LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 98, 28 April 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

——OtaA Wellington Press Association telegram to-day states: —The Prime Minister (Hon. Mr Massey) lias telegraphed to the Hoard of Trade, London, asking them to send the Delphic back to New Zealand in hallast in order to relieve the shortage of ships with cold storage. The Delphic was three weeks in an English port before being discharged owing to the congestion in the docks. "Referring to the scrap with the Turks," writes a Stratford man from Zeitonn Camp, Cairo, "this Avas mare child's play. 1 saw about 300 of the prisoners, and a more wretched, rag-ged-looking lot of human beings, it is hardly possible to imagine. Tho majority were glad to give themselves up. The attack lasted but a few lays. Von will perhaps hear reports of the doings of the Xew Zealandcrs, but the bulk of what fighting there was, was done by the Ghurkas. Bowever, about as cool a thing as you could wish lor, must be placed to the credit ol C. Company, Wellington Regiment. This crowd sat down about a thousand yards from the Turks, and had their mid-day ration under fire. 01 the New Zealand forces, the oiiicei commanding canal operations, said: Tf that's a sample of the Mao/dander, he'll do me, but the beggar wants a Christmas dinner wherever lie goes.' "

| Territorials who are to attend the i casual camp, commencing on May 3, will leave by the 10 a.m. train, and not by a special. Senior cadets and territorials havo been very lax in returning their rifles to the Defence Office. This is an urgent matter, and to meet the case, Lieutenant Grey will be at trie office in the evenings from 7 to 9.30 o'clock. The weather indications are for variable and strong breezes, but strong winds to gale prevailing. Heavy rain is to be expected with rivers rising shortly. The barometer has a falling tendency, but rising after about ten hours.

Sir Walter Buchanan to-day increased his bid of £IOO for the Belgian Flag, which was auctioned recently at Carterton, to £IOOO. A Press Association message states that this brings Carterton's total for the Flag up to £1835.

Last night the local Druids held the first of their socials, which are to he given fortnightly during the winter months in the Foresters' Hall. vVbout 40 couples were present,, the weather no doubt preventing a large number attending. The floor was in firstclass condition, anj excellent music was rendered by Mrs Bianchi and Mr H. X. Wright (violin). Extra items were played by Mr L. Young. The duties of M.C. were ably carried out by Mr J. W. Jones. The proceeds from all the socials are to be devoted to the needy Belgians.

The residents of Wingrove and Robson Heads (Xgaere) have, for the past six years been agitating for a school, and as the number of children on each road were not sufficient to warrant the New Plymouth Education Board building, the children have had to go practically without education up to a certain age. The Argus states that children up to eight years of age have never been inside a school, as the Xgaere school is too far away for them to attend. This difficulty will now soon be overcome, as the Stratford County Council has just Jet a contract to open the Waihapa Road, which will connect up the Robson and Wingrove. Roads. It is proposed to build the school half way clown the Waihapa Road, thus suiting the convenience of both sides. Mr Neil Brown is now busy obtaining the names of children likely to attend, and the school should be ready-in the near future: