LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 42, 20 February 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Members of- the Loyal Stratford Lodge are requested to meet on Monday evening, at 7 o’clock.

Shipping report per Press Association telegram: Arrival at London, the Whakarua; at Liverpool, the Paparada.

The Secretary of the Stratford Patriotic Fund acknowledges the receipt of a further donation of £2 10s from Mr F. H. Wicks teed.

The Church of England Men’s Society at New Plymouth are holding a Rest Tent at the Territorial Camp to be held at New Plymouth on February 2Gth to March 10.

A photograph of the Stratford Home Defence Rifle Corps, which was taken by Mr H. Williams at the Mountain House last Sunday, ,is now on view in Mr G. W. Mills’ window.

An Otaki dairy factory manager, writing to a local resident, said that while on a trip'to Wellington recently he had seen 30,000 crates of cheese stored in refrigerating chambers there, owing to inability to get them shipped.

At the annual meeting of the Toko Settlers’ Picnic and Sports Association, it was decided to hold the sports this year on March 25th. Mr G. E. Bocock was again re-elected as secretary. great appreciation being expressed with the good work he has done for the Association in the past.

An Association telegram from Wanganui this afternoon states that a new six-roomed house, owned and occupied by Mr F. H. Wilkie, was destroyed by fire this morning. The insurances were: House £6OO in the Northern Office, on the furniture £2OO in the Royal Exchange.

Notice of a poll to be taken on Wednesday, March 24th, on a special loan proposal of £9OOO by the Borough Council is advertised to-day. The special purpose for which the loan is required is to erect Municipal Public Offices and Library, and the proposed security is an annually recurring special rate of eleven-twentieths of a penny.

An Auckland Press Association message states; A meeting of business men resolved that users of automatic stamping machines at present bind themselves to stop the use of the machines sooner than pay the deposit demanded by the Government, and will in future purchase all stamps required from the licensed agents and

not direct from the Post Office

Our Douglas correspondent writes: 1 am requested to state that owng to the inconvenient train arrangements for the Whangamomona sports, there is keen disappointment at this end of the line by a-large number of intending visitors, who in the busy season find it impossible to stay in the locality over two nights. Had an early train been arranged .for Friday, returnigh the same day, it would doubtless have been well patronised.

Tin* variety entertainment to be held in the Town Hall on Monday night under the auspices of the Stratford Home Defence Rifle Club promises to be a great success, and the programme is one which must appeal to all. The big event for lovers of spent is the

assaut d’armes between Lieutenant Cray and Sergeant-Major Winiki. Thc'se two combatants are also to give an exhibition boxing bout. Loth are featherweights, and have gained many honors in the ring. The Egmont orchestra, the .Municipal Hand, the

School Drum and Fife Hand, and some of Stratford’s sweetest singers guaran-

tee that music-lovers will have a good

evening’s entertainment

At the Masterton ram fair (states the Press Association), a Lincoln ram was sold by Messrs Bland and Rayuer to Percy Bros for 160 guineas, which was the biggest price at the sale.

A Masterton. P.A. wire says that a man named \\ all, who was lomul on the premises of Dr. Cowic last night, was sentenced to-day to three months’ imprisonment.

Weather forecast.— Northerly moderate to strong winds freshening. There is a prospect of fair to cloudy weather with increasing haze and cloudiness.. Barometer falling shortly. Bates, Wellington.

Cabled advice has been received in Christchurch from Colombo that there has been an increase in the wholesale prices of tea by 2id per lb, due to the operations of Russians in the Indian and Ceylon markets. The Press Association states that local grocers do not think that the increase will affect the consumer.

At the enquiry in Christchurch into the affairs of Charles Hill, solicitor, who has been missing for nearly a* year, the Official Assignee said that the police had not traced the defaulter. The estimated deficiency is approximately £7500. At lowest, the dividend payable will he ten shillings, hut it will take a year to realise on the debentures.—P.A.

The first information for allowing water in hosepipe to run unattended i.r the Borough will be laid at the Magistrate’s Court next Friday by the borough inspector (Mr W. Barlow). Another by-law matter to be dealt with at the same time is a charge of allowing a hedge to encroach on the footpath, and also one charge of driving without lights.

The Manaia Witness reports; Mr Cameron, County Engineer, had a very unpleasant experience while motoring along the Manaia Road on Monday last,- about 8 oclock. In front of him was a horse and trap on the wrong side of the road, to which he, whistled for a clear passage. Instead of going, as he should have done, to the left, the driver of the trap pulled his horse to the right, thus completely blocking the fairway. The result was that in endeavouring to avoid a collision the car, suddenly checked, turned right over, pinning Mr Cameron underneath. Assistance was close at hand, and the car was righted, and it was found that Mr Cameron had sustained a dislocation of the shoulder and an injury to his groin, besides sundry bruises, and was confined to bed-for a few days, but we are pleased to say, is about again, but is still feeling the effects of the accident. To the protection afforded by the wind screen when the car turned over must be ascribed bis escape from more serious injuries. The car was badly damaged.

The results of the investigations made, by the Commonwealth Statistician as to the variations in cost of living have been made available, up to the end of the year 1914, Taking the average figures for that year, and comparin’ gthein with the overages for the preceding throe years, cost of living in 1914 was 4 per cent, higher than in 1911, and nearly 3.' per cent higher than in 1912 and 1913, when there was practically no change. Groceries wore 6.2 per cent higher in 1914 than in 1911, dairy produce 10.8 per cent., meat 32.2 per cent., and house rent 13.5 per cent. Compared with the year 1913, groceries in 1914 were 1.8 per cent, higher, dairy produce 2.6 per cent., meat 10.4 per cent., and house rent 1.5 per cent, higher.

A circular recently issued by the social Democratic Party contains a strongly-worded protest against the in. creased cost of living. It is as follows: “The question of the highly increased cost of living is engaging the attention of the workers everywhere. Whatever else may be in doubt the fact is clear that a section of the exploiting class has taken advantage of the present war crisis to extract increased profits for themselves out of the people’s most essential needs. During the ordinary times of peace, exploitation of this description is reprehensible enough. In. war time it is particularly dastardly. Every feeling of decency and human sympathy is shocked and outraged by such actions. Only tho socially undeveloped or degenerate, whose highest instinct is to prey on their kind, could practise or palliate such unscrupulous rapacity. The people’s food is too important to be left to their unchecked manipulation. Meetings have been held by the party in various centres demanding the Government control of the food supply. Branches and district councils should continue to hold such meetings as frequently as possible. It is one of the most important matters facing us at present.”