LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 45, 24 February 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A special meeting of the Stratford County Council will be held at the County office, Stratford, on Tuesday next at 11 a.in., when the business to be considered will be the question of the Stanley Road bridge. •

The Presbyterian Church Ladies’ Guild at their meeting yesterday, resolved to hold a garden feitc at the Manse, Regan Street, next Wednesday afternoon and evening. In view of the urgency of sending relief to Belgium, it is hoped that the fete will be largely attended.

Tho Druids’ Conference, sitting at Feikling, last night, decided to accept the machinery clauses of the consolidated sick-fuud scheme submitted by the Grand Lodge (states the Press Association). The executive also decided that all past-grade presidents should be made honorary life members of Grand Lodge and allowed to attend meetings.

The following five rinks have been selected to represent the Stratford Club against Eltham to-morrow after, noon, players to be on the ground at 2.30 o’clock sharp, and usual plate required:—King, Wright, McDonald, Stewart; Fookes, Morrison, Sangster, J. Masters; Smart, Cottier, Nicholson, Sharp; Childs. Lopdell, H. Wilson, Bickertpn; Edgecombe, C. Martin ; F. J. McDonald, Sanderson. The first three rinks compete for the banner. Each rink selects its own skip.

“As a soldier yourself,” writes a member of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces in Egypt to a Stratford friend, “it might interest you to know what we carry. First there is the web equipment itself, with which yon are doubtless familiar. To this is attached (Ist) the valise containing greatcoat, towel, socks, shaving gear, soap, jersey, woollen cap and meSs tin; (2nd) haversack for rations; (3rd) water bottle; (4th) trenching tools, and (sth) ammunition. This brings the total weight to about (30 pounds. Our blankets arc carried on the transport waggons. Yon will now understand the necessity of good health.”

An extraordinary freak of nature is reported by a correspondent as follows:—Mr Charles E. Major, of Denbigh Hoad, Midhirst, had a curiosity in the form of a calf born on his place recently, when a cow calved a dead calf, the peculiarities of which were that the calf had no eyes, no nose or nostrils, and no solid bones in its body except in the legs. It had a bulldog’s mouth and a very strong, prominent under jaw (just like a bulldog’s) showing teeth about 2i to 3 inhoes long. The tail was only about 2 to 3 inches long, the legs were pro. perly formed, but the hoofs were exceptionally large. The calf was strawberry in colour.”

The Etlham Argus reports a second death in the Hawera Hospital from diphtheria in the family of Mr Clement Thomas.

A Melbourne cablegram to-day states that the value of Commonwealth notes in circulation on February 22, was £25,022,923, while the gold reserve was £10,123,688. i

The proceeds from the exhibition to be given on Thursday, March 4th, by tho Stratford Horticultural Society, are to be given to the Belgian Fund. All the exhibits will bo sold. Members and others are invited to bring their produce, etc, to the Town Hall on the morning of Thursday, March 4th. v

The Stratford British and Belgian Fund stands as follows: —Amount already acknowledged £945 Os lOd, H. Wilson £1 Is, Huiroa School Commit, tee and residents £4 Bs, S. H. Wicksteed (3rd) £2 10s, sale of phonograph records £2 15s 6d, T. H l . Penn (4th) £2 2s, S. H. James £2. Total £959 17s Id. £73 has' now been subscribed on account of bonus offered by Mr G. N. Curtis.

The Home Defence Corps' concert proved a great financial success, the vsum of £36 being realised. In a great measure this success was due to th 6 untiring energy of the secretary, Mr W. Lander. The rifle-range is now being erected, the work being well in hand. All who hold tickets for sale are requested to return them to the secretary immediately. Members of the Corps should remember that there will be musketry practice at the range to-morrow afternoon.

The subject of “wet” canteens in connection with the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces is thus referred to by a writer from Egypt:—“l suppose you know that in this camp we have wet canteens. They ran out of beer in a few days, and have been unable to secure a supply since. I think they are importing a load from England. For myself, 1 do not care if it does nofc arrive. After their enforced abstinence they were rather inclined to make the pace, and ‘twas just as well the supply ran out when it did.”

Mr Newton Kibg has been instructed to sell by public auction for the benefit of the British .and Belgian Relief Fund, at his Stratford Haymarket, on Saturday, a “Duchess” half-plate camera complete, a pony “Promo” camera, a “Vive” camera and box of photographic plates,oil paintings, mandoline, harp zither, flower pots and one new drop-head Singer sewing machine. These goods are now on view at the Mart, and it is hoped the sale will excite good competition and a substantial return to this most deserving fund.

The hearing of the petition in connection with the Hawke’s Bay election was continued to-day, states a Napier P.A. telegram to-day. At the opening. Sir John Findlay led evidence to the effect that Henry Hodgers, junr., voted at Wairoa on his father’s qualifications. Mr Skerrett put in a list of declaratory votes objected to, the list having been compiled by both sides since the adjournment on the previous evening. His objections were that various conditions governing the issue of declaratory voting papers had not been complied with.

The Toko Settlers’ Picnic and Sports Associations’ Annual Sports are to be held in the Toko Domain this year on Thursday, March 25th. An enthusiastic meeting to make preliminary arrangements was held, at which Mr G. E. Bocock’s services as secretary were again retained, and a strong committee set up consisting of the principal t office hearers of last year with the addition of some other names. An excellent programme was agreed upon, and it was decided that the bulk of the profits of the meeting be devoted to the Belgian' Relief Fund.

War is responsible for strange bedfellows as a rule, but the following circumstances related by a New Zealander in Egypt to a friend in Stratford has a happy homely touch. Tho writer’s style is characteristic of tho average youth of to-day—an easy familiarity in regard to men in any or all public positions, and no time at all for “dig” to stand upon. He says,:— Tho local politicians are well represented here. In our company there are three Okey’s (one son and two nephews of the New Plymouth member), a son of “Bill” Jennings (Taumarunui), while young Hawkins is just across the way. There is a son of “Tom” Mackenzie here, too, in the Mounteds.

Yesterday afternoon, when Mr A. J. Brown, farmer, of Brooks Hoad, was in Stratford, an unfortunate tire occurred at his residence, resulting in the total destruction of the house and most of the furniture. It appears that his w ife had been using the range for cooking, and, after being absent for a few minutes, found the chimney and fire place on fire. With the help of neighbours, Mrs Brown did what she could to save the furniture, but owing to the shortage of water, the fire got too great a hold, and very little was saved. The house was insured ffe- £IOO in the Taranaki Farmers’ Insurance Co, and the furniture for £IOO in the Alliance, but this will in no way compensate the Brown’s for their loss. How the fire actually occurred is a ravsterv.