LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 15, 21 December 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The “Stratford Evening Post” will not be published on Saturday next (Christmas Day) or Monday (Boxing Day), December 25 and 27 respectiveIv.

The monthly meeting of the Stratford School Committee will lie* held this evening.-

Napier reported a violent earthquake shock at 3.25 yesterday morning and a milder one on Saturdaj night.

A Wellington telegram says that a number of men employed in two oi the local wool stores ceased work yesterday, demanding an increase in wages.

There is to hand from Xewtdh King, Stratford agent, a very concise and useful Wall Calendar for 1916, advertising the Phoenix Assurance Company Limited.

The Banks throughoift the Dominion will observe the following Christinas and New Year Holidays—2oth, 27th, 28th December, and Ist and 3rd,dannary, 1916.

The Governor states that ilig expenditure from the - Hospital jslnp Fund on the Manama, ( amounted to £16,271. After payment of a fen 9 ijtstanding accounts the balance in hind for re-conditioning the Maheno ai d tHc will , amount tq

JTo-morrow afternoon, the Ladies’ Patriotic Shop ,in Broadway,.. will .be opened as a raspberries and cream refreshment. room. Local residents will no doubt avail themselves liberally oil the opportunity tb-moiTow, as this luxury cannot be' purchased every day in Stratford.

A Sydney cablegram states: Speaking at the School Teachers’ Conference,' Mr Griffiths (Minister of education), declared that the teachers’ minimum wage was altogether inadequate, and that as soon as the finances were adjusted after the war, lie intended to raise it in consequence with the increased cost of living.

In the report of the Stratford MagCourt proceedings which appearhfl ini the “Stratford Post’ll on .(October < 30th, by an unfortunate jerrorl (which we much regret Mrs Eva .0 -Rrevell was made to appear as defendant in a case in which shegWas really the plaintiff, and duly obtained judgment against one, G. H. Cleaver, for £1 19s 6d and costs 13s.

“It is expected,” said the Prime Minister yesterday, “That there will be a rush, not only a frozen meat, but of dairy produce for shipment during January and February, and with that possibility before ns we have been successful in securing as an extra ship the Indrabarah, while we are also endeavoring to secure some further tonnage as well.”

Lieutenant Gray, of the local Defence Office, in stating his impression of the Awapuni Camp, said that he had never attended a camp before which had the same pleasant surroundings as Awapuni. The men in camp have won the golden opinion qfi the Palmerston people by their good conduct. An orchestra had been formed amongst the troopers,* and some very good work was being performed.

Eight men are still required to complete the Taranaki quota for the 11 th Reinforcements. Those who have enlisted in the Army Service Corps and other branches and wish now to get into camp earlier than will he possible through these units, would do well to transfer to the infantry as by doing this they could go into camp imme-j diately. Recruits have now only two days in which to enlist. Registra-j tions may be made with Lieutenant Grey at the Defence Office or with' the honorary recruiting officer. Mr W P. Kirkwood.

In connection with the postponement of the departure of the second contingent of the Volunteer Sisterhood, the position now is that the hon. sec., Mis s E. A. Rout, will proceed to Egypt and possibly elsewhere, make arrangements for the reception, and cable instructions from Alexandria. Miss Rout leaves on the 30th hist., and, possibly, the contingent will go forward about a month later. The women chosen for the second contingent are; Mrs AY. S. Martin (Gisborne), Miss Jane McClure (Dannevirke), Mrs M. Hogg (Midhirst), Miss Annie Mcßean (Tutu-Totara), Mrs A. Long (Remuera), Miss Doro Phillips EpsomV Mrs Glayds Henning (Remnera), .Miss Georgina dopp /Roslyn, Dnndein), Mrs Crowther (Horn© Bay. Auckland), Nurs© Harris ('Auckland), ind Nurse AVatsou (Hawke’s Bay).

The Ladies’ Patriotic Committee’s Market held by Mesdamcs Prcntis and Lawrence on Saturday, was a financial success, £lO being realised from tlie sale of goods, and articles on the Christmas tree.

The Farmers’ Gift Mart was well stocked with produce, poultry, flowers, fancy goods, etc., again to-day. Mosdames- Sangster and Coy experienced a busy day with the guessing competitions. The Mart will be opened daily til] Xmas. Eve.

Weather Forecast.—Th e indications are for variable and strong breezes, fytit easterly moderate to strong winds prevailing. Expect warm and humid conditions. Weather cloudy to overcast. Misty rain is to lie expected. The barometer has a falling tendency. —Bates, Wellington.

j ‘ ♦ # " |! In the heights of the Dandenoug Ranges (states the* Sydney Daily Telegraph) there is a musical State schoolmaster, and though his handful of pupils is by no means specially gifted, its fame is spreading far. Thiy children are encouraged to sing siyf their work and sing on their way to and from school. As a consequence''' singing i s becoming a habit, and th» personal appearance and general physique of the children is eloquent of what might be done if a little more musical talent was introduced into the country.

A resident to the Puniwhakau district states that at present the country is looking exceptionally well, in fact, its condition is the best it has been for many years. Labor is very scarce, and considerable difficulty is being experienced in connection with Shearing. The whole country has been transformed by slips, which were brought down by the recent storms. In the mustering of sheep, farmers are only now finding out the amount of st’Ack they lost , thereby. In some cpses, tlie fences have been covered up with debris, and it will take years to' erect and repair the damage.

At New Plymouth last evening a young woman named. Dorothy Man ha;d a narrow escape from losing liffe by bathing, reports th e NewST Miss Man was surf bathing, when she ventured out too far and was carried away by the hack-wash. Although sh© is a fairly good swimmer she was soon in. difficulties. Her cries for help wore heard by soniq people,,on the beach, and two men.,(Messrs..M;. jpol-), t her . and B. Smythe). f.wmp outlto her o l rescue. Collier reached heir first, and;-; supported her (till Smythepcanie along i > arid started ito convey the young - woman to shore, against a fairly, strong current.'! Smythe to shallow water with his unconscious' burden, when ho collapsed from his exertions, and Collier brought Miss Man to the beach. Medical aid was speedily available, and at a late hour }ast night she had recovered consciousness and was progressing favourably.

Mr Syrnthe, who was completely exhausted, soon recovered.

Horses usually show a decided antipathy to donkeys, hut the opposite ■ appears to be the case with the hurdle mare Scorch (states th e sporting Wri-. ter of the Auckland Star). which is one of F. LoombVteam| at present quartered at Jl Rate's 1 ,‘ has' been running in a 1 padddek alon&sid&l the stahie near width was pWe'bf the" :: donkeys purchased'at the recent floral 1 ' fete at Fllerslie. So attached did the mare become to the little long-eared animal that it was put in the paddock with her. and the pair are now such close friends that if any other horse attempts to come near, Score*i immediately takes to them, while if the donkey i s taken from the paddock she runs up and down alongside the fence like a mare looking for her foal. The donkey also seems upset when Scorch is away, for when the mare is taken out for exercise, it will follow her to the gate, braying loudly, and does not settle down until she returns. It is very rare for a horse and a donkey to become so attached.