LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 65, 16 November 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The monthly melting of the Stratford School Committee will bo held this evening. A farewell meeting to Brigadier Oarmichael will be hold in the Salvation Army Hall to-night at 8 o'enck, A local resident who celebrated the departure of the troops for Trentham too wisely last night, appeared before Mr J. .Masters. J.P., this morning and was lined ss. The inebriated one Was given until Saturday to pay the amount. lA Press Association telegram to-day from Palmerston North states that Henry Gray, aged thirteen, was gathering drift-wood on the main road near Tokomaru, when he fell into a hole caused by yesterday's storm and was drowned. Weather forecast:—The indications are for westerly winds strong to gale and backing by west to south Expect dull weather with much mist and fog in parts. Heavy rain is to be expected with rivers rising shortly. The barometer has a Falling but rising shortly.— Wellington. A correspondent writes decrying the social and dance method of raising money for the Wounded Soldiers' Fund. He prefers to "give his bit" straight-out without an entertainment. All men do not see alike on these matters, however, and if everyone does his best according to his lights, there will not be much harm done. The Taihape Carnival Queen closed on Saturday night, and the total amount now in hand is over but it is expected to reach £1.2,000. Mrs R. W. Smith, wife of the member of Parliament for the district, was eleeted Queen with £4OBI, and Miss Forde came second wTTTi '£3&23; ■ The Press Association adds that the carnival must be considered a brilliant success the results oeing double .what was originally expected. The social and dance which the Associated' Auctioneers' Association are holding in the Town Hall on Wednesday, 24th inst.. of the WpuMed 'Soldiers' Fund, promises to, be a great Success.' ! Tli| Committee. have, the; ar : ra'ngementsifell itV handy and tbe Pydv 'lie'-who attend can, rely on having a

•'thoroughly enjoyable;, e\Timig, ,as well as helping thejr ] . i wpupded brothers. A fnlt Onchestjja ', of twelve performers will play a choice selection ,of dances, and the committee: are paying special • attention; to? the floor. .Between the daiaces \yijOe rendered a choice selection of songs, et<-., by well known performers, The workgirls of London/have'' ah ardent admirer in Thomas' Burke,' the 1 author of "Nights in Town." This is ' wha t he : says a bout them :—"What"' roin'antic oliiirm little 'London work-girls have, with their short, tossing frocks arid ' tumbling hair! There' are no btlier wdfefeirfs.hV the'world to compare' with them I ''for sheer' witchery of ' 'face' and "character. The hew York work-girl is : a Tioly' terror.. The Parisian : grisette has a trihi' figure' and a doughy face.' The '. Berlin work-girl knows more about vicioushcss and •looks more like a ,suet dumpling''than anything else. But, though her figure may not lie'perfect, the London workgirl takes the palm by winsoineness and grace."

For the first time for some fifty years (states a London commercial paper just to hand), the Stock Exchange has been unable to pay a dividend to its proprietors, the previous occasion when the dividend was withheld was when the premises were rei." built. The trustees now say that they have resolved to defer the question M the payment of dividends until the end of the financial year, owing to the heavy. falling off in subscriptions, some 1800 members and clerks now serving with the colors—good luck to' them!—being exempt, and a further »00 members have availed themselves of the rule by which they may retire for a year, paying no "subscription, and resume membership without entrance fee. Dividends in the • past have shown up to over 90 per cent., so the present decision has caused, fio little fluttering in certain dove-cotes !<

L*i the course of ;i report to the Minister of Mines on the New Plymouth oilfields, Mr P. («. Morgan, Director of Geological Survey, says:— "Practically all qualified observers are agreed in the belief that the source ot the Now Plymouth oil is at a great depth, and thai probably the principal oil-horizon will not be found at 'a much less depth, and that probably the principal oil-horizon will not be found at a much less depth'than 0000 feet. Clearly, then, the future of the field depends on' the result of deep boring, and bores less than ."5000 feet in depth will not he directly important in deciding whether Taranaki possesses a prolific oilfield or not. They may, however, in places be moderately profitable, and may indirectly be of greht value in furnishing the structural data of which at present there is so great a lack. The 'area most deserving of being prospected appears to be the strip of country that extends 'for 1.5 miles south-south-east from the Sugar-loaves, and contains .omewhnt numerous gas-vents. So far as can be judged from the data at present known, the first deep bore ought to be in the neighbourhood of Moturoa. where a considerable amount of oil has already been obtained. Had the area to the south-south-east, already mentioned been more thoroughly prospected by means of 2500 feet to 8000 fc.et bores, possibly this opinion would need - modification."

All arrangements have been compkWiif for the laying of the foundation stone of the New Municipal Building-; on Thursday afternoon, at 3 o'clock. The ceremony will be performed by His "Worship the Mayor of Stratford (Mr J. W. Boon) and the member for the district v.-Mr J. B. Hine) will deliver a short speech. The Home Defence Corps, Territorials, jpufiieipal Band, and the school children Will be on parade. ••■ The- King's Standard, which was presented by his Majesty for competition among the Boy Scouts of the Dominion, has been won this yea/" by the Avonskle Troop. Christchurch. ' with 100 per cent, of King's Scouts, two bronze kuris, and 202 proficiency badges. This (says the Press) is a record for the Dominion, and probably for the Rilpife, and reflects great credit upon the troop and its scoutmasters,' Messrs Andrews and Foote. Colonel Cosshas requested his.Exeellency to forward the standard to Sir Cecil t Moon, the district commander, and has asked whether he can make it con- ' venient to go to Christchurch some day or evening this month, to make "the presentation. A meeting of the Women and CkiljHren Protection Society was held in the Foresters' Hall yesterday. There were present: Mesdames Budge (President), Abraham, Stronach, Boon, Howard, White, Crawshaw, J. .McDonald, , Thompson. R. Masters, and Middleton. Considerable discussio'h took place, on the aims-and work of the Society in the present war, especially the question of the. care of soldiers' wives and children. The funds of the Society are not very strong, and to augment them a box is to be placed on the Show ground at Show time. It was decided to arrange with the Hawera branch to enable the Plunket Nurse- who is to replace Nurse Cully, who retired oil. account of sickness, to visit Stratford every fortnight. Accounts amounting to £4 17s were passed for payment. Mrs J. McDonald was elected a member of the Society. Great enthusiasm was shown by the members present.

Mr and Mrs W. Ilodgers ,ot Walpo.e street, Sydenham, spent the best i part of a week in Dunedin waiting for their son, .-Private William Ilodgers,. who was reported to he returning on the Tofua (reports the i Lxttelton ..Timas). i The ; Defence offiomls WMsn qmttv icertain that Private;; Hoclgejjs •wasiionVthe J)oat,, and he ; waK;ac,tually ticskod-.otf on ! the ship's ling passed the doctors on, arrival in Dunediiii ;But.. Private Rodger,s was : missing, and his parents were thrown ( .into :a state of extreme anxiety, from | which: the .Defence, Office could not relieve tkemu jHappily, Mr Rodgers received a lettejr on Wednesday from his ,' son., dated September 20, from the iNew' Zealand Hospital at Suez. He ,had been wounded twice, and was then recovering .from fever. This news has come as a great relief, but Mr Ilodgers is still wondering how the Defence Department . managed to record his son" : as having passed the'doctor at Dun-' ediri. King Role! Earnival at Kohuratalri, —On Friday and Saturday a bazaarin, connectioh with the above proved., an unqualified success, writies our correspondent.' The result |of I their poll . for "King Kole" was :4Mt CAqland (Farmer), 15,137; Mr Stockley, (Lme), ll,:3(i2 : ;'Mr Aylward (Town), , l t l ( MThe, fund by votes alone benefitted to the extent of £2oB. Everybody worked well for the cause, particularly the ladies, and especial thanks are due to Mrs Hight, Mrs Montgomery, Mrs House, Mrs Barlow, and Mis Watts, and the Whanga Hockey girls. The exact sum is not to hand yet, but the fund will benefit largely by the crown- • ing ceremony concert and dance, which .drill be held on Friday next. A farce will be given, entitled "Under Fire,"Mid a great night is promised in every Hlspect.— The following have entrained this (Monday) morning for Treutham to take up their training:-—Messrs Joyce. Boyce, Trask, Matseu, Apsed. H A! host of friends gave them a great send-off, all having been held in high esteem locally. A sing-song and farewell was extended them in Mr L. KoeJs rooms.

A Monster Gift Stock Sale for Wounded Soldiers' Fund is being organised by the Auctioneers of Stratford and the Patriotic Committee. Promises of gifts will be welcomed, and every member of tfie Patriotic General Committee is asked to work hard and make the sale an unqualified success.