LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 91, 19 July 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Vg*. Ngaere crilibago players meet Stratford in Smith's rooms, Broadway, this evening, play commencing an 7.30.

The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Mr G. H. Bullard, gives ndtice of Education Reserves to bo leased by public auction on Thursday, August 10 th.

“Within a radius of four miles of Toko,” said Mr W. H. Wore at the Auzacs’ entertainment last night,l sixty of our men have gone to the war, and of these thirteen have paid the extreme penalty.”

The Hawera Star says that'a local settler has just received word from a New Zealand soldier now “somewhere in France” that he has received, in a batch, 45 letters sent to him from New Zealand. Some of them had been addessed to him to Samoa, some to Gallipoli, and some to France, and have at length reached him. Some of them were dated as far back as February, 19,15.

Tuna is only a small place six miles from Stratford, eastward of Midliipst, but the, people claim to be as loyal and patriotic, as,any can b?. The roll of honor iof'the.,school at Tuna shows that sovontpeu pi]pi,ls have so far gone to the front.,or aye in trailing at t|n» present time.' -Bev.des I hose, presentations .have been made to ten others who were not pupils of the school,,but who enlisted from Tuna. i

The representative of a Christchurch firm recently hid an amusing experience in the country. On driving up to a certain farm in a motor-car 1m noticed a group of four or five young men engaged in “tubbing”'a freshlykilled pig. As soon as the approach of the stranger was- observed they took to their heels and scattered in all directions, leaving the pig at the mercy of stray dogs and cats. The agent was greatly puzzled, failing to understand why his arrival should cause such a commotion. His reception by the good lady of the house was at first also most discouraging. However, ho decided to brave it out, and proceeded to explain bis business, whereupon there was an instant improvement, and he was asked to come in and share the midday meal. Presently the men-folk were rounded up one by one, looking rather foolish. It appears that the business man had been mistaken for a recruiting sergeant canvassing the district for the local Recruiting Board, which is evidently not a popular body ,in the neighbourhood in question.

A very successful social and dance was held in the Kahouri Bridge Hall on Monday night last, to bid farewell to Mr and Mrs G. Keighley, who are leaving the Beaconsfleld Road district, Mr G. Sangster, on behalf- of many friends, presented Mr Keighley with a travelling rug, and Mrs Keighley with a silver-mounted butter dish. Mr Sangster, in the course of his remarks, referred to Mr Keighley as being, a hard-working member of the School Committee, and whose place would he hard to fill in connection with local socials. Mr Keighley feelingly replied. An apportunity was also taken at the social to make a presentation to Private Xealsen, who is home on final leave, and whose parents reside on the East Road. Mr Sangster, on m a Ping the presentation of a wristlet watch, referred to the soldier as being the third one of Mr and Mrs Nealsou’s sons who had gone to the front. The following ladies and gentlemen kindly added to the evenings enjoyment; Miss Rowe, recitation; Miss •Sullivan, song; Mr Walters, song; Mr Rowe, comic song; Mr Wade, bagpipes; Miss Philips, song. Miss Currie, a visitor from the south, gave a fine exhibition of Highland step-danc-ing in costuhie, which was greatly admired hy all. The encores throughout the musical programme were numerous. The supper 'which the ladies provided was carried out in their usual good style. Master Barry gave some very amusing “Kysar” songs.—Correspondent.

Tn the Kahouri Bridge Hall next Thursday evening, a farewell social - and dance will be tendered to four 'soldiers. «■ A. general football practice of the Senior Cadet teams will be held at Victoria Park to-morrow in lieu of the usual weekly competition match. The Moana has arrived at San Francisco. London reports the arrival of the Turakina and the Xiwaru, and the departure of the Kumara for Sydney and the Delphic for Lyttelton. A social and dance will be held in the Tuna School Room on Friday evning when presentations will he made to Messr.s Ronald Karalus, W. Hatcher, and W. McCraekcn who are •about to proceed to the front. "I spent some anxious nights thinking of my son in the trenches in France," said the father of i -Now Zealand soldier the other day, "and was much relieved one morning ;vhen J got the following cablegram from Loudon: 'Broke; send money. Bill.'" At the meeting of the War Relief Executive this morning, it was pointed out that Imperial Resefvi ts returning •to New Zealand Iron: the front receive the same treatment and consideration at the hands of the Patriotic Committees as that given to our own hoys.

