LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 97, 30 March 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

To-morrow (March 31st), is the 75th anniversary of the Taranaki province. Mr C. I). Sole acknowledges receipt of sixty magazines and a bundle ot songs and music for the boys at camp from Mr W. H. Robinson. The bundle is being sent to the Y.M.C.A. for use of soldiers. Adjutant Cook, of tlie Salvation Army, desires to acknowledge receipt of £7 Is for the Salvation Army organisations among the New Zealand Forces per Mr J. McMillan, from the Cardiff Patriotic Committee. Farmers in and about Stratford are requested to supply sacks of swede turnips for the boys in camp and to leave same at the railway goods shed next Wednesday and Thursday, so that the contents may go forward for Sunday's dinner. Mr C. D. Sole will take charge of sain? and consign on. Rumours have boon current in Wellington during the last day or t«o, says a Press Association message, that the 9th Reinforcements had suffered seriously in France. The Premier states that no news whatever is to hand to suggest anything of the kind.

The secretary of the Serbian Relief Fund wishes to acknowledge the sum of £2 2s from Father Maples, part proceeds of the Catholic Social held on St. Patrick's night. The annual general meeting of the Taranaki section of the Xew Zealand Public Service Association will be held at the Courthouse, Xew Plymouth, on April 10, at 8 p.m. A Pahiatua telegram says that the Kohinui Co-operative Company's new cheese factory, and also its contents, won}, totally destroyed by fire yesterday morning. The insurance was £IOOO. The settlers are heavy losers. "What is probably the highest price obtained for wool in Taranaki is that realised by Messrs Budge and Good, who sold a portion of their clip (21 bales) from their Pohokura property at Is 9d per lb at the London January wool sales. The wool was sent Home on the Turakina tlirougn the Bank of New Zealand. Writing to a relative in Wanganui from the Old Land, a correspondent states that in some of the stores in England the women folk refuse to be served by men whom they think should be at the front. The writer suggests that the idea is worth adopting generally. The Opunake rail .ray work is progressing ferornblv at the Te Roti end (report Ihe F.ltham Argus). The new station building >s nearing completion. ;"ip Gover raent are experiencing ■' "cutty in procuring the necessarj steel girders from England, and the work of erecting the big viaduct over the Waingongora river is at a standstill.

"Are we as farmers doing our duty?" asked a "Wanganui settler of the chairman of the Patriotic Committee. The Herald says the question was asked by the settler when handing in a cheque for his promised donation to, the Patriotic Funds. He said that to-day some of the farmers were receiving £3l per bale of wool, compared with £lO or £ll prior to the war. Echo answers, "Are the farmers doing their duty?" Several business men in Christchurch wore astonished to receive a ■few days ago payment in full for claims on a bankrupt's estate, inasmuch as the bankruptcy in question dates back about ten or twelve years. The explanation is somewhat interesting. The bankrupt's son, who was killed in action at the landing on Gallipoli, in his will provided for the ■payment of his father's creditors from his own estate. The son's action is nil the more noteworthy in view of the fact that, in addition to the bankrupt having obtained his discharge, the money was no longer recoverable, owine to the operation of the Statute of Limitations.

In connection with the Whangamomona Presbyterian Mission, -a largelyattended harvest thanksgiving service was held in the Whangamomona Hall, on Sunday evening. The hall was tastefully decorated with flowers and native ferns, and the fruit and vegetables were very effectively displayed. An appropriate service was conducted by the resident missionary, Mr A. H. Norrie. On Monday evening, an enjoyable social was held in the same building. Games were indulged in under the leadership of Mr A. F. Sharpe. Mrs McCutchan and Miss Wright rendered solos, and Mr A. H. Norrie a recitation. After the customary supper of tea and cakes, a Dutch auction was held, and the festival gifts were sold, realising the sum of £5. which amount is being remitted to Wellington to augment the Serbian Relief Fund.—Correspondent.

i At the Matamata Agriculture and Pastoral Association's Show, held last week, Mr J. F. Vosper (the President), who lately resided on the Beaconsfield Road, thanked the Hon. W. H. Herries for officially opening the show. Mr Herries then called upon little Miss Ruth Vosper to cut the ribbon and declare the show open. The judge of the Jersey and Ayrshire Classes, Mr E. D. McLennan, of Papakura, said he was very pleased indeed with the Jersey class. The champion Jersey bull, Delight's Campanile, bred by Mr Vosper, was, the judge declared as good as those he had inspected at other shows and was a particularly fine specimen. In the Jersey class Mr Vosper gained five firsts, two seconds, and two third awards, and in the grade class he gained two firsts, three seconds, and three thirds. Master Harry Vosper was successful in the peach class, gaining first prize.

A Taranaki farmer informed a Hawera Star reporter thafc a fortnight or three weeks ago there were between 00,000 and 100,000 crates of cheese .stored in the Harbor Board's sheds in Wellington. This represented roughly £700.000 to £BOO,OOO worth, and he had no reason for believing that the accumulation would be materially less at the present moment. The local grading sheds wore practically full up, and over and over again the Patea works had to direct their various factories to hold their stocks. In one shed at least in Wellington the cheese stored there is likely to deteriorate in quality because of its unsuitability for cheese-storage purposes. On the occasion of the visit of the farmer referred to the sun was shining directly on to a consignment of South Taranaki and Wairarapa cheese, and on passing one's hand along the crates it was noticed that they were all oily, and when a core was taken out the butterfat was quite noticeable. This position is most unfortunate, but it seems impossible to make better provision under present circumstances.