LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 97, 27 April 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Factory butter is soiling at Is. sd. per 11). ill Stratford. A dance will be held in the Xgairo Had on Thursday, proceeds, as usual, to the Belgian Fund. The inquest on the man I'earce, who nioi his death on the Mountain, will !jt- hold at the Courthouse at 7 o'clock this evening. An Auckland man named John Weston was lined £IOO and cost for bookmaking in an hotel (states the Press.) Electors arc reminded that the hours of polling in the election for mayor to-morrow will be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.. The polling booth will be at the Town Hall. Mr J, W. Boon, who us a candidate for the .Stratford mayoralty, will address the burgesses to-night in the Town Hall. Mr J. H. Richards will act as chairman.

The best available education in the Dominion for children between the ages of 7 ni' 8 and 14 is to be obtained in the primary schools. This is the opinion of Mr V. Tyrer, headmaster of the Stratford District High School, who gave expression accordingly at the meeting of householders last evening. For the social to be held in the foresters' Hall this evening under the management of the Druids' Lodge, the proceeds are in aid of the Belgian Relief ['hind,and a good attendance should be assured. Mrs Bianchi supplies the music, and the floor will be at its best.

The Secretary of State for the Colonies advises the Governor that it is tlic King's wish that on the occasion of His Majesty's birthday this year flails should lie llown, but no dinners, reviews, or oilier celebrations should take place.

The Minister of Defence contradicts the published statement that the seventh reinforcements will be the last to go from New Zealand, lie adds that there will he no last until the war ends or until the Imperial authorities say they require no more to be sent.

The Premier (Hon. Mr Massey), in a statement yesterday on the price of butter, said (according to the Press Association) that unless Australia removes the duty on butter at the Commonwealth ports, it was his opinion the present retail prices in New Zenland would not last long.

The Now Zealand Dairy Association, Ltd., distributed amongst its suppliers on the 21st inst., the sum of £38.415 9s Bd, for 785,1491bs of but-ter-fat supplied during the month of March. The amount distributed for the corresponding month last year was £36.109 3s 9d, thus the increase for the month was £2305 5s lid.

Any doubt as to whether the uufor-j fcunate young man Pearce reached the summit, of Mt. Egmont were set at rest by the discovery of a message, signed by the unfortunate man, by a party of thirteen who readied the top from the Stratford Mountain House on Sunday, in all. nineteen left the house to reach the summit, which constitutes something like a record. In addition to Dr. Fitchett's review of the war. there are several articles in the last issue of "Life" by experts dealing with various phases of the great conflict. One well-known editor discusses the question "is America Playing the Game?" and has judgment, which is against America, is particularly interesting as coming, not from an outsider, but from one who knows the inner running.

Concerning the roads in the Olnira, .Mr \V. E. Porter, Turoto, wrote as follows to the Ohura Advocate:—For our country's good the following:—f have been away for two weeks at Easter. I drove through from Stratford; the roads right through arc in splendid order until leaving the Paparata. The Tatu settlement is very poorly

kept, the road shelving very much to the creek and not the sign of a watertable next hank. Coming down Tokirima saddle is getting cut up. That also could do with a few days' work.

Mr It. McK. Morison, in the course of his address at the Town Hall last night, said that at one time the domains were controlled by the Borough 'Council, and members of the audience might he surprised to learn that, several councillors had been in favor ol cutting down the native trees in King Edward Park. Ho bad very strongly opposed ibis.---Mr .1. Masters said lie had never heard of it. There was

never any such suggestion made by the Council.- -Mr Morison said emphatically that it was so, and the man who had proposed the resolution was Dr. Paget. "1 do not think, Mr Masters, you were a member of the Council at that time," concluded Mr Morison.

Those interested in the formation of a branch of the St. John's Ambulance Association are requested to meet at the Methodist Church on Thursday evening. A Chicago Press Association cablegram states that as the result of the carpenters' strike all the timber yii.U&p base been close,! mid 123,000 men ajS idle . Weather Forecast.—lndications are for south-easterly strong winds to gale prevailing. Expect dull weather, with much mist and fog in parts. Heavy rain is to be expected. Barometer falling. At the Christ-church Court to-day, states the Press Association, William Vivian Whitta, charged with publishing betting cards, was remanded for a week. Hector McLean, who was arrested in connection with the burglary at St. Albans, was remanded, till to-morrow. In a letter from the trenches, one writer says:— 1 want to warn you against the average "letter from the front." where Private T. Atkins writes home to admiring friends of his thrilling experiences and hair-breadth escapes. I assist in the censoring if our men's letters home, and if this company had gone through one-tenth of the experiences relatod therein 1 am sure every man would be covered with decorations for bravery. What it will he like when we really span the distance between us and the trenches 1 shudder to contemplate.