LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 18, 21 May 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The miniature rifle range will he

open for ladies every Thursday afternoon from 2 o'clock to 5.

The Stratford School Committee accepted Ah’ A. •). Chard’s tender for the supply of ten cords of iirewoort at 2(is (id. There were three tenderers. |

The Dannevirke executive committee

has voted £IOO from the patriotic funds towards the Dominion Hospital Ship, states the Press Association. 1 1 .. . I A Wellington Press Association telegram to-day states that a young married woman named Nellie .McPherson (28), was found dead in her bed at her home in Vivian Street, with her throat cut. She left a note asking that she ho buried with her ha by. Her husband lives in Oamaru.

Speaking in llio Stratford visitors at the Alonmahaki Farm yesterday, the Manager (Mr F. W. Lonsdale),! said there was an impression abroad that visits to the farm could be paid only by parties. He pointed out that this was a mistaken idea, and stated that lie was just as pleased to' show an individual round as any party.j Lieutenant (fray will deliver a lecturo on “Tactics and Musketrv” at

the Defence Corps drill on Monday night in the school gymnasium, and every member is requested to attend.! In connection with parades, Lieutenant j Wilson will be present to discuss matters with Hie mounted men, who in 1 future will parade with the territorials. The mounted section from Cardiff will attend the meeting. I

Adjutant Simpson, a former officer of the Salvation Army in Stratford, will conduct the evening service on Sunday at the Army Hall, Fenton Street, when, doubtless, a large mini-' her of his former friends will be delighted to renew acquaintance with the Adjutant. It is understood good ar-j rangements are being made for the anniversary social to be held on Thursday next, when Adjutant Scotney, of the Bovs’ Home, will take the chair.

The hardware business of Mr 1C B. Anderson, Broadway, has been purchased by Mr C. Martin, of the Egmont Coach and Carriage Co., Page Street. Stratford, and will henceforth be known as Chas. Martin and Co. Mr M art in has already entered into possession, and will personally attend to the buisness, in which several extensions are contemplated. Mr Jl. McCormick, who has been for seventeen years associated with the Egmont Coach and Carriage Co., will continue in his capacity of foreman, and can be depended upon to uphold the high reputation of the firm for first-class work.

John Findlay, the prisoner who escaped from Now Plymouth gaol on •Monday night, was recaptured at Oaouui, some thirty-five miles from New Plymouth on the Main South Road, yesterday afternoon, and taken to and lodged in the local gaol. The capture was laregly due to the promptitude and resourcefulness of a settler at Oaonui named George Dobbin, to whom a description of the escapee had been given.by a Constable who was scouring the district that Mr Dobbin heard that a man answering the description had been given a meal by the men at the Oaonui Dairy Factory, so he followed him and secured him about a mile further along the road. Prisoner, who appeared to have been roughing it, made no resistance. He had been lying low in the bush in the day-time and travelling by night, and had obtained very little food since Mondav.

A popular boniface in Stratford was an unwilling but much amused actor in an incident which happened in M road way in the dusk of last evening. The borough engineer discovered that an eel bad blocked the retienlation pipe in the gutter near the Club Hotel, and the curiosity of the aforsesaid citizen, among others, induced him to make a close scrutiny oi

tin' position from the curbstone immcdiately over the obstruction. At tliat moment the full force of the watersupply was turned on with the object of forcing the eel out of the pipe, and the effect upon the observer can be much bettor imagined than described. It is understood there is now, less than ever, no need to offer the advice to “take more water with it.” as be lias had enough of that sort of stuff for some time to come. As to the eel, it was stated to be over two feet in length when recovered, but force of circumstances left it minus tlie head.

A body of recruits will leave Stratford for Trcntliam on the 28th inst. The names are not yet available, but will lie published as soon as they come to hand.

Local football competitions opened yesterday. Playing on Victoria Park, Stratford first Juniors boat Inglewood (s—o). A. Kivell scored and F. Collins goaled. Tlie Second Juniors defeated the School by 6 to fl.

His Worship (Air Kenrick). in referring to the collision case, Uredow v. AlcCluggage, stated that he himself would view the scene of the accident only if the evidence given in Court was not clear and sufficiently reliable to enable him to give his decision.

The Auckland City Council has resolved. subject to validation (states the Press Association) to donate 250 guineas to the fund for equipping a Hospital Ship, and to place under offer to the Government the Council’s “Kilbryde” property, which was formerly the residence of Sir John Logan Campbell for a hospital or other purposes.

That the visitors to the AToumahaki State Farm have not forgotten their lesson of over twelve months ago was eideneed by a remark made by Atr L. Jackson (President of the local A. and P. Association). In thanking the staff for kindness extended yesterday, lie sairl it was a matter for congratulation to the staff that the improvement iu the Ayrshire cattle was so very noticeable.

On Thursday last, the final day of the Hawera races, a number of motorists drove through Eltham at an excessive speed. Ihe Argus states that Mr .1. A. Hansen, borough inspector, has proceeded against two well known residents of Stratford, and actions against others are pending. The of-fenders-'will appear before the Magistrate at the next sitting of the Court at Eltham. In some cases, Air. Hausen states, the speed was 10 miles an hour.

A defendant who was accused of spreading lalse reports created some amusement in the Stratford Court this morning. On being informed by the Magistrate that his offence was a very serious one and that he was liable to a fine of £IOO, defendant appeared quite surprised and expressed same in the phrase: “Indeed, your Worship! His tone of voice and manner greatly amused the Court, while his frequent “Quite so,” and “Indeed, your Worship!” seemed to cause his solicitor much emharassment.

At the Magistrate’s Court at Inglewood on Friday last A. C. I). loggers proceeded against Joseph Fabish and James Fabish for assault, and also asked that the defendants (father and son) be bound over to keep the peace. The parties were neighbors, and Jiggers’ stock having got into defendants turnip crop, an altercation took place, and complainant alleged defendant and his son severely assaulted him. This was denied by defendants, who said that Eggers attacked Joseph Fabish, who retaliated, and a fight ensued, and that the defendant (James Fabish. the son), did not touch the complainant. Evidence of previous disputes between the parties was also given. His Worship (Mr Crooke) held that the son (James Fabish) was-ap-parently the cause of the wholtT trouble. His Worship said he could not convict either defendant on the charge of assault, and in' all the circumstances be did not think it was a case for binding over to keep the peace. Each side would pay its own costs. Mr Thomson, of Inglewood, appeared for the complainant, and Air Spence, of Stratford, represented both defendants.

Yesterday, by the mail train, some sixty members and lady friends of the Stratford A. and P. Association journeyed to Moumahaki on a visit to the State Farm. On arrival at -Moumahaki Mr F. W. Lonsdale, manager of the Farm, had thoughtfully provided drags for the mile journey. Once at the farm, a tasteful lunch was served by the farm staff. Under the guidance of Mr Lonsdale, the party visited the experimental plots, and judging by the number of questions asked and notes taken, the visitors will no doubt profit handsomely by the information imparted. A visit was afterwards paid to the cattle section and field dojis. At A o’clock the farm bell sounded afternoon tea, which was also much appreciated. Pefore leaving, Air .Jackson (President of the Association), thanked Mr Lonsdale and staff for the very instructive and pleasant day which had been spent. Three hearty cheers were given for the staff on the call of Mr Jackson, not forgetting tho cooks and the “drivers. Mr Lonsdale, in reply, said it was a pleasure at all times to show visitors what they were doing in the way of experiments at the Farm. The thanks of the A. and P. Association arc due to Mr Peattio (S.M.), and staff for the special railway carriage and general arrangements.