LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 6, 8 January 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Ofcaki has arrived at Melbourne from Liverpool, states the cables.

The Maori troupe to perform at San Francisco Exposition has left Rotorua '(states the Press Association). It consists of fifteen men and fifteen women, mostly from Whakarewarewa, and was •rganised by Mr A. G. Anuesley, representative of an American firm. It wiU be absent for about a year, and will tour the States after the close of the Exposition.

At Adelaide recently an inhuman brute,, who, by the way, was named Foale, was fined £7 15s (5d for having ill-treated a horse. In the evidence it was stated that the accused, when the horse refused to budge, drove the blade »f an axe into its hindquarters. The animal • was so terribly injured that it had to be destroyed.

While some difference of opinion exists among the bakers of the town as to the shortage «f flour, there jV a general impression that stock is being held up and cornered. At one time, our representative was informed, flour could be bought at £9 16s per ton, while at the present time £ls 10s to £l7 is being asked. One Wanganui firm was offering only yesterday 50 .tons at £ls 10s, but it appears that this particular firm has large stocks and is able to offer at this rate. There is apparently no hope of flour getting cheaper, as the Dominion crops, owing to tke earlier part of the season being too dry, are not too good. As to applying to the Government, bakers generally regard the method of obtaining the flmir in this way as unsatisfactory and connected with "too much red tape." Only two tons (at £l4 10s per ton) can be ordered in this way, for which cash has to be paid, and then th(\ baker has to wait for an order for delivery by the local station master. One baker is, to use his own words, only going on from band to month, and during his 30 years experience he has never known such a shortage, and has not during the past six weeks been aMo to obtain flour from millers, with whom he lias done business for the past five years. It should be noted that while hread in Stratford is o<l per 411) loaf, at Eltham it is TOd.

To-day.s Goveviini'jnt Ga/xtte contains a formal list of members of Parliament who were returned at the recent election, states the Press Association.

"Lister, Lee and Terry arrive tonight, the rest missed the bus!" Thus runs a telegram to the "Post" to-day from the Trentham Military Camp, referring to the home-coming of three Stratford men on a flying farewell visit.

Weather Forecast.—The indications are for westerly moderate to ' strong winds and veering by west to south. Expect dull Aveather with much mist and fog in parts. Rain probable. Barometer unsteady.

At the Wellington Magistrate's Court to-day Mr Cooper, S.M., fined Ah Young' the maximum penalty of £IQO for keeping a gaming house, and Kern Sing £25 on a similar charge. The Press Association states that Ah Young had several times previously been convicted for using his premises for gambling or selling loTtery tickets. Wong Lou, for being found in Kem Sing's premises, was fined £l.

The Department of Agriculture has received a cable from Mr G. L. Tacon, «f Buenos Aires, who is visiting South America on behalf of the New Zealand Government to inquire into the prospects of the sale of New Zealand fruit ('states the Press Association). He advises that there is a profitable demand for large coloured apples, and that shipments should be made from March onwards. The greatest care should bo exercised in grading and packing, there being complaints of this in respect to last year's shipments.

Mr T>. J. Hughes, the Liberal candidate for the Taranaki seat at the last election, has given his views on a certain aspect of the contest to the Manaia Witness.' He says the experience was not quite without its educative value, and will be useful in the campaigns that are yet to follow. The methods and weapons employed for striking an adversary, Mr Hughes says, are the most treacherous conceivable.. Nothing is considered to be too infamous as long as it damages a man's candidature. Gererally speaking, he appears to think that politics just now are in many respects a perfectly dirty business and badly need a course of' antiseptic treatment. ■'•■■'

The Federal Prime Minister (Hon. Andrew Fisher), accompanied by the Hon. James Boyd, arrived at Wanganui midday from Auckland, via Taumarunui and the river. The Press Association reports that they had a delightful trip down, the visitors speaking in glowing terms of the river scenery, which they regard as a valuable national asset from the tourist point of view. The visitors were met at Aramsho by the Mayor and representative citizens, and a short adress of welcome was given by the Mayor and the member for the district.-The visitors suitably replied. Mr Fisher remarked that the country more than came up to his expectations, and the people seemed contented and well provided for. The visitors were motored to Marton where they entrained for Wellington.

The Waimate West County Council has been having quite an experience in regard to engineers recently, remarks the Hawera Star. Some months ago Mr Lopdell resigned to take up the position of county engineer at Stratford, and Mr Scally, who was tken engineer to the Tnglewood Borough Council, was selected, from a large number of applicants, to succeed him. He remained with the Council only a few months and resigned, and negotiations were opened with Mr Branch (second choice when Mr Scally was appointed, and who had succeeded Mr Scally at Inglewood). In order to try and secure some permanency, and to bring the engineer's remuneration more nearly into line with that paid by other coun. ties, the Waimate County Council agreed to raise the salary of its engineer t« £3OO, and after considerable negotiations Mr Branch was appointed at that figure. In the meantime Mr Scally had gone away, and the «»unty was without supervision of any kind. Just when everything was apparently all settled once more. Mr Branch notified the Council of his inability to take up the appointment. This necessitated •another emergency meeting of the Council, which was held on Tuesday, when Mr J. C. Cam. eron, formerly borough engineer in Hawera, was appointed county engineer. Mr Cameron will take up his duties at onco.