GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 85, 14 April 1915, Page 3

GENERAL.

A Wellington Press Association telegram yesterday states:—Air -Massey lias received the following cablegram from -Mr Andrew Fisher in answer to a cablegram regretting Air Alassey’s inability to attend the proposed conference ot Premiers in Australia in Alay: “Alucli appreciate your courteous reply to the Common wealth invitation to representatives of yonr Covermuont to visit Australia and take part in the proposed conference. 1 ho])e circumstances will enable the diliieulties in the way to lie overcome in the near future.”

Oakdale (California) lias solved the problem of getting her hoys and kirls to do the chores at home (says the San Francisco Chronicle). A new system of credits has been established in the grammar schools by which the students are to be credited for theii work at home, such as washing dishes, weeding garden, making beds, splitting kindling, etc. All the poetry is taken out of the time-worn excuse that ”1 really haven’t time to do this and that, because 1 have to get my lessons.” Hereafter the youngsters receive one credit at school for every 2U hours’ work at home, the parents to keep tin record, and it will not oven lie possible for the youngsters to toll the teachei they couldn’t get their lessons because of their enures at home.

11’ tlio price fetched by the first sheep killed at the X.S.W. State abattoirs at Homebush, Sydney, were am indication (which it is not), of v.hat the cost of State butchered meat is to be, then, writes the Sydney Daily Telegraph, there might be cause fci public alarm. He was doubtless a very deserving sheep; but he was certainly very dear. They killed inn before lunch, and then hung him. u, to public, view with ribbons tied to tic bare stump of his tail and small Hags stuck all over his flayed carcase. After lunch, before the people had left their seats, the sheep was brought in and placed on a chair in front of the Premier, to whom the carcase was presented. Mr Holman (Premier) had admitted himself that he stood foi cheap meat; but, as .Mr Flowers sua gested, bo rather jibbed at it when In got a whole carcase for nothing. There fore, he put it up for auction on behalf of the Belgians, and .Mr Pitt conducted the sales. The result was 'surprisingly good. Within a few seconds the mutton had been sold for £IOO. and it was put up again and again til! the total had reached £528. Then, in the train on the way hack to town there was some more money raising, and the sum available for the Belgians grew to £7Ol.

A bull took charge at Maori Hill Dunedin, on Wednesday morning, his vagaries fascinating and lightening half the women of the district. The heast was one of a dozen head being driven to the Burnside sales. When going through Maori Hill it plunged through a fence into a garden. Here it played up furiously, until it by chance fell into a concrete tank full of water. The tank is just 10 feet deep, and as the infuriated animal just about fitted in, it had to swim without having room to use its logs. Men who were attracted by the women’s cries, ran to the scene, and at some risk bailed out enough water by fugitive dippings to allow the bull to touch the bottom, and avoid drowning. While some did the dipping, others put a line over the bull’s head, and so helped to save its life. Another party meanwhile prepared for the release, but here a difficulty arose. What would th'> bull do when on its feet? Probably leap the adjoining fence, not too strong, and precipitate his weight upon and through the roof of the cottage that stands on a lower level of the hillside. In view of this or other possibilities. the men doomed it wise to allow the animal to cool his courage in the tank, where it remained for some hours.

Mention was made recently (writes Jin Australia n correspondent) ol' the profit-earning capabilities of the Btatoowned hotels in Western Australia (they number six), and of how cordially the hard-pressed Ministry of that State welcomed any addition to its too scanty revenue. However, there is one member of the Ministry, Mr Walker (the Attorney-General), who would welcome the reduction of the governmental receipts by the loss of any/liquor trading profits. As you know, the recent increases in Federal Customs and excise duties have been followed by hotelkeepers raising their prices. One of the West Australian State hotels is in the mining centre of Gwalia. It- does a big bar business. The miners ol Cwalia, with much angry denunciation of what they call “undemocratic action.” protest against the price of bottled beer being raised by over o() per cent., with almost as substantial increases for other liquors. They have notified the Government that until prices are reduced they will go on strike as drinkers, and will picket the State hotel to prevent any “black-legging” against the true interests ol tin l working man. Mr Walker professes jnbiliation at this ultimatum. Me says he congratulates the beer strikes of (iwalia on their attitude, and hopes that they will continue on strike as long as they live. To confirm them in their sentiments as strikers lie intends to forward them a parcel of temperance pledges for signature.