LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 84, 15 March 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A sharp shock of earthquake was felt in Stratford at G. 40 a.m. to-day. No damage is reported. It has been decided by the Public

Service Commissioner that this year, girls shall be admitted to the Public Service entrance examination.

In view of the epidemic of infantile paralysis in the district; the Stratford School will be disinfected each day and fumigated once a week until all danger from the disease is past.

A good sale is reported for the green ribbons being offered at var-j ions business'places* in Wellington, the proceeds being devoted to help the refugees in Poland. Those who wish to wear a “bit o’ green” on St. Patrick’s Day, and-at. the same time assist a good object (states the New Zealand Times) will not fail to obtain

It is satisfactory to learn that the health authority, the Borough Council, lias instituted a sanitary inspection of the town. The work was commenced by the Borough Engineer yesterday, when Mr Sullivan visited several Broadway business places. Cr. Thompson states that the inspection i.i anything but of a cursory description, and that particular attention is being paid to the eating houses, where, in some cases, ' unfortunately,, the conditions are not too pleasant. In the absence of the Mayor (Mr Boon) Cr. Thompson instructed Mr Sullivan to institute prosecutions in cases where the sanitary arrangements were a menace to the public health.

Arrangements for the grand Catholic social and dance to he held in the Stratford Town Hall on St. Patrick’s Night, are in a forward condition. An energetic committee of the ladies of the parish has made ample arrangements for the refreshments, and musical items will bo contributed by well-known local and outside favorite performers. The dance music this year promises to be exceptionally good, and, given line weather, this year’s St. Patrick’s night social should eclipse all previous ones. The price of admission 2s. and 3s for single and double tickets respectively, is very moderate indeed, and, in view of the fact that the nett proceeds are fov the Church funds, less a per centage to he given to the local Patriotic Committee, two very worthy objects, it is to he hoped that the public will respond by attending in full force next Friday evening.

Mr J. B. Richards, Deputy Official Assignee, notifies that a first and final dividend of in the pound in the estate of Robert Hugh Cameron, contractor, Stratford, is now payable on proved claims.

At 13.15 this evening sixteen large motor-cars will arrive in procession at the Stratford Post Office, conveying the performers in the Fete of Nations to he staged at the Town Hall to-night. Salvationists are busy preparing for their annual harvest festival celebrations, which are announced to take place on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday next. The Sunday services at 11 a.m., 3 p.m., and ~ p.ra., promise to be specially interesting, while the Harvest Cantata by the Methodist Choir on Monday night will be a treat for all lovers of good music. The whole festival will conclude with an auction sale of gifts on Tuesday night. Donations in vegetable, stock, or money, will be gratefully received by the officer, Adjutant Cook. \

A West Coast resident who arrived in Christchurch last week says the idea is prevalent on the Coast that owing to the heavy loss of population there will be great and important changes in the constituencies. What is now known as Westland will absorb Greymouth borough, while from there right up to Westport will be the sole other West Coast electorate, which will he practically reverting to the Inangalma electorate of the days when the present Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) stood for that (Constituency. The population .of the Coast is said to he showing a, most deplorable decrease, and this is bound to affect the representation. As it is expected, the .South Island as a whole will lose one if not more seats, it is imagined that the Greymouth electorate will be the one to be ex* cised.

Mrs M. E. Budge, lion. sec. of the Stratford Ladies’ Patriotic Committee, is in receipt of a sheaf of letters from Mrs Luke (Mayoress of Welling-*-ton), president of the Liverpool Fund, in regard to the conference of the Countess of Liverpool and kindred funds held recently. It was decided at the conference to send a 'gift parcel every month to the meh in * the trenches. The parcel was td cdntain gpods to the value of’2s 6d slitdf'as; One pair of sox of to.wel or Balaclava cap one handkerchief, one tin condensed milk, coffee and hlilh, paste,, vaseline, sweets, curry powder, extract of meat/ bovril, condensed soup, dried milk, cheese, or jam’. The food may he varied, but must he in tins and not more than two tins sent at one time. The letter stated that should the local committee desire to help in the work, a sample parcel, which must be of uniform size and shape, would be forwarded to the secretary, The letter further asked how many parcels the local committee would ho prepared to forward each month.

“Why don’t yourself ?” was the question asked of the Mayor of Westport hast week 1 (says %* Westport Times) at the send-off at tho Drillshed by a man in the audience. “If the man who asked the question will come forward I will give my answer, replied the Mayor. A weft-built man, who said he had a brother amongst the draft for the 14th lleinforcements, at once stepped out of the crowd. The Mayor said he was glad that the questioner was man enough to come forward. He then explained that as Mayor he had a number of duties to perform, but principally in seeing to the despatch of the troops, looking after those who returned, and seeing that their relatives left behind were provided for. When the opportunity came he would go readily, and if he had his heart’s desire he would be at the front now.

The Hon. J. T. Paul, M.L.C., of Dunedin has told to a southern paper a startling story of what he describes as official bungling, which discloses an unpardonable waste of public money. “Some months ago,” says Mr Paul, “a friend in the building trade, who is not given to exaggeration, told me the Government was wasting thousands of pounds at Otekaike. . . I have just returned from a visit to the home, and I found that all the startling statements as to extravagance and bungling are devoid of exaggeration. Mr Paul goes at length into details regal ding 16 cost of timber, style of buildings, alterations that have had to be made in the original plans, and the whole arrangements at the Home, and concludes- “No man possessed of human feelings would object to necessary expenditure for the training of these unfortunates, but when our nation is at war —or,indeed, at -any time there is no possible excuse for wasting public money in this young country. Otekaike promises to be one of the most expensive undertakings of 1 kind in any part of the world, taking into consideration the number of probable inmates. The extravagance is so gross and unpardonable that nothing short of a public inquiry will satisfy any impartial observer.

As evidence of the continued and increasing popularity of the Stnde- • baker car, it may he mentioned that Mr Newton King has just landed a shipment of eleven 1916 model Stndebakers. The whole of the machinery staff is busily engaged unpacking, setting up. and -delivering this consignment. and there is much rush and bustle. On enquiry it was stated that it is necessary to get the present shipment out of the way as soon as ■possible, to make room for further shipments of ten and thirteen cars, which are arriving shortly. Future I car buyers might he well advised ttf | inspect these latest models.