LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 48, 26 June 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The .Stratford Home Defence Corps parade on Morulay evening at 7.30 o’clock for drill and a. shooting match. The Post Office will hold a shoot against the Public Works Department on Tuesday. On Thursday next the fourth shoot for the Kirkwood gold medal will be held.

Mr Chas. Bayly, of Toko, has kindly donated the Belgian Flag purchased by him at the recent Toko function to the Stratford Scottish Society, to be sold at their social on July 20th, proceeds to go to the sick and wounded returned troopers fund. Mr Bayly originally purchased this flag at Stratford.

At the St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church anniversary social, to be held on Monday evening, at 7.30 p.m., in

addition to an address by the Rev. J. R. Shore, M.A., of Hawera, and brief messages from the local ministers, an enjoyable musical programme is promised, comprising songs by Misses Nielsen and Campbell (both of Hawer). Miss Elia Sangster, a duet by Messrs W. H. Robinson and H. W. Douglas, violin solo by Miss Hopkins, pianoforte duet by Misses Sargent and Spence (Hawera), cornet solo by Mr Ford, and item (Allies’ National Anthems) by Mr C. H. Rogers’ archestra). At the close of the social, supper will be provided by the ladies of the congregation.

His Worship the Mayor, Mr J. W. Boon, this morning received the following telegram from "Wellington;— At the 'request of the Wellington Patriotic Society, the. Mayor of Wellington has pleasure in inviting the mayors and chairmen of all local bodies and representatives of patrioticsocieties throughout the district from Wellington to New Plymouth on the west and Napier on the east to meet him in conference at the Town Hall, Wellington,, on Friday, July ‘2, at 2.30 p.m., for the purpose of considering a proposal to federate the various patriotic societies and funds, to agree upon a uniform system of relief and, in general, to devise ways and means of economical and efficient administration of patriotic funds; also to nominate trustees and an executive controlling the funds of the whole district. Sir John Findlay and Mr C. P. Skerrett, K.C’s., will he present to advise the conference on all legal matters.

In connection with the brilliant display of the Aurora Australis last Thursday night, says the Christchurch Pi ■ess. the compass chart at the Magnetic Observatory shows some interesting variations. The change of compass direction during the storm

amounted to one degree seven minutes, and the storm was intense for a period of sixteen hours. The maximum occurred about the middle of the disturbance, 10.30 p.m. The variations of the horizontal magnetic force were also very marked, and the vertical component exhibited great fluctuations also. These fluctuations, Mr Skey states, would be recorded throughout the world. It is not often that a storm of such a large range of variation occurs. The change of com-

pass lor the average storm is about' twenty minutes. Last Thursday night’s storm was the largest since September, 1909. Mr Skey says that the phenomena are probably due to some electrical disturbance, with attendant cold temperatures in the higher altitudes.

Weather Forecast.—The indications are for easterly winds strong to gale and hacking hy east to south. Expect dull weather. wL., much mist and fogin parts. Much rain is to be expected. Hirers high. The n'glit will probably he very cold. Man ’'c k er unsteady. but rising shortly, dates, Wellington.