LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 65, 19 March 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At Moumahaki Farm just now, states a recent visitor, the authorities are experimenting largely with the growth of .lucerne. This year the crops of carrots, turnips, and mangolds were only fair owing to the very dry season. In potatoes there is a splendid crop of British Queen to he seen.

A fair number of people interested in coursing met last night in the A. and P. Office to consider matters with regard to the formation of a Coursing Club. Mr A. A. Cuthbertson presided over the meeting, and those present decided to form a club. It was also decided that another meeting be held on Thursday of next week to elect a secretary and committee, and that matters of obtaining a suitable course, and the cost of appurtenances for same be gone into.

As announced yesterday, the -Midhirst Picnic and Spurts have been postponed until Tuesday next, and a dance will follow in iho evening in the Town Hall. The catering for the sports .a in the capable hands of Mrs Brooking, of Stratford, and every endeavour is being made to make the sports a huge success. At the present time, no fewer than live boys from the Stratford High School are attending medical classes at the Otago University, namely, E. M. Wyllie, in his fifth year; L. Mail, third year, and C. J. Campbell, E. Jobson, and L. King, who joined this year. Three of these hold Taranaki scholarships and one a bursary. There was an excellent attendance at the Midhirst dance last evening, the floor being in good condition. Dance music was played by Miss Anderson (piano) and Mr S. Parker (cornet), and Mr J. Shotter acting as M.C. A first-class supper was provided, Mr 11. 1). Barford (Midhirst) being the caterer. Altogether a most enjoyable time was spent until the early hours of the morning. An inquest was held this morning before Mr S. B. Hunter (Acting Coroner) and jury on the body of William Thomas Pearce, who died at the hospital at G. 55 p.m, on the 17th iust., as the result of injuries received on a railway crossing. Frederick Pearce, of Christchurch, brother of the deceased, identilied the body. Sergeant Dale asked for an adjournment till the 25th iust. This was granted, and arrangements were made for the jury to visit the scene of the accident. Mr R. Spence appeared to watch proceedings on behalf of the widow and relatives of the deceased.

Harvest Thanksgiving Services will be held in the Methodist Church, Broadway, on Sunday. In the morning, service will be conducted by the Rev. A. 0. Harris, and in the evening by the Rev. A. Reader. The hitler will be of a unique character, as it will be largely musical, the choir giving a Harvest Thanksgiving Cantata, assisted by a strong orchestra. On Thursday, the Annual Sale of Work and Produce will be held in the Regan Street School, opening at 3 ■p.m. At a meeting of Government employees at Napier (reports the Press Association), the following resolution was carried unanimously: “That this meeting of Government employees view with alarm the continued increase in the cost of living, with no increase in salary to meet the increased demand; seeing that the greater portion of the necessaries of life are produced in the Dominion, the Government should take active steps at once to prevent the people of the Dominion being further exploited by a class who are enriching themselves because of the war.” “Everything is satisfactory at tho front,” states our informant concerning the boys at Monmahaki Farm. The weather has been fine with the exception of yesterday. The boys had a grand time at the Waverley Show. It is interesting to learn the d'aily programme, which is as follows;—Rise at a.m.; drill, 7.30 to 8; breakfast, 8 to 9.30; practical work with the Farm employees, 9.30 to 11; field work with .Air Ellis, 11 to 12; dinner 12 to 1 p.m.;

observation, 1 to 2; simple surveying and drawing, 2 to 3; “Spell-oh” till tea at o o’clock; notes and letters from 7 to 8, and “lights out” at 9. The party is due home to-morrow evening. Ihe Faster Carnival at West End Beach, Xew Plymouth, is to be run on more ambitious lines than ever. A very strong committee of citizens is working like trojans, and many novelties are being introduced. The Xew Plymouth people themselves are wakinS up to the beauty of Kawaroa Park. Prominent in the day’s proceedings is the great menagerie procession, which will pass the New Plymouth railway station shortly after the arrival of the morning train. Trains will stop at the entrance to the park. A novelty programme is to be carried out at the municipal baths, and there will ho attractions and amusements innumerable in the Park itself. Dean Hills, of Christchurch, made application to the authorities for permission to bury the late Bishop Grimes in the Cathedral, which the clergy and laity consider is the greatest visible monument of the late prelate’s years of labour. The application was thought to be only a formal matter, and astonishment has been caused (states the Press Association) by the reply from the Minister of Internal Affairs that he has no power to grant the request. It is pointed out that three years ago the late Bishop Lenihan, of Auckland, was buried in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and further communications have been sent to the Minister.