LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 80, 1 November 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

During the month of October, the number of birtbs registered in the Stratford district was 14, marriages 3, and deaths 3.

At the Magistrate's Court on Fri-

day, opening at 1.30, there are fourteen civil cases and three judgment summonses down for hearing.

"Trading with the enemy" is one of the charges set down for hearing by the Justices at the Stratford Magistrate's Court next Friday.

\t the Territioral Parade this even-

ing Assistant Adjutant-General Captain Furby, will inspect the men. It is hoped a special effort will be made for all members to be present.

Up to the present, 227 licenses* to export butter have been granted under the arrangement between tho Government and the producers (reports the Press Association). Xo limit is placed on the quantity that may be exported.

Quite a number of people are interested in "shouting," and some delicate points will no doubt be brought to light at the Magistrate's Court on Friday next, when six cases of "shouting" arising out of the Trebes case, are down for hearing.

Weather Forecast.—The indications are for south-easterly moderate to strong winds and backing by east to north. Weather probably cool ami changeable with scattered showers. The night will probably be very cold. The barometer has a rising tendency, but will fall after about 24 hours.— Bates, Wellington.

When he was in Dunedin in connection with the arrival of the hospital ship Marama, His Excellency the Governor met Mrs Tall, a resident of that city, who has the proud distinction of having nine sons who are wearing the King's uniform or have done so in various parts of the world —one having won the V.C.—and heartily cogratulated her on such a wonderful record.

The Ladies' Patriotic Mart and Tea Rooms will be open as usual on Saturday and will be in charge of Mrs J. W. Boon and Miss Papps respectively. It should not be forgotten that gifts of all kinds are always appreciated as well as donations. Just a thought of our boys may prompt many in town, and country to augment tho donations of goods or money to our local Ladies' Committee in Broadway.

A speaker at a. dairyman's meeting in Invercargill drew attention to a seripui anomaly, created under the new scheme , o% taxation of dairymen to limit the retail .price of butter in New Zealand. It was pointed out that the regulations referred only to dairy factories manufacturing butter and cheese, which gave a decided advantage to the condensed milk factories, whose proprietors, were reported to be offering as high as Is 9Jd per lb for butter-fat.

In Australia, after to-day. the use is absolutely prohibited, without the consent of the Governor-General or a Federal Minister', of the word "Anzac" as a name, or part of a name, on any private residence, or any boat or vehicle, or any charitable or other institution, or any building in connection therewith. The use of words resembling "Anzac" or any other ,i words are notified as prohibited I words is also prohibited. The penalty is a fine up to £IOO, or six months' imprisonment.

America is becoming a nation of motor-car owners, and it is estimated that by the beginning of 1917 there will be one car in the United States for every 25 inhabitants. This means that in January next there will be something like 3,946,634 cars in America, the aggregate value of which will be something like £400,000,000. The cost of running the cars already on American roads is simply staggering. There are, according to the latest Government census, 2,445,664 cars in use. At an average upkeep of only £SO each per year, the gigantic sum of over £122,250,000 is arrived at, and £SO would be a long way under the actual average running costs. The American car industry is now such a gigantic business that we may fairly wonder where it will end. j

"In these days so many appeals are made to you for funds that you could be excused for beginning to look a bit gloomy, and for asking when they are going to stop," said Mr L. M. Isitt at a meeting the other night. "Let me tell you they are not going to stop, while you can spend £4,000,000 a year in booze, and five and a half millions in war time on this wretched totalisator. What good do you get from it I would like to know:-' The drink gives you a bad head, and a hob-nailed liver, and the man who supports the totalisator goes home and raves at his.wife and kiddies because he lias been fool enough to put his money on a bad horse. No! These well-deserved appeals must not cease while nearly 10 millions is being wasted in New Zealand on drink and gambling."

I The executive of the Stratford Gun Club have arranged to hold the first competition for the Ballistite Cup on Thursday, 9th inst., and members aro notified by advertisement in tins issue that entries (Is) close on Saturday night with the secretary, Box 40, Stratford. Four competitions (best three to count) are held yearly, under sealed handicap conditions, and the Cup has to be won three times to . become the absolute property of the winner. The position at this stage is that Mr H. Campbell (Stratford) has had two wins, and is the present holder and .Mr A. Scott (Ngaere) has one to his credit. The competition which was first held in 1910, lot of interest among shootists, but for t'ic l>nst two years it has been al- , lowed to lapse. Now, however, it is I expected that a large entry will be 'forthcoming.

The mail for the United Kingdom, Europe, United States of America, and Canada, via Frisco (and due in London on December 10th next) closes at the Stratford Post Office on Wednesday next at 2.30 p.m. Letters only for the Expeditionary Forces should be posted not later than Tuesday next, 7th inst., as the mail closes at the Stratford Post Office at 8.10 a.m. that day. A Press Association telegram from Palmerston North states:—The weather is dull for the first day of the Manawatu A. and P. Association's Spring Show. There is a good exhibition of stock. In cattle, a notable feature especially is the dairy breeds, which are probably a record for New Zealand. Other divisions are well up to standard of previous years. Queensland has this year 219,000 acres under wheat, of which it is estimated 168,340 acres will be harvested for grain for a return of 2,866,700 bushels. This gives an average of 17 bushels per acre.- and the estimate is officially stated to be on conservative lines. The northern State's best grain yield to date is 2.136.800 bushels : n 1903. It is not the intention of the Federal Government to include the Queensland harvest in the wheat pool.

Few of the rut side public are aware how early «r>d late many'ladies in Stratford and district are working in the interest of "our boys" at the front. Every Wednesday there is a sewing meeting!, and at presentsome special butter cloth shirts are being made by the ladies of the Stratford Patriotic Committee. These are to be sent to Wellington to be soaked in' a solution for protection against vermin. In a quiet unobtrusive way the ladies are working in the interests of our boys, and they need every help and encouragement.

New South Wales has sent a. cable to , the Agent-General, to obtain voluntary reports respecting the effect of enemy gas and liquid flame updh vegetation, and also, iFpossible, to get information respecting composition and details of mechanism used. The object of the investigation is to ascertain whether something cannot be learnt from the lessons of war for the eradication of prickly pear and noxious weeds. It has been represented that Professor David and other scientific Australians interested jin these matters are at present on the western front or in England, and would probably be glad, by way of relaxation in odd moments, to" make inquiries.

"New Zealand Illustrated," the Christmas number of the "Weekly Press," once more makes its appearance, to meet, its merits can be taken as a guide, a warmer welcome than ever from a public that missed its appearance last year. In its thirty or forty pages are to be found pictures to suit all ages, and all good tastes. Almost every part of this picturesque Dominion is illustrated, from subtropical Whangaroa to the glaciers and ice-peaks of Southern Westland. Special features are a fine full-page photo-engraving of the departure of a transport from New Zealand, and an illustrated 'song, "The Storm Bird," the words by Mr A- E. :Mulgan, the music by Mr Alfred Warsley,'and a picture by Mr A. Kennaway.