LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 42, 25 January 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The local Convent School will reopen on 31st January. Music tuition will also be resumed from 'that date.

The meeting of the Taranaki Scottish Society called lor Friday evening, lias been postponed until Monday the 31st.

The Stratford District High School’s big picnic (which is now observed as Stratford’s Annual Seaside Holiday) is to he held on Thursday, February 3rd, at the East End beach. Tickets will be on sale at Messrs Bellringers! shop on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.

The Herald says that the Railway Department is about to undertake considerable improvements at the Smart Hoad siding. This work is rendered necessary owing to the erection of the 1 aranaki banners’ Meat Freezing Works in that vicinity and the increase in railway traffic generally. The estimated Cost of the work is over £o()0l) < a considerable portion of which will be paid by the Meat Freezing Coinpany. Ihe work will be proceeded with at an early date.

The Chairman of the Associated Auctioneers has been advised that Mr Newton King has kindly acceded to the request made that he personally conduct the Farmers’ Patriotic Gift Auction Sale, to be held in Stratford on Saturday, February sth. Many of the older settlers who remember the stock sales of Taranaki in the earlier days will look forward with a great deal of pleasure to the chance of once again meeting 1 Mr Newton King in the active role of auctioneer.

it is learned (remarked the “Japan Times Commercial Supplement” of November 20th) that a hip; deal in centrifugal sugar has just been arranged between a certain firm at Kobe and Australian buyers, though the fact is still kept secret by both sellers and buyers, perhaps because business tactics require it. The whole volume of business transacted is said to be 10,000 tons for January-February delivery, That the arrangement of the deal has been effected is, in spite of the denial by the parties concerned, a fact considering that the sellers are

now negotiating with tramp-shipown-ers for the charter of three cargo boats to take the contracted goods to Australia. It is surely welcome news to the sugar trade generally, which has taxed its best brains as to the disposal of superfluous stocks, that roughly 10 per cent, of these stocks, which are estimated at 100,000 tons this season,! owing to the bumper crop of canes inj Taiwan, lias been thus taken by oversea buyers.

Replying to Dr. Thacker’s criticism of the treatment of returned soldiers, the Hon. Mr Russell (Minister of Internal Affairs), says that the only case in Dr. Thacker’s list which concerned the Public Health Department was that of William Angrove. The

Minister states that he wired Dr. Herbert, the medical superintendent at Rotorua for full particulars, and received the following reply:—“Statement absolutely untrue. Angrove arrived on the evening of the 17th and was at once admitted. He was seen by an assistant and told to attend my usual morning inspection of new patients next day, but he did not appear. I am since informed that he returned to Auckland next day. Every new patient is examined at once and starts treatment next morning. No patient is ever told in any circumstances to wait another day. As the man went off with his and our papers, I have no record who sent him.’’—P.A. Newton King, local agent lor the Shaw, Savi!l and Albion Shipping Company, Ltd,, hut iccmved advice that the sailing date ol the R.M.S. “Corinthic" inis been postponed from the 20th to Wednesday. 20th inst.. at norm ”

A public mooting will bo held in the i J own Hall on Friday evening to dej cidc whether Stratford will join tiie others, towns of Taranaki in the , "Battle of the Bullion."

bo work of re-threading the casing

at the Hiuroa bore is progressing satisfactorily (reports the Herald), and it is Imped to have it finished in a fortnight’s time, when drilling operations will be resumed. Tiie indications at the time the casing parted were very hopeful, and interesting developments are anticipated shortly.

Early yesterday morning a fire occurred in a house occupied by Mr I). F. Ueloe at Toko. Mr BeJoe was awakened at about 2 o’clock by the noise of poultry he had in the back yard and on arising to investigate he found the front bedroom full of smoke and flames. Owing to there being a plentiful supply of water available the lire was confined to the front portion of the house, and practically only the bedroom was damaged. The

room was gutted

At the 1.0.0. F., M. U. meeting last night, the installation of officers resulted as follows: G'.M. Bro. G. King, NX!., P.G. Bro. C. H. Lawn- V.G.. Bro. Watson; Guardian, P.G. Bro. £. Ireland; E.S., P.G. Bro. J. Harston; Secretary, P.P.G.M. Bro. C. D. Sole; Treasurer, P.G. Bro. T. Lawson. One new member (sister) wa s initiated. P.G. Bro. T. Lawson presented a framed emblem of the order to P.G. Bro. C. H. Lawn, who suitably replied.

