LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 75, 31 March 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A social in connection with the Presbyterian Young Men and Young AVoinen’s Bible Class was held in the St. Andrew’s Hall.last evening, over which Rev. J. Pattison 'presided, and an enjoyable time was spent.

A fatal accident is reported by the Press Association at Hawera. The message states: Alexander Seabright Allison, a single man, aged 28, who was a sharemilker, was killed by a fall of earth on Tuesday afternoon while excavating in a gully.

In her address at the Parish Hall, Miss Marchant referred to a legend current among the Moslems that some day a Christian conqueror will enter Jerusalem by the Golden Gate. The speaker expressed the hope that in a few years we might see the prophecy fulfilled.

Beer, ale and stout to the amount of 33,333 gallons was imported to New Zealand in October, according to the latest Trade Supplement. The value of the importation was £6544. During the ten months ended October 31 the quantity imported was 264,368 gallons, valued at £52,591.

| “We absolutely decline to touch pats until we Ret something more definite about the Government’s intentions,” remarked a prominent Christchurch miller to-day (states the Press Association). Inquiries among the merchants and brokers showed that business on the oat market was practically at a standstill, the uncertainty concerning fulfilments of contracts having practically stopped all dealing, although a few sales of Algerians have been reported.

A remarkable degree of success attended the efforts of Miss May and Master Seon Brown at the recent Christchurch competitions (states the Otago Daily Times), the two children securing nine first awards, one second, and two thirds. Included in the first prizes were test piece (elocution), for boys under 16, girls’ test piece, boys’ championship, under 16 (years, girls’ championship, under 16 years; character and action song, character recital, and gold medal for elocution junior championship, boys or girls under 1C years, won by Miss Brown for the second time in succession.

* An enthusiastic meeting was held at Kohuratahi last week, the purpose of which was to form a troop of the “Legion of Frontiersmen.” Qualified members scattered throughout the Tahora and Whangamomona districts signed on, and it is hoped soon (states n correspondent) to see a troop here in uniform and doing some useful training and rifle practice. Another meeting will be called shortly to elect troop officers. The Legion takes this opportunity of thanking Messrs Kellar and Smith, of the Public Works Department, for the use of one of their buildings for the meeting. The Legion I of Frontiersman is a world-wide body | of men of frontier qualifications who 1 offer their services to eq6ip thera--1 selves free in the time of war. It is to be regretted (continues the writer) that the Defence Department cannot see its way clear to accept the Legion as a unit for the Front, but thousands of members have volunteered for different branches of the Army.

The office of the Magistrate’s Court is closed to-day (Anniversary Day), and will be closed for the Easter holidays from Good Friday (April 2), to Easter Tuesday (April 6), both dates, inclusive.

A good deal of money goes up m smoke. The latest detailed list of imports to New Zealand concerns the month of October. In fact we took in £28,273 worth of tobacco, £3642 worth of cigars, and £39,516 worth of cigarettes. These sums tota 1£71,430.

A Chinese member of the crew of the steamer Knight Templar was fined £25 to-day at Wellington (states the Press Association), for smuggling opium. The captain said the fine would be paid. This is the fourth conviction of the kind since the Knight Templar arrived.

In concluding her lecture on “Joru*salem” at the Parish Hall last night, Miss Merchant expresse dthe hope that the time might soon come when a better understanding would exist between the different Christian chaurches, which at present did not present a united face to the Turk. The present time is propitious, as English, French and Russians are fighting side by side.

At the Magistrate’s Court, Stratford, this morning, before Messrs S. B. Hunter and J. McCluggage, J’s.P., George Knudson was charged with soliciting alms. Accused pleaded not guilty. The police evidence showed that Knudson had been previously convicted of being a rogue and vagabond, and on the present charge he was sentenced to three months imprisonment with hard labor.

A local motor car driver had a narrow escape from a capsize on the Mountain Road North last night. With his front axle he struck a strong iron spike about 18 inches long, which had been driven into the centre of the road. There can be no doubt, he says, that had one of the wheels struck it, he would have had trouble in keeping his car right side up, while in the case of a motor cyclist the consequences might have been considerably worse.

The following, teams will 1 represent Stratford Mountain Club and Post and Telegraph Department in a shooting match at the miniature rifle range to-morrow evening:— Mountain Club. —Messrs W. P. Kirkwood, J. B. Richards, R. Wilson, H. Campbell, R. Masters, C. E. Janies, T. Kirkwood, Ed. 1 Jackson, AV. Lopdell, M. Beattie, and C. Potts, emergency. Post and Telegraph Department: Messrs Stanton, Mulvey, Brooks, Craddock, Pike, McLeod, Sheahan, Corkill, Hume and Kivell.

Regarding the discussion at the meeting of the Egmont National Park Board, on the vexed question of cat-tle-straying in the reserve, Mr R. McK. Morison wishes to emphasise the fact that he is more concerned about the beautiful bush being destroyed than the effect upon the track. After a trip between the Stratford and Dawson Falls Houses he found the track fairly good, but on the slopes some distance below there was distressing evidence of the damage caused by cattle. It is interesting to hear from Mr Morison in connection with his proposed tree-planting scheme on the mountain slopes that he estimates the value in twenty years’ time of eabh tree planted as about one pound. It would 1 be fa rbetter, he argues, for the Board to! go in for his scheme than to let their sections and find, as they do in some cases, that they are unable to collect the rent. Considering that 100,000 is the proposed number of trees for the initial undertaking, the scheme seems an excellent one from a financial as well as, scenic point of view.

“F.P.C.” writes as follows to the Taranaki Herald: “Mr Percy Smith’s magnificent conception of a carriage drive round the mountain at, say, 4000 feet level, may not be so very difficult of realisation as at first sight appears. A preliminary survey, provided for by a subscription list and a subsidy from either the Government or the local bodies, would show whether the idea can be carried out at a reasonable cost, and afterHhat a conference of such bodies could be called to consider the whole question, An enabling Bill would probably bo necessary to authorise contributions by counties and boroughs.”

The Stratford Mountain House has had a very successful season, which was far ahead of last year. The present management is quite satisfied that the House is now fairly on its way to equal the other hostclries. Easter is generally looked upon as normally the finish of the season, and those who have not yet visited the House should make a point to do so during the holidays, as everything at present is at its best, and. Mr Williams has made special arrangements for Easter visitors. Prior to next season arrangements will be made for the House to be occupied all the winter, so that at any time visitors will find everything to hand for their accommodation.