LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 91, 23 March 1916, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Press Association telegram from Blenheim states that John J. Ward, a prominent builder and contractor, sixty years of age, who was knocked down by a trap while cycling, died today. Weather Forecast.—The indications are for variable and strong breezes, but easterly winds moderate to strong prevailing and backing by east to north. There is a prospect of fair to cloudy weather with mist at tinies. Barometer, unsteady.—Bates, Wellington. In view of many absurd and sometimes alarming rumors which have recently, it cannot '•'<- too widely known that under the war "regulations it is an offence punishable by a term of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months, or by a fine of £IOO. for a person to spread any false I'r.eport, which is -likely ft; is the intention of the police authorities to prosecute anybody giving -pubheity to } '-or -"repeating, rumors -*jj•this nature. ..'

While motoring to New Plymouth yesterday afternoon Mr E. Mason, ol Stratford, had the misfortune to collide with another motor at an intersection near the racecourse. The stranger in trying to avoid an accident; dashed Mr Mason's a telegraph post, doing considerable damage. Fortunately, nobody Was injured. Mr Mason estimates that it wilt'.eost about £-10 to £SO to,repaii. thercars.

At some sports? recently Manaxy-atu district (says ard),. there were three two of whom" were school teachers—in an "addition race," the feature of which was that the had to run a certain distance, adfr.'npfTi column of figures correctly, and run back again. The "outsider" won because the teachers were both wrong in their arithmetic— a fact upoti which they were unmercifully "chaffed" bv some of the spectators.

. Sir Joseph Ward mentioned in the course of a speech at a dinner given by the Hon. W. Webster "recently (says the Post) that he was in his twentieth year as New Zealand Post-master-general, and before giving up office he hoped to complete his'majority .—(Applause.) In the t-mirse of further remarks, Sir Joseph Ward said that there had been classi'fications and reclassifications of the Post and Telegraph officers in 1891, 1907, and 1913, and he understood the commissions intended having another reclassification in 1918. The New York harbor police boat took to sea recently and dumped overboard in deep water the year's collee tion of weapons and burglar's tools captured from prisoners who had been in-rested*during the twelve months. These included 2125 pistols, 96 shot guns and rifles, several thousand sandbags, blackjacks, brass knuckles, etc., and about a ton of safe robbers' and burglars' outfits. The quantity was' greater than in the previous year. The police recovered during the year more than a million dollars' worth of stolen goods, most of which were returned to their owners. <> The girls of the New Plymouth High School had a "field day" at Stratford last Saturday, the occasion being the annual tennis mutch between the Stratford District High School and the New Plymouth "High School. As the local courts are of asphalt, and the Xow Plymouth girls were accustomed to grass' courts arrangements were made with the Park Tennis Club wherebv the match was played on its ground; Upwards of forty girls arrived by the 10 o'clock train, and after spending a very enjoyable day they rerdo the" return journey by the •< o'clock train. The visitors were entertained ?t the school' by tU Iw*' eiri?; The home team was victorious, winning by 10 points.