LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 5, 7 January 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Consolidated Revenue benefits by the sum of £S6O 15s 6d, duty payable by the Stratford Racing Club over the Club's New Year race meeting. This sum has been promptly placed to the credit of the Public Account by the secretary, Mr A. Coleman.

At a meeting attendsi by seventy shareholders of the Taihape Freezing Works, held yesterday, it was.reported that 53-10 £5 shares had been subscribed. This is 340 in excess of the number required to enable tenders to be called for the erection of works on a site of 82 acres which was purchased at Winiata. The Press Association states that it was unanimously decided to call for tenders for the erection, of works, which are expected to he in operation next season.

An interesting story, says the '-'New Zealand Herald," is being told of an offer made some time ago for one of the islands in the Hauraki Gulf. The owner had no desire to sell, but was surprised, so the story goes, to receive an offer of a good price for the island. It was such an offer as might never come iagain ; hut was refused for reasons which no price could remove. \ Little thought was given at the time to the nationality, or, for the matter of that, to the intentions of the would-be purchaser, but recent events have attached significance to the f;ict that the offer was made, on behalf of a German purchaser, and that the use of which the island was to be put was not made very clear.

The luck of some people is wonderful. Last Tuesday a man carrying a swag arrived in Carterton, and on leaving the station lost a boot from his bundle. The ne*t day a weding party left by train, and desirous of having a "little joke," some young fellows secured this old boot and tied it to the happy couple's luggage. Just before the train left, the bridegroom went along to the guard's van to make sure of his burgage going a hoard, and seeing the boot, tore it off. and it was thrown into the railway drain alongside the line. On Monday morning the "swagger" returned and inquired of the railway of-! ficials if they had found a boot, as he had lost one from his swag. Remembering what had occurred, the porter hunted up the boot and handed it over to the tramp, and to his consternation found it contained a number of pound notes. The tramp thanked' the officials, and went away rejoicing at having regained his lost property.

A Wellington Press Association telegram this afternoon states: Mr Fisher's resignation has been received by the Premier, and, presumably will be forwarded to the Governor in due course.

A "nicht wi' Burns" is to take place in the Town Hall, Stratford, on Monday, January 25th. Scotch songs, Scotch music, and—above all—Scotch sociability will reign. The net proceeds are to go to the Belgian Fund.

The two toll fltes controlled by the Eltham County Council returned most satisfactory amounts during the past fortnight, due to the holiday traffic, says the Argus. The Eltham gate return was £77 18s 6d, and for the Riverlea gate £2O 12s, or a total of £99 10s 6d.

A notification appears in our advertising columns of the opening of St. Mary's Boarding School for girls and day school for girls and junior boys. The school term begins on the second week in February, and a prospectus can be obtained on application to the secretary, Mr A. D. Stanley, P.O. Box 93, Stratford.

In Sydney during the past year (states a 'cablegram to-day), 10,546 new buildings were erected in the metropolitan area, costing £6,775,546, compared to 9284 buildings, costing £6,371,617 in 1913. Since the war there has'been a heavy'drop in the building industry.

Telegram from His Excellency, Count "Lalaing, Belgian Ambassador, London, to the Hon. Mr Johnston, Belgian Vice-Consul in Now Zealand: "Please convey to kind contributors the Queen's warmest thanks and appreciation of their valuable donations of money, clothing, and children's gifts." " The worlds record cows, up to the present, are large size for their breed, reports' the Holstein-Friesian Register. Eminent's Boss, with a record of 9621 b of butter fat, weighed 10001 b., which is 1001 b above the average weight of the breed. The Ayrshire cow Auchenbrian Brown ,Kate weighed 13501 b., and produced 9171 b of butter fat in a year. This would ake her at least 2001 b heavier than the average of her breed. Banostine Belle De Kol weighed 16001 b., Colantha 4th's Johanna weighed 15751 b., and College Belle Wayne weighed. 18501 b., which ia several hundred pounds above the average weight of the Holstein breed. At the St. Louis Dairy Cow Demonstration the larger cows led in highest production. Loretta D., the champion cow for economical production, weighed 10001 b. The heaviest Jersey cow weighed 10391 b., and the lighest weighed 7421 b. The average was 9131 b. Three of the five best Jersey cows weighed over 10001 b.

At a crowded "mass meeting" of the Blackpool Free Churches, Dr. F. B. Meyer, after saying that from this war we should go straight into a new heaven and a new earth, exclaimed: "I am trying to live another ten years, if I can manage it, because I want to see it. I have had a glimmer of it in the sky, but I want to see a bit more of it." There was a wave of religion going over the country now such as he had not known before in his lifetime. He wished to witness its main issues. "You young men and women who arelikely to live longer," he added, "are going to have a good time."

The death of a Fijian chief is reported. On Saturday, December 12, Rata Kadavu Levu, son of the late Batu Epell, and grandson of the late King Cokobau (Thakombau) died. He had been suffering from gastritis, and Avas being conveyed to Suva for medical treatment when the death took place. The late chief, whose rank was the highest in Fiji, was educated at Singleton, New South Wales, and on his return to Fiji was employed in the Native Department. The funeral was carried out with all the solemnity of the olden times in Fiji, before the white man was known. In accordance with native custom the grave was lined with many beautiful mats and cloths. The service at the graveside was conducted by the Bishop of Polynesia. Ratu Kadavu Levu was the last lineal of Thakombau by the eldest son. The line of succession now goes to a younger son.