LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 44, 23 February 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Timaru reports that a good light rain, 1.70 points, fell between Saturday evening and noon to-day. It is valuable for pastures and roots, but much grain in stock is soaked, and now needs drying breezes to avoid spoiling.

The Ohura tourists have returned home very pleased with the hospitable treatment they received from the New Plymouth and Stratford people (states tlie Advocate). “The trip of a lifetime,” is their unanimous verdict.

The Ohura Advocate sta!tes: All the men employed at Okahukura tunnel were paid oif yesterday (Wednesday). Mr Jennings, M.P., saw Mr Forrest, late contractor, who stated that he believed his,sureties (Messrs Ellis and Commons) will soon start work again.

Mr Baker, engineer of the Public Works Department, Mr Holmes (chief), and an inspecting engineer, arrived in Ohura on Sunday (14th), the two latter proceeding to Whangamomdna on Monday morning. An inspection was made of the railway works and Ryan Road. The Advocate says there appears to he some prospect of this road being opened up, probably with a view to it being utilised as a service road for the railway works.

We (Eltham Argus) regret having to report a fatal case of diphtheria in Eltham. Three children belonging to Mr Clement Thomas, suffering from diphtheria, were on Saturday removed to the Hawera Hospital, and very early this (Monday) morning the eldest of the little sufferers, a boy aged five years, succumbed. Great sympathy is felt for Mr and Mrs Thomas.

A deputation from the Stratford Home Defence Corps waited on the committee of the A. and P. Society at their meeting on last Saturday morning, and asked that the Corps be

granted permission to erect a minature rifle range on the Show Grounds on the day on which the Gymkhana is to be held. The necessary permission was granted. Several new items were added to the Gymkhana programme, including jumping and other events for ponies of 13.2 and under. These events are in addition to the trotting events.

“Practise what yon preach” was not the motto of a councillor at a recent meeting of the Eastbourne Borough Council. The reporo of the Imilding committee stated that breaches had occurred of lie huildiig bylaws, and recommended that the offender, who was a mem r?v of the council in question, should lie prosecuted.. The New Zealand Times states that when the report was adopted the dilinquent councillor rose and seconded the motion, *o the general amusement of his fellows. He admitted his guilt, said that he intended to plead guilty before the court, and hoped that his had example would be a warning to other residents across the harbour!

The annual conference of the Now Zealand Society of Civil Engineers will be held at Dunedin ou March 11, 12, and 13.

Weather Forecast. —Westerly winds and veering by west to south. The weather appears likely to be cloudy and unsettled. Rain probable. Barometer falling, but rise after about 24 hours.—Bates, Wellington.

The partnership hitherto existing between Messrs A. G. Fischer and J. Willdon, farmers, of Mangare Road, Whangomomona, has been dissolved by mutual consent as from January 30th, 1915.

A cigar presented by the German Emperor to Lord Lonsdale, and by him to a gentleman living at Hambledon, was sold by auction at Henley-on-Thames Christmas Market in aid of the local Red Cross Hospital. At realised £l4 10s.

Women, teachers marrying men going to the front are to be allowed by the Isle of Wight Education Committee to hold their teacherships till the end of the war, in spite of the rule against married women teachers.

These sheep have been living on scenery for the past six months,” said an auctioneer at a ram fair at Dannevirke in accounting for the condition of the animals in rhe pen he was offering. They had come (says the News) from a drought-stricken district.

There can be no question but; that the prospective visit of Commissioner Hodder of the Salvation Army on Thursday next, will give the many supporters and sympathisers o* the Army in this district a splendid opportunity of. seeing and hearing for themselves one of the leaders of this great movement, whose various agencies for the helping of the poor and distressed in our land, are in each of our four centres, besides several inland towns whbre Homes have been established. It is hoped + hat a good representation of civic and religious life in our town will he made on this occasion.

At th',e Magistrate’s Court, New Plymouth, yesterday, a Maori lad named McWilliam Ropiha appeared, on remand, charged with the theft of a motor cycle, the property of C. E. Street, of Smart Road. The owner of the property gave evidence as to leaving the cycle under some trees, but on returning discovered that it had disappeared. The next time he saw the machine was when he saw a lad trying to ride it. This lad said’that Ropiha had lent him the motor cycle. ■ He then informed the police. After further evidence had been given, the pleaded guilty, and was committed for sentence to the Supreme Court. Accused is about sixteen years of age.

The Territorial forces of the Xlth regiment coming from as far as Wanganui, will go into camp on Friday on the Rewa Rewa rifle range at Waiwakaiho for thirteen days’ annual training. There will be some 600 to 700 under canvas. Major Bellringer will have charge of the camp, with Lieutenant Crutch as adjutant, and Lieutenant Buxton as quarter-master Archdeacpn Evans will he senior chaplain, and it is probable that there will he six representatives of other denominations. An advance party under Lieut. Crutch this morning commence preparing the camp. The camp will he up-to-date, electric light having been-installed, and the town water supply laid on, while telephonic communication has been arranged for. .In addition to the infantry of the district, C. Section, No. 4 Field Ambulance (Stratford), under Captain J. P. Cameron, will* he under canvas. The Wellington District Musketry Instructor will be in attendance, and full advantage will no doubt be taken of the range equipment to srive instruction in the,important branch of the service. The camp will probably he thrown open for inspection on Sundays, and should well repay a visist.