LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 68, 20 July 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The price of butter in Melbourne has been raised Id per lb.

Tbo annual social and presentation of prizes of tbo Toko Settlors’ Association will be held on Thursday nest in the Coronation Hall.

After the evacuation of Metzeral the German corpses tliat wore piled up indicated I rijjjiitiul losses. '1 hey had seven battalions a lien the French attacked, and brought up ten others.

There was a slight interruption of the Stratford water service this morning. Inquires made show that further trouble has been experienced at the intake. In consideration of the heavy rainfall, the old adage “water, water, everywhere but not a drop to drink,” seems ironically true in these dull wet days.

A gold nugget, valued at £IB,OOO, was found in the Engineer group mines in British Columbia. According to a Toronto cable it measures 00 inches in length. IS inches in width, and 2 inches deep.

At a special meeting ol the Borough Council held in committee last evening, it was resolved to cottier with the Electrical Supply Company regarding terms for the acquisition ol the light service in the town.

The Mock Court arranged in eonjunction with the Scottish Concert which was to be held this afternoon, has been postponed until Saturday, when it is hoped that the weather will be more propitious.

The meeting of the School Commit- , tee called for this evening has been postponed on account of the inclement weather. On account of the weather the Scottish concert and dance arranged for to-night has been postponed. A definite date will be published to-mor-row. A Sydney cable states that the executive of the Cricket Association lias adopted a recommendation that next season's Inter-State matches be suspended on account of the war.

At the local Court on Friday, eight civil cases. one of which will be defended, will be heard, One Offender will be charged with disobeying an order to maintain. Two ease* of permitting cattle to wander will ko also heard. One charge of excessive drinking will be dealt with.

In connection with the award for butter gained by the Stratford Dairy Company at the Panama Exhibition. a paragraph yesterday made it appeal' that the Company gained a silver medal, whereas it should have been a gold one.

• At a meeting of the committee of the Taieri <S.I.) Agricultural Society, last week), .Mr Janies Patrick, of Leo .Creek. Outran), was disqualified for one year. We understand that the decision of the committee G the result of a charge laid by Mr Geo. C. Thomson, of Wairongoa, that Mr Patrick exhibited in his own name and as his own 1 property, at the show held by the society at Allanton in November, 1919. a roan filly that did not belong to him.

Members of the “Merrie England” opera are requested to meet at tbo Post Office. Stratford, at 6.30 on Wed-

nesday evening for conveyance per motor lorry to Eltbam for the performance of the opera that evening. On Thursday the company meet at the railway station not later than 2.00 in the afternoon, thereafter proceeding by the three o’clock train to New Plymouth. returning per special train after the performance.

Private advices received in Stratford state that the chances of a coalition. and the formation of a National Government are still hopeful. Sir Joseph Ward is reported to favour the latest proposal, which it is freely stated in Wellington provides for a Ministry of nine with five Government and four Opposition members. Neither Mr Massey nor Sir Joseph Ward had anything to say when questioued on the matter, though Mr Massey did intimate that the Financial Statement might have to be held for a few days for possible revision by a National Cabinet.

Owing to the continuous rainfall, the Patea River has risen considerably and is running at a great velocity. Tliik inorning a drover with four cattle 1 endeavoured to cross at the Portia Street ford, but two of the beasts could not stand up against the current and were swiftly carried down stream. After much struggling, the beasts found their way ashore at a section on the south side above Victoria bridge. They did not look any the worse for the ducking but. luckily, the current carried them towards the bank or the chances were they would have been drowned.

Captain I). Simson, New Zealand Field Engineers, who was one of the wounded to return on the Willochra, states that, as an officer of the British section of the Xew Zealand expeditionary force, be will lie pleased to communicate on behalf of parents to any member of the British section and give them any information be possessed with regard to their boys in the Dardanelles. For a week or so letters for Captain Simson may be addressed cai;e of the Defence Department, Auckland, and after that care of the Defence Department, Wellington.

in the House of Representatives last week, the Prime Minister said the Governmeut would consider the question of inviting the Australian nurses who came by the Willochra to visit the beauty spots of the Dominion as the guests of the Government. Free passes on the railways had already been arranged for. lie would make inquiries from the sister in charge how the Government could best meet the wishes of the nurses in this respect. He wished to say that the services of the Australian nurses were greatly appreciated, and the fact that 8(J men were carried on board the Willochra. and only lb had to be carried off. showed how well the men were looked after. This was only another instance of New Zealand’s obligation to Australia during the present war.