LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 47, 22 September 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The offices of the solicitors practising in Stratford will be closed all day on Monday (Dominion Day).

A Sussex farmer who lives well within range of the sound of the guns in France, states that the sound is as trustworthy a weather prophet as his barometer. “Whenever,” he says, “the wind is south and the boom of the cannon is unmistakable, it is sure to rain to-morrow—and it always does.”

The railway working account for the period ending August 19, shows the following figures, shilling and pence being omitted : Revenue—North Island £178,964. South Island £133,527, total £320,385. Expenditure— North Island £120,385. South Island £103,291, total £223,677. The percentage of revenue expended was 60.88 per cent., compared with 71 per cent, last year.

The following letter from the wife of one of our soldiers, whose separation allowance, through a clerical error, had been unduly delayed, has (according to “London Opinion”) been received at one of the Army pay offices:—“Dear Sir, —If I do not receive my allowance soon, there are only two things open for me to do, either throw myself into the river or lead an immortal life.”

“We in England believe,” Sir H. Hider Haggard said to an American journalist, “that this is not the last war. There is another coming, and that will he between England and Germany. Have you seen anything in the German temper to indicate that they will take this defeat—and defeat is certainly before them—as final? They hate us. They will hate us more when this is over. We must prepare to meet them.”

The migration of myriads of’ sea lice from the beach at Happy Valley on to the hills at the back of the road was witnessed, says the Post, and is described by spectators as “most uncanny.” The little insects are somewhat similar to the common wood lice but arc slightly bigger. They have apparently been driven out of their usual haunts on the beach by the excfpiionally high tides, and have taken lithe hills for refuge. Millions upon millions of the insects crossed tbe road, and the general effect on first sight was that the entire, road was on the move. The sensation experienced by pedestrians crunching over the sea lice was decidedly unpleasant.

“A great story is going the round ot the trenches about one of the Parliamentary visitors,” writes a Gisboint soldier in France. “The visitor was fitted out in one of Lieutenant Set - don’s tunics, and of course the scar on the uniform got the salute it was entitled to from all the men who wont passed. The M.P. was hugely delighted and insisted on shaking hands with all who saluted him, thinking he was being recognised by old suppoi ters. He said to nearly all, ‘I k«°' v your face, where have I seen you before?’ and did quite a lot ol electioneering in the trenches. Nevertheless he was a short. At one place he "«» in the Huns opened a bombardment, and between the shots be was out t l ' )nl under cover looking for curios. Another member grew rather exci ei when shown three aeroplane P °'° oraphs of the sector he bad been over. He seized the band of one ol the ouoers and shaking it vigorously said, ‘Man, to-day 1 have lived; yes hved, lived, lived.’ ”

The stock agency recently established in Ohura by Mr Newton King, who also purchased the Ohura sale- V yards, promises to be a great boon to a the district and no doubt fills a long- v ' felt want (writes a correspondent of V the Herald). In Mr Hugh Cameron £<■ as agent, Mr King has undoubtedly j selected the right man for the right • place. The first sale under the new regime will take place on October 26, and Mr Cameron is leaving no stone unturned to ensure its success. A Taranaki Herald representative was shown an excellent imitation of a sovereign yesterday morning which V had been passed over the counter of > a New Plymouth tradesman and aecepted as the genuine article. The \ false coin is composed of some white .» metal but bears every detail of the tjli sovereign and gilded over might very easily be accepted as such. People should exercise care in this connec- * tion as it is probable other imitation r coins are about. Judging from the large attendance of members at the opening of practice on the Stratford Bowling Green yesterday afternoon, the Club will have a very successful year. The weather was very fine, and as many as thirty members seized the opportunity to have a roll up. As was anticipated under the cirsumstances, ,he- green was heavy, but all agreed that for the time of the year it was in excellent order, ■ showing promise of being ready and true early in the season. Scratch games were played and an enjoyable afternoon was spent.

Picture patrons in Stratford are to benefit this week owing to the miscarriage of Wednesday’s programme for His Majesty’s Theatre. Five distinct programmes will have been screened this week in Stratford, which is a record for the local picture house. Tonight (Friday), a complete new programme will be presented, headed by an Edison drama entitled “When She Was Sixteen,” and to-morrow, at the matinee and night only, Mr Foley has made arrangements to screen further exploits of “Stingaree,” the Australian hush drama. The management is fortunate in securing a “Stingaree” programme for the Saturday patrons.

