LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 72, 29 June 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A clergyman x-esident not a hundred miles from Balcldtha ’'-has'-offered to work three days a week in the Kaitangata mine as a miner in order to let an “eligible” away for the front. This is practical patriotism with a vengeance, and an exemplification of the spirit to win wai-s.

! It is stated that by setting back the clock.!in England the national saving effected between May 21 and October I —four months and a few days -vi’l be at least £2,500,000, and 'hat ii “daylight” saving had been started a month earlier fully four million pounds might have been saved.

Qxxeensland’s gold yield for May was 27,797 fine ounces, valued at £118,074, as compared with 30,669 fine ounces, valued at £130,273, in May, 1915. The yield for the five months ended May 31, 1916, was 99,893 fine ounces, valued at £424,318, as against 107,304 fine ounces, valued at £455,798 in the corresponding period last year.

At the annual meeting of the Stratford Bowling Club on Tuesday evening, Mr W. H. Webb, a very old member of the club, expressed his appreciation of the treatment he had received on the ground. He said such treatment had made his life much more pleasant, and he congratulated the members on the excellent way in which the club was managed. 1,

Among the recent registrations foi'| active service appears the name ofj Wallace William Hansford, NgaereJ He is a returned soldier and saw con-; siderable fighting with the main hotly on the Gallipoli Peninsula. He has handed in his medical papers and marked fit. George McGlashan, coachbuilder, of Hawera, recently of Eltham, lias also enlisted.

At a meeting of the North Canterbury Farmers’ Union yesterday ( (states the Press Association), the fol-j lowing motion was carried unanimously : “That the Farmers’ Union is de-j sirens of giving the Government every, assistance in carrying out military and other operations necessary to carry the war to a successful issue; that the production of the country is already seriously hampered, and in a few months more, recruiting, at the present rate, will put producers in a very serious position, and must materially reduce our exports, which arc an impor.ant factor in feeding and clothing the British armies, therefore we suggest to ' the Government the urgent necessity of immediately placing the whole facts before the Imperial authorities so that they may realise it

we continue our present supply of reinforcements it must, mean a maicual decrease in our exports of food, clothing, and material, and that the 1mauthorities be then asked: Which is it more important for the Dominion to send—men or mafceiid?

The Card Club plays to-night instead of Friday, in Smith’s rooms, at 7.30.

Owing to a recent decision of the Education Department, instruction in physical training is not now given in schools with a roll number under 120.

The blacksmiths of Stratford notify in another column that owing to the increased cost of materials, they are compelled to raise the price of horseshoeing sixpence per set, the increase commencing as from July Ist.

Weather Forecast.—The indications are for northerly winds, strong to gale. Tlio weather appears likely to bo cloudy and unsettled. Heavy rain is to be expected with rivers rising shortly. Barometer failing.—Bates, Wellington.

Mr H. G. Sergei, agricultural instructor to the Taranaki Education Board, reports :—Results of swedeturnip growing competition:—W. H, Fussell, Lepperton: Weight 30, profit per acre 30, reports 7, specimen roots 14, total 81; A. I). Gibson, Oaonni: 22, 20, 20, 15, 77; E. M. Gibson: 17, 15, 20, 14, 66.—-Results of potato competition:—K. Looney, Opnnake: 15 tons Bcwt. Ui-lbs. per acre; D. H. Johnston, Stratford, 11 tons lOcwt. 581 bs. per acre; E. M. Gibson, Opunake': 10 tens 4; wt, lOllbs. per acre.

For some time there have been rumors to the effect that Stratford would probably shortly make a forward movemen.. in the picture theatre line, and it is now definitely stated that during Madam Bernard’s recent visit she .succeeded in forming a company with a capital of £IO,OOO for the purpose of erecting an up-to-date picture theatre in Stratford. Madam Bernard was for years a popular resident of this town, and there is more than a probability that she will return to Stratford and personally manage the new business.

In January of last year a lady visited some friends in Ashburton, and during her stay there she lost that sentimental token which her husband had given her when he invited her to shai-e his joys and sorrows—her engagement ring. A search was made, hut it had to he given up at last. The other day she was very much surprised to receive from a relative in Ashburton the missing ring. It had been picked up on a shingle footpath at the entrance of the house at which she was staying, and was none the worse for its twelve months’ exposure to weather and traffic. jmlki r •• 1 ■mu mil Mr W, Lander-(for .Committee, Messrs J. McMillan, T, Richardson, Edgecombe, and R. B. Anderson) writes as follows:—“On behalf of the members. of the Stratford Home Defence Corps, who arranged, the school boys’ band benefit night, we desire, through the medium of your columns, to tender our hearty thanks to Mr Fred Foley and Mrs Foley for their generous and public-spirited action in allowing us the use of H.M. Theatre, and the fine programme of pictures and the music provided augmented orchestra (free of all cost to us), thereby enabling the committee of the S.H.D.C. to fulfil the promise made to the School Committee to procure a suitable, uniform for the boys of the Stratford School Band as an encouragement tp them to further their efforts to attain musical proficiency, and which entertainment last evening proved an unqualified [success. Thanks are also due to Mr (Dyson for his assistance in disposing of tickets through the hoys, and to all who contributed. to the enjoyable evening.” During the interval at the Theatre last night, Mr McMillan thanked the audience for rolling up in such large numbers and supporting such a worthy cause as providing uniforms for the boys’ band. Messrs Lister Bros, (cornet and clarionette), and Miss Amy Rogers (violin), kindly gave their services. At the conclusion Mr McMillan called for three cheers for Mr Fred Foley (who gave the theatre, programme, and staff free of charge), and the audience heartily responded.