LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 54, 30 September 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Makahu dance committee (per Mr A. R. Walker, secretary) lias forwarded to this office the sum of thirty shillings to be handed to the Patriotic Committee for the Wounded Soldiers Fund.

The next mail for the United Kingdom, Egypt and Europe via Suez (specially addressed) is due Rt London on November 15th. This closes at the Stratford Post Office on Wednesday, October 4th, at 2.30 p.m.

An American paper heads its report of the opening of the British offensive with the title, "Some-Fight," in big black letters. The Free Lance says: Our only comment on this heading is "Some Don't"—and they live mostly in U.S.-land. /

Some bargain buyers are said to have been very badly bitten at the recent cheap jack auction sale in Manama (states the Witness) and there are in consequence a few wiser though sadder * people about. The ship-wrecked drapery from the Tonga riro was the lure in the first place, though there wasn't as much of that commodity from the ill-fated liner as would cover a rabbit hutch. But the real business was done in gaury electroplated Brummagen ware, sets ol which were knocked down from £-1 10s each that could be purchased locally for £1 or thirty shillings. Some of the purchasers, it is said, on realising where they were, came back and offered their purchases to the visiting philanthropist for a third of the money paid for them, but he tolc' thorn he was selling not buying and advised them to keep them as family heirlooms.

A novel means of checking waste by clerics who have the handling of Government paper was adopted recently at the Victoria military headquarters (says the Age). Acting on instructions, the caretaker of the building went round the various departments one evening and collected all the loose sheets of paper found lying about the floors. These were put into bags, which were labelled with the name of the particular department from which the paper had been taken. The following day the Commandant convened a conference of all the heads of departments and introduced the officials to the row oi bags, which bulged with the loose papers taken from their departments, and which had been thrown aside as useless. It was a convincing lesson of the need of economy. There has since been a striking reduction in the number of requisitions to the storekeeper for fresh stocks of writing paper.

In connection with Mr Newton King's dispersal sale of pedigree Holstein Friesians at Bell Block on Friday next, wo are asked to remind buyers that motor cars will run from Mr King's office to the farm on the morning of the sale. Work on the site of the new picture theatre in Broadway has been commenced, and building operations will be put in hand immediately tht. demolition of the shop has been effected. Stratford may to be seeing things in the new theatre in about six months time. Newton King has just prepared a leaflet giving particulars of the. 15 pedigree Holstein-Friesian calves which will be sold at his dispersal sale on Friday next. \,.since the cata* logup was prepared, arrived, and the leaflet has been pre- ■ pared to enable buyers to follow each animals full pedigree. Toko is making her sacrifices in the Empire's cause. This week brings the sad news of four lads killed at the front: T. S. Metcalfe. C. , \V. J. Divehall, J. E. Linn, ami W. G. Cate. This brings the total of Toko's losses of the hoys on active service to sixteen. The Divehall family has two more sons on service in addition to the one lost, who went away with the Eighth, viz., Albert (12th Reinforcements) and Harry USth) now m camp. The late J. R. Linn left with the Eighth and was the second son of Mr and Mrs Linn, Standish Road. W. G. Cate was an elder son of Mr ■ and Mrs E. Cate. of Makuri. Stan.- ; Metcalfe had no relatives here and was v previously farming in Toko with Mr • J. Bergham, of Waiwere Road.

In a recently-published brochure, circulated in Germany by the late political editor of the Berlin "Morning Post," the following paragraph occurs: —"In informed circles the truth is known, and the German people ought to know it. There are at least 1,250.000 dead, about 750,000 prisoners, deserters, and missing, and about 3,000,000 wounded, of whom about 1,000,000 are condemned to incurable mutilation. This is the bloody balance-sheet of war for Germany to-day. Concerning those sick we are silent. Their number eludes all computation, but it is certainly enormous." These figures were arrived at in June or July, and since then, of course, the figures have been greatly swelled by the constant losses during the heavy offensive operations of the Allies.

In view of the .opening of, the green next Thursday, the committee of the Stratford Bowling Club are making final arrangements. At a meeting held last night it was decided that all bowlers and their wives and friends be invited to be present. Members are reminded that all names must be in the box by two p.m. so as to facilitate play being started, and that the usual plate of refreshments be provided. Regarding play during the season, except"on Thursdays an* Saturdays, it was decided that al rinks other than challenge rinks sto] play at five o'clock and that the players lie then re-selected, thus giving the live o'clockers a chance to stave play immediately. The names of all members who had gone to the war -are to be inscribed on the Club's Roll of Honour. The thanks of the Club are >ciuo to Mr T. G. Grubb for the presentation of a.pair of bowls for competition. Seven new members were elected. - - : "- ■ •