LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 78, 8 March 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Victorian .Minister of Agriculture estimates the wheat crop at sixty million bushels.

The Ladies’ Patriotic Committee propose holding a garden fete at an early date and a meeting of all interester of both sex will he held in the Committee’s rooms on Friday evening at 7.45 to consider the matter.

The secretary of the Ladies’ Patriotic Committee wishes to acknowledge' receipt of £2 10s from Mesdames A.j F. Grant and S. H. James, £2 ss; from Mrs Paget for sale of puddings,) 7s from Mrs G. Curtis, 18s frond Miss Fowler and a sack of coal from Mr W. Smith.

The monthly meeting of the Ngaere W.T.C.U. was held at the residence of Mrs McMillan, I'innerty Road. There was a large attendance of members, and several visitors from other unions were also -present. Mrs Morison (Superintendent of Red Cross Work) reported that dur-j ing a recent visit to "Wellington shei had interviewed Mrs Luke. theMayoress, with a view to gaining information on Red Cross work which has been taken up by the Union. The boys of the Stratford High! School arc holding swimming sports ( in tile school baths to-morrow, the proceeds of which arc in aid oi ihej Red Cross Fund. A very interesting, programme has been aranged, and m-j eludes races of 25yds, 50yds, and 100 yds, diving, pillow fights, and the greasy pole. The boys should receive the hearty support of every resident, as they are very ally endeavouring to help those who are fighting for the freedom enjoyed, by the people of the Empire and hei'j Allies. Picture patrons of His Majesty’s Theatre had a close shave of missing the popular actress, Mary Pickforcl, in the great film, “Such a Little Queen,” which is to be reeled tonight. After delighting a big audience at Taihape on Saturday night, Mary, like el! good actresses, went to rest, and when the lire was discovered at two o’clock ni the morning, the manager bravely rushed through the Humes and rescued “Little Mary from certain destruction. The thanks of thousands of admirers of the actress will go out to the rescuer of “Buch a little Queen.” j

The following additional, rink will represent Stratford in the match* tomorrow on the local green agamy! * West End team; Mills, F. ,1. McDonald. Cottier, and Songster (sh Another ease of infantile paralysis was notified from Whakamara, near Hawera (states the Star), on Monday night, the patient being a child 12 months old. There were three other eases reported during last week. A Press Association telegram from Rotorua states that the Hon. A. T. Ngata arrived from the Urawera country last night without Run. He declined to say anything about hjs mission, stating he must first toll the Hon. A. L. Hcrdraan. He left for Auckland this morning. The members of the Stratford Recruiting Committee have experienced a busy time of late but their efforts have been well rewarded by the enroling of sixteen recruits to date. Of that number four have been passed as medically tit and two have left for Cam j). A big day is in store for the residents of Ackland Road and surrounding district to-morrow, the occasion being the annual school picnic. The final arrangements have been completed, and if favored with fine weather, there should be a record gathering. During the afternoon sports will be held. The Supreme Court opened at Napier yesterday. Mr Justice Edwards regretted the increase of criminal eases. Frederick Thomas Ulph pleaded not guilty to carnal knowledge and indecent assault on a Maori girl aged II years. In the witness-box the girl refused to say one word. Without retiring the jury returned a verdict of not guilty. Mr J. E. Wilson (New Plymouth) chairman of the Taranaki Provincial War Relief Association, has received a circular from the Minister of Internal Affairs asking the patriotic societies in the province to meet at New Plymouth on the 24th inst. for the purpose of electing a member of the first Advisory Board of the Federation of Now Zealand War Relief Societies. As in Taranaki there is a provincial association, it will not he necessary to hold a meeting of all the societies at New Plymouth, but the matter will be dealt with by the executive of the Taranaki Association, a meeting of which will probably be hold at Stratford on March 24.

The season for growing sweet peas, cactus dahlias and asters has been an exceptionally good one ) and the display at the St. Andrew’s Hall to-mor-row afternoon and evening is sure to provide a treat for all lovers of these flowers. It is understood that some splendid specimens of these plants will he on exhibition, and the committee have arranged that each exhibit he ticketed, so- that horticulturalists may have the opportunity of selecting their particular fancy. A special feature of the function will be the musical programme to he given at both afternoon and evening gatherings. Well-stocked sweet and produce tails mill be much in evidence. Favored, with line weather, the function should prove very successful.

The following is the exact wording of the motion moved at the meeting at Eltham, by Mr C. L. Wilson: That the enlistment of married men, especially with dependents, is economically unsound, and therefore as there is obviously still a large number of single men available, this meeting, while fully cognisant ol the need for men, considers the Government should g*ve a pledge, similar to that given by the Rome Government, t 0 married men who enlist, tc the effect that married men will not he called up until all fit single men, whether actually enlisted or not, have been called to the colors. Also that the chairman he requested to hand a copy of this resolution to Mr C. A. 'Wilkinson, with the request that the same be forwarded to the chairman of the Recruiting Board (Mr Massey).

For a scientific man who has suffered many things at the hands of the unscientific, Mr Clement L. Wragge speaks of his disappointments and defeated hopes cheerfully and without a trace of bitterness. But in his lecture at. Dunedin on Friday night (states the Otago Daily Times), he could not resist making one point that went borne. He was referring to the chionic lack of funds from which scientific men and societies suffer. In this great grand Empire which lie so dearly loved, he said, money could be found for horse-racing and ul! sorts of things except scientific, research. Scientific men had to go cap in hand and beg, beg. “I must be straightforward or you would not respect me,” continued Mr Wragge. “It is not so in Germany. It is not so in the United States, When a scientific man wants something there he goes to a Congressman, and the Congressman will very soon secure it for him.