LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 7, 11 December 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The oil bore at Huiroa is down to a depth of 4172 ft., and after the rethreading of the 6-inch casing, it is hoped to resume boring early in the New Year. At the time of withdrawing the casing, states the informant, tlie indications were more hopeful than ever.

It is the 'intention of the Taxation iDepartment, said Sir ’Joseph Ward, to'! send three of its' inspectors ’ Indifferent parts of Xevi* Zealand to give information' to tlio.se 'farhiefs - in regal’d, to i the : aico.ifi'flte 1 lijliuW’ lup ■of their income rfeturnsy - and’ to fthsist them generally in this new Kvork.

The military authorities at Tientham made a final and exhaustive test of the machine-gun recently, manufactured in the Petoue Railway Workshops, prior to taking delivery. It is understood that the results wore thoroughly satisfactory, and that the gun will now be placed in commission.

One of the banks in New Plymouth hap decided to employ a - lady clerk (stjates the News), and it is probable 1 other banks will follow a, .similar course. The staff of the banks iu J New Zealand have been considerably depleted by enlistments, and it is reported that one leading hank is considering the question of closing some of its small branches. 1

The Inspector of Stock in the Stratford district, Mr Beere, in an* advertisement in this issue, drawst the attention of farmers and others to the fact that, in consequence of his enforced absence from the office at Stratford during the day time owing to the growth of the Department’s work, letters or telegrams addressed to him will he much more satisfactory than the use of the telephone. He points out that the work i,u the district under his control is extending rapidly, and that this suggestion will help those concerned very considerably, especially at this time of the year when he is busy with the innoculation of calves.

Apropos of Mr P, C. Webb’s remarks in Christchurch, the Greymouth Evening Star says;—“Now, we have a wholesale regard for Mr Webb's sincerity in his efforts to uplift and improve the toiling masses, but we are not going to stand the member for Grey hiding himself behind a bushel and abusing the employers, many of whom have died in the cause of justice, righteousness, and liberty, when he himself, a single man, has not donned the khaki in a manner which lias brought upon Lieutenant T. E. \. Seddon and Lieutenant Downie Stewart the high encomiums of Keiormer and Liberal ( alike. The present is no time for cheese-paring ; a .man who is not for ns is against ns. We do not want any maudlin philosophy; the present is time for action. . .’ The paper- calls upon Mr Webb to define his position or else “return to the electors that trust which they on two oe- , fusions have so handsomely reposed in him.” 1

The offices of Stratford solicitors will he closed from 5 p.m, on Thursday, 23rd Denton her, to 9 a.in. on Tuesday, 1 ith January. At a send-off to the Gallons at Makahn on Friday. 3rd hist., the principal speecli was made by Mi A. Coyne, not by the chairman as was stated. "Weather Forecast.-—The indications are for northerly moderate to strong winds prevailing. Expect warm and humid conditions. Weather clouding over, rain later. The barometer has a falling tendency. ' Mrs George Sangster and Co. will open a daily sale of work in the C.B.A, Buildings commen-mg cn the 18th December and to'continue up to. and including Christmas Eve, on behalf ol the farmers .of the surrounding district, proceeds to be used in aid of the nurses and invalided Colonial boys at Home. Donations of produce, etc., are solicited. Experienced pastoransts are of opinion that the Poverty nay district is in for a record season. .Vs a result of the recent splendid rains, the country is looking remarkably well, and, though most places are heavily stocked, many, indeed, being overstocked, there is plenty of feed and a certain guarantee that this will remain the case. One result of the rams, it is stated, is that the season will he an unusually late one.

On Monday morning, the following mWi leave by the mail train for Trentham as reinforcements in the Eleventh ; J. Scarlet, A. J. Mack. A. New, E. J. Flynn, S. J. Betlirune, end J. Wilson. It is understood that His Worship the Mayor (M r J. W. Boon) will briefly address the men before leaving, and that members of the Home Defence Corps will co-operate in the farewell. Some time ago. Air J. W. McMillan, secretary of the Stratford Patriotic Committee, wrote to the Minister of Defence suggesting that certain privileges b e granted to the returned soldiers in travelling on the railways. The Minister, Hon. Jas. Allen, has communicated with the Committee, and states that he lias had under consideration for some time past the matter brought to his notice by he Committee, and will shortly issue a pamphlet settling this and other matters satisfactorily to the Committees and, pie 1 returned s'bldiers. * ’ i i :mi t ■ i a m;.i It

• statenieut that there are about fifty'Maori girls in Taranaki who.were married before they Vvere .'fourteen years of age w'a's made by Mr J. H. Walker in the New Plymouth Magistrate’s Court yesterday (states the ISews). Ho thought all Maori marriages were carried out by the Ala on custom, and cases of the marriage of children were common wherever there v. ere Ala oris. As soon as girls show a friendship for young men their parents arranged to get them married. ft appears these children have no say l in the matter at all,” remarked •'ll’ A. Cooke,' S.M.-, “and it is just about time the custom was stopped.”

farmers and others are cautioned that failure to comply with the regulations in regard to the innoculation ol calves Tot- the prevention of blackleg renders the offender liable to a heavy penalty. In this issue the local Inspector of Stock, Mr Beere, announces that he will be in attendance at Messrs Webster and Dobson’s saleyards, Stratford, on Friday next, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 12.30 p.m., for the purpose of innoculation of any animals brought forward. Last year, it may be mentioned, close on 20,000 calves were put through, and Mr Beere is of the opinion that the number this year will not he very far short of that total, although this season’s lot are not so robust or as forward as last year’s, which condition more than probably is due to the late snap of cold wet weather. It is understood that a number of blackleg cases have been reported, but that they have been successfully dealt with. If farmers will only co-oper-ate with the Inspector in this matter and make every use of the facilities afforded for the innoculation of their stock, the eradication of the disease will be only a matter of time.

1 have often heard (writes “Ariel” ia the Dunedin Star), that there are people who are making money out of the war, and that there are people in New Zealand who are exploiting us all under cover of increased freights, insurances, and the like. But 1 did not realise the extent to which it was being done till the other day, when 1 was in company with several officers, and the talk turned on the cost of the numerous suits of uniform they were ordered to buy. “I had my cap before the war,” said one; “it cost me 7s (id.’’ “I got mine in Auckland recently for 155,” said another. “Well, mine is just the same article,” said a third, “and it cost me 30s in Christchurch.” “What did that cost you?” queried one. “Six guineas in Wellington.” “1 got mine in Auckland for £3 10s,” rejoined the questioner. There were some doctors in the company, and one of them mentioned that he had paid 15s for Ins three little metal badges in Wellington. Another replied that lie had got Ids for 6d eaeh in Auckland.- The things probably ■ost about (id a gross. And 1 have iieard of similar cases at our very Joors, where, e.g., the cost of materials used in making socks for the ivounded soldiers has been advanced fully 100 per cent. Is it not the Inty of the Government to obtain uul publish a price list in different aentres, and so prevent this transparent iniquity?