LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 88, 16 April 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Notification appears in another column that the tenth annual meeting of the Taranaki Farmers’ Mutual Fire Insurance Association will be hold in the Princess Picture Palace, Eltham, on Friday, 30th April, at 2 o’clock.

’Weather Forecast.—The indications are for southerly moderate to strong winds prevailing. Weather probably cold and changeable, but there is a prospect of fair weather. The night will probably be very cold. The barometer has a rising tendency.

The Full Court sitting at Wellington intimated that they were unanimously of opinion that the election petitions in re Taumarnnui and Bay of Islands elections were both lodged in time. The Court stated (reports the Press Association) that this intimation was made in order that the parties might prepare their cases for the sittings of an election court, and that the reasons would be given on Monday next.

Tho latest Gazette fixes the opening of the shooting season for May 1. Shooting paradise duck and native pigeons is absolutely prohibited, the season being for cock pheasants, quail, grey and teal duck, pukaki, and black swan . Mr R. F. Harkness, secretary of tho Stratford Acclimatisation So-, ciety, who has received a copy of the Gazette, states that the prospects for the reason in this district is very encouraging, game being fairly plentiful. So far no complaints have reached Mr Harkness in regard to shooting out of season.

Before Mr W. G. Kenrick, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court, Stratford, this morning, Edward John Keheley yas proceeded against for failing to provide for the maintenance of his wife and three children, the latter aged Id, 13 and 8 years. Mrs Annie Mary Keheley (for whom Mr Cecil Wright appeared) said that her husband had left her about four years ago, and she had not received any money from his since July, 1911. She did not know what he was doing now, but had heard he was a barman. The defendant was ordered to pay Ids per week maintenance for his wife, and o.s per week for each 1 child until they reached the age of 16.

At the Magistrate’s Court, Stratford, this morning, judgment was given by default in the following cases :—Paget and Cameron (Mr S. Macalistcr) v. Agnes Keeley, £1 14s, costs 10s; M. A. Wharfe (Mr S. Macalister) v. E. H. Fever, £l2 12s, costs £2 Is 6d; I). Steven (Mr P. Thomson), v. Charles Pearce, £4 11s 6d, costs 10s; Webster, Hobson and Co. (Mr S. Macalistcr), v. Thos. Taylor, £6 18s 2d, costs £1 8s 6d; Gulf (Mr S. Macalistcr) v. Charles Pearce, £8 I2s 2d (costs 10s). In the judgment summons case E. Mounsey (Mr S. Macalister) v. Frank O’Loughlin (who did not put in an appearance), the defendant was ordered to pay £lB 2s 6d in deiauit 14 days’ imprisonment.

The Stratford Golf Club opened for tlie 1015 season with mixed foursomes tor prizes kindly giAm by Mr A. W. Budge, the President of the Club. Thirty players entered, and an early start being made, the competition was decided in plenty of time for the whole proceedings to finish before the evening turned cold. Afternoon tea was given by Mrs Budge, and in the unavoidable absence of Mr Budge, flic prizes were presented by the vice-pre-sident, Mr R. Spence. The winners were Mrs K. C. Robinson and Mr R. B. Anderson who, with a handicap of 10, returned the net score of 70 for 12 holes. The runners-up were Mrs d. 11. Richards and -Mr F. K. Dunlop w ho, with the same handicap, lost by one stroke. There ' was a very good attendance of players and their friends, and this fact and the perfect weather combined to make the opening day very successful.

1 A fairly large number of parents 1 were charged at the Magistrate’s 1 Court, Stratford, this morning, with {ailing to send their children to school regularly. Fines were imposed in the following cases ; William Harris (two charges), 10s and *s costs on each charge; William Hosking 10s, costs 7s; Thomas Latham 10s, costs <s; George Sangster {2 charges), 10s and costs 7s on each case ; R. H. Phillips 10s. costs 7s; Joseph Chard (four charges), 2s on each case and costs 7s; D. Hyndman, 10s and costs 7s. Two charges against CL Ward were withdrawn after evidence had been heard. In one case the child had played truant, and tbe Magistrate (Mr W. G. Kenrick, S.M.), commented on the fact that it was not the intention of the Act to punish the parents for acts of the children. In this case the child, eight and a-half years of age, was kept in at lunch-time, and being late arriving at the schoolhouse in the afternoon, did not attend. Mr R. Spence, who appeared for the defendant, said .there was evidently some blunder in the charge being made. The Truant Inspector (Mr Hooker), in withdrawing the charges, said he had found out that the children lived beyond the necessary distance.