LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 307, 28 December 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Press Association" message from Dunedin states that Mr Statham has definitely decided to resign and recontest the -Dunedin Central seat.

The Stratford Municipal Band played outside the County Hotel on Christmas morning at 12.15, and started out with the intention of fulfilling a somewhat lengthy programme, but owing to the heavy rain the Band was compelled to abandon the playing at 3.30 after visiting houses in Broadway.

The Promenade Concert and Dance promoted by Madam Bernard to be given at the Town Hall will* provide an excellent opportunity for all who wish to see the Old Year Out .and the New Year In in "ye olde English" style. The latest music, songs,. and recitations will be included in the programme, and the proceeds will be devoted to the Belgian fund.

A noteworthy feature of the Dunedin wool sale was the fact that a record price for tiie Dominion this season, and the highest for many years past, for greasy wool was obtained by Mr T. A. Paunett, of Hill Springs, for a line of 16 bales super quartered wether, and also for 56 bajes super halfbred wether, both lots being sold at iSJji per lb.

When in doubt ask a policeman!— A man walked up to to a constable at the Sandringham (Melbourne). watchhouse and asked for a loan of a revolver to blow his head off. The policeman refused. The man then asked the ptolieeman to "do the job for him." The policeman refused. The stranger then proposed that the policeman should accompany him to the pier and watch him commit suicide. The police, man refused. Then he lost patience, and called a doctor, who pronounced that the man was insane. He was taken into custody.

A rather bare-faced forgery is alleged to have been committed at Feilding. A man entered the shop of a well-known business man a day or two ago and said that he had been sent by Mr , who wanted to know if lie could be obliged with a blank chequts, as he had found he had left home u'itliout his cheque book. Never anticipating any deception, the business man readily acquiesced, and the man left the shop with the blank cheque. Later it appears he bought a pair of boots, and tendered a cheque for £BOO odd in payment. Change was given, but when settling day came at the bank it was discovered that the cheque was an impudent forgery. The matter is in the hands of the police.

During an open-air address at Oamaru, Mr Steve Boreham, of Dunedin, said he had a grievance against the councillors and citizens of Oamaru, in that, having persisted in prohibition, tliey had forgotten to provide a drinking mug at the monument fountain. Surely, Oamaru people did not wish to force thirsty stump orators like himself to carry drinking mugs around with them. Being a resident of Dunedin, he was not accustomed to that. However, he was quite aware that at least ~>o per cent, of Oamaruvians car. ried a corkscrew, and he had no doubt that 20 per cent, of those carried a glass, or knew where to procure one. He would therefore be very glad of the loan of a glass, if any person had one, as he wished to quench his thirst. The speaker's requ?st was immediately complied with (says the North Otago Times), a man in a crowd handing up a glass, greatly to the amusement of those present.

Weather Forecast.—The indications are for easterly moderate to strong winds prevailing and freshening. Expect warm and humid conditions, with increasing haze and cloudiness for an unfavourable change. Barometer falling.—Bates, Wellington. This year Queensland's wheat patch consists of 181,234 acres, or 8938 acres more than last year. As a result of the efforts being malle by the Government to induce farmers to increase their areas', the official estimate is that there will be an extra 20,000 acres of land sown next season.

For some or thiiee years past there have been frequent appeals from the New Plymouth district for an officer, in the police force jf higher standing than that of sergeant, says the "Dominion."' The result has been that Sub-inspector Fouhy is to take charge of the new sub district of New Plymouth, Sub-inspector Broberg going to Dunedin to replace him.

The Hon. J. Allen (Minister for Finance), on returning to Wellington to-day, told an interviewer that arrangements had been made by the Government for paying this month's balance of the loan of nearly 3J millions raised by Sir Joseph Ward four years ago. The money for this repayment had been raised in London through the help of the Imperial Government. —P.A.

On Christmas Eve the town was so imich alive that in some of the fancy shops the crowd oecame almost impassable. From reports to hand, ■sftpkeepers had a better season than last year, many of the farming com. munity making a special trip to "see the lights of town." Stratford is undoubtedly supported by the farming community, and it is gratifying to know they keep the flag flying by their loyalty to Stratford shopkeepers.