LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 86, 8 November 1916, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

In communication to-day with Mr W. T. Jennings, M.P., the member for Taumarunm, stated regarding the Tahora-Tatu telephone line that the (Inspector of Telegraphs told him at Te Kuiti last week he was going on to inspect and report as to whether the connection should he carried out.

Telegraph messages came to hand to-day very much delayed. A Press Association wire with the result of the first race at Christehurch, although handed in at Sockburn at 1.52 p.m., did not reach us until four o'clock, by which time wo had been informed through another source of the result of the first two events. The Auckland results were equally slow in arriving. The Telegraph Office informed us when the paper was going t<> press that all the lines between Wanganui and Stratford were down, and that the work was being received via Auckland and Napier.

Writing to the New York "Unl, ' from Paris, Charles Edward Russell, a well-known Socialist journalist, who visited New Zealand some years ago, says that the war has upset all the old notions about national traits and characteristics. He writes: "The old ■idea that the French were merciful, emotional, and unstable was annihilated at the Marne and afterwards ; it will never be heard again. We used to say these things of the French, and of the English say that they were steady, cool, impassive, and undemonstrative. We have lived to see all the qualities of reserve and poise manifested by the English now manifested by the French. When the wounded are brought in at Charing Cross, London, 30,000 people jam the streets to make holiday, to laugh and cheer and throw flowers and dance. When the wounded come in at the Gare do l'Est, Paris, the people stand in silence, with bared beads ad clenched jaws."

The terrific north-east wind and torrential rain, which has been continuous for over 24 hours, has had the result of making business in Stratford very slack for the past few days, as few country folk have been in town. The heavy rains, it is feared, will cause serious blockage on the back country roads in the direction of Whangamornona. At the time of going to press, there were no signs of the storm abating. The Government meteorologist (Rev. D. C. Bates) does not hold out much hope of improvement for some hours yet, but he is often a day late in his prognostications regarding this part of the i country. He reports that the indicaions are for westerly strong winds to gale arid backing by west to south. The weather appears likely to be cloudy and unsettled. Rain probable, ' rivers rising. Weather probably bo- | come colder. Barometer falling, but