LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 44, 19 September 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Stratford School Committee meet this evening in the secretary's office at 7.30.

Local bowlers are looking forward to Thursday afternoon, when, should the weather be fine, the green will be open for practice.

In another column of this issue will be found the results of the raffles in aid of the Wounded Soldiers' Fund, conducted under the auspices of the Whangamomona Patriotic Bazaar pro-j motors, and drawn on September loth and 16th. I

The Ohura Advocate states: AI novelty in horticulture, is to be seen! at the residence of Mr Wemyss-Askew in the form of the sacred lily of Jerusalem, now in bloom, the cup of which is a very dark maroon and the pistil a sooty black. In shape it is similar to the arum lily.

"There will be two or three hundred shearers walking the streets of Masterton when shearing operations should bo in progress unless our demands are conceded," said a shearer to an Age reporter. Continuing, he said that in the South Island the shearers were determined, the same as in the North Island, to hold out for 255;, and unless this became the general price owners would probably have to do their own shearing. ■; .

Mr F. S. Mcßae's Jersey heifer Mere (the Feilding Star reports) has just completed her semi-official record under Government test. This heifer commenced her test at the age of 1 year 345 days, and has returned 12.1641 b of milk, yielding 663.641 b of butter-fat, in 365 days, constituting a world's record over any breed for the age. This heifer was-, sirod by Fancy's Lord Tywlish', owned by Mrs" f A. Banks and Son, of "Woodstock," Kiwitea ; and they have another 2-year heifer by the same sire undergoing a similar test. '"' ■'

Three four-year-old steers were lost in unusual circumstances at Ringarooma, Tasmauia. Evidently in a fi'gßt or at play one rushed into a hollow log, which was open right through, although considerably narrower at ono end. The second followed, and the third, that partly entered, in endeavoring to back out was caught by the legs, and when found was in a sitting posture. The first steer to enter was dead, the second died after being released, and the third lingered on for a few d&f

Have horses a sense of humor? An incident that occurred recently in a New York street suggests that they have. A handsom cab horse standing near an empty motor-car began to lick the rubber bulb of" the motor horn. Then he bit the rubber gently, with the result that the horn sounded. Passers-by stopped to laugh. Again and again the horse, with ears laid back blew blasts on the horn, until a policeman interfered and spoiled the sport. Spectators maintain that the horse laughed.

The first stone vessel has been launched at Christiana. It was constructed of concrete, except the steel ribs. (Kerr Bromstom, Minister of Marine, who is a leading Swedish ship owner, ordered the first vessel, of 3000 tons. He is delighted with the result, and proposes to construct concrete ships of 15.000 to 20,000 tons, to be used as railway ferries between Gotheberg and England. Experts consider that a new epoch in ship building has been inaugurated.

Cancer is increasing in New Zealand. In order to combat it the Government provided a substantial grant, last session for research work. The Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister of Internal Affairs, says that the matter is being prosecuted actively. Circulars have been issued to every branch of the British Medical Association in New Zealand requesting them to prepare data and to confer for the purpose of providing the Public Health Department with any valuable information that will enable steps to be taken for dealing with the malignant disease.

Tho first case of its kind under the r<" ently-gazoteted "War Regulations was heard in Wellington's S.M. Court before Mr W. G. Eiddell, S.M., when Mary Irene Williams was charged with entering the bar of the Cricketers' Aims Hotel after 6 p.m. The defendant admitted the breach, but pleaded ignorance of the regulations. After informing Williams that she was; liable to a tine of £IOO, the Magistrate warned her to be more careful in the future. A fine of 5s was imposed, with the option of 21 bonis' imprisonment.

Two matters in the report of the Stratford A. and l\ Association require correction. Regarding me privileges for members, Mr D. J. Malonc was made say that even if Hawera admitted members for sixpence, Stratford would have to do the same, whereas the speaker meant just the opposite. There was also a clouding of the issue in respect to the suggestion to hand the People's Stand over to the Patriotic Committee for the day of the show. The President (Mr E. Jackson) states that much as they would like to do so, the interests of the Association had to be conserved. The exact terms of the resolution on the matter was as follows: "That revenue from the people's stand be handed to the Patriotic Committee for the hire of tents up to a limit of £7 10s." Outside the war claims on the people's purse, there is no more deserving institution than a fire brigade —the Stratford Fire Brigade, to be precise. The members of the Brigade take their lives in their hands equally with the men in the trenches From any old quarter, a bomb in tho shape of a falling wall may hurl itself down upon the fireman working with might and main (!) to subdue the enemy at our doors, and like shrapnel a hurricane of bricks from an undermined chimney may be poured into the ranks of the fire-fighters. They may retreat in accordance with set plans (as the Hun is fond of stating to cover up his defeat), but again and again the- order is given to advance, and amid the fire and smoke the battle is fought to the bitter end. Instances of heroism under such circumstances are no less renowned than in war. Almost every town and city in the country mourns the loss of., a brave map who has died thus nobly. One..method by which all may show their appreciation of the work of the local firemen is now knocking at their doors. It is in responding to the call of the Brigado to support the Fancy Dress Ball and HarU-ty Social to be held in the Town Hall on Tl*M\sday night, by purchasing a ticket for one, if not for two, whether the individual has or has not the opportunity of being present on the auspicious occasion. Hydrautman "Billy" Paton is the Brigade's secretary for the Ball, and although the prices are extraordinary, running into halfpence, it will be quite a pleasure, he assures the writer, to find the correct change.

