LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 305, 23 December 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

There will be no issue of the “Stratford Evening Post” on Christmas Day or Boxing Day, December 2oth and 26th.

Members of the Stratford Municipal Band will hold a special practice in the bandrpom at eight o’clock to-night, reports the secretary.

A milkman at Palmerston North named A. Weir was fined £2O, and A. Gardner 10s and costs for selling adulterated milk.

The local Magistrate’s Court is closed for the Christmas vacation until 15th January, and the offices at the Courthouse will close from Christmas Eve until 3rd January inclusive.

The Press Association reports:—The law professional examination results are as follows, the number of subjects each candidate passed in being given. The result must not he treated as official until confirmed at the annual meeting of the University Senate in JanuaryStratford.—A Coleman (1), S. Strang (4), A. Stewart (1). New Plvmiuth.—AV. Armstrong (3), J. Bullard (3), D. Harle (3).

The price of flour in Stratford is exercising the minds of housewives fairly considerably, and various rumors are flying round as to the prices in the New Year. One local buyer, who is stated to have paid £l6 16s per ton for a recent order he gave to a traveller for the millers, on drawing attention to the Government price was told in effect to ‘'take it or leave it.” Another statement which our informant vouches for concerns the Government supply of ten tons of flour, which, he avers, will cost more than the prohibitive price that brought about the importation.

At the meeting of committee and members of the Society for the Health of Women and Children recently held in the Foresters’ Hall, the Nurse’s report for three months’ work (twelve visits) was read, showing that the total number of babies under the Nurse’s care in Stratford is 20. Visits of mothers to rooms numbered 32, and visits paid by Nurse to homes 74. The members and all interested in the Society have every reason to feel gratified > with the work that has so far been done in Stratford to further the cause of the Society, viz., “To Help the Mothers and Save the Babies.”

At the Pahiatua Magistrate’s Court, the licensee of the Makuri tlotel was charged with sending liquor into the no-license district of Masterton without first obtaining a statement in writing of the liquor. The offences are alleged to have occurred in the Pongaroa district. Counsel for the defendant contended that there was no clause in the Act to justify the information, prior to the passing of the amending Act on 2nd November. After hearing the police, the Magistrate said he did not think there was anything in the old Act to make it compulsory for the defendant to have a statement in writing. All he had to do when he received an order was to put it through his liquor hook and notify the clerk of the court. Under the amending Act, however, he pointed out, the order had to be in writing, and in duplicate, and the carrier must also produce a copy of the order. The present information was laid a little bit too soon, and the three informations were dismissed. Two other charges were adjourned.

Two truck-loads of vegetables left Wanganui to-day for the troops at Treutham, being donations from about 300 citizens. —P.A.

A Masterton Press Association telegram states: The President of the Methodist Conference (Rev. Serpeil) directs that in every Methodist church and preaching place in the Dominion, Sunday, 3rd January, be set apart as a. day of intercession ou account of the war.

Weather forecast.—The Indications are for variable and moderate breezes, but westerly prevailing amt freshening. There is a prospect of fair to cloudy weather, and the weather will probably become warmer, but with increasing haze and cloudi less. Barometer little movement, but falling after about 24 hours to 36;—-Pem-berton, Wellington.

A Wellington Press Association telegram to-day states: —The contest for the general secretaryship of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants of New Zealand has resulted in the re-election of Mr M. J, Mack, present general secretary, by a majority of 3228 votes. The polling, which took place at 47 branches throughout New Zealand, was as follows: —M. J. Mack 4876, M. Lea 1648.

At Wanganui Phillip George Bernard was charged at the S.M. Courc this morning with the theft of a purse containing £27 in notes and cheques from the pocket of Neil Svenson, as the latter was entering a train last night. ■ fie was remanded for a week. The Press Association says accused was arrested this morning when boarding an early train.

Cable advice has been received in Dunedin that the discharge of cargoes from the German steamers Wismar and Lubeclc, now at Batavia, has been authorised. The cargo will be put at the disposal of the consignees at the actual port, according to clause 10 of the Bill of Lading, on payment in Batavia of tho unpaid freight and general average of 10 per cent, in the case of the Wismar, and 5 per cent, in the case of the Lubeck, all charges frOm alongside the German steamer to be borne by the consignees.

A very pleasant evening was spent at the Salvation Army Hall last evening, the occasion being the monthly free social. Owing to the non-arrival of the prizes, the prize-giving has had to be postponed. The musical portion of the programme was opened by the children giving a song. The soloists were: Misses Dorothy Sevan (recitation), Bricombe (song), Dorry Smith (recitation), Ada Bound (recitation), L. Webberley, C. Smith, Ivy Barry (recitations), Mrs Adjutant Tatton (song), Messrs F. Reader (song), and Adjutant Tatton (recitation). At the close of the programme refreshments were handed round by the ladies.