LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 76, 27 October 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

With the recent issue, the “.New Zealand Dairyman” commenced its twenty-first year of publication. Howlers at the local green had some enjoyable games yesterday afternoon, about twenty members being present. Amongst those were a large number of new enthusiasts in the game. Two Samoan natives while swimming and propelling a raft in front, of them at Fagaloa were seized by sharks. One disappeared immediately, and the. other was got ashore ter-j ribly mutilated, and died. The Secretary of the A. and P. Association is busy now. collecting subscriptions, and these are now coming in freely. Mr Stanley is also receiving a large number of entries, many exhibitors not being slow to recognise the wisdom of sending in their entries early. Weather Forecast.—The indications are for valuable and strong breeze, but westerly winds moderate to strong prevailing. Weather cloudy to overcast with mild and hazy conditions. Barometer unsteady with a falling tendency.—Bates, Wellington. ' The installation of Lake Coleridge electricity at Lincoln Agricultural College lias been completed, and it is probable that experiments in connection with the application of electricity to. fanping .operations will he carried out. ' t'h : e v 'present installation is sufficient to provide fighting for the college buildings, and also poWer for milking; sheafing, and pumping. "*

One of tlie ' siiffest examination)? 1 outside London University is' a little contrivance called “Knowledge of London” tests, which Scotland Yard keeps in hand for flooring ambitious neophytes who aspire to drive a taxicab. It is all done in question-aiid-answer by word of mouth, with only 4-50 “possible routes” to comfort the noor condidate and give him “heart.” Once they tried written replies for two months. Not one candidate passed,. The revenue produced by the establishment of the County Council tollgajui at Waipuku is growing rapidly, and there will be a sum of £IOOO to be credited to the maintenance of roads. Up to date, tbc amount received £1417, the sum for the first half-year (to 28th April last) being £761. Passing through the gate up ,-tp thp first, half-year wore 4200 motor cars, of which number 8100 were 5-soaters; 2400 motoi 1 cycles, 400 with side cars, 800 ordinary bicycles. Cattle and sheep were as follows: 8600 cattle (over a year old), 1500 under a year old, also 30(000 sheep. There were, in addition, 1200 horses without vehicles, and 2000 one-horse vehicles. An interesting document was read at the afternoon sitting of the Baptist Union Conference the other day. It took the form of a letter to the secretary of tho Otago Auxiliary from Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, acknowledging a copy of a resolution passed by the Otago and Southland auxiliaries at their annual meeting expressing admiration at the splendid work of the Navy, and sympathy with tho relatives of those who had given their lives in the Jutland battle. Admiral Jellicoe, in his letter, said that it was a matter for gratitude that in the Dominion their doings were watched with such interest, and that there existed such a link between New Zealand and the Navy af that represented by the battleship bearing the name of the Dominion. To-morrow (Saturday) will lie fraught with immense importance to the Commonwealth of Australia, as the referendum will be taken on the question of Conscription. Notwithstanding all the fuss and noise of the “800-boo” party, there is no doubt in the mind of the unbiassed onlooker that “Yes” will win tho day. Jf not, then, as a Labor leader wrote from the firing line to his bid mates who had “scabbed,” “Cod help industrialism in Australia 1” The question that is being placed before tho voter is as follows:—“Arc you in favor of the Government having, in tin's . grave emergency, the .same compulsory powers over citizens in regard to requiring their military service, for the term of the war, outside the' Commonwealth as it now has in regard to military service Jvithin the Com-1 moiiwealth ?” I

At the last meeting of the Wellington Harbour Board the “Luekenbach” steamers were under discussion, an. attempt being made to show they were really true-blue dyed-iu- Lbc-wool American. Mr J. L. Cobbe caused some amusement by remarking that it seemed to him only natural to assume that the company was German. “If,” he said, “a man is called Herman von Bismarck, he is is no danger of being mistaken for an Irishman. (Laughter.) If the man is called Patrick Murphy, no one will call him an Austrian. And if he is called Donald MacDonald no one will say he is a Turk.” (Laughter). At the executive meeting of the Stratford A. and P. Association last night, there won' present : Messrs E. Jackson (chairman), J, M. Shottcr, C. Jackson, R. Masters, 1.. McK. Morison, A. C. Bell, and T. Hanford. The tender of Messrs McMillan and Fredric for roofing the lull boxes was accepted. As to the work at the hull pens, this was left in the hands of the President to arrange. It was agreed that the Kaponga Band be offered £lO, providing their own lunch, the band to play on nmple’s day from 11 to 4.30 in accordance with the terms of the letter. It war agreed that the President (Mr K. Jackson) and secretary 'MA. D. Stanley) visit the Manawatu Show next | week to secure entries. Accounts Amounting to £36 19s 7d were passed for payment.