LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 90, 13 November 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The monthly meeting of the Stratford Borough Council to-night promises to be a lengthy one, there being a heavy agenda paper to deal with.

Some big totara logs came down the Waitara river on the flood reports the Mail. Out of one log, sixty fencing posts and some strainers were cut.

Tho postponed meeting of the Girls’ Friendly Society will be held this evening in the Parish Hall at 7.30. An interesting address will be given by Miss Marchant, principal of St. Mary’s School. All sympathisers witlj the movement are heartily invited t 6 attend.

Policemen, like soldiers, were at one time forbidden to wear a moustache, and Hull is believed to have led tho way to liberty in tins respect by passing a resolution permitting tho guardians of the peace “to wear a beard and moustache if they think fit.” This was in 1859.. It was in more recent years that the directors of the Bank of England issued an order forbidding the clerks “to wear moustaches during business hours!”

The question of holidays for the Stratford Borough employees is to be dealt with at the meeting of the Council/ to-night. The Mayor will move—“ That the resolution of 14th December, 1914, adopting the Works Committee’s recommendation that tho borough workmen be allowed the following holidays on full pay be rescinded, namely, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, January 1 and 2, Good Friday, i Easter Monday, Labor Day, and Show Day.” The workmen have applied for an increase of one shilling per day. | The engineer has also applied for an increase in his salary, and the Works Committee recommend that the sum of £ls be granted.

An idea of the power and magnitude of the flood in the Manganui river on Wednesday night can be gained from the fact that a shed at the Waipuku quarry, measuring about 60 feet by 30 feet, was completely washed away. A crane-driver, who was sleeping there at the time, narrowly escaped with his life. It appears that the shed, which was equipped with stoves, tables, etc., was built near the river on a piece of ground about an acre in extent, which had been filled in with spoil from the quarry. The huge volume of water in the river rapidly ate away the bank until the building was undermined, toppled over and was whirled away in the flood.

That bugbear of horticulturists, the shell-backed snail is, the reason for much, complaint just now. Nothing in the flower and vegetable lines is passed by; indeed, he has proved himself something of an epicure, for the most succulent plants receive his closest attention. Instances of his ravages are related by every gardener, and re-sowings of seeds and replantings are extraordinarily frequent. Few places have escaped the pest. One resident went out into his garden at an early hour the other morning and caught 180 in a few minutes. Remedies suggested to cope with the intruder include the laying down of Paris green, carbide refuse, raw steak, and many other things. The proverbial “oldest inhabitant” vouches for the statement that the snail has never been so destructiv as is the case this year.

In speaking at Auckland last week, at a meeting of soldiers’ wives and mothers, of the bond of sympathy uniting,all classes and underlying all the .tragedy of world-war, Dr. Averill related an interesting incident which occurred at the front. One day a white hare dashed out of a wood and ran between the British and German trenches through the strip of ground known as No-man’s Land. At once the men on both sides took shots at it, and the hare finally fell to a German gun. A German carrying a white flag, presently came over the parapet, ran forward, seized the hare, and returned in safety. Shortly afterwards the white flag again appeared, and this time one of the enemy approached right up to the British trenches, and presented the men with the animal, receiving in return a gift of tobacco. Towards evening the white flag appeared for the third time, and the German, on reaching the British lines in safety, handed in a slip of paper hearing the following friendly warning “We are Bavarians, and are leaving these trenches to-night. Prussians are taking our place; and you’d better play no games with them!”

Among those who have signed on for voluntary enlistment are Messrs A. Rawles, A. Richardson (Stratford) and Messrs J. McCarthy and E. Ross (Whangamomona). It was good news to learn that the mail train from New Plymouth was able this morning to pass safely over the Manganui bridge, which has now been repaired. Weather forecast.—The indications aro for easterly winds moderate to strong and freshening. Expect dull weather with much mist and fog in parts. Much rain is to be expected. Barometer falling.—Bates, Wellington. Through the skidding of his motor cycle on Friday, Mr J. A. Thompson, an employee of the Simplex Milking Machine Co., was thrown 1 from his machine at Ngaere, resulting in a broken leg. He was taken to the Stratford Hbspital.

