LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 54, 9 February 1916, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

After a run of bad luck at the Wairoa races, a soldier on Ids final leave invested his last £1 note on an old favourite. He wrote on the back of the note, “Good-bye; I suppose I’ll starve now.” His luck changed, and the horse of his choice won. Two of the notes forming part of his dividend had writing on them. On one it was written, “The last of a good time. 1915,” and on the other, “Good-bye, old friend.”

Electric dust-collecting vans are gradually coming into general use in England. Barnes Corporation has ordered four electric vans; Birmingham is about to put one electric van in active service alter exhaustive trials; Hover Corporation has six electric two-ton vans on order and two at work ; Heston . and Isleworth Council has one two-ton electric van at work; Nottingham Corporation has one three-ton electric van at work and another on order; Smethwick has an electric van on order.

Tempted by the high price at present ruling for empty bottles, larly beer bottles, a gang of small hoys explored the “rich uuiathomed depths” of the River Avon last week. Their diving met with astonishing success. One of the lads told a reporter that they had obtained in a couple of days no fewer than twenty-four dozen, with several promising reaches of the river vet untouched.

In our advertising columns will bo found an intimation from the Stratford blacksmiths that the price o! horse-shoeing will be increased from February 14th. This has been found necessary owing to the sharp advances in raw materials, iron and steel having advanced no less than £8 per ton in the last six months. Should any further advances take place, the prices will have to he again increased.

For having stolen some newspapers that lie had agreed to mind for a little while one Sunday, John Stanley Stewart, a Sydnev lad. sentenced to one month’s imprisonment and 16s costs, in default seven days’ hard labor. It was stated in evidence that Alice M‘Carthey, a newsvendor, who was selling papers on January 23 at George Street North, asked the young fellow to mind her papers for a few minutes. W hen she returned <6 pap ers were missing. Accused admitted the theft, stated that he had sold the papers, and said he knew he had clone wrong. He stated that hd had come from” Whitechapel,London, Ho had been convicted previously.

Whilst a ten-year-old lad, Michael Byrnes, was winding water at his home at Bnlga (N.S.W.), he over-bal-anced and fell down the well, drop of 50ft. On his way down, lie hit the sides in several places. Hanging on to the bucket, he reached the bottom with a jerk. He was severely cut about. An elder brother, aged 12, saw ‘him fall, and made frantic attempts to wind him up, but could not do so. He called for help, in the meantime hanging on to the windlass to keep his brother above water. Help was soon forthcoming, and the lad was hauled to the surface, where it was found that he was badly cut about the lower portion of the body and bruised about the head. Two operations were found necessary, and the lad Is now progressing favourably.

The Australian A.S.C. captain, writing to relatives Horn Gallipoli on November 29, confesses to having cold feet for the first time during the war. He says that at the time of writing the snow was thick upon the ground, that the men had to keep up a continuous stamping to feel lilo in their almost frozen leet. ’I be same wiitei tells an amusing story ol smart private enterprise from the same quarter. A .paddle-wheel tug boat had been washed ashore by one of tlie heavy gales, which had been frequent in tlie" vicinity. The general in command thought it a fine opportunity for securing some timber to line his dugout. He sent along a contingent of men to gather it. but they found an armed guard in possession, who told them they were under orders not to allow anyone aboard. It afterwards transpired that a company of privates had been struck with the same thought, and they had placed a lew of their companions on watch while thev went below to gather comloits for their quarters. Another yarn ho records is of an Australian sentry ami a high English armv official. Hm sentry took no notice of the offlcei, who marched before him two or thiee times haughtilv. At last, rather exasperated, ho blurted nut, “Ho vou Vuow. -ir man, that I'm ——. of ins Maiesty’s Imperial forces?” Well, vou’ve got a da-bed due bOb-t. old Idol.--. ” replied the sent-- imnehalant|v; “befte-- mind yousell that you tlov’t lose it.”