LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 49, 25 September 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Local fishing enthusiasts are now looking up their soar in view of the opening of the season on the first oi nest month. Fish are reported to be plentiful, and the prospects for the sport are. .good. Particulars in connection with licenses and information may be obtained from the secretary ol: tin? Stratford Acclimatisation Society '(Mr R. F. Harkness). What were said to be the first prosecutions in the Dominion under the Footwear Regulations Act came up for hearing in the Auckland Police Conn on Thursday. Two Auckland firms— Millers, Ltd., and Hallcnstem Bros. —were charged with exposing for =-J.k> certain footwear composed partly or leather and partly of oilier materials without having a statement of sucb materials legibly stamped on the mr lace of such footwear. A fine oi £5 was imposed in each case.

A cablegram from London to-day states that tho diphtheria epidemic i increasing, 1232 cases having been reported.

The luglewood Bacon Curing Company have authorised the payment of a bonus on bacon pigs supplied, and a dividend of 5 per cent, on share capital.

An employee of a Stratford mer-

chant hung liis coat containing £'> in a shod at the back of the pre raises on Wednesday last, and going for it afterwards, found it missing. The matter was reported to the police. and Sergeant Dale and Constable Robertson, as the result of enquiries, interviewed a hoy, who admitted tho theft, and took the police to a Bhe< where he hid tJio coat. Except a fe shillings, the whole of the money has been recovered. The boy will subsequently be brought before the Court.

A Wellington Press message states that the Post Office Savings Bank deposits for July totalled £1,392,498, exceeding the withdrawals by £372,759. In August 'the deposits were £1.352,908, and withdrawals £1,668,011 j the withdrawals thus exceeding the' deposits by £214,852. These heavy withdrawals it is pointed out were made'during the period that the war loan was open for subscription, and in view of the fact that approximately £10,000,000 was raised in the Dominion, it is considered remarkable that the Savings Bank finances were so slightly disturbed.

The residents of Te Popo gathered together at a euchre party last Friday evening, the proceeds being in aid of Christmas gifts for the hoys at the front. The euchre prizes were won by Miss Belle Knox and Mr J. Gibbs, and consolation gifts were awarded to Miss Elenor Knox and Mr A. MeCrackeh. After the card-playing, Mr Gibbs, in a very capable manner, Dutch-auctioned a few articles, which were disposed of at" very creditable prices by Messrs Elanchard, Smith, and McCracken. After the excitement ended, supper was handed round, and a very pleasant evening closed about 11.30. The amount taken clear of expenses was over £4, which is very good for the district.

A chapter of accidents occurred in Napier on Thursday (reports the Press Association). At s.3o"ii.'raj a fire broke out in the main ''o'tfßiness' block and destroyed a shop and £2OOO worth of goods. At 10.30' : 'J.' Peach, a small storekeeper at Port Ahuriri, was thrown out of a cart and had his skull fractured. At 2.30 D. Grant, an employee of Barry Bros., broke a leg in a coal yard. At 3.30 a married woman, laden with parcels, out shopping, and passing under a new building (a picture theatre) was struck on the head with a bucket of cement from a scaffolding and sustained a fracture of the skull. The diphtheria epidemic continues, and two patients were admitted to the hospital during the day, and also one of scarlet fever. l>uring the afternoon a man chased his wife with an axe through the streets of Napier South. The police are investigating.

In the Small Debts Court in Sydney, a plaintiff with a parcel containing a pair of trousers under his arm claimed £1 5s from a city tailor bocause the trousers were a.mvslit. -Defendant said he would like to see plaintiff, wearing the trousers. Plaintiff retired into a side room, and is a few minutes returned to court wearing the trousers. They were severai inches too short in the legs, and the unfortunate wearer was greeted with roars of laughter. Defendant (to th magistrate): He ordered me to make them short., so that he could show his socks. (Laughter). The Magistrate : If they were much shorter he would have shown his calves. (Laugh ter). To plaintiff: Did you get the:: made short to show your socks! Plaintiff: No, your Worship; some times I do not wear socks. (Prolonged laughter). The magistrate ordereel the return of the 255, saying that though he was not a tailor, he thought the trousers would "do for a variet; show."

Mr W. H; Skinner, one-time resident of New Plymouth, writing from r Christchurch to the Taranaki Herald .regarding limestone deposits in Taranaki, says: "The localities of those mentioned are known to me, but no mention was made of what I believe to be an extensive limestone field m the valley of the Ahuroa Stream ami its branches in Block XV., Huiroa Survey District, about six miles due east of Midhirst .railway station. The Ahuroa is a branch of the Makino, which in its turn is a considerable tributary of the Waitara, joining that river from seven to eight miles up stream from Tarata village. My recollection is a bit hazy now, as it was in 1878 that 1 ran into these masses of limestone rock, lying in the stream bed, when striking across country from the eastern end of Midhirst Block—about junction of Stan-* ley and' Croydon Road—to the frig station known as Cmnkiwi. There was tlu" stone all. right, ami '1 have always considered that these deposits would be of great future" value to tho middle Taranaki soils so lacking in lime as it was comparatively quite close to the railway at Midhirst by a very good road. Should any further investigation be made as to the possibility of securing a good deposit or lime suitable for agricultural purposes and within fairly easy distance of railway or sea carriage, 1 would recommend those who have the work in hand to investigate what I now say. In 1878 the whole country was a dense forest, now it is open and (1 . r .,. (~ n- n \ about in. and would take but very little time to prove ii the deposits 1 saw are oi sufficient extent and of the quality desired to warrant going any further in tho matter."

A free social will be held in the Army Hall to-morrow evening, when several articles made by the Women's Home League for the Boys at the Front, will be on view, prior to being sent forward.

Weather Forecast.—The weather indications are for easterly moderate to strong freshening winds and backing by east to north. The weather appears likely to bo cloudy and unsettled with rain following. The barometer is falling.—Bates. Wellington.

The sum of £B4OO was paid by the New Zealand Picture Supplies for the sole New Zealand rights of the Charles Chaplin comedies. In Wellington recently, it was found that on theatre would not hold all those who wanted to see "Charlie" in his first film "The Shopwalker," under his new management, so he was screened at two theatres simultaneously for the week, making a total of 84 screenings, the hist showing found • the houses more crowded than at the beginning of the week. The picture is dm; for a return to the Empire City as soon as can be arranged. The film is to be screened at His Mriesty's Theatre, Stratford, on Wednesday and Thursday next.