LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 93, 20 August 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The total number of cases in the various military hospitals yesterday was 17S. The p'uee of flour in Sydney will he reduced 7s (id per ton from Monday next. The total amount collected in the boxes on Saturday for leather waistcoats by the Ladies’ Patriotic Committee. Stratford, was till 7s 7d. A Sydney cablegram states that a portion of the new bursaries being established for the public schools will he devoted exclusively to the children of fallen soldiers. Arrivals in New Zealand from oversea dining July totalled 172 J, against 2Jof in July, 191-1. Departures uuhihering 2119. compared with 2(idl a year ago.

In the South Australian Assembly a petition'for the resumption of the old hours in hotels was presented by the City Corporation, on the grounds that the vote in the Adelaide district was overwhelmingly in favor of closing at eleven o’clock.

A correspondent of the Now Zealand Time, l , says: “One of the finest acts of l inperialisjn to he recorded in coniijfction with the war is the incident connected with the surrender of German South-west Africa. At the first meeting held in the matter of .General Botha’s presentation through the medium of a shilling subscription, the chairman announced that he ‘had received a shilling by cable from Sir Joseph Ward.’ This incident proved that at least one man in New Zealand can ‘think Imperially.’ ”

Last night the children of the Methodist Sunday School held a “Service of Song” in the Began Street Hall, livery item was a composition of the late Fanny Crosby, the wellknown hyin'A Writer;'- dr some incident' ■in ■ connection with her life;' The children rendered their items very ■well, and all presdht enjoyed the evening’s entertainment. A vote of thanks was-, pusspd to all the energetic folk who helped To "make the entertainmen t •a* sucoeds. 1 M'l l J. W. Boon acted as ••■chairman; 11 ! >'i. ' • :! ■' ' “

On Tuesday .night next Adjutant iCfortlv iof tjhe Salvation Army will des-. cribe “A Day in ’Colombo,” “Where the Ladies carry the bricks,” also a visit paid to native quarters,-etc. This meeting will also form a welcome to Cadet Medland. of Great farrier, Island, who is coming for a J:e\j:,, \yeel{s to assist Adjutant Cook, with thej annual Self-Denial. .Appeal. Ay i til ,t,l|n| wj eat lie iv 'moonlight night. :a;ul,,,a Cornish Pasty Supper there shopJd ho an interesting and. pleasant evening., j ~ ,z IM.lfi'A Mf4UB 1 dbf l Stratford may well he proud of the manner in which the Post Office staff j ( I has respojnded to the Call of Empire.., Out of ;i | total of .twenty-eight., every eligible single employee sent forward his name;- Sad to relate, one has. already given his life,; though his death occurred in the training camp in New Zealand he none the less truly died for his country. Other of the soldier postals are in the front trenches at Gallipoli, and,one at least has suffered severe wounds which will'

cripple him for life. The departure of eight at times sorely taxed the resources of the staff, but it is pleasant to learn that the spirit of loyalty is equally strong in the remainder, who are co-operating faithfully in the discharge of occasional added duties.

Mr It. Masters, reporting in connection with his recent visit to the authorities in Wellington on the matter of the establishment of ;t separate High School, states that the Minister i Hon. Mr Hanan) had only taken office that day and was not acquainted with the linances of the Department. However, he was very sympathetic with the project, and recognised the fact that the disestablishment of the District High School and the establishment of a separate High School was warranted. (The Minister will in all probability visit the district shortly and go fully into the matter. Mr Masters also brought under the Minister’s notice several matters in connection with education in other parts oi the province. The first of the Stratford’s Hand’s instrumental competitions was held in the band room last evening. Mr (’. H. Lawn ofiiciated as adjudicator, and nine bandsmen "faced the music.” The following was the result:—(L Lord (cornet) solo. “At Hreak of Day” (gold medal). So points. I; A. McDonald (euphonium) solo. “May Hell” (silver medal). 77 points, 2;

St:i ll . Simmonds (cornet) solo. “Lot Krin Remember" 'silver modal;. 7-1 points, •!. Tlio points trained l»y other members won 1 : K. Thompson 7-'i, L. Sinimonds 70, -I. Howen (tfs, H. MiKendry (id, ,M. Aajraard (id, H. Cliilds (id. The possible nnndior was 10(1 points and alllionoli no hijih standard was roacliod a perceptible improvement all round was marked. Mr Lawn, in his remarks at the conclusion, conora tula tod tlio Hand on its undertakirip;. He considered there was no doubt those competitions were fjoinij to make a marked difference to the Hand’s playing. Hersonally, lie favored concerted playing, and suggested cmbodimenl in future competitions, a .js^rsS*

eather Forecast.—-The indications are for easterly moderate to strong winds and hacking by east to north. I here is a prospect of fair to cloudy weather. The night will probably be very cold. Barometer little movement.— Bates. Wellington. t A meeting of members of the Scottish Society will be held at Air McAllister’s studio. Broadway, to-night • 7..*50 o'clock, for the purpose of disposing of Mr Campbell Jackson’s' section and other business. All lady and gentlemen members are requested to attend. Some time ago Messrs. J. Masters and Sons generously offered to purchase a machine gun and present, it to the authorities, and it has now been ascertained that such a gun is not obtainable from Kngland at the present time, although one may be procured from Japan or America. The Chairman of the "Patriotic Committee informs us that Messrs Masters and Sons have placed no restrictions on the gift, and are prepared to hand over the cost of the gun to the finA . . pc rial authorities. A message published elsewhere in this issue explains •the—whole position in regard to the' need for machine-guns, and the reason why none is available for New Zealaifcl. One of the Christchurch men who left with the First Kxpeditionmy Force writes to Ids parents of an incident that he witnessed on hoard one of the transports between- Malta and Alexandria. There was a shortage of food, the daily ration consisting almosj. solely of a large hard biscuit. The. climax camp one night when the Maoris, who were on their way to* tlio front.' kicked over the traces, and there was “a terrible row.” The result wa s that the officer commanding sent ashore for fresh bread and meat. At an ipquiry next day. it was ascertained Unit the stewards had been making sandwiches from bread and meat belonging to the men, and had been selling them at ’threepence each among the troops. ”1 might add.”

says the writer, “that the stewards cannot he found, or they would get a

pretty rough time.”

An habitual criminal, John Henry Heath, who escaped from llotoairo prison (-amp on August 17th,. was recaptured yesterday hy Constables Wilson and Doyle, undpr -exciting qrrevunstauces, reports a Press Association telegram from Wanganui.. In, (.‘opsequence of information received that a man resembling, s>£ prisonyi;- ; had been seen at Atake,. 30 miles from VI a'ngamii. the. two policemen procured a motor car and went towards that district. . Ajt a, lijunl oma, ,road,, IS miles ' from Wanganui, the policeman' ihet the prisoner on horseback. He immediately spurred the horse, and dashed past at full gallop. After delay in Willing the ear, the police gave chase. The fugitive had a big start, but after a race for three miles the motor ear overhauled him. The escapee then threw himself from the horse, and dashed into, the hush where' the constables, chased and Caught whim. Prisoner was wearing, a riding suit, which ijt was" ascertained he had stolen from a settlor’s house ■at -Kariin’.