LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 60, 13 March 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tlie Presbyterian rally in connection with the St. Andrew’s Church is to he held on Sunday, 21st March—not .Monday as stated.

Over GOOO signatures to the petition for a poll on the Saturday halfholiday question have been obtained in Wellington. It is intended to lodge the petition with the civic authorities about March 23rd.

The plans of the proposed Stratford Municipal buildings will.be on view at Monday’s meeting of ratepayers in the Town Hall, when particulars of the building loan will be explained by His Worship the Mayor (Mr W. P. Kirkwood).

The popularity of the Stratford Mountain House is increasing. Mr Williams has experienced a busy season—he has not had a slack week since before Xmas. For this week end, he has practically all his accommodation booked, while enquiries are already being made by Easter parties.

Mr Williams, of the Stratford Mountain House is making big preparations for to-morrow’s trip of the Eltham Brass Band. Two motor lorries, besides other vehicles, are conveying Eltham trippers, and a couple of drags are arranged to leave Stratford. The Eltham Band always proves a draw—not that the Mountain needs one—but a pleasurable day is sure to be spent to-morrow by the big croud who are going up.

The Garden Fete in aid of the deserving Belgian Fund to have been held on the Crequet Lawns in Victoria Park last Thursday but postponed on account of the inclement weather, will be held on Tuesday afternoon and evening. It is to be hoped the promoters will fare better next week at the hands of the weather as well as the public.

At the monthly meeting of the DoMain Board yesterday afternoon,there were present Messrs T. Harry Penn, W. P. Kirkwood, P. Thomson, and G. Hunter. Mr P. Skoglund waited upon the Board as a deputation from the School Committee with regard to a site for the proposed neW high school. He stated that the School Committee had decided that the best site would be the piece of land owned by the Board situated between Portia and Hamlet Streets. Members of the Board who were present thought favourably of the proposal, considering it would be a good tiling for the town, but decided that a special meeting bo held should the chairman (Mr G. N. Curtis) return prior to the next monthly meeting.

Advices to-day from the Stratford Mountain House state that the High School boys had an excellent time on the Mountain, several of them doing the big climb, while others explored the many picturesque scenes on the lower slopes. The march up to the House yesterday afternoon was done in very good time, the company leaving tbe School at 3.45 o’clock and reaching the House at 6.45. None of the little fellows dropped out of the ranks on the nine-mile walk, and the services of the ambulance waggon accompanying the trekkers was not requisitioned. It is expected the company will reach Stratford on the return journey about six o’clock this evening.

& A Melbourne message states that - tiie steamer Star of England has ar- • rived from London. ’ Owing to the presence of a critical “, case at the hospital, the Stratford 'l Brass Band concert arranged for toj morrow afternoon will not be held. | The Second Mounted squadron | (Queen Alexandra’s Own) will go into camp at the Waverley Racecourse on April 30th, and the camp will con- < tinue till May 14th. Mr G. E. Bocock, secretary of the Toko Settlors’ Picnic and Sports Association, states that in forwarding the list of officials to the “Stratford Evening Post” he inadvertently omitted the name of Mr G. Downs, of Waiwiri Road, who should have been included as one of the Vice-presidents. Midhirst will hold their Settlers’ Picnic and Sports on Thursday next in the grounds adjoining the factory. A first-rate programme of sports has been arranged, and these should attract a large number. In the evening, a dance will be held in the Town Hall, and a big crowd is expected. The sports start at 11.30 a.m. i The weather is excellent for the championship athletic meeting which is being held on the Basin Reserve, Wellington, this afternoon. The Press Association sta f es that gootj entries have been received from all parts of New Zealand, and the meeting promises to bo very successful.

That “the law is an ass” litigants will be only too willing to admit, but it is just as well to remember that some judges do not believe in giving it too much leg-rope. This was exemplified in a remark which was cited by Stratford counsel the other day as falling from the lips of Chief Justice Sir Robert Stout. “It seems to me,” said the Judge, “that defendant relies mi the Act (the Laud? Agents Act 1912) to rid him of honorable debt.

One of the improvements which the Domain Board has under consideration is the erection of a n ridge over the lake in Victoria Park. The matter was brought up at the meeting of the Board yesterday, and ways and means of putting up a suitable structure was discussed, but no decision was arrived at. Undoubtedly, a good bridge over the lake would be of great service as well as adding to the beauty of the Park.

The shooting match between the. Mayor (Mr W. P. Kirkwood) and Cr. Jonas Masters for a rifle to be presented to the Home Defence Club by the loser, will be shot off on Wednesday evening at 8 o’clock. Both contestants ' have been practising hard, and a keen shoot is anticipated. A small sum for admittance is to he charged, the proceeds to be handed to the Belgian Relief Fund. Mr J. B. Hiue, M.P., lias accepted the position of honorary captain of the Corps, greatly to the pleasure of the members. The usual weekly parade of the corps will be held on Monday night at 7.30, when a large attend, ance is expected.

Arrangements have been completed to-day for the visit on Monday of a party of bojys from the Stratford School to the Moumahaki State Farm. The company consists of boys who are taking Agriculture as ,a subject at the School, some of whom, by the way, are stated to be particularly well versed in farming matters, and the object in view is that the boys should see actual farm work being carried out under the best farming conditions. Part of the time at Moumahaki will be occupied in school work, when such subjects as surveying, calculations of areas, drawings to scale of buildings, etc., will form the principal part. Further, the boys will take part in the ordinary work of the farm, and will receive lessons from the farm experts on various subjects. Mr J. W. Thomas, first assistant at the Stratford School, will be in charge of the party, -being assisted by Mr J. W. Ellis, agricultural expert. During their visit to the Farm, the boys will live under camp conditions, and particulars of their doings during the week will, it is understood, be sent to the “Stratford Evening Post” for publication. The initiative in securing this fine object lesson for the hoys was taken three years ago by Mr F. Tyrer, headmaster, who is now to be congratulated on its consummation.