LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 310, 31 December 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The public are reminded that the local retail shops will be closed on Friday and Saturday, January Ist and 2nd.

An opportunity will be given country visitors and those who have not yet obtained their New Year goods to do their shopping to-night, as the shops will remain open till 11 o’clock.

The envelope containing the winning number for the tea-cloth made for the Belgian Fund was opened by Mrs Carbery yesterday, and the fortunate winner proved to be Mrs Moraut Bayly.

At the Wanganui Garrison Band concert, which is to be given on the Stratford Racecourse on Sunday afternoon, January 3rd, in aid of the Belgian Relief Fund, though a small charge for admission will be male, it has been definitely decided there shall be no collection on that occasion.

In Dunedin the price of bread is up again, and has reached the figure ruling for some time in Stratford. Local folks may have thought themselves hardly dealt with, but a recent arrival from Ohura says that, there the price of the 41b loaf is lid. There is always something to be thankful for.

Peru’s nitrate business with Europe has been ruined by the war, and the army of men employed at the industry has migrated down the Pacific coast into Chile, according to Captain A. Wallace, master of the British steamship Inveric. Eighty per cent, of the nitrates turned out on the west coast, says Captain Wallace, found a market in Germany prior to the war. Not a pound of the material is now going to Europe.

Tlie Stratford bowlers who returned by train from Wanganui last night, after an enjoyable trip, weioMessrs Geo. Smart, O. and E. Jackson, P. Skoglund, Stan Sharp, and T. A. W. Nicholson. The weather was fine throughout, except on Saturday, when a heavy wind was blowing across the greens. The result of the finals was: Beale (West End) 21, Smith (Fitzroy) 20, which is described as being in every way a magnificent game.

Three men, Roberts, White and Mills, suspected of having systematically robbed Auckland yachts, were sentenced to three months for the theft of meat and a rifle. The accused were employed on a scow, the master of which was charged with complicity. In the latter’s case, it was proved that he was* not a principal. Though he knew the robbery had been committed, and though he ate the meat that was stolen, he could not be charged with receiving, and the information against him was dismissed.

The London correspondent of the Manchester Guardian makes the interesting statement that for the first time for over half a century there will be no University boat race next year, both Oxford and Cambridge having decided that all racing shall lie postponed until after the war. The South African war did not interfere with the race, but there are so few racing men at either University now that it would be impossible to get a representative crew. This will the first occasion, the correspondent adds, since the race became an annual one in 1856, that there has been no contest. The first boat race between the Universities was in 1829, and the second seven years later.

On Christmas Eve some persons stationed themselves outside a. shop occupied by a- German and endeavoured to induce people not to do business with him (says the Poverty Bay Herald). Senior-Sergeant Hutton happened along and pointed out to the demonstrators that by their action they were bringing themselves within the provisions of the Police Offences Amendment Act, passed last year. He spoke to them diplomatically, and his wise counsels prevailing the crowd, which had gradually grown larger, dispersed. The sergeant pointed out that all unnaturalised enemy subjects were under military and police surveillance, and everything was going along all right so that there was no need for people to take the law into their own hands.

Captain James Mitchell, of Die “Dominion” Hotel, Hawera, has sold out of that hostelry, and has offered Jiis services to the authorities for the front.

The weather forecast for the holidays is not as cheery as it might be. Here is what Air Bates, the Government Meteorologist, predicts:—The in, dicatiogs are for variable strong breezes, but northerly winds strong to gale prevailing. Increasing haze and cloudiness for an unfavorable change in the weather. The barometer lias a falling tendency.

January 3rd, Sunday, has been ordered by the Anglican Church, with the sanction and approval of the Crown, to be kept as a day of Humiliation and Intercession. The Bishop of the Diocese has issued special forms of prayer to be used. The authorities of the Roman Catholic Church will make corresponding arrangements. and the day named meets with the hearty support of the National Council of the Evangelical Free Churches.

What was described as “a ghastly sight” was to he seen at midday today near the junction of the Penjbroke and Mountain Roads, owing to an unusual accident on a public thoroughfare. A horse sustained a broken leg, and in struggling ripped open its chest, when it rapidly hied to death. The roadway was blood-bespattered for some distance, while the animal’s gore showed up gruesomely in congealed streaks in the depressions and gutterways.

Notice has been served on the, Registrar of the Eden electorate that a petition will be lodged with a view to unseating Mr Parr. The Press Association at Auckland adds: This is the legal preliminary deemed advisable lest the returning officer be,,not available, as was the case in Wellington some years ago. The ground of the petition relates to the issue of a document by Mr Harris, secretary to Mr Parr’s committee, offering Mr Wesley Richards £IOO to go to the poll.

A Napier Press Association telegram to.day states: The scarcity of flour is becoming very acute. Some haliers see only a few days’ supply, whilst others are limited to a fortnight. It is generally believed there is plenty of wheat available at a price, but-the Government’s maximum prevents dealing. ' Holders refuse to sell at a lower price. The question was discussed at a special meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, who resolved to ask the Government to make the restrictions apply with equal force.

Captain C. L. Hawkins, who was invalided hom© while acting as adjutant of the Auckland Infantry Battalion, reached Auckland by the Mak. ura. The returned officer is in a low state of health, having suffered from a severe attack of neurasthenia and a general breakdown following upon the strenuous work of organisation prior to departure. Captain Hawkins was transhipped at sea when within a few hundred miles of Aden to a vessel which was bound for Colombo. After a stay of a week in hospital at the latter place, Captain Hawkins proceeded to Australia by the Maloja.

A record of unique nature was established by the family of Mr and Mrs James Knight at the Otautau Public School during the present year (says the Standard). There are eight members of the family at school, and at Friday’s break-up seven of them carried off first-class certificates, never having missed a-day. The eighth on the list would have done the same but was not quite of age when school opened, and consequently was not on the roll for the full year, he, however, never missed a day also, and received a special prize.

The stationmaster and staff at Turakina had a busy time on Wednes lay (says a Wanganui paper), owing to a Featherston apiarist transferring his bee farm to Eltham. Two truckloads of these little busy-bodies were given a ride over our railways, and, unlike

the cattle and sheep, which have to put up with the bumping about they get owing to overloading trains 'and insufficient engine power to *stop with decorum, the bees strongly objected. When they got to Turakina some of the hives showed their displeasure by escaping and settling on other trucks. The Russian legion seemed to be infinitesal compared with the millions of bees that made the Turakina air thick. There were 230 hives altogether, around most of which was placed wire netting to prevent the honeymakers from taking flights to avoid the “Weary Willie” train journey.

In tomato growing on the Murray there is evidently money to be made. Growers at Echuca, on the Victorian side, recently urged the Water Commissioner to allow water to flow down the Campaspe lliver in order to save their tomato crop. Later they stated that the water arrived just in time to save the crop, and that (consequently they had “a real gold mine”, in their tomatoes. During the second week in November they sent from the Echuca railway station 1326. cases of tomatoes, which were sold in the Melbourne market at from 20s to 2os per ease. Later they despatched 2675 cases of tomatoes, which were sold in ■Melbourne at from 15s t0.21s per case. When asking for water they stated that twelve hours’ flow of water would he worth £12,000. The result, they claim, up to now proves their statement. Some of these growers at tho ruling price of tomatoes should* make up to £4OO per acre, and an instance is mentioned iA which four acres produced 5000 cases of fruit.