LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 18, 19 August 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tlie New Plymouth, Stratford and Eltham Boy Scouts will hold a come biued parade at Eltham next fhuisday. A A

The Australian Commonwealth Cahi-t net lias decided to ask Parliament to amend the Australian Notes Act to permit of the issue of live shilling notes.

At the annual meeting of shareholders of the Alton Co-op. Dairy Company the other day, the chairman remarked that the company had been offered B|d for a straight-out sale for the coming season’s output. Xne agents said that there was a prospect of flic market reaching 120 s tins year.

A meeting of the Stratford Employers’ Association will be held in Smith’s Rooms, Broadway, on Monday night at 8 o’clock. The business to' bd dealt' with will be the consider, tion of amalgamation with, and the rules of, the Taranaki Asociation.

‘ “Everylady’s Journal,” as a woman’s magazine, concerns itself mostly with home interest, and wisely reduces the amount of reading matter about the. war to the lowest possible limit. But in the August issue, for example, we find a fine series of brief articles by prominent people like the Hon. Arthur Robinson, M.L.C., and Miss Beatrice Day, the well-known actress, on the subject of how we may best help the returned soldiers.

A fairly well-attended meeting ol the Blanket Committee was held on Monday and the ladies present decided to hold a “Flower Day” on Saturday, 26th hist., to provide funds to buy more material for the baby garments that the Blanket Society and helpers are now making up. Since our last acknowledgment, the following sums have oeen received: Mrs Middleton 2s 6d, A Friend ss, A Sympathiser (per Mrs Crawshaw) £1 10s.

The high milk and butter records put up by Milking Shorthorn cows under official test in Now South Wales is a tribute to the productiveness of the Australian type of the breed. The Darbalara cows in twelve-months tests returned respectively 17,5761 b. milk and 6891 b butter, and 15,2231 b milk and 6531 b butter. The Dairy Shorthorn Association of England’s Year Book gives the records of 505 cows tested last year, and the highest milk yield was 12,8091 b in 365 days.

Tho Prime Minister of Australia, .Mr W. M. Hughes, when in London last month, introduced a deputation of zinc producers in Australia to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. Mi Bonar Law, to lay definite proposals, involving a wide avenue ot employment, before the Government. Mr Hughes explained that the deputation owned and controlled all zinc ores produced in Australia. The proposal ht‘ desired to lay before the Minister was Imperial in its scope and objects, and at the same time rested on sound business lines. It covered u proposal for the erection of smelting works in Britain, and involved the exclusion of German spelter alter the war. The scheme as ready for adoption provided for preferential treatment of the Umpire's products, hut also allotted a fair share ot raw materials to France and Belgium. Mr I Lunar Law is to consider the proposal 1 with a view to putting'it before the * Government.

in addition to the South British fi& surance Company, the New Zealand Insurance Company and the Auckland Savings Bank have subscribed £IOO,OOO each to the war loan. The Northern Roller Milling Company takes £SOOO. Mr W. Lints, who lias just returned to New Plymouth from Nelson, where he was sole organiser for the “Silver Bullet Cannonade,” states that in eight weeks there the sum of over £25,000 was raised for patriotic purposes. He states that this result was obtained in spite of the loss incurred in the country districts of Nelson by the inability to get the apple crop away and in spite of the difficulty of selling the hop crop. Two little children were observed to be taking coal from the Railway Wharf at Wellington on Saturday morning, and a constable tried to arrest them, says the “New Zealand Times.” There were about 300 waterside workers in the vicinity at the time, and a mob of them attacked the constable, and a rough and tumble ensued, in which the children were enabled to escape, making off as fast as they could. The incident looked as if it would have a serious ending at one time, but nothing further happened, except that the constable was hooted-by the watersiders.

It happened at the Carterton School ithe other day, when the class were receiving a lesson on turning certain nouns into the feminine gender by the use of the affix “ess.” The teacher gave the words “shepherd,” “lion,” “tiger,'' and the answers came quickly and correctly. Then the teacher asked who was the Governor of New Zealand, and the class answered; “Earl of Liverpool.” “Quite right,” said the dominie. “Now, what would you call his wife?” “Earless” and “Governess” were tried, and then silence fell upon the class. Presently a little girl’s hand rose proudly. “Well, what would you call the Earl of Liverpool’s wife, my girl?” said the teacher. Sharp came the reply, “Earl of Liverpool’s Own, Sir,” and the wielder of the tawao had to retire to his desk to hide his confusion.

