LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 14, 18 January 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The next direct steamer to London to load at AVaitara roadstead will be the s.s. Orari, about the middle of February.

The Prince of Wales went to the front the other day, writes a London correspondent. He wanted to go all along, but it will be a great responsibility for General French. The Prince says there are three other sons to succeed if anything happens to him; and ho will not really be missed. He told a friend of ours that “the only one of us who wants to rule is Maiy!

According to a writer in the New Zealand Times, the purchasing power, roughlv, of one shilling in Wellington has decreased in the matter of common necessities by 1 l-5d during the last six months. To the average £3 per week man this means an increase of 9s Gd per week, while to those earning £4 weekly the amount of added expenditure is estimated at 12s.

The AA r ellington Racing Club will entertain close on 4000 men of the expeditionary forces at present m camp at Trentham at luncheon on the racecourse on Wednesday next. It has been arranged that they march down the straight past the stands at 11.30 a.m., so the public will )e afforded an opportunity of seeing the soldiers.

gome time ago the Midhirst School Committee fixed the date of thenannual school excursion for 18th, and we understand is somewhat concerned at the Fire Bliga e ha vino- selected the same date for their "big carnival. No alarm need he left, as difficulties have arisen which will prevent the Fire Brigade’s affair being held until a much later date.

A correspondent writes —‘ A pleasant evening was spent at Mrs Arden’s on Friday to farewell Miss Walton, who has just ended her six weeks’ mission here. A small memento was presented to her, and hope was. expressed that Miss Walton would he able to return to Stratford before long, as she has made many friends here, who will he glad to have her with them again.”

The Archdeacon of Chesterfield (the Ven. F/. F. Crosse) writes to the Guardian; ‘‘May 1 through your paper, ask your readers to join the League of the Khaki Button ? There is no subscription and no expense other than to huy and wear a small khaki button. "Everyone wearing the button pledge himself not to stand anyone a drink nor to ho stood a drink until after peace is declared. The pledge of the Khaki Button is not intended to interfere in any way vith hospitality in onr own homes.” The Archdeacon Is tho Founder of the League.

1 Members of the Stratford Municipal Baud are reminded of a special meeting in conjunction with the usual practice this evening. A special meeting of the committees in collection with the Fire Brigade’s Carnival is to be held in the Fire Station this evening, and a large attendance is requested. A Melbourne cablegram states that a heat wave affecting the whole of the States is being experienced. Saturday was the hottest day recorded since February 17th. During the general elections the Dunedin shop assistants took the opportunity to obtain signatures for a Saturday half-holiday poll, and the requisite number have now been prae. ticallv obtained.

Cable advice has been received here (states an Eltham Press Association message) of a Hawera dairy factory realising 136 s per cwt lor whey butter and BUs per cwt for cheese, these being record prices.

An accident occurred to Mrs C. Mumby while driving a dray along Pembroke Road this morning. Hie horse backed over a bank, throwing Mrs Mum by out of the dray, whereby) she sustained a dislocated collar-bone and a severe shaking. Dr. Steven dressed the injury.

Mr A. de R. Brandon, chairman of the Wellington College Board of Governors for a number of years, has resigned. In the letter tendering his resignation, Mr Brandon says that the effect of the Education Act, 1914, is to transform the Board of Governors into a mere creature of the Minister. The Board accepted the resignation with regret, .and elected Mr J. G. W. Aitken to the chairmanship.

In the Xew Zealand Gazette, Charlie Sven Waernberg, sometimes called Charlie Warnberg, formerly of Stockholm, but now of the city of Auckland, seamqn, gives notice that he has “renounced and abandoned” the Christian name Sven and th surname Waernberg, and that he has assumed and adopted the surname “Wilson,” to the end and interest that lie shall hereafter be known by the name “Charlie Wilson,” and by no other name.

A Wellington' Press Association telegram to-day says:—The Premier (Hon. Mr, Massey) yesterday stated that it seems likely arrangements will be made by which the wheat purchased by the Government in Sydney, and now loaded on the Kaiapoi will be allowed to leave. The Government is taking the necessary steps to supply flour to those districts where none is available, and in order to * supply such demands the Government has placed an order for 300 tons with i a northern firm.

“Where did you leave your shovel?” was* a jocular remark asked frequently of borough workmen in Broadway tins morning. It had reference to the burglary which took place .at Hannah and Co.’s boot shop. The burglars evidently considered two shovels necessary for the carrying out of theii plans, so they visited the Borough shed in Fenton Street, and broke it. open. The shovels were this morning found in the yard near the scene of operations, but at present they are impounded by the police.

In the Overseas Dominions a Tarthing is looked upon as almost a curio, so seldom are they brought into circulation, but in the Homeland, where the purchasing power of this small coin is considerably _ greater, they are used more extensively as change. A Hawera young woman who some time ago went to England, and who one day was engaged serving a customer in a shop, experienced quite a shock when the purchaser of an article presented in payment the sum of 10s Sid in lathings—sl4 in all.

A way they have in New South AA r ales: This season for blackberries jn the Bulli district this year promises to be a record one (states a correspondent of the Sydney Daily Telegraph), and the packers are expect-, ing a rich .harvest. One dealer at Woonona lias orders already for 200 tons, and the fruit is in such abundance that there will he uo difficulty in supplying it. It is expected that there will he work for over 400 pickers this year at Bulli ai\d AVoouona. The blackberry provides labor most of the year round, as when the farmers have nothing else to do they try to root it out; but, do what they will, there are always vines enough left to supply the hundreds of tons of berries required by tiie trade.

“Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast,” hut evidently (remarks the New Zealand Times) there are no savages at the Trentliam camp who desire to he soothed to rest, at least not per medium of the weird and awe-inspiring sounds that are extracted from the depths of the bagpipes when being practised on. A camp order has boon issued prohibiting the practising with bagpipes, inside or within one hundred yards of the camp lines. Has an attempt to squeal out “The Campbells are Coming” been mistaken for a midnight alarm? Or has complaint been lodged that all the feline pets in the neighbouring township vacate their homes and duties when the “call of the wild” comes meandering across the still night air demanding immediate attendance ?