LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 9, 12 January 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Hawera County Council has fixed upon Wednesday as the statutory half-holiday within the county for the ensuing year.

Delegates set up by the various friendly societies in Stratford to confer with the local doctors re Friendly Society matters meet this evening in the Foresters’ Hall.

At the meeting of the Hawera County Council on Saturday (reports tlie Star), the chairman (Mr J. B. Murdoch) stated that motor lorries and buses should have observation glasses so that the drivers could see behind them. He was supported by other ouncillors, and a motion, making it obligatory for the observation glasses to be carried, was carried.

The Hawera County Council on Saturday had before it the Act of last session which makes provision for local authorities inaugurating a system of superannuation for their employees, if they so desired. The Star says that the Council, however, decided to take no action for the present. The Chairman remarked that there were

other opportunities for employees to become thrifty, and the superannuation scheme would apparently be ton costly for the Council to undertake.

The Stratford Defence Reserve Corps paraded last evening. There was a good muster, and the corps marched to Ngaere.

! The Stratford Borough Council last evening accepted the tender of Mr J. 1 Martin for the erection of stables and pound, the amount of the tender be- ; ing £3B.

The position in regard to the Borough Council’s new premises in Broadway was advanced a stage at the Coun-

cil meeting last evening, when Mr J. I). Healy (Council’s architect) was present, and the ground plan was approved of. Mr Healy will report further to the Council during the mouth.

• Since F. E. X. Caudiu was brought back to Auckland by tbo Xavua a week ago, he has been in custody in Mount Eden prison. Yesterday ho was taken over by the military authorities from the prison officials, andremoved to Fort Cant ley at North Head.

The resignation of Mr F M. B. Fisher as a member of the Executive has been accepted by the Governor, states the Press Association The Departments formerly administered by Mr Fisher have been allocated as follows: —Electoral Department, the Premier; Customs and Marine, Hon. Herdman ; Insurance, Hon. Bell; Printing Office and Legislative Council, Hon. Fraser; Prisons, Hon. Rhodes.

Weather Forecast.—Northerly moderate to strong winds, freshening, and veering by north to west. The weather appears likely to be cloudy and unsettled at times. The barometer has a falling tendency.

The Bayly Scholarship, presented annually by the Taranaki Rugby Union, is this year won by a New Plymouth High School hoy, Alexander R. Callendar, who obtained 120 marks in the athletic competitions and 608 in the scholarship examination, a total of 728. Then came Eric L. Tansey (N.P.H.S.: 10.5-615—720; Wm. M. Atkinson (N.P.H.S.) 85-614—699; C. M. Copestake (S.D.H.S.) 245-433—678. The Rugby Union has yet to meet to officially award the scholarship, previous winners of which have been A. Bacon, C. Crone, and H. Coutts.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Stratford Lodge, M.U., 1.0.6. F., took place in the Foresters’ Hall last night, when there was a fair attendance of members. A good deal of business was transacted, including the installation of officers for the ensuing term, which resulted as follows: — G.M., Bro. A. E. Gorton; N.G., Bro. C H Lawn; Y.G., Bro. G. A. King; Warden, Br;o. Watson; Guardian, Bro, Somerfield; P.S., P.P.G.M. Bro. C. H. Sole; Treasurer, Bro. A. E. Gorton; E.S., Bro. J. H. Harston; L.S. to N.G., P.G. Bro. T. Lawson; R.S. (left open); R.S. to Y.G.. Bro. Goodwin Ford; T.S. to Y.G., P.G. Bro. E. W. Hancock.

Readers will no donut have noticed in Grubb’s music shop the portrait series of six of our now famous generals -engaged in holding up the Empire’s greatness and defending the weak. These are from the paintings of John St. Heleir Lauder, brother of Mr W. Lander, of our town, and are of General Sir John French, General Sir G. Chetwode, General Sir Smith Dorrien, General Sir C. Douglas Haig, and the late Sir C. H. Douglas. The portrait of Lord Kitchener is from the painting of Angelo, and all have been issued as

supplements from the Illustrated London News and Graphic and mounted and framed by Mr W. Lander. Britons every one.

A somewhat unusual communication was dealt with by the Taranaki County Council yesterday (reports the News). The propreitor of the Tariki Hotel had posted an order for £5, in respect of board signed by an Austrian, who had been interned on Somes’ Island and to whom £lO was payable by the Council for work done. The commandant at Somes’ Island had notified, in reply to an inquiry, that ho had charge of all money belonging to prisoners of war, hut the Council considered that it should protect the hotelkeeper, and with that object in view, decided to inform the commandant that it was proposed to honor the order and remit the balance.

During the quarter ending 31st December, 1914, there were thirty-three sittings of the Court at Stratford at thirteen of which the Magistrate, am twenty at which Justices of the Peace, presided. The total number of cases heard by the Magistrate was (50. The civil business of the Court was 97 plaints entered for the aggregate amount sued for of £1250 Os Id, of which amount £lOlB 10s Id was recovered. The number of judgment summonses issued was 13, orders on judgment summonses 3, orders other than judgment summonses 1, and distress warrants issued 8. The number of summonses and other processes served by the bailiff and assistants within two miles numbered 78, over two miles 39; eight distress warrants were served in the same manner within two miles, and four over two miles. One warrant of committal was executed by the bailiff. There were eleven certificates of fitness issued under the Licensing Act, 1908, and twelve under the Land Agents’ Act, 1912. There were 50 arrests made and 23 summonses issued," and one juvenile offender. Three at. tachment orders were granted, and one refused. The amount of fees paid in stamps totalled £7l 10s, and licensing fees in stamps £2 10s.