The advantage of • pasturisers was referred to by Mr J. Marx at th meeting of the shareholders of thj Mangatoki Dairy Co. on Thursda; (states the Argus). He said tin company; had installed three pastin' isers which were financially a success In the, first half of the year they dit not appear to be- making much dif ference, but later on when, there wa more butter fat in the milk thej proved their value. The quality o tlie cheese had improved ably, and in one line of cheese, out of 1100 crates, 14 crates only were passed as second grade. This exceptional result was attributed to tlie pasturisers. There were several milk suppliers, however, who evidently had an exceptional idea of the machines’ capabilities and were rather careless about the feed for their milch cows. Given average quality milk, he was certain, with the aid of the pasturisers, a better average could be obtained than otherwise.

There 1 was a good attendance at the Town. Hall last' evening, when the Mayor (Mr J. W. Boon) and Crs. J. H; Thompson. S. B. Hunter and W. H. H. Young delivered addresses, in connection with the Borough Council’s proposals to take over the plant and undertaking of the Stratford Electrical Supply Company. It is proposed to borrow £16,000 for the purchase, and the poll on the proposal will be held on August 25. The Mayor explained the negotiations between the Council and the Company regarding the purchase. Seventeen years ago the Council made an agreement with the Company giving them the exclusive right to generate electricity to light the town, and this carried with it a monopoly. During the past seven years, at least, there bad been a general desire on the part of the inhabitants to own their own lighting plant. The question had been a burning one in municipal circles for many years, and the best results for the borough had not been obtained owing to the differences of opinion held by leading men. If the ratepayers failed to take over the plant now, there was nothing else to lie done but to give the Company another concession. Councillors were very anxious that the ratepayers should carry the poll next Friday. In conclusion, the Mayor moved the following resolution:—“That this meeting of ratepayers affirms the principle ol the municipality'controlling the lighting system of the borough, and supports the proposal of the Council to raise a loan of £16,000 to acquire the plant and undertaking of the Stratford Electrical Supply Company, Ltd.” Cr. Young spoke shortly on the Feikling plant in regard to Stratford’s requirements, Cr. Thompson referred to the balance-sheets of the Company, and Cr. Hunter characteristically set out information on metres and lines. Mr R. McK. Moiison, as a convert to the proposal, also suppported the motion. Several questions were asked, principally by Dr. Baget, to all of whom the Mayor and the Town Clerk replied, after which the motion was put to the meeting and declared carried, there being five dissentient votes. A lengthy report of the meeting is -unavoidably held over until Monday.^

At the Auckland Supreme Court, Feeney (68) pleaded guilty to indecently .assaulting girls of eleven and seven years of ago at Paeroa, and was sentenced to the maximum term of sev o u years. A cablegram from Romo states that renewed earthquakes were experienced at Ancona, Florence, and Ferrara. The members of the 20th Reinforcements, who leave for camp by the mail train on Monday morning, will assemble at the gymnasium, School Grounds, at 8.16 a.m'. Prior to entraining operations the men will be addressed by the-Rev. R. B- Tinsley. The public are asked to attend at the station and give the men a suitable farewell. A very enjoyable evening was spent at Mr. Dombraski’s homestead, York Road, Midhirst, on Thursday night, to bid farewell to Mr Potroz, who is shortly to leave for the front. Mr Potroz is the youngest son of Mr Potroz, of Waitara, and is the third son to enlist. During the evening, Mr A. W .King, after a few'' well chosen words, presented the "guest with a wristlet watch. Mr Potroz suitably responded. Mrs Dombroski provided an excellent supper, concludes the correspondent.

At the commencement of the public meeting held in the Town Hall last evening, His Worship the Mayor (Mr Jt W. Boon), moved the following resolution; “That this meeting urges on the general- public the desirability of supporting the war loan.” i’he resolution was moved in consequence of a wire the Mayor received from the Minister of finance (Sir J. G. Ward) yesterday. The chairman of the Chamber of Commerce (Mr J. B. Richards) delivered a short speech in seconding the motion, which was carried unanimously.

The Chinese are supposed to be superior to the Japanese in business ability, but it would be hard to beat the transaction just completed by the Bank of Chosen. The bank has agreed to lend to the Chinese authorities at Mukden the sum of one million yen, [and the security agreed upon comprises ■the telephone and electric light enteiIprises of the city and the international settlement comprising an area of Ibree million tsubo. Mukden must ■ve been hard up indeed ! The borKwers receive 95 yen per 100, and Kay 6* per cent. It seems t'o hiive Kaken some four year's to conclude • < ijj vseqaa ion Bus transaction.