The Ohura Wounded Soldiers' ITund benefitted to the extent of £SO in rather a novel manner. After the recent Soldiers' Queen Art Union, the question arose whether the hon. assistant secretary (Mr Sam Soffe) had been ignored in his duties, by'the hon. secretary (Mr G. Loveday), and the interest became so keen that a £SO challenge was issued, and to decide the matter an arbitration court . was set up. nl be sitting duly took place on Monday week, when (stetes the local paper) the proceedings were conducted in an orderly manner, and lasted from 1.30 to 9 p.m., with the exception of two adjournments for refreshments. Mr W. K. Williams, J.P., acted as president of the court, Mr J. Roche appearing on behalf-of Mr Loveday, and Mr W. S. Currie for Mr W. T. McKay. The sworn * testimonies of McKay, Loveday, and the witnesses P. Loft and S. Soffe were typed by Miss McMann, and occupied some eighteen pages. The follow judgment was delivered by the president:—"There is evidence to prove that the assistant secretary stated to Mr McKay that he knew nothing about the art union, and that Mr Loveday had run it, but there is nothing in the evidence produced by Mr McKay and bis witnesses to prove that on' any single occasion the assistant secretary was ignored by Mr Loveday; on the contrary, there is ample evidence to prove that Mr Soffe took an active part in running the art union, and had the knowledge of all that was being done by the secretary during the term of the art union. Therefore, the unanimous finding of the court is in favor of Mr Loveday, and that Mr McKay's cheque of £SO, less £1 actual expenses incurred by the court, be paid over to the treasurer of the Ohura Wounded Soldiers' Fund." A pleasant feature in connection with the proceedings was that after the verdict was announced the various parties and many of the outside public foregathered in a friendly way, and Mr McKay's sportsmanlike acceptance of the decision was highly appreciated by all those present.

Tli© Dominion meteorologist (Rev D. C. Bates) telegraphs: The indicatioas are for'south-easterly moderate to strong winds. There is a prospect of i fail- to cloudy weather. The night will pvobably he very cold. Barometer little movement at present. A Press Association telegram that in the Greymosth libel case Noel Peat y the 1 Qreymouth, Evening Star, the jury were not satisfied that the para- ' graph was intended for plaintiff,. Judgement was given for defendants, with costs. A meeting of subscribers of the Stratford Public Library will be held iu the Borough Council Chambers nt 8 o'clock tq-morrow night. The business of the meeting.is to elect a com--4 mittee to work in conjunction with the Library Committee, of the Borough Council." . The number of Canterbury men anxious to go into camp who have bees medically rejected has been very large. The consensus of opinio-i of the medical officers is that the regulations issued for medical examination of i«cuits are fair and reasonable; and not tinduly severe. The btior physique and' various deformities and defects noticed at the examinations have been a revelation to the examiners. Hundreds of youths have been rejected whose maximum chest expansion was under 33*in., and whose muscular development was no more than one would find in a girl of 12 or 14 years of age. The medical officers consider it incomprehensible that in a country with such facilities for gymnastic training so many "defectives" could be found. On questioning many of these recruits it was found they had never particii pated in any, of the ordinary outdoor games, had never done any military training, fired a shot, or riden a horse, or, in fact, done anything a" youth . generally supposed; to do. With such materal it was exceedingly difficult to select men fit for • active service. Large numbers'of. recruits otherwise fit had to bo rejected on account of deformities of the feet and toes, due to wearing very pointed boots. The number of rejections on this score has been so serious that medical officers have expressed -the opinion that the Health Department should : 'be urged * to introduce « 'legislation■ -prohibiting the manulMdtUr^'of boots 1 sdKcbnStructi: ed as to cause 1 'deformities'of the'feet ; .and renderingirneh' unfit' ) service. %nder the old regulatldris a > large number of men had 'to 'be re- ■ jected foif defective vision, but since the standard has been lowered the number djf' rejects has greatly diminished.