LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 4, 8 December 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An interesting report of the "'prboceiliiigs at yesterday's meeting of the Stratford Patriotic'"Ctmimittee will' he found onj pages. 2 and 3. ■'

In connection with the collision case being heard at the New Plymouth Supreme Court, the jury by 'special' train yesterday afternoon visited the spot where the accident occurred.

The business set down for hearing at the weekly sitting of the Stratford Magistrate's/Court on Friday includes twelve civil cases. Naesmith, on remand from last Saturday, will appear to answer to two charges, of theft.

A start was made in crushing stone for the Palmer Road contract to-day. Mr J. Neilson, the contractor, is listing the County Council's plant and has' every available team in the district engaged, so that the work of crushing the 1500 yards of metal may ; c carried out as expeditiously s pes sible. '

' The Oh lira, Advocate states: The heavy downpour about three weeks ago did heavy damage in tin l WaitJwhena Valley, near Kaeaea, most of the settlers suffering more or less. One of the settlers brought the matter under the notice of Mr W. T. Jennings, MP., at Te Kuiti, on Friday, and lie is making ''representations to the Minister in connection with the damage ami losses to these settlers,' who arc mostly Crown tenants.

The athletic competition for the Bayly Scholarship to be hold at Victoria Park on Thursday next is of more than passing interest, as the Stratford School's annual sports will

also lie held that day. Included in the programme will he an invitation scratch race, in which hoys from other Taranaki schools have been invited to compete. The sports will commence at 10 a.m. in order to allow visiting competitors to return home by the early trains.

The almanac informs us '(OhuraAdvocate") that mid summer is almost upon us, hut the .state of the roads gives the almanac the lie direct. The agitation' tor a quicker mail service cannot he sustained on this account, and until the clerk of the weather promises to conform with the almanac and thus place the-roads in a firmer and drier state, it is cruelty to horses and driver to expect to run through to the rail head faster than during the so-called had weather.

At the Piriaka sports recently there w < a well-contested choppiag match for ladies. Re-layiag gangs are very busy at present replacing the rails between Stratford and Eltham. The old lines are being replaced by ,'blb rails. Weather Forecast.—The indications are ior westerly winds strong to gale at times, with a southerly tendency. The weather will probably prove squally with heavy showers. Barometer unsteady.—Bates, Wellington. Labour appears to be scarce in the Ohura Valley (states the Advocate). Mr Plarland, the road engineer, is offering Lis per day, ..with tools and tents found, and is unable to obtain men at this high rate of wages. The breeding of pigeons as a table delicacy and an item of invalid diet is the coming industry in Australia, declares W. A. Somerset in an illustrated article in the December issue of "Life," entitled "Is There Money in Pigeons!-'" Mr Leslie Gaze, the well-known actor, who breeds pigeons as something more than a mere hobby, had no hesitation' in replying "yes" to the query. He himself has orders for fifty pairs of squabs per week at 3s, and he believes that, with very little trouble, a demand for 500 pairs a week could be discovered in Melbourne alone, and similarly in all the big cities. The article shows that, as compared with poultry-farming, pigeon-raising is child's-play, and in capital outlay, space, labour, and profit everything is in favor of the latter.

A Masterton Press Association telegram to-day states: A gentleman who wishes his name to remain undisclosed has communicated with Mr H. C. Robinson, stating that he is sufficiently impressed with the importance of the Unity Platform's creed of "The necessity for the unity of all classes in the face of the enemy," to offer to pay the expenses of a campaign by Mr Robinson in other towns. Mr Robinson has accepted the offer, and is now arranging his personal affairs so as to move out practically at once, going first to Palmerston North. He believes it possible, with the full help of the press of New Zealand, to see our obligations with regard to .the l]th■ Reinforcements,,honorably fulfilled before the, dawn ,qf and this , without asking ap.y man.|p, do a thing ithat he absojutely.;declines, to