LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 302, 19 December 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The ordinary train service on the Toko Branch has now been resumed.

The Salvation Army monthly free social will be held in the Hall, Fenton Street, on , Tuesday next.

The most recent definition of a bachelor came to light in the Magistrate’s Court at Stratford on Friday. A man had pleaded guilty to being unlawfully on licensed premises, and, enquiring into the circumstances, His Worship asked him whether he was marrier or a bachelor. “Well,” said the defendant, “I’m practically a bachelor, but I sometimes have my meals at the Pub!”

The authorities might consider the wisdom of making the office a recruiting bureau (remarks s the Hunterville Express). The third sole surviving male adult member of our staff is joining the Expeditionary renforcements. If the lady member of the staff falls victim to the martial spirit that the office appears to stimulate, and goes as a nurse, and the “printer’s devil” as a drummer boy, the proprietor will seriously think of turning the key in the door, committing his paddock to the wnadering cows of the town, his potato patch to the Belgian Fund, and setting sail for Samoa.

At the ordinary meeting of the exe. cutive at Hiiwera on Thursday, Mr Browne, director of technical education, Hawera, made representations to the executive with regard ho tlie Farmers’ Union and other bodies connected with agriculture contributing medals to the best boy in every subject in the agricultural classes at the technical school. It was resolved that Mr Browne be invited to attend next meeting of the executive in order to explain with regard to the donating of the medals for the boys at the agricultural classes, but in tire event of the matter being urgent for this year, Mr Hunter, president, be authorised to confer with Mr Browne, and that the executive guarantee £3 3s towards medals.

At the Magistrate’s Court, Stratford, yesterday, before Mr Kendrick, S.M., Charles Leathern claimed £lO against Thomas Eidd, farmer, of Waipuku, being balance due under an agreement for milking on shares. Mr H. E. Lawrence appeared for plaintiff, and Mr J. R. L. Stanford represented defendant. Counsel stated that out of a claim of £4O, £3O had been paid, £lO being retained by defendant. Mr Stanford said the defence was that the plaintiff had not left certain farm tools as he proposed to do under the agreement. Evidence was given by plaintiff, his wife and son and S. Spence (solicitor). The defendant, giving evidence, said that £lO had been left with Messrs Spence and Stanford, his solicitors, as a guarantee that Lathem would leave everything on the place and in good order. He had not done so. It transpired in the evidence submitted to the Court, that Leathern had given an order to another to pay the £lO balance of the money due from Mr Eidd to a third party, and Mr Stanford submitted that Leathern had no ownership of the £lO, and therefore should bo non-suited. The Magistrate, in reviewing the case, said that defendant had been perhaps somewhat slack and had not seen that the tools were properly handed over at the time Leathern left. Plaintiff would be nou.suited. The fact was that plaintiff by giving an order in favor of another to receive moneys had the effect of debarring plaintiff from taking any action.

A Hastings Dress Association telegram to-day states that .Patrick Eu■ivard Duigan was committed for trial at tiie Napier Supreme Court on a charge of the theft of two cows. Bail of £IOO was allowed;

Weather forecast. —The indications are for variable and moderate breezes but southerly moderate to strong winds prevailing. There is a prospect of fine weather and cold night. The barometer has a rising tendency.— Bates, Wellington. (

At the special meeting of the Borough Council, held last night to consider the plans for the proposed new Municipal offices, after some discussion, the architect, Mr J. D. Healy. was instructed to proceed with the plans, which will he submitted to a later meeting of the Council.

By this morning’s mail train, three more Stratford young men left for Trenthara to join the Expeditionary Force, namely, W. Lees, Albert Terry, and M. Wallace.. It is expected that another batch will shortly be ready to increase the number of Taranaki men volunteering for service.

As the result of the Midhirst school concert held on Thursday evening, the Committee have pleasure in' announcing that, after paying all expenses, they are handing over the sum of £2O for the British and Belgian Relief Fund. This amount is very satisfactory, bearing in mind the many claims that have recently been made on the residents of Midhirst.

Just before the Auckland express for the South left last night, an intending passenger was attacked by three men in an isolated corner of the platform, and relieved of £39. The man, who was much excited, rushed up to the police, but his assailants, whom he declared he had never seen before, but who knew where he kept his money—had made good their escape.

The following musical programme will be given at the Hospital by the Municipal Band to-morrow afternoon (weather permitting): March, “King’s Own”: Mendelssohn’s “Songs Without Words;” soprano solo, “Cavelleria Rusticana” (soloist Bandsman F. Thompson; Patriotic airs, “Marcellaise,” “Russian Hymn,” Canadian “National Anthem,” cornet solo, “A Perfect Day” (soloist Bandsman G. Ford); march, “Amazon,” “God Save the King.” personal

From the Journal of Agriculture : In’ the year 1840 the first pioneer settlers reached New Zealand from Great Britain. To-day the population is estimated to be ■ 1,097,278. From the 41.000. acres of land being utilised rural members of the community exported last year £22,77-5,877 worth of farm-products. The total area of the country, counting mountain and lake, is 65,440,815 acres, and of the area in occupation 21,000,000 acres are still in native grasses or in their, original state. At an outside estimate the exports from this unimproved land will not exceed in value £4,000,000, so that in reality New Zealand last year exported £18,755,877 from an area of 17.000. acres of land, which represents an average of just over £1 2s an acre as a surplus production.

Plans for the establishment of two new, freezing works in the Auckland district have been announced. The directors cf tiie Auckland, Farmers’ Freezing Cp. have decided to proceed with the erection of works at Horotin, four miles south of Ngaruawhia, in Che Waikato, and Messrs Vestey Bros., owners of many works in Australia, have undertaken me establishment of works in the neighborhood of Auckland and the extension of the Whangarei works. The two main projects involve an expenditure of £30,000 each, and the additions at Whangarei will cost £25.000 to complete, a total of £125,000. Each of these new works will have a capacity of 30,000 sheep per day, while Whangarei is being increased to that capacity, and the new plant, which has just been installed at the Auckland Freezing Co.’s Westfield works, near the city, brings them also up to that capacity. The machinery for Vestey Bros.’ works is now on the water, and an endeavor is being made to commence operations next July, but the Waikato works will not be open until next December.