Fo* some days aristocratic cattle have been arriving in town by rail, and the human population is already swelling. Ihe entries this year number nearly 2.50 in ‘excess of Inst year, and with the big number of exhibits and the complete up-to-date arrangements, those attending should spend a pleasurable and profitable time. Tire annual meeting of the W.O.T.U. was held on Thursday, November 26tb, on account of the Agricultural Show being arranged for the first Thursday in the month, that being the \isual day of meeting. Details were attended to for Rest Tent. New officers were elected as follow s. President, Mrs Reeve; vice-presidents, Mesdames Ifilley and Cameron; secretary, Mrs McAllister; treasurer, Mrs Birdsall. A high- tribute of praise was accorded to the retiring president Mrs T. White, for,the satisfactory way in which she had met all calls during her term of office. The members were unanimous in desiring her re-election, but owing to her plea, for complete rest, they reluctantly withdrew- their request. Mrs Mowlem, Dominion Organiser for the Union, was present, and gave some useful hints relating to the Union’s work. She also gave an outline of the many ways in 'which the world s W.C.T.U. has helped, and can still help in the uplifting of humanity. The meeting closed with the Benediction.