LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 37, 15 February 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Stratford County Council hold their monthly meeting on Wednesday

It has been finally decided (says the Elthani Argus) that the Opuuake branch railway will connect with the main line at the Te lloti station.

The Elthani Argus, as showing the effects of feed upon milking, gives tlie following; A Xgaere farmer’s custom towards the fall of the year was to put his cows, 50 of them, in a paddock of kail. One night something prevented him from following his usual custom. Next morning’s factory returns showed a decrease of lOOlbs in his supply.

Owing to a printer’s error, an omission occurred in our report of the motor car trip tendered to the Ohura visitors on Friday. The fact that Mr J. B. Hine, M.P., had placed Ids Ford car at tlie disposal of the party and was himself at the wheel was omitted, as also were the names of the occupants of Mr E. Jackson’s car, Mr Hine’s party being allotted to Mr Jackson. The names omitted were Messrs S. Currie (Ohura), and P. Thomson and A. K, Grant (Stratford).

Among the places of interest visited by the party of Ohura settlers while in Stratford was St. Mary’s School tor Girls, which is situate on the Mountain Road. Miss Marchant, M.A., proved to lie an entertaining hostess, and afternoon tea was served to all. Indeed, the visitors expressed! themselves as delighted with their| treatment, while Miss Merchant's strength of personality and evident enthusiasm in the objects pf the school formed subject for high encomium by several units of the party. It was unanimously agreed that there was plenty of scope for a school of the nature of St. Mary’s, and that Strut-' ford was privileged in having such a ( thoroughly efficient and enthusiastic j teacher as Miss Merchant in charge of the school. j

On Saturday the pupils of AVhangamomona School hold their annual picnic at Fitzroy Beach. About five cars were tilled with happy children.

The party of Stratford men c or the Trentbam camp which was reunited to leave by this morning’s mail tram, will depart by to-morrow (Tuesday's) train.

The Midhirst school picnic takes place on Thursday, the train leaving Midhirst for the East End beach, New Plymouth, at S.oo. It is anticipated

there will be a large number going for the day’s trip.

The successful tenderer for the lease of the Stratford A. and P. Society’s Show Grounds for the twelve months, commencing March 1, was Mi' A. F. Cuff, of Stratford.

It is reported that all the deputy returning officers in the Hawke’s Bay electorate have been supoenaed to appear before the Election Court at Napier in connection with the Hawke’s Bay petition.

The Defence Department has issued a circular inviting officers and officers of the unattached list (b) to give their services at , the forthcoming camps. So many officers being absent on active service has rendered this step necessary.

The bonus on purchases for the year ending August .‘list is now payable to shareholders of the Central Co-opera-tive Store Co., of Stratford, Ltd. Shareholders are requested by the manager, Mr W. McDonald, to call and collect the amounts due to them.

A New Zealander, writing from Zeitun camp,* says:—“We saw the old slave market where Napoleon housed his troops. It is a wonderful place .surrounded by water. ' There are marks on the stones, and the guides say they are bloodstains resulting from the beheading of natives.”

The election of five members of the Stratford Licensing committee will take place on March 9. Nominations of candidates will be received up till noon on 27th inst. The members at present on the committee are Messrs Jonas Masters, William Morison, Jacob Therkleson, and Athol Meredith. The late Mr H. B. Curtis, of Inglewood, was the fifth member.

Several good catches of. trout are reported by the Hawera Star, and include the following; Easthury and Cald well, 19 from the Mangatoki and 11 from the Kaupokomii; Moore 16, Bretherton 12, A. Hunter and Kean 21, Bell, Voung and Bennett 17 (large fish, up to slbs), all from the Kaupokonui; Mr Hunter, 9 from the Manga whero; Putt and Candy, 15 from the Punehu.

In connection with the variety entertainment to be given under the auspices of the Stratford Home Defence Corps in the Town Hall next Monday evening, members are requested to inform the secretary (Mr Lander) of the number of tickets disposed of. The Corps will not hold a parade to-night, but a working bee is to be busy tonight at the school gymnasium to make a start at the erection of the miniature rifle range.

There are indications in Ashburton (says the Guardian) that fanners expect the price of wheat to reach a much higher figure than has yet been offered this season. One Ashburton farmer on Saturday refused 6s 6d per bushel for a line of prime milling wheat in the expectation that the price will reach 7s before long. The grain merchants in Ashburton are offering an average price of from Gs 3d to 6s 4d.

In conversation with an Eketahuna Express reporter, Mr C. Alberthsen, late chairman of the Nireaha Company, stated it was the custom of the company to consign practically the whole of its output. This practice has proved a profitable one, although for the past two seasons they had to be content with a slightly less price than those companies who had sold at the factody. This year, however, - they would he in a position to pay out almost 4d per lb of butter-fat more than those companies that had not consigned.

A rather amusing incident' occurred at the meeting of the Westland County Council at Hokitika, when tenders for a particular/work were being dealt with. I'he clerk mentioned that one tender had been received in code (by 1

telegram). In order to convey his price, the would-be contractor stated that the age of one of his daughters !i multiplied by 10 and seven added would make the amount of his tender, which was £97. It was mentioned that the tenderer evidently did not place too much faith in the Post and Telegraph services. The tender was not the lowest, and, therefore, was not accepted.

Never any fault was to be found with the style of giving three good old British cheers with “Hip, hip, hurrah!” but while some people deplore the passing oi the old custom, there is a good deal to be said in favor of the brief, concise, and snappy “Hip ’Ray! hip ’Ray! hip Ray!” of the New Zealander. For the special occasion, however, there is nothing much to beat the effort of a local resident who was fa rewelling the visitors from Ohura on the railway station on Saturday evening. On the call for cheers, this wag. gesticulating enthusiastically, ejaculated: “0! hoorah! 0! hoorah! O! hoorah!”