LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 81, 8 July 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

hi reply to a question in the House of Representatives as to whether he would introduce an amusements tax on the English system, the Right Hon Sir J. G. Ward (Minister for Finance) said, "It is not intended at present to introduce snch a tax. nndcr tho financial proposals contained in tl: Finance Bill a large amount of re \,nr ' ii heinpj flrTwr; f.*nm th? owner; and lessees of this class of business."

The patriotic market and toa rooms were conducted by the members oi the Ladies' Patriotic Committee, in the committee's shop to-day. The market was well supplied, and good business '" was the order of the clay.

The payment to suppliers at the Midhirst Dairy Factory for the pasV season was £101,715 6s 3d, and therei i s a balance due of £22,136 lid. The receipts from all sources amounted to, £i54,086 5s Gd. The sum of £6OO was _ voted to the Patriotic Fund.

"It has already been decided to revert, to the former practice of dating school tickets to expire three morlthe from the date of issue," was the reply given in the House by the Hon. W. H Hemes (Minister for Railways) to a question by Mr T. M. Wilford (Hutt).

The prizes in connection with the Root and Butter Fat competitions will be presented by Mr R. Dingle, at a gathering of the Toko Settlers' Association on Tuesday evening nest. Mr H. G. Sergell will also give an address on Pastoral and Agricultural work.

A schoolboy of 16 named Miehelom, an Austrian subject of ItaliaiiAation* ality, has been sentenced by uuurtraartial at Innsbruck to seven years' hard labor for sending to a friend, who had been summoned to the colours, a picture postcard saying that lie was glad he was still at home and at school, instead of being at the front. The court adjudged this to be inciting to desert and passed the sentence.

A very pleasant evening was spent at the Foresters' Hall last night, when about twenty couples attended the Druids' Social. The music was all that could he desired, being supplied by Bro. C. H. Fox, and the catering was in the capable hands of Bro. T. Smith. Bro. J. Davidson made an efficient M.C. The Druids intend holding a combined euchre party and dance next week.

It is announced that Sir James Mills has been selected to succeed Sir Archibald Denny as president of the Institute of Marine Engineers. :of Great Britain. Sir James's installation will take place at the apiihal meeting in September. The associates and members of the' New Zealand Institute have decided to forward a congratulatory iuldfess to Sir James. ThU'is'the first 1 instance of a president being elected"' outs'ide J bf : Gi>eat' ; Britain '' ''° kaa ««iK 'io jj-Ks'-tfii '

At the monthly -meeting of the WJJW.W last ThuMay,'Miss Wksm (Dominion Organiser for the Union), gave an address on the 146th Psalm, [ every clause of which, she said, is be*, ing carried out by the W.C.TIU:.! • Her object in being present at the meeting was to interest the. parents in forming a branch of the "Loyal Temperance Legion," a society for the purpose of teaching, young people the effect of alcoholism on the human race. Mrs Duxfield, of Wanganui, who has been most successful in this branch of temperance work, will be passing through Taranaki shortly, and will give a public display of her methods. The meeting will he notified as soon as the date of her visiris available. iOJIAJ KEHVOG3H iAlgg I '■ Widefefn i M(I ?"* >lmil*ui'Werstaii clirlg apIpears to have arisen as to the effect ;of the dUSfaW recently arrived at regarding the dispatch of newspapers and" other printed matter to neutral countries. It was intimated that such matter could only be. forwarded by publishers, who would obtain permits from the. Chief of the General Staff. The Postal Department explains that the decision does not interfere in any way with the transmission of newspapers or other matter within the British Empire or to Allied countries, such as France, Russia, Italy., and •Japan. All classes of mail matter will continue to be forwarded to Uiese countries from New Zealand as heretofore. Another misconception which has arisen refers to the transmission of papers to members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. A rumor has gone abroad that such papers are either detained in Wellington or destroyed. There is no foundation whatever for the rumor, states the de-, partment. All classes of mail matter for members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force continue to be forwarded in mails dispatched regularly from Wellington. The public would do well to continue addressing articles to the care of G.P.0., Wellington. The Post Office undertakes to see that letters and other articles are' forwarded by the best available route. If senders insist upon addressing letters to France, England, Egypt, etc., the Post Office has no option but to forward such letters in the' mails to the countries to which they are addressed. If, however, "0-0. G.P.0., Wellington," is added in each case to the usual address, the article will ho forwarded in the closed mail made up for the officer commanding the New Zealand Expeditionary For.-e,

Weather Forecast.—Southerly winds moderate to strong and changing to northerly after about twenty-four hours. Expect changeable and showery weather, squally at times. The night will probably be very cold. The barometer has "a rising tendency temporarily.—Bates, Wellington.

A successful concert and dance was held in the Ackland School last evening. The room was crowded to overflow, visitors being present from great distances. Mr Maekay (chairman of School Committee) addressed the audience thanking the visitors for their help, and speaking in eulogistic terms of the work of the school. The programme was as follows: — Pianoforte solo, Miss Anderson; cantata "Love and the Fairies" (scholars); songs, Miss Huse (encored), Mrs Hamilton (encored), Mrs G. Harris (encored), Mrs Lyford, Miss Savage, Mrs Johns (encored), Mrs Gibbs, Miss E. Knox; recitation, Master Mackay and Miss Annie Tocker; step dance and sailor's horn pipe, Mr J. Wade. At the close of the progi'amme a plentiful supper provided by the ladies, was handed round. Misses Anderson, Huse and Knox and Mrs Gibbs supplied the music for the dance, and Mr Anderson kindly acted as M.C. At midnight all returned home after a very enjoyable evening. —Correspondent.