The members of the 1 Oth Reinforcements will leave for camn by the mail train on Monday morni "g. Prior to entraining, Fat her -Monies and His Worship the Mayor will deliver addresses to the troops. The Mayoress will also present the men with the usual gifts.

Weather Forecast.—The indications are for variable and mo 'crate breezes, but northerly moderate to strong winds prevailing, and freshening for a storm which appears to he approaching from the west. Increasing haze and cloudiness. Barometer falling soon.—Bates, Wellington.

Staff-Captain Wallace, of the Salvation Army, will speak on .“The Salvation Army in its relation to the Young People” at the Army Hall tomorrow evening at 8 o’clock-. The young people of to-day are the men and women of to-morrow, and •anything done for their mental, physical and moral well-being is of the greatest importance. The Salvation Army recognises this more than ever, and is endeavoring to effectively grapple with the attendant problems.

Members of -the Anznc Minstrels presented Mi A.OJ;.' JJavey dbying an interval in the performance at Toko lasi night with a pipe and case art a, ~ slight appreciation of his many ser- !, vices to the troupe in, conveying them to and from outside- centres. Mr Davey was agreeably surprised at receiving the gift and briefly returned thanks, stating that his interest in the Anzacs was a little outward sign of his loyalty to the Empire, and represented his shnse of duty in a good cause. The gift would serve to stir him up to a fuller accomplishment of that duty in the future.

lii connection with the valuation of the Electrical Supply Co.’s business, yesterday’s report was hardly complete, the amounts of the valuation of the freehold and the goodwill being omitted. There were four valuations altogether, viz., main valuation £13,237, water rights £IO3O, freehold £l7O, and goodwill £BOO, making a. total to be paid for the business of £15>y237.: :

An unrehearsed incident at the Anzac Minstrels’ entertainment last night at Toko “brought down the house!” In the middle of Miss Greetihalgh’s item the acetylene lights' quickly faded and went out, leaving the place in darkness’. But the artist was equal to the occasion and continued her amorous appeals to “Sammy” to allow himself to he embraced; but despite Tarabo Ward’s interjection, “Now’s your time, Sammy!” the singer appealed in vain! Matches were lighted and served to make the darkness visible! Then the hall committee gqt to work and lighted up, but almost immediately the light again refused to burn. After success had crowned their efforts and the hubbub had subsided, Miss Grecnhalgh was enthusiastically ■ recalled and renewed her attentions upon “Sammy” to the huge delight of the crowd. Some people do have luck, to be sure! This is the third time in the history of the singer’s theatrical experiences that the lights have failed !

During the interval at the Anzac Minstrels entertainment at Toko last night, presentations of wristlet' watches were made to Privates R. Corbett, S. Cole, and L. Caskey, who are on their final leave before going to the war, The presentations were made by Mr W. H. Were, who made a capital patriotic speech, for which the audience loudly applauded him. he said they all knew these men were out to do their duty for their King, Country, and those who-were left behind. The hour wfis striking, he believed, when the wo fid would be freed from the tyranny of Prussian militarism, but the men from the workshops and the .men from the field had to remember that they must fight side by side and in unity wherever it pleased the State to find work for them to do; otherwise the victory would not be with them. It behoved the Toko people to do their share of the great task, but -of that duty being done he had no doubt. He trusted sincerely that the soldiers would return safe and sound after they had “done their hit,” when they would he welcomed back as enthusiastically as they had been sent away. Cheers were then given for “the boys.” with musical hours, the audience rising to their feet while singing “They are Jolly Good

Follows.” None of the soldiers proved to 1.0 “mooli of !i speaker/’ as one of iliom said, lint tlieir tlianks were sin- ' cere, and the few remarks were much I to the point.