To-morrow ' (Saturday, September 23rd) the Mayoress (Mrs J. W. Boon) will receive Christmas Gift Parcels or donations at the Stratford Ladies Patriotic Rooms. As the time is now short, intending contributors are asked to send in their gifts tomorrow. The following contributions to the fund are acknowledged; Dr. Paget £l, Mrs Aldridge 10s 7d, Mrs Manoy 10s, Miss D. James, Mr J. McDonald, Mr Good, Mrs Marchant, Mrs Jos. Anderson, Mr and Mrs F. Wilson, Mrs E. Grey, Mrs Hartley, Mrs M. Bailey, Mrs G. Hall, Mrs Penn, Mrs Meuli, Mrs Reeve ss, Mrs A. F. Wilson, Mrs Good, Mrs Abraham, Mrs A. W. Burrell 2s 6d, Mrs Mann 2s, Master Jim Rivett, “New Zealander,” Mrs Smart, Miss Hogg, Mrs Childs, Mrs Riera Is.

“Here sir, here sir,” cried a strident voice as the name of Percy Henry Rush was called in the Auckland Police Court to answer a charge of leaving a cart without chaining the wheel. “How do you plead, guilty or not guilty?” asked the Clerk of the Court. “Guilty, sir,” intoned the defendant. “Are you quite sober?” asked the Magistrate. “Yes sir ; never been in Court before in my life,” replied the defendant, “but I have been at many naval court-martials.” “Well,” said Mr Frazer, “perhaps it’s just your manner, but is it a naval custom to intone?” Defendant said be was a bottle-gatherer, and when asked why he neglected to chain the wheel of his cart he said, “You know many a ship slips her anchor at sea.” His Worship laughingly replied, “Oh, well! The usual foe for slipping anchors at sea is os, and costs 75.”

The opinion is generally hold that it is only the children of the backblock or —and particular the dairy fanner —who are made to toil from morning till night, and if suggestion of child slavery is made there has grown up the belief that conditions of life iu the back-blocks are solely responsible. A case which recently came under the notice of the Auckland Education Board’s truant inspector shows the fallacy of such a belief, and it shows moreover that in the cities even more deplorable conditions may be found. In this case (states an exchange) the parent is a butcher who resides practically right in Auckland city, and he exacted from his eleven-year-old son about sixteen hours’ toil every day. The little chaj? was scurried out at 5 a.m. to sell newspapers, and after breakfast " a s made to canvass a round for orders for meat. After a few hours’ schooling he was sent, every afternoon, to the abattoirs for the day’s shop supplies. Every Saturday he was kept employed in and about his father’s shop, and on Sundays had to sciub out and thoroughly clean the premises. No matter what conditions may be found in the back-blocks, it seems quite evident that the cities can provide ample scope for those societies that protect children from the demands of inhuman parents.

leather Forecast.—The indications -are for northerly moderate to strong winds prevailing and fresnening. There is a prospect of fair to cloudy weather, but the night will be cold. The weather appears likely to change for tho worse about the beginning ot next week. The barometer has a falling tendency.—Bates, Wellington. The eleven year old son of Mr George t Downs, Waiwiri Road, met with a very painful accident at Toko yesterday afternoon. He was playing with a detonator, which exploded and inflicted severe injuries to his right hand. The boy was conveyed to the Stratford Hospital where it was found necessary to amputate the thumb and -two fingers. Another linger on the hand was also badly hurt.

The annual fancy dress and “hardnp” ball, under the auspices of the Stratford Volunteer Fire Brigade was held in the Town Hall last night and the success of the function reflected great credit on the committee which was in charge. The prize for the best fancy dress, ladies, was won by Miss Spriggins (Mexican Cowgirl), and for gentlemen by Mr Ley don, Toko, (Coon). In the hard-time dress competition the prizes were won by Miss D. Walker and Mr Harry O’Reader. The floor was well filled, i' and the Brigade was highly pleased with the support accorded them by the public. Th© music was supplied by th© Egmont Ochosi.ra, Mrs Bianche and Mr A. Richardson, whom the. Brigade wish to thank for their services.

Farmers down Ellesmere way have been, for many years, rip against two Ugly propositions—sparrows ana want of timbeW If they grew plantations the sparrows used the trees as a base for small-bird depredations. They discontinued the planting of trees; spar-

rows still prospered and multiplied. Now, most people are regretting that they didn’t plant more timber. Along the railway line is to be seen a sawryjill for the treatment of pinus insignus. The boards thus turned out make quite good building timber if painted liberally. It is said, also, that pluus insignus scantling is suitable for outhouse structure so long as it is kept dry and away from the ground. Several houses in the Leeston district have been entirely constnicted of “fir” timber. The trees for these purposes are obtained mostly from private plantations which were put down 30 or 40 years ago. These are running out, and it looks as though this source of timber supply must become exhausted Very shortly, if shelter is to bo preserved. The advocates of afforestation are afforded an excellent skeleton upon which to hang an argument in the rapid depletion of the plantations 0 of Ellesmere.