LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 88, 20 March 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The number of cases of infantile paralysis in the Waikato Health district is now 85, states a Press Association message from Hamilton. • ■ ■

The annual sports of the Toko Settlers' Association will be held on Thursday, when the financial proceeds] will be devoted to the Sick and Wounded Soldiers' Fund. A social! will be held in the evening, and as a first-class floor and good music are guaranteed, the day should he one to be long remembered in Toko.

To-morrow (.March 21), between ten and eleven o'clock, the Sun will be vertical over the Equator, in his passage from south to north. In Stratford' .the Sun's highest elevation will be, 50| degrees. This is our autumn equi-l nox, the equality in the length of the day and night. The popular belief in equinoctial gales is not shared by pfo- j' fessed meteorologists. I

Word has been received in Strat-' ford that David Maxwell, of Toko, who failed to appear when a serious criminal charge was brought against him at the Stratford Magistrate's! Court some time ago was arrested at 1 Palmerston on Saturday. Maxwell will probably appear before the Magistrate's Court in Stratford in a few days.

At the Stratford Magistrate's Court this morning, before Mr J. McCluggage, J.P., a farmer of Opunake, charged with drunkenness while in charge of a waggon and two horses, failed to appear, and was fined 30s, the amount of his hail. Sergeant Dale said when he arrested accused on Saturday night he was hopelessly drunk and was lying on the floor of the waggon.

A Press Association telegram from Wellington reports that advice received from the Sydney Branch of the Australian Red Cross Society, who obtained it through the International Red Cross Committee at Geneva, 'states that a New Zealander named A. Wilson, presumably a sailor whose number is .1577, was captured as a prisoner-of-war on the submarine E 7( at the Dardanelles on September 4th last.

'Hon. W. Hi. Webster (Commonwealth Postmaster-General), on his return to Australia, writes paying a tribute to the New Zealand postal administration. He says that in many respects it is far in advance of Australia's haphazard methods, and he considers the mail and telegraph operating branches are ideal. He is satisfied that his visit was a splendid investment, and will help considerably in the task of reorganising the postal service.

Despite his tender years, only, four, a Gore youngster had an experience the other evening which- he probably will not forget if he lives to be fourscore, says the "Ensign." "Grandpa" was proceeding to water the lawn per hose, and had run i out a good length for the purpose. When he went to turn the water on the four-year-old put the business end in his mouth and awaited developments. He subsequently turned a Catherine wheel into an adjacent flower bed.

A Press Association telegram from Christchurch states that a deputation, interested in the development of the iron ores of Parapara and the sand of Taranuki, interviewed the Hon. W. D. S. Macdonald, Minister of Mines, this morning, and asked for amendments to the present law in order to give greater facilities to those engaged in establishing the smelting industry. The Minister said the subject was a policy matter, and he would submit it to Cabinet.

A man named James Tocker, who was arrested in Stratford last nig ht > appeared before Mr J. McCluggage; J.P., at the Magistrate's Court tins morning, on a charge of indecent assault on' a young girl, seven years or age. On the application of Sergeant Dale, the case was adjourned until Thursday morning, at 10 o'clock. Tocker, who was dressed in dungarees, is an old man, a wood-carver by trade. Of late he has been travelling around the Stratford district sharpening saws, etc., for the members of the fanning community. The alleged assault -a stated to have taken place in the Pembroke Road district.

The harvest festival services at the Salvation Army yesterday were Highly; successful. The workers had been untiring in their endeavors to decorate the building. There was a bountiful supply of sheaves of oats, wheat, rye and bailey, to say nothing of a splen-; did array of vegetables and flowers, etc., and a 201 b. loaf of bread nicely lettered with icing sugar from Messrs Ken- and Co., conveying the compliments of the 'firm, and other kindly sentiments. To-night the Methodist Church choir will contribute a harvest cantata. Glees, violin solos and recitations make up an interesting programme. A meeting of the Stratford Patriotic General Committee, the Ladies' ' Patriotic Committee, and all interested in the "Soldiers' Day" floral fete ! on Easter Monday, will be held to- ! morrow afternoon at 2.30 o'clock. The ! principal business of the meeting is !to make arrangements for Hie fete, j which is to be held on the Show- | grounds. The fete represents Strat- | ford's initial effort on behalf of me ' Patriotic Funds, and it is the wish ol the committee that the function I should be m unqualified success | iSverv resident of Stratford and sar ; rounding districts, interested in th< I matter of organisation are special!? ' invited to attend the meeting io-mor i i row.

A Press Association telegram from Hastings to-day states: A .four-months-old infant who was found to be suffering from infantile paralysis, and who was removed from Hastings to Napier Hospital on Saturday, died yesterday. The health inspector says it was the worst case he had had in Hawke's Bay.