LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 49, 1 June 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The vital statistics for Stratford for May were as follows: Births 17, deaths 3, marriages 1. With a view of cheapening “the staff of life,” the residents of Waverley are organising to start a co-oper-ative hakery. Messrs I' 1 . A. Vickers (Midhirst). X. Swindlehurst (Mangatokii, If. E. Bryant (Midhirst) and H. T. Signal (Midhirsi) have been passed as fit for the Reinforcements.

The marts and offices of Xewton King and the Loan and Mercantile Agency Coy will be closed on Monday next for the King’s Birthday holiday. Xewton King’s Haymarket sale will Oe held on Saturday as usual.

Weather Forecast.—South-easterly winds moderate to strong. The weather will probably prove squally with heavy showers. The night will probably be very cold. The barometer has a rising tendency.—Bates, Wellington.

The Toko members of the 17th Reinforcements who went into camp last Monday were, prior to their departure, entertained by friends at a social in the Coronation Hajl, and were the recipients of several presentations. The following are the names of the men : Ewon Jackson. Gordon Mather, Willie Linn, Jack O’Connell, Maurice Chainey, Pat Butler, and Kuoff.

'Tile Feilding Star says: “There is more than a suspicion abroad that the King on his coining birthday will show more tangibly than ever before his appreciation of New Zealand by bestowing more than usual honors upon New Zealanders, This may mean a baronetcy for Premier Massey, - certainly a knighthood for Mr Allen, and possiblyj Mr Russell or Dr. McNab will get the C.M.G. affix.”

The balance-sheet of the Stratford Acclimatisation Society, which is to be placed before the adjourned annual meeting this evening, is advertised in another column. The Society appears to be on a sound financial footing, and as there is urgent important business to be put before the meeting this evening, it is hoped every town member at least will make a point of being piesent. The meeting is to be hold in Mr Newton King’s office at S'o’'look. I

A day or two ago (states the Otaki Maili Mrs Patuaka Tauche, of Jvuku, while on the Knkn beach, noticed something glittering in the distance. On going to ascertain what it was, she found a lump of metal lodged in the root of a tree. To all appearances it is a nugget of gold, and several persons to whom the bud has been shown declare it to he a vahiaolo find; worth about £4OO. The lucky finder is taking steps to ascertain definite! v the true value of the nugget.

It is thought possible that the gold was washed down the river from the hills. If that is so, there must be • “gold in the mountains,” as many have declared there is. Mr H. Atmore, ex-member for Nel-1 son, addressed a large meeting in thei Wellington Town Hall on Tuesday, night on the subject of the war and war I taxation. The Press Association reports that at the conclusion, the following motion, by Mr I*. C. Webb, member for Grey, was carried; “That this meeting requests the National Government to prove its representative name bv taking immediate steps to relieve people from the cruel pressure ol tlk' excessive cost ol living, by fixing prices and placing war taxation on the war proli.ers,” A further motion hy ( Mr H. K. Holland: “That in view of the fact that the voluntary system has not failed, tins meeting condemns the Conscription Rill before the House as one of the worst forms ol Prussian militarism.” was also carried.

The point-lace quilt which was rafiied some months ago bv an English lady has been the means of bringing comfort to a wounded soldier. Instead of giving the money £7o'i derived from the raffle to one of the funds, she decided to give 2os a week to an incapacitated soldier as long a.s the amount lasted. A man who lost both his legs is receiving the weekly sum, and when the money gives out there will probably be another effort made to raise sufficient for a second year’s*' allowance. A deputation from the Chamber of Commerce will wait on the Borough Council at its next meeting, and will bring under the notice of that body the insanitary state of the railway trucking yards. At the meeting of the Chamber on Tuesday night, members freely voiced their dissatisfaction at the prevailing condition of the yards, and it was suggested that some of the irate stock-drovers might accompany the deputation and be alio wee/to give vent to their forceful opinions with a view to impressing the authorities !

Attention was drawn by Mr W. P. Txmkwnod a 0 the meeting of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce on Thursday evening to the fact that at present there were very few men on the Strat-ford-()ka!n kura fine. As the men lefo ior enlistm- nt or otherwise, they were not, In' believed, replaced. He brought the matter forward with the object of taking st. ps to urge the Government to keep ni flic number, otherwise very shortly • Mstmetion would come to a standstill. M 'mbers were of opinion that owing to he war the Government should not be harrassed, and also that it was impossible to get men to fill the vacancies, Mr Kennedy stating that he himself had offered 2s 6d an hour and

could not get anybody for grass-deed-ing. Mr Kirkwood said he quite recognised that aspect, but in his opinion the work of contsruction would suffer seriously, and he moved: “That the importance of the Stratford-Okahukura railway line demands that, notwithstanding the exigencies of the war,c«istruction on the western end of nie line should not be unduly delayed.V— The resolution was carried unanimously. '