LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 36, 12 October 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The crowning ceremony in connection with the Eltham Carnival Queen, Miss Belcher, has been fixed for October 22nd at the Town Hall.

The M" to Z Petitions Committee reported, to the House on Friday that the petition for a remission of the sentence of imprisonment for life passed on Alice Parkinson should he referred to the Government for favorable consideration.

"1 will he pleased when the time comes for me to stop off. the train at the Stratford station again, but not until the war is over."—This dine spirit of a soldier was expressed by a. local lad when lying recently in hospital in Alexandria as the result of wounds at Gallipoli.

As a result of the concert conducted by Mrs Sangster and other ladies at Stanley Boad. the sum of £l2 has been paid to the Stratford Ladies' Patriotic Committee. These small efforts in centres near Stratford are turning in, a considerable sum to the funds.

Weather Forecast.—The indications are northerly moderate Mo strong winds, freshening for storm, which appears to be Approaching from the west, after 24 hours> .Expect' warm and humid" Conditions, with increasing haze and cloudiness'for change. Barometer falling fast.—Bates, Wellington.

In eo'iinection with the Eltham Queen Carnival just recently closed, the results of the raffles were: No. 71, Miss Evelyn Quin, the picture, "Passing Cloud." Xo. 85, Miss E. Reid, the picture. "Two Strings to a Bow." Xo. 34, -Miss Evelyn Quin, carved tray. Xo, 15, Mrs W. Waters, Japanese cloth. Shareholders in the Inglewood Cooperative Bacon Curing Co., Ltd., are notified that the directors have authorised the payment of a bonus of one farthing per j lb; on all bacon pigs and porkers supplied during the year, a refund of live-pence per pig from the amount deducted for insurance', and a dividend of live per cent, on share capital.

An elderly woman met with a painful accident while gaining access to tlie railway station through a gap in the fence made by the crowd last night. She trod on a nail, which went through her boot and pierced one of her toes. After securing the assistance of a bystander to remove the nail, the unfortunate victim was able to limp homeward.

A Gazette Extraordinary published last night contains additional regulations under the War Regulations Act. prohibiting the sale of books or other publications which may be deemed injurious to public interest in respect of the present war. Anyone having such a publication in his possession shall lie deemed guilty of an offence.

A military curiosity lately arrived in Xew York in tlie person of John Costelloe, who as a private in the Gordon Highlanders survived twenty-nine bayonet and sabre wounds, and found his way to America as a steward on the liner New York from Liverpool. Among his chums in the Highlanders, Costelloe asserted, he was known as the "human pin cushion." Every bayonet charge added five or six wounds to his "collection,'' until finally he ocame so battered that his officers decided to give him a period of furlough.

\ The Senior Cadets are reminded to j appear in uniform at the military eoncert to-night. , I

, Mrs G. Sangster and Mrs McQuay intending holding a Patriotic Mart next Saturday, and i" another column make a special appeal to fanners.

Local cheese factories have sold lines of cheese' at B}d on trucks in small quantities for New Zealand consumption. 4

Mesdames Boon, Budge, atid Charlton Bxibson conducted a most successful Patriotic Market in the new premises lately occupied by Mrs Brooking as tea rooms, Broadway, on Saturday. The proceeds of the day's sale will he an addition of £ls 2s 3d to the Ladies' Patriotic Fund.

Lieutenant Gray desires to thank the Stratford Home Defence Corps, under Captain McMillan, for their valuable services rendered in assisting in carrying out the entraining arrangements of the Reinforcements last evening for Trentham, also the local police and the excellent platform arrangements by Mr Peattie, stationmaster.

At the Patriotic Market, held on Saturday, amongst other attractions was a guessing competition for a doll, and, singularly, no competitor put m the'correct name. This is more remarkable when the fact is made known that the name chosen was "Jessie," and the competitors discarded this good old-fashioned and familiar appellation in favor of some more modern name, which one hears of in. novels of to-day.

Tbo Stratford Ladies' Patriotic Committeje who are fatting out a number of beds for the second Hospital Ship, are desiro'us that some kind person, who is not otherwise working for the Ladies' Patriotic Committee in Stratford, should supply sixteen fea.ther pillows. If this were done it would -be of great assistance, as the lady workers are fully employed with what they have undertaken in other directions. Ladies in the town and country who, are willing to assist in this direction, and would do «o, should communicate at .the earliest opportunity with Mrs A. W. Budge, Secretary to" the Ladies' Patriotic Committee, at the ladies' workroom in Spence and Stanford's Buildings, Broadway South.

A large crowd thronged streets last night to'wi'tness ! th'e ( departure of Stratford's (juota of the 9th Reinforcements, who'teft'fof trentham Camp by a special troop train at 8.40. Before marching the men on the station, they were lined up ; in.the drillshed,. ■ where His Worship the. Mayor (Mr, J. W. Boon) spoke a few words in farewell. Mr Boon said the townspeople and the country < as a whole had thor- ' ough confidence in the men who were going away to fight, and he tßbught that was easily understood when one saw'the fine stamp of men going. The boys were not going to lie on feather beds, but would have to put up with innumerable hardships. When the boys readied the firing line, the people of Stratford and surrounding districts would watch with the keenest interest and sense of duty their movements, and he was sure they would equip tfeemselves well. The country was proud of the, boys'fljho were leaving, and so they should be. New Zealand *• soldiers going to fight for one of the most powerful nations in the world, but, what was more, they were going to fight for world-wide liberty.' Mr Boon wished them good bye, God speed, and a safe return. s After fbe Mayor and Councillors had shaken hands with the men, those assembled joined in the singing of the "National Anthem." The troops left the hall and the public dispersed, after singing "Soldiers of the King," and giving the boys hearty cheers. From the drillhall the men were marched along Fenton Street and Broadway to the station, headed by the Pipe Band. The men were assembled on the unlighted station platform about 20 minutes before the train arrived. The men were quickly entrained, and after a few minutes, the train pulled out, f amid cheers, shouting and good wishes to the gallant felloAVs proceeding to camp.