LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 30, 6 February 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Rev, J. Pattison is exchanging pulpits with the Inglewood Minister (Mr Raven), and will preach at Inglewood on Sunday, Mr Ravefi occupying the Stratford pulpit.

The time for nominations for the Whangamomona-Kohuratahi * has been extended until 13th February next, and competitors are asko-l to forward their names as early as possible to the lion, secretary, Mr Alex Klee.

A meeting of the Executive of the Stratford A. and P, Association was held last evening, Mr E. Jackson (the President) being in the chair. The programme for the Gymkhana to be held on Easter Monday was adopted. Entries close on Friday next.

Attention is again directed to the fact that the day classes at the Neew Plymouth Technical College will commence on Monday next, February Sth. Full particulars regarding the causes of instruction, and terms and conditions, are set out in another column. Intending students' are also reminded that enrolment forms may be obtained from the Director, Mr A. Gray.

Relatives of Mr J. Liggins give an absolute denial to the report, telegraphed to the Otago Daily Times by the Westport correspondent, that Mr Liggins was taken prisoner by the (jermans and had the tendons of both wrists cut. News just received by his mother showed that Mr Liggins, who is a. medical student, was still in camp in Yorkshire, and had no expectation of being sent to the front, as his regiment was required for guarding the Yorkshire coast.

“At the club I accidentally knocked off a man’s eyeglasses, which splintered on falling,” says an English raconteur. “The man replied to my apologies, “Never mind, old chap, they’re insured.’ He gets a pair for nothing, and his policy costs him Is Gd a year. It is possible to insure against twins and triplets, poor potato crops, and the loss of one’s keys, why not against the smashing of spectacles and eyeglasses? Insurances are effected nowadays even against the failure of Christmas Numbers. In this connection, the other day I met a publisher who had just signed a contract with Mr Stoke, the well-known novelist.

for three new hooks, of which not a single word has yet been written. Nothing uncommon in that. Rut this particular deal had been accompanied by a heavy cash payment. ‘Suppose the novelist dies before he delivers the goods,’ I remarked. ‘That’s all right,’ said the publisher, ‘the risk’s fully covered by insurance.’ ”

It is pointed ont by the Postal Department that the delivery of mail matter to the officers and men of the I'Sew Zealand Expeditionary Force is going to he a very difficult matter and involve a lot of disappointment, unless senders address letters and articles posted with the greatest exactitude. The Department, with a view of assisting the public, is issuing printed lists of specimen addresses, which are to be exhibited at every Post Office in the Dominion. These lists will show clearly how correspondence should he addressed, and if any information is required regarding the addressee’s number, this may be obtained on application to the Oflicer-in-Charge, Expeditionary Force Records Branch, Buckle Street, Wellington.- ( Members of the public are especially’requested to take note of the directions given, and may consult the printed list at the Stratford Post Office.

The Eurasia was floated off last night, and towed to Auckland harbor 1 this morning, being apparently undamaged. Weather Forecast.—The indications are for westerly moderate to strong winds prevailing and freshening. The weather appears likely to be cloudy and unsettled at times, with misty rain and mild and hazy conditions. The barometer lias a falling tendency. “The Roman Catholic Churches, especially along the Rhine, and in South Germany,” says The Times, “are never empty during the day. It is pitiful to hear the quiet sobbing of the women in the churches and to see the black dresses. 1 have never witnessed a more touching service than in the Cologne Cathedral one Sunday morning in the middle of October. The priest happened to mention the destruction of Rhcims, and a heart-rend-ing soh was heard among the worshippers. There was a long silence, and then the priest knelt down and ended his sermon with a prayer for peace.”

The Premier (the Hon. Mr Massey), stated (according to a Press Association telegram this morning) that next month tho Government is offering 4482 acres of drained swamp land, worth £57,000, in the Hauraki Plains district, and is also opening, on February 22, 11,555 acres of dry land worth £27,355 in the neighbourhood of The Plains. As soon as possible, lire Governmenet is going on with the drainage of the Waihi Swamp, the machinery having been delayed by the war, but it will be shipped from London during the next week or two. The total area to be drained is 10,000 or 12,000 acres.

At ii committee meeting of the Horticultural Society held recently, the members were of the opinion that the present was not a good time to canvas for special prizes, and as the proceeds of the Spring Show had been devoted to the Patriotic Fund, the holding of the Autumn Show with its lengthy prize-list was an impossibility. It was decided, however, that an exhibition of flowers and vegetables be held in the Town Hall, to be followed by a genuine auction of the produce. Members present promised to provide exhibits, which should make quite as good a show as usually results in competition for money prizes. The date has been fixed for Thursday, March 4.

At the Magistrate’s Court this morning, before Messrs J. Masters and J. McCluggage, Js.P., Joseph Hannon and William James Thomas were charged with the theft, at Whangamomona, on the oth inst., of a portmanteau containing clothing to the value of £3, the property of GertVge Ernest Gibbs. Sergeant Dale gavo evidence concerning the arrest and aceuseds’ having carried |he swag together for some time prior to the theft. Thomas said that'they had come from Taumarunui and had tried to get work, hut were unsuccessful. The theft had been committed whilst, they were under the influence of drink. In entering up convictions against the accused, Mr McCluggage said that being in drink was no excuse, but in consideration of the fact that neither had previous convictions against them for any similar offence, the Bench would deal leniently with them. Hannon wa ssenteuced to fourteen days’ imprisonment and Thomas to seven days’.