LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 68, 23 March 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Eltham Argus says there is a likelihood of a triangular contest for ,the Mayoralty, tlie names of three likely candidates already being mentioned.

In connection with the poll of ratepayers of tlie Borough of Stratford on the proposed special loan of £9OOO for the Stratford Municipal .Buildings, to be taken to-morrow at the Town Hall, ratepayers are reminded that the hours of polling are between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Weather forecast. —The indications are for southerly strong winds to gale. The weather will probably prove squally with heavy showers. The night will probably be very cold. Barometer rising.—Bates, Wellington.

Regarding the opening of a portion of the Warn block of land in the Ohnra County, a reply lias been received from the Hon. Mr Massey to the effect that a surveyor is at work on the southern end of the Ware block, which reaches up to the Tdngarakan Gorge, and that the portion of the block referred to by tho Ohnra County Council is to he surveyed as soon as a surveyor can he detached for the work.

In the picture-show business, Eltli:iin evidently does not intend to lag behind. The Argus reports : “The Princess Pictures Ltd., which opens in the Princess Picture Palace (at present known as the Theatre Royal) will also show at Kaponga. but intends extending its business to other towns in Taranaki as occasion demands.” In the same connection, the .paper says it is stated on good authority that a Wellington company which controls several balls in that city intends to make a circuit in Taranaki, with Eltham as the centre.

The following Taranaki men returned from Samoa; Troopers Mace and 1 Adlam (New Plymouth), and Sergeant ( Voyle (Stratford). Forty-six applications in all have been received for the position of official Government war correspondent. The Press Association states that the committee of selection to assist the Ministers meets to-morrow in Wellington. : The Awakiuo correspondent of the | Waitara Mail states that no trace has I yet . been discovered of the miscreant who, in the dark hours of night, viciously attacked the four tyres of Messrs George and Johnston’s motor mail car, and at the same time put the steering-gear out of order. Unfortunately, owing to the inclement weather to-day, the Midhirst Picnic and Sports have been postponed until Wednesday, 31st March. However, the dance will'be held in the Town Hall this evening as previously announced. 'i The Westport Coal Company have agreed to subsidise £ for £ all contributions made by members of the Millerfcon and Granity Miners’ Union to the Prince of Wales’ Fund. The men are contributing fortnightly out of their pay. The Press Association states that in a letter to Mr Dowgray, chairman of the Union, Mr Joachim (managing director) says he hopes the good example set may be followed in other places. “In reply to your appeal, in poetry, entitled ‘To give a poor Belgian a Meal,’ my two girls are now sending 10s to the Belgian Fund”—Thus Mrs MeCartie writes to the Editor of the Stratford Evening Post forwarding from Eunice MeCartie (school girl) 5s and Ruth MeCartie (school girl) ss, which there is much pleasure in. acknowledging. The cutting off of the supply of Siberian butter by the export prohibition which has been issued by the Russian Government, the news of which has come to hand, is likely to have a beneficial effect on the price of New Zealand butter in London. Latest advices from England state that the recent advance from 140 s to 142 s per cwt. in the value of New Zealand blitter has been maintained, with every prospect of the high prices continuing.

Judging by the efforts being put forth by a strong working committee and the energetic secretary (Mr G. E. Bocock), all of whom have been devoting their best time and energy to make the Toko Settlers’ Picnic a succes, there is every indication that favoured with fine weather, Thursday should be a red letter day. Not only is the race programme an attractive one, but the prize list is large, and trophies amounting to £6O are to be presented. The Stratford Municipal Band will be in attendance, and the social in the Coronation Hall in the evening is in itself likely to specially attract those who may be unable to be present during the day. A train will leave Stratford at 1.30, stopping at Skinner Road, and reaching Toko at 1.50.

The Home Defence Corps’ team to shoot in the match against Cardiff tomorrow night at the miniature rifle range is: Pinhey, McMillan, W. Brocklebank, E. Brocklebauk, Gollop, Robson, Anderson, Richardson, Remington, Town ley and Edgecombe. The, Cardiff team is as follows:—T. Martin, J. Rogers, J. Belcher, F. Belton, 0. J. Howarth, H. Belcher, W. Mauder, J. Belcher, A. Davis, J. Morrison, D. O’Sullivan. Emergencies: D. Cameron, J. Richards, 1). Belcher, L. Rogers. The teams for tlie match between Home Defence Corps and Egmont Club are :—Home Defence: Peters, Elforc, Wicksteed, Pearce, Pivac, Anderson, W. Brocklebank, Edgcombe, Allanson and Boyd. Egmont Club: C. Jackson, C. Speck, A. O’Leary, J. McMahon, E. Jackson, R. Masters, F. Burmester, W. Bowler, Cain and H. Masters. Nowadays, there are only two classes of “sports” that count. One is tne man who volunteers, and the other is he who must remain at homo but pays out in hard cash to help tho Empire. In Stratford recently those specimens met at a centre of conviviality, and in the course of conversation one said he had been rejected as a member of the New Zealand forces for a trivial physical defect, which ho had suffered in the South African campaign, but that lie knew he would he accepted for a certain mounted regiment in the Old Country, and ho continued: “If 1 have to work my passage, lam going Home.” Said the other “sport”—“lf you can prove what you say is correct I will pay your passage for you!” Promptly the man put his hand in his pocket and produced a bundle of papers, which on being perused were found to bear out his statements in every particular. Then the second “sport” immediately turned to a local auctioneer, saying: “Give our friend a cheque in the morning; I will make it right!” Two other facts are also worth mentioning. It was not the first handsome donation which one had given to the war fund, while the other,the new recruit, proved to the assembled company that he was horn with the lighting spirit, being a nephew of a major in the British armv.