LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 33, 13 May 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford picture-goers will be pleased to know that Mr Fred Foley lias secured tile sole and exclusive rights for Stratford for the screening .of the Charles Chaplin films, and the famed firm comedian will shortly he again entertaining all his old friends ‘and acquaintances at His Majesty’s.

The Patriotic Market and Tea- 1 rooms, conducted'by'the members of Radies’ Patriotic Committee, was open as usual to-day. The shop was well stocked, there being a plentiful supply of produce and the proceeds should considerably augment the Committee’s’ Fund.

Twenty-three years ago the Salvation Army “opened fire” in and despite many ups and downs still remains a force in the district. The anniversary services are to be conducted to-morrow by Envoy A mold } of Hawera, and the anniversary social will take place on Tuesday next, at 8 p.rn., when Major Toomer will preside and numerous vocal and instrumental items will be rendered.The Willochra, which is returning to! the Dominion with sick and wounded soldiers, is expected to arrive at Port Chalmers late to-night or early on Sunday morning. The northern portion of those who are returning are due to arrive at Wellington on Tuesday next, but warning is given that next-of-kin journeying to the city in order to meettheir relations do so at their own risk, as it is possible a number of those on board may be detained for several days before being allowed to leave.

A Bulls blacksmith writes to the Rangitikei Advocate:—l was one of many to bid farewell at Great-ford to the Bulls boys who were leaving for the front. At that send-off there were brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, and wives of those gallant fellows, and. I need hardly add, there was also a. moist eye. On arriving back at (he shop there was a young man with a horse to shoe. This man was single, with no dependents, and looked physically lit (and eligible). The “farewell” and the rather bad war news i hat morning had left an “impression.” and to shoe that horse for prolit was treacherous to that impression. 1 told this man I could not shoe his horse .and whv.

The annual meeting of the Plunket Society was held in the Foresters’ Hali on Monday last. There was a fair at tendance of members the Mayor (Mr J. W. Boon) taking the chair, bather Maples and the Rev. C. Howard, of the Advisory Board, were also present. The secretary’s report for the year was read, showing •that the Society is in a much stronger position financially than last year, owing principally to a big successful fancy dress dance for the children, which was hold in !’elii'iriry. The balance-shoe; for the year ending March ‘fist, 11)16, shews a credit of £l9 odd. The officers elected tor the present year arc: President, Ml’S A. \V Budge ; Vice-Presidents, Mesdames Abraham and d. H. i hompson; lion, treasurer, Mrs Prontis; hou. secrchr’y, Mrs Stronach.

At the monthly meeting of the Stratford Domain Board yesterday afternoon it was decided to form and gravel the footpaths in the Recreation Ground. Some time ago the Hon. J. A. Hanan approved of the daylight saving principle being brought into operation in connection with the Boys’ Training Farm at Vicraroa, and his information now is that it is working well from an economical point of view. Weather Forecast.—The indications are for southerly strong winds to gale decreasing and veering by south to west alter about 2(J hours. The ther appears likely to be cloudy and unsettled, and will probably prove cold and showery. The barometer has a rising tendency.—Bates, Wellington.

Tlie Eltharn Argus understands that some local small boys, fired by thft daring exploits of cowboys that they have seen portrayed in moving pictures. have been committing some queer pranks in Eltliam. Their efforts have attracted the attention of the police, and more may be heard of the matter. A shooting accident under most unusual circumstances occurred near Ruatoki on Saturday. The victim, a native, was pig-hunting. His dog secured an animal, and in oyder to set it free, the native hit the dog with the butt-end of the gun. The force of the impact caused the gun to explode, and the discharge struck the native, killing him instantly-. r

The member for Wairarapa (Mr J. T. M. Hornsby) recently brought under the notice of the Director of Supplies for military camps' the fact that mineral waters and cordials sold in the camps bore a label that was surmounted by a picture of the Prussian eagle, a rather extraordinary thing to find in a British camp (says the Carterton paper). The Director of Supplies has found that Mr Hornsby’s statement was correct, and has stopped the sale in the camps of the cordials, etc., made by the firm with the Prussian label.

A meeting of ’Senior Cadet ; Companies : XbSr. 94 aiid’ 9d( was; held last, evening, tb the Taranaki lliigby Uhion's 1 proposal Jn : connection 'with tile conduct of football inatclies this'season. The ’matter J was fully discussed, aiid it whs decided' to form a club and also to enter a team for the competition. ,j The general meeting was followed by a cominiltee meeting, at which it’-ivas’ decided'that the club be called "The Stratford -Senior Cadets Football Club,” 'and that the colors be Stratford’s well-known red and black.

The buds of the koromiko chewed and swallowed are claimed to be an effective specific for the cure of dysentery. Mr Chishold, of Redcliffs, near Christchurch, collected a . number of these buds, packed them in an airtight screw-top jar, and shut them to a soldier friend at the front. By last mail (says the Press) he received a reply that the buds had. arrived in good condition, and had effected a remarkable .cure of several men, including the original recipient,. The koromiko is a species of! i veronica, and its healing properties hr the direction named were well-known to the Maoris.

A rather serious pest has caused much trouble this season to lucerne growers in Marlborough. It is a caterpillar of the variety that has figured as one of the chief enemies of the barley-growers. The owners of several lucerne fields, which were intended to be cut for seeding, were puzzled by the bare and lifeless appearance of the stalks, which had been stripped to a very large extent of the leaves, flowers, and seeds. Close examination .revealed the' presence of numerous caterpillars, fastened for the most part at the top of the plants, and it was seen that.these had been drawing the sap from the plants and causing them to die prematurely. More than one crop has been damaged to such an extent that it is not worth the expense of threshing, and, being so advanced in growth and the stalks being hard, its value for hay-making has been greatly, lessened. It is thought that this pest, in common with others, has been encouraged to an extraordinary degree by the dryness of the last three years.

The bakehouse at Midhirst, owned and occupied by Messrs Lester Bros., was completely destroyed by lire at about 12.30 o’clock this morning, -x party of motorists who were returning from New Plymouth, gave the alarm and though a willing band of workers tried to extinguish the outbreak, their efforts were unavailing. There was a strong wind blowing at the time but luckily, a few minutes before the outbreak, it veered or the dwelling house and store, which is about fifteen yards from the bakehouse would also have been destroyed. The cause of the fire is a mystery. Mr Lester, on being awakened, noticed the blaze on the side of the building alongside the oven, on the opposite side to the furnace. For over half an hour a very anxious time was experienced in the endeavour to save the store. The building was insured for £IOO, the plant for £3O. and the stock for £SO in the South British Office. The loss is greatly in excess of the insurances. Messrs Lester Bros, were very fortunate to-day in being able to purchase bread in sufficient quantity to fulfil customers’ orders. The Stratford bakers have been exceedingly considerate, the Coop. Store baking a hatch for to-day, and F. A. Cramer signifying his intention of acting similarly on Monday. k