The Ohura Advocate states that Mr Sam E. Meredith has received information that Mr Newton King, and other representatives of the Taranaki Farmers’ Meat Freezing Co., which is now being erected near New Plymouth, will visit Ohura about the 27th January, to try and get the farmers at that end to take an interest in the concern, which is purely a farmers’ proposition. And further that some of Taranaki’s most progressive farmers' are expected to be amongst the visitors. &

A complaint has been made to the local police by a Toko resident, who appears next Court day in Stratford as the accused on a charge of having committed a serious criminal offence, that some of his neighbors had taken the law into their own bands. and “tarred and feathered” him. Feelting is said to have run high in the district over the facts of the criminal charge and the above is only one instance of the length to which some individuals will go. The police are duly enquiring into the circumstances of the complaint.

A discussion arose at the Ohura County Council meeting last Wednesday (says the Advocate) about cutting down some of the meetings. Owing to the Government’s economising and the shortage of lahoui;, the work of the Council was reduced to a minimum. It was thought that this would not be fair to the men, and a councillor suggested that one or two could meet and sign cheques. Another member did

not want to cut down meetings as there was always a possibility of something happening, and he urged that councillors forego their fees. The matter was left open until April.

An incident provocative of considerable laughter among the onlookers occurred last Tuesday at the Dominion wharf, Onerabi. Mr Du Plantier, assisted by a young Maori, was unloading a launch alongside. A heavy box was being lifted on to the wharf decking, when the Maori, who held the upper handle, found himself over-bal-anced by the weight. He managed to clear the wharf stringers by a 15ft dive into the water. There was a danger of the box striking him as it fell, but bo evaded it cleverly, and, coming up alongside again, grabbed the handle and swam with it to tiie landing stage as if it was all in the day’s work. “Py korry,” he said, as ho wrung the water from his hair, “te taipo in te tarn box.”

The following instance of canine fidelity is related by a townsman (states the Waitara Mail). Wishing to “dispose” of a dog, he, took it in a boat towards the -mouth of fhe river, and having attached it to a heavy stone in the usual fashion, he stood up in the boat and threw the stone and dog overboard. He bad failed to notice, however, that the rope was round his leg, and the pull of the weight caused him to over-balance, and he followed the dog into the water, the rope at the same time breaking. The dog reached the shore, and then the owner of the dog also reached the bank. The dog was then in a state of great agitation with the man’s hat in his month. Needless to say the dog received a reprieve.

A party of tourists from Dunedin, including three well-known medical gentlemen, recently undertook a journey to the W cst Coast, via the Haast Pass, and one of their number, Dr. Riley, "ill have cause to remember the trip by reason of an amazingly narrow escape (remarks the Otago Daily Times). While the party was on,Jjp its return journey a portion of the track gave way, and the hind feet of Dr. Riley’s horse slipped over the edge of a precipice. The doctor threw himself clear of the horse, but, failing to reach the track, he fell on to a ledge about 15ft. below, forfcunately/without suffering any injuries. The horse and pack went down about 300 ft. in all, and though some of the party returned Ui the spot next day no trace of it could be found. The horse, which was on nod by Mr Ewing, of Makarora, was valued at about .£3O. Dr. Riley was little the worse for his fall, and the remainder of the journey was accomplished without incident.

The meaning of Okalmkura is stated to be ‘‘Beauty unadorned.” Tho bpy reported by hi? relatives at Midhirst yesterday as having disappeared from his homo was found at Inglewood by tho local -constable and sent back by motor car. Weather Forecast!—Weather conditions are threatening. Northerly strong winds to gale. Expect warm and humid conditions and much rain. Barometer falling.—Bates, Wellington. Sir Robert Stout, Chancellor of tho University, at Wellington (states the Press Association) in his opening address to the Senate, said that many students had enlisted for the war, and more were going. The number included 223 from Auckland, 217 from Victoria College, 122 from Canterbury, and 212 from Otago. At least, 34 had lost their lives. The Chancellor criticised the action of the Board of Studies in recommending the Senate to cease its statutory function ol appointing examiners, and that the duty t of examining candidates for degrees and diplomas should vest in teachers of affiliated institutions. What the Board recommended, the Senate had not power to do. He added that the recommendations might be part of a propaganda for. the abolition of external examiners, and pointed out that w'e were in troublous times and our duty was to husband our resources. It was criminal to waste money unnecessarily, but if the University was not necessary as an examining and degree-granting University ? it was the duty of Parliament to abolish it.