LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 24, 29 January 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

All Borough rates should be paid before .'slst inst. } to save the 10 per cent, penalty. A site has been chosen in the grounds of Greenwich Hospital for the Captain Scott memorial, states a London cablegram.

Press Association cablegram from London :—New Zealand women teachers exchanging posts for a year with London teachers state that they have to work 25\ per cent, longer than in New Zealand for about one-half the

A large attendance of members of the Stratford Mountain Club is requested at the annual meeting on Monday night ,when the first annual report and balance-sheet will be presented. The meeting will be held in the A. and P. Office, Broadway.

A curiosity in horticulture, in the shape of a twin bloom of an Iceland poppy of the single species, was shown to a Stratford Evening Post reporter this morning. The blooms, which are back to back on the stalk of the flower, afforded the grower an interesting study, as it was the first instance of such a freak of Nature in his experience of several years.

"What do you think of the Otago Harbor?" asked an Otago Daily Times reported of the Itight Hon. A. Fisher after the trip down the harbor. The reporter expected Mr Fisher to say something nice about the beautiful view, etc. But Mr Fisher is nothing if not straight-spoken. "The harbor?" said Mr Fisher. "Oh, it wants cleaning out!"

The Hon. J. A. Boyd, who is touring New Zealand with the Bight Hon. A. Fisher, voiced "a humorous protest on Tuesday .afternoon on the occasion of the luncheon at Port Chalmers (states the Otago Daily Times). "We are peculiar people, we Britishers," ho remarked, smilingly. "We think that the height of hospitality is feeding. This is our third meal in three hours—and we have each only one stomach .'"—(Laughter.)

Au Australian paper states that during the voyage of the R.H.S. Moldavia to Australia, the Australian mails were tampered with, and a. quantity of the contents stolen. The keys of the ship's strongroom are held by different responsible officers, and it is regarded as certain that duplicates were used. It is stated that one key by itself will not operate the lock. No statement can be secured as to the extent of the haul made by the thief. The Postal authorities deny all knowledge of the affair.

Says the Manaia Witness: The member for Taumaranui has long been known in the House of Representatives, as he had previously been in the Legislative Council, as an ardent champion of the small farmer, and, indeed, of all those whose interests needed political advocacy and support. His exclusion from the last Parliament was an instance of gross ingratitude on the part of a constituency to whose interests he was devoted, and to which he has given many proofs of loyal and valuable service. He is a Liberal as much by instinct as by the circumstances of his life and environment, and it is to be hoped, on general public and national 1 grounds, that nothing may arise to I deprive his constituents ami the coun. try of the benefits of his ripe expert-' once, industry, and shrewd judgment as a member of the Legislature.

The A. and P. Executive meet tonight.

The Rev. T. G. Hammond, Chairman of the District, is announced to preach in the .Methodist Church, Huiroa, on Sunday, at 11 a.m., and Douglas at 7.30 p.m.

The Stratford Brass Band will give a concert at the Hospital on Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock. The programme is practically the same as that prepared for a similar function three weeks ago. A collection is to be taken in aid of the Hospital funds.

On Tuesday next, at 8 p.m., at the Salvation Army Hall, a welcome social is to be extended to Adjutant Cook and Lieutenant Mattingley, the new officers; also to Mr and Mrs Smith, who have just arrived. The social is free, and all are invited.

There was only one undefended case in the civil list at the local Magistrate's Court this morning, the case being M. Burgess v. Win. Cook, which was a claim for £24 16s due for rent. Judgment was given for the full amount, with £2 lis costs.

The annual meeting of the Stratford Swimimng Club will be held in the District High School this evening. The annual report iS published, and it is to be hoped that members will be in strong lorce to-night, and show the same enthusiasm as marked the Club throughout the past season.

At the Stratford Magistrate's Court this morning, land-agents' licenses were granted to W. H. H. Young, T. T. Lamason, and C. and E. Jackson. Mr Kenrick, S.M., said that some applications were made out after the date on which the old licenses lapsed, and he pointed out that firms who described themselves as. land-agents before making the application, rendered themselves liable to prosecution.

Regarding Tuesday's Wool sales in Wellington, the New Zealand Times says: "There is no doubt that the atmosphere was electrical when the brokers assembled. The bidding was most spirited throughout, and the prices bordered on the sensational. Never before have so many lots been sold at 12d per lb, and the substantial all-round rise was something of a revelation, except to those closely in touch with the British manufacturing centres. December prices were good enough, but now there is a general rise of at least ljd per lb. The advances on the rates then realised may be classified as follow: Superior crossbred ljd to lfd, medium crossbred lfd to 2d, coarse crossbred lfd to 2d, inferior crossbred Id to ljd, lambs' wool Id to lid, pieces and locks (crossbred) Id to Hd.

A rather unusual case was heard at the Magistrate's Court this morning before Mr Kenrick, when Thomas liiglis was charged with obstructing the traffic on the Toko railway line by standing on the line, thus necessitating the stopping of the train. The driver of the 7 o'clock train from Stratford, on the Bth inst., gave evidence to the effect that the accused was standing in the middle of the line holding his hands above his head. There was no reason for his doing so. The driver had to stop the train to avoid an accident. The guard gave corroborative evidence. Accused did not put in an appearance in Court. The Magistrate (Mr Kenrick), said the driver had done the right thing in stopping the train. His Worship commented on the seriousness of the offence, and fined accused £lO, with costs £2 16s.

"They are most interesting people," remarked Captain Twynam, who returned to Sydney from New Guinea last week, in referring to the natives of Rabaul. "I was 'Keop' to them," he continued. "That is to say, the natives looked upon me as a sort of godfather. 1 was in charge of the native police and native affairs, and came in contact with them a, great deal. 1 had to celebrate the marriages and grant divorces. Some of the latter, you may be sure, were decidedly funny. The native police do love their drill. They are constantly changing guards, and such like, and they simply revel in it. Just before I left we captured two cannibals who had eighteen months before devoured two German police masters and two native policemen. No. they won't be hanged, but an endeavor will be made to civilise them."

Some interesting points were elicited in the hearing of a judgment summons case at the Milton Magistrate's Court on Monday, Henderson and Co. (Milburn) being the judgment creditors for £27 7s 2d, for goods supplied, and John Stedmau being the defendant. During the cross-exam-ination of defendant by Mr D. Reid, solicitor for plaintiffs, it was stated deTendant's wife owned property at Mosgiel and Milburn. The latter property was mortgaged, and defendant was paying monthly instalments to the Bruce Building Society, the mortgagee, at the rate of 6s 6d per week on behalf of his wife, whose possession secured from defendant's creditors, and whose the property would eventually become. The Magistrate strongly advised defendant to make some arrangements towards settling his debts, and warned him that if proceedings were taken against him under the Bankruptcy Act, the official assignee would make inquiries into the position of the two properties. ' The course defendant was adopting in paying money on his wife's behalf to release the mortgage on her property might constitute a basis for proceedings for breaches of the Bankruptcy Act. The case was adjourned lor n month to permit of defendant making some arrangements for payment of his outstanding liabilities.