LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 59, 6 October 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

To-morrow is "Belgian Day" in Stratford, and the Ladies' Patriotic Committee are preparing for a record svlc at their depots in Broadway. The Beautifying Society is ints'X'StiiV itself just now In the plots at the entrance to the railway station, and workmen are engaged preparing the ground for the planting of flowers and shrubs. F.oeal Bodies' representatives are reminded of the meeting to-morrow 4U 1.30, p.t the A. and P. Assoeiation' office, Broadway, to confer with th executive relative to "the establishment of a Model Dairy Farm.

A working-bee will be held on the A. and P. showgrounds on Thursday next, commencing at 10.30. A London cablegram states that Sir Thomas Mackenzie announces that the cargo ol apples and pears from Nelson and Napier ai;:vou*"> bad condition. Before Mr S. B. Hunter. J.P.,. on Tuesday, at the local Court, Alex Hunter was convicted of using obscene language in Broadway, and was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment. From reports to hand, sheep and lambs in the Whangamomoua district ( are looking well, but the grass is somewhat backward on account of the recent cold wind. Farmers complain of the shortage of labour everywhere, A deputation from the Stratford Patriotic Committee waited upon the executive of the Stratford A. and P. Association with reference to the offer made to the side-shows. After fully considering the offer, it was generally agreed that in the interests of all it would be more satisfactory if a combined effort were made later on to promote a gigantic show in the interests of the Stratford Wounded Soldiers' Fund: A resolution was passed to this effect, and the matter will be dealt with at a subsequent meeting of the executive.'

Some persons have curious ways, of fixing dates. A witness in a Court case some time ago said a certain event happened the same month as th» war broke out, but by comparison this was easily beaten by a female witness in a case at the Falmerston Court yesterday afternoon. Asked what age her son was, she replied: "He was twelve when he was accused of stealing a neighbour's duck eggs, lo that will make him thirteen and sis months now." Needless to say, the statement caused much laughter in Court.

Ngaere was visited by the Amsao; Minstrels last night, when they were fortunate in having better wea her than on the occasion of their last visit. Besides the usual chair performances, jokes, and comic songs, liems in the second part were creditab'y given by the Misses Creenhalgh *tnd Savage, Mrs Edmondson, and'Mr >l. Howe. At the conclusion, Mr P. .T Foley entertained the company with sleight-of-hand and conjuring 'nicks; which were all greatly appreciate!. Messrs Edmondson and Lester Bros, rendered capital assistance as an, orchestra. A dance Mr N»-il Coleman acting as M.C., to the satisfaction of every one.

At the executive meeting of the] Stratford A. and P. Association last night it was reported that Hi<* follow-, ing new members hadi'been elected: Messrs W. Pollock. Donibroski, and! T. Geissler. The "follow ing' rsolii'tion] was adopted: That "provided 'snTtkfafctory arrangements? can be made, the fruit and lolly stalks be handed to the Stratford Ladies' Patriotic Committee for the Wounded Soldiers' Fund. A committee was appointed to obtain an estimate for the roofing of tho bull pens and the frame work for pig pens. The action of the Taranaki A. and P. Association with reference' to giving luncheon tickets was referred to the President to report. A vote of sympathy was passed to Mr J. H. Woisin on the death of his son Frederick William, who was a useful member of the Association.

The women's campaign for the 0 o clock closing of hotels for the duration of the war and six months afterwards was initiated by the National Council of Women in Australia, and has ,beeu going on with marvellous energy. The New South Wales women issued a paper called "Six O'clock," and posted a copy to practically every woman in the State; they published about half a million copies of a letter written by Mrs David, and about 80,000 pamphlets. The committee wrote officially to every member of the two Houses of Parliament, rii'l then every woman connected with t::e movement 'wrote to the member of her electorate. The Temperance Union has issued a button which bears the figure "6," and these are being sold at threepence to aid the funds o f the movement. It is said that a tiam conductor, on seeing the button, remarked to a lady wearing it, "That's right, missis; go for six hours; sixhours of/work's enough for anybody." He was not quite so interested when she explained the significance of the button.

The Stratford Circuit quarterly meeting was held in the Stratford Methodist Church yesterday. The. official report of the meeting states that there was a good attendance of officials and the Rev. It. B. Tinsley presided. Several new names we're added to the membership roll. The reports from the Sunday Schools and Young People's Societies were very satisfactory, the report of the Stratford C.F. Society being specially so. Finance was very good. Mr Birkett spoke in highly appreciative terms of the splendid work done by the Rev. Tinsley since his arrival in the district and an unanimous invitation was extended to him to remain in the circuit for another year. Mr Birkett also spoke of the good ,work being done by the Rev. Bridgman and to him an unanimous invitation was also given. lioth rev, gentlemen accepted the invitation. k'v.as decided to send lottois of condolence to] thus,' who have recently iud sorrow-; ful news from the front. Messrs R.j H. White and R. G. Foster were •elected lay representatives to the Patriot Synod and Mr T. White sub.li.iile. The meeting entered a very i strong protest against the "shooting practice" being indulged in on "Sun- 1 days.

.In the Hawera Magistrate's Court to-day (states the Press Association), Athol Fraser McLean, Ictter-carrlsf, pleaded guilty to having secreted eetain postal packets, and was commit-,, ted for sentence. Mr F. Foley, of His Majesty** Theatre, Stratford, has generous!*' donated a three months' ticket for the pictures to the Stratford Ladies' Patriotic Committee, and this will bo offered to-morrow to the highest Welder. The sheep returns for the Dominion as at 30th April, 1916, are now available. The total number of sheep in the Dominion (24,788,150) is 113,271 less than at 30th April, 1915. North Island showed an increase of 504,883, but this was more than counterbalanced by a decrease of 678,154 in the South Island.

At Tauranga yesterday, before Mr Dyer, S.M. (states the Pregs Associaa man was fined £5 for offering to treat another. The Magistrate remarked that the next caise that came before him would be dealt with with the utmost severity. Hie also remarked that h<- understood this was the. first case of the kind to come before a magistrate in the Dominion.

A new industry the making of paper, was mentioned at the last meeting of the ChrYtehutvh Board of Industries, it was stated that a New Zealand company had been experimenting for some t : me, and had large leases on the West Coast. A quantity of New Zeplirid t : mber had been sent to Europe and several rolls of paper had been produced, and they were now in Christehurch.

Messrs R. Masters (chairman) and C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., of the Taranaki Education Board, visited the Eltham, Rawhitiroa, and Mangamingi schools, on Wednesday, to make themselves more conversant with the demand of the district. The visit was rnucl; appreciated at the various schools. The interest now taken by the members in South Taranaki is a sure sign that the complaints hitherto made against the Board will soon be a thing of the past, judging by tho energies now being displayed throughout the district.

The Statutes for the second session of the Nineteenth Parliament of NewZealand are to hand from the Govern- " ment printer. The hook is the least ' bulky of any yet issued, containing"'' only 274 pages, compared to 716 in 1 ' 15 1913. However, a lot of valuable leg- ' ! islation is wrapped up in the small'*'' parcel,,chief among which is the creation of the Expeditionary Force Reserve by the Military Service Act; there is also other war legislation, an Orchard Tax for the development of the fruitgrowing industry, Native Lands Amendment, and an Act for the censoring of cinematograph films.

Christmas puddings, already "tin-" v ned, for sending to the hoys at the front, will be on 1 sale at the Patriotic rooms to-morrow. Already ■ a large number have been forwarded. The committee acknowledge the following donations :—Mrs R. Dingle 7s, Mrs O. Curtis ss. Collected by Mrs H. E. Abraham £2, Mrs A. Grant and Miss Leete 18s, Mrs Copping five pah's so3t,r-> * Mrs Uniacke two pairs sox, 3lrs ; »,':'' Budge two pairs sox, one Balaclrtva; ?v''' Mrs W. Robinson two knitted muff" V P lers, Mrs M. Bayly one pair sox and <K '» ! one pair bed sox, Mrs Newton- six.' )! '*" pairs mittens and two pair bath'slip*''->' r pers, Miss Freer one pair sox.

A giant New Zealandei- entered the crowded interior of a No. 33 Richmond omnibus in Fleet street recently (says the London Despatch, of August 13). " He took a seat, and then opened an enoimous brown bag containing sever ;d pounds of large, ripe gooseberries. Seated next to him was an elderly man, perfectly dressed in morning coat and silk hat. The gooseberries were thrust invitingly be* fore him. He looked at them astonished and embarrassed. "No, thank you," he said, abruptly, and then looked up and saw who it was. "Oh, thanks awfully," he stammered, and took a gooseberry between his gloved fingers. The New Zealander ' grinned f:nd passed the bag round. Pre-occu-pied, reserved Londoners, who never exchange a word with anyone in this city of strangers, found themselves discussing this pleasant, friendly soldier from overseas, who thought it the most natural thing in the world to pass round a bag of gooseberries in a London omnibus. In the Strand a fashionably-dressed woman who entered the omnibus was completely taken aback by the sight of the bag, which w.u immediately put before her. Then she' understood, and she said: "How very kind! Thank you so very much!" And all those Londoners actually smiled.

"Weather Forecast.—The indications are ior .easterly moderate to strong 'and backing by east to north. The weather appears likely, to be cloudy and unsettled, with rain following. The barometer is falling.— Bates, Wellington.

Mrs O'Reilly, of Skinner Eoad, has donated a. beautifully-worked Union Jack to the Ladi< s' Patriotic Committee, and the flag will be sold by auction to-morrow afternoon at 1.30 in front, of the Post Office, the. proceeds of the sale to be devoted to the Belgian fund. , 1