LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 15, 19 January 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The School Committee meet at 7 o’clock this evening.

Tenders are invited hy the Borough Council up to 5 p.m. on Monday, for painting Victoria Bridge.

Suffragists are refusing to have the “Encyclopaedia Americana” in their libraries (says an American paper), for under the subject “Eve” it merely says, “See Adam.”

No more striking fact in the progress of the Ohura and the country of Taranaki’s hinterland need be mentioned than the suggestion for the holding of a race meeting.

The annual meeting'of the Chamber of Commerce will be held in the Fire Brigade rooms on Thursday evening, when the principal business will be the consideration of the report and balance sheet and election of officers.

The Williamsons have given Eltharn the “go-by” with the Gilbert and Sullivan operas. The Argus says the management probably imagine that- the only show we can appreciate in this town is a spectacular panto, mime with gorgeous display of legs and lingerie.

The Taranaki Metropolitan Agricultural Society’s fortieth Annual Show at New Plymouth is to he held on Wednesday and Thursday, February 24th and 25th. The most complete schedule ever issued by the Society has been prepared, and there is a great increase in prize money in all sections. Special note should be made of the fact that general entries close with the secretary, A. L. Humphries, on Saturday, February 13th.

Argentine is shipping horses to England. Of a November sale in London of ‘TOO high-class horses imported direct from the Argentine,” mail advices report that competition ruled spirited and keen to the end of the sale, two private buyers having accounts of over £IOOO each. Every horse brought into the sale ring, 98 in number (two being sick), were sold, and made the satisfactory average of ‘£4l 14s. Prices were very steady, for the highest was 56g5.”

The committee of the Stratford Mountain Club met last evening and discussed general matters in connection with the Mountain. It was re. ported that the road to the House is in excellent order and that the number of visitors lias shown a considerable increase over past seasons. The Committee are looking forward to further popularity for the Stratford House, when the amount of the Government grant (£250), together with the subsidies of local bodies, has been spent on that stretch of the Pembroke road which it is desired should be re-formed and metalled. In this connection a deputation will wait upon the County Council to-morrow and lav the Committee’s views before the Riding members. The distribution of advertising matter setting forth the claims of the Stratford House was arranged, and the holding of a Club picnic at an early date was favorably discussed. The secretary (Mr T. K irk wood V reported upon the satisfactory state of the Club’s finances, and it was agreed to bold the annual meeting on Monday, February 1. The nresident (Mr .1. P. Richards) presided.

The district electors’ list for the Borough ot Stratford is now being prepared by the Town Clerkj and all who desire to have their names entered thereon should make their applications at once. The list closes on loth February. Weather forecast.—The indications are for westerly moderate to strong winds and backing by west to north. Mild and hazy cloudiness. An unfavourable change * in The weather. Barometer falling after about 21 hours.

Bowling on the Stratford green is being pursued with enthusiasm. All the sections are now completed for the championship, the winners being G. Curtis, G. Smart, W. .McDonald, and R. McK. Morison. These players are requested to play off for the winner this week, each player to play each player. Rink matches will he- played on Thursday, commencing at 2 o’clock. A meeting of the Fire Brigade Carnival Committee was held last even, mg, Captain Grubb (in the absence of Mr J. Mulvey) presiding. it was decided that the nearest date upon which the Fete could be run would be June 3rd. Many very novel suggestions for events were handed in by the respective committees. Tt was resolved to publish a Fire Brigade cookery book. Another event will hethe hidden treasure, which has proved a great success in other places, andwill be tried here for the first time.

“Well, perhaps the press might exercise its discretion,” remarked a solicitor at the Magistrate’s Court, Christchurch, on Saturday (writes r special correspondent). “Sometimes they use discretion and sometimes they don’t,” rejoined Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., looking over at the reporter’s desk. “1 suppose you criticise the press sometimes?” he queried. The lawyer admitted that on occasions he did. “Well,” remarked the magistrate, “if you stood in the public gaze as I have to, were mixed up with the press six days in the week, and open to criticism every day of your life, you wouldn’t criticise press.”

A plucky incident was noted at Riverton on Monday, when two little girls, daughters of visiting tourists, were playing on a raft at the tourist camp near Howell’s Point (says the Southland Times). The wind was blowing off shore, and the raft gradually drifted out to sea. A boy, about 14 years of age, who was also a visitor, perceiving the panic with which the girls had been seized, swam out to them when the raft was several hundred yards from the shore, and pacified them until help arrived, in the shape of a lunch, which came on the scene in answer to an urgent telephone message. Those who witnessed the act were loud in their praises of -the bravery and judgment exhibited by the little chap.

Four stowaways were discovered on board the Union Company’s cargo carrier Waiteruata after the vessel had left San Francisco for Wellington on December 20. On arrival at Wellington on Tuesday everything was in readiness for their arrest. Captain S. Nicholson put in a strong plea on their behalf, however, apd after due cons|de\rajtion it was decided ’that no action be taken, in consideration of the way in which the men had worked on the run across the Pacific. Three of the stowaways Had been employed in the stokehold and one in the ship’s galley. It was stated that they had worked like Trojans ,on the run down, and their help had materially affected the'sfieed of the Wa item at a, which arrived in port a day before she was expected.

At the inquest yesterday, before Mr C. D. Sole Acting Coroner), on the body of Francis Seddon McCullough, who was killed on the East Road on Sunday, W. F. McCullough (father of the deceased), stated that the boys' were well able to drive.— J. 13. Fawkner gave evidence that he heard screams, and on running out found both boys pinned down by the cart. The deceased had the beam of the cart across his body. Not being able to lift the cart, he called some neighbours, and they extricated the two boys. The elder boy was practically unhurt, but on releasing the other, they found he was already dead. —Constable McGowan gave evidence as to the examination of the harness and the log whicl# the cart had struck. —A verdict that deceased came by his death through the harness breaking, resulting in the horse bolting and the overturning of the cart, no blame being attachable to any person, was returned.

The Home Office of the Xavy League regrets that the magnificent wreath, frozen in a block of ice, which was sent as a tribute to the memory of Xelsnn and his comrades by the Xavy League branches in Xew Zealand, did not arrive in London, owing to delay in transit consequent upon the war, until after the Trafalgar Day celebration had been over. Through the courtesy of the Office of Works the wreath was exhibited at the base of the column during the earlier days of Xovember and attracted widespread interest. . . Since the Home Xavy League organised their Ladies’ Emergency Committee every ship in bis Majesty’s fleets, and every auxiliary vessel, including trawlers engaged in mine-sweeping, had received parcels of warm clothing and comforts of various kinds. The gratitude of the men and officers for this , kind recognition of their needs by the women of the country was unbounded.