LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 80, 10 March 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The s.s. Arawa, which leaves for the Home Country next month, is already a full ship in every department. A father and son left Dannevirke together on Monday en route for Trentham to do their "little ' bit" for King and country. The Stratford Pat.iotic Committee at the meeting on Tuesday, voted £IOO to the Y.M.C.A. Fund to purchase comforts for the boys at the front. By an Order-in-Council gazetted on Wednesday, the exportation of wool to any destination is prohibited, except with the consent of the Minister for Customs. Readers are reminded of Miss C. W. Christie's lecture to-night in the Forester's Hall, entitled "After the War—A new era and a new Race." His Worship the Mayor will preside. Children at Masterton are collecting empty bottles in aid of the wounded soldiers' fund. One hundred dozen bottles comprised one day's haul, this heing, as an exchange points out, in a no-license district. Yesterday, at Te Wera. the Whangamomona and local tennis clubs held a friendly contest, which resulted in the defeat of the visitors by nineteen games, the total scores being 81—62. The Te Wera players, both ladies and gentlemen, showed slight superiority over their opponents.

In connection with the appeal by the W.O.T.U. for funds for ambulance and Y.M.C.A. purposes at' present being conducted throughout the district, Mrs W. J. Reeve, president 'of the local branch of the Union, desires to acknowledge through the press a donation of £lO from Mr G. N. Curtis } which is much appreciated. The annual picnic of the Aekland Road School, which was held yesterday, was one of the most successful yet conducted. During the afternoon a sports programme was gone through and Mr H. Trimble, chairman of the Taranaki Education Board, presented the children with the prizes gained during the year. Mr R. Masters, member of the Board, and a number of Stratford residents, were also present.

The members of the Stratford Recruiting Committee were very successful in their efforts to enrol recruits yesterday and last evening it was reported that they had received the names of four men. Anyone wishing to enlist can do so with Mr C. I).

Sole (member of the Committee) at Bellringer Bros', shop at any time or at the Egmont Club any evening between 7 and 8.30. Mr Sole can also be interviewed at Bellringer's every Saturday night up to 9 o'clock.

Timed to commence at 9.30, the sitting of the local Magistrate's Court did not start until 9.50 this morning. The Clerk of the Court announced that he had despatched a note to a J.P. two days previously, but it had not been received, fie apologised for keeping the members of the Bar waiting, and said that he had telephoned the gentleman in question, and ihe Court would commence about ten minutes late. As the ten minutes extended to a quarter of an hour and then up to twenty minutes, the solicitors grew impatient and in the meantime the matter of keeping the Court waiting was freely discussed.

A number of Syrians m New South Wales have gone to the trout to fight for the Allies. Amongst the latest to volunteer are Privates Norman, Deep, and Joseph Maree, a son of Mr N. Maree, of Palmerston North. A farewell dinner was tendered them on the eve of their departure by the Syrian Progress Association in Sydney. There was a large attendance, those present including the AttorneyGeneral, Mr It. D. Hall, several members of the Legislature, the CousulsGeneral for Prance, Russia, and Brazil, the Mayor of Redl'ern. and a number of the leading Syrian residents of Sydney,

At the Stratford .Magistrate's Cour this morning, before Messrs J. Masters and J. McCluggage, J's.P., judgment for plaiir iff by default was given *u the following undefended civil cases:—Stratford Coiinty Council (Messrs Malone >md King), v. Alexander Tosh, £l9 12s 6d, costs £2 Os 6d ; Dr. Hitchcock (Mr E. Si Rutherfurd), v. W. O'Brien, £3 7s, £1 ; Dr. Steven (Mr P. Thomson) v. X. Bullet, Gl lis 6d, lis; Fred. Edwards (Mr Thomson), v. X. Bullott, £2 3s 9d. lis; A. Ferguson (Mr Rutherfurd), v. F. Warrender, £7 lis 9d/£l 6s (3d: Mr. Steven (Mr Thomson), v. E. O'Dea, £2 12s Gd, CI '2s; Mudfrrd and son (Mr Thomson), v. 12. O'Dea, to 19s, £1 15s 6d.

Weather Forecast.—The indications arc for easterly moderate to .strong winds and backing by east: to north. Kxpect mild and hazy conditions with weather cloudy to overcast at times, the barometer has a falling tendency. —Bates. Wellington.

The annua] garden fete held in connection with the St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in the Manse Grounds yesterday afternoon and evening was a great success. There was a large number of people present last evening, and the competitions and the various stalls were well patronised. The flower show was a feature of the fete and some rare and excellent varieties of cut flowers were .exhibited. Mr Cecil Corkili's exhibit of sixty or seventy varieties of cactus and single dahlias attracted a great deal of attention and was pronounced to be one of the finest exhibits yet seen in Stratford. Mrs T. Reader had a very fine exhibit of miscellaneous cut flowers, and the Californian tree poppy and the red passion flower were much admired. Mr P. R. Stewart's exhibit comprised twenty-four vases of sweet peas, which included all the latest varieties. "Robert Sydenham." (a rich orange") and the "Scarlet Emperor" are very choice flowers and should find favour with local gardeners. Mr W. H. Besley and Mr D. Graham, as well as other growers, lent valuable aid by exhibiting some very choice flowers. The sweet stall, which was in charge of Mrs Stewart, who was assisted by Misses Mackey, Stanton and Robinson, was well stocked and did good business throughout the day. The produce stall was exceptionally well stocked and the amount derived therefrom reflects great credit on Messrs Peattie and Smart, who were iu charge. Mrs Betts had a handsome lot of poker worked table eentres which found a ready sale. The committee desire to thank all those who donated and helped in any way to make the function a success. The croquet lawn was brilliantly lighted by electricity and thanks of the Ladies' Guild are due to Messrs Smart Bros for erecting the lights and the Electrical Supply Company for the electricity consumed free of cost. Mr Smart also undertook- the carting for the fete free of charge.