LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 65, 21 June 1916, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The New Zealand Gazette notifies the alteration of the name of 'German Hay," in the Akaroa-Waimu Road District, to "Takanmtua," to take effect on and after November 1. 19L r 5.

National Sweet Pea Society's trop hies to the value of ninety guineas have been alloted to Wairarapa this year, and will be competed for in No vember next.—Press Association.

The xVnzac Minstrels will give a performance at the Mid hirst Public Hall next Tuesday evening, proceeds to be devoted to the widows and dependants of the sailors lost in the recent naval battles. The object is one that should result in the Midhirst residents greeting the troupe with a bumper house.

To-day the County Clerk asked the Council for instructions, on behalf of the toll-gate keeper, involving the definition of a motor car, with a covered portion at the back, used for traveller's samples. It was decided to define such a car as a (ivo-seater, i-nd to charge the driver 2s 6d ; if he refused to pay that sum, then the official should class the car as a motor delivery-van, the charge for such vehicle being 3s Gd.

In opening the defence on the charges against Run (states a Press Association telegram to-day from Auckland) his counsel contended that the stor, to be told by the Natives would be more believable than the pilice story. He commented on Rua's good reputa tion until be became irritated by what he considered the preferential treatment of Pakehas in respect to granting licenses to sell liquor, as the result ol which he himself took to drinking "lire water."

An interesting letter has been received from Mr Monkhouse, who will be remembered as a member of th< Education Board, representing tin Stratford district, and who stood foi the Egmont seat in 1899, being de feated by the sitting member, the late Mr Walter Symes by 126 votes. Mr Monkhouse has for the last few years resided at Broadway, Worcestershire. He, whites: "My elder son is in Moscow, very busy making instruments ol war for the Russians. ; He has had very many interesting experiences: not pMy in connection with in-'coufneeuon with., voluntary work, of,-helping in the administration, of the Polish Relief Fund. '"The former took him recently to Archangel.: [where lie had to endure 85 degrees of frost and visit sundry battleships that were all frozen in the ice. He makes certain classes of instruments both for the Black Sea and the Baltic Fleets. . In administering the relief funds he met the millions of wretched refugees who are fleeing before the Germans. They came into Moscow in open trucks, in deadly weather, mostly almost"'insensible with cold and hunger, dead-beat and having to be revived with hot drinks, etc. There are over a million of them in Moscow alone, and nearly all the Englishmen there are working in spare time helping to feed them, etc. One sad thing is that there are thousands of children who have lost thei* parents sanf have come ''from no one knows where, being too young to tell. They are building orphanges for them and putting them in charge of the different communities. They sort the children by holding a crucifix before them. If they cross, themselves iiv the Greek Church fashion they are given to that church orphanage as Russians. If they cross themselves m the Catholic manner they are roles and are put in that orphanage, and d they can't cross themselves at all t/iey are regarded as Lutherans and hand-d over to that community. The Russian Government is building and keeping these orphanages."