LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 68, 25 February 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A local resident who was astir this morning at a quarter to six made a' startling discovery, which he desires! t=> 7 ' | to be put on record., viz., exactly seven drops of rain fell at that hour! A meeting of Palmerston citizens convened by the Mayor, decided to as-j ■sist the Government recruiting, scheme, and a committee was set up to enrol the men for active service, j It was also resolved that in the opinion of the meeting the dependents of, soldiers killed or disabled were entitled! to a pension as by light.—P.A. The draw for the prizes in eonnec-| tion with Soldiers’ Queen Art Union at Ohura resulted ; —Xo. 1089, Gold Watch, Miss E. Jenkins, Pepper Street, Hastings, H.B. Xo. 888, Saddle, W. K. Williams, Ohura. Xo. 59, Cushion, G. Loveday, Ohura. Xo. 1787, Silver Watch, C. J. Ryan, Taumaimnui. The Methodist Conference opened last night at Auckland, when the retiring president, Rev. Dawson, emphasised the need for more extensive Band of Hope work. Referring to the war lie said he had names of 2354 Methodists who had volunteered up to the end of the war, and the list was still uncomplete. Rev. W. Lawry (Ponsonby) was elected president for the ensuing year. Two sections were hallotted for at Wellington yesterday. They were for returned soldiers. Two applications were received for the sections f which are situated in the Tablelands* settlement, east of Martinhorough- j One section of 709 acres was drawn by W. E. Arcus, and the other section, of 524 acres, adjoining it by R. Holmes. The Board resolved to recommend the Minister to proclaim the applicants under the Discharged Soldiers’ Act. i Readers will he interested to learn that the Salvation Army International Headquarters is still in a position to administer monies in connection with Serbia. Consequently donations for this purpose will lie thankfully re ceived and distributed where most required in that country, by accredited officers. In another column in this issue appears an account of the work of a representative of the Salvation Army in the country of our distressed All v.'

A few days ago the Hon. J . A. Hanan* in the course of a press interview, said that he considered that a national scheme should he established j to set aside moneys to secure largerj areas of land before the price advances| any further for sites for school play-j grounds. The longer the delay the greater would he the cost to the coun-j try, and in the interests of the children, of . the Dominion, the question should not be ignored. It was a national dutyj to look ahead in this important ques-, tion. The Minister said on Tuesday! that he was circularising the various education boards with a view to ascertaining the probable requirements dur-j ing the next two or three yeais. He asked for information on the following points:—(a) New school sites; (b) extension of sites of existing schools; ( C ) technical school sites; (d) secondary school sites. The boards are asked also to state, where possible, an estimate of the approximate present cost of the land. When the information, comes to hand the Minister will go into the question fully.

Interest in recruiting must not be allowed to die in our midst, and spH dal attention is directed to the public meeting, to be held in the Town Hall this evening. In accordance with the decision of the Borough Conned His. Worship the Mayor (Mr -1. W. 1 oon has convened the meeting, and a large attendance of the public'is desirable ) for the appointment of a committee to carry out the Government’s new recruiting scheme. The only alternative ( to the failure of the voluntary system is conscription, and while, no doubt this would suit the views of many of the public, it is in the best interests of the country and good Government that every assistance possible should lH> given to the scheme. It will be successful, but that time is not yet. when voluntarism has been proved unsuccessful, but that tihe is not yet. To-night the Mayor will explain the scheme to the meeting, which rill open at eight o’clock. ,

A Pahiatua Press Association telegram to-day states that an infantile paralysis patient, a girl, sixteen years of age from the country, died night. Weather Forecast.—The indications are for northerly winds, moderate to strong. Expect warm and humid conditions. with increasing haze and cloudiness, preceding a change of weather. Barometer falling.—Bates, Wellington.