LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 48, 31 May 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The offices of the solicitors practising in Stratford will be closed on Saturday, 3rd June, 1916 (King’s Birthday).'

The card tournament will he continued in Smith’s Booms on Friday evening at i .30. The Club extends an invitation to all to attend.

The adjourned general meet ing of fhe Stratford Acclimatisation Society will he held in the offices of Mr Newton King on Thursday evening at, 8 o’clock.

At the conclusion 'of the tndnthl.y meeting of the Stratford t olunteei Fire Brigade last night, a euciirc tournament was held, and the winner turned up in Brauchman 0. King, who won a clock, while the ‘ booty fell to Brauchman \V. Brockieiiauw. Light refreshments were served.

The annual meeting of the •“‘Provincial Farmers’ Union at Timaru, passed a resolution, that the Government he asked to raise the import duties on wheat and flour so as to be equal to those levied in Australia against New Zealand. Unless this is done, the insolation says, a national calamity is probable through formers giving up wheat growing.

An examination of the hull of the steamer Squall, wrecked some months ago, off East Cape, has been made by Diver Walters, of Auckland. The vessel is in GO feet of water, but the wool, which comprised her cargo, had all hurst open and had floated away. Consequently salvage operations have been abandoned. The Bum, which was chartered by the underwriters for the salvage work, returned to Napier on Saturday.

Some Maoris, who live at laumutu, near Lake Ellesmere, waited on the Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister for Internal Affairs, recently and told him that there are large quantities of very fine eels in the lake, and that it a fish depot was established in Christchuich, they would send consignments of eels for public consumption. They stated that before the war broke out eels from the lake were tinned in Christchurch and sent to Germany.

A Press Association telegram from Hokitika states: The Hari Hari cheese factory. South Westland, has been advised that their shipment of cheese per s.s. Delphic realised the record price of 110 s. Carterton reports that the Dalefield and Parkvalo cheese factories have been advised that thcii shipments of cheese per the s.s. Mai wera realised Ilfs, while the Kuolcotau factory has received 115 s for its shipment.

Queensland's policy in regard to “land for the soldiers” has already taken a practical form. At a meeting of the Queensland War Council it was stated that the Government’s proposal to provide 44,(100 acres of land at Beerburrum for fruit and poultry farms, and 15.000 acres at Stauthorpe for fruit-growing for returned soldiers ha.s been accepted. The land would be made available as soon as possible, and it was considered that this land would meet requirements lor some time to come.

Bast evening at Smith's Rooms, Broadway, a card match was held between teams representing Te l-opo ami the stall of Mr Newton King, and the result was a decisive win for the former. The following are the scores, the winner being mentioned first at each table Anderson and Le Hois v. dacksou and Rmiings < : Knox and Blanchard 5. v. T. and 55. Brown 5; Tocher and Davidson 7. v, St. Paul and Collingwood 5; Hawkins and Kirkpatrick S, v, Pugh and Shan wick 5; Agent and Oliver v Collins and Wilson I; Smith and Gihh s ’ 9, v. Green and Collins 3, —Totals, lu—o9.

Tile signatures to the hotels six oV.mk closing petitions number nine hundred and twenty-two. The petitions have been sent to Wellington. These do not include lists from the Whangoinomona County and others lor tin district which were sent direct, not iinongh the W.C.T.U. An innovation in connection with the very common practice of “shouting” for a friend or friends on the tramways is to be introduced under regulations, says the Christchurch “Press.” and the, conductors will bo empowered to refuse to take money from passengers wishing to pay fares for others, unless these can easily he identified. This rule has been renderini necessary by passengers refusing to assist the conductors to identify the person or persons they have ‘‘shouted’' for. A terrier at Lyttelton is evidently of a roving disposition, and has a penchant for visiting other ports. Some time ago, lie went on ooard a collier and travelled to Newcastle, and subsequently Brisbane and Sydney. At the last-mentioned port lie went ashore and was “reported” missing for some weeks. To the great surprise of the people who knew him, he turned up at Lyttelton in another steamer. It is stated that he often takes a trip in the coastal steamers, and never fails ultimately to eturu to Lyttelton. The old-time custom of giving away lollies on p ymeut of the grocery hill is to he discontinued by the grocers of Auckland I om the beginning of June (states tin Auckland “Star.”) This decision was ...ri.ed at by the master grocers at a recent meeting, the reason given being the very heavy working expenses they are placed under, occasioned by the war. In many other directions, also, expenses r have increased at an alarming rate, such as twine, paper and bags, which are double the price they were, compelling the grocers to adopt the proposed course.

It is reported (states the Foxton Herald), that while the Chief Justice was conversing with a friend in Main Street on Saturday, a man wearing the King’s uniform and under the influence of liquor drew up and asked for the loan of a shilling. Sir Robert kindly admonished the man, and said that his conduct was a reflection on the uniform he was wearing. He advised him to give up the drinking habit, and remarked that he (Sir Robert) was old enough to be his father and yet he had neither indulged in strong drink nor tobacco. The beery one looked at the Chief Justice (of course not knowing who he was addressing) and said, “I don’t know who you are, but, anyhow, you have got an honest looking dial!”

“Any man should have the right to go and see his girl at an hotel and stay later, than closing time,” contended counsel at the Greymouth S.M. Court during the hearing of a charge against a first offender of having been on licensed premises during the hours in which the sale of intoxicants is prohibited. The defendant pleaded • that he had not been in the particular hotel stated in the information but in a hotel close by. He bad been “seeing his girl” in the kitchen and left by the back gate at 11 p.m. Counsel later stated that he knew of a number of cases where follows had remained behind at hotels after the time for closing ; and this, too, he added, was the best time to see their girls, who were generally very busy up till 10 o’clock. On the admission of the defendant the name of the hotel in the information was altered to that of another, and a fine of 5s imposed.