LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 99, 1 April 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Dannevirke telegram says that in the drawing of the art union for a motor car, the winning number was 1644, held by W. Rankin, of Wanganui. The raffle realised about £3OOO.

The Tuna School Picnic will be held on the school grounds on Tliur'sdrty next. As a conclusion to what is expected to be a record day, a concert and dance will be held in the even-

The vital statistics for Wellington for March were:—Births 215, deaths 96, marriages 102. The figures for the quarter for this and last year respectively, were: Births, 595 (547) ; deaths 422,(196); marriages, 296 (266).

The vital statistics for Stratford for March are as follows (the figures for the quarter ending March 31 being given in parentheses:—Birth 16 (55), marriages 5 (12), deaths 5 (12). Four marriage ceremonies were performed by the Registrar during the quarter.

Weather forecast.—Winds freshening, northerly strong to gale prevailing, for storm appears to bo approaching from the west, after about 24 hours; Weather clouding over, rain later. Barometer falling.—Bates } Wellington.

A Press Association telegram' from Hawera states: No cases of infantile paralysis were reported for ten days, and the district health officer expressed satisfaction with the state of the town, and complimented the Council on its prompt action in dealing with the epidemic.

The weight-guessing compactions at the Midhirst Settlers' Sports ou Thursday resulted as follows :—Weight of sheep lG3Jlbs, Messrs J. Bonnell and J. E. Schumacher both guessing the correct weight. Weight of pig, Sllbs, Miss A. Breen 80i and Mr A. Jones 81-J- tieing, each, being half a lb out. ... ...

Somewhat of a record was put up on Thursday in Waitara in respect to an enlistment (states the Mail). The man concerned was Mr A. M. Greig, clerk at.the railway station, who registered at nine o'clock, passed the doctor immediately, saw the dentist had his teech attended to. and had word from jlawera before noon 'to proceed to camp on Monday, April T 5!

"It is a national necessity that large supplies of store stock should be reared in New Zealand," said the Prime Minister at Karaka on Tuesday (says the New Zealand Herald). "There is likely to be considerable difficulty'in supplying the demand for store cattle in the near future, and it is the farmers' duty to rear as much stock as possible.

A joke in anticipation of April 1, was perpetrated by a supplier of foodstuff to the soldiers' farewell social in Tikorangi on Thursday night. It concerned the sandwiches ('•(/•ports the Waitara Mail). These were handed round, and v hen sa-'ipied appeared to be a tough proposition. An examination disclosed the fact that the substance aside was a small piece of flannelette, cut 'o resemble moat. One winders whether :ho waste o,f bread and butter was worth the "joke."

The overland motorist, Francis Birtles, left the G.P.0., Melbourne, at 7.30 p.m. on Monday, 20th inst., for the. Northern Territory, accompanied by his brother Ciive and his dog. He expects to be away for about 12 months. He is driving a car which has already taken him 37,000 miles in overland trips. His intention is to proceed north to the Gulf of Carpentaria and round the coast to Port Darwin. He will spend some time in prospecting about the King Leopold ranges, in North-Western Australia.

At the Town Hall, Inglewood, last evening, Mr Newton King, who has purchased the auctioneering business of Messrs Mathews, Gamblin and Co. was. in company with Messrs Mathews and Gamblin, entertained at a. complimentary banquet* The gathering comprised over a hundred gentlemen from all parts of Taranaki, and His Worship the Mayor of Inglewood (Mr G. Young) presided. During the evening a musical programme was rendered and the following to*sts; were honored: "The King," "Messrs Mathews and Gamblin," "Mr Newton King," "Farming Industries," "Local: Bodies," "The Boys at the Front," '•Bob Cutfield" (manager of Newton, King's Inglewood branch), "The Ladies?" and "The Press." In responding to the Chairman, who proposed the toast of "Mr Newton King," Mr King replied at some length. He was very pleased to renew acquaintance of' Inglewood friends, for he had built the first saleyards there. Later on he gave way to Mr V.ekers. It had been said that it was surprising he had not "spotted" Inglewood before, but as a matter of fact he had "spotted" Inglewood, but he would not go there to enter into competition with Mr Tickers or with Messrs Matthews and Gamlin. rngiewood was out of his operations in the past, but this new move would make his firm's connection in Taranaki complete. In conclusion he said he and his staff would do their best to help the district along.

The patriotic market and tea rooms were conducted as usual to-day by the members of the Ladies' Patriotic Committee. Good business was the order of the day, and the ladies' fund should benefit accordingly. At the presentation of the Mitchell Cup to Mr Patterson at Okaiawa' (reports the Hawera Star) interesting records were given of the performances of Haere, the hurdler formerly owned by Mr Patterson. Haere won events which counted for the challenge cups at Hawera, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Watferley and Stratford, and only .required another win at each place to secure these cups. At one of the meetings Haere won the open, hunters, wire jump steeplechase, and was second in the high jump. Unfortunately, about two years ago she was being ridden at the farm, and in taking a jump she had been over time and again she struck the wire and, coming down, most unfortunately broke her neck.

• A Sydney broker, writing to an Auckland firm under date of March 24, makes the following interesting statement of the posit "on of the wheat market:—"As far as fixing prices is concerned, we have reached the 'dizzy limit' (as the poet says). We have now a price fixed by the 'master baker of the world' (cur local Attorney-Gen-eral) ; also a price fixed by the Federal Minister of War, A- t-Vv- both differ, the community are now looking round for somebody to toll them how they can still continue to trade without breaking the law. The Federal authorities ''}.:< Mi' l prif-e of .flour at £ll 8s per t-Hi, ' '! h"or.-' at 6Jd per 41b loaf. The State authorities fix flour at £ll 5s and bread at 7 per 41b loaf. Have you any statesmen in New Zealand who can help us?—S.O.S."

Every year adds its quota of "missing ships," vessels that sail away never to be heard of again, but only to add to the many mysteries of the sea. Last year proved no exception, for from information now to hand it seems that the number of vessels "posted" at Lloyd's during 1915 total 28, of which no less than 21 were British. It is to be assumed that some, possibly many, of the losses are due to war causes —either submarines or mines—for not one craft began the passages which were destined to be the last not well found and''fit to cover, the distances. The two vessels, last "posted" were the Combe and the Boileh, the first-named a British steamer bound to Archangel from the Mersey and the latter a French vessel bound to St. Nazaire from Swansea.

Speaking at a recruiting rally at Miramar, Mr K. A. Wright, M.P.| told a rather interesting story (says the Dominion). Briefly, it was that a young man complained to him that he had been treated badly by the Victoria College Council'. "It's easy'to see the reason," said' Mr Wright to the man—"you're a German." The man denied it, and repeated his denial again and again. "It's no use denying it," Mr Wright told him. "I know vou are a German." The man at length said.that he was "a naturalised British ■'■" subject." Mr Wright made it plain that the time when that statement carried weight had gone by; so many such people were spies. The M.P. and the "naturalised British subject" got to high words, and the latter wound up by breaking down and bursting into tears at the mention of the word "spy," although he was not accused by Mr Wright of being one of the fraternity. Two days later the man was arrested. Now he resides on Somes Island: