LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 65, 13 October 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The novelty entertainment in the llegan Street Methodist Hall takes place this evening commencing at 8 o’clock.

Weather forecast : t The indications are for southerly winds strong to gale and veering to west to north again shortly, weather probably cool and changeable with indications for a temporary improvement. The barometer has a rising tendency now but falling after about 24 to 36 hours.— Tiates, Wellington.

The Stratford Chamber of Commerce is waiting on the Hon. Mr. Fraser (Public Works Department) to-day on the train between Hawera and Stratford to make representations concerning the Okahunura railway and also concerning the Waitiri Road.

A Russian woman was graduated as architect from the Petrograd art academy this year. Before 1903, tyomen were not admitted, and it is only this year that a woman architect lias been graduated. The course is a difficult one, and the examination strict. It was necessary to drawplans for a homo for military invalids, housing 2000 men and 300 officers, and a church with a capacity of 3000 people. With 12 men, this one woman competed and succeeded.

The prospect of a direct service of steamers from Belgium and France to Australia, and probably to New Zealand, after the war, will be received with a great deal of satisfaction by the exporters and producers of this country (says the New Zealand Herald). The Belgian Government, in preparation for the time when the business of its country will be resumed, has considered the necessity of having a line of steamers under its own control—a service free, from the influence of any outside country. The Government recently decided to subsidise a fleet of vessels, and in June last, a company was formed and registered, .'under the title of the Royal Belgian Lloyd Company, ready to commence sailings when the port of Antwerp is clear.

Some advice on the matter of recruiting is givenr gratuitously by a Stratford man who was with the Mounteds when the Turks were engaged in the Battle of JRomani in Egypt. In a letter which has just come to hand, he says:—“The Conscription Bill is a good thing and should have been adopted long ago. Voluntaryism is wrong in a war of this magnitude. It is costly and unworkable. This is the kind of thing that happens: A man in New Zealand appears eligible to people around him, and public opinion and ‘white feathers’ compel him to enlist. This man, perhaps, is not of the right physical Illness, but manages to go through his training in New Zealand because he was not too closely examined by the doctor. He joins up here, and then finds the work too hard, and in a short time is in hospital, where he spends most of Ids time till invalided home. In the meantime we are short of men and this man is a large expense and waste to the country. In time of need, every man should be trained and classified so that no overlapping or confusion occurs ; also, single men are shirking their responsibilities, and married men with more conscience have come away. This is another | waste to be avoided as far as pos- ' sible.”

There is on view in the windows of the Ladies’ Patriotic Mart baby clothes made by the ladies of the Plunket Society to be sent to needy babies of fallen soldiers in England. The Society has already forwarded £ls to be devoted to the same object. This Society is doing excellent/ work and justly claims the attention and support of the public.

Next Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock, a demonstration of lime distribution over farm land, will be given at the school plot on Broadway south, when six cwt. of lime is to be applied to two acres. The demonstration has been arranged by Mr Brown, agricultural expert, for the

benefit of the 100 senior school boys now attending his lessons in Stratford, but all farmers interested in the work will bo welcome. Mr Newton King is supplying ' up-to-date machinery free of cost for the demonstration.

It is confidently expected that there will be a large and representative gathering at the Municipal Chambers this evening at 8 o’clock to meet Mr 11. Dalton, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner. All business people cannot fail to gain much valuable information from the Commissioner, and others, if only interested in economic questions, should find much in his remarks to profit by. The Stratford Chamber of Commerce ( is a representative body of business men who do much useful work, and it is hoped the public of Stratford will show their appreciation of the Chamber’s work for Stratford by attending to-night’s meeting.

A Press Association telegram from New Plymouth states: At the statutory meeting of the Iron Ore Smelting Company the Chairman announced that the erection of the works had commenced and that the machinery was ordered. It was expected that the first furnace with a capacity of seventy tons weekly would be running by the end of February. The required capital had been secured, and the share list would be closed almost at once. The following directors were elected: Messrs Payne (chairman), Fraser (Auckland), Rutherford (Cnlverden), Laurenson (Christchurch) f J. A. Heskett, W. H. Moyes, W. J. Penn, R. J. Deare, and Jenkins.

Sub-enumerators are busily engaged distributing schedules of the Census which is to be taken on Sunday night. Householders should carefully read and note the “general instructions” on the face of the schedule, and^, fllso the i , examples which appear on the .hack/of the schedule as folded when .received. Under the heading “Profession or Occupatipn” grade, etc., the, householder is to write “E” if employer of labour in connection with business or profession. “0” if on own account, but not employing others for wages or salary. ' “A” if relative assisting in business, but not receiving salary or wages. “W”‘ if earning salary or wages. “WN” if unemployed for more than a week immediately prior to census.. Taking the occupation of a farmer, the word “settler” should not be used. The term “farmer” is not sufficient, but the designation “agricultural,” “sheep,” “dairy,” or “poultry,” as the case may be, should be also given. Where, a wife, son, daughter, brother and other relative helps on the farm, or ‘s engaged in shop, hotel, or other business, such are to bo entered as “wife assisting,” “son assisting,” as the case may be. These remarks oi}ly indicate a general outline to lie followed when filling in tlie schedule, which when completed will be i called for by the subenumerator on Monday, 16th October. Failure to fill up, sign, and deliver the schedule' renders a person liable to a penalty of £2O.

A verv large crowd attended at the Midhirst Public Hall last night on the occasion of a farewell function to' Privates Hamblyn, Hughes, Hartigan, F. Treves, G. Treves, Winkee, and’ F. Bryant. The district never seems tired of doing the right thing by their boys, as shown by the fact that these opportunities for well-do-ing have been uncommonly frequent of late. Last night’s affair took the form of a concert and dance,for which an excellent programme had been arranged. At the concert songs were given by Air B. J. Peters (2), Miss E. Huse, Mr E. Ginnell (2), Miss Payne, Mr G. Walters (2), Mrs Williams, Miss Sheahau, Miss Greenhalgh, Airs Tapp (2), Air J. S. Rowe (2); recitations by Aliss Rowe; and a musical selection by Lester Bros, and Aliss Lester. Almost without .-.exception the performers were called upon to respond to encore numbers. The accompanists were Aliss Huse and Air Edmondson. After supper daticing was soon in full swing an was kept going until about two o’clock. The music was provided by Aliss R. Anderson (piano) and Air b. Parker (cornet). Mr J. M. Shotter was energetic and obliging as ALL. To all who assisted, the hearty thanks of all are due for the enjoyable evening provided, and the committee desire to specially mention the services of Alessrs A. J. Davey and C. Jackson, of Stratford, for running their motors to transport the performers from and back Stratford.

There was a full muster of the Senior Cadets (No. 94 and 95 Companies) at the parade yesterday afternoon under the command of Lieutenant T. Richardson, assisted by Colour-Sergeants Alger and Mark James. The Cadets were called to go through drills in connection with the ceremonial parade in anticipation of the visit of the Minister of Defence to Stratford. The lads carried out their work smartly and to the “itisfaction of the officer commandTmg. The bugle band was in atteud- ■ • Midhirst boys were well represented at the parade.

The latest, report from the Discharged Soldiers’ Information Department discloses the number of 5720 as the total numbe. oi men on the register as at 9th October. The dis position of registered men is as follows, the cases having been disposed of (a) Men who have work to return to, re-enlisted, or returned to tucir Military duty, 1917; (b) Men placed in employment, 1105; (c) Men " 0 have notified the Department that they are not requiring assistance, 1049 • (d) Left New Zealand and address unknown, 142; (o) Men who have not responded to correspondence from the Department, 318; (f) Men who have drawn sections of land, 136. Cases under action: (a) Reports not returned by officers making enquiries, HI; G>) Awaitiqg further advice, 308,; (c) At present on employment-wanted register, 230. Cases not ready for action: Including convalescents not ready for employment, and not yet discnarged, 404. There are six unplaced men in the Taranaki district on the register; requiring work as follows: Light a oik 2, light out-door work 2, clerical 1 5 , commercial traveller 1.

4 The ladies’ patriotic committee of Douglas recently sent to Mrs Brigadier Glover, of the Salvation Army, the following newly-made garments for the use of the Soldiers’ Children in the Salvation Army Homes; 29 dresses, 19 petticoats< 10 shiits, 11 flannel shirts, 1 bonnet, 5 sleeping suits, 2 hoys’ suits, 1 knitted pants, 4 pair stays. 6 pair drawers, 1 blouse, 3 tunics; total 82 garments. Mrs Aker, secretary, has now received from Mrs Glover a letter of thanks and deep appreciation for the kind action of the Donglas Patriotic Society. The ladies’ committee recently sent two cases of Christmas parcels subscribed by the local residents to our Boys who have gone to the front, each specially addressed to the Douglas soldiers, iand the remaifider :i tp lonely soldiers. .Mi-s ’. Luke (MaybresS ' oif Wellington) has now Veppi-ted : ‘the safe arrival of the cases ton>. and expressed appreciation / of the effort.—Much regret i's felt at the removal of our popular headmas- • ter of the Douglas public school, Mr J W. T. Jones, after a residence oi five years of efficient work. Mi Copeland, our. local storekeeper, had the misfortune to have his car catch fire, fortunately the blaze was extinguished before . serious damage was is felt' at the convalescence of Mrs Smith and Mis Wylie after, serious operations, and of Mr Smith after a minor operation, also Of the progress of Miss Wylie, who was seriously ill.