Three of the permanent hands employed at the Midhirst dairy factory are reported to have enlisted, and the management is faced with the problem of carrying on the business with a depleted staff. The suggestion has been thrown out that older men with home ties should do their bit by stepping into the vacant places.

At the meet’ng of the Stratford Borough Conned ff-night. Cr Lawson will move as per notice of motion—- “ That the resolution of 9th June to turn the street lights off at 1 a.m. daily and on moonlight nights, be rescinded.” In this connection, tho residents of Juliet Street north and Orlando Street are speculating as to the reason for their being cast into utter darkness. For some weeks Irefore the Company died a lingering death, the current was cut off from these streets, and since then no amount of cajolery or bustling has been effective In their request to lighten the dark places.

Recruiting is being vigorously prosecuted by the members of the local Recruiting Committee and by Ser-geant-major Mahoney. To-day is the last of enlisting voluntarily for the latest reinforcements. Ser-geant-major Mahoney gave a spirited speech at the social at Cardiff on Friday night, and this evening goes out to Whangamomona district. All eligible men should obtain from .the Sergeant-major a copy of the Recruits’ Handbook, entitled “England , Expects,” which supplies full particulars regarding enlistment, rates of pay, pensions, promotion, and the hundred-and-one matters of detail affecting the life of a soldier. \

A deputation from the New Plymouth Chamber of Commerce waited on the ' Hon. Dr. Robert McNab, act-ing-Postmaster-General, on Saturday, urging the need for telephonic communication between Tahora and Tata, Mr H. J. Okey, M.P., introduced the deputation, and Mr J. D. Sole, president of that Chamber, spoke as to the need of this communication. Mr Newton King said communication with Ohura aud New Plymouth was via Taumaranui and Auckland, which meant much delay and inconvenience to settlers throughout the district. Mr V/. J. Penn also spoke as to the need for this communication, mentioning that, the Ohura and Whangamomona County Councils had guaranteed to make up any deficiency in the cost. The Minister poihted' out the cost of the connection would be £7,500 and he questioned whether the work could be done whilst the war was on. He would, however, give the matter his best consideration.

There was a crowded station this morning when a number of local boys left for camp for the 23rd Reinforcements or returned after final leave. The Mayor (Mr J. W. Boon) in the name of the citizens of Stratford, said he regarded it as a special privilege to address them before leaving for camp. While he was sorry that it was necessary for them to go, he was proud that they were going to do their duty. They were going to fight for the right of small nations to exist and work out their own destinies and also for the principle that the world should be governed by right, and not by might. We had sent a number of men—between 50,000 and 60,000 —and he was sure they were going to add to the good name already made. They were going to the other side of the world to fight for our men and women. If Germany were to win and have control of the sea, New Zealand would bo governed by might, and we would Have to groan under the military yoke. On behalf of Stratford citizens he wished them all God speed and a safe return. The Rev. G. W. Howard (Vicar) urged the men to pay strict attention to discipline. The New Zealanders never before held such a good name as they did to-day in London, and he trusted they would do- their best to add to that name. He trusted that God would grant them every blessing and that they would add to their manhood and return feeling that they had done their duty. The Mayoress presented each man with a hold-all before leaving. Off to Featherston camp were: W R. Clavis (Eltham), C. W. H. Frank (Tahora), and for Trentham camp: E. McE-inley (Eltham), H. H. Hendry (Whangamomona), D. Ferguson (Strathmore), T. H. Gooch (Toko), B. Hume, C. W. Bevins, F. G. Ralfe, F. J. O’Loughlin (Stratford). Among those returning on final leave were Privates T. and S. Carley (Cardiff), W. Sheriff and J. Clemow. The men were given three hearty cheers as the train pulled out of the station.