LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 92, 15 November 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

In Stratford during forty-eight hours last week, eight inches of rain fell.

On account of the inclement weather, the match committee of the Stratford Bowling Club have extended the entries for all competitions to Thursday, 30th November.

The annual sale of work at St. Andrew’s (Presbyterian) Hall will he held on Thursday afternoon and evening. Various attractions have been arranged for the evening, when it is anticipated there will ho a large attendance.

Tile annual meeting of the Stratford County Council, when there will he the election of chairman, takes place next Wednesday. The usual monthly meeting will be held the same day, commencing at 11 o’clock instead of 1.30.

Midhirst is farewelling another of her loyal hoys at the Town Hall tomorrow evening. This will take the form of a social and presentation to Lance-Corporal Reg. Wellington. Another social will be tendered to LanceCorporal Wellington at Tuna on the following evening.

There are nineteen civil cases down for hearing at the Stratford Magistrate’s Court on Friday next. Of these, three are defended, and there are also live Judgment summonses. Of the criminal cases, six are for “shouting,” one for trading with the enemy, and one for failing to register as a vendor of fertilisers.

A good supply of clothing for the “D” Company 11th Regiment has reached the Stratford Defence Office, so that now our local hoys should not have occasion to complain of the want of military clothing. Captain Pu'rhy (Assistant Adjutant-General) when visiting Stratford recently, undertook to see that the local corps was better provided for, and it is satisfactory to learn that his efforts have produced results.

Mr W. T. Jennings, M.P., for Tallinn runui, while in Stratford yesterday, stated with regard to access being given to settlors just below Kolmratahi that he had seen the Minister in Wellington as to the opening up of Marangae Road, and that his report would he made later. Mr Jennings, who is watching matters on behalf of Mr Bine during his absence, is taking a keen interest in the Tahora-Tatu telephone line connection.

The Hawke’s Bay Tribune states that some time ago Mr L. Pratley, of Waipawa, submitted a recipe for water-proofing clothing to the Defence Department, and after a uniform had been treated with the pro-, cess a test was made. It was found that after the wearer of the uniform had been in tho rain for four hours his underclothing was quite dry. An opinion has been received from the permanent medical officer at Trentham that the process has not injured the fabric, and moreover has left it quite porous as far as air is concerned and yet impervious to water. Mr Pratley has given the rights of the process to the Defence Department for the duration of the war.

Mr W. J. Lopdell, County Engineer, paid a visit of inspection yesterday to Mt Humphries, near Taurakawa, which is at the boundary of the Stratford County. Considerable damage to the road lias been done by the recent floods. Mr Lopdell managed to take the car as far as Puniwhakau, but the rest of the journey bad to be accomplished on horseback. In some places so difficult was it to travel that men had to cut a way and clear a slip before proceeding. As a result of the inspection, Mr Lopdell found there were a number of slips and washouts which will take some time to repair. With regard to the repairs to the slip out on the Opunake Road, Cardiff, this has been proceeded with, but it now awaits pipes from Waitara before the work can be satisfactorily accomplished. Some interesting particulars with regard to the Girls’ High School at Now Plymouth are given in a notification appearing on page ti of this issue to which the attention of parents and guardians is directed. The School is now conducted in a newlyerected concrete building, standing in a healthy locality and with ample grounds surrounding it. There is good reason to believe that now that a suitable boarding-house has been provided within a few minutes’ walk of the school, that the Girl’s High School will rapidly attain a popularity equal to that of the Roys’ High School. Miss Barr, M.A., the principal, has a highly trained and qualified staff, and will also he in charge of the hoarding-house, which is most admirably situated. The secretary, Mr Walter Rewley, will be pleased to answer any inquiries.

A fine body of 130 Raratongan soldiers trained at Auckland left for a southern camp by the midday express, reports the Press Association. I It is good news, especially to those ; interested in the Stratford Show , traffic, to know that the work of scariH lying and reducing Broadway North j lias been put in band under the i superintendence of the Borough Eugi- , neer (Mr T. D. Sullivan). ; ''Weather Forecast.—The indications | are for northerly strong winds to I gale and backing by north to west. The weather will probably be dull and I overcast. Rain probable. The barometer has a falling tendency.—Bates, : Wellington.

The meeting of the Xgaere Women’s Christa iu Temperance Union was hold at Mrs K. Tarrant’s yesterday afternoon, ten members and one visitor being present. Mrs Morison and Mrs Whitham were appointed to select prizes for temperance essays, to he competed foi by the children of the Ngaere District School. One new member was initiated.

At the Carterton Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, a Maori at the end of the hearing of a case against him stated to the Magistrate, “I say, what about te expense; I borrow to money to come here.” “I can’t help that,” replied thzTMagistrate, “you’ll have to pay that hack yourself. “Oh, well,” came the resigned reply from the wily Native, “There’s no harm to Ask; just thought I might catch something.”

Mr R. H. Robinson, Superintendent of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Sunday School, has handed to Mr Skoglund (treasurer of the local Belgian Rebel Fund) a cheque for £2. On learning of the terrible experiences of the poor children of Belgium, starving and dying for want of food, the children of St. Andrew’s spontaneously rose to the occasion and contributed this money to bo sent and used especially for feeding the distressed little ones of Belgium. It is estimated that this amount will provide a good meal for 480 children. A further effort will bo made shortly.

Learning that Mr G. A. Marchant was in Wellington on Saturday last, a considerable number of sheep-farm-ers holding properties in the Stratford district met together, and equestod Mr Marchant to remain in town and represent local sheepfarmers’ interests at the Conference held in Wellington, with "regard to’the commandeering of wool. This morning Mr Marchant telegraphed” that he has been on the Cominjttee* ,and iia I had a long consultation with buyers and brokers; further, that it was probable there would be a further lengthy conference again to-morrow.

Few people, perhaps, realize that shipping freight rates have increased by 300 per cent, since the war started, and it is not surprising, to find that Mr J. B. Richards (President of the Chamber of Commerce), is using his best endeavours to bring about a scheme to provide a better, and, perhaps, more independent, ocean transport. If, as it is hoped, the Government can be induced to co-operate with Chambers of Commerce and other commercial interests to watch over and prevent such exorbitant charges by shipping companies, then a scheme can no doubt be put into working order so that by equipping a line of steamers exporters Can be in a position to ship their own goods at lowest rates. As an instance of Exorbitant charges, the freight on white lead from Vancouver alone is £6 per ton, whereas the pre-war rate from England was only £2. It is not surprising to learn that a local committee, comprising Messrs J. B. Richards, R. Dingle. R. Masters, and E. Marfell, with the object of farming, if possible an “Ocean Transport Co/’ should meet and discuss such an important matter. At Hawera, Messrs J. B. Richards and R. Dingle interviewed several representative business men, who all expressed approval with the object in view. Just now the object of these gatherings is to stimulate and awaken thought on the shipping problems, so that some larger and more comprehensive scheme can be brought into action as briefly outlined. Another point to be noted, is that during the present year freights are payable now in New Zealand- Instead of the Home Port of London or other important shipping centres. Farmers are frequently complaining of the amount of money paid in rates. These cost the county and road districts about £853,746, whereas the increase of freights cost something like 6) millions. These figures alone should serve to rouse farmers and businessmen to regard the Ocean Transport Co. as something to work for, seeing that it concerns all who have their own interests to conserve.